Extra Misery...Fixed with Chocolate!

Many of you know Katie over at Overflowing Brain. If you don't, you should check her out. She's witty and cracks me up. She's shared some stories lately that have made me think that The Fiance is actually a son of my MIL. You know it's bad when your husband likes your mom better than his own. Army's mom is a good person deep down, but Lord can that woman dish out some back handed compliments. She's the queen of playing games too.

I think the time I was hurt the most was shortly after I miscarried she asked me what I did wrong to cause it. Nice, huh?

There's also the time she asked me how long we'd lived in our house. When I told her three years, she said, "Oh, I guess that's not long enough to dust the windows, huh?" They were clean, buy the way.

Then there's the time I cooked dinner, and she asked me why I didn't cook things her son liked. Funny thing is she's asked me for that recipe several times.

Or the time she asked me exactly how much money I made (cause, ya know, I was marrying her son for his money). I didn't give a direct answer, so she pushed and pushed.


One time she gave me a hug. As she backed away, she said, "Oh, you mustn't like perfume, huh?" I'm guessing I smelled distinguished that day!


Those are the tame things she's said. It's gotten so bad that Army refuses to let Linus or me be alone in a room with her. She's much worse when Army isn't around, so he just makes sure he always is. Poor guy won't even go to the bathroom if it means leaving one of us alone with her.



Back to Katie. She's had a rough week! Not exactly how I'd want to spend my vacation week! So I thought for my little contest, we could share our MIL stories, 'cause you know, misery loves company. You have between now and Monday night to share yours in the comments section. Katie has graciously agreed to judge the entries. Remember that she's a busy person (work, school, wedding, making dinner that her MIL refuses to eat, etc), so don't expect a winner to be announced at midnight. Give her some time to laugh and decide!



The winner will get two pie mixes---Mississippi Delta Fudge Pie Mix and Plantation Pie Mix. One is chocolate, the other has chocolate in it, and I just can't have them around during Lent. They are super easy to make. You don't even need a mixer! :) You can either spike them with exlax and offer them to your MIL, or you can make them correctly, sit back and savor every bite, and not offer your MIL a taste! You choose.



I know I'll enjoy these stories! Hope you do too!

My poor parents! Today is their anniversary. It's the first one since Dad's accident. They were looking forward to going out to a nice dinner. Instead, Dad's in the hospital. Hopefully he'll recover quickly and be home soon!

Linus heard me on the phone with my mother and immediately began packing a suitcase. She remembered everything but clothes and a toothbrush. ;) When I told her we weren't going down there today, she got a devilish little grin and said, "Oh nobody told you?"

I was going to do a really nice give away for February, but since I've given up chocolate for Lent, I need to get some out of my house. I'll give more details about it tomorrow when I know if I'm going down to my parents or not. If I go, it will have to wait until I get back, otherwise I'll put it up tomorrow or Friday.

Extra Chocolate Anyone?

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!!!

With the end of Mardi Gras comes the beginning of Lent. For years I gave up all sweets, but since Linus, my niece, and I all have birthdays during Lent, I was constantly faced with cake and petit fours (they get cake and cupcakes, I'd MUCH prefer a petit four). I've since adjusted it to giving up chocolate. Trust me, it's still a sacrifice. I have to go six l-o-n-g weeks without mini Reese's peanut butter cups. Army has to deal with two massive hormonal fits without chocolate to calm them. No hot chocolate. No M&Ms. No. Chocolate. Period. Ouch!

We tried to explain Lent to Linus. After a brief explanation at a four year old level, I asked her if she wanted to give up something. I suggested juice boxes or her goodnight light. After looking at me like I was absolutely nuts, she said, "No thanks. God already has everything. He doesn't need my juice boxes or my goodnight light." I tried to explain the whole concept again, but she didn't want anything to do with it. She's got another few years until she really has to participate, so I'm not too worried.

I also try to make a positive change in my life during Lent too. I'm trying to figure out what I'll do this year still. If you give up something or make a positive change for Lent, care to share what you're giving up/doing?

Extra Sad!

Tonight is the night my dad's parade rolls. Unfortunately, he won't be riding. Army, Linus, and I planned to go anyway, but somehow it just doesn't feel right. Linus knows her grandfather is not quite the same as he used to be, but she associates that parade with him, and since the riders are masked, I'm worried it would confuse her. It feels odd not to be there though. It's also very sobering to know that he was riding happily last year, and this year it's just not happening. He's made tremendous strides, but he's just not ready to ride yet. Hopefully next year.

Linus LOVES Mardi Gras. The first Mardi Gras that she was able to really speak, she called it Party Bra! :) Nobody encouraged it, that's just what she heard. The riders on floats are masked, so you don't really know who they are. Since my dad was wearing a mask, he tipped it upward so she'd recognize him. Each float afterwards was met by Linus making a tipping gesture with her hand near her face and asking if the riders were her grandfather. She'd call the riders by my dad's grandfatherly name. That netted her lots of throws. It didn't take too long for the association to be solid. From there on out, she'd scream, "Hi PawPaw" or "I love you Pepere" as floats rode by. Little stinker!

GO ELI!!!

I know I'm in the minority, but yippee! Go Eli! :)

Some Extra Crud

Like many kids, I didn't like crust on sandwiches when I was younger. My mom would cut the crust off our sandwiches so we'd eat them. My father was a short cut kind of guy. When mom went out of town one time, Dad took us out to dinner. Both of my grandmothers would have happily cooked for us, but Dad liked the excuse to eat out. Dad pulled up between McDonalds and Baskin Robbins (Metairie road in the 80s anyone?) and told my sister and me that we could go to McDonalds if we really wanted, but if we could keep a secret, we could have Baskin Robbins---one scoop for dinner, a second scoop for dessert. Yeah, short cut kind of guy. He would cut the crust off sandwiches for my sister and me, but at some point he told my sister that she really needed to eat the crust because that's where all the nutrients were. She believed this for years. After high school graduation, she went to Florida with friends and when one of her friends left the crust of her sandwich behind, my sister let her know that she really should eat it because it contained the nutrients from the bread. Those around her laughed hysterically, but the father who was on the trip laughed so hard he could barely breathe. Once he caught his breath, he said that my father had to be the one that told her that because it sounded so much like him. Everybody was shocked that my sister actually believed this. Nobody was more shocked than my father though. We still tease her about the crust.

I've always been quite pleased that Linus eats the crust with no complaints. On occasion she'll eat most of the sandwich and leave the crust behind, but she has never complained about it, nor has she asked me to cut it off.

When we started discussing dinner tonight, Linus mentioned what she wanted and asked if I'd cut the crud off. Army and I cracked up. She got her feelings hurt and asked what was so funny. Before either of us had a chance to answer, she said, "It tastes disgusting, isn't it crud? Hey, stop laughing! If it isn't called crud, it should be!"

Extra Awesome...Totally Awesome

Swiped from another blog. What year do you belong in?

You Belong in 1987

Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.

What Year Do You Belong In?

HAHA! I love 80s music, but I'm not so sure this is accurate! ;)