School's Out and Summer is here...

So I see you've made it back, I'm glad... we were getting lonely here.

Not really. I mean I am glad to see that you've come back, but I have three kids, I'm actually pretty busy.

But, I did have some free time to take a moment to let you know what's been going on. School is finally out, Hooray! Time to be excited right?! Maybe if I were 9 and it was my summer vacation, but for me as Mom, these 10 weeks home with my kids are my full-time job that I spend the remaining 42 weeks of the year recovering from. 

Alright, that is not entirely true, but sometimes (especially at the beginning) it feels like it..

Blasphemy you say?! 

Then I see you'll need a little background to fully appreciate the scenario.
It's Summertime, kids are out of school and in my neck of the woods that is not until late June. A lot of the children around here still run around like it is circa 20+ years ago -- with no regard for personal safety, predators etc..., like they haven't a care in the world. Their parents send them out the door early and don't WANT them back 'til dinner time. Not me, I am a polar opposite of this in my parenting style. If I don't know you, haven't met you (and sometimes especially after meeting you) my children are kept as far away from you as possible. That said, and also because I am one of the only neighborhood Mom's who stays home we have become the "House of Choice." So of course when the kids come knocking they have to get an early start and it has quickly become a daily NIGHTMARE! Especially with my two big dogs alerting me in case I missed the non-stop loud thuds being made (I actually think they are kicking my door, thank God for steel!) -- and it sets off the chain reaction: the kids knock and then the dogs take to barking and I have yell over them to be quiet and to get back so I can answer, which is always particularly fun because it starts around 7:30 when my kids are still sleeping. I would almost bet the kids do it because they know, NOBODY can stay asleep with all the racket going on! I am sure that the "little knockers" find it amusing - but me, oh no, not so much!

When my kids are finally up and ready to face the day (and their "friends" are allowed inside) I am stupefied at the lack of regard for other people's homes and stuff in general these kids have. When I was growing up I'd have been slapped straight into next week if I walked into anyone's house demanding stuff... "I want a drink, Gimme that controller, this show sucks - how do you change the channel? You got food, I'm hungry?"

But no, these children know no limits! Each time they are over it is the SAME exact thing! I don't even give them anything (well maybe a glass of water) - because I truly believe that old saying about caring for strays, Don't you feed it, or it will never want to leave! You could say the same for the neighborhood kids.

I've tried on MANY occasions to refer hungry and thirsty children to their own homes if they didn't like that they could only have water from me - I was completely shocked to have heard "Nobody's home," My [Mom or Dad] told me not to come 'til dark." They've also shared with me that they've actually been told by their parents "Try and get somebody else to feed ya or wait til dinner." Seriously, WTH?! Are you kidding me?! What kind of parenting is that??? I didn't realize that I had been hired as your babysitter. Oh, wait, that's right because I WASN'T! But the kids (and I don't put all the blame off onto them) would spend ALL DAY everyday at our home if I would let them! 

Now you're probably saying then don't let them in, don't answer the door. I've tried it, it doesn't work. We've pretended not to be home, and then my kids become prisoners in their own house, even then they kept coming and pounding on the door. I bet now your saying to yourself, so let them knock, stay inside a few days and they'll get he hint. Well let me tell you what has happens when you DON'T let them in? It is NOT a pretty picture. Cluster 'gangs' of kids on bicycles litter the street making it impossible for cars to pass. Horns are blaring and you hear the shouts through car windows of people cursing, telling them to move! And don't get me started on the litter... It comes from the the pilfered candy and soda machines across the street and then gets scattered throughout my yard despite the trash bin being only steps in the other direction. I don't even want to know where they've gotten the change to 'pay' for it.

I guess what I am a getting at is this, am I the only one? Is this a freak anomoly from Pleasant Street or is this some kind of epidemic for kids nowadays everywhere? What are your helpful coping tips? I am willing and open to trying just about everything!!! We still have a lot of weeks left.


Thinking happy thoughts until next time?-




StraightA's

Now that you're here...

Oh, Hi there!

You're back... Or, maybe this is your first time here.

Either way, WELCOME!
I'm glad you've found us. Have a look around and check things out. Go ahead and look, I'll wait. =)




...




So now you're probably asking yourself, who is this nut, and why is she talking to me like I'm there?

Probably most importantly what does she want? Right???


Honestly, this is an outlet. I'm a stay at home mother (for now) and my goal here is to just write (and of course have someone to read what I've written - and maybe even like it and comment on what they've read or ask me questions -- for me ALL of that'd be positively divine)...

And as for who I am, well, me, I am really probably of little to no significance. I'm just the gal behind the curtain, an observer, the one you're not supposed to pay any attention to.

Maybe you're a little curious - maybe you're saying "Fine, Fine, you're just a insignificant nobody, but what's with the whole 'On Pleasant Street' deal?"

Well, you may have surmised that my address is on no other than a street named Pleasant...

In a house that we haven't had to all to long. It needed an incredible amount of work, but that the price was right on, so here we are. I live in said house with my husband, and our three girls - but most days it is FAR from pleasant! I probably live on the least pleasant Pleasant street around. I have abominable neighbors (honestly not ALL of them are bad) but for the most part, yeah, they really suck - what with their hoarding tendencies, their crazy animals, the police involved shenanigans, domestic issues - I could go on and on! Try as I might to ignore it all or pretend to live elsewhere, I've been unable to completely shield us from the neighbors and basically everything that goes on out on 'the street' -- these four walls aren't impenetrable... What I mean is that sometimes living here is like living near the scene of an accident, you know you shouldn't look, but you become that rubber-necker who can't pull away! I've learned a terrific life lesson on this one though -- NEVER buy real estate based on what you see in the winter-time!

This blog will be my attempt at chronicling the ups and downs of parenting, my attempts at saving money and living on a budget, our continued efforts at making this house whole again, and the hilarity and poor choices made by my neighbors (and possibly even myself or the fam at times) -- who doesn't enjoy a good laugh at the expense of others, right?!


Hope you enjoy reading - and I hope you come back often to Meanwhile on Pleasant Street...


'Til next time --


StraightA's

The First

I've been tinkering around with the idea of starting a blog for sometime now, but lately it has become like an itch that is just out of your reach, driving you insane and makes getting anything and everything done next to impossible!!  

I think the itch started when several close acquaintances came to me, (me??? I know right!) for advice. Being the good-natured friend that I am led to me trying to depart onto them all my "worldly wisdom and intellect"  while trying of course to help them with their varied issues.  I want to believe that my suggestions/opinions/advice were valid and most helpful, but the jury is still out on that one... 


I do know that 'being there' allowed me to see that not only was I full of A LOT of non-essential but somewhat useful "stuff,"  I  realized that I really have a knack for getting off onto other tangents, sharing stories and anecdotes and putting people at ease with my own misguided attempts at ______ (you fill in the blank).  I live by the trial and error process, and let me tell you, I am by no means anywhere close to perfection.  So, after years and years full of my own epic fails I have compiled my own cranial database of what NOT to do's - that will allow making suggestions on a myriad of other things I know, have learned and want to share possible.  


With the gears already set into motion I began to think -- Wow, how awesome would that be?- In reference to starting a blog, and getting all this crap out of my head and down in writing for others to actually (possibly) benefit from/get some use of!    

There have been on occasion, times in my life when I have been told that I am a good writer; despite also having been told that I have an unusual style of writing, but that I am articulate enough -- and that sometimes I even get to the point -- usually in a round about or humorous way, but I eventually get there.  I also do enjoy drafting stories, and sending well written if not heartfelt emails. I also feel I am getting quite a bit of practice and becoming fairly good at sharing my sometimes over-opinionated views, giving advice on motherhood/parenting, and how-to's (home projects, crafts and couponing) among other things.


So I did it; I decided I can do this...and here we are, where my blogging days begin.

I hope that you (readers) enjoy taking this journey with me because I have absolutely NO idea where it will lead. But know that I will try my best to figure it out as we go along, or at very least wing it like I have a clue!  I welcome your feed back, comments, suggestions and if you are really brave and want to hear my (haha) advice -- your questions. 

Until next time, 

StraightA's