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         <title>A driving need for an answer</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Somewhere along the line, we established that I'm the only person in the world who has ever had a kid turn 16, so I'm a regular pioneer this week, and you get to hear all about it. </p>

<p>So, if you had a kid turning 16, and getting a driver's license, what rules would you put in place regarding driving the first few weeks?</p>

<p>Are you in the, "Just drive, already" camp, or are you more of a, "Let's try this driving thing out near home, first, and work our way up" kind of person?</p>

<p>Inquiring minds want to know. </p>

<p>She also up and got herself a job at a church nursery on Sunday mornings, so I'm thinking I may become a, "Just drive, already" kind of person when 7:00 Sunday morning arrives, and she needs to go to work, but we'll see. </p>

<p>I predict we'll have a bit of trouble making the newly licensed member of the family understand that a license is permission to operate a vehicle, not permission to go anywhere desired at any time.</p>

<p>This will also probably be good for a, "Why did I think this was a big deal?" post sometime in the future, but many of you probably already know that. </p>

<p>*******</p>

<p><em>I'm trying to give you money, Internet.</p>

<p><a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/08/not-so-smoothie-this-is-sponsored.html">Tell me a funny story, any story, for a chance to win a $150 Visa Gift Card from The Laughing Cow.</a></em></p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004467.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004467.html</guid>
         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:12:14 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>I guess it could be &quot;Fruckle&quot;.</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>When my kids were younger, they had a habit of dilly-dallying in the car at school drop-off in the mornings.</p>

<p>And, well, let's just say that dilly-dallying is frowned upon in that line (rightly so), so I always took measures to make sure they were ready to get out of the car when we got to the front of the line. </p>

<p>I would get them to unbuckle their seat belts when we were a couple of car lengths away from the drop-off zone and put their backpacks on so they'd be ready to get out of the car quickly. </p>

<p>For no particular reason, I'd say, "Time to unbuckle, Chuckle.", and that just kind of stuck. </p>

<p>The older two are in high school, and as far as I know, Busy Dad doesn't say that to them when they all get to school, and Busy D. is actually pretty good at getting out of the car promptly, so I hadn't been saying anything since school started this year. </p>

<p>He must have missed it, because he asked me to say it the other day. </p>

<p>So, I said, "Since it's a new year, I'm going to tell you to, 'Unbuckle, Duckle.'"</p>

<p>He thought about this for a minute, and decided it would be a different saying each day:</p>

<p>"Monday will be 'Muckle', Tuesday is 'Tuckle',  Wednesday is 'Wuckle'..."</p>

<p>You see where this is going, don't you?</p>

<p>"Thursday is 'Thuckle'..."</p>

<p>Me: *forehead to steering wheel for not heading this off sooner*</p>

<p>Now, you think he's going to say it unwittingly, and I'm going to be all, "Oh, they're so innocent, aren't they?"</p>

<p>"Friday will be...wait, naw, we can't say <em>that</em>...better say, 'Zuckle'"</p>

<p>Now, I can't decide if I'm bothered that my 8 year old knew why that was bad or impressed that he deviated from the obvious.</p>

<p>However, it's apparent that he's become "that kid".</p>

<p>You know, the one you didn't want your first born snowflake to interact with because he has "older siblings" and he just "knows too much".</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004466.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004466.html</guid>
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         <pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:29:48 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Busy Mom Blog: Now with more follow-up!</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>I was trying to figure out what to write, when it occurred to me that I never follow up on stuff I've already written. </p>

<p>Oh, Internet, don't take it personally, I hardly ever follow up on anything. </p>

<p>I know, it's cute how I think anyone is still reading here when we need to be marketing to each other on Twitter, but here ya go, anyway:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004461.html">Busy Boy's eye/face looks much better</a>. The medicine is really helping, and I don't think he's going to be too deformed. </p>

<p>He fared much better than <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004346.html">Busy Girl did</a> with this same leprosy (kidding) because he can take the medicine for it, and she was allergic to most of it.</p>

<p>Leave it to Busy Girl to have <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004461.html">neither shin splints nor a stress fracture</a> in her leg. </p>

<p>The MRI showed a "<a href="http://www.drpribut.com/sports/stress_fracture.html">stress reaction</a>" which is basically a stress fracture waiting to happen.</p>

<p>That's actually sort of good news as it doesn't require 10 weeks off as we originally thought. </p>

<p>She's in a boot, and the plan is for her to wear the boot during the day (it helps), and go back to practicing Tuesday so she can play this week. </p>

<p>That may or may not be a variation of sorts on what the doctor said to do, but, she needs to play for lots of reasons (if you're new here, I swear I'm not "that" parent) and we'll just see how it goes. </p>

<p>Busy D. is still in one piece except for allergies, so there's that. </p>

<p>Going back a little further, we're still working on the <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004426.html">teen allowance</a> thing.</p>

<p>We went with <a href="https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_utils/McStaticPages?key=bank_youth">USAA Youth Banking</a>, and it's been great. </p>

<p>She has both a checking and a savings account, and I can see all her transactions through my account. It has all kinds of great tools to use, and it even categorizes expenditures, so she can see where her money is going.</p>

<p>She can get her balance, etc. with her phone, and I can make transfers to her with my phone. </p>

<p>That's come in handy more than once when she's been somewhere unexpected and needs money.  </p>

<p>Really? Sigh. </p>

<p>No, I have no affiliation with them, it's just what we, you know...<em>chose</em>, and I thought I'd share.</p>

<p>Anyhooters...</p>

<p>We opted to give her an allowance twice a month to mimic payday (woe unto her if she gets a salaried job someday and gets paid only once a month. I'm 45 and still can't manage it very well) and have encouraged her to put some of it in savings, but that part hasn't really happened, yet.</p>

<p>We are on the verge of having to decide about how to handle gas money as she is 9 days away from being 16.</p>

<p>(Next, y'all will have to listen to me stress about when and where we're going to let her drive as I'm quite sure I'm the first person in the history of the world to have a kid turning 16.)</p>

<p>We'll probably go with Cheryl's fabulous idea (in comments <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004426.html">here</a>) of making an initial deposit, and requiring a gas receipt to get more money put in. </p>

<p>Hopefully, that will help her to learn to budget money for gas and not blow it all at Smoothie King. </p>

<p>Or not.  Hard to say. </p>

<p>(Hi, Busy Girl! Hi, Diva!)</p>

<p>But, the gas money topic is moot-ish until we figure out what she's going to drive. </p>

<p>(No, Busy Girl, there really isn't a secret update about a car that I'm going to share with the Internet and not you, sorry.)</p>

<p>Great Appliance Failure - Late Summer 2010 update:</p>

<p>Lawnmower - still screwed (drowning. in. grass.)</p>

<p>Dryer - "air dry" setting better be saving us money</p>

<p>Burglar alarm - probably ought to turn in back on, can't remember what the problem is, actually.</p>

<p>Downstairs HVAC - probably needs freon, but it's nearly 20 years old, you have to speak to it nicely as it's held together by good intentions and duct tape</p>

<p>Home wifi: not a failure, just particular. It doesn't get along with our cordless phones, and it only reaches where it feels like reaching since we live in an old house.</p>

<p>It's kind of a bully, actually. </p>

<p>Maybe ATT will swoop in and offer to rewire our whole house, and I'll document it. </p>

<p>It could happen. </p>

<p>********</p>

<p><a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/08/sonics_299_quarter_pound_footlong_coney_and_gvieaway.html">SONIC's $2.99 Quarter Pound Footlong Coney and giveaway</a> (baseball tickets, $25 SONIC gift cards- 3 winners)</p>

<p><em>Tell us how you spend time with your kids on a busy day and enter for a <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/07/smuckers-kidvitations-this-is-sponsored.html">chance to win a $200 Visa Gift Card from Smucker's Kidvitations</a> (hurry, ends 8/25/10)</p>

<p>Leave a comment about your favorite late summer activity and enter for a <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/08/kelloggs-love-your-cereal-moms_11.html">chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card from Kellogg's Love Your Cereal</a> (ends 8/23)</p>

<p>Share a funny story, and <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/08/not-so-smoothie-this-is-sponsored.html">enter for a chance to win a $150 Visa Gift Card from The Laughing Cow</a> (ends 9/12)</em></p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004462.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004462.html</guid>
         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:11:47 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>The Great Healthcare -a-thon of aught-ten</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>If you need me, I will be in one health care establishment or the other.</p>

<p>It started with <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004454.html">my father's heart cath</a> right before BlogHer.</p>

<p>No, wait. I work in a health care facility, it starts there every day. </p>

<p>I left town again at the end of last week, and came home to Busy Boy with a raging infected abscess near his eye.</p>

<p>Why yes, that does sound familiar, it was <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004346.html">one of these</a>. </p>

<p>For reasons longer than you care to hear about, I didn't actually see him until around 11:30 pm on Saturday night, so we took a trip to the ER as it was getting worse. </p>

<p>They threatened to keep him, but he ended up being discharged, and is much better today. </p>

<p>Poor kid, he just started high school last week, but at least they've already taken school pictures. </p>

<p>Today, Busy Girl had to go to the orthopedist for some leg pain. </p>

<p>It's either raging shin splints or a stress fracture.</p>

<p>We went from the MD office to the MRI place, and should have results tomorrow. </p>

<p>She'd appreciate some good thoughts, as a fracture would possibly be a volleyball season ender for her. </p>

<p>Busy D. is the only one we haven't broken, yet. </p>

<p>But, his <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004447.html">soccer season</a> is still early.</p>

<p>He had his first games with his travel soccer team yesterday, and I have to say that so far (other than the heat of Hades out there), it's what we were looking for. </p>

<p>All we ask from it is that he gets to be with other kids who are there to play the game like he is.</p>

<p>They played great, especially for only having had one practice, and more importantly, he's met his match in the games, which will hopefully be a little eye opener for him. </p>

<p>*****</p>

<p>And, because you've just come to expect it around here:</p>

<p>The Great Appliance Failure - Late Summer 2010</p>

<p>Lawnmower - (check)<br />
Burglar alarm - (check)<br />
Dryer - (check)<br />
Downstairs HVAC unit (check)</p>

<p>Fun fact: it only takes about 2 days to dry a load of clothes by using the "air dry" setting. </p>

<p>Another fun fact: Our wifi only reaches my side of the bed if I lean way back. </p>

<p>******</p>

<p><em><a href="http://busymom.net/mt/mt.cgi?__mode=view&_type=entry&blog_id=1">Share a funny story about your quest for health</a> for a chance to win a $150 Visa Gift Card from The Laughing Cow.</p>

<p><a href="http://busymom.net/mt/mt.cgi?__mode=view&_type=entry&blog_id=1">Share how you connect with your children on busy days</a> for a chance to win a $200 Visa Gift Card from Smuckers Kidvitations.</p>

<p>There's more!</p>

<p>Enter for a chance to <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/08/kelloggs-love-your-cereal-moms_11.html">win a $150 Visa Gift Card from Kellogg's Mom's Breakfast Clu</a>b by sharing your favorite family activity as summer draws to a close.</em></p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004461.html</link>
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         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:58:08 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>SaveHer @ BlogHer 10: The NYC Ambulance Edition</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>I never know how or if I should re-cap <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004457.html">BlogHer</a>, since like someone said, if you were there, you already know what happened, and if you weren't there, you likely don't care what happened. </p>

<p>Yet, I spent 4 days there, so I feel like I should say something, so you get bullets:</p>

<p>- I lost my credit card between work and the airport. Yes, the credit card I needed to get into the hotel. Why yes, I was a mess. </p>

<p>- Re: hotel dilemma? Internet? You were terrific. People from all over offered me the use of their card for my hotel deposit. </p>

<p>You guys are alright for a Series of Tubes, ya know?</p>

<p>- I did get into the hotel, and after a terrible day, the <a href="http://www.wafelsanddinges.com/">Wafels and Dinges</a> truck was like a vision from Heaven.</p>

<p>- Seriously. Waffles. From a truck. In the street in the middle of the night. (mad, mad props to <a href="http://mommyneedsacocktail.com/">Mommy Needs a Cocktail</a>)</p>

<p>- I love New York. I had only been one other time, and now I "get" it. I can't wait to go back. </p>

<p>- Was I supposed to say, "I 'heart' New York? Well, I didn't. "Heart" isn't a verb. </p>

<p>- I visited a <a href="http://www.bluehillfarm.com/">farm</a>, and got to know other bloggers a bit better in the back seat of a Chevy.</p>

<p>- Why are you looking at me like that?</p>

<p>- I got to meet so many new people, and visit with old friends, yet like many, I feel like there were a ton more that I didn't get to see. </p>

<p>- I got to see Gavin DeGraw perform right in front of me (even though this may be entering Creepy Old Lady Territory, he is adorable!) </p>

<p>- I got to ride in a New York City ambulance in the middle of the night.</p>

<p>- Two days after BlogHer, I'm still so tired I can't see straight. </p>

<p>- Really? You want to know about the whole ambulance thing?</p>

<p>I'll let my <a href="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2010/08/just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-to-attend-blogher-saveher-10.html">SaveHer '10 Associate</a> tell the story:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/busymom/4877573599/" title="ER visit with @thisfullhouse by Busy Mom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4877573599_5fac1d6060_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="ER visit with @thisfullhouse" /></a></p>

<p>I may or may not write more about it later, but seriously, can't hold head up any longer. </p>

<p>*******</p>

<p><em><a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/07/this-is-sponsored-content-from-blogher.html">Share something funny for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card</a> from Laughing Cow.</p>

<p><a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/07/smuckers-kidvitations-this-is-sponsored.html">Tell us how you spend time with your kids and enter to win a $200 Visa gift card</a> from Smucker's Kidvitations. </p>

<p><a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/08/kelloggs-love-your-cereal-moms.html">Talk about your favorite breakfast food, and enter to win a $100 Visa gift card</a> from Kellogg's Mom's Breakfast Club. </em></p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004460.html</link>
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         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:45:08 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Going to BlogHer &apos;10 in New York</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>I'm off to New York for <a href="http://www.blogher.com/blogher-10">BlogHer</a> a little later today. </p>

<p>I'll try to leave a few pictures for you as I go, but I usually end up screwing it up, or I forget to take pictures.</p>

<p>Check back for some more from the weekend, if I get it right.</p>

<p>If I don't get it right, then here, look at my suitcase.</p>

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<p><em>Even if you really don't care where I am (shut up), be sure to go share a funny story about fitness for a <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/07/this-is-sponsored-content-from-blogher.html">chance to win a $150 Visa gift card</a> from the nice folks at <a href="http://www.thelaughingcow.com/">The Laughing Cow</a>. </em></p>

<p>Also, find out about <a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/08/schick_intuition_plus_kiss_tel.html">Keeping It Simply Smooth at BlogHer10</a>.</em></p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004457.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004457.html</guid>
         <category>Blogher</category>
         <pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:43:12 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title> Some SEO optimized title</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>My dad's <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004454.html">heart cath</a> went well, they didn't find anything new in there, but they also didn't find anything to explain a coule of weird symptoms he's had off and on. </p>

<p>Thank you all for your kind words and the support on Twitter.</p>

<p>It's been a long day.</p>

<p>It was pretty cool, they did the cath through his radial artery in his wrist (as opposed to his groin).</p>

<p>Much easier recovery even though he did try to bleed to death when they loosened the pressure bandage.</p>

<p>OK, maybe not to "death", but he did bleed, and it did get me out of my groggy stupor, but at least we were in the hospital when it happened.</p>

<p>He lives alone, so I stayed over there until a couple of hours ago since he has to remember not to use that arm.</p>

<p>I even made him practice dialing the phone while holding pressure on his arm in case it were to bleed again.</p>

<p>OK, I'm so tired, I can't even tell you my name, and I'm literally trying to hold my head up to type this. </p>

<p>Oh, wait, I do know my name.</p>

<p>Thank goodness I have it written at the top of my website. </p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004456.html</link>
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         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:34:11 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Your blog, your blog, your blog...is my drug.</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Trying to think of what's going on around here to write about, without saying, "Gah! Busy!"</p>

<p>Because, lately, that's kind of all I say. </p>

<p>The next couple of weeks are out of control, and just as I was trying to get a grip on them, my dad up and needs a heart cath. </p>

<p>We're not entirely sure why, but he went ahead and scheduled it like the nurse said to do, and we'll just ask questions later. </p>

<p>No, we're not morons, I can go into more detail if you'd like, I just thought I'd summarize it for you. </p>

<p>I'm a giver like that. </p>

<p>I suppose it wasn't urgent since no one seemed really worked up over when he should have it. </p>

<p>But, it's now the day before I leave for BlogHer. </p>

<p>Of course, it is. </p>

<p>And, that day, Busy Dad has to work, Busy Girl has volleyball (will this child EVER be old enough  to drive? One month from Sunday.), and Busy D. had soccer practice and games 45 minutes away. </p>

<p>Other than the obvious fact I don't want anything to be wrong, we need to pray that he doesn't have to have a <a href="http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4721">stent</a> placed (or, yikes, surgery) because then he'll have to spend the night. </p>

<p>Did I mention I leave for New York that next day and he lives alone and I have no siblings?</p>

<p>That Wednesday was already comical because everyone but Busy D. has school obligations that day?</p>

<p>He's 8. While I'm sure I could leave him a debit card and Domino's phone number, the law kind of frowns on leaving him alone. </p>

<p>Evidence of him being able to take care of himself, though: he kicked my arse in a putting contest the other night (for real), and apparently, I was so bad he considered it a golf lesson and invoiced me for his time. </p>

<p>Apparently, he is serious, because I've gotten 2 overdue notices costing me $13, each. </p>

<p>Anyway, mind scrambled. </p>

<p>Busy Boy comes home from camp Saturday, and will immediately (as in that day) have to work on his summer reading paper because he starts school Wednesday.</p>

<p>You can imagine how that will play out since he can be rather pig-headed and he's been away from home for 3 weeks.</p>

<p>Blah, blah, blah...</p>

<p>Heh, now I sound like Ke$ha. </p>

<p>Speaking of Ke$ha, this just makes me laugh and laugh:</p>

<p><object width="350" height="287"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i9hJydx38Uo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i9hJydx38Uo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="287"></embed></object></p>

<p>Glozell is big in our house, I love her. </p>

<p>*********<br />
<em>Hey, speaking of things that rock, share how you break up the monotony of your day, and be <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/06/ritz-crackerfuls-100-visa-gift-card.html">entered to win a $100 Visa gift card from Ritz Crackerfuls</a>.</p>

<p>But, wait. That's not all!</p>

<p>Share a funny story about fitness for a <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/07/this-is-sponsored-content-from-blogher.html">chance to win a $150 Visa gift card</a> from the fine people at <a href="http://www.thelaughingcow.com/">The Laughing Cow</a>. </em></p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004454.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004454.html</guid>
         <category></category>
         <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:03:22 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Busy Mom&apos;s (No) Tea Tour</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>I have been meaning to get that last <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004449.html">whiny post</a> off the top for, uh 5 days now. </p>

<p>It did, however lead to my losing my "meet for coffee" virginity. </p>

<p>Since then, I have met <a href="http://sayaboutthat.blogspot.com/">Cheryl</a> AND <a href="http://www.lauracreekmore.com/">Laura</a> for coffee.</p>

<p>OK, Laura and I both had iced tea if you want to get all technical about it, but we still "met for coffee", and I'm sticking to it.</p>

<p>But still...friends I can see and touch!</p>

<p>I think I'll make this a regular thing. </p>

<p>I will travel all over the country meeting other bloggers for coffee. </p>

<p>Why didn't anyone think of this before? I am brilliant. </p>

<p>I think will call it Busy Mom's (No) Tea Tour, it'll be the talk of the Internet.</p>

<p>Alright, you got me. There's no way I can go without iced tea. </p>

<p>I think my next tour stop will be in New York in a couple of weeks, I wonder if I can find anyone there?</p>

<p>Yes, I am going to <a href="http://www.blogher.com/blogher-10">BlogHer</a>.</p>

<p>Every year, I feel bad if I talk too much about it here since there is always <strike>some</strike> BlogHer fatigue leading up to it, and most certainly afterward.</p>

<p>But, that's what I'm doing, and I'm looking forward to it, so I may tell you about it.</p>

<p>However, I may also tell you about brushing the dogs and getting so much hair that I made a 4th dog out of it. </p>

<p>Hard to tell what you'll get over here. </p>

<p>***************</p>

<p><em><br />
Pizza? For breakfast? <a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/07/giveaway_morning_routine_tips.html">Enter to win</a> (5 winners)</p>

<p>Enter for a <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/06/ritz-crackerfuls-100-visa-gift-card.html">chance to win a $100 Visa gift card<br />
</a></p>

<p>Share a funny story about fitness for a <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/07/this-is-sponsored-content-from-blogher.html">chance to win a $150 Visa gift card</a> from the nice folks at <a href="http://www.thelaughingcow.com/">The Laughing Cow</a>. </p>

<p>Turn a great photo into art. Get $25 off and free shipping from <a href="http://parentmediagroup.go2jump.org/aff_c?offer_id=4&aff_id=90">Canvas People</a>.</em></p>

<p><br />
</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004451.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004451.html</guid>
         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:56:53 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>July shouldn&apos;t let the door hit it on the way out. </title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>This month really needs to be over. </p>

<p>I want to relish summer and the warm nights and sunny days, but for lots of reasons, this month is mostly just a prelude to school starting in about 2 weeks.</p>

<p>Things are a bit nuts, but you can't really admit to it because it's the lazy, hazy crazy days of summer. </p>

<p>Part of it is having a high school athlete that doesn't drive, yet. There's a whole lotta practice going on, and sometimes more than once a day.</p>

<p>If you have young kids, you can vow that you'll never be like us, and summer will always be sacred, relaxing etc.</p>

<p>But, fact is, you will be me someday, there's just the potential for more going on in their lives when they get older. It's mostly a good kind of crazy, though. </p>

<p>Still, this month has been weird, and it's time to move on. </p>

<p>Today is the 4th anniversary of my <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/002856.html">mother's death</a>.</p>

<p>I never quite know what to say or do on this day.</p>

<p>We're not really <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004385.html">grave visitors</a>, though I suppose my dad could have gone today, and I didn't know it. </p>

<p>Most of you have learned over the years that he is <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/002934.html">a man of few words</a>, so I can't really find out how he's "feeling".</p>

<p>So, I usually call about other stuff, and test him out.</p>

<p>Today seemed good enough, so I left the topic alone. </p>

<p>I say this every year, but it's hard to believe it's been 4 years. </p>

<p>I remember many parts of that day very distinctly, and other parts not so much. </p>

<p>If you've never had someone close to you die, the whole thing (at least for me) is a bizarre combination of feeling like they've gone forever with a side of feeling like they didn't really go anywhere. </p>

<p>Yeah, I know. I thought it was dumb when people said that, too, but whadya know? It is kind of like that, after all. </p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004449.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004449.html</guid>
         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:00:01 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Non-sequitur Sunday</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Just when you thought my <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004442.html">jet lag</a> was fatal, I'm back.</p>

<p>I know I've said this a lot, but I swear it didn't used to be this hard to blog about stuff. </p>

<p>Maybe I'll try to fix that.</p>

<p>I'll just write about whatever comes to mind, and I won't worry boring you. </p>

<p>I say that a lot, too. </p>

<p>So, here we go...</p>

<p>This week has been a little distracting what with Busy Girl's volleyball season gearing up, and Busy Boy going off to camp. </p>

<p>As for volleyball, it's the school season coming up. I don't get to go to those practices, so, my digital dumplings, you'll be spared the blow by blow of my boredom, unlike club season. </p>

<p>She's excited, but finds herself in a unique situation that she wasn't expecting, so she is going to have to work extra hard, and she has a bit of a load on her shoulders.</p>

<p>In other sporting news, Busy D. had his first indoor soccer game the other day.</p>

<p>If you're not familiar with indoor, it's kind of like hockey. It's fast paced and a lot of fun, he loved it. </p>

<p>He played goalie a lot, and obviously the coach did not follow my directive of "No Busys in the Goal."</p>

<p>You see, both Busy Girl and Busy Boy played goalie at the same time, so I was the mother of the goalie for many years. </p>

<p>I am done. </p>

<p>No Busys in the Goal. </p>

<p>I even taught Busy D. to say that when he was very small, but I guess it didn't work. </p>

<p>Also up for Busy D. is his first season of travel soccer.</p>

<p>Yes, we are <em>those people</em> with an 8 year old in travel sports. </p>

<p>It's a place I never thought we'd be, but here we are. <br />
 <br />
It's not because we think he's a prodigy, or that we are going to retire on his mad professional skillz after a full ride to college or anything.</p>

<p>This kid has a passion for soccer, and (at least for right now), he is very good at it. He's played rec soccer since he was 3, and we were running out of people he could play with. </p>

<p>He's not very big, so it wouldn't have been wise to move him up to the next age group, though he had to be moved up to the middle school group at soccer camp so he wouldn't hurt the little kids. </p>

<p>I know it's fashionable to declare that <em>your</em> kids all stay home and play with an unstructured block of wood or something, but we've never had a one with this kind of passion for anything before, and we feel like we need to give him the chance to really learn it, and put him with kids who are there to play the game like he is</p>

<p>We'll see how it goes. </p>

<p>In news that actually matters, one of my kids has a friend that's been diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening illness. </p>

<p>The whole thing has just consumed me. I cannot imagine. </p>

<p>I really need to get myself together, though, because I don't know the family all that well, and am afraid I may flail on the ground and wail the next time I see them, and that would be awkward, I suppose. </p>

<p>I finally bought my plane ticket to BlogHer, so I won't have to drive to New York from here after all. </p>

<p>I hate buying plane tickets. </p>

<p>It's not that I don't know how, I just always second guess myself about prices, times, routes, etc. and I wallow in indecision.</p>

<p>It's much easier when people do it for me, and I just fly when my ticket says. </p>

<p>I'm ready for BlogHer. It's time to get away and relax with thousands of my closest friends. </p>

<p>Speaking of friends, I've (still) never "met anyone for coffee". </p>

<p>You know how people with actual friends they can see are always 'meeting for coffee"?</p>

<p>I've never done that.</p>

<p>I've also never "savored" a bowl-sized cup of coffee with both hands like you see in all the stock photos of "women" and "moms", because that's totally how we drink it. </p>

<p>I feel cheated on both accounts, really. </p>

<p>***************</p>

<p><em>Turn a great photo into art. Get $25 off and free shipping from <a href="http://parentmediagroup.go2jump.org/aff_c?offer_id=4&aff_id=90">Canvas People</a>. </p>

<p>Pizza? For breakfast? <a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/07/giveaway_morning_routine_tips.html">Enter to win</a> (5 winners)</p>

<p>Enter for a <a href="http://busymom1.blogspot.com/2010/06/ritz-crackerfuls-100-visa-gift-card.html">chance to win a $100 Visa gift card<br />
</a></em></p>

<p></p>

<p><br />
</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004447.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004447.html</guid>
         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:26:07 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Sunday - The jet lag edition</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Finally home from my jet setting ways, and getting back to reality. </p>

<p>After our family <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004441.html">vacation in St. Louis</a>, Busy Boy, Busy D. and I took a quick trip to Los Angeles. </p>

<p>Or, "LA" as we can call it now, since we're practically locals.</p>

<p>Nevermind.</p>

<p>Neither one had ever been on a plane before this trip, so I was a little nervous about the whole thing, but they loved it, and I survived (mostly) intact. </p>

<p>After 4 flights in 2 days, they are seasoned pros:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/busymom/4784523677/" title="Busy Boy and Busy D.  - World travelers by Busy Mom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4784523677_d03de70a72_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Busy Boy and Busy D.  - World travelers" /></a></p>

<p>Busy Girl didn't get to go on this one, and she was bent out of shape about it, as she has never flown either, and we were quite near Beverly Hills. </p>

<p>She got over it, but the boys were so cute, they took hundreds of pictures so she could see what they were doing, and were very concerned about when it will be her turn to fly. </p>

<p>People can't believe my kids have never flown, but we really don't have anywhere to fly since our families are reasonably nearby, and the beach is only 8 or so hours away. </p>

<p>I love to fly, and I'm glad I get to do it some, but we really can't afford to take all 5 of us anywhere by air.</p>

<p>However, I don't want Busy Girl to get to college or her first job never having been on a plane, so I'm going to troll the airfares and buy tickets to wherever is the cheapest, and we'll go.</p>

<p>"Come on, honey. Pack a bag, we're flying to Toledo!"</p>

<p>I actually have a friend who had never flown until the day he was on his way to training to be a pilot. </p>

<p>Anyway, we had a great trip which I'll tell you more about later, but our final leg took us to Dallas, and I was a little worn out and hungry when we landed, so I really wanted to eat. </p>

<p>I looked for a restaurant near our gate, but could only find taco or Southwestern places, and that wasn't at all what I wanted. </p>

<p>I got frustrated and exclaimed rather loudly, "<em>What</em> is the <em>deal</em> with all the Tex-Mex restaurants here?!"</p>

<p>Even Busy D. (age 8) stared at me after that one. </p>

<p>So, this week, we return to the mundane, the mundane which includes us being "those people" with an 8 year old in travel soccer. </p>

<p>I know. </p>

<p>The mundane really needs to include me sitting down and buying my plane ticket to BlogHer since I have just realized it's less than a month away. </p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004442.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004442.html</guid>
         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:25:35 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Sit here while I get out my vacation slides</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Why yes, I am alive.</p>

<p>Been traveling a bit. For those of you following along at home, we took our yearly family  beach vacation in St. Louis. </p>

<p>Thank you, BP.</p>

<p>While not exactly the beach, we did have a nice time. </p>

<p>We visited with friends, and did a few touristy things we'd never done before.</p>

<p>We stayed in a nice condo in <a href="http://www.stcharlescitymo.gov/">St. Charles</a>, it's a cute little town filled with history. </p>

<p>I'd show you pictures, but I lost control of my camera ages ago as all 3 kids suddenly want to be photographers. </p>

<p>"Why so far out (from St. Louis)?" You may ask...</p>

<p>OK, you're probably not asking, since you really don't care where I went on vacation, but humor me...</p>

<p>Well, since we are a family of 5, and my dad goes with us as well, we'd need at least 2 hotel rooms/suites (and at least 2 bathrooms), and well, that's not really what I want to pay to vacation in that area.</p>

<p>On a whim, I <a href="http://www.vrbo.com/default_new.aspx">VRBO</a>ed (that <em>is too</em> a verb) "St. Louis", and found a great condo <a href="http://www.thebouldersatkatytrail.com/st-charles-condos/katy-trail/index.htm">here</a>, and that's how we got to St. Charles.</p>

<p>OK, that may have also been the only result.</p>

<p>I mean, really, how many vacation rentals in St. Louis can one expect?</p>

<p>(Side note: this totally reads like I'm SEO-ing vacation rentals in St. Louis, and I assure you I am not. I'm thinking that wouldn't be too profitable, anyway.)</p>

<p>We had to do a bit of driving, but the location worked out nicely,and for less than half of what we would have paid at a hotel.</p>

<p>Our vacations are always interesting since we have 6 different people with 6 different interests, and, my dad has a bum knee that prohibits a lot of activities.</p>

<p>We defaulted to history attractions, including the <a href="http://www.lewisandclarkcenter.org/">Lewis and Clark Center</a>, <a href="http://www.mohistory.org/home/">The Missouri History Museum</a>, and the <a href="http://cahokiamounds.org/">Cahokia Mounds</a>.</p>

<p>Lest you think we are entirely boring, we did do other stuff including <a href="http://www.teddrewes.com/Drewes.asp">Ted Drewe's</a> and <a href="http://www.rigazzis.com/">Rigazzis</a>, where "all you can eat" may or may not be "all you are allowed to eat" or, "Youse sleeps wit' da' fishies, capiche?"</p>

<p>That's some authentic Italian, yo.</p>

<p>In the next installment of my life as a travel blogger,Busy D. and Busy Boy's first time ever on an airplane when we flew to L.A. yesterday. </p>

<p>Hey, L.A.? </p>

<p>You are cold. </p>

<p>It's summer.</p>

<p>What up with that? </p>

<p>*******<br />
<em><a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/07/giveaway_whats_new_from_kraft.html">Enter to win a Kraft Foods gift basket </a> (hurry, ends 7/10/10)</em></p>

<p></p>

<p></p>

<p><br />
 </p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004441.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004441.html</guid>
         <category>Travel</category>
         <pubDate>Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:18:44 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Baby bedding Miley Cyrus firewall mortgage calculator Garmin GPS</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Seen everywhere, but no idea what to call it, so I am making a sacrifice to the SEO gods.</p>

<p>Extra points to the first person who tells me I should never! ever! do something like that.</p>

<p>I live on the edge. I can't be tamed. </p>

<p><strong>1. It's 2AM and you are not home. You are more than likely:</strong><br />
Somewhere else. (This quiz isn't very hard, so far.)</p>

<p><strong>2. What's the last thing you spent more than $100 on?</strong><br />
Busy D.'s soccer. </p>

<p>We are now those people with an 8 year old in travel sports. </p>

<p>Yeah, I know. <br />
 <br />
<strong>3. What do your bank checks look like?</strong></p>

<p>They're rectangular, and they're...somewhere. </p>

<p>I think they're yellow. <br />
 <br />
<strong>4. Where did the shirt you are currently wearing come from?</strong><br />
My closet. (This quiz isn't very hard.) </p>

<p>OK, it's from Old Navy.</p>

<p><strong>5. Name something that will be on your Christmas wish list: </strong><br />
A <a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004395.html">lawnmower</a>. </p>

<p>No, we still don't have one</p>

<p>Wouldn't you like to be? My neighbor. </p>

<p><strong>6. What color is your toothbrush?</strong> <br />
I have no idea, it's upstairs. </p>

<p>What? Are you planning to use it or something?<br />
                                                                                   <br />
<strong>7. Name something you collect and tell us about it.</strong><br />
Volleyball trip receipts. I think you already know about it. </p>

<p>If you just joined in, my daughter plays volleyball. A lot of it. </p>

<p>My readers LOVE hearing about it in detail, don't you? </p>

<p>Go on...tell the nice new people how interesting it is when I talk about volleyball...</p>

<p><strong>8. Last restaurant you ate at. Who were you with? How was it?</strong><br />
One without a drive-thru? Let me think...</p>

<p>I probably went to Dalton's with my Dad. I'm sure It was the usual. </p>

<p><strong>9. Who was the last person you bought a birthday card for?</strong><br />
How would I know the "last" anything I do? </p>

<p>I'm not dead yet. (/Monty Python)</p>

<p><strong>10. What is your worst bad habit?</strong><br />
I'll answer that later...</p>

<p><strong>11. Name a magazine to which you subscribe?</strong><br />
 I'm partial to <a href="http://boingboing.net/2006/11/14/omfg-manual-not-what.html">OMFG Magazine</a> and <a href="http://www.sheepmagazine.com/">Sheep!</a>, but I'll bet everyone names those. </p>

<p><strong>12. Your favorite pizza toppings?</strong><br />
The ones on the pizza yo paid for.</p>

<p><strong>13. Whose number were you looking up the last time you used a phone book?</strong><br />
Why? What did you see?</p>

<p>I swear, it was for "research". </p>

<p>I'm serious... </p>

<p><strong>14. Other than family, who is the person that you love most?</strong><br />
Me! </p>

<p>Wait, am I my own family? I'm my own Grampa...</p>

<p><strong>15. What is the last thing you cooked?</strong><br />
A plan to find the money to go to BlogHer. </p>

<p>It's <em>way</em> underdone. </p>

<p><strong>16. Name something you wouldn't want to buy used.</strong><br />
 Kleenex.</p>

<p><strong>17. Which shoe do you put on first?</strong><br />
Neither. I jump into both of them at once every morning.  </p>

<p>You gotta watch it with the stilettos, though. </p>

<p><strong>18. What is the last thing you remember losing?</strong><br />
A foot. (see above)</p>

<p>Seriously? If remembered losing it, then it wouldn't be lost, huh?</p>

<p><strong>19. What is the ugliest piece of furniture in your house?</strong><br />
I'll take "the entire upstairs" for $500, Alex. </p>

<p><strong>20. Last thing you bought and ended up returning?</strong><br />
One of those $8 polo shirts I keep blabbering about at Old Navy.</p>

<p><strong>21. What perfume/cologne do you wear? If none, why?</strong><br />
Origins Spring Fever. </p>

<p>I don't think they make it anymore, and I am bent out of shape about it. </p>

<p>I am also stinky. </p>

<p><strong>22. Your favorite board game?</strong><br />
I really have to be in the mood to play a board game. </p>

<p>I do play Uno and Words With Friends <strike>(Busymom64)</strike> Busy_Mom on my phone, though. </p>

<p><strong>23. What was the last board game you played?</strong><br />
Checkers, I think. I'm not very good.</p>

<p><strong>24. Where did your vehicle come from?</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.busymom.net/archives/004432.html">It was my mother's</a>, I usurped it from my father after she died.</p>

<p>It's good to be the only child. </p>

<p><strong>25. If a movie was made about your life what would the theme song be?</strong><br />
Oh, that's easy (has sound): <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njrmL1y3ul8">Chacarron Macarron</a>. </p>

<p>What? </p>

<p><strong>26. You're sad, who can cheer you up easily?</strong><br />
How can I be sad with you guys around? I mean, really...</p>

<p><strong>27. What was the color of the bridesmaid dresses of the last wedding you went to?</strong><br />
I'm in a weird demographic: too old for all my friends to be getting married, but too young for their kids to be getting married.</p>

<p>I did almost flush myself down the toilet in a black and white bridesmaid's dress one time, though, does that count for anything?</p>

<p><strong>28. What house cleaning chore do you hate to do the most?</strong><br />
Folding and putting away laundry. </p>

<p>I'd give you visual proof, but I have standards.</p>

<p>By "standards", I mean the pile of clean clothes would scare you. </p>

<p><strong>29. What is your favorite way to eat chicken?</strong><br />
With my mouth.</p>

<p><strong>30. It is your birthday. You hope the cake is? </strong><br />
For me.</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004439.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004439.html</guid>
         <category></category>
         <pubDate>Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:54:36 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>A mom blogger thank you</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<p>Even though it seems we've gotten away from it sometimes, blogging (at least for me) is about personal connections.</p>

<p>So, I was delighted when <a href="http://themotherhoodcreative.com/">Cooper and Emily</a> of <a href="http://themotherhood.com/">TheMotherhood</a> asked me to be a part of a special project where I get to thank a mom blogger each day this week.</p>

<p>1st day: Thank you, <a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/06/thank_you_mrs_flinger.html">Mrs. Flinger</a>!</p>

<p>2nd day: Thank you, Tori of <a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/06/thank_you_tori_of_babybloomrco.html">Babybloomr.com</a></p>

<p>3rd day: Thank you, <a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/06/thank_you_headless_mom.html">Headless Mom</a>!</p>

<p>4th day: Thank you , <a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/06/thursday_blogger.html">Amie of Mama Loves</a>!</p>

<p>5th day: Thank you, Jenn of <a href="http://www.busymom.net/reviews/2010/06/thank_you_jenn.html">Mommy Needs Coffee</a>!</p>

<p>Be sure to check <a href="http://www.themotherhood.com/circle/show/id/62016">TheMotherhood </a>to see all the moms we're thanking this week, and submit one of your own.</p>

<p>Or, tell me here who you'd like to recognize, don't be shy, let us meet your friends!</p>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004435.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.busymom.net/archives/004435.html</guid>
         <category>Mom Blog</category>
         <pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:54:17 -0600</pubDate>
<comments>
http://www.busymom.net/archives/004435.html#comments
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