Thursday, July 30, 2009
Zerbers
For your enjoyment and education. If the sound and video don't match up....my computer and video have been acting up. My apologies.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Weak on Wednesday
Happy Wednesday.
We're having a food day for a lady's birthday here at work. We've got:
cheddar chex mix
veggie tray
cupcakes
german chocolate cake
cookies
zucchini bread
watermelon
crackers and cheeseball
cheesecake
I'm sure there's more, but just to give you a taste....
Next, we're thinking of taking this four day weekend we have (I took tomorrow and Friday off work and Hubs is still on disability) and going someplace.
Dilemma 1: Do we take grumpy OJ or leave him with my mom or dad? Do we take any of the kids? Probably will, since the intent of this mini vacay was for it to be a family trip.
Dilemma 2: Where to go? Short drive? Medium drive? Short flight? For cost-saving purposes, we'll probably drive. But we don't know where to go. Surrounding state options include Oklahoma, Colorado, Illinois (Chicago), Nebraska (zoo in Omaha?), St. Louis (again).....decisions, decisions.
Third, weak on Wednesday, cropped version.
1. Zerbers.
OJ woke up this morning and I brought him to our bed. I laid him down thinking he might fall back asleep. As soon as he got in the bed, he rolled over to Hubs like he wanted to cuddle on his chest, and instead blew a zerber. And then another. And another. I laughed out loud and trotted to the bathroom for my shower.
2. Friends
I've really come to appreciate friends that I don't necessarily share "likenesses" with. Because what's funny about likenesses is that eventually, it seems you end up having them. At some point. With some friends, you feel sad that you cannot relate to what they're experiencing but come to learn that months or years down the road, you do. And vice versa. Just because we can't always relate or share intimate stories with friends at the moment they're having their crises doesn't mean we won't. You'll only grow if you learn to be sympathetic to what someone else feels is a burden or a struggle for THEM. If you judge their experience or belittle it, you might fail to see that YOU could experience that very thing in the future. Don't discount, dismiss, or brush off the path your friends' lives take. It could be your same path someday.
3. Time
It goes quickly. But if you capture each moment that passes as it's meant to be captured, you'll be amazed at the images you see. The sounds you'll hear. The smells you pass by. The laughter that truly is more prominent than the weeping. I've decided these next four days will be spent doing something with the people I birthed, the man I married, the car I'm buying, the roads I've helped pave. We're going to take our time and stretch it out with good music and good fun. What will you do?
p.s. Go here and congratulate Cammie on 200 posts! She's aiming for 200 comments.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tragic Tuesday
I work in an old building. I've told you a bit about it before, the windows actually still OPEN, and there are a few "secret" escape doordows. I call them doordows, as in doors/windows. There is one in my department. It has the pushy part of a door to shove but is halved, so it's like a window. Maybe I'll take a picture for you sometime. Anyhow...
Someone snuck into our building awhile back and they were going around checking that all potential "openings" were secure. They checked that one, shoved it open, and closed it back. The story here? BEFORE they shoved it open, the lady who sits next to it always heard birdies chirping out there. And then baby birds. And after the doordow was shoved open, no more chirps. No more baby bird sounds. Security KILLED THEM. Shoved them off into an alley jump death. Tragic.
This same lady was telling us about a road she travels on her way home. She lives relatively outside of the city, in the country, on a windy road. She's hit a deer before. Now she fears driving, especially on that road. The other day she was riding in the car with her husband (who frequently drives her to work now) on that particular road and screamed "DEER!!" as she saw one crossing. She admitted to us that she wished she had a gun so that she could kill them all. Poor Bambi. Tragic.
Because of OJ's disastrous weekend and his even crappier week so far, Hubs took him to a quick doctor's visit to ensure that indeed this child was just psychotic. It appears to the doc that he's just struggling to get over a virus and thus he continues to get fevers frequently. She offered a blood test to ensure that his immune system was in tact, white cell count normal, etc. It was fine, with the exception of one slightly "left" of normal part that determined viral recoveries. So OJ remains a difficult baby, AT BEST, and Hubs and I remain drained and exhausted. But on the bright side, I have a bottle of wine to finish off tonight and "After the Final Rose" to watch. Woo hoo to ME. Tragic for Hubs.
Someone snuck into our building awhile back and they were going around checking that all potential "openings" were secure. They checked that one, shoved it open, and closed it back. The story here? BEFORE they shoved it open, the lady who sits next to it always heard birdies chirping out there. And then baby birds. And after the doordow was shoved open, no more chirps. No more baby bird sounds. Security KILLED THEM. Shoved them off into an alley jump death. Tragic.
This same lady was telling us about a road she travels on her way home. She lives relatively outside of the city, in the country, on a windy road. She's hit a deer before. Now she fears driving, especially on that road. The other day she was riding in the car with her husband (who frequently drives her to work now) on that particular road and screamed "DEER!!" as she saw one crossing. She admitted to us that she wished she had a gun so that she could kill them all. Poor Bambi. Tragic.
Because of OJ's disastrous weekend and his even crappier week so far, Hubs took him to a quick doctor's visit to ensure that indeed this child was just psychotic. It appears to the doc that he's just struggling to get over a virus and thus he continues to get fevers frequently. She offered a blood test to ensure that his immune system was in tact, white cell count normal, etc. It was fine, with the exception of one slightly "left" of normal part that determined viral recoveries. So OJ remains a difficult baby, AT BEST, and Hubs and I remain drained and exhausted. But on the bright side, I have a bottle of wine to finish off tonight and "After the Final Rose" to watch. Woo hoo to ME. Tragic for Hubs.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday Mumbles
Ten random thoughts swirling around on this sunshiny Monday morning.
1. Some of my hair has decided to shed itself. Not sure why. One was white/gray. I gasped.
2. I decided to see a dermatologist about my cheeky red face dotted with lovely God knows what. Adult onset acne, extremely common after babies. Bite me, Doc. I didn't have any acne as a teenager...what's with karma anyhow? The meds should have it cleared in 8-10 weeks. In the meantime, I feel like I'm having a chemical peel. And breakouts. It's been nearly two weeks, though, and I'm starting to see a positive difference. Finally.
3. OJ was better this morning. He didn't even fuss at his diaper change. Maybe he sensed I was "on the edge"...."about to jump", last night.
4. We spent too much money this weekend eating out and getting "what-nots". You'd think we'd stop doing that with the medical bills that TO and OJ rake up on us. But then again, I never buy new clothes, neither does Hubs, so I guess we're entitled to eat, right?
5. Should bosses be allowed to "clean your desk" when you're away on vacation? Should they be allowed to straighten up your personal items, even if they are messy and cluttered? I say no. I say they can force you to de-clutter and demand it be done by XXX day and time, but to do it when you're not present? Just because they're brought to work doesn't mean it's free game for the workplace to man-handle. Thoughts?
6. Sis who works for a shoe store company, we need to go shopping. ASAP. One night this week, please? Your eldest nephew needs some.
7. Sis who doesn't work for the shoe store company, I'll have your sweater cleaned and brought down this week. Maybe I'll bring the shop vac if you can have a one day return policy instilled.
8. I have lots of blog reading to catch up on....at least I feel that way. I will get around to it....PROMISE. Some day I'll adhere to my "no blogging at work" policy. Any suggestions when I should start that 12-step program?
9. I just found out this morning that TO's teacher crush doesn't work there anymore. Friday was her last day. She apparently landed herself a "real" teaching gig in a school. TO doesn't appear any worse for the wear, so I won't dwell or give him the "there's more fish in the sea" lecture. He's got plenty of time to learn that romantic relationships are overrated. Love you Hubs!
10. Lunch time calls. What to eat, what to eat......?
1. Some of my hair has decided to shed itself. Not sure why. One was white/gray. I gasped.
2. I decided to see a dermatologist about my cheeky red face dotted with lovely God knows what. Adult onset acne, extremely common after babies. Bite me, Doc. I didn't have any acne as a teenager...what's with karma anyhow? The meds should have it cleared in 8-10 weeks. In the meantime, I feel like I'm having a chemical peel. And breakouts. It's been nearly two weeks, though, and I'm starting to see a positive difference. Finally.
3. OJ was better this morning. He didn't even fuss at his diaper change. Maybe he sensed I was "on the edge"...."about to jump", last night.
4. We spent too much money this weekend eating out and getting "what-nots". You'd think we'd stop doing that with the medical bills that TO and OJ rake up on us. But then again, I never buy new clothes, neither does Hubs, so I guess we're entitled to eat, right?
5. Should bosses be allowed to "clean your desk" when you're away on vacation? Should they be allowed to straighten up your personal items, even if they are messy and cluttered? I say no. I say they can force you to de-clutter and demand it be done by XXX day and time, but to do it when you're not present? Just because they're brought to work doesn't mean it's free game for the workplace to man-handle. Thoughts?
6. Sis who works for a shoe store company, we need to go shopping. ASAP. One night this week, please? Your eldest nephew needs some.
7. Sis who doesn't work for the shoe store company, I'll have your sweater cleaned and brought down this week. Maybe I'll bring the shop vac if you can have a one day return policy instilled.
8. I have lots of blog reading to catch up on....at least I feel that way. I will get around to it....PROMISE. Some day I'll adhere to my "no blogging at work" policy. Any suggestions when I should start that 12-step program?
9. I just found out this morning that TO's teacher crush doesn't work there anymore. Friday was her last day. She apparently landed herself a "real" teaching gig in a school. TO doesn't appear any worse for the wear, so I won't dwell or give him the "there's more fish in the sea" lecture. He's got plenty of time to learn that romantic relationships are overrated. Love you Hubs!
10. Lunch time calls. What to eat, what to eat......?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Jealousy Reigns
I can't help it. I am not typically a jealous person, I don't typically dwell on things that others have, places others go, behaved children that others raise. But for some reason, I've taken a real whopper of a pill this week. I've turned green with envy.
I don't consider myself any sort of decent blogger. Not in the sense that the media portrays blogging, or in the way it's become a profession, or even those mommy blogs that actually dispense decent advice and have sponsor links all over their page (which consequently bog my computer down. Thanks.). I'm just a person who didn't realize blog life existed until her EIGHT YEARS younger sisters and FOUR years younger brother started a family blog to keep those in more distant places informed of the goings-on. They started it and I was intrigued. I thought about one of my own...a place to hide, write secret thoughts that I can't share with friends or co-workers because, frankly, they either get tired of kid stories or they don't want to hear how I actually sympathize with people unlike themselves.
I wanted a place to possibly express what I think, feel, and desire. I wanted a place that wasn't a diary. Longhand is soooooo out of date. I got that memo late, too, by the way. I wanted a good way to keep memorable, silly stories about the kids, a place to share their goofy but adorable antics.
And so I started my blog. The title makes people wrinkle their nose, I'm sure. But it's fitting, for me. When I think of life and trying to navigate these kids and my husband and work, it's like trying to run in circles around a table with corners. Ever watch kids do it? They inevitably end up on the floor, crying, at some point from taking a corner in the eye, but they also inevitably stand back up, and race around again. That's what life is about, to me.
My blog name is unconventional as well, of this I am aware. I am sure that when people first see my comments, they thought I was a "weirdo" with a "weird" name. The comments I leave probably don't help....I tend to go on...and on....and on. I just like to leave FULL thought-out comments so that you know I read your post and I related somehow. Forgive my lengthy dribble. But back to my name....just my kids' initials. :) It's who I am now, in a way.
Back to being JEALOUS. BlogHer. They're having their annual conference right now, in Chicago. Just a mere one hour flight for me, if I wanted to go. I don't have a ticket, however, and would be stuck looking in through the windows until I get dragged away by some security guard. Over 1300 bloggers, just conferencing away. Drinking. Eating. Laughing. Listening to special speakers. Meeting one another. I don't consider myself a well-known or even interesting enough blogger to attend such a mixer. But it sure sounds like fun. I hid my blog from many of my friends for a long while, just because the possible judgment was too much for me to handle. I've slowly come out of my bloggy shell, but could I do it at a conference? Meeting other bloggers who appear totally at ease with their bloggy lifestyles? I don't know. I just know the thought of the conference makes me wish I were there. Or at least had the days off and a ticket in hand to THINK about going in.
I don't consider myself any sort of decent blogger. Not in the sense that the media portrays blogging, or in the way it's become a profession, or even those mommy blogs that actually dispense decent advice and have sponsor links all over their page (which consequently bog my computer down. Thanks.). I'm just a person who didn't realize blog life existed until her EIGHT YEARS younger sisters and FOUR years younger brother started a family blog to keep those in more distant places informed of the goings-on. They started it and I was intrigued. I thought about one of my own...a place to hide, write secret thoughts that I can't share with friends or co-workers because, frankly, they either get tired of kid stories or they don't want to hear how I actually sympathize with people unlike themselves.
I wanted a place to possibly express what I think, feel, and desire. I wanted a place that wasn't a diary. Longhand is soooooo out of date. I got that memo late, too, by the way. I wanted a good way to keep memorable, silly stories about the kids, a place to share their goofy but adorable antics.
And so I started my blog. The title makes people wrinkle their nose, I'm sure. But it's fitting, for me. When I think of life and trying to navigate these kids and my husband and work, it's like trying to run in circles around a table with corners. Ever watch kids do it? They inevitably end up on the floor, crying, at some point from taking a corner in the eye, but they also inevitably stand back up, and race around again. That's what life is about, to me.
My blog name is unconventional as well, of this I am aware. I am sure that when people first see my comments, they thought I was a "weirdo" with a "weird" name. The comments I leave probably don't help....I tend to go on...and on....and on. I just like to leave FULL thought-out comments so that you know I read your post and I related somehow. Forgive my lengthy dribble. But back to my name....just my kids' initials. :) It's who I am now, in a way.
Back to being JEALOUS. BlogHer. They're having their annual conference right now, in Chicago. Just a mere one hour flight for me, if I wanted to go. I don't have a ticket, however, and would be stuck looking in through the windows until I get dragged away by some security guard. Over 1300 bloggers, just conferencing away. Drinking. Eating. Laughing. Listening to special speakers. Meeting one another. I don't consider myself a well-known or even interesting enough blogger to attend such a mixer. But it sure sounds like fun. I hid my blog from many of my friends for a long while, just because the possible judgment was too much for me to handle. I've slowly come out of my bloggy shell, but could I do it at a conference? Meeting other bloggers who appear totally at ease with their bloggy lifestyles? I don't know. I just know the thought of the conference makes me wish I were there. Or at least had the days off and a ticket in hand to THINK about going in.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
I just have to do this (even if it is from reality tv)
You need to watch this video. It should take you to a youtube link. If it doesn't...holler at me.
This is Ade and Melissa. They've been two of my favorite dancers on this show all season. Even if you don't "get" dance, especially contemporary style...try and watch and "get" this. It's a story about a woman battling breast cancer and her supportive friend. The movements portray this story so beautifully, the lifts and the jumps really capture the rise and fall scenario I can only imagine a cancer battler goes through. Feel free to watch it a hundred times. I think I will.
This is Ade and Melissa. They've been two of my favorite dancers on this show all season. Even if you don't "get" dance, especially contemporary style...try and watch and "get" this. It's a story about a woman battling breast cancer and her supportive friend. The movements portray this story so beautifully, the lifts and the jumps really capture the rise and fall scenario I can only imagine a cancer battler goes through. Feel free to watch it a hundred times. I think I will.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
My Life, According to.....Madonna
This fun little tag was found over at IG's place. He's fun and quirky and likes to age himself, as do I. Go read his, read mine, do it yourself. Pick an artist that you like or who you know will have lots of songs. Play along, if you will.
My life, according to...
The rules to this game are:
1) Answer the questions as well as you can, but using only song names from one artist.
2) Try not to repeat a song title
3) Pick your own artist, leave mine alone (to quote someone).
4) Tag a bunch of friends. Tag, you're it.
1. Are you a male or female? -- Material Girl
2. Describe yourself: -- Ray of Light
3. How do you feel? -- Promise to Try
4. Describe where you currently live: -- Border Line
5. If you could go anywhere, where would you go? -- I Love New York
6. Your favorite form of transportation: -- Easy Ride
7. Your best friend is: -- Like a Virgin
8. Your favorite color is: -- True Blue (my favorite color is really red)
9. What's the weather like? -- Rainbow High
10. Favorite time of day: -- Express Yourself
11. If your life was a TV show, what would it be called? -- Dear Jessie
12. What is life to you? -- Ain't No Big Deal
13. Your relationships: -- Like It Or Not
14. Your fear: -- I Deserve It
15. What is the best advice you have to give? -- Open Your Heart
16. If you could change your name, you would change it to: -- Skin
17. Thought for the day: -- Like a Prayer
18. How I would like to die: -- Thief of Heart
19. My soul's present condition: -- Lucky Star
20. My motto: -- Into The Groove
Weak on Wednesday
I'm not always good at setting aside a few moments to relax and be truly thankful for some of the smaller things that happen in our "everyday". That's not to say I don't say "thanks" when things occur, I do. But to truly appreciate each and every thing? Not always. So I have been enjoying taking this one day a week and say THIS or THAT is what makes me weak in the heart. You or them did this or that. Of course "you" and "them" generally don't read my blog, but whatev. I'm fine with that.
1. My Husband at home, on short term disability
Sounds silly, right? Who wants their husband at home? On disability? That just means he's there making a mess but can't stand long enough on his leg to clean it up, right? Well, he's feeling better. AND he's getting better about helping around the house again. Specifically today? I'm excited that he's getting out of the house and taking my precious new car baby to get it's first oil change. Well, first from me. And hopefully she'll come back sparkly too. If we take it to the dealership we bought her at, we get free car washes. For LIFE. What a deal. Oh, and this first oil change? It's free from the dealership as well. Happy Wednesday to us!
2. Dogs
Weird, I know. For those of you who are animal lovers, you may not understand. For those of you who know me, you'll understand this one even less. Until you READ my explanation, of course. I'm not a huge animal person. It's not that I dislike them, I just find that children tend to be easier to handle than dogs. Of course, that was my saying BEFORE O.J. came along. Even still....my sisters got dogs. And then my mom got dogs. My dad has always had a dog. My friend's parents have two dogs. I've slowly started to see the light and have come around to seeing the joy in a child having a dog. I even *gasp* let my mom's dog lick me last weekend. So this is why I'm starting to cave and consider getting the family a dog. It'll be on my terms, though, and everyone has to be on board to help. My husband has never had a pet *another gasp* so I'm excited to see if he's ready and willing to undertake this.
3. Faith
My husband has faith in US. In a variety of things. As a couple, as parents. And he was the one who had faith in us doing the bathroom. I was completely ready to call a professional, get a quote, and have someone ELSE do the bathroom floor. But he stood firm, in a NICE way (which is key, mind you), and I'm very happy he did. We did it. Yes, we made mistakes. Yes, he sliced his thumb. Yes, there are areas we could have perfected. BUT....we did it. And it feels good. I might need to really concentrate on this "faith" thing.
Happy Hump Day to you all.
1. My Husband at home, on short term disability
Sounds silly, right? Who wants their husband at home? On disability? That just means he's there making a mess but can't stand long enough on his leg to clean it up, right? Well, he's feeling better. AND he's getting better about helping around the house again. Specifically today? I'm excited that he's getting out of the house and taking my precious new car baby to get it's first oil change. Well, first from me. And hopefully she'll come back sparkly too. If we take it to the dealership we bought her at, we get free car washes. For LIFE. What a deal. Oh, and this first oil change? It's free from the dealership as well. Happy Wednesday to us!
2. Dogs
Weird, I know. For those of you who are animal lovers, you may not understand. For those of you who know me, you'll understand this one even less. Until you READ my explanation, of course. I'm not a huge animal person. It's not that I dislike them, I just find that children tend to be easier to handle than dogs. Of course, that was my saying BEFORE O.J. came along. Even still....my sisters got dogs. And then my mom got dogs. My dad has always had a dog. My friend's parents have two dogs. I've slowly started to see the light and have come around to seeing the joy in a child having a dog. I even *gasp* let my mom's dog lick me last weekend. So this is why I'm starting to cave and consider getting the family a dog. It'll be on my terms, though, and everyone has to be on board to help. My husband has never had a pet *another gasp* so I'm excited to see if he's ready and willing to undertake this.
3. Faith
My husband has faith in US. In a variety of things. As a couple, as parents. And he was the one who had faith in us doing the bathroom. I was completely ready to call a professional, get a quote, and have someone ELSE do the bathroom floor. But he stood firm, in a NICE way (which is key, mind you), and I'm very happy he did. We did it. Yes, we made mistakes. Yes, he sliced his thumb. Yes, there are areas we could have perfected. BUT....we did it. And it feels good. I might need to really concentrate on this "faith" thing.
Happy Hump Day to you all.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Toiling Tile on Tuesday
It's done!! The tile is done!!! Okay, not completely, but who cares!? The hard part is done.
I have to cut a few really small strips to fit along two walls where the tile didn't meet up exactly. That will be complete tomorrow. And then we'll move onto painting, but for tonight? We did it! We tiled our first (okay, our only) bathroom. How exciting, right?
We are the MOST amateurish amateurs you'll meet when it comes to home "stuff". But we're pretty proud of ourselves.
Can't you tell how excited he is to be down on our tiny little bathroom floor with me? Knee brace and all? And yes, that's my diploma in the background. No, the top drawer on the left of the photo isn't on (O.J. is to blame this time). And yes, that lovely purple and white towel is from my high school cheerleading days. Go Bulldogs!
Here I am, sitting on my new floor. No more carpet! Yea! Do you see the pretty cut job I did around the vent hole? I am pretty proud that I lined up (almost) everything as it should be.
This is obviously NOT related to the bathroom. It's O.J. before school this morning. His nice little milk drool is lovERly.
And here is T.O. in his NEW shirt, compliments of my dear blogpenfacefriend DR. I won a gift from her Monday Giveaways contest. As soon as I saw this shirt, I knew I had to have it for T.O. The irony with his allergy was too perfect.
I have to cut a few really small strips to fit along two walls where the tile didn't meet up exactly. That will be complete tomorrow. And then we'll move onto painting, but for tonight? We did it! We tiled our first (okay, our only) bathroom. How exciting, right?
We are the MOST amateurish amateurs you'll meet when it comes to home "stuff". But we're pretty proud of ourselves.
Can't you tell how excited he is to be down on our tiny little bathroom floor with me? Knee brace and all? And yes, that's my diploma in the background. No, the top drawer on the left of the photo isn't on (O.J. is to blame this time). And yes, that lovely purple and white towel is from my high school cheerleading days. Go Bulldogs!
Here I am, sitting on my new floor. No more carpet! Yea! Do you see the pretty cut job I did around the vent hole? I am pretty proud that I lined up (almost) everything as it should be.
This is obviously NOT related to the bathroom. It's O.J. before school this morning. His nice little milk drool is lovERly. 
And here is T.O. in his NEW shirt, compliments of my dear blogpenfacefriend DR. I won a gift from her Monday Giveaways contest. As soon as I saw this shirt, I knew I had to have it for T.O. The irony with his allergy was too perfect.Monday, July 20, 2009
Monday Mumbles
Top ten things that are randomly swirling about in the life of Tooj. Happy Monday.
1. I am going to try very hard to NOT blog this week from work. I really am going to put forth the effort. After the Mumbles get posted today, of course. Anyone in the area is welcome to stop by, bring me Coke, candy, whatever...just to distract me.
2. I want to give a shout out to DR, blogfriend turned PenPal turned FB chat buddy. Hey lady, I received my winnings. TOO CUTE. Pics to come, promise!
3. We give my mom a hard time about where she moved to. We can't always understand why she moved to such a rural area in no near reach of a Target. But this past weekend, I really found myself enjoying her house, and the yard. It made me want a yard that big. It ALMOST had me telling Hubs that we should find a place semi-rural like that as well. But I fear that with a yard that big, he'd be setting fires every other day, just to see what he could burn.
4. After we arrived home, fed the boys, and put them to bed, I went to work on the bathroom. It was sitting there half-tiled and needed to have two pieces cut to fit around a chunk of wall that sticks out. I took the tile, marked it for cutting, and went to work. Hubs is no longer allowed to use any cutting utensils, so he was subjected to being hair dryer holder. Funny stuff, really. I did the hard work, he held the hair dryer. For those who don't know why we have a hair dryer - it makes the tile more pliable and easier to cut through. So while he heats the line I've drawn for cutting, I slowly score and cut into it. We successfully cut two tiles and laid two full ones before I peetered out and went to sleep while waiting for the primer to dry on the other areas. There's always tonight.
5. We examined our feet as a family this weekend. It was determined that Anna is the big loser with her feet. Even her twin had some choice comments about her poor toes, and the stubby nature of the ends of them. Funny, though, they can't really be called stubby if they are as long as they are, right? And my brother's toes....just strange. I have the prettiest feet in the family by far. Right, girls and Jim?
6. Of course, I think the real question is - are O.J.'s toes the tastiest? Anna, you'll have to let us know that one. (please see the last photo in the post below to understand what I am referring to!)
7. T.O. has a dentist appointment today. I really prefer to do the scrubbing before dentist appointments, but today he ate breakfast at school and was left to his own devices. I hope he got them clean!! All his previous visits to the dentist have reported back with rave reviews. Fingers are crossed this time, as well.
8. My mom has finally started reading the blog on a fairly regular basis. We were talking about it this weekend and every time something happened, they would tease me and say "she'll just blog about it." Well, I explained to them that blogging really adds a great element to my "everyday" life. It helps me see the funny details in the 'everyday stuff' and I really enjoy the distraction of paying attention. Sounds like an oxymoron, I know. But think about it....whenever we're out now, all the little things mumbled or said, the little actions that I'd just laugh at and move forward, I find myself distracted by them, jotting them down, laughing more at them sharing them with others. I think blogging has made me more aware as a mom and helped me appreciate the everyday that happens.
9. It also accentuates the tears. The fits. The frustrations. But hopefully I go back and read what I've written and learn from it.....right? Hmmmm.
10. Today I wore some black pants and a red top. The lady in front of me just arrived and is wearing....yup, black pants and a red top. It's not funny.
1. I am going to try very hard to NOT blog this week from work. I really am going to put forth the effort. After the Mumbles get posted today, of course. Anyone in the area is welcome to stop by, bring me Coke, candy, whatever...just to distract me.
2. I want to give a shout out to DR, blogfriend turned PenPal turned FB chat buddy. Hey lady, I received my winnings. TOO CUTE. Pics to come, promise!
3. We give my mom a hard time about where she moved to. We can't always understand why she moved to such a rural area in no near reach of a Target. But this past weekend, I really found myself enjoying her house, and the yard. It made me want a yard that big. It ALMOST had me telling Hubs that we should find a place semi-rural like that as well. But I fear that with a yard that big, he'd be setting fires every other day, just to see what he could burn.
4. After we arrived home, fed the boys, and put them to bed, I went to work on the bathroom. It was sitting there half-tiled and needed to have two pieces cut to fit around a chunk of wall that sticks out. I took the tile, marked it for cutting, and went to work. Hubs is no longer allowed to use any cutting utensils, so he was subjected to being hair dryer holder. Funny stuff, really. I did the hard work, he held the hair dryer. For those who don't know why we have a hair dryer - it makes the tile more pliable and easier to cut through. So while he heats the line I've drawn for cutting, I slowly score and cut into it. We successfully cut two tiles and laid two full ones before I peetered out and went to sleep while waiting for the primer to dry on the other areas. There's always tonight.
5. We examined our feet as a family this weekend. It was determined that Anna is the big loser with her feet. Even her twin had some choice comments about her poor toes, and the stubby nature of the ends of them. Funny, though, they can't really be called stubby if they are as long as they are, right? And my brother's toes....just strange. I have the prettiest feet in the family by far. Right, girls and Jim?
6. Of course, I think the real question is - are O.J.'s toes the tastiest? Anna, you'll have to let us know that one. (please see the last photo in the post below to understand what I am referring to!)
7. T.O. has a dentist appointment today. I really prefer to do the scrubbing before dentist appointments, but today he ate breakfast at school and was left to his own devices. I hope he got them clean!! All his previous visits to the dentist have reported back with rave reviews. Fingers are crossed this time, as well.
8. My mom has finally started reading the blog on a fairly regular basis. We were talking about it this weekend and every time something happened, they would tease me and say "she'll just blog about it." Well, I explained to them that blogging really adds a great element to my "everyday" life. It helps me see the funny details in the 'everyday stuff' and I really enjoy the distraction of paying attention. Sounds like an oxymoron, I know. But think about it....whenever we're out now, all the little things mumbled or said, the little actions that I'd just laugh at and move forward, I find myself distracted by them, jotting them down, laughing more at them sharing them with others. I think blogging has made me more aware as a mom and helped me appreciate the everyday that happens.
9. It also accentuates the tears. The fits. The frustrations. But hopefully I go back and read what I've written and learn from it.....right? Hmmmm.
10. Today I wore some black pants and a red top. The lady in front of me just arrived and is wearing....yup, black pants and a red top. It's not funny.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Weekend Update
We headed to my mom's house this weekend. It's a three hour drive from my place, and as much as I love O.J.........man, oh man. He needs to get just a wee bit older and then he'll make the entire trip without being a BUTT at some point. Here is our weekend recap. I hope that you all had wonderful, safe, and fun Saturdays and Sundays as well.
Mom has a collage of each boy in her hallway. Some of these photos are old and make me laugh. O.J. looks as grumpy as he always does.
T.O.'s collage always makes me smile. He's always been a cheesy little ham.
My underpants boys.
We visited the "Magic House" in St. Louis. Here we are "scanning" books in the library room.
O.J. found the tunnels quite enjoyable, even if the rest of the Magic House was a little overwhelming.
And of course he loves balls. These balls rolled down and dinged on the skillets, making pretty music. He couldn't enough of the balls and cried when I made him leave them. Big surprise.
T.O. crawled through the "leaf tree" thingamabob with my brother.
We spent Sunday playing in my mom's yard. My brother thought to bring my dad's set of bats and wiffle balls and so we played. I wish I could give the boys a yard like this.
Here, they are playing together with bubbles. Big brother now gets to dictate the bubble speed and direction, and Little brother just gets to chase. It's weird to see the roles change as the years go on.
My brother Jim gave T.O. a good, long ride on the three wheeler. He loved it.
My brother thinks it's funny I felt the need to "be on the computer" while at mom's. Funny, though, he's got himself attached at the fingertip to his little i-phone crack tone.
Yea for driving with my eyes on the road!! Uh, yeah.
O.J. had some fun on the way home. Poor Aunt Anna.
Here is my mom's house, taken from her landscaped garden patch out front. She technically lives in a town, but it's sort of "country". They have 4 or 5 acres and have a GREAT yard. The window you see in the picture is the bedroom that T.O. and O.J. and I slept in.
Mom has a collage of each boy in her hallway. Some of these photos are old and make me laugh. O.J. looks as grumpy as he always does.
T.O.'s collage always makes me smile. He's always been a cheesy little ham.
My underpants boys.
We visited the "Magic House" in St. Louis. Here we are "scanning" books in the library room.
O.J. found the tunnels quite enjoyable, even if the rest of the Magic House was a little overwhelming.
And of course he loves balls. These balls rolled down and dinged on the skillets, making pretty music. He couldn't enough of the balls and cried when I made him leave them. Big surprise.
T.O. crawled through the "leaf tree" thingamabob with my brother. 
We spent Sunday playing in my mom's yard. My brother thought to bring my dad's set of bats and wiffle balls and so we played. I wish I could give the boys a yard like this.
Here, they are playing together with bubbles. Big brother now gets to dictate the bubble speed and direction, and Little brother just gets to chase. It's weird to see the roles change as the years go on.
My brother Jim gave T.O. a good, long ride on the three wheeler. He loved it.
My brother thinks it's funny I felt the need to "be on the computer" while at mom's. Funny, though, he's got himself attached at the fingertip to his little i-phone crack tone.
Yea for driving with my eyes on the road!! Uh, yeah. 
O.J. had some fun on the way home. Poor Aunt Anna. Saturday, July 18, 2009
Are you Bored? Old Stuff
It's Saturday and I'm at my mom's right now. Hopefully relaxing. More on that later.
For now, I left you some old posts by me that I felt like digging up. Only if you're bored, of course.
I did a Q&A once. Here is part 1:
Part One
Here is part 2:
Part Two
Here is a story in pictures. I never get enough of these two little people. Well, that's actually false. I get enough of them everyday and then they go to bed and we start over. :)
TO and OJ
Last, here are some tips for dating. Because you know I am the guru. Yeah. Uh huh. I might have been bored this day and made up some rules.
Dating 101
For now, I left you some old posts by me that I felt like digging up. Only if you're bored, of course.
I did a Q&A once. Here is part 1:
Part One
Here is part 2:
Part Two
Here is a story in pictures. I never get enough of these two little people. Well, that's actually false. I get enough of them everyday and then they go to bed and we start over. :)
TO and OJ
Last, here are some tips for dating. Because you know I am the guru. Yeah. Uh huh. I might have been bored this day and made up some rules.
Dating 101
Friday, July 17, 2009
Dear Lover Boys
Dear T.O.,
I kissed you last night while you slept. I snuggled you too. You didn't know it. This morning, I crept into your bed and snuggled you again. I kissed your head and told you to wake up. You smiled in your sleep but didn't stir. I left the room and let you sleep a few more minutes.
You're about to be five. I find you adorable, young man, even when you can't seem to control your tears. You're a crier, and I understand. I am too. But as time goes on, you will outgrow that, and you'll become a bit harder, like a "man" is supposed to be. Even if you're a more sensitive man, you'll be a man nonetheless. For now, I am looking forward to you starting T-Ball, your birthday next month, teaching you to ride a bike this fall, the bike you'll be getting for your birthday. Ssshhhhh, it's a secret.
Do you want to know another secret? We're contemplating getting you and your brothers a puppy. What would you think about that?
You are a patient son, brother, boy. I appreciate it. I hope to share my gratitude with you as you get older and can understand just how grateful I really am. You eased me into mommyhood with your gentle ways, easy manner, and sweet kisses. Happy Friday to you.
Love,
Mama
Dear O.J.,
You, sir, eased me into nothing. You were spitfire from the word go. Our combination life together was difficult at best, but you let me know one thing - you were here to STAY. You marked your path from the day you cozied up in my belly, stretching my tummy from far side to far side. I knew instantly you were going to be a determined little person, not to be swayed by anyone shoving you around or pushing you gently in another direction.
You were true to form when you arrived, and have maintained. You have a forcefulness in you that runs deep, and I think this will serve you well....outside of our home. Inside, we might have issues. But they always end up in kisses, don't they?
Have I told you that I love your hugs? All hugs are wonderful, but yours are special because of the way you reach around my neck and play with my hair. You learned not-so-quickly how to be gentle with hair, and I know you occasionally sneak in attacks on T.O.'s curls. You really should stop doing that. But with me, with my hair, you are so gentle. You just play with it, sliding your hands on it. And the way you bury your face into mine, I just love it.
I don't understand why, after 15 months, you feel the need to continue fighting diaper changes. Until you decide you can use the potty, I'll still have to wipe your bottom. If we could get this worked out, I think it would be FABulous, son. Just think about it...for me, will you? I dislike having to pat your rump and scold you. But I will. Don't misunderstand me, mister. In the meantime, you have a wonderful Friday.
Love,
Mama
I kissed you last night while you slept. I snuggled you too. You didn't know it. This morning, I crept into your bed and snuggled you again. I kissed your head and told you to wake up. You smiled in your sleep but didn't stir. I left the room and let you sleep a few more minutes.
You're about to be five. I find you adorable, young man, even when you can't seem to control your tears. You're a crier, and I understand. I am too. But as time goes on, you will outgrow that, and you'll become a bit harder, like a "man" is supposed to be. Even if you're a more sensitive man, you'll be a man nonetheless. For now, I am looking forward to you starting T-Ball, your birthday next month, teaching you to ride a bike this fall, the bike you'll be getting for your birthday. Ssshhhhh, it's a secret.
Do you want to know another secret? We're contemplating getting you and your brothers a puppy. What would you think about that?
You are a patient son, brother, boy. I appreciate it. I hope to share my gratitude with you as you get older and can understand just how grateful I really am. You eased me into mommyhood with your gentle ways, easy manner, and sweet kisses. Happy Friday to you.
Love,
Mama
Dear O.J.,
You, sir, eased me into nothing. You were spitfire from the word go. Our combination life together was difficult at best, but you let me know one thing - you were here to STAY. You marked your path from the day you cozied up in my belly, stretching my tummy from far side to far side. I knew instantly you were going to be a determined little person, not to be swayed by anyone shoving you around or pushing you gently in another direction.
You were true to form when you arrived, and have maintained. You have a forcefulness in you that runs deep, and I think this will serve you well....outside of our home. Inside, we might have issues. But they always end up in kisses, don't they?
Have I told you that I love your hugs? All hugs are wonderful, but yours are special because of the way you reach around my neck and play with my hair. You learned not-so-quickly how to be gentle with hair, and I know you occasionally sneak in attacks on T.O.'s curls. You really should stop doing that. But with me, with my hair, you are so gentle. You just play with it, sliding your hands on it. And the way you bury your face into mine, I just love it.
I don't understand why, after 15 months, you feel the need to continue fighting diaper changes. Until you decide you can use the potty, I'll still have to wipe your bottom. If we could get this worked out, I think it would be FABulous, son. Just think about it...for me, will you? I dislike having to pat your rump and scold you. But I will. Don't misunderstand me, mister. In the meantime, you have a wonderful Friday.
Love,
Mama
For whatever reason, leaving them at daycare this morning was more difficult than usual. I am sighing a lot this morning. I miss them. I am excited to spend the weekend with them. I love them.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
I Told You That We Have Issues
I received my biggest comment tally on the question I asked yesterday - do you hike it or slip it down?
Seriously? I'm glad we all have an opinion on this, though. Makes me feel better.
So, to follow up - if you have a long skirt on and you hike it, do you bunch it all together in your lap? You obviously can't just hike it up and let it drape around you. Some might dip into the toilet. Or brush up against the outside of the bowl around your legs. And what if it's a wrinkle-prone skirt as someone suggested? What then?
I'm telling you. We have dilemmas that no man can understand.
And worse, what if you have to mess with a feminine product while holding your hiked skirt? See, this conversation could go soooooooooooooo many directions. I'll stop here. Promise. Really, IG and Mo, I will.
Seriously? I'm glad we all have an opinion on this, though. Makes me feel better.
So, to follow up - if you have a long skirt on and you hike it, do you bunch it all together in your lap? You obviously can't just hike it up and let it drape around you. Some might dip into the toilet. Or brush up against the outside of the bowl around your legs. And what if it's a wrinkle-prone skirt as someone suggested? What then?
I'm telling you. We have dilemmas that no man can understand.
And worse, what if you have to mess with a feminine product while holding your hiked skirt? See, this conversation could go soooooooooooooo many directions. I'll stop here. Promise. Really, IG and Mo, I will.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Women Have Issues
We have issues, ladies. It's true.
I came into work and emailed my work friend (male) to let him know I think male drivers suck. On the way to work, I see one man with a silly dog on his lap, another man picking his nose, yet another texting while he drives, and then a fourth man was reading some sort of paperwork while cruising at 60 miles an hour.
Unfortunately, I did concede that while rubber-necking as I drive past wrecks during rush hour, most of the drivers standing near their crashed vehicles were women. And they're typically women in SUVs or minivans. I'm simply speaking from experience, ladies. I'm not stereotyping! Well, okay, maybe I am stereotyping just a bit. Some of these wrecked women are driving small to midsize cars, too.
He fights back against my male bashing and states that women also:
do their hair
paint their nails
ramble through their purse
let small pets sit on their lap
apply lipstick
apply mascara
apply blush
attempt to feed their children
may use the blinker but decide to switch lanes without confirming the lane is open
At this point in the email conversation, I had to pause. I had to ask myself how many of these had I witnessed or committed. That's when I decided to tell him that old men let dogs sit on their lap, too, and that just weirds me out.
Yeah, that's right. I bailed on the conversation. This started out about THEM, dang it. NOT us. So here I turn it over to you. Here's my question:
When you wear a skirt to work and you need to use the restroom, do you hike it up or slide it down?
I came into work and emailed my work friend (male) to let him know I think male drivers suck. On the way to work, I see one man with a silly dog on his lap, another man picking his nose, yet another texting while he drives, and then a fourth man was reading some sort of paperwork while cruising at 60 miles an hour.
Unfortunately, I did concede that while rubber-necking as I drive past wrecks during rush hour, most of the drivers standing near their crashed vehicles were women. And they're typically women in SUVs or minivans. I'm simply speaking from experience, ladies. I'm not stereotyping! Well, okay, maybe I am stereotyping just a bit. Some of these wrecked women are driving small to midsize cars, too.
He fights back against my male bashing and states that women also:
do their hair
paint their nails
ramble through their purse
let small pets sit on their lap
apply lipstick
apply mascara
apply blush
attempt to feed their children
may use the blinker but decide to switch lanes without confirming the lane is open
At this point in the email conversation, I had to pause. I had to ask myself how many of these had I witnessed or committed. That's when I decided to tell him that old men let dogs sit on their lap, too, and that just weirds me out.
Yeah, that's right. I bailed on the conversation. This started out about THEM, dang it. NOT us. So here I turn it over to you. Here's my question:
When you wear a skirt to work and you need to use the restroom, do you hike it up or slide it down?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Interested in Heartfelt?
I am. And I love stumbling upon blogs that talk about something REAL. Don't get me wrong, I do my fair share of "fluffing" around here. Fluffing is good and frankly, it's necessary when you have kids who cheese for the camera. How can I NOT blog their faces on here?
With that said, here are two heartfelt posts I came across today. I hope you have the time to read because I think the messages in these are important for anyone at any stage of life to read. I kept it to two because I think you need not be overwhelmed with it being a Tuesday and all. Enjoy.
1. Sally's World
This post, (read carefully), fills in a LOT of answers that people struggle with on a daily basis. I think what's more important is figuring out which part of your life fits into which jar item. Read the post, you'll understand what I'm saying. In addition, read her beautiful captions on each of her children on the right side of her blog.
2. Kirsty
It seems that every time I turn around, Kirsty is saying something exactly the way I WANT it to be said. Either I need to quit this blogging thing, or I need to have two more kids to get all this wisdom. (for the record, I don't see either happening) She put up this post today and I thought it was just lovely. It made me realize how much more I could and should be doing, in so many more facets of my life. Thank you, Kirsty.
With that said, here are two heartfelt posts I came across today. I hope you have the time to read because I think the messages in these are important for anyone at any stage of life to read. I kept it to two because I think you need not be overwhelmed with it being a Tuesday and all. Enjoy.
1. Sally's World
This post, (read carefully), fills in a LOT of answers that people struggle with on a daily basis. I think what's more important is figuring out which part of your life fits into which jar item. Read the post, you'll understand what I'm saying. In addition, read her beautiful captions on each of her children on the right side of her blog.
2. Kirsty
It seems that every time I turn around, Kirsty is saying something exactly the way I WANT it to be said. Either I need to quit this blogging thing, or I need to have two more kids to get all this wisdom. (for the record, I don't see either happening) She put up this post today and I thought it was just lovely. It made me realize how much more I could and should be doing, in so many more facets of my life. Thank you, Kirsty.
Taggity Tag Tag Tag
8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:
1. Lunch
2. Never eating a pot pie again (bad 2 a.m. results)
3. The day that O.J. speaks in sentence form. Hell, word form.
4. Getting the bathroom done
5. Finding the "right way" to get me working closer TO or AT home
6. Hubs finding exactly WHAT it is that he WANTS to do
7. Signing T.O. up for T-ball
8. Taking a vacation or road trip with JUST Hubs
8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1. Ran to the grocery store for a few essentials
2. Talked to Hubs on the phone about....ten times
3. Changed a poopy diaper
4. Switched a load of laundry
5. Enjoyed two good, independent conversations with two ladies whom I've never met face to face
6. Made my kids dinner out of a box (don't worry, they'll get good stuff the rest of the week)
7. Drove to work twice (see Mumbles if you're confused)
8. Honked at no one going to or coming from work
8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1. Pay off medical bills
2. Teach my children a foreign language (at this rate, T.O. is teaching me)
3. Lay on a beach, with the sun shining down
4. Go into business for myself.
5. Move out of our neighborhood....hell, the state
6. Make everything in my parents' lives A-okay
7. Kiss O.J. and T.O. all day long
8. Feel guilty eating a burger in front of my vegetarian friend
8 Shows I enjoy:
1. House
2. So You Think You Can Dance
3. Golden Girls
4. Matlock
5. Wipeout
6. Dora and Diego
7. Friends
8. Will & Grace
It states that I can tag 8 friends. Some of you have time for these things, some of you don't. I would really like to read these if you do them....so please copy and paste if you've got the inclination. And no, it's not just lip service, me saying I want to see what you'd say. Some of you are pretty nutty, and I'd be curious to see what it is you're looking forward to, or what it was you've done. Unless it incriminates you, of course....we'll keep that hush hush.
1. Lunch
2. Never eating a pot pie again (bad 2 a.m. results)
3. The day that O.J. speaks in sentence form. Hell, word form.
4. Getting the bathroom done
5. Finding the "right way" to get me working closer TO or AT home
6. Hubs finding exactly WHAT it is that he WANTS to do
7. Signing T.O. up for T-ball
8. Taking a vacation or road trip with JUST Hubs
8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1. Ran to the grocery store for a few essentials
2. Talked to Hubs on the phone about....ten times
3. Changed a poopy diaper
4. Switched a load of laundry
5. Enjoyed two good, independent conversations with two ladies whom I've never met face to face
6. Made my kids dinner out of a box (don't worry, they'll get good stuff the rest of the week)
7. Drove to work twice (see Mumbles if you're confused)
8. Honked at no one going to or coming from work
8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1. Pay off medical bills
2. Teach my children a foreign language (at this rate, T.O. is teaching me)
3. Lay on a beach, with the sun shining down
4. Go into business for myself.
5. Move out of our neighborhood....hell, the state
6. Make everything in my parents' lives A-okay
7. Kiss O.J. and T.O. all day long
8. Feel guilty eating a burger in front of my vegetarian friend
8 Shows I enjoy:
1. House
2. So You Think You Can Dance
3. Golden Girls
4. Matlock
5. Wipeout
6. Dora and Diego
7. Friends
8. Will & Grace
It states that I can tag 8 friends. Some of you have time for these things, some of you don't. I would really like to read these if you do them....so please copy and paste if you've got the inclination. And no, it's not just lip service, me saying I want to see what you'd say. Some of you are pretty nutty, and I'd be curious to see what it is you're looking forward to, or what it was you've done. Unless it incriminates you, of course....we'll keep that hush hush.
Monday, July 13, 2009
cHARMed, I'm Sure
I was tagged by this lovely lady in NYC. I found her while blog hopping or commenting around SITS roll callers, I'm not certain. I never can remember. I DO know that the minute I read her posts, she was someone that I found intriguing and wanted to follow. I think Blogland is like creating our own reality TV, don't you think? I read a story about someone, and either the story itself creates a need to follow up, or it prefaces a story that came before, or most likely it's both. All of these stories give us bits of WHO is behind the blog...and it makes you want to know more. Where did they come from? Why do they think like this? What will they do next? What place will they visit that I can mark down as a "must see" when I visit their town?She tagged me, and I was honored. I think, above many things, to be called charming is grand. It makes me feel like I should carry a wand and tap people lightly on the head. Don't ask....the word charming brings out the fairy in me. Without further ado, this award came with a paragraph definition, but I found this short cut-out to be most telling for me.
This award is bestowed to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.
I have tagged three people who I find exceedingly charming. I don't follow 200 blogs, I only follow those that I surely feel I can keep up with. I try and regularly comment on all my followed blogs' posts and then extras as time permits. By being a faithful stalker, I have come into some great dialogue with my blogfriends, and I have tagged just three bloggers who I would love to call a friend, and think we've had enough "back and forths" to consider our blog-lationship a "friendship". For the record, I might post up another "Charmed" later this week and feature three more blogfriends. I found it difficult to narrow down, but didn't find enough time to feature all that I wanted in one sitting. Feel free to tag yourself or just be recognized here. My feelings won't be hurt either way.
Dorkys Ramos - DR and I both sit and cheer when we see a new blog post go up from one another. Of course, she might just do that when she's bored. I secretly think she's just trying to sneak peeks of my kids. I found DR through SITS the first week I signed up for it. She might have been the featured blogger at that time and I remember thinking that this cool, "featured" blogger actually responds BACK to us little ol' commenters. And you know what? She's GREAT about responding to your comments IN the comments section. I keep going back to her site to see if she's responded to my silliness. DR is a thoughtful blogger, an intriguing pen pal, and she's also my FB chatter buddy. She's FABulously charming.
Heather - Of the EO, of course. Heather writes mom posts that say EXACTLY what you think. Some are on the bouncy side of mommyhood, and some aren't. She's real and she's honest. She's also a great spiritual friend whom I've come to really enjoy in Blogland. Although I tend to let our conversations drift into silence sometimes, I hope she knows that she's made an impression on ME and that I constantly ponder what we've talked about. I don't ever consider our discussions dead, just resting until I have the words and questions to make the next turn on the highway.
Cindy - The longer I hang around Blogland, the more I see everyone staying "safe". I don't consider this a necessarily good trait, either. What I love about Cindy is that she posts exactly what she thinks or feels. And there's nothing more provoking in a friend than someone who is willing to say what she wants regardless if it's not the "easy" commenting way out. I certainly don't think that the world should agree on all things, all the time. Better, more thought-out decisions and ideas are made and formed based on countering beliefs, opinions, and experiences. She may not know it, but she's helped me see things in my family members (that I might have otherwise dismissed) simply by the way she's articulated thoughts in comments or posts. Honesty is charming, and so is Cindy. And for goodness sake, her blog URL is "central lurk"....I love it.Monday Mumbles
Ten random things to get Monday started. If you read the Weekend Update, you know that my Monday couldn't possibly be any worse. Right? Right.
1. I typically start thinking about my Mumbles in the car ride to work. Well, let me re-phrase, I typically daydream and float off into mental outer space during my ride to work on Mondays, and my Mumbles are borne from them. That didn't happen today. I'm not even sure what the drive to work was LIKE, to be honest. Was there traffic? I'm sure. Did I honk at anyone? No idea. Was the radio on in the car? I simply don't know.
2. I DO know that Hubs called about 30 minutes after I arrived at work. We were talking about O.J. (who gets to go see the doctor this morning because of an asthma flare-up this weekend), and he asks me if I have his keys. OH MY GOODNESS. Please tell me....is he for.....breathe, breathe......SERIOUSLY???
3. Because he doesn't have a routine, he places his personal items - keys, wallet, wallet, keys - anywhere he feels like it. He put them in my car on Saturday night when we were at the wedding reception. He never took them out. My car goes to work this morning and his keys go along for the ride. My lunch hour came from 8:35-9:35 this morning. GREAT. THANKS. LOVE YOU TOO.
4. Did I ever mention that the boys' daycare/school had to be re-tiled? Well, it was originally going to take a week. We were invited to go to another school (same chain) about 10-15 miles away. They invited us to attend free of charge for that week and we'd get compensation for the distance travelled. GREAT! We were excited. Well, one week turned into three. It was great to have that cost alleviated, although now I'm wondering where the $change$ from three free weeks went. It was sad to have to write out that check this morning.
5. There is a random phone next to the printer at my office. That space used to be someone's desk/cube. I'm wondering why they never took the phone when they took down the desk? Sometimes it rings, the phone that is. Sometimes I answer it. No one is ever on the other end. Weird. It's like that sensation that people with severed limbs or digits get....you know?
6. I didn't realize in the chaos that WAS our house Saturday that after T.O. ran out of the tub frantically calling for us that I'd instructed him to quickly throw on some shorts. As in "shorts", not underpants. And then I forgot all about it when I sent him down to my dad's with my sister. And then they unexpectedly stayed overnight and realized not only did he not have a change of clothes, but he also never had on underpants. Funny, and not at all surprising, how he never complained about it.
7. I'm going to my mom's this weekend. I'm excited to get away for a couple of days, but not really excited to chase O.J. around and keep him from falling down the stairs. And I really wonder how he'll do on the drive. I'm thinking I'll leave Friday night so that he'll sleep the entire way.
8. I was wondering this past weekend....why update your status on FB to allude to a problem you're experiencing, and then NOT divulge what it is you're alluding to? If you don't want everyone to know your business, why even suggest you have "business" to be known? Someone I have as a friend mentioned that there was a problem she was worried about, but no other information. Someone asked what was up and she requested they text her. So my question is WHY even put it out there on FB if you don't want your "friends" to know what's going on? It could just be a child with a cold, or it could that her husband got ran over with a car. Don't tease me with suggestive statuses, please. Get to the point and let me know how I can help.
9. I decided that I needed to do something fun with T.O. and O.J. Sunday afternoon since we'd spent Saturday dealing with the bathroom and Sunday dealing with the bathroom. I got out the finger paints and creations were made. O.J.'s involved touching his chair, the booster, his belly, licking the paint, and the newspaper all around the intended object. T.O. created five plates that all looked the same.
10. Back up baby-sitter and little sister Anna got a job. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, when she baby-sits, I won't feel AS obligated to pay her since she now has income, but on the other hand, she won't be as available to baby-sit. Why have kids if I don't have siblings who are at my beck and call? MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. I typically start thinking about my Mumbles in the car ride to work. Well, let me re-phrase, I typically daydream and float off into mental outer space during my ride to work on Mondays, and my Mumbles are borne from them. That didn't happen today. I'm not even sure what the drive to work was LIKE, to be honest. Was there traffic? I'm sure. Did I honk at anyone? No idea. Was the radio on in the car? I simply don't know.
2. I DO know that Hubs called about 30 minutes after I arrived at work. We were talking about O.J. (who gets to go see the doctor this morning because of an asthma flare-up this weekend), and he asks me if I have his keys. OH MY GOODNESS. Please tell me....is he for.....breathe, breathe......SERIOUSLY???
3. Because he doesn't have a routine, he places his personal items - keys, wallet, wallet, keys - anywhere he feels like it. He put them in my car on Saturday night when we were at the wedding reception. He never took them out. My car goes to work this morning and his keys go along for the ride. My lunch hour came from 8:35-9:35 this morning. GREAT. THANKS. LOVE YOU TOO.
4. Did I ever mention that the boys' daycare/school had to be re-tiled? Well, it was originally going to take a week. We were invited to go to another school (same chain) about 10-15 miles away. They invited us to attend free of charge for that week and we'd get compensation for the distance travelled. GREAT! We were excited. Well, one week turned into three. It was great to have that cost alleviated, although now I'm wondering where the $change$ from three free weeks went. It was sad to have to write out that check this morning.
5. There is a random phone next to the printer at my office. That space used to be someone's desk/cube. I'm wondering why they never took the phone when they took down the desk? Sometimes it rings, the phone that is. Sometimes I answer it. No one is ever on the other end. Weird. It's like that sensation that people with severed limbs or digits get....you know?
6. I didn't realize in the chaos that WAS our house Saturday that after T.O. ran out of the tub frantically calling for us that I'd instructed him to quickly throw on some shorts. As in "shorts", not underpants. And then I forgot all about it when I sent him down to my dad's with my sister. And then they unexpectedly stayed overnight and realized not only did he not have a change of clothes, but he also never had on underpants. Funny, and not at all surprising, how he never complained about it.
7. I'm going to my mom's this weekend. I'm excited to get away for a couple of days, but not really excited to chase O.J. around and keep him from falling down the stairs. And I really wonder how he'll do on the drive. I'm thinking I'll leave Friday night so that he'll sleep the entire way.
8. I was wondering this past weekend....why update your status on FB to allude to a problem you're experiencing, and then NOT divulge what it is you're alluding to? If you don't want everyone to know your business, why even suggest you have "business" to be known? Someone I have as a friend mentioned that there was a problem she was worried about, but no other information. Someone asked what was up and she requested they text her. So my question is WHY even put it out there on FB if you don't want your "friends" to know what's going on? It could just be a child with a cold, or it could that her husband got ran over with a car. Don't tease me with suggestive statuses, please. Get to the point and let me know how I can help.
9. I decided that I needed to do something fun with T.O. and O.J. Sunday afternoon since we'd spent Saturday dealing with the bathroom and Sunday dealing with the bathroom. I got out the finger paints and creations were made. O.J.'s involved touching his chair, the booster, his belly, licking the paint, and the newspaper all around the intended object. T.O. created five plates that all looked the same.
10. Back up baby-sitter and little sister Anna got a job. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, when she baby-sits, I won't feel AS obligated to pay her since she now has income, but on the other hand, she won't be as available to baby-sit. Why have kids if I don't have siblings who are at my beck and call? MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Weekend Update
I do not feel like updating anything. I'm exhausted. I just wanted to post a post to let you know that. In a nutshell.....
Friday night a friend of mine invited Hubs and I over to meet her new "friend", in addition to another friend of ours and her significant other. The six of us had a grand time playing Mad Gab and The Game of Things. My lovely and devoted sister Anna baby-sat for us. Thank you, Anners.
Saturday was intended for a work BBQ at the local swimming pool. I intended to take 11 year old and T.O. Little O.J. would only go if his mood permitted, otherwise he was stuck with Hubs at home. Our toilet decided to vomit on us and created a slight flooding situation that T.O. alerted us to as he scampered out of the bathtub and yelled, "MOM! I NEED YOU!" When I proceeded to tell him "just a minute" he responded with, "NO!!! I REALLY, REALLY NEED YOU! SOMETHING'S HAPPENED!"
So it vomited on our lovely carpet the old lady left us in the bathroom. It was certainly on the "to do" list of fixers, it just got bumped to first on Saturday. The BBQ was thrown out the window and we started the "fix". We decided on the easy, less expensive route. That consisted of pulling up the carpet, making fixer upper adjustments to whatever lay underneath, and then laying "peel and stick" tile ourselves. Hubs got the carpet up, the "underneath" was crappy tile and a few spots of subfloor that SHOULD be fixed. We are going to do our best to fix part of the under the under, and lay our tile down. It's a quick, short term (maybe) fix.
We took a break after getting the ugly tile cleaned up and prepped for our tile. We had a wedding reception to attend Saturday evening. We dropped off O.J. with my dad (who already had T.O. because my dear sister Anna took him down early), and went and enjoyed the wedding reception.
The boys stayed overnight at my dad's, which was nice. It allowed us to get up and get a head start on the bathroom before he brought them home. WELL, because the toilet isn't being replaced, it required us to trace around it and try and cut this heavy duty but not ceramic tile.
So we attempted to cut it. Guess what? Hubs ends up going to the emergency room. Seriously, accident prone much?? Lucky for him, he only needed tissue glue and little bandages to contain the slice to his thumb. My dad arrived with the kids as we arrived from the hospital, and my dad and I spent the rest of the afternoon fitting the tile for the toilet. The end result is actually pretty impressive for two (sort of three) people hadn't done anything remotely like this before in their lives.
The life-saving tool? The hair dryer. It warmed up the tile enough to make it pliable and my dad was able to slice it to fit the toilet. I was the pattern maker though, and I'd like to take this moment to say "WE DID GOOD." I know, not proper English, but I only care enough to point out that I don't care.
So we have a half-tiled bathroom and some really ugly tile on the other half. It should get finished tomorrow. Or at least mostly finished. We'll have to slice up more tiles to fit the edges where it doesn't require a full piece. I'll be taking those tiles to Home Depot with some exact measurements. If my dad isn't here to slice them, NOBODY'S slicing them.
I hope you all had a much less eventful weekend. If you need excitement, we're always looking for baby-sitters who are willing to come to our house, maybe stay overnight, hang out the next day, go on runs to the hardware store and watch the baby while I freak out about what to buy for tile laying, and then maybe be willing to shuffle the kids to someone else who lives an hour away. If you don't think this job is for you, just tell my sister Anna that she's got the most wonderful job in the world. She should have taken us up on that Nanny gig a long time ago.
Friday night a friend of mine invited Hubs and I over to meet her new "friend", in addition to another friend of ours and her significant other. The six of us had a grand time playing Mad Gab and The Game of Things. My lovely and devoted sister Anna baby-sat for us. Thank you, Anners.
Saturday was intended for a work BBQ at the local swimming pool. I intended to take 11 year old and T.O. Little O.J. would only go if his mood permitted, otherwise he was stuck with Hubs at home. Our toilet decided to vomit on us and created a slight flooding situation that T.O. alerted us to as he scampered out of the bathtub and yelled, "MOM! I NEED YOU!" When I proceeded to tell him "just a minute" he responded with, "NO!!! I REALLY, REALLY NEED YOU! SOMETHING'S HAPPENED!"
So it vomited on our lovely carpet the old lady left us in the bathroom. It was certainly on the "to do" list of fixers, it just got bumped to first on Saturday. The BBQ was thrown out the window and we started the "fix". We decided on the easy, less expensive route. That consisted of pulling up the carpet, making fixer upper adjustments to whatever lay underneath, and then laying "peel and stick" tile ourselves. Hubs got the carpet up, the "underneath" was crappy tile and a few spots of subfloor that SHOULD be fixed. We are going to do our best to fix part of the under the under, and lay our tile down. It's a quick, short term (maybe) fix.
We took a break after getting the ugly tile cleaned up and prepped for our tile. We had a wedding reception to attend Saturday evening. We dropped off O.J. with my dad (who already had T.O. because my dear sister Anna took him down early), and went and enjoyed the wedding reception.
The boys stayed overnight at my dad's, which was nice. It allowed us to get up and get a head start on the bathroom before he brought them home. WELL, because the toilet isn't being replaced, it required us to trace around it and try and cut this heavy duty but not ceramic tile.
So we attempted to cut it. Guess what? Hubs ends up going to the emergency room. Seriously, accident prone much?? Lucky for him, he only needed tissue glue and little bandages to contain the slice to his thumb. My dad arrived with the kids as we arrived from the hospital, and my dad and I spent the rest of the afternoon fitting the tile for the toilet. The end result is actually pretty impressive for two (sort of three) people hadn't done anything remotely like this before in their lives.
The life-saving tool? The hair dryer. It warmed up the tile enough to make it pliable and my dad was able to slice it to fit the toilet. I was the pattern maker though, and I'd like to take this moment to say "WE DID GOOD." I know, not proper English, but I only care enough to point out that I don't care.
So we have a half-tiled bathroom and some really ugly tile on the other half. It should get finished tomorrow. Or at least mostly finished. We'll have to slice up more tiles to fit the edges where it doesn't require a full piece. I'll be taking those tiles to Home Depot with some exact measurements. If my dad isn't here to slice them, NOBODY'S slicing them.
I hope you all had a much less eventful weekend. If you need excitement, we're always looking for baby-sitters who are willing to come to our house, maybe stay overnight, hang out the next day, go on runs to the hardware store and watch the baby while I freak out about what to buy for tile laying, and then maybe be willing to shuffle the kids to someone else who lives an hour away. If you don't think this job is for you, just tell my sister Anna that she's got the most wonderful job in the world. She should have taken us up on that Nanny gig a long time ago.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Baby Love
Just a quick shout-out to my SSB pals. You know who you are.
Maddux arrived July 7, 2009 - 8lb 7oz, healthy and loved
Jacob arrived July 10, 2009 - 10lb 2oz, healthy and loved
Congratulations ladies.
You have done well.
Happy Birth Days to you and your sons!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Sometimes the Horse Needs to be Beaten
Some call it that. I don't. I think when views are so vastly differing and conclusions from the same event differ so greatly, a lengthy, healthy discussion is due. The remainder of this post stems from the comments in my "Discussion for the Ages" post. Feel free to start there, and finish here. This conversation is more than political, at least for me. It's social, and it's personal.
I am going to primarily respond to this snippet from my blog friend CLW. I certainly hope that my rebuttal of her original comment did not come across as an attack to her, but simply as my point of view. She responded to me with the following:
I certainly understand that you were NOT implying all the voters were ignorant, let alone all the Black voters. My statement about ignorant voters, however, was meant to distinguish the idea that voters who came out for the first time in 2008 aren't any less or more ignorant than all the voters who came before them, and voted frequently. Your views about why people voted for Obama are shared by many, including some in my own family, and this is why I feel the need to address it as a blog post instead of a comment.
As I stated before, people have voted frequently and consistently, basing their vote on only one issue, since the inception of our country. No one blinks an eye at the man who votes strictly on his own monetary interests. No one blinks at the woman who votes strictly based on a politician's views on women's rights and abortion. And these people DO EXIST. My argument for the hoards of people who voted for the first time in 2008 is that they came to vote for a Black man. THAT was THEIR issue. It seems to me that the people who continue to have problems with what happened November 4th are simply irritated by the sheer number of those who turned out.
What I think should be more concerning to those who want to belittle the first time voters is WHY this was their first time voting. Why has this vast amount of people, young and old, Black and White, never been moved to vote before now? THAT should be the question of the day. They have felt so far removed from the system that runs their country and felt no results from the system, that supporting that system felt futile.
I am concerned that you made a point to reference videos you (still?) have (on hand?) of the first time voters who don't understand his other political agendas. Should that be validation? I have seen video footage galore of White people using the "N" word to reference Obama during the campaign, and the word "Colored", as the reasons they chose not to vote for him. The ignorance in the videos I saw rival the ignorance of your videos, and the votes on each side of these videos probably knocked each other out.
The difference between these video clips, however, would be one thing. The "ignorance" in the Obama supporters still have ONE issue to stand on even if they understand no other. That is minority support in the governance of our country. It's representative. It's important. It's pride. The "ignorance" in the anti-Obama supporters is simply disdain for or lack of understanding of a Black man. This first time vote for the bussed voters and millions more holds so many more social ramifications than any political or fiscal or economic issue ever could. Why should this social milestone be made less significant just because they choose to potentially put their health care choices on the back burner? The social milestone might mean more to their children than their immediate four year pocketbook adjustment.
This leads me to my final point. It is said more times than I'd like to count that the Black community needs to stop putting their race as their front running issue, and just BE American. It is said that they bring the race card up more often than the White person. The more I have this discussion with others, the more I realize maybe it all just boils down to personal experience. If you haven't walked the mile, you'll never know how the other person's shoe fits. But when can we stop having to try on one another's shoes to gain some insight, some empathy, some realization for reality?
I have yet to gain the desired results after a conversation with a small child about WHY he was called the N word. Or WHAT it means. Or WHAT its history is to him. Or that it'll happen AGAIN. And I haven't mastered explaining to him to NOT let his confusion turn to anger, to hate, to exclusion, to numbness. And this is all before the teenage years. And we keep asking these children who grow into adults to put aside their race "for once", "leave it at the door", and "just be American" when, for their entire childhood, they experienced everything AS their race. And we have to ask why so many Blacks felt moved enough to vote, and why they finally felt an acceptance through Obama's election??
I am not speaking on this topic as a third party, but instead as someone who's experienced it. Alongside my husband, through his friends, through my children. This conversation stemmed from a discussion on Michael Jackson's legacy and historical mark on society, and I believe the unity that HE left on the world was the same effect that Obama has given us again. There are moments in time when we have to stop thinking about our own immediate needs, our own money affected by four years of a president, and see the larger imprint this election has stomped out.
It's not going to stop when things like this continue to occur.
And for the record, I was a first time ever voter in 2008. My husband was not.
I am going to primarily respond to this snippet from my blog friend CLW. I certainly hope that my rebuttal of her original comment did not come across as an attack to her, but simply as my point of view. She responded to me with the following:
"I most certainly was not implying that ALL black people were ignorant in the voting, nor was I implying that Black people in general were not informed. I was merely stating that in two states they bussed people who have not voted before or knew anything about the views of the person they voted for. I would never disrespect anyone that way."
I certainly understand that you were NOT implying all the voters were ignorant, let alone all the Black voters. My statement about ignorant voters, however, was meant to distinguish the idea that voters who came out for the first time in 2008 aren't any less or more ignorant than all the voters who came before them, and voted frequently. Your views about why people voted for Obama are shared by many, including some in my own family, and this is why I feel the need to address it as a blog post instead of a comment.
As I stated before, people have voted frequently and consistently, basing their vote on only one issue, since the inception of our country. No one blinks an eye at the man who votes strictly on his own monetary interests. No one blinks at the woman who votes strictly based on a politician's views on women's rights and abortion. And these people DO EXIST. My argument for the hoards of people who voted for the first time in 2008 is that they came to vote for a Black man. THAT was THEIR issue. It seems to me that the people who continue to have problems with what happened November 4th are simply irritated by the sheer number of those who turned out.
What I think should be more concerning to those who want to belittle the first time voters is WHY this was their first time voting. Why has this vast amount of people, young and old, Black and White, never been moved to vote before now? THAT should be the question of the day. They have felt so far removed from the system that runs their country and felt no results from the system, that supporting that system felt futile.
I am concerned that you made a point to reference videos you (still?) have (on hand?) of the first time voters who don't understand his other political agendas. Should that be validation? I have seen video footage galore of White people using the "N" word to reference Obama during the campaign, and the word "Colored", as the reasons they chose not to vote for him. The ignorance in the videos I saw rival the ignorance of your videos, and the votes on each side of these videos probably knocked each other out.
The difference between these video clips, however, would be one thing. The "ignorance" in the Obama supporters still have ONE issue to stand on even if they understand no other. That is minority support in the governance of our country. It's representative. It's important. It's pride. The "ignorance" in the anti-Obama supporters is simply disdain for or lack of understanding of a Black man. This first time vote for the bussed voters and millions more holds so many more social ramifications than any political or fiscal or economic issue ever could. Why should this social milestone be made less significant just because they choose to potentially put their health care choices on the back burner? The social milestone might mean more to their children than their immediate four year pocketbook adjustment.
This leads me to my final point. It is said more times than I'd like to count that the Black community needs to stop putting their race as their front running issue, and just BE American. It is said that they bring the race card up more often than the White person. The more I have this discussion with others, the more I realize maybe it all just boils down to personal experience. If you haven't walked the mile, you'll never know how the other person's shoe fits. But when can we stop having to try on one another's shoes to gain some insight, some empathy, some realization for reality?
I have yet to gain the desired results after a conversation with a small child about WHY he was called the N word. Or WHAT it means. Or WHAT its history is to him. Or that it'll happen AGAIN. And I haven't mastered explaining to him to NOT let his confusion turn to anger, to hate, to exclusion, to numbness. And this is all before the teenage years. And we keep asking these children who grow into adults to put aside their race "for once", "leave it at the door", and "just be American" when, for their entire childhood, they experienced everything AS their race. And we have to ask why so many Blacks felt moved enough to vote, and why they finally felt an acceptance through Obama's election??
I am not speaking on this topic as a third party, but instead as someone who's experienced it. Alongside my husband, through his friends, through my children. This conversation stemmed from a discussion on Michael Jackson's legacy and historical mark on society, and I believe the unity that HE left on the world was the same effect that Obama has given us again. There are moments in time when we have to stop thinking about our own immediate needs, our own money affected by four years of a president, and see the larger imprint this election has stomped out.
It's not going to stop when things like this continue to occur.
And for the record, I was a first time ever voter in 2008. My husband was not.
Weak on Wednesday
There are some things that I just love. But more importantly, I realize that recognizing these things keeps the love for them alive. They don't become mundane and disenchanting if we keep reminding ourselves why we love them. It's far too easy to get into "the rut" and make those in our life just players in our ordinary existence. They aren't. They should be reminded of our affection for their presence, and we should remind ourselves why we are affected by them. My Weak on Wednesday today doesn't focus on specifics that happened today or yesterday, but rather things that consistently or at least frequently visit my mundane everyday, and make me realize why I'm affected.
1. Greetings
I can't recall when this started, maybe when T.O. was about two years old. He would sit at the top of the stairs and wait for me to walk through the door. As soon as Hubs or 11YO saw me pull up or heard the garage door open, he'd perch. And he'd smile. 11YO would sometimes be there with him or meet me at the door and ask if he could carry things inside. Now, I have three of them. O.J. doesn't have the patience for perching like T.O. yet, but he'll come from whichever angle and jump, literally, into my arms as I approach the top step. I love it. Their smiles remind me that they forgot the reprimands they received that morning, and that they are completely unaware of my mood, which instantly perks it.
2. My Ring
I don't love it as a piece of jewelry, per se. (I DO love it and its style, but that isn't its significance for me.) And I'm not sure I'd have included this if it weren't for T.O.'s inquiring mind. I was backing out of the garage this morning when I realized I'd left my ring on the counter. After climbing back into the car with it on, T.O. asked why people wore rings and why I needed mine. I simply explained, "It reminds them of family. When they're sitting at work, they can look at their hand and see the ring that stands for a circle. Families make circles that go on forever. I can look at it when I'm at work and think of Daddy, and you." And for being a response off the top of my head, I truly meant it.
3. Adjectives
This might sound like a silly love affair, but think about it. Adjectives are colorful additions to anything spoken or written. And who doesn't want color? I've had conversations with people who don't get excited or use descriptive terms. They speak (or write) straight from the facts. I, personally, love to throw excitement into a picture I've seen a thousand times. FABULOUS! FANTASTIC! WONDERFUL! GORGEOUS! If you don't have excitement in your words and in your voice, it makes for a very dull experience. And anything can be dulled down, trust me. I know from watching others. I prefer to NOT dull down and instead burst with words that grate on the grumpy person's last, itty bitty nerve. And I prefer to tell them directly how absolutely FANTABULOUS they look. They may continue to frown, but deep inside....I know they are wondering how they can recreate that "aura" to make someone say "fantabulous". It's the way we all want to feel. Admit it.
1. Greetings
I can't recall when this started, maybe when T.O. was about two years old. He would sit at the top of the stairs and wait for me to walk through the door. As soon as Hubs or 11YO saw me pull up or heard the garage door open, he'd perch. And he'd smile. 11YO would sometimes be there with him or meet me at the door and ask if he could carry things inside. Now, I have three of them. O.J. doesn't have the patience for perching like T.O. yet, but he'll come from whichever angle and jump, literally, into my arms as I approach the top step. I love it. Their smiles remind me that they forgot the reprimands they received that morning, and that they are completely unaware of my mood, which instantly perks it.
2. My Ring
I don't love it as a piece of jewelry, per se. (I DO love it and its style, but that isn't its significance for me.) And I'm not sure I'd have included this if it weren't for T.O.'s inquiring mind. I was backing out of the garage this morning when I realized I'd left my ring on the counter. After climbing back into the car with it on, T.O. asked why people wore rings and why I needed mine. I simply explained, "It reminds them of family. When they're sitting at work, they can look at their hand and see the ring that stands for a circle. Families make circles that go on forever. I can look at it when I'm at work and think of Daddy, and you." And for being a response off the top of my head, I truly meant it.
3. Adjectives
This might sound like a silly love affair, but think about it. Adjectives are colorful additions to anything spoken or written. And who doesn't want color? I've had conversations with people who don't get excited or use descriptive terms. They speak (or write) straight from the facts. I, personally, love to throw excitement into a picture I've seen a thousand times. FABULOUS! FANTASTIC! WONDERFUL! GORGEOUS! If you don't have excitement in your words and in your voice, it makes for a very dull experience. And anything can be dulled down, trust me. I know from watching others. I prefer to NOT dull down and instead burst with words that grate on the grumpy person's last, itty bitty nerve. And I prefer to tell them directly how absolutely FANTABULOUS they look. They may continue to frown, but deep inside....I know they are wondering how they can recreate that "aura" to make someone say "fantabulous". It's the way we all want to feel. Admit it.
The Best Way to Say It
This is a follow-up to the conversation I had with my co-worker. I think this link best sums up what both he and I feel regarding MJ. I also happen to follow and love this blogger, if you're looking for new material to read. And she's a frequent poster, which is a bonus.
Momedy Says This about MJ
Momedy Says This about MJ
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A Discussion for the "Ages"
I received an email from a co-worker today with the following question:
Why don’t some people view the death of MJ as an historical event? Do you not?
I decided to share our discussion with you. Chronicling this moment will be something I'd like to look back on, just as I would if I were a blogger back during 9/11 or other such events. Not that I'm comparing the death of one person to the death of thousands....but I think you understand.
My response:
Some people can’t get past the drama of his life / lifestyle.
Some people weren’t moved by his music or feel that his impact on society and popular culture is anything significant or more than a regular singer.
Some people hate that certain people get worshipped at the time of death if their life was questionable.
Some people hate that anyone gets worshipped at the time of death.
Some people would rather see this energy and focus that the media and millions of people are placing on him onto soldiers fighting, dying, etc.
I, personally, felt sadness when I heard he died. I felt like I was losing a piece of my childhood, and the things that he DID stand for, that were good, were being overlooked. He was controversial, though, and just as Elvis was both sanctified AND crucified at death, same for MJ. People thought EP was devilish for his ways with rock ‘n’ roll and the life that went with it, as people also felt that way about MJ and his music/dancing/lifestyle.
His response:
What a way to put it… And that all makes sense.
But I was debating with XXX up here and he said he doesn’t look at MJ’s death as an "historical" event…but he classifies the eruption of Mount St. Helens an historical…duhhh.....
I then said..well some people are good to get 20 mourners at their funeral…MJ has 100s of millions and maybe a billion mourners who will be tuning in, watching via internet or in person…that doesn’t classify itself as "historical"???
Please correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t recall a death of this magnitude during my lifetime….
My response:
Simply put, the definition of historical is this:
of, relating to, or having the character of history
used in the past and reproduced in historical presentations
Based on this, both events are historical. The significance of the historic nature is to be determined by the viewer. As we both know, for XXX to state that it isn’t historical is preposterous, and if you argued that the physical nature of Mt. St. Helen’s wasn’t (just for commentary’s sake, I’m sure you didn’t say it wasn’t), that would be equally ignorant.
By the statistics you quoted alone, MJ’s death and legacy is historical. He changed the face of culture in countless ways. That cannot be denied for his historical mark on American culture. The funeral itself is a circus, but to accommodate all those touched by the changes he brought, it’s necessary.
Obama says people cling to guns and religion in times of desperation, but they also cling to music, love, and art. This death simply magnifies that point.
Oh, and a sidenote…death of this magnitude during our lifetime? Princess Di.
His response:
Thank you almighty wealth of knowledge and knowledgeable stuff possessor!!
**insert** This means he thinks I'm awesome.
Of course I didn’t disagree with his Mt. St. Helen’s example…I just looked at him perplexed….wondering if he truly believed what he was saying or was just talking smack….his example was so out of the blue and on a topic so far from what we were discussing and so obviously "historical" in nature in itself that I surely wouldn’t disagree..…I just wondered about how he measured historical value…lol
I got love for Princess DI….but you gotta think…MJ transcended ALL races, colors and cultures…the Princess…not so much…though her death was surely "historical"…I don’t know about the magnitude equivalence to MJ…..pop culture is bigger than royal culture I guess???
My response:
She crossed many lines.
**insert** This is a cut and paste from my good friends at Wiki.
Charity work
Starting in the mid- to late 1980s, the Princess of Wales became increasingly known for her support of numerous charities. This stemmed naturally from her role as Princess of Wales—she was expected to visit hospitals and other state agencies in the 20th century model of royal patronage. Diana, however, developed an interest in serious illnesses and health-related matters outside the purview of traditional royal involvement, including AIDS and leprosy. In addition, the Princess patronised charities and organizations working with the homeless, youth, drug addicts and the elderly.
Diana was most famously, in the last year of her life, the most visible supporter of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, a campaign that went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 after her death, which many believed was a posthumus tribute to the Princess.[19]
[edit] AIDS awareness
In April 1987, the Princess of Wales was one of the first public figures to be photographed touching a person infected with HIV. She contributed to changing the public opinion of AIDS sufferers during the subsequent years, as her involvement with a variety of AIDS charities, not only in the United Kingdom but in North America, Africa and Asia as well, was a consistent public role she embraced.
You have to remember where your interests lie, at heart. A Black man, musically inclined, growing up in America….MJ would certainly be bigger to you. I’m not saying that Princess Di’s death is larger, but she was certainly an international figure in a different regard, whose death was felt around the world as well. I’m not sure you can say "pop culture is bigger than royal culture I guess???"….just different. Touches different people who have different interests.
His response:
I’m not disagreeing with anything you are saying. And yes I know she was very much a champion of philanthropy, charity, good will and change. That’s why she was an iconic figure and her death was "historical".
Now, as far as Princess Di goes, she was a member of the royal family that is why she was an international figure. And factor in that she was beautiful, compassionate, charitable and very well liked…made her an even bigger figure internationally in comparison to other members of "royal families".
All I’m sayin is, MJ was a lil black boy from Gary Indiana who could sing, dance and entertain……and a billion people are predicted and want to in some way be a part of his memorial service….
I don’t think my being musically inclined is as much a factor as "MUSIC" in itself is. Everyone in the WORLD is touched by MUSIC in some way, shape or form (artists, listeners, fans etc.) and MJ is the one artist who has broken down more GLOBAL barriers via MUSIC than anyone during our lifetime and maybe before us….that’s all I’m sayin…
My response:
I agree with all you’re saying as well, and if we’re talking simply memorializing…I’ll see what kinds of stats I can pull up about Di’s…just to compare.
There are some conversations that leave me thinking, and this was one. I felt like sharing. I know it's long and if you're down here reading, that must mean you read most of our jabber. Obviously I was getting a LOT of work done today.
Why don’t some people view the death of MJ as an historical event? Do you not?
I decided to share our discussion with you. Chronicling this moment will be something I'd like to look back on, just as I would if I were a blogger back during 9/11 or other such events. Not that I'm comparing the death of one person to the death of thousands....but I think you understand.
My response:
Some people can’t get past the drama of his life / lifestyle.
Some people weren’t moved by his music or feel that his impact on society and popular culture is anything significant or more than a regular singer.
Some people hate that certain people get worshipped at the time of death if their life was questionable.
Some people hate that anyone gets worshipped at the time of death.
Some people would rather see this energy and focus that the media and millions of people are placing on him onto soldiers fighting, dying, etc.
I, personally, felt sadness when I heard he died. I felt like I was losing a piece of my childhood, and the things that he DID stand for, that were good, were being overlooked. He was controversial, though, and just as Elvis was both sanctified AND crucified at death, same for MJ. People thought EP was devilish for his ways with rock ‘n’ roll and the life that went with it, as people also felt that way about MJ and his music/dancing/lifestyle.
His response:
What a way to put it… And that all makes sense.
But I was debating with XXX up here and he said he doesn’t look at MJ’s death as an "historical" event…but he classifies the eruption of Mount St. Helens an historical…duhhh.....
I then said..well some people are good to get 20 mourners at their funeral…MJ has 100s of millions and maybe a billion mourners who will be tuning in, watching via internet or in person…that doesn’t classify itself as "historical"???
Please correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t recall a death of this magnitude during my lifetime….
My response:
Simply put, the definition of historical is this:
of, relating to, or having the character of history
used in the past and reproduced in historical presentations
Based on this, both events are historical. The significance of the historic nature is to be determined by the viewer. As we both know, for XXX to state that it isn’t historical is preposterous, and if you argued that the physical nature of Mt. St. Helen’s wasn’t (just for commentary’s sake, I’m sure you didn’t say it wasn’t), that would be equally ignorant.
By the statistics you quoted alone, MJ’s death and legacy is historical. He changed the face of culture in countless ways. That cannot be denied for his historical mark on American culture. The funeral itself is a circus, but to accommodate all those touched by the changes he brought, it’s necessary.
Obama says people cling to guns and religion in times of desperation, but they also cling to music, love, and art. This death simply magnifies that point.
Oh, and a sidenote…death of this magnitude during our lifetime? Princess Di.
His response:
Thank you almighty wealth of knowledge and knowledgeable stuff possessor!!
**insert** This means he thinks I'm awesome.
Of course I didn’t disagree with his Mt. St. Helen’s example…I just looked at him perplexed….wondering if he truly believed what he was saying or was just talking smack….his example was so out of the blue and on a topic so far from what we were discussing and so obviously "historical" in nature in itself that I surely wouldn’t disagree..…I just wondered about how he measured historical value…lol
I got love for Princess DI….but you gotta think…MJ transcended ALL races, colors and cultures…the Princess…not so much…though her death was surely "historical"…I don’t know about the magnitude equivalence to MJ…..pop culture is bigger than royal culture I guess???
My response:
She crossed many lines.
**insert** This is a cut and paste from my good friends at Wiki.
Charity work
Starting in the mid- to late 1980s, the Princess of Wales became increasingly known for her support of numerous charities. This stemmed naturally from her role as Princess of Wales—she was expected to visit hospitals and other state agencies in the 20th century model of royal patronage. Diana, however, developed an interest in serious illnesses and health-related matters outside the purview of traditional royal involvement, including AIDS and leprosy. In addition, the Princess patronised charities and organizations working with the homeless, youth, drug addicts and the elderly.
Diana was most famously, in the last year of her life, the most visible supporter of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, a campaign that went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 after her death, which many believed was a posthumus tribute to the Princess.[19]
[edit] AIDS awareness
In April 1987, the Princess of Wales was one of the first public figures to be photographed touching a person infected with HIV. She contributed to changing the public opinion of AIDS sufferers during the subsequent years, as her involvement with a variety of AIDS charities, not only in the United Kingdom but in North America, Africa and Asia as well, was a consistent public role she embraced.
You have to remember where your interests lie, at heart. A Black man, musically inclined, growing up in America….MJ would certainly be bigger to you. I’m not saying that Princess Di’s death is larger, but she was certainly an international figure in a different regard, whose death was felt around the world as well. I’m not sure you can say "pop culture is bigger than royal culture I guess???"….just different. Touches different people who have different interests.
His response:
I’m not disagreeing with anything you are saying. And yes I know she was very much a champion of philanthropy, charity, good will and change. That’s why she was an iconic figure and her death was "historical".
Now, as far as Princess Di goes, she was a member of the royal family that is why she was an international figure. And factor in that she was beautiful, compassionate, charitable and very well liked…made her an even bigger figure internationally in comparison to other members of "royal families".
All I’m sayin is, MJ was a lil black boy from Gary Indiana who could sing, dance and entertain……and a billion people are predicted and want to in some way be a part of his memorial service….
I don’t think my being musically inclined is as much a factor as "MUSIC" in itself is. Everyone in the WORLD is touched by MUSIC in some way, shape or form (artists, listeners, fans etc.) and MJ is the one artist who has broken down more GLOBAL barriers via MUSIC than anyone during our lifetime and maybe before us….that’s all I’m sayin…
My response:
I agree with all you’re saying as well, and if we’re talking simply memorializing…I’ll see what kinds of stats I can pull up about Di’s…just to compare.
There are some conversations that leave me thinking, and this was one. I felt like sharing. I know it's long and if you're down here reading, that must mean you read most of our jabber. Obviously I was getting a LOT of work done today.
Kids are Punks
I can't promise any of you that I WON'T reprimand your child if I see them misbehaving. I just can't. I am so tired and discouraged and FED UP with lazy parents who feel their kids do no wrong. I'm sick of it, and if I catch them acting like fools near me or my children, I will reprimand them. I might snatch them up, too, if they want to try and get physical with another child. Be warned.
Kids are bad these days. The world is the same bad place it's been since grown men were fighting in arenas with swords and fire and deadly animals, but kids are worse.
I went for a jog last night. I was truly enjoying it too. It started to sprinkle on me and it felt GOOD. I just completed a big hill and turned on the last stretch toward home. I was jogging in front of an elementary school and noticed 4 pre-teenish/barely teen boys walking on the sidewalk, so I opted for the road to avoid a traffic jam. As I neared them and about passed them, one of these little brats threw his skateboard out into the road directly in front of me. I simply turned toward the board, picked it up, and turned to continue my run. He said, "Thank you!" as if he expected me to return the board.
I said, "I'm taking this with me and calling the police. You tried to hit me with it."
Obviously I was aware he didn't aim and throw at ME, but his intention was clearly to interfere with my run and potentially trip me up. What kid DOES this crap??? So I ran forward with his board like I was truly taking it. And I think I had every intention of taking it all the way home, getting in my car and finding them at a house and talking to their parents.
But he started hollering down the street and I heard him swear at me. What kid DOES this crap? So I turned around, marched directly to him, stared at him and said in a raised voice, "BE RESPECTFUL."
"Give me my skateboard back. I can call the police and tell them you stole it."
"It was a weapon aimed at ME. I confiscated it. BE RESPECTFUL." I was livid.
"You be respectful and give my board back!" (At this point he had one of his friends trying to out-talk me as well but I ignored him. One of his other friends was asking him to apologize.)
"You will NOT swear at me, and you will NOT throw this board at anyone else. You WILL BE respectful. Shall I walk you home to your parents and discuss this?"
"Give me my board back!"
"BE respectful. You'll get it back." By this time I was ready to slap his friend who kept trying to pop into the conversation.
"YOU be respectful. Give me it back."
By this time, I was shaking I was so mad. I wanted to hit him in the face. I almost did, too. I'm not sure what held me back, to be honest. I am so tired of these kids today. I handed the board back to this boy, but next time I won't. His one polite friend thanked me for being respectful as I walked away (I almost laughed that he was using my word), and I truly think he was genuinely NOT trying to be part of his friends' foolishness. He had already walked away from the situation before it ended because he knew his friend was WRONG. I wanted to go back and tell him to be careful who he hangs around because next time I WILL call the police and he could get into trouble simply by association.
Honestly, I'd rather I KNEW his parents. I wish more neighbors were outgoing and willing to be part of a "village" raising children. If mine were acting out, I WANT the other parents to call them out. Make them accountable for their foolish ways. They NEED that, they NEED to know there are consequences for their behavior. I will go running again tonight, and if I see them, I will have my cell phone ready to dial if they try it again. I think I caught them off-guard by responding at all, and hopefully they'll think twice before doing something so silly. But my guess is they won't. He didn't appear contrite or embarrassed by his actions at all, only that one friend showed maturity in any respect. It makes me sad.
So, as I said, I will call your child OUT, I will bring them to the front and center to face their actions, and face their consequences. I will also try and teach them a better way to act. Discipline is TEACHING. Not punishment. Not spanking. When parents begin to realize this and USE discipline to bring a child up, our neighborhoods will become better places to be.
Stupid brats.
Kids are bad these days. The world is the same bad place it's been since grown men were fighting in arenas with swords and fire and deadly animals, but kids are worse.
I went for a jog last night. I was truly enjoying it too. It started to sprinkle on me and it felt GOOD. I just completed a big hill and turned on the last stretch toward home. I was jogging in front of an elementary school and noticed 4 pre-teenish/barely teen boys walking on the sidewalk, so I opted for the road to avoid a traffic jam. As I neared them and about passed them, one of these little brats threw his skateboard out into the road directly in front of me. I simply turned toward the board, picked it up, and turned to continue my run. He said, "Thank you!" as if he expected me to return the board.
I said, "I'm taking this with me and calling the police. You tried to hit me with it."
Obviously I was aware he didn't aim and throw at ME, but his intention was clearly to interfere with my run and potentially trip me up. What kid DOES this crap??? So I ran forward with his board like I was truly taking it. And I think I had every intention of taking it all the way home, getting in my car and finding them at a house and talking to their parents.
But he started hollering down the street and I heard him swear at me. What kid DOES this crap? So I turned around, marched directly to him, stared at him and said in a raised voice, "BE RESPECTFUL."
"Give me my skateboard back. I can call the police and tell them you stole it."
"It was a weapon aimed at ME. I confiscated it. BE RESPECTFUL." I was livid.
"You be respectful and give my board back!" (At this point he had one of his friends trying to out-talk me as well but I ignored him. One of his other friends was asking him to apologize.)
"You will NOT swear at me, and you will NOT throw this board at anyone else. You WILL BE respectful. Shall I walk you home to your parents and discuss this?"
"Give me my board back!"
"BE respectful. You'll get it back." By this time I was ready to slap his friend who kept trying to pop into the conversation.
"YOU be respectful. Give me it back."
By this time, I was shaking I was so mad. I wanted to hit him in the face. I almost did, too. I'm not sure what held me back, to be honest. I am so tired of these kids today. I handed the board back to this boy, but next time I won't. His one polite friend thanked me for being respectful as I walked away (I almost laughed that he was using my word), and I truly think he was genuinely NOT trying to be part of his friends' foolishness. He had already walked away from the situation before it ended because he knew his friend was WRONG. I wanted to go back and tell him to be careful who he hangs around because next time I WILL call the police and he could get into trouble simply by association.
Honestly, I'd rather I KNEW his parents. I wish more neighbors were outgoing and willing to be part of a "village" raising children. If mine were acting out, I WANT the other parents to call them out. Make them accountable for their foolish ways. They NEED that, they NEED to know there are consequences for their behavior. I will go running again tonight, and if I see them, I will have my cell phone ready to dial if they try it again. I think I caught them off-guard by responding at all, and hopefully they'll think twice before doing something so silly. But my guess is they won't. He didn't appear contrite or embarrassed by his actions at all, only that one friend showed maturity in any respect. It makes me sad.
So, as I said, I will call your child OUT, I will bring them to the front and center to face their actions, and face their consequences. I will also try and teach them a better way to act. Discipline is TEACHING. Not punishment. Not spanking. When parents begin to realize this and USE discipline to bring a child up, our neighborhoods will become better places to be.
Stupid brats.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Monday Mumbles
Top ten random things that I've been thinking about. Week in, week out, this continues to be my favorite post to write. I hope you're all having a wonderful start or end to your Mondays.
1. Sitting at the computer here at home, which happens to occupy our kitchen table, I was attempting to begin a conversation with Hubs when....suddenly....a piece of pancake flew in front of my face. Hubs, (who was in the living room and out of sight of O.J. but just knew the pancake came from him), stopped mid-sentence and started laughing. His next comment? "We aren't going to be able to let him get away with ANYthing. He's BAD." The look on O.J.'s face agreed 100 percent.
2. So O.J. just (literally) learned how to blow zerbers a.k.a strawberries. He's practicing on Hubs' arm. They're getting more ferocious with each blow. So what is Hubs commentating with? "What's mama's butt sound like?" "What does mama sound like in the bathroom?" And on and on and on.....men will never grow up. So why am I laughing so hard?
3. We can't spell anymore. At least not around T.O. Not even fast. I tried yesterday afternoon, suggesting we try and see if he'd lay down for a short N.A.P. before a Sunday evening movie, and I spelled it FAST (Lord help me if I couldn't spell it fast at 31), but he just looked at me and calmly said, "I don't wanna take an N.A.P., Mama." And so it was....until I left for the store and returned 25 minutes later and he was passed out on the couch.
4. We went 'classic' on the movie rental Sunday night. We got Toy Story. I'd forgotten just how funny and "adult" some of the lines were. Loved it, and I loved sharing it with T.O. and 11 year old.
5. I was prepared for the movie Marley and Me. The details of the movie were given to me prematurely by someone who didn't even ask if I cared to hear. I hate people who do that. Anyhow....I was prepared but it didn't matter. And I'm not a dog person, usually. I hate getting "touched".....I really do. I was PREPARED, dang it!!! *sniffle*
6. On a lighter note, I have two friends who are about to pop. Actually, I had 4 of them, but one went early June, and another went late June. One was due on the 4th, the other on the 5th. One is scheduled for inducement on the 7th, and the other....well, I think she's trying to cook that baby into eternity. I'm just excited to see the babies and hold them. And NO....it does not make me think about being put in that "condition" again.
7. It's always nice to get reacquainted with music you've stuffed to the bottom of your console or the back of your disc folder. Since MJ died, many of us got reacquainted with some of his songs, and I particularly like "Man In The Mirror". The chorus lyrics are below - just something to think about:
8. Speaking of looking in the mirror, I did last week and decided I was tired of the red splotchiness that O.J. created when I got pregnant with him. It's been there for way too long and no over-the-counter remedies are healing it. So I made a dermatology appointment for next week. I'm excited to maybe have an end in sight and my clear skin back. This is vain, I know, and completely contradictory to the message in Mumble #7, but bear with me.
9. Hubs has his first follow-up appointment today and should get his staples removed and possibly some bandaging off. I'll be anxious to hear what the doc says about his healing. Maybe he'll be ready to mow the lawn again? No? Damn.
10. Have I ever mentioned that T.O.'s been reading stories to me in the car each morning, on the way to school? Have I ever mentioned how much I love it?
Happy Monday.
1. Sitting at the computer here at home, which happens to occupy our kitchen table, I was attempting to begin a conversation with Hubs when....suddenly....a piece of pancake flew in front of my face. Hubs, (who was in the living room and out of sight of O.J. but just knew the pancake came from him), stopped mid-sentence and started laughing. His next comment? "We aren't going to be able to let him get away with ANYthing. He's BAD." The look on O.J.'s face agreed 100 percent.
2. So O.J. just (literally) learned how to blow zerbers a.k.a strawberries. He's practicing on Hubs' arm. They're getting more ferocious with each blow. So what is Hubs commentating with? "What's mama's butt sound like?" "What does mama sound like in the bathroom?" And on and on and on.....men will never grow up. So why am I laughing so hard?
3. We can't spell anymore. At least not around T.O. Not even fast. I tried yesterday afternoon, suggesting we try and see if he'd lay down for a short N.A.P. before a Sunday evening movie, and I spelled it FAST (Lord help me if I couldn't spell it fast at 31), but he just looked at me and calmly said, "I don't wanna take an N.A.P., Mama." And so it was....until I left for the store and returned 25 minutes later and he was passed out on the couch.
4. We went 'classic' on the movie rental Sunday night. We got Toy Story. I'd forgotten just how funny and "adult" some of the lines were. Loved it, and I loved sharing it with T.O. and 11 year old.
5. I was prepared for the movie Marley and Me. The details of the movie were given to me prematurely by someone who didn't even ask if I cared to hear. I hate people who do that. Anyhow....I was prepared but it didn't matter. And I'm not a dog person, usually. I hate getting "touched".....I really do. I was PREPARED, dang it!!! *sniffle*
6. On a lighter note, I have two friends who are about to pop. Actually, I had 4 of them, but one went early June, and another went late June. One was due on the 4th, the other on the 5th. One is scheduled for inducement on the 7th, and the other....well, I think she's trying to cook that baby into eternity. I'm just excited to see the babies and hold them. And NO....it does not make me think about being put in that "condition" again.
7. It's always nice to get reacquainted with music you've stuffed to the bottom of your console or the back of your disc folder. Since MJ died, many of us got reacquainted with some of his songs, and I particularly like "Man In The Mirror". The chorus lyrics are below - just something to think about:
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change)
8. Speaking of looking in the mirror, I did last week and decided I was tired of the red splotchiness that O.J. created when I got pregnant with him. It's been there for way too long and no over-the-counter remedies are healing it. So I made a dermatology appointment for next week. I'm excited to maybe have an end in sight and my clear skin back. This is vain, I know, and completely contradictory to the message in Mumble #7, but bear with me.
9. Hubs has his first follow-up appointment today and should get his staples removed and possibly some bandaging off. I'll be anxious to hear what the doc says about his healing. Maybe he'll be ready to mow the lawn again? No? Damn.
10. Have I ever mentioned that T.O.'s been reading stories to me in the car each morning, on the way to school? Have I ever mentioned how much I love it?
Happy Monday.
Weekend Update
Just a recap. Remember I had to do that cross country reunion run? We did it. We completed the two mile jog. AND....I was the one who had to convince my two girlfriends to NOT quit at the mile marker. What the heck????????
A little person (named T.O.) wanted to run with us. He joined in for a bit at the midway point. I think he's got a pretty nice stride. I was not at all happy that my sister took this arse shot, but oh well.
When the running was done, we headed to my dad's house for the July 4th festivities. I walked outside after showering up to find 11 year old and T.O. perched like this in the driveway....watching.....
.....ants at work. They were carrying this beetle or bug thing to their home. I have to admit, it was interesting to watch them drag and push it around.
Little hands at work.
This was the firetruck BEFORE.....
....and then AFTER.
Parachutes are always a fun popper to blow up and chase. On this particular Saturday, they were hanging in the air for quite awhile before making a landing.
O.J. decided he liked corn on the cob. Grandpa couldn't finish cleaning his face before O.J. demanded another bite.
O.J. also gave and received kisses from a few pups at the family gathering. This is Presley, my Aunt's (who loves Elvis) dog.
My dad has a pretty good garden. He's got sunflowers blooming now and here is a snapshot of them.
O.J. enjoys playing with his cousin Buddy during the family gatherings. Today, they decided to untangle the balls from the lawn golf game.
A quick snapshot of T.O. and 11 year old and myself. It's in black and white to hide any of the "post-run" effects on my hair and face.
The boys are enjoying homemade vanilla ice cream. My dad rocks.
Near the end of the night, they were getting nutty. I'm not sure what was going on here, but both their faces were silly.
Here is a boomer I caught with my camera. I hope you all enjoyed a happy weekend, happy holiday weekend, good food, relaxing days, etc etc blah blah blah.
A little person (named T.O.) wanted to run with us. He joined in for a bit at the midway point. I think he's got a pretty nice stride. I was not at all happy that my sister took this arse shot, but oh well.
When the running was done, we headed to my dad's house for the July 4th festivities. I walked outside after showering up to find 11 year old and T.O. perched like this in the driveway....watching.....
.....ants at work. They were carrying this beetle or bug thing to their home. I have to admit, it was interesting to watch them drag and push it around.
Little hands at work.
This was the firetruck BEFORE.....
....and then AFTER. 
Parachutes are always a fun popper to blow up and chase. On this particular Saturday, they were hanging in the air for quite awhile before making a landing.
O.J. decided he liked corn on the cob. Grandpa couldn't finish cleaning his face before O.J. demanded another bite.
O.J. also gave and received kisses from a few pups at the family gathering. This is Presley, my Aunt's (who loves Elvis) dog.
My dad has a pretty good garden. He's got sunflowers blooming now and here is a snapshot of them.
O.J. enjoys playing with his cousin Buddy during the family gatherings. Today, they decided to untangle the balls from the lawn golf game.
A quick snapshot of T.O. and 11 year old and myself. It's in black and white to hide any of the "post-run" effects on my hair and face.
The boys are enjoying homemade vanilla ice cream. My dad rocks.
Near the end of the night, they were getting nutty. I'm not sure what was going on here, but both their faces were silly.
Here is a boomer I caught with my camera. I hope you all enjoyed a happy weekend, happy holiday weekend, good food, relaxing days, etc etc blah blah blah. Friday, July 3, 2009
Anger Managed or......?
I'm typically the person who WILL go to bed still mad and can wake up still mad. Now, before you judge, I usually will go to bed only because I'm exhausted and it feels better than being mad while awake. And I can wake up with anger about something but can be entirely unsure as to what it is I'm angry about. Some might call this holding grudges, but really it's just holding *out* until "the other party" (this means my husband, everyone) sees it my way.
Well, last night I might have had a break-through. I went to bed mad. It was a silly thing that happened, really, and "the other party" shouldn't have been involved at all but because he's immobile and this took place in the room he's stationed, he decided to poke his nose where it didn't belong. Anyhow...went to bed mad. When I woke up, I didn't even have that "fighting to get out" anger inside me. I DO remember why I went to bed mad, but for some reason....
....I didn't feel like saying snide remarks to "the other party". Is this a break-through? I'm worried if it's not a break-through, however, is it apathy? That would suck. And right before a holiday weekend. Way to potentially ruin my weekend, "other party", with all this worry about my mental state. Do you think he'll buy me ice cream to make up for it?
Well, last night I might have had a break-through. I went to bed mad. It was a silly thing that happened, really, and "the other party" shouldn't have been involved at all but because he's immobile and this took place in the room he's stationed, he decided to poke his nose where it didn't belong. Anyhow...went to bed mad. When I woke up, I didn't even have that "fighting to get out" anger inside me. I DO remember why I went to bed mad, but for some reason....
....I didn't feel like saying snide remarks to "the other party". Is this a break-through? I'm worried if it's not a break-through, however, is it apathy? That would suck. And right before a holiday weekend. Way to potentially ruin my weekend, "other party", with all this worry about my mental state. Do you think he'll buy me ice cream to make up for it?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Hand It Over
Dear Tooj,
I have two weddings coming up in three months and I just received the invite for the first. The RSVP came with "1" already written next to "Number of persons" so I can't bring a date even if I did manage to score a boyfriend by then. I'm not exactly the most social person out there and get shy/awkward when I'm surrounded by a bunch of people I don't know. I know my friends will be around, but if they're off doing their thing with the people they went with, how can I make sure I have fun and don't feel like a total loser?
The Cheese That Stands Alone in NYC
Dear Cheese,
Okay, two approaches here. Well, there are a lot more, but I'm going to focus on two.
Approach 1: If you're simply looking to "get through" the evenings, you can try any of these options:
1. Be THAT girl that dances all night long. Alone, with girlfriends, with the bride, the groom, the grandparents, the little kids. BE the wedding dancer.
2. Be THAT girl that drinks. A lot. As in you have a post next to the bar, get on a first name basis with the bartender, his/her parents, and dog. By standing near the refreshment stand, you will also get to see all the wedding traffic and might score a good conversation or two.
3. Be THAT girl who sits at the table, alone, playing with your phone. You'll stay for the toast, first dance, maybe a quick bite to eat, and then jet for the evening for engagements far more interesting.
That was approach number one. Here is approach number two, and the method that I prefer to use when I've had to attend weddings solo or with friends who would probably be occupied elsewhere.
I like to find tables that are halfway full but with seats available to anyone - NOT SAVED with jackets or purses. I typically like to find these tables occupied with older people...around our parents age or slightly older even. But they have to look entertaining. That's key.
I think that mingling with the older guests at a wedding can be much more interesting and beneficial in the long run of the night. We don't get as awkward around them, they tend to ask lots of questions that keep the conversation flowing, and chances are they're going to know some of the younger folks as well. What does that mean? Well, it means you could get "slipped into conversation" with the younger people if you so desire. Now, I am not suggesting that you sit with them the entire night. By all means, walk around, get a drink, check on your friends, but YOU are the one who has a plan instead of being the friend who gets checked ON. Make sense? If you know some parents there, strike up conversation with them after dinner, have a glass of wine with them, eat your cake together. If you divert your focus from the young people, the marriage, the sappiness that IS a wedding...you might find that you truly enjoy the socializing aspect the other guests can bring. In a very non-romantic light, of course. Getting involved with married older men can be SUCH a strain on your 20s. ;) Good luck!
Yours,
Tooj
I have two weddings coming up in three months and I just received the invite for the first. The RSVP came with "1" already written next to "Number of persons" so I can't bring a date even if I did manage to score a boyfriend by then. I'm not exactly the most social person out there and get shy/awkward when I'm surrounded by a bunch of people I don't know. I know my friends will be around, but if they're off doing their thing with the people they went with, how can I make sure I have fun and don't feel like a total loser?
The Cheese That Stands Alone in NYC
Dear Cheese,
Okay, two approaches here. Well, there are a lot more, but I'm going to focus on two.
Approach 1: If you're simply looking to "get through" the evenings, you can try any of these options:
1. Be THAT girl that dances all night long. Alone, with girlfriends, with the bride, the groom, the grandparents, the little kids. BE the wedding dancer.
2. Be THAT girl that drinks. A lot. As in you have a post next to the bar, get on a first name basis with the bartender, his/her parents, and dog. By standing near the refreshment stand, you will also get to see all the wedding traffic and might score a good conversation or two.
3. Be THAT girl who sits at the table, alone, playing with your phone. You'll stay for the toast, first dance, maybe a quick bite to eat, and then jet for the evening for engagements far more interesting.
That was approach number one. Here is approach number two, and the method that I prefer to use when I've had to attend weddings solo or with friends who would probably be occupied elsewhere.
I like to find tables that are halfway full but with seats available to anyone - NOT SAVED with jackets or purses. I typically like to find these tables occupied with older people...around our parents age or slightly older even. But they have to look entertaining. That's key.
I think that mingling with the older guests at a wedding can be much more interesting and beneficial in the long run of the night. We don't get as awkward around them, they tend to ask lots of questions that keep the conversation flowing, and chances are they're going to know some of the younger folks as well. What does that mean? Well, it means you could get "slipped into conversation" with the younger people if you so desire. Now, I am not suggesting that you sit with them the entire night. By all means, walk around, get a drink, check on your friends, but YOU are the one who has a plan instead of being the friend who gets checked ON. Make sense? If you know some parents there, strike up conversation with them after dinner, have a glass of wine with them, eat your cake together. If you divert your focus from the young people, the marriage, the sappiness that IS a wedding...you might find that you truly enjoy the socializing aspect the other guests can bring. In a very non-romantic light, of course. Getting involved with married older men can be SUCH a strain on your 20s. ;) Good luck!
Yours,
Tooj
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