Do I Keep on Musing?

I am thinking I should, but who knows. It is interesting, because I have people tell me I should blog, but what exactly would I say? You would think I would have something to say, but I never think it's important.

Is it important? What we think we have to say? I don't know...I am wondering what is important. I find that I am on a search for the "important" in life, and then I watch "Real Housewives of New Jersey." Is that an important show? Are they important people? I don't know...

So, here's what has gone on so far since the last time I posted...our 3 kids have all started school, a senior and freshman in high school, and a sixth grader (Heaven help me!) My father decided to move to Wisconsin, my sister had a perforated bowel, my pastor and his wife started "Church in a Barn," and I am still 46. My hubby is making me laugh more, and he is so happy to have our storage unit cleaned out...who knew?

What about you? What do you muse about? Do I keep on musing? Will you keep on musing? Let me know...maybe we should muse together!

I see there have been a lot of hits on "Musings..." That is awesome!

I have a lot of musings...I am afraid to muse in case I make no sense, but after 4 glasses of white wine, how can I not. Henceforth, my musings...

1) We have a golden boy...smelly hockey boy #1. He graduates this year and doesn't know whether to attend college right away or try, just try, to skate for a year to see if he gets noticed after high school hockey. I think he should get noticed for his play at the high school level, but what do I know? I am only his mother. He is the 1st born, and he has not had it easy, but oh, such a boy/man is he! I could not have prayed for a better person.

2) Our middle one, smelly hockey boy #2, has the name of James. If you don't know about mercy, read the Book of James in the New Testament. My boy, he has the gift of mercy, he got it from his mama. We are merciful...could be because we love Jesus, or because I am from Oklahoma. I prefer to think it is both :) Oh, and Lauren, my beautiful red head, he thinks you are hot and I would be okay if he married you even if you are the older woman! See, that is my example of mercy.

3) See below for the details on our girl...suffice it to say she has better hair than all of the Allman Brothers Band put together, and she is sweet...why wouldn't we name her after a song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFJ20eNspzo

I have been thinking a lot about babies, probably because @Hockeywife_22 is having her 2nd in a furen (OK speak) country and @lilhotz56 and @KylieD87 will be aunties to sets of twins in each of their families...wowwowwow! Love them a lot, have mercy on them a lot, and hug their moms and dads a lot.

Love y'all a lot...me!

Just a little freaked out that there are 367 views of my measly musings...really? What is that? I wonder if I should muse more regularly? Oy.Vey! School is out for the summer, and that means lots of busyness...boys here, girls there! I shall survive...Peace out!

...2012

As I re-read what I had written in previous posts, I giggled because clearly they were written at night and some are wine-induced (red wine to be exact!)

Happy New Year, my peeps. I hope it is a wonderful one for all of you.

Be peaceful!

James is giggling in the living room...

and John and I are texting because we let him go to a "nightstorm" party (nightstormparty.com) in Madison. We had to give him the very stern talking to about how we did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday, we will know if there are weapons there purely through osmosis, and there will be no drinking because surely everyone there will have a soda. I even made hubby give John $5 extra for one. Whew! I feel like a good parent.

So, the whole having a 16 year old is just plain dreadful. That's right, you heard me, D-R-E-A-D-F-U-LLLLLL! The independence thing, whatever. The driving thing, whatever. The convenience for you thing, whatever. Like my mama, Ella Mae, said..."can we have him sit in a chair again?" Thank you. Then there is my James, the 13 year old, who can chew me up and spit me out, but he should never, ever know that. The logic behind his arguments is scary and his smarts are scary. Geez, he's scary, but oh man, is he sweet. Finally, taller than me, and does he ever love his mama. That's what I like, mama's boys, lol!

The girl is driving me crazy...she is soooo her father's daughter. The fact that she is female doesn't help, but I like her...a lot. I can't imagine not having Missy Lou Who around, she is my bestie. I can tell her stuff within reason and she gets it. I, of course, avoid all gory details, because while I am from Oklahoma and we have a certain level of crassness, I have lived in Wisconsin long enough to avoid it - the crassness, that is (I hope!)

Tomorrow night, Pat Benatar with the ladies in the Wisconsin Dells...about an hour from Madison. Fun, fun, fun...pics on fb or twitter, and a really good dinner. Question? Martini or gin & tonic at dinner? Hit me with your best shot :)

Rumour has it...

How could I not resist downloading Adele from the Itunes Music Festival in London, England most very recently. Is she not "Excellent" in the words of Wayne & Garth?

So here's the deal...feeling compelled to blog more and heaven knows what that means...could be good and could be bad. I have found a lot of interesting blogs lately, some you need to know about, some I shall keep to myself (hubba hubba or whatever!)

How many people watch "Tabatha's Salon Makeover?" Completely addicting, and not just because of that thing on her nose that could be surgically removed...she has got it going on. She has made me want to be a salon manager. It requires round the clock makeup...have to think about that!

To my hockey women who move around the world with their men and children...really? Rock on with your bad selves, I love it. I thought I was brave moving from OK to PA...I got nothin' on you girls. I just like Wisconsin :)

We sold our old house, our starter home, for more than we were asking for...that's right, a real estate anomoly...would you come visit us? I could guarantee you awesome high school hockey, some fairly good Badger hockey (Ky and Meli, I am bidding on ND at the next golf outing), and some really great Bantam hockey with a lot of hitting from my boo, James Wesley (he is the second boy, lots of aggression, need I say more!) We are moving on September 30. You show up, and I will feed you, beer you, and hang with you...lovelovelove!

It's my birthday...tomorrow!

Not just any birthday, either, but my 45th one. Oy vey! It has been one h-e-double hockey sticks of a wild, wild ride. I can't complain, though, really...I listened to "Atlantic City" by Bruce Springsteen recently..."put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty, and meet me tonight in Atlantic City." So do you get a glass of white wine with that...please?

I must confess, I would like a little bit deeper meaning to my life than what it is now, but you know, I have these 3 incredible kids and one pretty awesome husband (I would never willingly tell him that, however, sort of messes with the man/woman alpha vibe!) I don't have to get a "real" job, only a "big girl" job to show that I am capable of hangin' in there to earn some money, any money, please...I am good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like me...these last bits of business are for my beloved hockey women/peeps, and here we go...there is no particular order and after a few glasses of wine with no supervision, anything goes...

Ali - you rock! You are one of my heroes because you are true to your beliefs and faith. Stick with it, girl. You are blessed! You inspire me! You are also a smarty pants...so very proud of your internship, but not surprised! Lovelovelove you!

Blair - I love that you are brave enough to go to Germany, keep us informed, and corral cows in the meantime. Thank you for making me think about traveling somewhere that doesn't always involve cows (sister, visit me in Wisconsin and you will understand!) and for your fabulous faith, you inspire me! Lovelovelove you!

Mer - you are a good soul, an old soul in a young body who always welcomes me into your life. Please keep the Moosewood cookbook, I wouldn't have it any other way. You show me a life that is so very, very interesting and you are smar, so very smart, and I love that. Pubs, talks, book reading in underwear...I think I actually did do that :) Lovelovelove you!

Lauren - my gorgeous red-headed woman...woohoo! Look at you in Virginia with your fab job, long hours, and interesting people...who knew? You rock, and I am anxious to see where you go in this life. You and your tweets inspire me! Lovelovelove you!

Gen - I love that you are a scientist, like a real live female, I have something in the tube scientist...woohoo! I also love that you cook, date, and hang out...can't wait until you cook and hang out with me, oh, and the dating? I make it a rule not to interfere, lol! Lovelovelove you!

Kylie - oh, my beloved Ky, you are so very dear to me, it is hard for me to express, and I love that you are a thoughtful, good woman who is willing to give me tips on bras. You are another of my heroes, Ky, and I can't wait to drink wine with you someday...lovelovelove you!

Melissa - I love you, you are somethin', somethin'...you, too, are so very, very dear to me...I love our chats and commiserating over life. Thank you for loving me as much as I love you...hugs to and lovelovelove you!

Jess - you crack me up, completely...and I love your blog. Thank you for inspiring me to bigger and better things outside the safety of my world...lovelovelove you!

Kristina - your writing is spectacular, your tweets and fb posts make me giggle, and you have got it goin' on...never, ever forget that. You can bake for me anytime, anywhere, and I will where my UND hockey shirt as a thank you. You can find me in the crowd, I will be a green girl with chocolate on her face. Lovelovelove you!

Hockey Wife - thank you for following me...you remind me that I was brave once, too. I followed a man somewhere far away from my comfort zone, not to Europe, but to Wisconsin which is close enough sometimes, lol! You can do this, have a baby or babies and live far away from all that you know...and you can be okay doing it. You are woman, here you roar...even though I don't know you well enough yet...lovelovelove you because it's my birthday.

Happy Birthday, my loves, and if I missed anyone, please know that is was truly accidental and under the influence of some very, very good wine :)

Peace out, always!

Another season...in so many ways!

So it is late, and as usual, I decide to write a post. The TX Rangers have won their series against the NY Rangers (thank you!) and that is very, very exciting. First time ever that those Rangers have been to the World Series...really? who knew?

An opinion poll...what do people think of "Jersey Shore?" I think ew, poo, and yucky! My husband thought the Situation's name was the Solution...really? Color me concerned for my hubby and for the rest of us who knew the correct name.

Started working a very part-time job at my pre-childbirth place of employment, very weird, but good, also. I have my own mad money or so I think, lol! Really, I just add it to the amount I skim every month as payment for my services as a runnin' fool of a mom!

Lovelovelove and good bye!

So I have a few things to say re: this free agency frenzy - here it is in three words with a comma...poop, double poop! Really?

Gonch to the Sens? Have no issues with the Sens taking Gonch, huge issues with the pens letting him go...that would be the double poop in the beginning of my post!

Paul Martin rocks...big, physical, American, bad, he's crotch grabbin' bad! Now, no injuries allowed!

Ethan Moreau and the CBJ - why did I not think of this before? I could have then earned the agent's commission on this genius idea!

Mer, I love you.

Jess, love the naked pics in your last update, wootwoot! What with being a U.S. citizen and all I am all about nakedness, of course, porn, an entirely different story.

Bah bye Bur, to Dallas no less, where they will eat, and I mean literally, eat you up. Honey, you will be in heaven!

My father was supposed to come and visit this weekend. Decided not to because his beloved girlfriend could not make it...okay! Really? Love you dad and June, see you in October, unless it is too cold! I am sooooo not bitter, lol!

'Night all!

A few things...

I have a few things to share, especially after a 13 hour ride from Oklahoma to Wisconsin and a few beers after arriving in Stoughton, WI...

1) The Habs traded Halak? Really?

2) Jason Arnott to the Devils from the Preds? Really?

3) Thank heavens those Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup! I was wondering what I would do all summer if the Flyers won it...

4) TX and OK are very, very hot this time of year!

5) Met my dad's new girlfriend, June(bug), lovely lady, but would like for some of my friends to meet her...could be interesting!

6) My husband missed me!

7) Damnation! Those world soccer cup refs, see what you get for looking at the purty sideline reporter instead of paying attention to the game...those U.S. boys should have won.

I am finished for now...hoping to blog more regularly, but you know, I tire easily and my love of beer makes me tire even more easily. Lovelovelove to my faithful readers!

So, here's the deal, it's been a while, a long while, and I am tired tonight. After much thought and beer, though, I decided to post a few musings. Ready, set, go!

Musing 1 - I am too old to have high maintenance people in my life. I thank you for not being one of them.

Musing 2 - Those Thrashers lost - DAMNATION! Ottawa - my beloved Mer, I will get back to you, but I may owe you an all expense paid trip to Wisconsin before these playoffs are over, lol!

Musing 3 - Beer on a Thursday night during Spring Break at home with the kids is not a bad thing!

Musing 4 - I miss my father-in-law, David, much more than I thought I ever would. I have a coffee mug that he bought me for Christmas 22 years ago that has butterflies on it - it is from a place called the Nature Company/Store. I thought it was ugly, took it to church, left it there, someone cleaned out the nasty coffee residue, and I purloined it back to my house. David dies, I drink out of it as much as I can because NOW I like it. My human frailty shows in stupid ways.

Musing 5 - love your mother, tolerate your father, love him on occasion.

Musing 6 - now I shall sleep!

...what I know...

I know this...John Hughes epitomized what my teenage angst was about in a very real way, with the exception of Jake in "Sixteen Candles." He was way to perfect and schwingy for me, which is why I watched that movie over and over. In the movie theater and on my VCR.

"Pretty in Pink" reminded me of me in so many ways...Ducky, oh Ducky, who didn't have a Ducky...who sang Otis Redding no less. I loved that character. I loved Andrew McCarthy's sad sack of a character...I thought he was every boy I had ever dated...which is why I watched that movie over and over. In the movie theater and on my VCR.

I had just moved to Philadelphia (sorry my Pitt women) in 1991 when I saw "Home Alone", and I was so beside myself because it was awesome and I saw it in a theater with many, many people, the most I had ever been with in an entire movie theater, even when I saw "Purple Rain." I laughed and laughed, even when I had nachos spilled on me, and I didn't quite know how to be non-polite, like "excuse me, but could you get your ***** nachos off of me right now."

John Hughes, he was something, remember "Trains, Planes, and Automobiles." I just wanted Mark to come home to me because we were living across the country from each other when this came out, and it so reminded me of our life.

I just wanted to pay homage to a man who I grew up with, and gave me a peace of mind about who I was and what it meant to be me...he made films about me...he could have called me and I would have listened to him...R.I.P. my brother, my friend in movies...

...get on your cup!

Instead of get on your boots, can you get on your cup? your Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup? yeah, that one...how sweet it is to have the redemption of a game 7 to sort of turn your nose at the world of hockey unbelievers.

I drove all day yesterday (okay no Cindy Lauper lyrics about driving all night are allowed) to OK to get to a television to watch this epic game 7...I prayed off and on all day, and you know what? I am so glad I did. For those of you who maybe do the hockey gods thing, let me tell you God is soooo good. Yep, prayers of pens' fans were heard by the Almighty, he unleashed Max Talbot, the bushy bearded angel, and we've got ourselves a cup, our Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup...

Get on your cup, up, up, sexy cup!

Oh, and for Ali: WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

One word for tonight's OT game between Blackhawks and Wings - AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! Do you think it has anything to do with my wearing of a blackhawks tshirt, because if I thought for a minute it did, I wouldn't wear it anymore, even though it is a sharpie shirt, and well, I like it...maybe I will experiment and not wear it during the next game. I shall report back!

In happier news, my pens shirt = win! 'Nuf said!

Words to describe the pens game tonight (reminder that it was game 3: pens vs. caps and caps were leading series 2-0):

Magnificent
Magnifico
Magnifique
WWWOOOOHHHHOOOOO!!!!
Now that's what I am talking about...
I finally get LeSwoon, and truly, d-man + french speaking = sigh!
Love it!
Love it!
Love it!
WWWWOOOOOHHHHHOOOOOOO!!!!!!

What do girls do without their men?

So all three of our men from the Browning family have headed to Bloomington, MN for the Minnesota Meltdown which consists of many triple AAA clubs from all of the over the country and one from Thunder Bay, Ontario (shoutout to the Staals!) coming together to play lots of hockey. The girl (who is 8) and I are having a weekend together of femaleness - the question is will we survive?

Today we have been to the salon - me for color, her for a mini-pedicure and hair treatment, WalMart, the grocery store, and the bowling alley. That was so much activity for me that I had to nap while Missy hung with her neighborhood friends...tomorrow, shoe shopping and lunch. Now, I like all this, but I do miss my messy, loud boys (that would include my husband!)

Our boys are very commanding in their presence, eat a lot, and either run constantly or crash really hard! Our girl is mellow...she is agreeable, she is sweet, and reminds me of her brothers by being messy (as evidenced by her room). Here is the thing with Missy, though, she is the youngest, but she has to have a commanding presence to keep up with her brothers. I will say that she does, unequivocably. She is passionate about her loves, dance and soccer, and equally disdainful of unfairness. I love that about her. I look at her and I think that all is well with the world. I look at my boys and think the same thing, but know that they could sometimes create a little havoc in the world.

My point is this, I look at our kids and I think that they have all of the possibilities and more of doing what they want to do, when, where and how...my goal is to show them that they can do all of it and more...I used to temper this with reason, but dream big, live big, and love even bigger...

What do these girls do without their men? Have a lot of fun, spend a little money, eat out where we want to, and miss them.

So, here I am...it is late and I am tired and have probably had too much Miller Lite, but I feel compelled to say just a few things...

1) NYC is the place to be...I think I need to meet my sister there so we can see my niece, her daughter, in action, and publicly humiliate her in a kind and loving way as only southern women can...

2) Florida might be another destination only because my friend, Meli, likes to golf there...she is a golfin' girl, instead of a shoppin' girl, never met one, but I like her, so she/they are not all that bad :)

3) I am 42, going on 43, can I go to TX to convalesce yet, even if I don't have plastic surgery!?

4) I miss Jules and I miss SC from last year, where did he go?

5) I love my husband, and he loves the badger hockey team. 'Nuff said!

6) I love my kids, they rock, I rock, he rocks, a she bop!

7) Mom, you are the bomb!

Peace out, my people, and remember, go Stoughton Vikings on March 13-15....

So, I have a thought or three now that I have been viewing other blogs for awhile and emailing and facebooking, which is totally addictive, oh, and I have my girls...love them.


I love the internet, love it, love it...you know why? It is safe and easy...I can be me, make sense? I like the fact that I am judged for the content of my character, and not anything else (...and if you can tell me where I lifted that phrase, I will send you expensive chocolate or stationary.) I can tell what I want when I want to whom I want and it is all right (Mer makes me very conscious of grammar.)


Here's the thing, I end up revealing a lot...because the people I have met on the internet, I like, I really, really like, they are an awesome bunch of people, mostly women...we come together with a common interest which is borne out of hockey, and we have moved on to so much more!


I never thought I would leave comments on blogs, chat in a chatroom, have facebook, let alone have intelligent correspondence with respectable people...it does a body good, y'a know? Yet, I question myself...self, do I need a life?


There are some pretty ridiculous, yet highly addictive chatrooms out there...I fall into the trap of looking at them...one piece of information, and bam! I am right there all the time until the "truth" is revealed...What exactly is the truth? Well, for me, unless it is from the Bible, no truth...people.com, some truth, not much, but some really great pictures...what do I know other than the simple things in life? I will take that, thank you very much...


Some shoutouts before I close, please, because I can!


1) My people for loving me no matter what! ...and it is okay that I only want to talk to maybe three of you at any given time in my life...


2) My girls - Meli, Lauren, Anna, Kat, TraciAnn, and MNS - you rock! Thanks for giving me the confidence to be 42, wise, and silly all at the same time...love you women!


3) Mer and the women on WTBL - you rock! 'nuf said ( Mer, do not correct my grammar!)


4) All my facebook people, who knew?


5) And to the bubblegum factory that made this all possible, this Oscar is for you!