{ raindrops on roses... }

...and whiskers on kittens. Perhaps you just envisioned Julie Andrews frolicking through tall grasses (a.k.a. weeds) singing about the hills being alive. Now I may not have the best eyesight in the world, but thanks to corrective lenses I can assure you- those hills are MOUNTAINS. There's no need to call them hills. I know that in the Midwest they call their hills mountains, but having lived next to the rocky mountains for the majority of my life has made me somewhat of an expert on what type of "mound" qualifies to be ever-so classified under "mountain". The dictionary defines a mountain as: a natural elevation of the earth's surface rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill, usually greater than 2000 ft.

I think those "hills" behind Julie Andrews qualify.

But I want to move on to another subject in that lovely movie. My Favorite Things. Which I am pretty tired of hearing every Christmas 'cuz it's Not A Christmas Song!!! Oh well. But while thinking upon that, I decided to make my own list of

Favorite Things In the Whole Wide World:

1. Unseen utensil found when turning on disposal *nice*
2. Have a 7lb baby, but come out of the hospital only 5lbs lighter *hmmmm*
3. The lovely film left on the stove after rice overflows *my favorite*
4. Billy Mayes voice *why does he have to shout?*
5. The urge to pee EVERY time I start to rinse the dishes in warm water... *it's been going on since I was 7*
6. The new Geico commercials *because not just ANYONE can come up with sticking googly eyes on a wad of money- those are some pretty creative experts in their ad department*
7. My HOA *'nuff said*
8. The parking "sheriffs" the before mentioned association hired *I better not get started*
9. Items that I forget are NOT dishwasher safe until it's too late *Love. It.*
10. My independent 2 year old who fills the glass PAST the point of overflowing *and keeps on pourin'*
11. Waking up to find my daughter pulled off her diaper and peed on her bed, the carpet, and the blanket trunk *how can a 2 year old bladder HOLD so MUCH????*
12. Finding out that the same child pulled off her diaper when more than liquids were involved *I think she was just making sure my GAG reflexes still worked- rest assured that they are Fully Functional*
13. Fingerprints on DVD's *you betcha*
14. The word "NO" *which seems to come out of my son's mouth Way Too Frequently these days*
15. The pants hanging in the mall window that No Normal Sized Person Could EVER Wear *and the teenage girls complaining they have to wear a size 2 now- cry me a river and name it Mississippi*
16. Murphy. And his stupid law *who put him in charge of that anyway?*
17. Adult acne *why does this even EXIST?? There should be a law and Murphy BETTER NOT be in charge of it*
18. Artificial sweetener *just give me the real stuff- I'd rather be fat than dead*
19. When Presidential speeches are on EVERY blasted channel and make me miss my show *I got stuck watching the weather channel............. riveting*
20. Stepping in a puddle of something when you have socks on *and with a 2 year old, that could be Anything*

And those are just a FEW of my FAVORITE things. There's more. Shall I continue?

Toothpaste on mirrors and white hairs from kittens
Banging copper kettles and warm unknown liquids
My two and my six year old tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Colored on ponies dipped in crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and phone calls while you're trying to eat noodles
Pigeons that fly with who-knows-what on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls that should never wear little white dresses
Boys that cut off sister's long, curly tresses
Silver white winters make mud in the spring
These are a few of my favorite things

When the kid bites
Then there's door dings
When I want to curse-
I simply remember my favorite things
And think it could be much worse!

[BTW- Thanks to those who voted on the shoe cost! Sadly, no one was able to guess the actual cost. I Paid 2 Bucks For Them. YAY!!!! I could not pass that up. And for those of you wondering where-in-the-heck-I-found-them, my secret weapon is Ross. You have to be patient, but you'll find all sorts of treasures there. ]