"The Anteater Challenge"

Everybody has played Pac-Man or at least heard of it I hope, if not, read no further because this post is of no interest - maybe of no interest anyway. Well, Anteater is much the same. An Anteater runs through a similar course eating ants trying not to bite off worms accidentally and if bitten by a spider - watch out! Loses a life! Now you get more than one life. Somewhere along the way the Anteater picks up energy as they do in these arcade and video games and gets to keep on going, like the energizer bunny. Lucky for the Anteater. Life is like that for me. I lose a life but somehow get to keep on going - even when I don't want to. Those who know me, know I'm taking a ride I didn't buy a ticket for. I can't stop this train and I want to get off! The Anteater in the Arcade game once begun, can't turn around and go back to the starting point and begin again either, much as the player would like to and either can I. So we, the anteater and I, muddle through the muck and eat the ants, and get bitten by spiders. In my case, the what I think are witty and clever emails don't get sent, the updates aren't updated, and my reading is way behind. Generally speaking, I fear I need to keep on going like the energizer bunny when I would rather let the batteries die. But, I suppose somewhere along the way, like the Anteater, I'll pick up energy from somewhere and get new life, like an arcade game, and keep moving on and finish the game, if not a winner, at least a finisher. Which at this point is good enough. Starting with "Push" for First Editions" due on the 6th of February then "The Help" which, thankfully, I've read already, that's picking up some energy I guess, and I move along inch by inch and get 'er done. My challenge, I asked the 3rd Saturday Book Club, was to give me a topic for the Blog. The topic from Laura was "Anteaters", not easy!! I've exposed my personal life more than usual, oh well... I am what I am and accept me or not, I guess today I'm an Anteater.

"Jon's registered at Target"

Anyone who knows me five minutes knows I like to shop. I also like to celebrate life's special and even a-little-better-than-everyday moments. We have had a lot of those in The Longmont Book Club I'm happy to report. First that comes to mind is babies! I think April was first with Jack who just turned one, and then Cynthia with Patrick who is almost one I think, and after Thanksgiving Annika had baby Luna and Denise just had the twins Naomi and Hollis and Tuesday Danine had Xander! Whew! That's a Jr. LBC right there! I usually like to lunch when I know it's a birthday (not everyone reveals that information - I should ask for it on sign-up day). I was thinking though that others need to be recognized, those that aren't childbearing, we are to be honored for "holding it together and bearing up" for at least nine months out of the year as well. I know, after three children of my own, that all that birthin' babies is an uncomfortable business to put it politely. Getting through each day for me is sometimes a huge obstacle course! The very fact that I'm vertical and have my make-up on is a God given miracle. So to those of us without a cooing infant, the regular guy and gal, Persona non grata, it's time we had a shower for us! When was the last time you received a set of wine glasses just because we know how much you tip it back? In the months to come in 2010 and beyond, lets see if we can spread the baby showers around, we'll call them "buddy showers". And hey! If you're pregnant or planning on becoming so in the near future could you please let me know so I can start baby browsing in bulk? I'm in the mood to go shopping - I can always get vertical and my make-up on for that! (And Congratulations on all those beautiful babies and may they all sleep through every night!)

"Having kids, it does get easier, different, but I think it's a little easier, maybe..."

My Cherubs. They always ask "Mom, how's book club?" When I know they don't care. I mean they would care if they knew how incredible we were, they are just trying to be nice to me. I think that is nice of them. I'll give the one in the middle a break. She is actually a member, one of the originals, but she works every Saturday. She does some of my graphic and photo type work if I need it. She took my oh so cute photo for the web page. She's a photographer. This is Christmas Day and it turned out rather nice, (did I mention I got a Kindle?) my kids were fun, and funny, and funny with each other and you realize that even when every other person you see is a women with kids under age five, you can still enjoy these old kids. Even more maybe. Although you never, ever stop worrying about them, when you have these old babies, they can help themselves and help ME, ask ME how I am, get ME another whatever it is I need, they still wrestle and fight like they were five years old and then they sing a three part harmony of "Build Me Up Buttercup". It's a party, a picnic, a zoo and I love it. Of course my life changes every ten minutes. If John cuts his hair any shorter or Andy has another party at the cabin or Lord help me either one of them joins the military or Lynsey takes on any more work, volunteer or paid, I am going to be so mad! Well, the military thing will kill me. I can't adopt them out or spank them or even quit speaking to them as much as I'd like to some times. We're all stuck with each other, that's the beauty of it. And, since you've asked, the book club is going great guns! Come here and I'll show you the web pages, all three, I know you're dying to see them......, then there's the blog..... hey there's your picture.....