Hey, Mom, Dad? Can I go wit you to Disney World next week? I’m all ready! See?

My apologies for not posting the Friday foto on time. After rowing 12 miles (and leading team-building exercises after lunch) and then coming home to puppy poop on the carpet (we think he has an intestinal bug… the vet appointment later today should tell us more) I showered, ate, and then passed out around 7:30 pm and didn’t wake up until this morning. At which point I realized my ENTIRE body was sore, especially my neck, shoulders, back, and butt bones.

Though I hope never to amass so many things that I don’t want or need, I really enjoyed going to the World’s Longest Yard Sale last weekend. It was amazing to see what kinds of things people hung on to over the years, and fun to imagine what kind of makeovers I could give the old furniture (in the vein of design*sponge Before & Afters). And it kind of makes you wonder, what kind of junk will I keep for fifty years and then decide to sell on the side of the road?

While I’m not crazy about the one example in this picture, I usually LOVE old bottles and things made out of blue glass. For no good reason at all! Some day I want a mostly black and white room so I can accent it with blue glass pieces like whoa.

Also, Andy’s mom and I totally would have fought over this chicken — if it hadn’t cost $75.

Andy’s family is here visiting, so needless to say our schedules have been a little different than usual and I didn’t get a chance to post. But Sunday is the new Friday, right?

Anyway, not like anyone’s holding their breath or crying over my Foto Fridays.

So far it’s been a jam-packed weekend, including golfing, going to the World’s Longest Yard Sale, and hopefully not puking at King’s Island. But it started with the Reds game on Friday night, which the Astros won (WOOT!), and which also happened to be Fireworks Night at Great American Ballpark.

Now, I’ve seen some nice fireworks in my time, and as my dad likes to point out, um, all the time, our family comes from New Castle (PA) home to the world famous Zambelli Fireworks company, but we were recently cheated out of our July 4th fireworks show at Clear Lake (TX) when our boat’s motor wouldn’t start, so it was wonderful to get a chance to see some pyrotechnics up close and personal.

Even better: they were AMAZING. This clip is only 1 min and 30 sec of a 20-min show that was one of the best I’ve seen in a long time, maybe one of the top I’ve seen ever. (That list of tops includes the fireworks at July 4th in DC.)

There was your standard stuff:

There was the more distinct stuff:

And then there was the HOLY BAJEEZUS I’VE NEVER SEEN FIREWORKS LIKE THAT IN MY LIFE stuff:

Have YOU ever seen little red Y’s floating down from a firework that just exploded?

More photos and video at my Flickr account, if anyone’s interested.

Since Andy’s been gone (no Kelly Clarkson pun intended) all this week in Germany on business, I decided to send him a little surprise, similar to what he did for me before.

I can’t even say “Dad” or the poor little guy goes bonkers looking for Andy, sniffing at the door, etc. Thank goodness he can’t spell.

1. Buy a DIY bubble tea kit from Jungle Jim’s.

2. Boil water in a rice cooker. Add the bubbles in a 1:8 ratio (meaning 1 part bubbles, 8 parts water — you probably should have measured out the water before you started boiling it…) and let boil for 25 min. After 25 min, set the rice cooker on “keep warm” for another 25 min.

3. Choose a flavor and pour the powder into the shaker.

4. Add water and ice as instructed. Shake thoroughly.

(Look how cute and happy the bubble man is!)

5. Pour into cup/glass. Add bubbles. Add big straw. Taste.

6. Say, “OMG THAT’S NOT BAD!” Pat yourself on the back. Oh, and keep drinking!

This is Riley’s “Momma, aren’t you supposed to be writing novels right now?” face.

Yesterday I nearly ran over a turtle.

I was on my way home from Panera, and he was so small I could hardly see the little guy! I turned my wheel to avoid him, and checked in the rear view to make sure he was okay. He was, but I decided to back up and figure out how to get him out of the road. In the process, I scared and/or annoyed the heck out of some woman behind me. Sorry, woman, but adorable endangered turtle trumps your angry squinty glare.

See for yourself:

Adorable, yes? Endangered, no more! I saved him. I picked him up and put him in my car on the passenger side floor. I am a turtle hero.

When I got home, I let Riley sniff him, and then I set him down on our patio (and took some pictures, obviously). I considered keeping him in our bathtub so Andy could see him (because Andy loves turtles) but then I decided that would be (a) weird, (b) mean, and (c) really, really weird. Instead, I got out Andy’s old Golden Guide reference books and tried to figure out what kind of turtle he was. After comparing him to the pictures on every page (twice) I determined that I had absolutely NO idea what kind of turtle he was.

So now the little guy is now roaming free in my backyard, perhaps enjoying a swim in the creek or a stroll through the tall grasses. And me, I’m still a turtle hero. TURTLE. HERO. That noise you hear? It’s the turtles, singing my praises. Pretty, no?

…

Well, okay, the little guy didn’t exactly pop out of his shell and do a song and dance, but he did give me a gift.

He pooped in my car.

Thanks, little guy.

Between shopping for a casual men’s jacket, going to Discovery Green in the rain, catching up with Barbara (Alex’s Momma #1 and my Momma #2), and spending hours trying (unsuccessfully) to get our sailboat’s motor to start, I unfortunately did not find time to upload any photos on Friday. I am so sorry. Please accept these fireworks as a display of my never ending regret.

“Not good enough!” Andy says. “Actions speak louder than intentions, and you did not meet your deadline. Thus you have failed, and I banish you to that vine-like prison.”

“What vine-like prison?” I ask.

“THAT ONE,” he says, pointing.

“Oh,” I say.

“Wait, this one’s prettier!” my mom chimes in.

“Hey! Whose side are you on?” I ask.

She takes a moment to consider her answer.

“Andy’s,” she finally replies.

“Oh,” I say.

And so it was that I came to be jailed by my mom and boyfriend in a giant red claw. Or something.