Creative graduation ideas please

OK, so my darling Princess received her large order of graduation announcements this week. The grand event is set for June 7, 2008 this year. Kind of cool, 06-07-08, get it? Anyway, it also happens to be the exact same day as my wedding anniversary with Prince Charming (my God, 12 years). Bad news is that means a million people decending on our humble abode on a day I normally get treated to a night out. More bad news means the dreaded "EX" will be here which does not tickle me in any way, but life goes on.

So, blogger friends, I need ideas. I need some great party food/decoration ideas that won't cost me an arm and a leg to feed the large gathering, yet make it special for the last chick to get her diploma. Anyone got some brilliant ideas you care to share?

I am also completely stumped on a memorable gift for her. Typical 18 year old wants the moon, but dear old mom is fresh out of rockets and sure can't afford the fuel for it either! I was leaning toward a lap top, but then my practical head gets going and sways toward a desk top to allow for printers etc in case she really does go to college or at least get the heck out of this house and get her own place. I love her dearly, but lately she's testing my ability to even tolerate her antics for sure.... I remember getting the usual crap, luggage, pens, goofy stuff we all get. She really worked hard this last year to pull herself up and get through this mess, so I really want to get her something nice. She's pretty much a spoiled brat and has the usual teen stuff. Gave her my old car (she isn't impressed but too bad baby, the motor runs and the tires go round-all she gets), has the car stereo, EX gave her an Ipod Nano for bday, more clothes than she can wear, has the birthstone ring, has the pearls that belonged to my Mom..............spoiled I tell you.
So, what do mom's out there buy their only daughter for graduation from high school?

I can sure use some ideas here folks.

April Snow showers and Garden Fashion advice needed

OK, this is really starting to irritate me now. This photo is what my yard looked like same time last year, flowers blooming folks! (not to mention rhubarb coming on fast just the way I like it)Now, fast forward to April 2008 and I am officially discouraged. I have picked 3, count them 1-2-3 blasted daffodils, and a pathetic bunch of grape hyacinth, period, that's all folks. Why you ask?

Well, brilliant blonde idiot I am went into the yard this past weekend to do some "spring cleaning" and raked away the dead plant matter from the winter as there are actual signs that life may just evolve from those brown clumps. ( yes garden snobs I know this should be done in fall but I have learned the hard way to leave it the heck alone or the darn things die with the freeze, thaw, drying winds etc, so there, it works for me) So, my good friend Murphy shows up today, with his best friend Mr. Winter and proceeds to SNOW. Wait, did you hear me, I said it is snowing!!
Now, a glass-half-full kind of gal would say, at least it isn't piling up, covering everything, etc.
Well, my glass-half-empty heart says who gives a crap, it is cold, blowing white nasty stuff and I am sick of it!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, can't wait for morning as the lovely weatherman is muttering low of 24 degrees tonight. 24 Degrees-PLEASE someone stop this madness my poor old winter logged brain can't take any more of this!!! My skinny bones need heat, sunshine, Vitamin D, NOW.
Irony of the whole deal is this folks, I live in the high desert. We had "massive" amounts of snow in my neighborhood, not to mention rain and any other form of "precipitation" you can imagine this winter. During my snow inducing escapade in the yard, what do I see but dry dirt. I mean serious dry dirt people, inches down it is bone dry.
Welcome to my gardening dilemma, hard pan, clay, freezing winters, scorching summers, generally not garden prone area. In spite of it all I have managed every year to overcome the odds and produce a darn nice crop of veggies, fruit trees, roses everywhere (stickery damn things but I love them), and a variety of others that "oh, that won't grow here" variety of plants. Never tell me I can't for I will just to prove you wrong or make an ass of myself, never sure til I try, but try I might. I have serious plants slated to ship this week from QVC (I think I may need an intervention, but another story) that will need to be planted. I have seed packets littering every corner stash I can find. I have a BRAND NEW BARE BED in the front lawn waiting transplants from the back yard. (Read- I was sick of dead grass that only I water and we have a shortage here, green grass is impossible with water restrictions of twice per week ONLY) I have to dig major holes for my new plants (anyone have a jack hammer they want to lend for a weekend?). I have fertilizer to nourish my new plants. I have garden shops to explore. Prince Charming has a damn horse shoe arch to build (promised to me for 4 years now but who's counting) and he can't weld in the snow! I have needs people. Big needs.

Speaking of needs, I need some input from any gardening weirdos or other fashion critics who like plastic out there. I have ruined more shoes than I can count when I actually bother to wear them in the garden. I have been toying with buying some of those hideous plastic clog deals to wear for the job, think hey plastic can stand the mud and hose blasts required right? Anyone tried them? Favorite brand? Kind of keen on the idea of a bright pink or purple pair although Prince Charming swears he won't talk to me if I wear any such thing. Come on, the man owns nothing but cowboy boots and slippers, what does he know? He screams at me for walking around barefoot (LOVE IT), so logical choice here is plastic shoes. Tried the cheapo plastic flip flops, but the darn things always pop out where it attachs at the toe part as I'm not exactly a ballerina here folks. So, any ideas for ones that won't just add to my pile of "tried it-hate it" garden junk. Also looking for some longer garden gloves that are tough enough to deal with the rose thorns, but want some that go up at least half way to the elbow. Am I making any sense to anyone? If so, let me know if you have a favorite or have stumbled across a place I could look for some. Normally wear hubbies worn out (not really, I steal them and hide in my stash) leather gloves but his hands are so much bigger they tend to fall off if they get snagged on a plant.
Ok, enough midnight ramblings. Sorry for the language too, just really needing a vent outlet this week so you get the brunt of it folks. Hope I don't scare you all (ha, ok the poor two or three of you that actually read this crap once in awhile but I love you so don't stop!)! I HAVE SPRING FEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for listening. Night!

Cloud filled day

Another cloud filled day here, grey sky, cooler temperatures, windy. Not exactly a day to inspire good thoughts or blog posts. The week started on rocky ground and appears to be making a steady downhill spiral at best. Hard to believe it is only Tuesday without much end in sight.

Just trying to plug away at work, deal with drama at home, same stuff different week. Hope others are having a more cheerful, inspiring time than me. I am so ready for warm weather and sunshine I can barely stand it. If the weatherman tells one more "chance of snow" story I'm going to hibernate forever!

Affairs of the heart

Prince Charming is now causing his usual state of chaos. He is now scheduled for a angiogram on Tuesday to see if one of his arteries are blocked causing his recent chest pain and other symptoms. The doctor was rather perplexed by some new developments on his battery of tests that he has had the last week, so will be interesting to see what they can find.

Not for the faint of heart-seriously you may want to look away if you value your sanity

1. The first few moments after the Princess returned from her adventure to the tattoo parlor.

2. After the bandage was removed.

3. The belly ring.

And she wonders why I am so old.........................................................

Easter aftermath

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday. Our family had a rather quiet day at home with far too much food to go around. This years menu included a rather eclectic mix but was delicious if I do say so myself. We enjoyed some pinapple ham, stuffing, macaroni salad, sauted asparagus with bacon, and deviled eggs. Cocktails were a home recipe for sparkling strawberry drinks that were WAY too good. Desert was a total sugar fest of coconut cake that brought rave reviews.
We even had our own entertainment hour of egg delights. The Princess was too lazy to dye eggs this year, so instead of the usual egg hunt, we substituted a egg toss instead. We did much better than expected although the eggs did eventually break. Our backyard is rather small, so we were unable to go for distance tosses and had to compensate for height instead. We had to call it quits when the sun was going down and one of the eggs found its way into the side of the swamp cooler. Yeah, not pretty but we had a good time anyway.

The eggs on the table were a sneaky find. They are real egg shells that are stuffed with small confetti. Used as place cards, and we orginally planned to add to the egg toss mix. Well, that was not a good choice. They were so darn hard I have a welt on my arm where the Princess made a direct hit and the egg did not break! We had to crush them to get the darn confetti out! Oh well, live and learn.

Have a great week, tons of work including travel for me this week.

Another rambling...

Well, the Princess is now officially 18 for one week. Miracle I survived this one for sure. For some reason this one really made me feel quite old to think that now both of my children are officially adults. Just wonder exactly when they are required to act like it? Maybe never I guess.
The Princess did get the tattoo which was of a butterfly on the back of her shoulder. Larger than I would have liked *(really would have prefered NONE) about 2 inches across etc. It has dark borders with color fills of pink and blue. She incorporated stars into the butterfly wings like she wanted. It really is rather pretty, just wish it were somewhere except on her body. It will be interesting to see the end results in a few months as it takes some time for full healing and effects to be complete.
She also compromised on the piercing and ended up with a belly ring. Funny part is that hurts her more than the tattoo does! Mean Mom that I am can't help but give her a friendly pat once in awhile to remind her of her desired self mutilations. At least she appears to be taking care of them correctly to prevent infection etc. She was quite pleased with everything.
My senses have been continuously assaulted since last week with strains of Guitar Hero from the Play Station I gave her. Only makes it worse to know it is Legends of Rock (otherwise known as old stuff) that I actually used to think was music in high school. The names come up for selection and they look at me to determine if it is a good song to try or not. Because, you are old mom, so you know the songs, we don't. Will someone please come scratch the CD so I don't have to hear Pat Benatar "hit me with your best shot" again? Pretty please!!!
She also received the FIFA Soccer 2008 as she was heavily involved in soccer until 2 years ago. Tomgirl she is was a super goalie (=multiple ER visits) and I believe she misses it a lot. The darn game is pretty lifelike and she is impressed as she can even control the goalie. I can tell when she has "taken over" as the goalie begins the wild ass dances she used to do to get the ball. Find myself cheering at the damn players on the television like it were a real game! Can you say get a life dipshit? Now the boyfriend is secretly working to improve his skillls when she is gone so he can make an attempt at beating her on the game. That's about as likely of happening as me beating her. NOT!
Anyway, another milestone behind us and a million more to go. There is even talk of a wedding in the year.....................how much more does she think this old chick can handle? Seriously.