So, what does it feel like?

I'm STILL sick. I'm still so sick that if this was a Monday, I'd probably miss part of this week as well. For those of you who have been following my whining about not feeling well, here's the illness I've got: Bronchitis and a touch of Pleurisy. I'm on this bizarre antibiotic that sort of makes me feel loopy; I'm not sure if it's that what's affecting me, or if it's the illness that's making me foggy. Either way - I'm just glad they're working because I think the Pleurisy is going away. It feels like someone beat me with a bat on my back - my muscles are sore because my lungs are irritated, and breathing in and out is really uncomfortable. Today though, while breathing in is still a little sore - breathing out is feeling much better. But this is why I just haven't had the energy to talk on the phone, or do much of anything. And incase you're wondering what Pleurisy is: it's an inflammation of the lining of your lungs - it probably came on as a result of the bronchitis. Fun stuff, huh?

Speaking of fun: I've been tagged! Glitter has posed the following Q&A......

List five songs that you are currently loving. It doesn't matter what genre they are from, whether they have words, or even if they're any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artists, and the songs in your blog, then 'tag' six other bloggers/friends to see what they're listening to.

I'm Lovin':
1. Behind these Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson
2. Livin' with Ghosts - Patty Griffin
3. River Road - Jimmy LeFave
4. You and Me - Lifehouse
5. Beverly Hills - Weezer

You've been tagged:
1. Pink and Green Girl
2. Cheryl
3. Clew
4. Kodijack
5. Lori
6. Jax

While I'm still feeling yukky...

Which Sex and the City Player Are You? Find out @ She's Crafty

You're upbeat, insightful, effervescent and imaginative. Sometimes a little too imaginative... You're all about the subtext, about what's going on between the lines. You very rarely take anything at face-value.

You also have a tendancy to be a little neurotic and self-absorbed, and fall for guys who are either (for the most part) emotionally unattainable or completely wrong for you.

That's okay, though, everyone loves you anyway. You're very well-liked. You always have a shoulder for your friends to cry on or an ear for them to gossip in. High-profile and fun, you're the life of the party.

Carrie quotes:
"You can't make friends with a squirrel. Squirrels are just rats with cuter outfits." "I'm thinking balls are to men, what purses are to women. It's just a little bag but we'd feel naked in public without it."

I can't be the only one...

Tonight, I watched what has to be one of the dumbest movies ever. Before I say what movie it is, I have to say - I was really looking forward to seeing it. I heard it was hysterically funny....and I like to laugh. Despite how sick I am, I thought it might be good medicine. I'd been waiting for the chance to watch it, and tonight was that night.

Not only was this movie not hysterically funny, I was absolutely dumbfounded how everyone in the movie was "challenged". Maybe that was the humor??? Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of "MTV humor" like everyone else; I loved South Park, JackAss, Viva La Bam, etc... but this??? I watched it about half way through and I got a chuckle or two, but truly only watched because I almost felt like I was the only one in the world who wasn't getting the humor, and I can't be the only one!?!?! I almost felt pressured to think it was a riot, when I just didn't "feel the love" for it.

Napoleon Dynamite just doesnt' do it for me. There are some great one liners in it, and a few quirky moments...but truly not the "great movie" it had been hyped up to be.

After about half the movie, I asked my husband to shut it off; flipping through the channels we found "The Godfather Saga".

Now that, my friends....is a great movie.

S I C K

I'm sick, sick, sick....
I'm sorry, I have no motivation to write anything other than that.

And for some reason, I still can't upload pictures here.

Can I just tell you - I love political satire. I've mentioned in previous posts that I'm not a big network television type of girl. Since the demise of "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Friends".... network television has gone down in a big way. I'm absolutely addicted to HBO programming. From the Sopranos, to Curb Your Enthusiasm...to Rome - I thank God for "On Demand" because I actually get to enjoy some great television. That being said, I love watching "Real Time w/ Bill Maher". He always has a really interesting panel, and despite the fact that I may be yelling at the t.v. and arguing with the panelists (what, they can't hear me!?!?!), it's a great way to stay in touch with the world on a national level, when this girl just doesn't have time to watch the nightly news. And although Bill Maher and I are often on different sides of the spectrum, I enjoy hearing the points of views from all sides. While I silently "agree to disagree" on some issues, I definitely enjoy his rants and raves, and appreciate his sense of humor. His writing team is top notch. Check it out if you have the chance; whether your Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian - there's a little something for everyone on there.

Speaking of television. I'll throw this out there again: Am I the only one who's riveted to the train wreck known as "Breaking Bonaduce"? This is the only reality show I've been watching. And, I have to say - I love it. He's just a maniac, out of control... and for someone who openly admitted to having a crush on him previously, I have to to tell you -- there is no way he and I ever would've survived a minute together. His wife has got to be the biggest doormat ever. With his rage issues, I'd have been killed by him probably, because there is no way I'd ever have tolerated being treated the way he treats her. And he is like a classic abuser by professing his undying love for her as he's unraveling and overapologetic for his absolute blatant disrespect of her. There is no way in hell I would put up with someone like him.... and at this point, since they have children - she's sort of in a tough situation. The previews do point to the fact that she threatens to leave; but given the press junkets they've been on, obviously it was short lived.

Note to Gretchen Bonaduce: Sometimes love just ain't enough....

This is weird...

Blogger won't let me upload my photos. I was going to post a picture of the latest girl's night out Mexicana style - but even though Picasa says "Upload Successful"... I can't get it to show up properly. Interesting....

Today I'm home from work. One being, my daughter is sick. I had her at Children's yesterday, and they thought she had pneumonia; fortunately, it's not - but she needs to be "low key" for a little while. And of course, I got sick as well. I have practically no voice. I always say this is my "sexy Demi Moore" voice. Wait, wouldn't that be Demi Kutcher now? That is such a bizarre pairing, isn't it. Am I the only one who thinks she looks old with her hair that way?

So, my daughter is napping and my son is playing games - and I'm going to go downstairs where he and I can bake a blueberry cake. He loves when I stay home because we always make something fun. Plus, I am Mom - and so he just loves when I'm home anyway!

I have to say I'm enjoying the day off myself. It's quiet, relaxing....and with all my pumpkin candles and cinnamon roll tart warmers burning, it's a beautiful fall day. It almost makes me forget how lousy I'm feeling!

Cleaning out my closet...

So it seems that I've been tagged by both Max & Jax... I love these little "let's share" type posts. :)


Three Random Facts About My Closet:
1)It's where I hide my laundry hampers
2) It's not big enough!
3) It's not organized enough...my clothes are organized, but the top shelf definitely needs help

Three Items I've Never Worn But Still Haven't Tossed:
1) Nothing, I'm not a big clothes shopper so I don't usually buy without a reason to wear them...
2) ...
3) ...

Three Items I'll Never Get Rid Of, No Matter How Ugly They Get:
1) My favorite blue jeans...
2) My favorite black shoe boots
3) My most comfy fleece sweats!

Three Items People Wouldn't Expect To Find In My Closet:
1) Barbie Doll pink go go boots
2) Three types of motorcycle jackets and a skull cap
3) A fuzzy, fun, Pam Anderson style leopard hat

Three items that made me go, "Oh Lord, what was I thinking?":
1) A light pink tshirt from Express that is waaaaay too small. I think the tag was wrong because clearly, it's not a small - it's an extra extra extra small!
2) A pair of white capris I got at Marshalls last summer when I wasn't done losing all the weight from baby #2
3) A fun halter top that looked far better on the hanger!

Three things that I have a surprising number of:
1) Sexy boots
2)Black pants
3) Button down shirts

Three dominate colors in my wardrobe:
1) Black
2) Cream
3) Red

Three items that never fail to put me in a good mood whenever I wear them:
1) My favorite jeans!
2) My comfy sweats
3) A cute little skirt with fun boots

TAG! You're it...
1. Jerry: because I can only imagine what's in there!
2. Tish: because I think it might be therapeutic for you...
3. Glitter: because I bet you've got fun stuff in there!

The Love of a Grand-daughter....

When I was small, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. Both sets of them, actually. We would see my paternal grandparents usually on the weekends, particularly on a Sunday. We would see my maternal grandparents every Saturday. We had various traditions with each of them; with my Papa and Grandma - it would be going over for dinner. I remember waiting patiently for my Grandma to give me an Italian ice, which she always would let me have before dinner. With my Nana and Zaydie, it was Chinese food every Saturday. We went to the same restaurant from the time I was 3, until I was 19.

Holidays and birthdays were some of the best times for me; some holidays were split up between the grandparents - some were held at our house. Our house used to be a gathering point; if my Mom threw a birthday party for her sister - my whole family would be there. Growing up, I didn't realize that all my aunts and uncles weren't brothers and sisters! Everyone on both sides of the family genuinely got along well, and I loved the days when I knew everyone was coming over.

I spent alot of nights sleeping over my Nana and Zaydie's house. Not for any reason, other than maybe my parents were going out for the night, or they just wanted to keep me over. At one point, I stayed over quite a bit; my younger sister was born with some serious medical conditions that required my parents to be at the hospital more than at home for the first few months of her life. I don't really remember not being at home that much - and it's quite possible that they stayed at my house at times too. But I really enjoyed the times I slept over.

Zaydie was a very quiet and gentle man. He never raised his voice, and he always had a twinkle in his eye. I loved sitting with him in his chair, while we watched "The Lawrence Welk" show before I went to bed. He would doze off, and I'd wake him up - to which he always replied with a smile, "I wasn't sleeping...just resting my eyes". Every morning that I woke up there, he'd say to me "what would you like for breakfast?" I'd say "make your eggs, make your eggs!". My Zaydie made the best sunnyside up eggs I've ever tasted. To this day, when I turn on the gas pilot on the stove and melt butter - I'm back in my Nana and Zaydie's kitchen, waiting at the table for my breakfast.

My Zaydie died when I was 10; he was only 64. He died relatively quickly considering he was ravaged with cancer - but not quite quickly enough in retrospect. I remember him being in the hospital, wanting to see my sister and I terribly; but then sending us out of the room because he didn't want us to see him in the condition he was in. I remember the day we got the call that he had passed. And although I knew it was coming, I was devastated just the same.

When my grandfather died, not only was it my first experience losing a family member - it was my first experience losing a best friend. And I never have - nor ever will - eat sunnyside up eggs again.

What does it take to say "thank you"...?

One of my girlfriends recently threw someone a birthday dinner. She went all out to make the night special....she decorated the house, made a dinner complete from appetizers to dessert; she really wanted to create a memorable night for them. And it was.... everyone had a wonderful time. Interesting thing though. The guest of honor never called the next day to say thank you. Actually, the next time they spoke - a few days later - it wasn't mentioned at all then either. My friend - being a very thoughtful, kind and warm person - was hurt by the fact that nothing was mentioned. No "hey - you know, I really had a great time the other night...". Nothing. How do you react to something like that? Do you give them the benefit of the doubt that they thought expressing fun at the moment in which it occured was good enough? Do you chalk it up to ignorance?

I'm very much a "thank you" person. I appreciate everything that a person does for me when they've got kind thoughts and obviously my best intentions in mind. Not only do I follow up with a thank you call (or email, which nowadays is appropriate in lieu of a phone call for this kind of positive feedback); but I send a thank you card. This is just how I am. Some may say that's going too far....I however, think that if someone is taking the time out to do something kind for me, than the very least I can do is write a short note and spend 32 cents on a stamp to send a token of my appreciation.

It wasn't necessarily ingrained in me as a child to do this; my mom always taught various niceties about kindness of course - but thank you note writing wasn't a "must". This is something that I've sort of learned along the way, as what my perspective of how I choose to be as a person in the big scheme of life is. To me, while sending a card might be construed as more than necessary to some - at least calling to let someone know that their thoughts and efforts were appreciated is something that should be a core part of who you are as a person. And I often wonder how some people manage to go through life trumping on other's feelings in such a manner without ever having it brought to their attention.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

Dinner with the girls...

Tonight, my girlfriends and I are going out for Mexican. I don't go out much on work nights because it's just too hard to get up in the morning now! So, unless it's the gym - I'm pretty much a homebody Monday through Friday.

Now I'm pretty much your average Corona with lime kind of girl... I'm not into Margaritas or anything like that. So, just for giggles - in honor of our fiesta tonight - I thought I'd take the "What kind of Mixed Drink Are You" test.

You Are an Appletini

Most of the time, you're a typical party girl / guy. But when you get super sauced, you really up your sex appeal.

What Mixed Drink Are You?

So, I guess I'm truly not a Margarita kind of girl! And to be honest, I'm not really into mixed drinks other than Martinis. Apple Martini's are so not my thing, but hey - how accurate can a blogthing truly be, right?

Adios Amigos/Amigas....Muchachas Manyana!

Caught up in a moment...

Isn't it amazing how hearing a song can bring you right back to another time and place? You hear the first few notes of something - and then suddenly, you are someplace else - reliving a memory. This happens to me all the time, but this morning's interlude was just what I needed.

I was driving to work, feeling a little cranky because I didn't sleep well last night - and wouldn't you know - traffic was out of control. There's a shock. So, I'm sitting on the highway and I'm sort of just dazing off into random thoughts, when the first notes of "Sweet Home Alabama" starts filling my truck. Suddenly, I'm back in 1988 - and it's the summer I graduated high school. Any type of "Freedom Rock" (turn it up dude!) brings me back to hanging out at my best friend's house with her brother - and my high school sweetheart. (Her brother and my boyfriend were best friends, so we were always together). I could see us there in the yard - I could smell the linguica cooking on the grill, and I could hear Lynard Skynard playing in the background. We had so much fun that summer. And in retrospect - their parents were amazing! There would always be at least 5 or 6 of us there, at any given time of day (some of the best cookouts were at 11pm!) and the food that would be cooked at any given time - I'm amazed they didn't go broke feeding us. Those were great times....the worries and needs of being 17 weren't much more than "who's hanging out with us tonight?" - and it was definitely a fun and happy place in my life.

As I said, there are many songs that bring me back to a place in time - but this was a good one for today. And I just thought I'd share it...

The Fruits of my Labor

So, I'm a girl who was born and raised in the city. We just recently moved to the 'burbs - in a relatively country type area. It's wonderful here...we have woods in our backyard, our neighbors have chickens and a rooster (who I love hearing in the morning, it really makes me feel like I'm on a farm!), and all sorts of wildlife around us - turkeys, fox, coyote - you get the picture.

So this summer I was determined to start a garden. I've never done it before, and having always had a black thumb (aka laziness) I've never been successful at keeping any type of plant alive, outside of my hanging petunia plants. So on Memorial Day weekend, I got up early and went to the nursery and bought all sorts of plants: tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, squash, and red peppers. I even bought herbs like basil, chives, sorrell and cilantro. I was going to be a gardener! My husband looked at the area I picked to start it and he was like "no way you'll get this all weeded and turned over...you're going to need a backhoe". That's all I needed to hear. Within 3 hours, I had my 3 x 5 foot area set and ready to go. (I got planters for my herbs, that was just for the veggies.) When he came home, he was like "you're a maniac! I can't believe you got that done". Oh yeah, a maniac I definitely was. And now - I'm addicted.

I just came in from picking what's probably going to be my last bunch of fresh veggies for the season. I have a bunch of tomatoes that are still waiting to ripen, but as far as new growth, I think I'm done for the year. Can I just tell you - I'm so proud of myself! This city girl done good...

Hmmm. I guess this would make me a little bit country....and a little bit rock 'n roll, right? :)

The Baby Watch is Over...

My girlfriend Jenn and myself :)

My niece has finally arrived! Annabelle Morgan made her appearance at 4am this morning - give or take a minute or two - 6lbs 6 0z.. I saw her a few hours ago, and of course - she's beautiful, if I do say so myself!

Speaking of babies....I've still got the babysitter blues. I've got some wonderful temps at the moment, but I'm really stressing over not having someone consistent with structure at home. My daughter is at such a critical age, it's very important to me that life at home is "normal" again when I'm not there. So - that being said, I thought I found a great permanent fit. A nice older woman, definitely a "Nana". When I interviewed her, she never mentioned certain financial demands she had (e.g. filling her 8 cylindar truck once a week, paid vacation in the area of 4 weeks, paid holidays, sick days, etc...) Um, might have been nice to mention. You know what? My boss doesn't fill my tank over and above my salary. And by the way - I'm not cheap in my paying of my caregivers. So. I almost died when I spoke with her today to offer her the position. If you're a contract employee - and being paid in such a manner (read between the lines here, CASH), thanks alot for trying to milk what boils down to an extra $4.00 an hour out of me (read again - CASH). The nerve. There's more to it than that, but I don't really feel like writing a bit longer than I'm actually writing at the moment. I'll revisit this again, I'm sure.

The wedding was a blast - love to all my girlfriends! And Jenn is the one who had the baby I wrote about in my earlier post. He's doing better and getting stronger every day, and it was awesome to have her out with us having fun.

Snap into a Slim Jim...

Everyone is different - some are sugar people; some are salt - some may be both. I am a total salt person. Forget the pastries and cakes; I'm not even that big of a fan of chocolate - I'm all about the salt, the food. Dessert for me is chips and a great onion dip, or tortilla chips and guacamole. If I go out on a limb and have something "sweet", it's got to be something with peanut butter in it (again, salt), or cheese based like a cheesecake. Keep the ice cream, cake, pies -- and save them for someone else. I'd rather eat a good steak for dinner and then possibly some pepperoncinis and hot sausage with a glass of wine for my after dinner treat.

What I find pretty interesting, is that I'm the only one in my family who is this way. My mom is a HUGE sweets person; (clarification: my mom is not huge - just her love for sweets!) same with my sister. My dad is probably both, because I know he absolutely has a sweet tooth, but he also over indulges in salt on occasion as well. Hmmm. Okay, a little genetics here - remember in science class when you'd make the "tic tac toe" board and say "Blue Eyed Male, Brown Eyed Female, Two Offspring..." and then determine by odds which color eyes the kids would have based upon the dominant gene? (I"m sure I've hacked the process in my translation - but you get the picture.) It appears that in my family I'm carrying the recessive salt gene. That's okay - I'm also the only one in the family with green eyes too.

Seems like I'm just the leader in the recessive gene pool in my family. Who da' thunk it? :)

So today, in lieu of birthday (and wedding cake), I'm looking forward to the Prime Rib Au Jus I selected as my dinner choice. It doesn't get much better than that!

Stating the Obvious....

You Are a Chick Rocker!

You're living proof that chicks can rock You're inspired by Joan Jett and the Donnas And when you rock, you rock hard (Plus, you get all the cute guy groupies you want!)

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

Today I traded in my SUV since my lease is up in 2 months; I was a little concerned because I've had it for 4 years and so there are a few dings here and there. Ok, I'll be honest - it's pretty banged up. Someone clipped my door, there's a minor crease on one side (very minor, barely mentionable - but I know it's there), and the bumper was repaired when some jerk broadsided me a few years back; the paint job never stayed well for some reason so it's peeling. So, I had been planning on putting it in the shop for repairs prior to turning it in, and really only went today for giggles. I definitely thought they'd give me a hard time about it. Fortunately - they thought it was in great shape! I'm thinking, "what the heck condition do people turn their cars/trucks in???" So, surprise - I've upgraded, kept my payment roughly the same - and I'm so looking forward to picking it up next week. Sort of an early birthday present to myself, if you will.

Speaking of which, tomorrow my girlfriend D is getting married, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate my big day than dressing up like a Diva, feeling fancy and dancing with the girls. Outside of a romantic rondevouz, it doesn't get much better than that! I'll post a pic or two of the fun.

I broke down and bought lottery tickets for some big, $320 million pot. I never gamble really (other than Blackjack!!!) but this week I bought both MegaBucks and The Big Game (I think that's what it's called) tickets. I did win $66 on the MegaBucks ticket, so who knows - maybe this is a good week for me.

If you never see me Blog again - well, then I guess you'll know why!!! :)

I'm reaching a milestone shortly....

Saturday is my birthday, and I'm going to be 35. I'm halfway to 40. I can't believe it. Not that it's a bad thing - and 40 totally isn't old, but I just can't believe that I am approaching that "Big 40". I'm almost potentially half way through my life. But I know that isn't really the truth, and I think that 40 is often where life is only beginning. Especially for women. I think women's bodies look better into their 40s and 5o's. Muscle maturity happens much later for women than men; and I think that old myth of "Men grow dignified, Women grow old" is changing. I think that we as a creature are looking better, staying in better shape - and maturing far more gracefully than most men. It's amazing because I swear, when I look in the mirror - I'm only 18! hahaha. Okay - maybe 25. But you get what I mean.

So, in honor of my upcoming birthday - which I will be celebrating at my girlfriend's wedding - here are a few tidbits about me and the day on which I was born. Enjoy!

My Zodiac: Virgo, but on the cusp of Libra - Because of their responsibility and attention to detail, those born on the Virgo/Libra cusp tend to be perfectionists. They may worry about small details, but this is often necessary when attempting to be as fair and diplomatic as possible. They are team workers, skilled at cooperative action, but they can also be self-doubting. Open-minded and always polite, they have a strong sense of loyalty because of their ability to put themselves into the shoes of others. Virgo/Libras love to debate but not to quarrel; a fine distinction that is nonetheless very important. They are kind and considerate, and they rarely display anger. Instead, they may employ subtle means of getting even when their strong sense of fairness and legality, or their refined sensitivities, are violated.

My Chinese Zodiac: The Dog - Honest , faithful and possessing deep loyalty and responsibility. Can be magnanimous and prosperous, yet also guarded and defensive, never really relaxed despite outer calm. She has a glib tongue, practical and realistic. The Dog is also trustworthy and generous to people and has a deep sens of justice..
This maybe the most likable sign of all in the Chinese cycle. A person born in the year of the Dog is honest, intelligent and straightforward. He has a deep sense of loyalty and a passion for justice and fair play. A dog native is usually animated and attractive and will exude sex appeal. Generally amiable and unpretentious, he will know how to get along with others as he is not too demanding. The egalitarian dog likes to meet others halfway, is always willing to listen to reason and can be counted on to do his share. For a friend, you must know that whenever you are in trouble, all you have to do is dial D-O-G. At times, the dog protects the interests of others more avidly than his own. The Dog often sticks to his object of affection no matter how unworthy the person is. You don't find a dog leaving home just because he discovers that his master has the proverbial feet of clay. He makes allowances for such frailties and will probably stick it out thick or thin.

World Events that Happened the Day I was Born:
1970 Jordan launches offensive against guerrilla army and Jordanian King Hussein moves against PLO guerrillas and WSWP TV channel 9 in Grandview, WV (PBS) begins broadcasting

Top 10 Songs:
1. Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel 2. (They Long To Be) Close To You, Carpenters 3. American Woman / No Sugar Tonight, The Guess Who 4. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head, B.J. Thomas 5. War, Edwin Starr 6. Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Diana Ross 7. I'll Be There, Jackson 5 8. Get Ready, Rare Earth 9. Let It Be, The Beatles 10. Band Of Gold, Freda Payne

I'd like to think of myself as a bottle of wine.... ready to drink now - but spectacular further on down the road. :)

A memory for a lifetime...

This post is something that all you expecting Moms will appreciate - especially if you know that you're having a boy.

I've always heard that the bond between a Mom and her Son is truly a special one; my son and I at this tender stage of his life, definitely have one. He's 4, and he's not shy at all about sharing his feelings about me. He'll announce in the middle of dinner, out of the blue - that I'm beautiful. Or he'll see me after taking a bath, in my comfy red robe and tell me that I "look like a princess". Two days ago, he must've heard my husband and I talking about some issues we had with some people, and we weren't naming names so that little ears wouldn't know who we were referring to. (We can't spell anymore - at 4, he knows how to spell everyone's names!) A few minutes after the conversation, he said "Mommy, if someone doesn't like you - or thinks you're not beautiful - you just ignore them, ok?" Great words of advice, aren't they?

So tonight, we were doing our usual bedtime routine of where Daddy tells him stories and I sing him songs, and he looks at me and says: "Mommy, someday when I get older, like - 6 or 7 - can you not be my Mom anymore, and be my girlfriend so I can marry you?". And I laughed and said "No T - I'm always going to be your Mom, and besides - 6 is far too young to get married!" And so he looks and says "how about when I'm 11? That's a really long time from now". And so I said "No honey, I'm sorry - I'm always going to be your Mommy, but that's okay - I know you really love me!" He follows that up with "Ok, but when I'm 20 I think I'm marrying you anyway".

The love between a mother and child is so precious and pure - if I could only capture it and keep it forever; however, chances are - I'll have to remind him of this conversation when he gets older, and forgets how much he loved me because I've grounded him for some reason befitting most teenagers. I'm a wealthy person though, because I'm a good mom, I've got wonderful children - and I gain new memories like this on a daily basis that I can keep close to my heart; for times when my children grow up and forget that "Mommy looks like a princess".....or is their "most favorite person in the world".

Can you say "Obsessive Compulsive"?

After watching the 9/11 special I referred to in my post from yesterday, I then watched "Breaking Bonaduce". Wow, is that a fast moving car wreck! And, he openly admits it - as a matter of fact, I believe that in the opening sequence, he describes himself by using an analogy that I use frequently: "Like a car wreck - you're horrified, but just can't stop watching!" This my friends, is being kind. However, it is true - I was riveted. I can't wait for the next episode, because he's going to go from being OCD about drinking - to being this juicehead w/ steroids. And believe me, from the previews - he gets pretty big rather quickly. I feel badly for him, there's definitely something wrong there. And yet, despite the roughness and craziness - I still think he looks hot sometimes. Do I need an intervention or what?!?! hahahha. Kidding. About the thinking he looks hot. Yes, this reality show has removed the delusions of grandeur I had while he was on "The Other Side", as mentioned in my previous post from last week.

I just interviewed a potential new sitter; she seems very nice. She's a special needs teacher, and she works with severely challenged children which speaks volumes about who she is as a person. Working with my kids should be a nice breath of fresh air - although she does truly seem to love her kids. She even takes some of them on weekends. So I definitely get a good feeling about her. She came with her husband (also a special needs teacher) and her 5 week old son. I'm pkay with her bringing her son, because the ages of my children and her son are so far apart - there's no competitiveness for attention. And - she knows how to work with more than one child at a time. We'll see... I'm also interviewing a "nana" type this week as well. This is so difficult to do. I wish I was independently wealthy and didn't have to work.... But until such time, this is the cross I have to bear for being a working mom, out of necessity - not choice.

A Dignified Rememberance...

I think it's so very important to watch the events of September 11th. It's far too easy to become complacent and forget the impact and horror of it all - especially in this particular time of trying to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. So, in light of this - I opted to avoid watching the atypical footage and watch the Discovery Channel's special about United Flight 93. I truly enjoyed this. It evoked emotions and showed the events of the day - but it provided insight and story background about this portion of the tragedy that has previously been not as highly recognized. To hear the details and backgrounds of the 33 passengers on board, and how through actual cell phone calls you can hear how they planned to overtake the terrorists was just amazing. Did you know that of those 33 people, there were about 8 of them that actually had the skillset to overtake and potentially land the plane, had they been successful? Two law enforcement officials, A Judo Master, an Emergency Management employee, and a retired Airline pilot? Then of course the few other gregarious and aggressive personality type men. They truly stood a chance had they gotten the "pilot" out of the seat. Amazing. Another interesting thing on their cell phone calls: They were eerily calm. No tears on the phone, very very smooth. For a split second, I was hoping they'd be successful - they tried to take control of their situation, and it seemed like they could possibly do it. And then of course, the second passed - and the reality of the day sinks in all over again.

Did you know that Todd Beamer's infamous quote of "Let's Roll" was because they boiled hot water and had it on one of the airline carts and they were rolling it down the aisle to barge into the cockpit to scald the terrorists so that they could weaken them and then kill them? Amazing.

Despite the reality of the ending, it was a dignified and beautiful story of human spirit and survival and a way to remember 9/11 in a manner that was less raw than the manner in which we watched it unfold. God Bless America - Never Forget.

Clearly.....a great night!

La Femme Nikitas!

So now I'm thoroughly exhausted. If you look at the time stamp on this, you'll see why. I just got through vacuuming/cleaning my house after our "Mimosas and Bloody Marys at Midnight" soiree at my house! What a great time....almost a perfect attendance - except for our girl Brooke - who had a business thing in NYC. Lots of laughs, TONS of food...always a good time with the girls! We missed you Miss Pink and Green - we were looking forward to meeting you!

AND....Ladies - I thought the rule on "Lawn junking" was that it was for the ones who didn't attend??? ;)
Loved my surprise as I was taking out the trash! Very cute... :) I even took a picture of it, that I'll post later. It almost looks pretty with all the little sunflowers you used. I hope it doesn't rain tonight, poor Henrietta Hippo might catch cold!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

My husband and I watched a movie last night...."Shall We Dance". Definitely not one of the better movies I've seen. Barely a rental. Jennifer Lopez' role in the movie was almost inconsequential - it was like they threw her in there, just to give her a role. And there was zero character development. However, that being said....can I just tell you? I adore Richard Gere. Young Richard Gere - I could do without. But since Pretty Woman, I've come to the realization that I would watch any movie - even one as poor as "Shall We Dance" just because he's in it. There's something about the softness of his tone and his demeanor that just makes me fall in love with him.

I'm not one of those girls that's really into alot of different actors. I'm very particular and only have very few "LOVES". Brad Pitt is by FAR my favorite (despite his fixation with his leading ladies that ruined his marriage. Wait - am I being judgemental? After all, it was only a few months ago that I was blaming Jenn for the breakup! I'm going to have to save that for a different post, after all - Brad/Jenn/Angelina are deserving of their own little rant! Aha...but, I've digressed!). And now that I'm thinking about it - he's probably the only other actor that I "love love love" not just as an actor - but as
my "make pretend boyfriend". (Other than Jason Varitek of the Sox, who's not an actor - but again - I digress....)

This is not to disqualify my "not so secret" adoration of some odd characters: Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus (the Achey-Breaky days, yes - I liked the mullet!) and Ralph Malph. Yes, Ralph Malph - I totally dig red heads. Not Carrot top, thank you very much. But I did sort of have a crush on (dare I say it), Danny Bonaduce when he was on that men's version of "The View". Now that I see he's got a new reality show coming up - he's looking a little rough. So, he's going to have to come off of my list.

Is my taste eclectic? Yes. Hinging on bizarre - sure. But with men like Brad Pitt and Richard Gere leading the way, where else can you go but down - right?

Jousting over tragedy....?

Okay. I'm going to keep my rant on this subject brief, because I don't want to use my blog for this purpose, however... here I go. It's quite disturbing to me how quickly the fingers are being pointed with regards to "fault" over Katrina's clean up/rescue efforts - or lack thereof. Like Bush, Love Bush, Hate Bush, or Despise Bush - the responsiblity ultimately lies in Lousiana's individual government and FEMA authorities. Whether the federal government responded in a timely manner is secondary; the local yokels "dropped the ball" on this, folks. Why do you think that their FEMA President resigned? Personally, I think alot of the burden lies square on the Governor of that state. So I truly wish that all the bipartisan name calling, hair pulling and BS would stop - and that we could all pull together for the sake of the victims. Because using a tragedy like this hurricane as a soapbox for potential party gain, especially in a non-election year - is so very dissapointing and discouraging. There, I've said it. And now, since I've sort of put my political foot out there, you may be wondering what my party is, where my loyalties lie. Well, I don't have one. I'm a registered Independent. I prefer to choose for the person I prefer, and their stances on the issues that are important to me; rather than being loyal to a party that I don't 100% agree with. Besides, there's no loyalty amongst thieves - and politicians my friends - are thieves!

On a much fluffier note: It's Tuesday, the week is almost over already! My girlfriends and I are getting together for a much needed and well deserved dinner on Friday. We get together once a month - and we rotate houses, and sort of do themes. Mine is this month, and I've chosen to do a Mimosas/Bloody Marys at Midnite theme. It's a brunch at twilight. It's going to be a ton of food, fun and laughs - which in light of all the devastation is well needed. Donations will be dropped off as well, for delivery to the Red Cross.

And, my last random thought for today is:
I hear ya clucking, big chicken!

Consider yourself warned.....

Me and my rose colored glasses are enjoying life!
Not my fault if you're not enjoying yours...

[adj] reflecting optimism; "a rosy future"; "looked at the world through rose-colored glasses"

Set adrift a memory bliss...

Love, love, love "memes". This one taken from Beccary - a fellow Rebecca! Not sure why I feel the need to share; could be the wine I drank tonight - could be the fact that it's rather superficial. But here we go...and it's a long one...

Layers of Me:
Layer One: On the Outside
Name: Rebecca - no need to reveal more
Nicknames: Becca, Bec
Birthday: September 17th, 1970
Eye colour: Green
Hair colour: Lt brown/Sandy Blonde
Righty or lefty: Righty
Religion: Agnoststic by choice
Sex: I'm just a girl...

Layer Two: In the Inside
Your heritage: American/Russian, Polish, Lativan & German
Who do you look like: My Auntie Paula
Your weakness: Cheese
Your fears: Not living up to the expectations others have of me
Your perfect pizza: Extra Cheese & Pepperoni
Goal you’d like to achieve: To provide the best, loving home I can to my family

Layer Three: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Your most over-used phrase on MSN: I don't use MSN
Your thoughts first waking up: "What time is it??"
Your best physical feature: Eyes
Your bedtime: 10pm = I'm up waaaay past my bed time!
Your most missed memory: Family get togethers

Layer Four: Your Pick
Pepsi or Coke: I don't drink tonic, but if I did - Pepsi.
McDonalds or Burger King: If I had to choose, it would be Mickey D's
Single or Group Dates: Hello! I'm married!
Adidas or Nike: Ummm. New Balance
Chocolate or Vanilla: Absolutely vanilla
Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee

Layer Five: Do You?
Smoke: On occasion
Curse: More than I should
Sing: After a couple of glasses of wine, I swear I'm Mariah Carey! But I'm not....
Think you’ve been in love: Yup
Want to get married: I am!
Believe in yourself: Yes
Motion sickness: Nope
Think you’re attractive: Sometimes
Think you’re a health freak: No, but I work out rather consistently
Get along with your parents: Sort of
Like thunderstorms: Love ‘em
Play an instrument: Same as singing

Layer Six: Have You Ever
Smoked: Yes
Done a drug: Yes
Gone to the mall: Yes, I'm not 12
Eaten an entire box of Oreos: No - but been tempted!
Eaten sushi: Love it
Been on stage: Yes
Gone skating: Yes
Gone skinny dipping: No!
Stolen anything: No!
Played a game that required removal of clothing: No!
Been caught ‘doing something’: Not yet.. thank god!
Been called a tease: No
Gotten beat up: Once, in 5th grade
Shoplifted: No!

Layer Seven: Getting Older
Age you hope to be married: Married at 29
Number and names of children: T-4, S-13 months
Describe your dream wedding: had it!
How do you want to die: At peace
What do you want to be when you grow up: A nana :)
What country would you most like to visit: France & Italy

Layer Eight: In the Numbers
Number of drugs taken illegally: One - Marijuana
Number of CDs that you own: Hundreds
Number of piercings:4 - two in each ear
Number of tattoos: None - but maybe one soon?
Number of times your name has appeared in the newspaper: 20+

Aaaahhh. The Weekend is here....

Can I just tell you how much I'm looking forward to this weekend?
No vacations - no packing, no unpacking. Just some R&R.

Today - G is taking T to Applecrest - the BEST place in the world for Pick Your Own! I wish I was going with them, but we'll go all together the weekend after next. (Next weekend we are slammed, Friday - Sunday). So, while they're picking peaches and apples today - I'll be visiting my sister for a bit; then going to get my fall decorations for the house! I took down my hanging petunias since they were mostly just greens now; and I'm so very much looking forward to decorating today. I'll probably have to wait on the corn stalks until maybe tomorrow or during the week. But I should get the bulk of it done today. And I've already been burning my pumpkin candles, so I'm loving the warm weather mixed with the autumn time of year. Reminds me of when I was a kid...

Tonight, my girlfriend Lynne is coming over for dinner; a little cooking on the grill and some laughs. I'm looking forward to that too! Sunday - I think we're heading over my girlfriend Brooke's house for some of the same; and then Monday, we'll be over my Mother In-Law's.

I've been intentionally avoiding watching the aftermath of Kristina; but I gave in and was riveted all of last night. I've been reading about it, but just trying not to watch it too much. We donated $200, and I've packed a box of my clothes - as well as taking some clothes of T's that have been packed away for a few years (1-3 yrs. sized clothing) and sending them down as well. There's so many children who need it. If we hadn't sold Timson Street - G and I were saying we'd donate an apartment. If Mantown was a little bigger - we'd consider taking a small family in - but it's just not big enough unfortunately. And how can you offer to only a couple - it's the children who need it more. So unfortunately, we're not in a position to do that. But we're doing what we can...

Which reminds me - I wonder if the MDA Telethon is being "bumped" in lieu of the hurricane?

I'm off to the shower...have a wonderful day!