I have been guest blogging over at my Mom's since she is visiting family in Arkansas. I think I may squeeze in one more entry before she gets home.

I asked your input on this and everyone came back with lamb. Once again, I have to say my husband is right! Oldest and I thought it was a poodle because of the tail, but I can see where it could be a lamb. The animal belongs to Oldest she has the ultimate say and she is going with poodle.

For the last week or so I seem to have lost my ability to focus. I am getting things done but not like I want to. I am not focusing on what I want to do. I am mulling over not doing it. Just like going through the motions.

Bleh. Wah.

It will get better cause I am getting tired of being down.

What is up with all this fundraising at schools? The girls daycare is church-based so they have two fundraisers a year. One is for wrapping paper, candles, and misc stuff. The other is cookie dough at $12 a pop. I understand since they are non-profit they want to make more money to help the day care. Now that Oldest is in kindergarten based out of the same church, we have had more fundraisers for them. The latest one is for books. And not very interesting ones. This leads me to the following issues with fundraisers:

1. Sell something that people want. Overpriced wrapping paper, cookie dough, and books just don't cut it. Now don't think that I am just complaining. I have given suggestions to the girl's daycare, but they never take me up on my ideas, like this or this. I am sure there are more out there with stuff people would use everyday. I even offered to help out. (I am still figuring out the landscape of the school, so I may have some future influence on this.)

2. You can only hit your family, friends and co-workers so many times. I don't even take the "almost exactly the SAME" flyers with "almost exactly the same" stuff to work anymore. No one wants it and I don't like to keep asking.

3. How much does the school really get? Especially if the kids get prizes for selling a certain amount. Someone has to pay for that!

4. It's not really a good idea to go door to door anymore. So you have to depend family, friends and co-workers. What if that realm is limited? What if you know they are strapped for cash and can't really afford it? And this all links back to number 1. Sell something people want or will use and they will be willing to spend money.

5. Because of number 4 the kids are not really raising the money. The parents are. Bah!!!

My solution? Sell good stuff or offer a fundraiser opt-out plan. If you donate a certain amout of money to the school, you don't have to fundraise.

My questions? What if you don't participate in fundraisers or your fundraising is limited? Do other parents or school faculty look down on you? Do they shake their heads and "tsk tsk"?

Melinama posted about Penelope Illustrations's Best Advice Project. Her favorite is the last one on her post here. It is my favorite also. The funniest one is here. It would be well worth your time to look at all of them. They are full of good advice, humor, and great artwork and design.

I decided to take a quiz since some of my favorite bloggers had. I thought I might get similiar results to CalTech Girl, Bou, and VW since I tend to take lead roles in job and other things. Scanning through their results and mine, it seem you have to be adventerous and willing to try new things to be a leader. Hmmm...

I ended up with.....

I can see that. I love telling people they are doing great. It also mentioned that I can be direct. People quickly learn that I tell it like it is. Mostly tactfully.

I noticed an interesting thing between the four of us. We all were very high in Confidence, Trust in Others, Earthy/Imagnative, and Agency. I cut and pasted the definition of these term below:

I thought that was interesting, mostly on the Agency. I was not surprised with all the rest of them since it comes across in their blogging. But Agency? I don't think that is something easily conveyed in blogging. Unless you really think about what they mean by agency. Why would they use that term? Agency defined in the dictionary is not a direct correlation, but when you put both definitions together, it makes sense. I can see how Bou, VW, and CalTechGirl have affected their own outcomes. Is this a pattern of cool blogger chics?

Usually my "Moment of Bliss" posts are about just one moment. Not this one. And I usually don't go into detail about my days, but today was such a great one.....

Youngest woke me up today and told me to get dressed like her. Put on a jeans and a tshirt. I knew something was up because yesterday Hubby told her a secret. Try as I could she would not tell, but I figured it had something to do with our plans today.

So I got ready and both girls were already dressed, hair brushed and shoes on. WOW!!! We headed out in a direction that I could not guess where were going. I figured it was for breakfast. I watched the exits and tried to notice if we slowed down for a certain restaurant. We passed on by. The exit we took had a McDonalds on the left and a Cracker Barrel on the right. We got in the left turn lane. I grinned to myself knowing we were probably going to McDonalds since Oldest requested it a few weeks ago. (We do NOT like McDonalds!) Light turns green and he pulls out of the lane and goes to Cracker Barrel. It was a sneaky thing to do, but I like Cracker Barrel much better than McDonalds.

We finish up eating at 8:30am and Hubby mentions going to get our hair cut next. I look at him with big eyes, "Our appointment is at NOON!" He slyly grins and says "I thought your said nine." I start giggling and wondering where we are going next.

As we head out, I am watching our route and trying to figure out where we are going. I finally give up since the options are many. We end up at Putt Putt Golf with an empty parking lot. I ask if they are open. Hubby replies "Their website says they open at 9 am." We ended up the first customers of the day. It was perfect since it was still cool outside. We got a round of golf in before it got hot. With Putt Putt's special we got unlimited golf, 60 tokens, hot dogs and a coke. So we headed in to the games and had fun there. Hubby was a hero when he played a "Wheel of Fortune" game and won 800 tickets. Not only did he win all those tickets, but he won a harmonous "WOW" from the girls. With all tickets the girls each got some kind of sea urchin ball, a snake, a fan, a light up ball, and a tatoo. And a package of Pop Rocks to share.

After all that, we still had time to kill so we drove around a VERY nice neighborhood by our hair stylist and drooled. These houses were huge. But I wouldn't want to clean a house that big.

I always love getting my hair cut and Youngest takes after me. She LOVES it. Oldest likes looking at herself in the mirror and rolling her tongue.

The rest of the day we piddled and the girls happily played with Floam. Have you messed with this stuff before? W.E.I.R.D! You touch it and it feels slimy. But when you feel your fingers after they are dry as can be. The girls love it and spent a few hours entertained. Well worth the money.

I had an "AHA" moment today. I realized my husband likes to surprise me. I can remember him doing it early on in our relationship and it really irked me. I like to know where we are going so that I can be properly prepared. I can remember getting on to him about one of his surprise trips. Over time I have gotten used to it and go with the flow. It means a lot to me to know he took the time to plan today. He took care of the girls getting ready, researched Putt Putt, and thought the whole day through. He does not always express love in a manner that I want, but today he did it his way. And luckily I recognized it.

Rocket Jones has an interesting take on a current issue. The thought did make me chuckle...

If you want to vote for someone on American Idol, you will most likely get a busy signal on your first try. And if you are embarassed that you are voting in the first place, you won't try again.

8 months ago I missed taking Zoloft for a couple days and it did not make a difference. Previously if I missed one, I knew it and would feel blah again. I missed more, felt fine, and took myself off.

If you keep up with my blogging, I am sure you have seen more downer posts the last few months. I know I have been feeling it. I noticed the depression earlier this time. Loss of patience, anger, tears, anxiety over any form of failure, and general blah-ness. Last week I snapped at snarled at was not very nice to a co-worker and it was pointed out to me by my office mate. I made an appointment that day with my doctor.

Yesterday was that appointment. We figured out that I was on Zoloft last time for a year, which the Doc usually recommends. She thinks I got over my depression then. Since this is the second time she wants me on medication for 2 years.

I could go to a phyciatrist but I don't think that would much help. I see it going something like this:

I know another way to explain it. Think of me as a tea pot. Normally I start my day with no heat under me. Little things happen that may take the burner to a 1 or 2, but it does not stay long. And very seldom does the burner get to 5 and maybe once in a blue moon does it make it to 8. Never makes it 10 or High. But the last few months? I start the day at 3, little things take me to 5 and big things take me to 8. And then things that should not even matter take me straight to High. And the burner takes longer to cool down. Ya, I think that is a great way to put it.

I worry (again) if this is the right thing to do. Maybe I am just looking for the easy way. But I know that is not the case. Something is wrong and I need help controlling the burner.

Can't help but smile, huh?

Anti-MIL has a wonderful picture and story about their trip to the zoo with the girls.

Update: An additional post...

Hubby is snacking on salted lemons and milk. And I thought that eating Boy-R-Dee out of a can was weird. I think he has me beat.

Get rid of the old achy joints or car washing predictors, I have a new one for you. It's the Amy hair predictor. If I even think about taking the extra time to straighten my hair, it will rain. Yep, 25 minutes to staighten it and it will all be undone with a simple walk to the car. Instant kink!

Trust me, I didn't think about straightening my hair THAT much!!!

New lady at work. She has requested quite a few things that most new and existing people never ask for. Specific types of office supplies and other misc. things. But she really blew a few of us away when she asked for some shelves in the ladies room to place her stuff when she was in the bathroom. First of all, why would you want to leave your stuff on a shelf out side the stall? We have bathrooms that have public access. You can not put a shelf in both stalls since one of them is barely big enough for a person. The other one already has a chair in it. This bathroom has been this way for the 7 years I have been there and no one has ever pointed out that need.

What would you take with you? Notepad from a meeting? Set it on the counter or chair. Purse? Take it with you and hang it on the hook or set it in the chair. Very seldom at work do I have anything on me when I make a trip to the bathroom.

What about you? Do you need a shelf in your workplace* bathroom?

*I know Stay At Home Mom's need shelves in theirs......

These rules might be helpful for driving in the DFW Metroplex at any point and time.....

1. Don't get in the HOV lane if you go slower than the slow lane on the regular highway. Especially when you are in front of my husband.
2. No rubber necking allowed. Especially when you are in front of my husband.
3. No talking on your cell phone if you are in front of my husband.
4. If you are going to get in front of my husband, use your turn signal and make sure there is plenty of room for you.
5. Get out of my husband's way.

Did you know that when you have a sore throat, pancakes hurt when you eat, but not chocolate chips? So says my Oldest.

What are the chances that new lady will not make it past her probationary period? After today, I would say 100%.

Update: Clarification. She no longer works for my company.

Youngest, my brother and I are heading to my Mom's Thursday morning to attend her Retirement Ceremony. Oldest still has school. I am very excited and can't believe it is already here! This also means we are closer to her and my Dad moving up here. Wooo hoooo!!!!