A popular occurrence on Twitter is what we call Follow Friday. Or #follow #friday. Or #ff. It's a specific day when Tweeters suggest to the Twitter world some profiles they believe we should follow. It really is neat, especially when you're new to Twitter, and several people give you a #ff shout out. It can get you followers. It can give you people to follow.
I want to start doing my own version of the #ff right here on this blog.
If you follow any of my blogs, you've probably discovered that I am completely in love with a little boy named Bug. Well, Bug actually has a family, even though they don't get talked about as much - a little brother named Peanut, a mom (Bug's mama), a dad (Bug's daddy), and a dog named Tessa (or, in early Bug-speak, "good girl"). I truly love the entire family. Bug's daddy is my cousin. We've known each of each other since he was a small child, but have only really known each other since early 2003. We quickly became very close friends, and for several years, I spent as much time with him and his family as I did with my own (we only live an hour or so apart). In 2005, he rocked my world by expressing interest in - gasp! - a girl.
I know. Rude.
I tried really hard not to like her (ok, I really didn't try that hard). But I could see that she was around for the duration, so I slowly...slowly......slowly.....got to know her. They got married the next year. For the first year(ish), I visited other cousins in the area, but never specifically visit the newly married couple. In fact, I never saw their first apartment. I admit, I was having trouble adjusting to the new dynamic in my relationship with them. And then, one day, a Bug was born. And my cousins became Bug's mama and Bug's daddy.
I met Bug when he was just 9 days old, and knew my life would never be the same. I visited again several months later, and again a few months after that. And then, suddenly, I was seeing them every month or so. As I fell more in love with my boy, I discovered that I'd never really gotten to know Bug's mama. What a waste of the past 2+ years!!
As the next 2 years went by, I began spending as much (or more) time with Bug and Bug's mama than I did with Bug's daddy (not intentionally, but we no longer based my visits strictly on his work schedule). And Bug's mama became one of my best friends, and probably the one person that I am the closest to in this world (outside of my own mama).
The relationship was cemented that winter day when Peanut came into the world.
In the 14 months that Peanut has been on this earth, I have visited them 13 times. Bug now knows (and calls me by) my name. On my last visit, just two short weeks ago, Peanut was trying to say my name. When I visit, the boys know that we WILL watch Disney movies. We WILL wrestle and tickle. We WILL go out to eat somewhere. Cameras WILL come out, and pictures of anything and everything will be taken. And maybe the best part of all (well, maybe not better than the Disney movies, but close enough), thrift stores WILL be visited.
I come from a thrifty family. The women in my family LOVE shopping at thrift stores. I have never liked them. I don't know why, b/c someone one else can shop at a thrift store for me, and I'm fine with it. But I just can't shop there myself. However, in friendship, I tag along when visitiing Bug and his family. And over the weeks and months, I've discovered that I really like thrift stores.
In the past few visits, I've gotten several books (for pennies), unopened wallpaper border (enough rolls to decorate a bathroom, once I get my new house - for a few quarters), an argyle sweater vest ($3 - AND it's argyle!), and along with my own finds, I've helped in finding toys and argyle sweater vests for Bug and Peanut.
FYI, I love argyle sweater vests almost as much as I love Bug and Peanut.
And now, I'm sure you're asking, "She started out talking about Follow Friday, and went off on a tangent about the kid - he's cute, and all, but what does he have to do with Follow Friday?" Well, you see, as I've just explained, Bug's mama is the one that introduced me - REALLY introduced me - to thrift stores. She finds all kinds of treasures when she shops, and she comes up with all these great ideas just by looking at something on one of the store shelves.
And best of all, she has now started blogging about her thrift store adventures.
So, do yourself a favor. Check out Thrift Store Hoppin', and tell her I said, "Hi, Bug!" She'll laugh, and know exactly who sent you.
Showing posts with label Peanut. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peanut. Show all posts
Friday, March 16, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
A Bug Goes to the Zoo
(simultaneously posted on A Mousecacher in Disney's World)
Just three weeks after FINALLY having custom orthotics made, I decided to give them a true road test. On October 15, Bug and Peanut brought their parents down for a trip to Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium. They picked me up early in the morning, and we made the trek to Grant Park, home of the zoo. It was their first visit. It was my first visit since 1991. I don't know who was more excited. They were all excited about seeing the animals, I was excited to watch Bug as he saw the animals.
As we're walking through the entrance, the conversation went something like this:
Me: "Bug, what animal do you want to see today?"
Bug: "Giraffelephant." Yes, that is one word.
Me, laughing: "The giraffelephant, huh? Well, what about brother? What animal does he want to see?"
You must remember that Peanut, at this point, is only 9 months old, and doesn't really grasp what animals are.
Bug: "He wants to see the pig." Matter-of-fact. Peanut wants to see the pig. I love this kid!
One of the first exhibits had just what Bug wanted. A giraffelephant. Or, maybe it was an area that had BOTH a giraffe AND and an elephant together. Either way, he was happy! I think he would have stayed there all day long, if only we'd let him.
Along the way, there were gorillas, lions, tigers, pandas, snakes (Bug wasn't impressed with those), a naked mole rat (I don't know if he liked Rufus, but he sure liked the tunnel going in and out of the exhibit), birds, flamingos, gators, and a petting zoo.
There was also Dippin' Dots.
Peanut wanted ice cream, too, but we made him stick to banana puffs.
Later on, Bug convinved me to pose for a picture.
We ended the visit with a ride on the train and the carousel (Bug wanted nothing to do with them until we were on them, then did not want to get off. Peanut liked them from far away, but was not so keen on the actual experience. What can you do?), and then headed back to the parking lot for a well-deserved picnic. After filling our bellies and resting our feet, we drove about 3 miles to another parking lot, and prepared to enter the Georgia Aquarium.
This was, as with the zoo, their first visit. I, however, am an annual passholder. Having experienced the aquarium before, I was able to concentrate what they wanted to see. It is so much fun to see something through the eyes of a two-year-old! Much like at the zoo (look, Bug, it's Timon and Pumba! Look, Bug, it's Simba!), several animals were identified by their proper Disney name.
Much like at the zoo, Bug did not want to pet the animals.
Much like at the zoo, Bug somehow convinced me to pose for a picture.
Bug surprised us all by his reaction to the shark tunnel. Being scared of everything else, we fully expected him to be terrified of a tunnel surrounded by sharks and other somewhat frightening marine life. Not the case, at all. I do believe that his favorite part of the aquarium was the tunnel. We had to end the visit by going through the tunnel one last time. All the way home, Bug kept pointing out tunnels (underpasses, parking garages, anything that resembled a tunnel).
It was days later that I realized: There are almost no pictures of Bug and Peanut with their parents! There really were two other adults on this trip! I promise, there were!!! I guess I monopolized the kids. Oh well, consider it preparation for a trip to Disney. Bug's first trip to Disney World is in the planning stages!
And just in case it's slipped your notice, I am so completely in love with this kid!
Just three weeks after FINALLY having custom orthotics made, I decided to give them a true road test. On October 15, Bug and Peanut brought their parents down for a trip to Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium. They picked me up early in the morning, and we made the trek to Grant Park, home of the zoo. It was their first visit. It was my first visit since 1991. I don't know who was more excited. They were all excited about seeing the animals, I was excited to watch Bug as he saw the animals.
As we're walking through the entrance, the conversation went something like this:
Me: "Bug, what animal do you want to see today?"
Bug: "Giraffelephant." Yes, that is one word.
Me, laughing: "The giraffelephant, huh? Well, what about brother? What animal does he want to see?"
You must remember that Peanut, at this point, is only 9 months old, and doesn't really grasp what animals are.
Bug: "He wants to see the pig." Matter-of-fact. Peanut wants to see the pig. I love this kid!
One of the first exhibits had just what Bug wanted. A giraffelephant. Or, maybe it was an area that had BOTH a giraffe AND and an elephant together. Either way, he was happy! I think he would have stayed there all day long, if only we'd let him.
Along the way, there were gorillas, lions, tigers, pandas, snakes (Bug wasn't impressed with those), a naked mole rat (I don't know if he liked Rufus, but he sure liked the tunnel going in and out of the exhibit), birds, flamingos, gators, and a petting zoo.
There was also Dippin' Dots.
Peanut wanted ice cream, too, but we made him stick to banana puffs.
Later on, Bug convinved me to pose for a picture.
We ended the visit with a ride on the train and the carousel (Bug wanted nothing to do with them until we were on them, then did not want to get off. Peanut liked them from far away, but was not so keen on the actual experience. What can you do?), and then headed back to the parking lot for a well-deserved picnic. After filling our bellies and resting our feet, we drove about 3 miles to another parking lot, and prepared to enter the Georgia Aquarium.
This was, as with the zoo, their first visit. I, however, am an annual passholder. Having experienced the aquarium before, I was able to concentrate what they wanted to see. It is so much fun to see something through the eyes of a two-year-old! Much like at the zoo (look, Bug, it's Timon and Pumba! Look, Bug, it's Simba!), several animals were identified by their proper Disney name.
 |
| Dory! |
Much like at the zoo, Bug did not want to pet the animals.
Much like at the zoo, Bug somehow convinced me to pose for a picture.
Bug surprised us all by his reaction to the shark tunnel. Being scared of everything else, we fully expected him to be terrified of a tunnel surrounded by sharks and other somewhat frightening marine life. Not the case, at all. I do believe that his favorite part of the aquarium was the tunnel. We had to end the visit by going through the tunnel one last time. All the way home, Bug kept pointing out tunnels (underpasses, parking garages, anything that resembled a tunnel).
It was days later that I realized: There are almost no pictures of Bug and Peanut with their parents! There really were two other adults on this trip! I promise, there were!!! I guess I monopolized the kids. Oh well, consider it preparation for a trip to Disney. Bug's first trip to Disney World is in the planning stages!
And just in case it's slipped your notice, I am so completely in love with this kid!
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