The Big 4-Oh!

I turned 40 today. No biggie. Just a number. But I have an incredible amount of friends on Twitter that made it a wonderful birthday. Nick asked me if I was 29 again, like he was for the 8th year. My immediate response was "Nahh...I'm taking 40 and OWNING it, cuz I think I'm still pretty fuckin' hot. LOL Got me plenty o' years left." And it's true. The number means nothing to me. It means something to both my mom and dad who today were both reminded of how old they were. But I've got a beautiful four year old son who keeps me very, very young.
Since the separation, I've been making new friends in Bozeman, and literally, all over the world through Twitter. And it was those guys, and gals, that really made today a very special day. Dozens of birthday wishes from my friends. So thanks, everyone for making smile today. In no particular order (and don't feel hurt if I forgot a name), thanks Shannon, Kimber, Julia, Lisa, Lisa, Darci, Vicky, Don, Nick, Tamar, Faith, Rob, eldevlin, Astacia, Jami, Patti, Laura, Peter, Wendy, Erin, and last minute entry, Jen from Boulder.
Thank you, all :-)

Planting a Couch Potato

I woke up a little early this morning after I heard a tiny cough outside my door. I figured Colter was up early, so I might as well join him. I peeked out of my bedroom and saw this, Colter asleep on the couch...again. My first thought was that he had another accident. I woke him and asked him why he was on the couch, and got the same answer as last time, "my bed was uncomfortable."
"Did you have an accident?"
"No, I said my bed was a little uncomfortable. I got up to go to the bathroom and came out here."
No wet clothes, no wet bed. So, I dunno. Maybe he just likes the couch.
I asked him again at supper, trying to trick him to admitting it, "Did you have an accident in the middle of the night last night?"
"No, but I did at school. I slept right through having to go potty." (this I knew)
"Well why did you go out on the couch last night, then?"
"I don't know. I just wanted to try something different."

Taste of Bozeman

That's where we went for supper tonight. Blocked-off Main Street with dozens of tents with food vendors. Three bands rocking at various points on Main. Lots of people, and lots of food to choose from. For Colter's birthday, after a successful hike, I took him for his first A&W. Apparently I awakened a sleeping beast. He now has a taste for hamburgers. This is all he kept asking for at the Taste of Bozeman tonight. We finally found them, at honest-to-god, the very last vendor. After he had his burger, all he could say was, "can we go home now? Can we go home, now?" What about me? Is it ok if I get something to eat? "Can we go home now?" Apprently what Colter thinks Bozeman tastes like is beef.

Colter's Day Job

I knew he'd be able to find some place to use his considerable talents. He already has a driver: Me. And he know how to work a pretty mean mic. It's in his blood, what can I say. Grampa Elroy was a jock for years, his dad was on the air for 10 (Dad and I even went to the same radio school in Minneapolis), and now it's his turn.

Noooooooooo! You can do SO much better!

Redbox Glory

Some day I hope to be as famous as Empty Case.

Twitter Wine

There are so many of my friends on Twitter that I thought of when I saw this wine a few weeks ago. And...uh, you know I mean that in the most touching, endearing way, right? 'Cuz I know you like wine. Uh, cuz someone once mentioned Grenache. Um...I was talking about guys, like Pete, Nick and Jonathan. Yeah.

*ouch*

dammit, that hurt...

Happy Bir------- Oh, Wait...

Many of you know what I do for a living and some know that it entails essentially being on call 24 hours a day, much like a doctor. Even if no one is at the stations, if there's a problem, the computer will call me to tell me one of the transmitters is off air, or even if there's a problem with readings. My ears are very sensitive to the phone, no matter how deep a sleep I'm in.
Not more than 10 minutes ago, the phone rang and woke me from one of those mid-snooze-button naps you only have nine minutes to cram in. I looked at the cell, it was my Mom. She and her husband are on the road in their RV. A call at 7:14am from someone who's retired and rarely gets up before 9, can't be good.

Froggy says, "Hello?"

Much joyous singing flows through the tinny earpice, "Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you...are you guys up yet?" she asked with way too much cheer for this early in the morning.

"Thanks, mom." I said kindly, then went into the facts. "Well first of all, Colter's not with me, and second of all, aren't you a little early?"

"What day is it?"

"As far as I know it's only the 30th. I mean, thanks for the sentiment, and all..."

Hollering back to her husband, "Jim, dammit, you told me the clock said it was the 31st!"

"Jeezus, Mom....my own mother!"

Then I hear Jim in the background say, "Well, he'll get another one just like it in the morning, tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll call you again in the morning. Go back to sleep now!" *click*

One advantage to being retired. No need to know what day it actually is, I guess. Or a good sign that your vacation trip is going well, too.

Thanks, Mom. Love you. Talk to you again...tomorrow.

Nice Shiny Blue and Silver Can

So maybe this explains why I was able to build a fishing pole and a shopping cart in record time (and why my hands were shaking so much when I was "engineering"). I got his from my friend, Faith, who achieved levels of goddess-hood. Of course, she has had all of her blood replaced with caffeine, so it's not surprising. My caffeine/poison of choice is Red Bull. Next time I'll take the test after I've had a grueling morning at work and am on #2 and see if I can join Faith on Mt. Olympus.

Created by OnePlusYou - Online Dating

Mad Engineering Skillz

"Daddy, can you make me a fishing pole?"
"Sure!" That one was easy.

"How about a Mini Cooper?"
"uh..." I tried my best, but we ended up with a shopping cart instead.

The Couch is Dry, Anyway

I don't recall ever really having a problem with bed wetting when I was a toddler or preschooler. I still vividly recall, however the time a friend slept over in the 3rd grade and I wet the hide-a-bed we were sharing. "Do you feel that?" "Yeah." "Sorry." "It's ok." I never got teased about it at school, so he obviously kept it a secret.
Colter shares one particular "gene" with his mom, and that's their uncanny ability to sleep through a tornado blowing through or a semi driving through the bedroom. Last night Colter had a couple of glasses of milk with supper and dessert. I made sure he went to the bathroom a couple of times before bed at 8:30. Around midnight as I was headed to bed I seriously thought about waking him so he could go again, but decided he was probably ok. My bad.
My sweet, sweet son let me sleep until almost 8:30. I didn't hear anything from him when I was laying bed, so I thought maybe he was actually sleeping in himself! I went out into the living room and there he was playing with his dinosaurs.
He looked up at me and said, "Guess what? I slept on the couch, because my bed was uncomfortable."
"What do you mean, it was uncomfortable?" At that point, I realized he wasn't wearing any pjs. He had gotten a t-shirt out of his little dresser (which is in my closet) and a pair of sweatpants.
"My bed had a little wet spot on it."
He was exaggerating. Barely wet, but enough to wake him and make him go change his clothes in the middle of the night, and grab a blanket and his friends and go sleep on the couch for the rest of the night.
I'm beginning to wonder if he's old enough to move out on his own and get a job to support himself through MSU next year?

Breakfast al fresco

"What do you want for breakfast?"
"Pancake! Can I eat oustide this morning?"
"Sure, tell you what, how about after I cut your pancake, I put it in a little bowl, so it doesn't slide off like it did last time?"
"Huh. That's a very clever idea. I think that'll work."

Colter Shoots Dr. Seuss

Look real close. Looks like Colter and Sam I Am had breakfast together.

Colter Wins Gramma's Heart...and Stabs It A Little

He's already doing pretty well with the ladies his age, now he's learning to woo others with words. Last week at Gramma's:
"How old are you Gramma?"
"65."
"You don't look 65."
On the other hand, he seems to have inherited my smart-ass streak as well. Gramma tried to be funny and tell a joke. Here's his reply:
"I have a joke for you, Colter. What do you call giving a bison money?"
"What?"
"A buffa-loan!"
"Is that the joke?"

Maybe He Can't Spell...

...but that just his opinion. When his daycare has field trips, Colter's friends spell out words they see and ask him what they mean. And he knows almost every one of them according to his teachers. I have decided that there's no need for me to save for retirement. This boy's gonna be so smart, that he'll be able to support his old man (well, I can dream, right?). Hell, I figure at the rate he's going with spelling, reading and writing, he'll be able to get a job soon and chip in with the rent!

I'll Just Have to Get Used to It

Colter being surrounded by beautiful women that is. This is Liza and Sada helping Colter open presents and eat worms in mud. Below is Colter and his best friend, Brynn. These two are inseperable. "Hey Colter..." "Brynnie, come here..."

Colter's Commute to Gramma's

Where you live might be pretty. This is what the ride to Gramma's house looks like.