Monday, July 5, 2010

I've Done Things That Have Made Less Sense...

I'm not sure how this came about, but apparently I was challenged by Carrying a Cat by the Tail to write a blog post with this title. I don't generally come up with a title until I'm done writing a post, but I'm not one to turn away from a challenge either. After all, I've done things that have made less sense than working on a blog post from the title down (which is completely BACKWARDS! Just sayin'.)

Like the time I drove my white Mustang downtown with my friend Heather. I was probably seventeen at the time. I couldn't parallel park, so I rolled down my window, asked a complete stranger to park for me, got out of the car, and trusted them to not drive off.

Or then there was the time I got a tattoo. Just because.

Oh and let's not forget about the time I said, "I do."

Most recently, I hid my chocolate that was a gift from Julia in Sweden so my kids wouldn't find it. I can't remember where I put it.

Or giving Clayton a pair of scissors.

Of course, there was the time I tried to get tan. Fast. I used a bottle of baby oil and stayed outside all. day. long.


Or the time I might have accidentally, a little bit, hit myself in the face while doing Tae Bo.

Or letting Clayton use the markers.

Dying my hair any number of times. Or getting that perm way back when. Or cutting my bangs every time they get in my face. Basically, any decision I've ever made concerning my hair.

And there was the time I drank way too much Sambuca on the fourth of July, about 20 years ago.

Letting Clayton see where I put the lighter away.

Not jumping up to investigate immediately when I heard the deafening silence from the family room. Neon red, white, and blue frosting comes out of fabric, right?

Taking my six kids grocery shopping.

Not hiding my car keys away from Clayton.

And finally, there was the time I agreed to have dinner with a man who has six kids and lives three states away.


Of course, I learned lessons from each of these things. I learned that licorice does NOT taste good the second time around. I learned that sautéing one's skin in oil is a great idea (you know, if you want skin cancer and pain!) I learned that Clayton can turn pretty much anything into a weapon of mass destruction. I learned that neon red, white, and blue frosting does not, in fact, come out of fabric, but if you smear it around, it turns a lovely shade of purple. I learned that chocolate should be eaten immediately and not hidden away, and that exercise is highly overrated (curse you, Billy Blanks!) And I learned that there's a reason why hair stylists go to school to learn how to do hair.

But the cool thing is that God can take even the dumbest things you do and turn them around and use them for good. He took the time I said, "I do" and gave me six awesome kids. I learned from my mistake and won't be making the same one again. Taking my kids to the grocery store resulted in a successful auction of Pokemon cards and a book deal for me. I know I'll do more stupid things. I'll make mistakes. I'll stay at my computer when I really should be running to see why the kids are dragging the sprinkler into their bedrooms. But it's okay. Things have a way of working out. Life's pretty "groovy" that way.

51 comments:

GrammyJackie said...

Dawn...You said "And finally, there was the time I agreed to have dinner with a man who has six kids and lives three states away"....I love it!!!

Anonymous said...

WAIT A MINUTE!!! You agreed to have dinner w/Spuds?? Details! You're readers want to know!!

Unknown said...

Yeah! I want to know, too! What are the details???

Great post!!!! (Love the whirling fist of death in Tae Bo image!)

Anonymous said...

You SO win the contest!! His title and yet he can't seem to write anything for it! BTW, when's the date? I'm betting that the family will need TWO Alices...what do you think? :o)Deelyn

Anonymous said...

I obviously wasn't the only one that read between the lines there..... I agree! Details?!

I tell ya, he's got more than a challenge on his hands after reading that.

Awesome job. Love it =)

Robin said...

Isn't it wonderful the way God uses our own stupidity to teach us, to help us grow? He's so smart.

It almost makes it worth it. Almost.

Lorelei said...

Oh no, no, no, you're not going to hide the GINORMOUS piece of information about your having dinner with Spuds in a blog post about past mistakes. Oh no. Details! We need details! When? Where? Candles?

Anonymous said...

Dinner with Spuds!!!!!

Thought this should be on the cards-how fantastic.

Anonymous said...

c'mon, give more infor about the dinner date - we all need to know!

Nadia said...

lol dont you hate it when you hide things in a 'safe' spot... and it is so safe that you now cant find it yourself!

Clare, Kent, UK said...

Let's rewind a little and talk more about the date with the man with six kids. Is it wrong to be excited and see hearts and flowers and fairies sprinkling fairy dust? You have got to start looking for an Alice!

WeaselMomma said...

"Serendipity" would have been a more appropriate title.

I never give a title until I'm finished writing either.

Julia in Sweden said...

Uh-oh. I'd better send some more then! ;-)
It's a lot easier to ship around than Vegemite!

Christy said...

So Dawn, this begs for two questions.
1. With or without kids?
2. Your turf or his?

Anonymous said...

LOVE IT!!!!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh Dawn. I might have to send you an email on things I have done and title it:
'Things Not to Do' .....LOL

I loved your list and I have been reading the daily things from Spuds also...I think he should do a book too.

Have fun now on you date ! Hehehe

Donna, from N.E. Indiana

Robin said...

Like all your other faithful followers I want more details about this agreement to have dinner with Spuds! So PLEASE share!!! What a hoot that dinner would be....I'd love to be a fly on the wall. :)

Anonymous said...

ok Dawn I already commented but then I went over to Spuds blog and do you know that that man loves to go camping and anything outdoorsy?!?

Anonymous said...

Don't even tease like that!! You can't give us a sentence of info and not some details. I respect your privacy and all but you do have supportive readers that you must not keep hanging. So what was he like? And I'm not even going to tease you about 12 kids in the house because that would be alot! Please, Dawn, you can't keep us in the dark forever!! =)

Anonymous said...

The dad of 6 kids lives in the southeastern part of the USA. You are thinking of moving to North Carolina? Coincidence? Maybe?!?!

Anonymous said...

Dawn and SPUDS sitting in a tree...K.I.S.S.I.N.G!!!!! Fist come 12 kids, then comes marriage, then comes ANOTHER (#13) baby in a baby carriage!!!

Quotes from the Sandbox said...

I'm banking on the last paragraph of this post. Thank you for saying it like it is. :) Have a nice dinner with Spuds. Always nice to have someone who may understand what you're going through. Hope you have a good day.

Bree said...

Yes Dawn We need Details. Did he come to you or are you taking or took see we need details your family down to where he lives?

rthling said...

LOLOL!!!
Blah, blah, blah...
Clayton...
Blah, blah, blah...
Clayton...
HILARIOUS!
And you knew we'd all jump on the date 411 wagon, didn't you?
Have a swell time. Stay alert and sober, cuz we are all going to need some pretty serious DETAILS!

Juneau Poole Party said...

Such a mom you are - hide the juicy details to see if we are paying attention!!!!!

Luwanna said...

I believe you lived up to the Challenge. Your post and Spuds post were both great! Enjoy dinner :)
Hugs!

jennie said...

I thought that was funny too how you slid it in. I don't care much for details (yet) I am just so excited for you to even take a step like this evvven if it is just a dinner! :)

Jen said...

HAHAHAHHAA! Best blog EVER! :D

Sunnyworld said...

Dawn, you have a wonderful view of life! Never give that up.

Vincent Navarino said...

Give someone a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach someone to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime. Find out the chocolate you hid was in the fish and you have a hysterical blog post after Dawn goes and cooks it...

Unknown said...

For some reason... And I can't put my finger on it right now... But I'm thinkin' Clayton is cool!

Jen said...

So, um, does bubble mint Toy Story toothpaste come out of fabric? My kiddo just HAD to have that one and then proceeded to spread it around the house because he can always use his sister's toothpaste for its intended purpose.

Unknown said...

Now I feel like I have a crowd watching me as I try to be all suave. How is a guy supposed to properly woo a woman with a cast o' characters watching?

Anonymous said...

More details on dinner with Spuds!

MPMommy said...

You're awesome. :)

Unknown said...

@Spuds - I agree with you on that one. But, hey... when you put it out there for all to see...

Julesagain said...

Dawn - Great job, especially sliding that little dinner date gem in there. For some reason, hilarious, highly fictitious, live blog updates seem likely from the two of you. Hope you guys have a great time. I tried the long distance dating thing (Georgia to Iowa ... speaking of Things I've Done That Have Not Made Sense) and it was great fun, we got together when we could, we wrote a book together, but ultimately the expense and the distance wore us down. But 3 states is a lot more doable than 7 - heck that's drive-able!

Linda said...

Ahem, Dawn! We don't just skim your blog, sweetie. We actually read it. More details on the dinner, please. You can't just slip that one by us! ;)

Ellen said...

Dawn, Dawn, Dawn... I knew something was missing in my over crazed world... and now I know ...your blog postings were going to my junk folder (gasp). I just diverted from working and caught up on the Meehan clan. Still fabulous as ever!! I think of you often and send you positive thoughts...keep on keepin' on girl!

Can't wait for your new book!
Ellen

Anonymous said...

Dawn, I'm not sure about your date with Spuds...I mean...have you even looked at his profile? The very first interest he likes is CAMPING! Weren't you glad to be through with all of that?

Spuds profile looks quite fun. I am guessing he is military (or prior military)...our family is too. Any military man gets an A++ from me.

I still LOVE reading your blog. I don't comment much, but read every post you write...I have been reading you since Day 1. Keep it up Dawn, you make a lot of people smile. :)

Donna H. in NY

Anonymous said...

Spuds -

For some of us, this is like a daily soap opera. We must keep up with the latest in Dawn's world! And if you are a part of it, well congrats but we must get to know you too.

Unknown said...

I think I'm going to give this virtual union power couple status. So affective immediately you guys are gonna have to choose a name like Spuds Pitt and Dawngelina Jolie. Or how about Dawni Moore and Ashton Spudcher? You guys can decide.

Unknown said...

Que- Now you're just being silly! I'm more of the Spuds Willis, after all.

Unknown said...

No, no... I think I got it right the first time. The woman in the relationship has all of the talent.

Dawn said...

I like you, Que.
And people, people, people, it's dinner. He's a writer. I'm a writer. We both have a bunch of kids. We have stuff in common. We're talking about dinner, not picking out china patterns!

rthling said...

AH, but... dinner with someone who lives three states away isn't just dinner.
You can't fool us.
Let's all get on Que's bandwagon.
I say we call them SPAWN! LOLOLOL!

AndiWrite said...

I hate to call you out on this, Dawn, but you said "dinner with a man who has six kids" not "a fellow blogger who has six kids." ;) But seriously, I just hope you have a fun time.

Anonymous said...

I second "SPAWN"!!!

Anonymous said...

"SPAWN" FTW!!! And I second, third and fourth everybody else. We need details, Dawn, and lots of them!! Regardless of what does or does not come out of this, I think you will have a good, blog worthy time. YAY!

-Beth in MI

HRH Mommy said...

Dawn, this is awesome!! I recognize this so much. You know, as long as we can laugh about it afterwards (or somewhat at least), then it's all worth it.

I know this is not going to make a big difference in your life, but I just wanted to let you know that I would like to pass on a few blogger awards to you. As a sign of appreciation.

You rock!! You can find the awards on my blog at:

http://mformommy.blogspot.com/2010/07/award-overwhelm.html

janet in ft worth said...

What? You think of the post title after you've written the post? Holy cow! I haven't written a post on my blog since April...because I couldn't think of a title! Yeah, okay, that's not the only reason, but that's the excuse I'm sticking with!

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