I saw something the other day that was so wrong on so many levels it is hard to believe what my eyes were actually seeing.
I was driving down Main St. by Seacliff Village and HBHS and I saw a lady waiting at the bus stop. This in itself is not unusual. What happened next was unusual. Please understand that this event took seconds to occur, but it takes a little more time to write in black and white and for you to read it.
The woman had turned around and was bending over the bus stop bench. Keep in mind that she was in her sixties, had long waist length grey hair and was wearing a very short skirt. I could not believe it, but she had on a thong and her skirt was so short that nothing was left to my imagination. She may as well have been commando. I was so shocked I had to keep staring to make sure I was actually seeing what I was seeing.
I like to think of myself as being pretty tolerant of one's clothing choices. This, however, was beyond my ability to accept. What was this woman thinking? Couldn't she feel the breeze up her back? Didn't she realize that you can not bend over while wearing a short skirt bare legged? Did she forget how old she was? I spent many hours pondering these questions and evaluating my own choices for attire.
Please, if I ever wear anything inappropriate, for the love of God, inform me quickly before I meet the same fate as that woman at the bus stop.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
TINKLE IN THE SNOW
The Roderick's love to take road trips. We have always jumped in the car with kids in tow, taking on an interstate for a 12-14 hour adventure. We could tell story after story, but this one is so typical.
We had driven to SLC for Christmas and we were loading up and getting out of there so that we could beat the snow storm that was headed our way. We did pretty well until we hit the Nevada desert on our way back to Medford, Oregon. Nothing for miles and miles and we didn't see sand, we encountered snow. We had to slow down to a crawl and Scott had been holding his soda for a very long time and it was necessary to pull over and take a break, so to speak.
Of course, the girls were very curious as to why Dad had to get out of the car in the snow. Now I made a very basic parental error of being totally honest and truthful with our girls. I told them that Dad had to piddle and there wasn't anywhere to go so he was going along side the road.
Scott, in the mean time, was behind the van going and going and going (big soda, remember). The second I had explained this to the girls, they were out of their seat belts, hurdling over the back seat, peering out the back window, eyes wide with anticipation. All that commotion just to catch a glimpse of their father relieving himself.
Scott smiled and waved with his free hand and the girls were thrilled. They still bring that tale up every once in a while.
Just another Roderick day.
We had driven to SLC for Christmas and we were loading up and getting out of there so that we could beat the snow storm that was headed our way. We did pretty well until we hit the Nevada desert on our way back to Medford, Oregon. Nothing for miles and miles and we didn't see sand, we encountered snow. We had to slow down to a crawl and Scott had been holding his soda for a very long time and it was necessary to pull over and take a break, so to speak.
Of course, the girls were very curious as to why Dad had to get out of the car in the snow. Now I made a very basic parental error of being totally honest and truthful with our girls. I told them that Dad had to piddle and there wasn't anywhere to go so he was going along side the road.
Scott, in the mean time, was behind the van going and going and going (big soda, remember). The second I had explained this to the girls, they were out of their seat belts, hurdling over the back seat, peering out the back window, eyes wide with anticipation. All that commotion just to catch a glimpse of their father relieving himself.
Scott smiled and waved with his free hand and the girls were thrilled. They still bring that tale up every once in a while.
Just another Roderick day.
Friday, November 6, 2009
6:30AM
Scott and I awoke this morning to a tremendous ruckus going on outside our bedroom door. Girls jumping out of bed and hitting the floor sounding like a herd of elephants running through the savannah. They had slept in and had five minutes to get ready. It was on.
Suddenly, we heard Hope giggling and Shae telling her it's not funny. Then, Shae screaming that she is so mad at Hope, so mad at her life and so mad at anything else that gets in the way. Following that rampage, she is yelling at Hope to just go get in the car. I was going to investigate this tirade further when they got home from school, for sure.
Both girls walked in the front door at lunch and I was ready for them. I did get the whole story.
Apparently, the girls were scrimmaging for the bathroom once they were awake. In and out, in and out. Shae got caught on the toilet paper and ran to her room with it still on the roll stuck to her pants and basically toilet papered the hall and her bedroom. Everywhere she walked, TP followed. Hope got tickled with that scene and started laughing. Shae was furious because she didn't have time for this nonsense and told Hope to go to the car.
When they arrived at school, Shae was still checking with Hope about the toilet paper stuck to her pants. Sure enough, there was a small remnant under her jacket that wasn't completely removed. Poor Shae.
Don't you wish you were a Roderick girl?
Suddenly, we heard Hope giggling and Shae telling her it's not funny. Then, Shae screaming that she is so mad at Hope, so mad at her life and so mad at anything else that gets in the way. Following that rampage, she is yelling at Hope to just go get in the car. I was going to investigate this tirade further when they got home from school, for sure.
Both girls walked in the front door at lunch and I was ready for them. I did get the whole story.
Apparently, the girls were scrimmaging for the bathroom once they were awake. In and out, in and out. Shae got caught on the toilet paper and ran to her room with it still on the roll stuck to her pants and basically toilet papered the hall and her bedroom. Everywhere she walked, TP followed. Hope got tickled with that scene and started laughing. Shae was furious because she didn't have time for this nonsense and told Hope to go to the car.
When they arrived at school, Shae was still checking with Hope about the toilet paper stuck to her pants. Sure enough, there was a small remnant under her jacket that wasn't completely removed. Poor Shae.
Don't you wish you were a Roderick girl?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
RAINY DAY BIKE RIDE
Phyllis and I have walked together for many years. Some years we were better about it than others, but I am not here to judge, just to state facts. One year we really stepped it up and we were riding bikes and walking. I know, it's hard for me to believe too, but it is true. Let me share one of our many adventures.
We planned to meet at the church and ride our bikes to the beach and then decide our destination from that point. It was a little cloudy but I told Phyllis that my Grammy used to say "if there is enough blue sky to make a pair of pants it won't rain." Sort of an abstract way to predict the weather, but we were on our bikes and riding away without a care about the climate.
It started to pour before we reached PCH. What are two gals, soaking wet, to do? We made a quick decision and stopped to go through some open houses in the Boardwalk track, a brand new development. We rode up, parked our bikes and raced up to the first house. We wiped our feet, we may have even taken off our shoes, and pranced through the gorgeous home. We did take notice of the large ceramic pear on the kitchen counter. Interesting designer. We went through three models that morning and all of them had those same pears on the kitchen counter, some of them in a group of three or four. Were we missing something? Do we need to purchase pears for our kitchens as well? We thought they were hideous, but we aren't designers.
We never did figure that one out, but we did have fun touring those houses. We even came away with a few ideas for our own homes.
It never did stop raining, so we rode back to the church with a memory in our hearts. Sorry, Grammy, your little quote did not serve us well on that soggy day.
Anyone want to take a bike ride with a Roderick?
We planned to meet at the church and ride our bikes to the beach and then decide our destination from that point. It was a little cloudy but I told Phyllis that my Grammy used to say "if there is enough blue sky to make a pair of pants it won't rain." Sort of an abstract way to predict the weather, but we were on our bikes and riding away without a care about the climate.
It started to pour before we reached PCH. What are two gals, soaking wet, to do? We made a quick decision and stopped to go through some open houses in the Boardwalk track, a brand new development. We rode up, parked our bikes and raced up to the first house. We wiped our feet, we may have even taken off our shoes, and pranced through the gorgeous home. We did take notice of the large ceramic pear on the kitchen counter. Interesting designer. We went through three models that morning and all of them had those same pears on the kitchen counter, some of them in a group of three or four. Were we missing something? Do we need to purchase pears for our kitchens as well? We thought they were hideous, but we aren't designers.
We never did figure that one out, but we did have fun touring those houses. We even came away with a few ideas for our own homes.
It never did stop raining, so we rode back to the church with a memory in our hearts. Sorry, Grammy, your little quote did not serve us well on that soggy day.
Anyone want to take a bike ride with a Roderick?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
NOXEMA
Way back when, I used Noxema to clean my face. For some reason Kelsey loved the smell, texture and the blue jar. I would give her a little dab to use while she was observing me performing my evening ritual. She would copy my every move and enjoyed herself whole heartedly.
One afternoon my friend, Betsy and her little boy Dylan, stopped by to play. Betsy and I have known each other for years so it was natural for our kids to grow up and play together. Kelsey and Dylan would trot down to her room and play with all the toys and Betsy and I would enjoy a cup of coffee and chat. Our kids were great together and fighting and arguing was rare.
We were deep in conversation when we realized there was silence in the house. This is a bad sign when you have kids. We went to check on the two amigos and were stunned at what we found. They had apparently left Kelsey's room and had entered the master bath and all the toiletries. Dylan had been covered head to toe in Noxema. In his hair, in his ears, up his nose and all over his arms. Kelsey looked a little better because, hey, she had had lessons and knew how to correctly apply the cream.
The two Noxema kids just smiled and we had them in the bathtub in a flash. I was surprised they were not able to get any in each others eyes. That would have been bad and I was happy not to have to fight that battle. We soaked them for about half an hour in warm water. FYI - Noxema is not easy to get out of hair.
Ahhh, the house of Roderick.
One afternoon my friend, Betsy and her little boy Dylan, stopped by to play. Betsy and I have known each other for years so it was natural for our kids to grow up and play together. Kelsey and Dylan would trot down to her room and play with all the toys and Betsy and I would enjoy a cup of coffee and chat. Our kids were great together and fighting and arguing was rare.
We were deep in conversation when we realized there was silence in the house. This is a bad sign when you have kids. We went to check on the two amigos and were stunned at what we found. They had apparently left Kelsey's room and had entered the master bath and all the toiletries. Dylan had been covered head to toe in Noxema. In his hair, in his ears, up his nose and all over his arms. Kelsey looked a little better because, hey, she had had lessons and knew how to correctly apply the cream.
The two Noxema kids just smiled and we had them in the bathtub in a flash. I was surprised they were not able to get any in each others eyes. That would have been bad and I was happy not to have to fight that battle. We soaked them for about half an hour in warm water. FYI - Noxema is not easy to get out of hair.
Ahhh, the house of Roderick.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
This will be our 28th Christmas together. That's right, it's hard for me to believe, but it is. Twenty-eight years ago I did the Twelve Days of Christmas for Scott. Let me share what I did with you.
I started on December 11, 1981 (started it early because he was leaving for Lancaster, CA for Christmas Day with his family).
Day 1 - One picture of me
Day 2 - Two movie tickets
Day 3 - Three wooden spoon ornaments
Day 4 - Four crocheted stockings
Day 5 - Five course meal (beverage, salad, soup, main course, dessert)
Day 6 - Six chocolate chip cookies
Day 7 - Seven quilted ball ornaments
Day 8 - Eight knitted bell ornaments
Day 9 - Nine crocheted wreath ornaments
Day 10- Ten pop top Santa ornaments
Day 11- Eleven pieces of home made fudge
Day 12- Twelve hours spent making a quilt (he still has it)
Shae did the same thing for her boyfriend last year. She started on December 13, 2008. Notice the difference in the lists and how much our lives have changed.
Day 1 - One fleece Batman blanket
Day 2 - Two V-necks
Day 3 - Three sweaters
Day 4 - Four movie tickets
Day 5 - Five piece Batman sheet set
Day 6 - Six Sprinkles cupcakes
Day 7 - Seven DVD's
Day 8 - Eight pieces of fudge
Day 9 - Nine comic books
Day 10- Ten home made cookies
Day 11- Eleven Batman tatoos
Day 12- a Batman tee shirt
Start planning now for the one you love . . . it's never too soon!
I started on December 11, 1981 (started it early because he was leaving for Lancaster, CA for Christmas Day with his family).
Day 1 - One picture of me
Day 2 - Two movie tickets
Day 3 - Three wooden spoon ornaments
Day 4 - Four crocheted stockings
Day 5 - Five course meal (beverage, salad, soup, main course, dessert)
Day 6 - Six chocolate chip cookies
Day 7 - Seven quilted ball ornaments
Day 8 - Eight knitted bell ornaments
Day 9 - Nine crocheted wreath ornaments
Day 10- Ten pop top Santa ornaments
Day 11- Eleven pieces of home made fudge
Day 12- Twelve hours spent making a quilt (he still has it)
Shae did the same thing for her boyfriend last year. She started on December 13, 2008. Notice the difference in the lists and how much our lives have changed.
Day 1 - One fleece Batman blanket
Day 2 - Two V-necks
Day 3 - Three sweaters
Day 4 - Four movie tickets
Day 5 - Five piece Batman sheet set
Day 6 - Six Sprinkles cupcakes
Day 7 - Seven DVD's
Day 8 - Eight pieces of fudge
Day 9 - Nine comic books
Day 10- Ten home made cookies
Day 11- Eleven Batman tatoos
Day 12- a Batman tee shirt
Start planning now for the one you love . . . it's never too soon!
Monday, November 2, 2009
ESCAPE FROM A PARKING LOT
As many of you are aware, the Home Depot Center parking lot is horrible to get out of after a soccer game. Cars are everywhere and you simply must wait patiently.
We Roderick's have been known to be impatient occasionally and we were itching for something to do during our wait. This particular soccer game was great and we were riding high. Mr. Beckham had scored a goal from half field and the Galaxy had beaten the Wizards without regret.
Addison and her friend Kristin, had taken Adds car to the game so they could leave quickly (haha) and we were in the family Highlander. We were following them out of the parking lot fiasco and were momentarily in gridlock. We could see Addi and Kristin swaying to the music, laughing and talking.
Now was my chance and I told the family to watch my plan unfold. I carefully got out of the car, ducking so as not to be detected and crepted up behind Adds on the passenger side. I jumped up, smacked the passenger side window and screamed at the girls.
The look on their faces was priceless. With utter terror in their eyes, Kristin leaped into Adds lap and they both were shrieking hyserically. It finally registered that it was me and they both started laughing without sound.
My family, still in the car, saw the whole thing from behind and they were laughing as well, as I got back in our car.
Just another soccer game with the Roderick's.
We Roderick's have been known to be impatient occasionally and we were itching for something to do during our wait. This particular soccer game was great and we were riding high. Mr. Beckham had scored a goal from half field and the Galaxy had beaten the Wizards without regret.
Addison and her friend Kristin, had taken Adds car to the game so they could leave quickly (haha) and we were in the family Highlander. We were following them out of the parking lot fiasco and were momentarily in gridlock. We could see Addi and Kristin swaying to the music, laughing and talking.
Now was my chance and I told the family to watch my plan unfold. I carefully got out of the car, ducking so as not to be detected and crepted up behind Adds on the passenger side. I jumped up, smacked the passenger side window and screamed at the girls.
The look on their faces was priceless. With utter terror in their eyes, Kristin leaped into Adds lap and they both were shrieking hyserically. It finally registered that it was me and they both started laughing without sound.
My family, still in the car, saw the whole thing from behind and they were laughing as well, as I got back in our car.
Just another soccer game with the Roderick's.
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