Taco Bell....

Taco Bell...not always our first choice for a quick meal. But today we took the stab. We don't typically go there because the little kids aren't really fond of it and for me...I know too much about some of the employees to venture in.

But we ventured today. Most people can go into a fast food establishment and eat for pretty cheap. Not us - ever. $28.20 was our bill. It was only tacos for pity's sake. So we sit and visit - while we wait for them to fix and roll and wrap our tacos...and we wait...and we wait...we waited for over a half hour. Soooo I go up and inspect why has everyone else been served, eaten and left before us?

There is this assembly line process that is fixing meals. At the end is a young man...who appears to be in his 2nd hour of employ at Taco Bell. I ask the man at the til if he can check on our food....he is very busy putting the paper 'pads' on the trays...he tells me that he told me when I paid that it would take a while as it was a big order...I tell him I understand that - but it's been a half hour - maybe he can help the young man at the end of the line. He tells me no - he has to be at the til. There is no customers in line...but he can't step the 8 steps over to check things out.

Gordy...in all his North Dakota finesse - stomps up and states - 'why in the world is our food taking so long!!!' The man at the til states to him ... I told you it would be a while as it was a big order. Gordy stomps back to the table with Ryan, Kimmie and Ben - who have now sipped down their whole big sodas...on empty stomachs and are now...fairly animated and loud.

So - I move to standing at the counter and try to engage with the man I figure is the crew leader, team manager, head chef..what ever. He finally acknowledges me and I tell him - could he check on my order???

He looks at my order...and looks at the still struggling young man - who has now - precariously set two trays of food on top of shelves and warmers...looks at him and tells him - I almost got it all done. They spend ANOTHER 4 minutes...give us 2 trays of food - most of which we ordered - some of which we don't have a clue what it is...it must be a new menu item 'Taco Bell Surprise' and I take it all back to the table...then the head chef...REFUNDS US ALL OUR MONEY...GIVE ME $28.20 CASH BACK!!!

Well Done Taco Bell...

A side note - we now have a bag of left over 'Taco Bell Surprise' in our fridge...for snack tonight while watching 'Ice Road Truckers.'

~~~Only In Montana

Picking up my mail at our local post office today.

A sign on the bulletin board: Found a lama - call to identify - 270-8642...

Someone should tell them that llama is spelled with 2 'l's...

And how many lost llama's do we have running around Somers anyway?

On the hunt for school clothes...

This pic is from our wonderful 'Zoo Day' at the Portland Zoo with the children. It was a wonderfully cool, relaxing day. Much unlike my horridly hot, frantic evening of clothes shopping this evening.

We hit K-Mart. The clothes are 'buy one - get one 1/2 off' and I have 3 little ones that have all hit growth spurts this summer. And as I am the 'Lay-A-Way Queen' of the Flathead...the idea was a good one - until it was in the middle of execution.

Ben is in the 'in the middle' of sizes. I had chosen all the pants, shirts, dresses, outfits, coats, socks, underwear etc...then had the children try some of them one - just to be sure...

Tough for Ben...I wasn't able to purchase all I had chosen and the back and forth from the fitting rooms and boys section was a harried experience with Ryan's attention being done and Kimmie bouncing, bouncing and Ben just being done...

Then to back packs and lunch boxes...I will do school supplies and shoes later this week...thankfully the clerk was patient and good humored...and patient with me when I questioned numerous times about the pricing showing up 'buy one - get one 1/2 off'...but in the end...it was a real bargain...and I very grateful that the kids are still little enough that they don't care about name brands and such...

Aaannnd thank you Jesse and Jasmine for hanging with us to get it all done...

On another note...we are showing our house in the early afternoon - I will not be able to be here to get the house ready - having to be at work...say a prayer that my children are able to sparkle and shine their home...

I love Sundays, I love the end of summer, I love life...

Fun Sucker...

I have a somewhat 'hip' friend that jokingly calls me the 'fun sucker' of the bunch - in that I suck the fun out of everything...too cautious or in his case - too much of a moral compass to have around all the time...

I think my children at some times in their lives would TOTALLY agree with him.

The Fair is in town.

I hate the Fair. Not all Fairs, but the Kalispell Fair.

Not until the WHOLE staff of the Fair is drug tested EVERY DAY that the Fair is in operation...will I attend. The thought of all the carnies who run the games, set up the rides and operate the rides...not at any point being drug tested...makes me very concerned.

Okay - so maybe in this instance...I am a fun sucker...

Cool Changes

Time for a cool change...now that my life...is so rearranged...I know that it's time for a cooo-ool change...

Picture highlights of my past month. Sinbad ~ Azalea ~ Andrea ~ Beach and Family Time

Now it's time to get to work ~~~~

Sinbaaaad...best comedy show EVER...Most funnest night...


My beautiful wonderful Azalea & Andrea turning 3 on the same day.



















~ Cool Ocean ~ Cool Son ~
~ Cool Times ~ Cool Life ~

Waiting...holding our breathe

This is my son Ryan...he is busy.

At my office today - he picked up my key fob...the key fob that is for my security system - that instantly alerts the police that there is a crisis at my office and they respond VERY QUICKLY. I looked up and Ryan was holding it - he asked me what did 'the buttons start?'

I asked Ryan if he pushed any of the buttons. Ryan - with wide eyes - 'No.' Not very believable. I asked him again - he says - did I start your truck...I explain to Ryan that the key fob isn't to start a vehicle - it is to tell the police to come here - really quickly.

Ryan promised that he didn't push a button.

I sat and waited to see if police cars would come screaming to the building.

No police...Ryan's little busy fingers...were well behaved...