Category Archives: Randomness

August 6, 2009 · 6:00 am

My Mom.

Is the first person I call with any life-changing, gut-wrenching, or hair-raising news.

Will find any story about my children amusing.  Any.

Never has enough money to spend on herself, but is a dadgum millionaire if I want something.

Is relentless when it comes to trusting in God.

Loves my dad, and will still laugh at things he does.  Usually with me behind his back.  But still.

Is the best Easter Bunny EVER.

Makes the best cake in the entire gargantuan universe. 

Will still cry when she thinks about her mom and dad.

Loves to ride her Harley, and I will raise my fist if she ever gets a tattoo.  Raise it, I tell you!  No.  I wouldn’t raise my fist.  My brow, perhaps.

Thinks I’m funny.  I love to make her laugh.

Is the best mom.

Ever.

In the history.

Happy Birthday, Mom.

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August 3, 2009 · 10:20 am

Tooth Mishaps & Other Stuff.

Made it back to Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, or something like that.  The wind, it sweeps alright.  John Henry decided to lose pull his tooth just as we were boarding our flight home.  “I’m just trying to make money,” he explained.  Tooth Fairy was so completely exhausted by night time, she almost failed to pay up.  John Henry is so resolute about making money on his teeth, we fear he won’t have any teeth left very soon.  Perhaps, it makes sense to go ahead and introduce him to the workforce.  You know, to save him from pulling his permanent teeth, too.

Of course, I am not one to pass judgment on timely tooth matters.  I noticed on my flight home that my front tooth felt a bit odd.  And sharp in an area.  What?  I chipped my tooth?  How?  I had no idea how in the world I could have done this.  It’s not like I bite into foods with my front teeth.  It wasn’t until I was lying in bed that I remembered.

In an effort to reset my watch back to the central time zone, I used my front teeth to loosen up the little winder thingy.  Blast.  What was I thinking?  I’d make money from the Tooth Fairy?  Grrrr.

I have no dentist in Oklahoma.  So, I sent out a message on Twitter and Facebook asking for suggestions on a local dentist.  And, boy do people love their dentist!  How to choose between 50 of THE BEST dentists in the state? 

When we finally got home, it was pretty clear that there was nothing we were going to be eating in the Takle house, unless potatoes that turned into a massive tree branch sounded appetizing.  This disgusting adventure motivated me to clean out both refrigerator and pantry.  How, oh how, we do keep salad dressings from 2005?  I, embarrassingly, threw away 4 trash bags full of food.  Not the wisest of things to do for a woman still enduring her first trimester. 

For.The.Love.

I dismantled our entire refrigerator, scrubbing every nook and cranny.  Today, I am proud to say it is beautiful, friends.  Just beautiful.  Nothing feels quite as therapeutic as opening up your refrigerator door knowing you can eat ANYTHING inside. 

Anna decided to change clothes, again, before we trekked to the grocery store to restock our kitchen.  This is what she changed into to:

Anna - outfit wp

Nothing says you’re ready to take on Oklahoma’s sweltering temps like jeans and a sweater.  And, NOTHING says fashion like ripped floral jeans and dress shoes. 

Nothing.

She insisted on keeping her size sticker on her shirt.

Anna - size sticker wp

This way, it would “stay new.”

Makes perfect sense.  No chance you’ll see me sporting my size sticker.  Just sayin’.

It’s good to be home.  But, I do miss those Georgia Peaches.

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July 14, 2009 · 6:00 am

Breakfast And Flip Flops Are Always A Good Choice.

I nearly lost my Thin Addictives biscuits I’ve grown, yes, addicted to the other morning while watching The Today Show.  During a food segment, poor Matt Lauer and his gang had to taste a rather large hamburger. 

That’s just disgusting at 8:00 AM.

DE-SCUSS-TING.

That’s day food.  Not mornin’ food.  I can’t even think of eating day food until at least 10:30, when I’m usually ready for lunch but force myself to wait at least another 15 minutes.  Of course, I can eat mornin’ food at any time of the day.  Even dinner.  Why is that?  Why is a pot roast nas-stay in the mornings but eggs and bacon perfection for dinner?  And, why are flip flops comfortable year around?

I’m not one of those who can skip the most important meal of the day:  mornin’ food.  However, I don’t consume large mornin’ food portions.  Unless you take me to a breakfast buffet, then game on.

What’s your mornin’ food ritual?  Are you eating a breakfast of champions?

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July 13, 2009 · 6:00 am

Maude And Ethel.

This weekend, I enjoyed a movie with a really fun date – my Mom.  She’s even more fun because she buys my ticket.  She would’ve even bought my Junior Mints, but I didn’t really want to indulge.  Swear.  I snuck in my own water, too, because I’m a rebel.  I know, the streets, they fear me.

Movie?  The Proposal. 

Laughs?  Many.

But, what accounted for most of the hilarity were the two elderly women who sat beside me.  When (let’s call them Maude and Ethel) first entered the theater, I saw them in search for two free seats.  Mom and I had commandeered the best seats in the house.  My purse was resting on the seat to my left leaving only one free seat.  And, we all know the unspoken rule that there is always a seat between you and a stranger. 

I began to feel a little compassion for Maude and Ethel, so I broke the unspoken rule and removed my purse. 

“You can both sit here,” I told them, feeling pretty good about my overt sweetness.  Okay, perhaps “overt sweetness” is a stretch.  But, I did break the skip a seat rule.  And, that’s somethin’.

Right before the movie began I heard Maude and Ethel just a gibberin’ back and forth.  A gibber here.  A snicker there.  And, they weren’t ashamed of their vocal volume.  I leaned over to Mom, and told her, “Ya know, you try to do a good deed, then BAM – Maude and Ethel just won’t pipe down. 

And, they didn’t for the entire movie.

It was like going to a movie with my late Great Aunt Mabel.  Great Aunt Mabel was loud and followed up every statement with “I ain’t got no reason to lie,” which made me think she was really always lying.

But, this isn’t about Great Aunt Mabel.  No.  This story is about Maude and Ethel.

So, Maude and Ethel commented, sighed, and even groaned the entire movie.  The groaning was even more evident when Ryan Reynolds’ bare skin covered the screen.  And, when Sandra Bullock stood up in her Christian Louboutins without grabbing hold to something for balance, Maude shouted, “Ooohhh, I could never do that.”

In the end, I heard Ethel say, “Oh my gosh, I’m cryin!”

And, I was crying, too.  From laughing so terribly hard.  ‘Cause between Betty White and Maude and Ethel, you’ll have your mascara running in no time.  Thank goodness Maude brought her handkerchief.

So, yes.  I say go see the movie.  And, if you can take Maude and Ethel with you, it’ll make it all the more entertaining.

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July 10, 2009 · 6:00 am

No Animals Were Hurt In This Blog.

Meet Jake and Michel.

Michel Jake wp

I’m including Jake’s pic, because he, too, had a casualty in this story.

My friend, Michel, has no shame.  As a matter of fact, when I asked her permission to post her story, and *gasp* these pics, she responded:

“You know I have no shame.  And will do anything for my 15 seconds.  Kinda pathetic.  And, yet, e’ry time I pass a mirror I laugh.”

Well, every time I viewed these pics yesterday, I laughed.  Hard.

When Michel’s husband, Jake, fell asleep last night, she thought it a good idea to cut up one of his t-shirts.  Into strips.

Then, tie them in her hair.

Michel - before wp

Not quite sure what she was expecting.  And, I doubt what she got was the result she was looking for.

At least, I hope not.

The next morning, she removed Jake’s shredded t-shirt from her hair.

And, this, THIS is what she saw.

Michel - after wp

Oh.

My.

Word.

I know she makes her momma proud.

Thanks for the laugh, Michel.  You’re a good sport with terrible hair.

Have a good weekend, and please, have your pets spayed or neutered.

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July 2, 2009 · 6:00 am

A Day At The Aquarium.

Yesterday could have hardly been better.  Between eating breakfast at a hometown local favorite, Cindy Beall re-entering the blogging world, and a big Beluga whale smiling at me, it was dang near perfection.

We took the kids to the Georgia Aquarium.  But, not before eating at Murphy’s.  Nothing like a pancake shaped like Mickey.

Aquarium - Murphys wp

I could’ve almost purchased my Yolo board with what we spent on our Aquarium tickets.  Oh, but we were making memories, right?  Okay.  Sure.

Here are a few of our pics.

Aquarium wp 2

Aquarium wp 4

Aquarium wp 5

Anna hardly walks anywhere.  Why walk when you can skip?  Or dance for that matter?

Aquarium wp 3

You can tell Kris is hardly fazed by her prance.  We’ve grown accustomed to the fact that she lives in Annaville.

And, finally, my favorite pic. 

Aquarium wp

I mean, I’ve never made a Beluga whale smile before.  My dad said this is just the way these whales look.  Whatev’.  I think he saw something inside of me that made a part of him happy – made him feel complete.  Or, he just looks like this.  I choose to believe otherwise.  Yes, yes.  He is totally smiling at me.

Then, we all celebrated by eating seafood.

Not. Even. Kidding.

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June 22, 2009 · 6:00 am

These Boots Were Made For Ridin’.

It’s officially summer.  Hence, my laziness in writing today.  I mean, it’s the heat.  It’s sweltering.  And, it makes me want to turn down the A/C to arctic temps, snuggle up to a ridiculously long movie like Benjamin Buttons, and eat a box of Junior Mints.  Anyhoo, here is a glimpse of Anna’s horse camp experience.

Horse camp wp

Her BRAND NEW boots – Day Five. 

She truly is a country girl.  Who also enjoys serving tea, sword fighting, and being a fashion trailblazer.

More pics to come tomorrow. 

Happy Summer Y’all.  Stay inside.  Or in a pool.  It’s hooootttttt.

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June 17, 2009 · 6:00 am

Lessons In Horse Riding and Other Things.

Anna began horse camp on Monday.  Here she is getting ready for her first day.

Anna - horse camp wp

She’s enjoyed her week so far.  So has John Henry.  When we dropped Anna off yesterday morning, he said, “Got rid of her.”  Of course, two hours later, he was asking me how much longer until we picked her up.  But, we did enjoy the quiet and reprieve from inquisitions while it lasted. 

I asked Anna how she liked riding horses.  “I didn’t fall off,” she said.  I guess that’s good.  She also looked at me and quoted a line from “Little House On the Prairie.”  “Country girls,” she said.  This is how Nellie Olsen describes Laura and Mary Ingalls in one of the first episodes.  I think she has taken a liking to life as a country girl.  Or, she just loves the Ingalls girls.  Or she loves Nellie Olsen. 

Let’s hope it’s not the latter.

In other news, John Henry finally lost his first tooth.  It was a celebration.  Anna told us all she was “so proud of John Henry.”  Her supportive sentiments quickly turned bitter when she learned he got money for his loss.  “That’s not fair.” 

Oh, the lessons in rejoicing with those who rejoice.  It can be a difficult lesson for any of us when we look at our difficult situation versus another’s seemingly better situation.  But.  BUT, when we look at our situation in view of God’s mercy, then rejoicing is not only easier….but, we can’t help but do anything else.

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June 9, 2009 · 6:00 am

On A Lighter Note.

We’ve been visiting family and friends here in the Peach State.  Oklahoma culture is not a far cry from Southern tradition.  But still. 

Still.

There’s just something about the deep South.  Perhaps it’s the sheetrock guy who shirt reads “I Tried.”  I only kid.  Sort of.  But, I find myself taking notice of things a little more than when I lived here.  And, it brings back sweet childhood memories.

Take last night for example.  We all sat on my mom and dad’s back porch talking.  I was even swingin’.  Yes.I.Was. 

Soooo, tell me what is one thing about Southern culture that you just love?  And, if you’re not a Southerner, what’s something that comes to mind (good, bad or ugly) that reminds you of Southern culture?

Be nice.  And, have fun. Y’all.

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June 5, 2009 · 6:00 am

So Far In the Peach State…

My parents have been doing some minor renovations to their home.  I’m still trying to recover from the sheetrock dude whose t-shirt read “I Tried.” 

For real.

John Henry has been enjoying his new electric scooter.  Only one bloody nose so far.  We call that success.

Anna has been enjoying planting flowers and making her mark in the fashion world. 

We’ve all been enjoying the pool in this Southern humidity.  And, by “the pool”, I mean any one who offers theirs to us Takles.

In other news, John Henry is about it lose his first tooth.  Finally.  Anna says it’s not fair that John Henry has a loose tooth, and she doesn’t.  If you ask me, that’s like being envious of someone else’s kidney stones.  Not that pulling a tooth is as violent as kidney stones, but still.  If pulling this tooth is as dramatic as it was when I was a youngin’, may God be with us.

So, what’s the going rate for losing a tooth these days?

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