As a courtesy to those who visit this site regularly, soon you will notice that I’m scaling back on content to better focus on ongoing projects. Just wanted to put that out there in case you’re wondering whether I’ve disappeared permanently, especially after the crickets start chirping on itcatholicmom.net.

Yes, just like in those old Looney Tunes cartoons. You know the ones - with Daffy Duck & Bugs Bunny and the cricket chirping audience?

Those kinds.

Grumpy Green Pepper
Originally uploaded by itchick

Straight from the Catholic Family garden, this green pepper bears a striking resemblence to a ‘Grumpy Old Man’. God must be playing a little joke on us this year, eh? Very funny.

I will be the first to admit that the very thought of being a catechist for 6th graders literally scared the living daylights right out of me when I grudgingly signed up for the job last spring. My thinking was that the sweet little innocent faces of previous years would be no more at the middle school level. Instead, I pictured myself looking out into a classroom of sinister faces attached to bodies that were almost as tall as, if not taller, than me as they chucked stones at my head while I attempted to teach Catholic stuff to them. And I’m not into painful teaching experiences. Not in this lifetime, anyway. But I digress.

Continue Reading »

That would be me, apparently - a walking Mary Kay Cosmetics Target to be exact. It’s bad enough that I have an addiction to shopping at Target, but when I’m standing there in the children’s underwear aisle looking for some NON-pink-flowery-or-Hannah-Montana-y bikini briefs for the Catholic Girlie, I really don’t expect to be approached by a Mary Kay representative giving away free facials. And yet, that’s exactly what happened yesterday. Underwear aisle and all. Huh?

So here’s how it all went down - I’m standing there smack dab in the girl’s section of the local Super Target looking baffled because I cannot find plain ‘ole white or beige undies in my daughter’s size when this 20 year old-ish woman approaches me:

• Her: Wow! Is that a real Coach handbag? I love it!
• Me: Actually, no. It’s a knock-off. *moves handbag closer to self*
• Her: Oh, well it’s really very nice. Hey! That’s such a pretty necklace you’re wearing!
• Me: Why, err, thank you. *furrows brow thinking this woman is getting stranger by the moment*
• Her: By the way, I just started selling Mary Kay cosmetics, and we have a great new line of colors, and I’m giving FREE FACIALS. Here let me give you my card.
• Me: No, that’s ok. I already have a Mary Kay person.
• Her: Ohhh! What’s her name? Maybe I know her!
• Me: Hmmm… I can’t seem to remember. It always escapes me, silly isn’t it?
• Her: Well, ok then. But I do like your necklace. Have a really great day!

Then I’m left pushing my cart quickly in the opposite direction thinking to myself, What happened there? Was I really just accosted by a Mary Kay salesperson? That was so odd. I guess building a client base in the makeup-selling industry requires desperate measures - but I mean really now. Her approach freaked even me out, and I don’t think I freak out quite that easily.

What in the world was the name of my Mary Kay person anyway? *shakes head*