I'll take "Random Crap" for 50, Alex.

Some women are just the same....no matter where they're from.

On Friday, I had to go to the store to get some material and extra stuff for some sewing I needed to get done for the boys before the start of school (which is tomorrow for Issei, by the way!!). As I was checking out with my purchases, the clerk (who is about my age) mentioned that if I had my cell phone, I could scan a special bar code and get an extra 10% off my total purchase.

Never one to pass up a good deal, I quickly got out my handy-dandy phone and proceeded to do what was necessary. When it was all finished....the clerk noticed the picture on my screen.

And that is when I realized that if you put---

2 Japanese clerks,

3 mid-40's shoppers and

1 foreign woman with

this on her cell phone....

You might possibly get 6 women in a very intense discussion over what is "sexy" and what is "too much".

We were divided, by the way....3 of us thought My Man Dwayne was just what we needed, the other 3 thought he was a bit too much. ("Ew," was an actual comment by one. Can you imagine that? I was nice and forgave her, though.)

I can honestly say that the 10 minutes this all took place, were the funniest 10 minutes of the day. Well, it was probably more than 10 minutes, because I sent the picture to the other 2 ladies' cell phones...and that took a bit longer!!!

The best question by one of the clerks?

"Is that your husband?"

I think I might have snorted at that!

**************

I had a "bag lady" kind of weekend.

As I mentioned before, school starts tomorrow. Actually, the "opening ceremony" for Issei and the rest of the students is tomorrow, the "entrance ceremony" for Koji and the new 1st graders is on Wednesday. Issei is not happy about the whole going back idea~~at all. As usual, the vacation went much too fast for him and no, he is NOT ready to go back. "Suck it up, mister", says I, "you're not old enough to get a job yet and you need an education if you want that really great job at CNN/MTV/some place other than the 'golden arches'." Which, when I start lecturing talking to him about, I'm so sure he mentally reaches up and totally turns me "off". Oh well....I might have possibly done that to my mom (No, Mother, I didn't...of course I didn't...I just said that for the sake of the blog...of course I listened to absolutely every single thing you jabbered on about discussed with me!)

So anyway....the list of various things that Koji needs for school is quite long and there are about 5 bags of various sizes he needs, to carry different items. Thinking I could take the "easy way out", we went to the store to look at and possibly purchase some bags, but....sadly...none of them appealed to my persnickety 6-year old. (Damn.)

I am a woman who faces challenges. I have a sewing machine. I can sew, dammit. Making these bags? No problem.

Actually, it really wasn't too terribly difficult...just a bit time-consuming...but I did it.

When Issei was a 1st grader, I also had a 1-year old AND a job that allowed me very little time for anything else, so...we bought his bags.

The guilt I put upon myself about that was intense...yes, I can take myself on wonderful "guilt trips", I really don't need anyone else, thank you, very much.

So....a few of the bags....I made two...one for each of them. Yes, I know that Issei will only use his for one year. That's okay. I don't even think he realizes that he didn't have "momma made" bags...doing this was more for me...he just thinks it's cool that he has a new bag...we are both happy.

*Big tote bags to carry everything

**small bags for their toothbrushes/cups and

***a bigger one for Koji's PE shorts and t-shirt

****bags for their school shoes

I have only 3 more bags to make for Koji and then I am done. He won't need the extra ones until next week, so I have some time....to procrastinate, you know!>

**************

"I'm not happy and I'm running away."

Koji got mad today. Issei and I are not really sure exactly why he was mad...I'm sure it was something that one of us said/did/didn't do/whatever.

It made him even madder when I mistakenly chuckled at him and his preparation for leaving.

He had wrapped all his "very important stuff" in a small flannel blanket and tied that blanket onto a baseball bat. With the bat over his shoulder, he left the house, looking sadder than you have ever seen!

That kid breaks my heart, sometimes!!

Oh, he didn't go too far...I ran after him and after talking to him for a bit, I convinced him that it was late and getting dark and if he really wanted to leave, tomorrow morning would be better...plus, didn't he remember the yummy pie we had made earlier to eat after dinner?

(That might have been the clincher.)

Later....I was curious as to what he had packed into his bag, so while he was taking a bath with Daddy...I went out to the genkan and found this by the step:

I carefully opened it up....and here is what I found:

Koji's very important stuff:
*a cow hat
*a small radio (looks like a milk carton...thanks, our very special aunts!!)
*a page of Pokemon stickers...most missing
*a small bean bag
*2 Happy Meal robots
*a gold dragon and
*his Snoopy wallet with 1,800 yen (about $18).

I folded it all back up and tied it on the bat....just in case, you know, that he still wants to leave tomorrow morning.

I'm thinking he has changed his mind...at least, I hope he has!

You all have a great Sunday....and if you feel like running away, don't forget to pack a bag of your "most important stuff", but, I hope someone convinces you to wait for another day..... you'd miss your mom something terrible....and you might miss a really delicious dessert for dinner.