The toughest job I ever had

Twelve years ago I took on a job that I was not fully qualified for and had no idea just how hard it would be.

The hours are long. There are no weekends or holidays off. I am on-call 24/7 even though my attendance isn't constantly in demand these days. It doesn't matter if I'm sick or tired, I still have to be there.

My job duties vary from cook to housekeeper to social activities director. I may be called on to act as chauffeur or counselor at any given time. I'm also a cheerleader and homework taskmaster.

Throughout it all I have learned much in my role. I know what RPG stands for and that Kraft makes the best mac 'n cheese. I continue to learn new things each day and with every passing year.

Knowing all of this you might be thinking, why did I apply?

Because the perks are amazing. I get unlimited hugs and kisses. I laugh a lot. I get to (sort of) experience a second childhood. And I am loved.

My official job title is "Mom" and this is the most important thing I've ever done in my life.

So, with that I'd like to wish my "employer", Christopher, a very Happy Birthday!


PS: In case you wanted to know, RPG stands for Rocket Propelled Grenade. I know this from listening to him go on about his "Halo" and "Call of Duty" video games. I may not understand what he's talking about half the time but I do listen and retain certain bits of info.

Take a left on Wicked Way

Last weekend we took a quick drive through this affluent community nearby. When I say affluent I'm talking - gated community with armed guards and your name has to be on the list to gain entry. Luckily Bill's co-worker lives there and put our name on "the list".

Anyway, it's a very large, very pretty and nicely maintained neighborhood. I wouldn't mind living there if I had a bajillion dollars. The only curious thing was the street names. There was no Main Street. No Third Ave. But there was Putting Green Drive. Granted, the area has a huge golf course, but still. There was also Ruff Skies Road and Dog Leg Street. Yeah, I'm not making this up.

Naturally I made fun of them all. Then I saw this:

Something wicked this way comes

Now there's a street I can live on. Of course, I had to take a picture and I'm sure the guy who was across the street puttering around in his garage thought I was probably casing the area in order to pull off a job. I guess that would be one way to afford to live there.

Too bad they had to add the wedge in there. Wicked Way would have been way cool. Also, notice the adjoining street name? "Even Par Drive". See what I mean? The developers are either huge golf fans or just non-creative.

Down the road from where I live now is a small community with street names like Van Halen Lane and Fogarty Drive and a few others so those developers must have been a bunch of cool rock 'n rollers.

Anyone else see unusual street names?

Book hangover

I'm hungover.

No, I didn't go out drinking into the wee hours only to wake up in a closet with my shirt on backwards.

What I have is a book hangover. I haven't had one of those in a long ass time. What is a book hangover, you ask? It's where you just finished reading a book and you can't get past it being over because you fell for the characters (especially the bad boy biker who you I fell in lust with) not to mention the exciting plot.

I've been catching up on some reading this summer with some quick, easy-to-read, trashy novels. Really enjoyed them, too. I'm also in the middle of a thrilling, detective book, which I put down to devour the book I can't get over. I literally bought my latest addictive book this past Friday night. Started it before bed and finished it Monday morning. Had I not been socially responsible and gone out to do some fun things with the family (not to mention take time to eat and sleep) I probably would have finished it on Saturday. Even while reading it I began to mourn the fact that it was going to end and I tried to slow down and savor the book but I couldn't help it and I drank that bitch down like the last beer at closing time.

Now I don't know what to do with myself. I have the urge to go re-read it and I never read a book twice because life's too short. I may go back to read through the dirty parts because yeah, I am that kinda girl.

So, what's this book that has me all funked up? It's called Motorcycle Man and it's the last in the Dream Man book series written by Kristen Ashley. Now normally if I like a book in a series I get 'em all and devour them like the Bookasaurus I am but in this case I liked these characters so much and because they won't be the central focus in the other books I don't wanna know 'em. Maybe, hopefully I'll come around.

Anyway, if you like trashy romances between sexy, badass bikers and fearless, headstrong women then I urge you to get in your car, on your motorcycle or on your broom to the nearest bookstore. But be forewarned that the language is graphic and the sex scenes are smoldering so if that ain't your thing, you should pass. I, on the other hand, am not easily offended, in fact, I appreciate real dialogue and happenings so this seriously appealed to me.

Oh and to point out the obvious, which I think I stated a time or 10 before, I'm easily influenced by a hot cover and the sexy smirk on the face which graced the cover of this book I bought is evidence of that.

Yes, yes I will climb on the back of your Harley.