Ravens, Royalty and Reefer

Welcome to Bmore Jimmy Smith!

Well it has been a crazy 18 hours for me. I had to stay up late to see who my beloved Ravens took in the first round of the NFL draft. Much to our amazement Jimmy Smith, an amazing, 6'2" reefer loving cornerback was still there. From the looks of Jimmy's photo he will fit right in with our Ravens. Hey, it's not like we haven't had to offer a little player reforming in the past! I like him already....just look at his swagger! Went to bed at midnight.





David Beckham is smokin' hot!!!!!!

Woke up at 5 AM to get my Royalty on! Wow is all I can say. I loved every minute of it. It seems the twentysomethings don't "get it."    I "got it" in 1981 when I was almost a twentysomething and got up to watch Lady Di and Charles. This wedding seemed way cooler to me. Loved the convertable ride to the reception that William planned. And Kate really seemed to be having fun! Beatrice and Eugenie were over the top and I loved their ensembles. I am sure you can tell from the photo that David and I had a wonderful time. I am so honored to have been able to attend such a historical event.
But I must say I am a little tired so I think I shall nap.
Signed, Lady Margaret Muffin Brandford 
(no! that is not my stripper name too)



Just the Girl I Ordered!

Allison Margaret: The girl I ordered!

I won't disclose when, in order to protect the innocent, but recently a "Mental Health" Day was taken by the Campbell Girls!  Allison is the best daughter and such good company. She has spent the better part of this spring her life being shuttled to her brothers' games and events. So it was with great pleasure that I spent a day with the girl of my life. I let her sleep in till 9! Then we watched some "What Not to Wear" episodes. Next, we went to the State Park and took an unintentional 6 mile hike. (Thought that trail was shorter!)



A photo of our shadow from the swinging bridge!

 Bought new nail polish at CVS and painted our toes. We finished the day with a trip to Opies for our first snowball of the season. It was a wonderful day filled with honest conversation, genuine laughs, and limitless love. I have often been overheard saying that Allison "is not the girl I ordered!" I mean she is such a tomboy, hates pink, and prefers to roughhouse with her brothers than to craft with her mother. But I love her more than life itself. She has been such a gift to this family and is actually JUST THE GIRL I ORDERED!

I love Craigslist!

Now you see it, now you don't! I sold a car on CL in exactly 3.5 hours. This car doesn't even run! I think it is karma because we bought Brent's car off of CL and that worked out too! Last year we demolished an entire brick and concrete patio and guess what....I put all the broken up crap on Craigs and people came and took it by the truckload....you know why? Because it was FREE! I often check the "wanted" section on CL and have made some nice pocket change selling some of my stuff that others need! We may not even need a dumpster for the kitchen demo....might just put it all on CL!
So yeah, it is true, I LOVE CRAIGSLIST!

Bye Bye Volvo!    http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2316589016.html

There Goes the Honey Do List

No Government Shutdown!
Good news: We will have money to continue paying our massive tuition bills.
Bad news: My  honey do list for Don will have to wait.



Don's Furlough To Do List:

• Strip the ktichen wallpaper
• landscape the side yard before Brent's graduation
• Sell the dead Volvo that has been sitting in our driveway for a year
• Steam clean the carpets in the entire house
• Go to the dump
• Clean the garage
• Shred all that stuff that needs shredding

He would have done all of this and more. He is a very good "To do list crosser off-er." Damn that Federal Government!!!

My Wounded Warrior

Brent #2 with his jersey and without!

My oldest is a college senior and captain of his lacrosse team. He has been playing through the pain of a shoulder that continues to dislocate. He will have his third shoulder surgery after graduation.  As his mother, protective and prayerful, I would not be unhappy if he sat out the rest of the season. As his mother, patient and proud, I support his decision to play through the pain. Today was a wonderful day for my wounded warrior. He won 10 out of 14 of his faceoffs! The smile on his face with his teammates after the winning game really tells the whole story. This Son of mine: He loves life. He loves lacrosse. And because of his passion---I love him!

I Deserve This.....



The 1980's kitchen at the Campbell House! Yes, that is gingham wallpaper and laminate countertops!

 Buyers remorse is already setting in and we have only just purchased the appliances for our kitchen remodel! What will I feel like after meeting with the cabinet designer tonight? This will be the largest home project we have taken on...ever! But I deserve this. I work hard, really hard and I have been raising an awesome family in this sub par kitchen of mine for long enough!!! After perseverating over the brand of appliance, which by the way was soooo stressful, we are now off to choose cabinetry. I have polled my friends, peeked and prodded at their cabinets and am so overwhelmed.  I mean the drawers that close themselves are nice but really? Really!? If my kids don't even have to close the drawers for themselves it is going to go from bad to worse in this house! I have a mantra for tonight: FOCUS ON FUNCTION! I know I might melt when I see the bubbled glass front display door options BUT I need a slide out spice rack and dividers for my bake ware cabinet. I MUST STAY FOCUSED! But that said, if you have a kitchen cabinet that you just cannot live without, leave me a comment so I might consider!

Nothing Personal Laos

"Suh Bye Dee" Laos!
Nothing personal, really! You are a fascinating country. Who knew that everything I ever say about "karma" originated with you? Who knew that in the cold war you were so precious to battling US and Russia?
Who knew the whole "white elephant" thing was yours to claim? BUT I need to be cleaning the house, or putting up my spring decorations, or completing my Hopkin's coursework instead of helping Allison with this report!
But now that I know...I will be cheering for you in the next Olympics. Do you play lacrosse in Laos?


Oh! so that is where those famous monks in orange robes live!!!!