What the Girls said

I know I've talked about my niece Allie (Alexis) before. She's the younges of "my" three and probably the most like me in personality. She's also the biggest High School Musical fan of all the nieces. She's very smitten with Zac Efron, and seriously, who could blame her? After seeing HSM3 (twice) I have to admit, he's maturing quite nicely. :)

Anyway, I've mentioned before how Allie is very possessive of Zac. Sunday afternoon she was hanging out with me and the rest of my family in the living room. We were discussing what they should get me for my birthday.

"There's only one thing I want for my birthday." I said as Allie wraps her arm around my neck and leans against me.

"A man." My oldest sister Judy replies, flipping through a catalog.

"Not just any man, though." I look at Angel. "I need a Clark Kent."

Angel's laughing and says "Tom Welling" at the same time.

Allie looks at me and says, "But you don't need Zac Efron!"

Everyone lost it. She has such a quick tongue. :)

Her sister Chloe can be quick with the comments too. I took her to see my old highschool's production of the Music Man. While we were waiting for it to begin, she commented on a cute boy (total goth/rock. I shudder at the fact she likes the bad boy.) When I pointed out a cute boy she said, "Nah, he's a 0-5. That boy (goth boy) is a 10 though! A few moments later she points to a chubby, freckled, curly head 10 year old and said, "he's a zero."

"That's not nice, Chloe." I scold her with the 'mom' look. "Everyone is attractive in their own way. You just have to look for it. You don't think I'm a zero do you?"

"NO. You're second only to my mom." Chloe insists passionately. "She's a two million. You're a ... a... One million, one hundred and... ninety-nine thousand um, ninety-nine? Yeah!"

She's sweet, not the best at math, but sweet nonetheless. Considering her mom is a svelte blonde with blue eyes and I'm the exact opposite. But good to know I'm loved. Now I've just got to be a better example to her in pointing out everyone's positives.

Kids, the things they say sometimes - but I love 'em anyway.

A.

Things I Heard This Weekend

Song Stuck on the Brain: Sounds of Silence by Simon & Garfunkle

Saturday had an unusual start to it. I was getting ready to get into the shower, when my doorbell rang. I decided to ignore it, the water was running and I was seconds from stepping into the spray.

Ding Dong. It rang a second time.

Hmm, could be a family member with a key, and I don't want them coming in on me while I'm in the shower. I decide to peak out the window to see who's car is in the driveway, but there are no cars to be seen.

Ding Dong.

It must be a salesman.

Ding Dong, Ding Dong.

Or maybe a Jehovah's Witness.

Ding Dong.

They'll go away eventually.

Ding Dong, Ding Dong.

Crap. They're not going away. I run throw on my lounge pants and t-shirt and try to smash my hair down before answering the door. Opening it 8 inches, I peak around the edge. There stands the guy that shovels my snow on occasion. I only know him as Andrew and there is no snow in sight.

"Hi, I was wondering if you'd like me to rake your leaves."

Umm, you rang my doorbell ten times for this? "Sorry, I don't have the money right now."

After discussing this for a moment, he thanks me and starts to leave. As he's stepping off the porch, he turns and says, "Are you single?"

Brain. Stops. Functioning. Does not compute. I'm never prepared for this question. It happens so infrequently that it shocks me and the truth pops out before I even have a chance to think about fibbing.

"Yeah." I respond, brain spinning.

"Can I get your number?"

"Umm, I'm sorry, I uh, I'm not really into seeing anyone right now, but um, Thank you."

"Oh. Okay." He mumbles and leaves.

I close the door lock it. I look at Jack and whisper, "He hits on me today?!?"

Jack just cocked his head and gave me a look that says, "Beats me."

I mean honestly. No makeup, hair a fright and sloppy clothes. The only time he's seen me like this and he chooses today to ask for my number? Not that I would have given it to him anyway. I mean, I refuse to date the guy that asked permission to pee on the side of my house.

Later, I took the nieces to see The Waterhorse. Great movie, by the way. All the kids loved it. Anyway, we were standing in line at the concession stand when the 8 yr-old, Allie, said this:

"Hey, I accidentally called you Mom." She laughs.

"You did?" I missed this due to the commotion from the other two.

"Yeah. Can I call you Mom today?"

"Why would you want to call me Mom? You already have a mom."

"Just for fun, for pretend."

Her sister pipes in, "Yeah, so we can fit in while we're here. We'll pretend."

"I don't care, you can call me whatever you want." I'm corralling them forward in line.

"Okay, Mom." Allie grins. "Or how about Grandma?"

Evil child. "No. You can't call me Grandma, call me anything else, but not Grandma!"

She laughs hysterically. She didn't call me Mom anymore either.


Fast forward to Sunday afternoon. She's at my house helping me empty the dishwasher.

"Don't you get lonely?" Allie asks, dropping silverware into the drawer.

"Sometimes, but most of the time I'm fine."

"I can't believe you don't have any kids. Don't you want kids?"

"Sure, I just haven't had that opportunity yet. Besides, I've got you guys."

"Yeah, but that's not the same. You should have kids."

She hands me a glass to put in the cabinet.

"I'd be nice to them ... unless their evil or something."

I couldn't help it. I laughed. "They wouldn't be evil."

At least, no more so than the rest of them. Leave it to an 8 year old to find all the soft spots and poke at them. She can be so ornery at times, but she's also the most affectionate, and smart as a whip. Her one liners and comebacks are sharp as a tack and she always makes me laugh.

I have a picture of Clive Owen on my computer desktop at home. She saw the picture and said. "He's ugly."

"No he's not." I reply chuckling.

"Well, he's not cute." She says, face all screwed up.

"Yes, he is, he's just old to you."

"Yeah," face still screwed up. "I guess that could be it."

I guess he's no Zac Efron. She told me last weekend, "Ashley Tysdale likes Corbin Bleu."

Thank goodness I've seen High School Musical, so I know who she's talking about.

"But Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron broke up." She puts her claws up and hisses like a cat.

"HEEEE. That Vanessa, she stole my man."

Oh, help us all, she's only 8 and she had her 'man' stolen.

I'll give her this, Zac is a cutie.

A.