"Four central Missouri teenagers are charged with stealing a herd of
cattle, loading them into a trailer and hauling the animals to an
auction where they were sold."

I'm not much of an expert on livestock (hell, I'm NO expert on livestock), but I just cannot fathom how and why teenagers would do something like this.  Okay, so I think I understand the hows and whys, really, but...!  Eight cattle were taken and sold.  It's not like an iPod that you can stick in your pocket and hide.  This is eight cattle. 

Of course, I'm showing my city-girl-ness with this one.  I can't wrap my head around the whole thing without giggling a little bit.

Today was Brandon's first day of kindergarten!  <insert mommy sobbing here>.  We made it without a hitch, and I didn't even tear up.  We were barely out of the driveway when he asked "Are we at school yet!?".  He has been so excited that he's been even nuttier than usual, but it doesn't help that his birthday is this week, either. 

Poor Melena.  We all got up at 5:45 today, just to make sure everyone got dressed / fed / showered / put together / whatever in time, and she wobbled around for the morning, looking at us like "what the FUCK, guys!?!  It's still dark and you're getting me up!!?!"  It really was kind of cute in a weird way.

It was only a half day, too, same as tomorrow, but so far, he enjoys it.  I can NOT believe that the years went by this quickly.  Some days, I just want a rewind button. 

Other days, I'd just prefer a mute button. 

Well, you probably know I'm a music freak.  When I quit smoking 12 years ago, EVERY LAST CENT that I'd previously used on cigarettes went toward purchasing CDs.  As you can imagine, I have a fair collection - well, I did, then we were robbed, but then I replaced everything.  I also went to lots of concerts; in fact, I've met Soundgarden (cool guys, btw)! 

I'm sure you're thinking to yourself, "Self, what exactly is it that we don't know about Shelly?"  Well, here you go!

I don't go to concerts much anymore, mostly because of kids, but also because HOLY FUCK HAVE YOU SEEN TICKET PRICES LATELY!  BUT - there's a short list of concerts I would get a sitter for the kids so I could go!  (Crap, does that make sense?)

1. Pearl Jam
2. Tool
3. Rush
4. The Police
5. "Weird Al" Yankovic

I have seen ALL of these bands / performers at least once with the exception of Pearl Jam; I've never EVER EVER EVER seen them, and it makes my heart a little sad.  Oh, I haven't seen The Police, either. 

So there you go. 

Srsly, you can't make this shit up.

I was tagged by auntlada to do this survey!  

A. Attached or single? Attached

B. Best friend? I have to list one?  In town, Rosalynne!

C. Cake or pie?  Chocolate cake, cherry pie

D. Day of choice? Doesn't matter, they all look alike to me

E. Essential item? Beer

F. Favorite color? Purple

 G. Gummy bears or worms? Whichever one is covered in chocolate

H.  Hometown? Kansas City

I. Favorite indulgence? Chocolate.  Beer

J. January or July? January sometimes has snow, but I can swim in July. 

K. Kids? Two

L. Life isn't complete without? BEER.  My kids.  Oh, and Craig

M. Marriage date? 2001

N. Numbers of brothers and sisters? One brothers

O.  Oranges or apples? Apples

P. Phobias?  Deep water.  Stinging insects.

Q.  Quotes?  "Do or do not.  There is no try" or "Well behaved women rarely make history"

R. Reasons to smile? My kids, dark chocolate.

S. Season of choice? Fall

T. Tag seven peeps: discorara, Acorn7, Smarticus, Craig (because he never posts)....crap, who else is out there?  wildboysmama, lilmssassy, ....one more...think think think...okay, macgillicuddy. 

U. Unknown fact about me? I'm the only one in my family with green eyes.  My mom and brother have blue eyes, my dad has brown, my husband and children all have brown eyes, too. 

V. Vegetable?  Broccoli

W. Worst habits? I don't have any bad habits! 

X. X-ray or ultrasound? Either.

Y. Your favorite food? Pizza, hot wings

Z. Zodiac? Aries

I love Craig, I really do.  He can fix computers, get stuff off the high shelves, and lift heavy stuff, but when it comes to regular, around-the-house handiwork, he sometimes leaves a little to be desired.

Our Paula Deen Miracle Toaster and Hand-Job Giver (not really, it's just an awesome toaster!) broke today AFTER toasting waffles for the kidlets but BEFORE toasting my customary morning English Muffin.  We no longer have our old toaster.  We thought we'd have to make a 'mergency run to Wal-Mart to get a new, not-so-miraculous toaster (because school supplies!  We has them!) 

BUT Craig decided to give fixing the old toaster a try.  I watched nervously as he got out the screwdriver and a cookie sheet (to catch errant crumbs and possibly an underpants gnome)...and, after about ten minutes, the Miracle Toaster is now about to be happily toasting again!

Of course, I don't know if it works CORRECTLY.  That remains to be seen.

Off to toast!

So I like beer, and really enjoy trying new brews. 

The other night at the store, I saw several new "brews" from Warsteiner.  I love Warsteiner, especially Warsteiner Dunkel.  (Wait, I love beer.  Duh.)

There's Radler, which is Warsteiner and Lemon-Lime soda.  I've had that frequently at my favorite German restaurant, and it's really great in the summer.  There was Lemon, Orange, and....

Cola.

It sounded terrible, but intriguing.  Craig talked me into buying a 6 pack.

It's GOOD.  I think about it all day.  It's really really good.  There's no weird bitterness, no strange aftertastes...of course, I'm drinking a malt beverage, and not a real beer, but....

I also get the feeling it would be better, when mixing it at home yourself, that you use cheap cola vs. Something Name Brand.  But that's just me. 

Damn, it's good stuff.

Craig had twelve dead gnats in the bottom of his coffee mug today.  I toyed around with the idea of not washing them out, but changed my mind.

They come in with the peaches we buy, apparently, and when our coffee maker cools off, they sometimes sneak into the coffee pot, too.  It's disgusting.  But it's even worse to find them encrusted in the bottom of a coffee mug. 

MY BABY WALKED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She took her first four steps to her daddy, trying to get an empty Dr. Pepper bottle.  She also went after my mobile phone.  No photos or videos were taken, as we were too busy

WATCHING HER WALK!

Brandon, my dear 4 1/2 year old son, used to be such a good eater.  One of his favorite snacks was lima beans, I kid you not.  He's tried california rolls in his lifetime.  He used to eat damn near anything we put in front of him.

Alas, 4 1/2 year old appetite has apparently taken refuge in his belly.

I can get him to eat grilled cheese sandwiches, sometimes with pickles.  Peanut butter sandwiches.  Chicken fingers, but NOT the good, home-made kind.  Only the kind you buy pre-made at the store, or at a restaurant.  Macaroni.  Plain spaghetti with "special cheese" (parmesan sprinkle crap).  Crab legs.  CRAB LEGS, of all things!  Meatloaf.  Mashed potatoes.  Apples.  Pears.  French fries and tots. 

Seriously, I just don't know what to do.  My mom spent a lot of time catering to my fussy brother, so it wasn't uncommon for her to make several things at mealtimes to accommodate one or both of us.  Craig's parents would send the boys to their rooms when they didn't want to eat what was set forth in front of them.  I want to find a good middle ground, in the hopes of preventing this from happening with the baby (who, at this point, is NOT picky.  She'll eat bugs and acorns and twigs if the opportunity presents itself!)

I would love some great ideas or advice on how to get healthier meals into my family.  I am not opposed to cooking large servings ahead of time and freezing.  My meatloaf recipe goes over so well that I swear I have to make it fifteen pounds at a time.  In fact, I would *prefer* things I can make ahead.  Dinner time is my biggest stress-out situation, and I would really like to cut that down.  Any good recipes, books, websites, resources, or other advice would be welcome.

And so would a shot of whisky.