No blogging, just staring at the television and praying for the people in Boston today. Hugging my family a little tighter tonight.

Moon and I have reached a great place in our relationship, that awesome, over-too-soon moment in time where we actually wear the same size shoe. The good news is that I’ve bought her several cute pairs lately. The bad news, stink. Soon she’ll be borrowing my clothes, then hating my clothes, then forbidding me to wear her clothes. She’s growing up.

On Tuesday I registered her for 6th grade. SIXTH GRADE! It’s impossible. I swear it was just the other day when JD and I were walking her into her kindergarten class, photographing every step. Well, we actually did that in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade too, but you get the idea. Now we have to hide in the bushes like paparazzi to get a shot of her on school property.

Speaking of shooting, imagine my joy when I noticed a note Moon had written on her agenda, to “Bring gun” on Monday. Luckily, she actually meant to write, “Bring GUM.” Which is much better and totally legal, according to our attorney.

School is almost over, thanks be to Jesus! Next week is Spring Break and we’re going to head to Tennessee for a couple of days. I like to share the joy that is a bored tween with my parents. They were so helpful when I was a kid. Moon will have a great time going in or out, pick ONE. Also, read a book. I was telling the bridge ladies that I might let Moon and her friends walk down the mountain to the store, but they’d have to cross a field to get there and that would entail them crawling under an electric fence. You would have thought I said they had to cross through Tora Bora. (That’s a place, right?) How hard is it to crawl under a thin wire, four feet in the air??  My plan was to relax in the shade while Moon runs around the mountain. But no, my mom says if anyone walks around the trails, I have to go too. This from the woman that once let me ride all the way to Kentucky in the back of a pickup truck.

Mothers, what can you do? The bad news is that she’ll probably actually make me walk with Moon, through the overgrown trails, and down the long, hot, dusty trail to the store. The good news is, I can still wear HER shoes.

This was one of those awesome weekends where you do things you haven’t done in years. That’s right, I washed my windows. On the OUTSIDE. JD used a ladder and everything, and we only broke one storm-window in the process.

It was all in honor of our friend, Britt’s, 40th birthday. I know what you’re thinking, why am I hanging out with so many old people? What can I say, they just know how to party.

Carolyn and Don showed up looking like something right out of That 70′s Show. If the teenagers on That 70′s Show had 3 kids. Carolyn was sporting a red wig that was the HIT of the party.

Later, she hit on a younger man and danced to a slow jam. Carolyn earned 20 points for best wig. Unfortunately, she lost 100 points for being 2 in the 70′s.

Manatamy and her husband, whitemarginstargazergreg made an appearance. At least I think that was him, he was a little washed out. Dude, spend some time in the sun!

Carolyn’s wig made the rounds and it had some sort of magical power that made it look good on everyone.

I mean, that guy must get ALL the girls.

See, it worked for the birthday boy. Or maybe it was the dance moves. We pushed back the furniture, cranked up Play That Funky Music White Boy, and got it ON. It reminded me of growing up in the 70′s. My dad opened a bar next door to our house and I could hear the music and fun from my bedroom. I always wanted to go and join the festivities but I couldn’t.  My mom made me stay far away from the dancing, drunk adults. Which is probably why when I went to college, I ran to the first bar I could find to see what I had been missing.

My daughter won’t have to do that since we included her in all the fun. I think my superiority as a parent is evident.

So my friend “J” emailed me the other day and said that since I wasn’t USING Zolligirl, that she was going to delete it. DELETE it. She said some other stuff about how I wasn’t actually paying for hosting and how she needed the space for “real” clients, blah, blah, blah. I told her that she should just bill her clients for more to cover the cost of my hosting, but for some reason she didn’t think that was a good idea. Good help is hard to find, amiright?

All of this to say that I decided to go ahead and PAY her since I use Zolligirl as an online recipe book and I didn’t want to have to go through the trouble of writing my Moron Test Kitchen’s down. It appears that I’m lazy. Who knew? What does this have to do with anything? Well, if I’m PAYING for hosting, I might as well go ahead and use it.

So, how’ve you been? In the months since we’ve spoken, I’ve managed to gain another 10 pounds, keep my house clean for almost 1 days in a row, oh, and I’ve become a chicken activist. Or as I like to call it, a chicken HATCHtivist!

Yes, I still don’t have chickens and if Cobb County has anything to say about it, I never will! Currently the law is that you must own 2 acres. TWO acres. Who can afford 2 acres in Cobb County? 3% of the people, that’s who. Same old story, the poor get poorer and the rich get chickens. But I’m not taking it lying down. I am using all my power and influence to get the law changed. And by “power and influence” I mean I’m leaving anonymous comments on the Marietta Daily Journal online newspaper. Also, a twitter account.

Here’s what people who want chickens say:

I am happy to see an article on the front page of the MDJ that explores why and how people are living healthier lives when it comes to their food choices. Come on Cobb County and Marietta City! Why can’t I have a few chickens in my backyard that can enjoy some sun on their beaks rather than languish in an industrial henhouse somewhere? Young families want fresh organic eggs from their backyard and the experience of caring for the animals as pets. Other counties and cites in the local Atlanta area allow their residents to have small flocks. Why can’t we?

Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal – Free range grass fed Demand for organic foods driving Cobb’s current backyard chicken dilemma

Here’s what people who DON’T want chickens say:

Duh. Me no want chicken. Me just buy egg.

Clearly, the Cobb Board of Commissioners have a tough decision to make. Sign the petition for backyard chickens in Cobb County here. And if you don’t, remember that Zolligirl is back up and running and looking for material. And I have lots of photos of you.

Hatchtivist don’t play.

Kittens, I am tired. Mantamy and I are sitting in a lounge in Paris, waiting for our next flight, another 8+hour ride. I’m pretty sure I’m offensive at this point. I mean, more so than usual.

All this traveling is exhausting, but I’m getting through it by digging deep and finding the strength to go on. And by “digging deep”, I mean “eating the chocolate croissants they hand out here”.

Air France is nice. Our flight had movies and a great dinner. Not that I knew what I was eating. I kept thinking it was the best cornbread I’d ever tasted when I finally realized it was actually orange and cranberry cake. Excuse me, but Zollicoffer High only offered spanish!

Well,  my computer’s power level is low so I better sign off before I run out. And also the lounge just put out some tiny sandwiches that I need to try. Digging deep is fattening.

I know this is a bit late, but I’m enjoying watching the sun rise over the snowy mountain in Zollicoffer. I have lots of things to be thankful for – let’s begin, shall we?

61. I’m thankful that my parents live on a mountain where I can visit and watch the sunrise.

62. That it snowed while we were here.

63. For the ability to build a snowman with my daughter.

64. For hot chocolate.

65. I’m thankful that my daughter found a dentist who needs photography.

66. I’m thankful that my husband has serious skill as a photographer.

67. I’m thankful I was in town while my Aunt Gay from Michigan visited.

68. That my mom and Aunt Gay are documenting the family history.

69. That I come from such a long line of “interesting” people.

70. That I’m not running for public office.

I hope that everywhere you look today, you find something to be thankful for!

Every now and then, I’ll get up and find JD has put the television on some weird “wake-up” channel. You know the type, where it just shows a lake at sunrise, with the sounds of crickets, etc. I guess it’s supposed to give you a peaceful, easy feeling.

This is like that for me.

I’m not very good at writing about issues of faith, so this week I decided to start the Holy Sunday posts again, so that I’d have to get more comfortable. I had every intention of writing something deep and inspiring, but now it’s Sunday morning, I still haven’t showered, eaten breakfast or figured out what I’m going to wear.

Doesn’t matter, Andy Stanley is WAY better at this faith stuff anyway. If you’re passing on church today, or if you’d just like to hear a really good message about focusing on your ONE THING, click this link.
It’s what’s driving me this week.

I dream of a day when I can actually go to grown-up movies again. This look good.

It’s no Pride and Prejudice, but it shows promise.

I’m thankful for all my family and friends, and for how you’ve all made this blog so successful. Mostly that first part.

Enjoy your day!