8 bottles of wine on the wall, 8 bottles of wine...

I had 8 bottles of wine in preparation for last weekend's snow storm here in MD. And as of last night I had 7 and half bottles of wine.

You do the math.

That means I drank only 2 glasses of wine in the 3 and a half days of being snowed in.

What is wrong with that picture?!

Yes, I felt fine. No, I wasn't drinking vodka or beer. Yes, it was my favorite type of wine. No, I didn't forget it was there. Yes, I still love my wine. No, I'm not giving it up.

I guess I just wasn't in the mood.

Puh-lease.

Say it isn't so Mother Nature.

You just dumped nearly 30 inches of snow on us this weekend and now I hear you are dumping another 20? WTF? Don't you know MD is almost a southern state and we aren't suppose to get more than a foot of snow a year?

Ever hear of global warming?

The Storm of the Century

So it looks like we're going to get a boat load of snow here in the MD - DC area. A boat load meaning 2+ feet. And if you read my last post you know this means I am not going ANYWHERE in the next 3 days.

And I am doing what I can to maintain my composure.

I am one wrong step away from having a full blown panic attack. Yeah, I am serious. The next 3 days are going to royally suck for me.

Not because it's cold and snowy.

Not because my kids will be in and out of the house all day for two days straight dragging dirty snow into my semi clean house.

Not because we will have snow clothes, hats, mittens, boots, etc laying around the kitchen/mud room for two days.

Not because I am going to have to shovel a path from our back door for Holly to go out and have a comfortable area to do "her business."

Not because my kids are going to watch enough TV to last them a month.

Not because I will watch enough TV to last ME a month.

Not because I am alone making sure my kids are safe, happy and comfortable while we're stuck.

I am near panic because my husband is in California and due to come home Saturday afternoon right when the snow is going to be at it's heaviest and wettest.

Meaning he's not coming home.

Meaning if something happens I will have to deal with it.

Meaning I don't have someone to take care of me.

Meaning if the power goes out we are stuck in a cold dark house because I can't drive my mazda.

Meaning I have to pay the neighbor boy to shovel our walk and driveway because it's not in my job description.

Meaning I'm going to be lonely at night.

Meaning I'm going to have to figure out how to open the flue of the fireplace if we want to (or have to) build a fire.

Meaning I'm going to have to build a fire.

Meaning I'm going to miss him.

sniff.

.

(disclaimer: I am thankful we have a shelter and food and I do fully intend to take full advantage of the quality alone time with my children and I might even break out a craft or two!)

Mazda CX-7 #FAIL

If you used to read my old blog you may remember my new car situation about 2 years ago. Here's the abbreviated version...

I had a Tahoe, my husband sold it when he bought another bigger car, he told me I'd get a new car "soon" but in the meantime I could drive his brand new Avalon, I hated the Avalon, he reneged on our deal, I had to drive the Avalon, I whined, cried and pouted until he agreed to my new car, all I wanted was a Mazda CX-7, I got one, I loved it, I even monogrammed it.

Flash forward 2 years and 1 month.

While we were at church for my son's first reconciliation on Saturday morning it started to snow. By the time we left the church at 10:30 there was an inch or more on the road. Big whoop, right? It was slippery. Lilly and I had to run to the mall to pick up the fuzzy blanket we had monogrammed for her friend's birthday. On our way to the mall I was driving very carefully (yeah, I'm one of those slow snow drivers). At the mall intersection my anti-lock breaks kicked into gear and I freaked. I know about anti lock breaks. I was gently pushing on the gas and nothing was happening.

NOTHING. As in no acceleration (that's not normal, is it?)

I freaked. I put the hazard lights on so the ass behind me who was honking at me to go would know my sudden immobility was not by choice. We were in the middle of the intersection. Cars were coming. And I was trying to stay calm so I wouldn't scare my daughter but freaking and crazy was about to surface. I may or may not have said a bad word - loud enough for my daughter to clearly hear.

We made it to the mall. I foolishly thought it was a one time situation because that intersection was extra slippery. We shopped. I was calm by the time we got in the car to drive home.

Again, I was driving cautiously and for those of you who complain that people can't drive in the snow should stay off the roads... I 100% agree. But sometimes even people who can drive in the snow have the wrong kind of car to be driving in the snow... and they should still stay off the roads! People who can't drive in the snow AND have the wrong kind of vehicle for driving in the snow should really stay off the roads (my hand is raised). And your honking only makes it worse. Patience people. Have just a little.

My sporty little Mazda CX 7 does not handle well in the snow. I had two more freak out moments on my way home but we made it home in one piece.

So my cute little sporty Mazda CX 7 that I fought so hard to get was a major #FAIL in the snow. If you live where it doesn't snow... you'll love it as much as this almost 40 year old mom does. If you're looking for a car that will get you to and from the mall in the snow safely - do not buy a Mazda CX-7.

Is blogging so 2000 & late?

When I first started blogging... in 2006 there were so many blog posts I could barely keep up with the reading! These days it seems blogging is being replaced with tweeting. Hell. I'm guilty too! I think I was googling "monograms" and ended up on Preppy Cafe where I found Lisagh who opened my eyes to the whole phenom.

I've "met" so many awesome ladies and one awesome guy (we all know who he is, right?). I've "listened" to online squabbles and luckily (hopefully) avoided them myself. And I've taken a peak into the lives of a few pretty amazing life styles - who remembers "Confessions of a Not-so-desperate Housewife?" Oh, to have her life, right? I wonder where/how she is? I wonder if she got bored with blogging?

Is that what it is? People are bored with blogging?

TG for Lisagh who I can count on for a post a day and I am hoping she doesn't stop. No pressure dear friend. No pressure.

So is that it? Is blogging becoming so 2000 and late?

I'm just not a play date kind of mom.

There I said it.

I want my kids to have play dates but I'd rather they be at someone else's house. I am just way too uptight to deal with the noise level of two extra children in my house. I tweeted about this earlier and I meant what I tweeted:

My Tweet:

"I would prefer my children not run around so they don't get hurt... is that so wrong? yeah... I know."

Today for example Lilly came running into my office to tell me Michael's play date friend was at the top of the pine tree in front of our house. The pine tree is as tall as our house.

Was he at the top for real? No but he was damn close.

I hate yelling at other people's children but sometimes it really does take a village. So I yelled. I want the little genius (not!) to know he can not climb trees at our house. If he wants to climb at his house that's fine with me because when he falls and breaks his neck and paralyzes himself for the rest of his life... it will not be my fault as a neglectful play date mom. And probably more important I don't want my son think it's OK to climb to the top of a PINE tree! That's what the rock wall at the gym is for.

Is that so wrong?

Like I said I am just not the play date kind of mom. And I really would prefer my kids to stay nice and calm so they don't get hurt even if I know I need to let them be "kids."

It's hard.

Chicken Fried STEAK

I'm making Chicken Fried Steak tonight.

And just so y'all are clear I am aware of the caloric intake I am about to submit my children and husband to.

I will also be making mashed potatoes with lots of butter and sour cream... adding to the calories.

And yes, of course, there will be thick and creamy gravy to smother the fried steak in.

I think it will be good.

I know I will regret it.

I wonder how many pounds I'll gain tonight?

I don't care.

Yes... I do.