Not like I needed another place on the internet to spend my time, but you have GOT to see this!

World Digital Library went online this week. It's free. It's accessible. And it's flippin' awesome!

Stuff like this...

And this...


And Nnamdi Azikiwe's speech on the day Nigaria became an independent state under the British Commonwealth on October 1st, 1960. I've just provided the cover. If you want to read it you have to go here...you can even download the pdf for reading at your convenient leisure.


8000 years of history at your fingertips...downloadable, sharable, legible, enjoyable by any and all with internet access. Wow. What a concept.

And then...it was summer!

All of the sudden we're enjoying 90 degree weather and spring is but a memory of Wednesday! And I'm reminded--by the force of hot air pushing down at me as I climb the stairs--that our central air doesn't make it upstairs. We rely on window units and space heaters. The window units are currently sitting in the attic. The heat sort of snuck up on us all.

So the baby is napping in the portable crib in the spare room downstairs and her brother will find a nice cool spot on the couch for his quiet time. Poor Daddy is out in the heat playing nice with the citizens of the county as they celebrate the department's 75th anniversary. He already knows he still has work to do when he gets home--or all of us will be sleeping downstairs tonight!

The kids and I met with friends and enjoyed some of the celebration. The dogs were showing off what they do and EOD was demoing the new robot. I really like the fact that our children get to see what Daddy does--in a controlled environment. They aren't going on ride-alongs any time soon! It was a good crowd--lots of fun. We rode the toy fire truck and watched the motor unit (motorcycles) weave in and out of cones. And I enjoyed the view--mmm...motorcycle cops. I was able to chitchat with people I don't get to see a lot of and pulled a screaming Kyleigh back when all she wanted to do was go see Daddy.

So now we're home, cooled off and ready for quiet time. Or at least Mommy is ready for quiet time! We'll see what I have to bribe a 3-year-old with!

Because I. Am. A. Geek.

And someone else has far too much time on their hands! Either that, or now we know what became of HAL.

Freddy would be proud.

What Mommy does on the weekends...

I-95 is surprisingly crowded pre-dawn on a Saturday morning! But there I was with all of the other crazies who refuse to sleep in on my way out to a local state park for the 4th Annual Little-Big Adventure Race! Teams of two--one adult and one child racing in a triathlon. Canoe/mountain bike/run. (I was not racing. I do not run. I have run in the past. Now I do not.) My purpose in all of this is to make sure there is money coming in to support the event--so on race days, I basically get to show up early and have fun.

Mother Nature decided to grant us a most gorgeous day and fun was had by all.

Somewhere around 8 in the morning...the promise of a beautiful day!

Pre-race briefing...the woman on the mike is one who started this whole thing...and my boss.

It's a family event. A race with almost a carnival feel.

Bikes lined up in the transition area...each bike is inspected prior to the race. Yep--safety first.

Canoes ready for the first leg of the race...there were 8 heats in all just to stagger the racers. We use chip timing and the teams members must cross the transition points withing seconds of each other or they're penalized. We're strict!

There was not one single team that epitomized the racers...there were hard core mountain bikers and athletes along side of girls with pink bikes and tassels. This team actually placed 2nd in their age division.

My job is to keep all of these sponsors on the t-shirts...and add many more. Not exactly difficult keeping them--all they have to do is come out and see the events for themselves and are hooked.

Remember my friend Andrew? His brother raced with the son of one of their best friends. Dan and Lawson raced under the name "Team Droid" in honor of Andrew "The Droid" Stevens. Andrew's wife and sister came out to watch and cheer them on--it was the first time I had seen either of them since the funeral and it was so good to see them both! The outdoor store where we had all worked together loaned them a canoe for the race. They actually placed 4th in their division. Not a shabby showing at all--it was the largest division to be racing in. Somewhere Andrew was laughing and mocking his brother on his run technique.

Everyone kicked back enjoying the medal ceremony and random prize drawings.

Hanging out and enjoying the tree climbing exhibition provided by one of our sponsors.

It was a fabulous day--grueling and exhausting, but still fabulous. Now that I've given myself a few days off I can get to work on the next event...the 2nd Annual Little-Big Adventure in Raleigh, NC on May 30th.

And somewhere around here I have notes for a book I'm supposedly writing...

Springtime at Kimbilio

Not a whole lot left for me to do with regards to the race tomorrow except set my alarm and make it out to the state park by 6 in the a.m. Oy.

So, yesterday...we played.

Jacob very much enjoyed the tire swing with Maia. Soon all of that undergrowth will be lush and green with poison ivy and oak.

If you ask Jacob where the tire came from he will tell you that one day he and Kokoo walked down the road to Mr. Mike The Man Who Lives At The Junkyard and they found a tire there for the tire swing. A motorcycle tire. But one day he wants to go visit a junkyard where nobody lives and he'll pick out stuff to make other stuff.

Dogwoods just starting to open up.

Cousins enjoying a beautiful spring day. Of course, Jacob was cold so he borrowed Aunt Donia's sweatshirt. Which dragged in the water when he and Maia went down to the river. And Maia sacrificed her phone when she choose (wisely) to catch Jacob before he fell in. All in all, a fun day. Thanks, guys!

Comic relief for a Monday the 13th...

Brief breather break...dare ya to say that really fast...

New book in the house. Proving to be much more difficult to share a book now that Sean and I are on the same schedule. But as soon I hit print for this post--that book is totally mine.

Huge race event this weekend. Little-Big Adventure Triathlon (canoe, bike, race). And, for some reason (it may be the title of Director of Sponsorship and Advertising, but I'm a little fuzzy on that), I'm responsible for lighting fires under our sponsors and making sure they get all of their goodies in and know when to be where. Phew. I was running low on stress.

Icky feeling, not sleeping 1-year-old. Yep. It was a fun day. Fortunately I have an amazing partner who got up with her at 5:30 this morning thus allowing me to catch two more precious hours of sleep.

Cousins on spring break. They're taking off for Places Unknown this summer...we'd like to spend as much time together this week as possible. Even if it's just tomorrow at Maymont.

See you when I see you.

Because my motivation to work right now is nowhere to be found...

Given the chaotic state of a certain blog friend's computer situation...I dedicate this one to Random Pawses...


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

And this is why there are hairballs gathering in the corners threatening a hostile takeover...


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

New super power...or...free to a good home--One cat, slightly used and neurotic

"The ability to leap over the dining room table to clear books out of the path of a vomiting cat"

Not sure I can fit all of those letters on my chest now that I've been afflicted with the Shrinking Boobs.

Stupid cat.

I think I pulled something.

Already a hit!

I'm the 5th listing on Google. Sweet.

Now that just made my day!
They didn't stick around long, but I'm okay with that.

you are my sunshine...

The sun came out Friday morning. We were all happy to see it!

The straw bales are sprouting grass. Guess that means they've cooked enough and we can transplant the seedlings sometime this week. That sigh you just heard was my body realizing that we have once again made it through another winter. I am a solar powered being ready to feel the warmth of the sun on my upturned face.

Stretching...

There's been some chatter here and there amongst my fellow LEO (law enforcement officer...I know, it took me forever to figure the acronym out on that one) wives regarding the fact that our lives, our husbands should really come with an instruction manual or at least a survival guide. And it occurred to me that I am a writer. (I'm not talking about just a blog writer. In a past life I actually was a writer--always felt much more comfortable in the Features section than News.) There was a light bulb moment and an idea given birth. However, somethings gotta give. Because, oh, let's see...full time Mommy, part time public relations director, blog writer and now working on a book...you guys may have to make do with pictures of my adorable children and stories of their crazy antics for a while!

Anyway...for those who are interested...Sean and I were brainstorming last night about how to put this book together and what should be included. The main purpose is for it to be made available as a resource--no one should have to go this alone. Publication is secondary.

Why me? In the 10 plus years that Sean and I have been married, the past six of those have been in law enforcement. Prior to that was military (both as active duty and dependent). We've been through some rough patches and have come out the other side stronger for it. I may just have some advice to give and some anecdotes to share along the way.

What do I want? I want input from all levels. I want questions. I want to know the things you wish someone had told you, things you wish you had known then, things you wish you knew now. I want your anecdotes as well. The good and the bad. Ride along stories. I'm working on an outline and structure. I'll post what I've got to find out if I'm missing any of the big stuff. What I may do is post my own bit under a particular heading and then ask for input on how others have handled/dealt with similar situations. And all credit will go where credit is due. I'm going to start chatting with some of the other local LEO spouses. I'm also looking at including stuff from the LEO's point of view as well. I know there are numerous online forums and that's not what I'm attempting to accomplish. This is to be a printed book (think A Girlfriend's Guide To Pregnancy) based on my own experiences with other's experiences thrown in for spice and perspective.

Right now I feel like everything just after the Big Bang--kinda out there whirling about, bouncing off of everything--but it'll solidify.

Working title? Do Bullets Explode In The Dryer? A LEO Family Survival Guide. (A very hearty thanks to Mrs. Fuzz for that one...and for the light bulb moment as well. Thanks!)