Slacker slacker, bo-backer

banana-fanana fo-facker

Me-my mo-macker

SLACKER!

....just had to put that out there. Now for some completely random thoughts.

- Identical twins that dress alike, how do they decided what to wear in the morning? Do they take turns? Can't you just imagine them have a knock-down, drag-out fight over which matching shirt to wear? Getting dressed must take longer then it does for the rest of us.

-It's December on the east coast, I am wearing short sleeve and am not cold. Somethings wrong with that.

- I had my camera 5 minutes ago and now I can't find it. How did I lose a red camera?

- Last night I found a website listing 1970's slang. It was hysterical! I found several terms I still use and a few I think I will reintroduce into my vernacular. Awe sooky sooky!

- I come up with much more interesting posts when I'm not near my computer. :-(

- I found my camera!

Halloween Update

Well, my Trick-or-Treater count is not as accurate this year as previous years due to some over-zealous candy-giver-outers I had helping me.

Alright......they were only 4 yrs and 22 months, cute as can be and so excited to hand out candy to others. One was my son, the other was my Goddaughter. My Goddaughter would lean out the door waving lollipops and try to yell "free candy", (as I taught her) to the best of her ability. They tossed hand fulls of candy to the kids they really liked. And my son did us proud by, without prompting from us, razzing this teenager who came up with a costume that could barely be a costume. "Hey!" says my 4-year-old to the 14-year-old real serious like. "Where's yer costume?!" as he holds pack the piece of candy he was going to initially give him. LOL!! He is well trained for Halloween in our little village.

Oh, so our total.....rough estimate was 700-800 trick-or-treaters. A neighbor who give out glow-sticks and such had a count of 763. That is down by several hundred from last year but considering it was on and off rain with on being a down pour, 700 hundred is damn impressive. I still have left over candy though. :-(

Randomness to keep the blog going...

How come on a man, undies peaking out of the top of a nice pair of jeans is kind of sexy but on a girl, totally skanky?

I am catching up on some back episodes of Glee. I was in choir all through school. Granted I had not solo potential and even our high school a'capella choir was no where near as cool as the Glee group I still loved. I totally miss singing in a choir. That is why I constantly torture my child and husband by singing along to anything I know the words too.

I'm really tired of Jon Bon Jovi. I know, I know, I am a Jersey girl and saying that is as sacrilegious as saying I'm not a huge Boss fan but its the truth! I enjoyed his comeback a few years ago with It's My Life but shortly after that he surpassed cool and became over played and pompous. And speaking over-play, I am SO sick of that Taylor Swift song about ditch the popular girl for me. [rolling eyes] Every station, every day it is played!!

I love Halloween but am horrible with costume follow through.
Halloween reminds me, have I told you the few who follow my currently rather lifeless blog about our town. Its crazy busy at Halloween. Very small town but for some reason people flock here to trick or treat. Hundreds!! no, I am not kidding. I buy several of those large 100+ piece candy bags they sell at BJs Wholesaler. So be on the look out for my post-Halloween blog with this year's number. Its going to be a Saturday so we are expecting a lot more then last year!

I've been waiting to post about the Vegas trip in the hopes of getting a particular photo from our friends. No such luck. Oh well. Any way. Vegas was great!! It was strangely relaxing. Our friends had been there before so I was totally cool with being blindly lead by them for the weekend. Look, Vegas was even happy to see us!

We ended up upgrading to a two-bedroom suite which was AWESOME and worked real well with this set of friends. I don't know if we'd be able to do it with any other friends. Our view was not of the strip but it didn't really matter considering how many windows we had in our suite! I just like saying "our suite". We were all stoked to score this suite and at a ridiculously cheap rate!!

Flying went well enough. Xanex worked well on the way out but sadly on the way back there were multiple issues working against the Xanex......limited sleep, 7 am flight, empty stomach and the utterly disappointing breakfast on the plane. All I need was a bagel with something on it, preferably cream cheese. Thought for sure they'd serve one of those lousy pre-cream-cheesed bagels. Did they? Noooo....a teeny bowl of cereal and a sugary muffin. I so did not need the sugary muffin and the cereal was far from enough. Plus the hubby pissed me off but I'm not going to go into that since I am over it, explained his error to him when we returned home, gave him the cold shoulder for two days until he really understood and apologized further. [shrug]

I missed my child immensely but really need the break. It was a surprisingly relaxing trip. Did I say that already? No wild drunkin night as one would expect from a Vegas trip. Next time!

Vegas here we come....

In a few days the hubby and I, along with another couple we are friends with, are taking a much needed adults-only weekend away! And its not to go to some one's wedding, it is strictly a vacation!! Where are we off to, you ask.....Las Vegas!! Yay!!! Hubby & I have never been so we are quite excited. Our friends have been which is great so we've got someone to sort of show us around. The downfall to all of this. I REALLY don't care for flying. And I REALLY don't care for flying while leaving my son for the weekend. We've gone away without him before but never so far! I'm so freaked out that I actually went to the doctor today to ask for a little somethin'-somethin' to help with the possible and probable anxiety that will creep up or crash down on me while awaiting our flight. And of course it is a long flight. I am thankful that it is a direct flight but ugg.....trapped. I'm generally ok with reading and watching a movie....keeping busy but just thinking about it was started to freak me out. So, off I go in a little bit to pick up my script for Xanex. Hurrah! Hope it will help. Never used it before.

Facebook Dilemma

Recently my mother-in-law recently mentioned how her daughter is nagging her to get on to Facebook.
*gasp!*
I tentatively asked her what she thought of that and she said she is not real sure she wants too. Her daughter taunted her with the family gossip that she missed out on by not being on Facebook, family gossip that I was going to inform her of then next time we spoke or the person in question was mentioned. The concept of my MIL on my friends list sent me into a bit of a panic. I love my MIL, really I do, and it is not an issue with her specifically but rather with parental figures in general on my Friends list. I, aaaaa, don't think I want them on there.
I have cousins on there and both of my sisters-in-law though I did hesitate with those Friend Requests. And I've told my parents the joys and fun I have on Facebook, not the full details of my sometimes odd status updates and snarky comments on friends status but rather the general gist of how fun it can be at times. But I had not considered the concept of them actually being on my Friend list until my MIL mentioned. To have parental units know every stupid thing you say or do on there?! To have to remember they are on your Friends list before posting a link to Trashy Tramp Stamp tattoos? (ok, it was the hubby who did that but still....)
Thankfully MIL didn't seem real enthused or convinced that this was something she wanted to do. But last night I had a voicemail from my mom. She and dad are on vacation visiting some friends they've known long before I came along. Mom's message had a hint of wine and good times in it and said she and friend couldn't find me on Facebook. How come?
shit
Friends daughter is on my Friends list (another Request I hesitated on) but I really don't need mom's friend on my list. Craaaaaap How the heck do I tell them I don't want a friend-of-parents on my Friends list? Damn it! I really don't want to do the two profile thing!

Hairy Situation

You are not going to believe what I found on my face!! Two long, dark chin hairs!!
What am I a witch?! Its not even Halloween yet!
Don't get me wrong, I know we all have fine, practically invisible hairs on our face but these were long and dark! And I noticed them while scratching my chin and then I could stop playing with them until I was able to pluck them!
Really?!?!
Am I actually at the chin-hair-plucking age?!
What has my world come to?!
My head says I am not that old!
Damn it!!

A Hair Cranky

Stupid, freakin' hair! [pout]
Why can't I master the whole blow-out thing!! Its getting chilly out now so I can't be walking around with wet hair like I usually do (mainly because I am lazy, impatient and a complete moron when it comes to figuring out styling techniques.) so I attempted to dry my hair straight today. *sigh* I swear I look like Lucy VanPelt now!


The puffy poke-outs by the ear is what makes the hair-do.
Granted my hair isn't black but I am actually thinking about dying it black. Bought the dye and everything. Having second thoughts now....I don't want it to have that ashy undertone that one often sees in black hair nor do I want everyone else to think I look like Lucy.

Got to start somewhere

*sigh* So much for trying to blog on a regular basis. I have to start again somewhere so what better place then with a survey! Thanks, H. You know how I love survey/questionnaire things!!

1. The phone rings. Who will it to be? my mom or my neighbor
2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? depends how near-by it is and if my son is with me
3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? depends on my mood and how comfortable I am with the crowd
?4. Do you take compliments well? relatively well, I guess
5. Do you play Sudoku? rarely
6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive? I'm really not sure. Person before me said you are supposed to stay where you are so Search & Rescue can find you but I don't know if I could stay put that long. What if they don't know to look for me?!
7. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Yes
8. What was your favorite game as a kid? I liked to play cards with my Gram
9.. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew they were married, would you? No way
10. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? I don't know. Its never been an issue
11. Do you like to pursue or be pursued? be pursued
12. Use three words to describe yourself? Laidback, grounded and sarcastic
13. Do any songs make you cry? A rare few
14. Are you continuing your education? sometimes I think about it.
15. Do you know how to shoot a gun? Yes
16. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth? Yup yup....vacationed in the Jersey Shore so it is manditory there.
17. How often do you read books? As often as I can but sadly not every day.
18. Do you think more about the past, present or future? some things in the past won't go away, the present is fun and I have a little boy so I always have to stay a few steps ahead of him.
19. What is your favorite children’s book? The Brownie's Hush
20.What color are your eyes? Brown
21. How tall are you? 5'7"
22. Where is your dream house located? A small coastal town where locals know each other and I can walk to main street to find mom & pop shops.
23. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed? my kid
24. When was the last time you were at Olive Garden? the Olive Garden? What, are they sponsoring this questionaire? Its been several months but I have a feeling I will be visiting one again in a few more months.
25. Where was the furthest place you traveled today? from my bedroom to the kitchen.
26. Do you like mustard? on certain things

Gees-Louise

Man have I been neglectful of my blog. I suppose that is what happens with blogs. I didn't want it to but I don't always have the time to devote to it I guess, or the energy some days. I've probably lost all my reads :-( the four I had. ha ha. Anyway....pity party over.

Nothing major going on, just wanted to put up a new post to say I'm still here! I'll come back, promise!

Can anyone tell me why the stuff that is supposed to appear on the side of my blog is now piled at that bottom? I've changed the background and that didn't seem to make a difference.

Today is the memorial service for my Uncle. Since he lived several states away, and there was a service for him in there we've had to wait over a week to have our memorial service for him. Today his ashes are being buried next to his parents.





I've been thinking about my Uncle alot over the past week. He was an average guy. He was on his second marriage; the first ending when I was a kid and it was aparently was not a great one. His first wife was manipulative and it ended harshly. And because of that my Uncle and his son did not see each other or speak for a very long time. My uncle was not by any means an attentive Uncle. He was living his life and though family & friends were important to him he was not a kid kind of guy, so I always assumed.





He moved away when I was perhaps in 5th grade so I was not particularly close to him but I still charished him because at that time (why "at that time" is a long story for another time) he was my only Uncle and that was important to me. We rarely saw him once he moved. He was living his life in the south and that is where he was happy. He'd say he was going to visit but never would. In recent years though, he found his second wife, reconciled with his son and started to come visit at least once a year. And this is the part I have really been thinking about, my time with him.





Though my time with him was limited I felt extremely comfortable with him. Perhaps comfortable is not the right world because we are supposed to feel comfortable around our family. I felt.....real, honest, me. I really felt like I could be myself, the self that has seemed to have taken a backseat over the past few years. The self that is honest and blunt but funny, grounded and realistic but caring despite the bluntness. I'm not sure what it was about my Uncle that made me able to be that way. Maybe because that is part of who he was too, blunt and honest but yet funny and caring. I felt like he got it, when I was blunt with him he knew how to laugh at it and yet know I meant well but just didn't know the pretty way to say things.





I'm not sure if I am explaining all of this right. All I know is that I could be the self that I respected and missed when I was with my Uncle and he got it and appreciated it. I will truly miss my Uncle.

Love you, Uncle J

Uncle J

I've been going through my Gram's old pictures to find some of my uncle for his memorial service this weekend. I love looking through old pictures. Thought this one of my uncle was so cute.


Obviously not a current picture.

Random update.

Blah. Lousy week. Glad it is over.
Yet again I let myself get ropped into helping with VBS (vacation bible school) at my mom's church. That was a disaster. I think most of the kids had fun but I've about had it with the woman who runs it! We had a major throw-down midweek and I let her have it. Micro-managing martar. Ugg! I swore off doing it again. Probably. On the upside, I think I made a new friend. We went out for drinks after VBS was over to gribe and had a good time hanging out. She even paid for my drinks saying that we had to do it again because she had very few friends and had fun with me. The tool that I am clapped with excitement and said
"awesome! I don't have very many friends too! I'm in dire need of someone to call on the I-need-out-of-the-house-nights!"
Glad I'm not in the dating circuit anymore, I'd probably totally scare boys off with honest reactions like that!

And in the middle of the VBS debacle my Uncle died. He'd found out only the week before that he had pancreatic cancer. Sigh. Pout. I have more on my uncle dying but I think I'm going to wait until I can scan in an old picture or two. The upside, and this is totally horrible, I think his funeral service will be this weekend which is when we were supposed to go visit my SIL & her family. Hee hee.....totally happy to put off going to see them! And it sort of humors me because I think my Uncle, had he met my SIL and heard of her freakish hormonal outbursts would be happy to provide and alibi for reason why I could not visit her.

I don't feel like going into the whole SIL issue but in short, she freaked out on me last week because hubby (her bro) & I had not locked down a date to come visit her & her family. I mean made a huge deal about it. We had no idea it was such a major deal to her we come visit. I know, sounds like nothing when I put it this way but believe me it was a hormonal outburst. My main gripe is when you're in a shitty-hormonal mood, don't call me looking for a fight! Anyway, get to put that visit off for another week or so...yay!

Another upside to the week, we had a town yard sale this weekend and though it got rained out today, we did sell $80 worth of stuff yesterday! Granted its not a huge profit, we were just selling random crap but its a profit we can add to our flat screen TV fund or something.

Daffodil Recovery

Several weeks ago, I dug up a whole slew of daffodil bulbs that my Grandmother had planted. There had to be at least 50 bulbs if separated which I did not get around to doing. Instead I put the clumps of bulbs along with some dirt in one of those 5-gallon pales that men always seem to have stashed away. My plan was to separate the clumps of bulbs and them plant them around the yard, once we'd prepped the garden beds. We are rather slow on projects so we only got one bed done and a few bulbs planted. The rest still sit in the pale. I figured they'll covered in dirt just like when planted so they'd be safe.

Well, then it rained and rain water filled my bucket. Several times. I kept asking my husband to empty the bucket so as not to drown the poor bulbs. I assume that is a possibility. Today i finally got around to starting to rescue my vintage bulbs. My son and I started sifting through the buck 'o stinking mud to pull out the bulbs. This is brings me to another issue......What is the deal with that?! Why does our wet dirt smell like manure?!

Anyway, we pulled out maybe half the bulbs before my son got too hot and I got tired of the smell. Now some of them are drying their muddy selves in the sun.

Gardener Friends - this is the right thing to do......right?

Ta-Da!

It was my son's birthday this week and so last Saturday we had a birthday party for him. He turned 4 so we invited some family and some of the kids from town that are his age over for a birthday picnic. Prior to the party I asked him what kind of birthday dessert he would like and he said
"cake! strawbewwy and chocolate."
"Ummm, ok" I said since I'm not much of a baker not to mention my oven is sort of flakey about keeping temperature so when I have attempted baking the loap of banana bread looks done and tasty on the outside but when flipped to remove from the pan its raw! So sure.....I'll try to bake an actual cake.

Low and behold I found a fabulous recipe on All Recipes called One Bowl Chocolate-Strawberry Cake. Perfect! I decided to make it the night before just in case it doesn't go well I could still make an emergency run to the grocery store in the am. Well Friday night comes, the cake is halfway through the baking process when guess what happens......
Freak storm!
Electrical Transformer down the road explodes.
Power goes out.
Shit!!! - Yes, I have an electric oven.
I kept my wits about me and decided to leave the cake in the oven. It would stay hot, right? And it only need to cook for another 15 minutes.

I let it "cook" a little longer and risk taking it out. It actually looked and smelled delicious!! Oh thank God! Perhaps i should start turning the oven off halfway through all my baking ventures.

The cake came out great. My son loved it, as did everyone else. So this is me tooting my little "I baked my son's birthday cake" horn. And my son was thrilled it was the exact kind of cake he asked for. Awesome!

Aaaaa....vacation......

*sigh*
We are back from vacation. Last week my hubby, son and I went to Ocean City, MD for vacation. I brought my laptop with the intent of sitting on our deck over looking the pier blogging about vacation but you know what, I didn’t want to! I never even took my laptop out of its bag! Ok, the hubby took his out but I only went on it 2-3 times during the week to check email. And what is even more surprising, I didn’t miss it. I didn’t have the shakes with the need to check email, Facebook, Goodreads……It was like shedding a responsibility that wasn’t a daily necessity. Perhaps it was even a lesson in restraint reminding me those things are not what keep me a float. Yes, I will still check them and be active with them on a regular basis but now I know I can cope if I don’t check in several times every day.

Any way, the vacation. We had a nice time. It was the first time our son’s been to the beach. I can’t believe he is almost 4 and we had not yet taken him to the beach! Shame on us! He had a blast. The time we spent on the beach he spent it on the surfs edge playing in the wet sand and water. He also spent some time in the waves hanging on daddy, shovel and all! And any time we were not on the beach we were either on the boardwalk or eating anything with blue crab in it. Love blue crab! Love the divey little crab shacks with brown paper on the table and the smell of seafood and old-bay-type spices in the air.



>

The condo we rented was great!! We like staying on the bay when we go to the shore. This was our first time in OC, MD but we lucked out with a great rental. Here is the view from our dock.


We even had a deck with sliding door in the master bedroom. We fell asleep each night listening to the movement of the bay. It was great! Oh, and we even did some crabbing off our dock! My little crabber caught about 10 mud crabs, totally uneatable, 5 blue claw crab (3 were an ok size but were caught on the last night), one hermit crab and one star fish!


Escapey!!


Two Blue Claws & a Starfish in one pot!

*sigh* Why?

Do I really care about the status of Jon & Kate Gosslin’s marriage?
NO

Do I watch their show, Jon & Kate + 8, religiously?
God, NO!

Have I watched it from time to time?
Yes.

Have I been sucking up all the gossip and building headlines on regarding the drama in their lives?
Shamefully, [rolling eyes admittedly] Yes

Did I DVR tonight’s special episode to see the "big announcement"?
[stopping foot defiantly] NO!

Am I checking all the gossipy web sites to see if they’ve posted the announcement immediately following the airing of the show? We all know its a divorce.
[dropping head and whispering] yes.

I must apologize for neglecting my blog so. I am sorry. I've been a little bit busy and a little bit lazy about doing it. [slapping own wrist] Shame on me!

This past weekend my parents too my son (3 yrs old) to the zoo. They thought it would be so fun but as it turned out my son seemed unphased by it. He has been to a zoo before, just not this one. Oh well. He still had fun. And as usual he was pretty tight-lipped and forgetful when my husband and I tried to grill him about what he saw at the zoo. We figured we'd have to patiently wait for little tidbits and stories to slip out of him when we were least expecting them. That's how it usually works with him.

Today my son and I were at our local park and he suddenly starts telling me about the python he saw at the zoo. [shutter] I hate snakes. Yuk! He thought it was cool so I listened while he talked about it. A little later we were playing in the backyard and what does he see......a "python". Figures. Now I did not see the snake but I know there are some around, though I like to pretend there are not. And I am no snake expert but I know the difference between a "harmless" [rolling my eyes, a snake is a snake!] gardner snake and a big freakin' python. [shutter] I think what he saw was the former. Thank Gaauuud! But he proceeded to tell me how it slithered from his picnic table to the "basement" of his playset. [shutter] Not only is he convinced it was a python [shutter] but now he wants to play Python Killer and hunt the snake. Blah! It was only two weeks ago when a snake surprised him and he decided he was scared of them! What happened to that kid?! I think I'd rather have him scared of them and doing his best to stay away rather then be intrigued and hunting them! Uggg! Boys! [shutter]

Toxic Personalities

I’ve been reevaluating friendships over the past few years. Thinning the herd as I have come to call it, getting rid of the people who despite my calling them “friend” seem to make me miserable, people I am annoyed with more then happy with, people who cause me to be someone I am not. I found this article, 8 Toxic Personalities to Avoid that goes with what I have been experiencing. I found it so true that I thought I would share it since I know some of you out there have thinned your herds as well. And yes, I did see it on Yahoo so you may have all seen it already.

I can only hope that I am not one of these personalities to someone I currently call friend.


8 Toxic Personalities to Avoid
By Brett Blumenthal – Sheer Balance

Although we like to think that the people in our lives are well-adjusted, happy, healthy minded individuals, we sometimes realize that it just isn't so. Personally, I've had moments where I'll be skipping through my day, happy as can be, thinking life is grand and BAM, I'll be blindsided by someone who manages to knock the happy wind out of my sails. Sometimes it is easy to write it off and other times, not so much.
Maybe you are a positive person, but when you are around a certain individual, you feel negative. Or, maybe you have an idealistic view of the world and when you are with certain people, you are made to feel silly, unrealistic or delusional. Or, maybe you pride yourself in being completely independent and in control of your life, but when you are around a certain family member, you regress into a state of childhood.
Some of these situations, and yes, these people, can have a tremendously negative impact on our lives. And, although we are all human and have our 'issues,' some 'issues' are quite frankly, toxic. They are toxic to our happiness. They are toxic to our mental outlook. They are toxic to our self-esteem. And they are toxic to our lives. They can suck the life out of us and even shorten our lifespan.
Here are the worst of the toxic personalities out there and how to spot them:
1. Manipulative Mary: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.
Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.
2. Narcissistic Nancy: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulative Marys of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their needs met. You often want to say to them "It isn't always about you."
Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust. You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself.
3. Debbie Downers: These people can't appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will tell you about the impending dreary forecast. If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they'll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be.
Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself.
4. Judgmental Jims: When you see things as cute and quirky, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people's unique perspectives refreshing, they find them 'wrong'. If you like someone's eclectic taste, they find it 'disturbing' or 'bad'.
Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Debbie Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is sooo over. If the world was a homogeneous place, life would be pretty boring. Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well.
5. Dream Killing Keiths: Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can't do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible.
Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars.
6. Insincere Illissas: You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a 'there, there' type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response.
Why they are toxic: People who aren't sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won't be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself.
7. Disrespectful Dannys: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who puts their busy-body nose into your affairs when it is none of their business. Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you.
Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don't respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected.
8. Never Enough Nellies: You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves.
Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.

All of these personalities have several things in common. 1) the more these people get away with their behavior, the more they will continue. 2) Unfortunately, most of these people don't see that what they do is wrong and as a result, talking to them about it will fall on deaf ears, leaving you wondering if you are the crazy one. 3) Most of these people get worse with age, making their impact on you stronger with time. Frankly, life is too short to spend your time dealing with toxicity. If you can, avoid spending mucho time with people who are indicative of these behaviors and you'll feel a lot happier.

Memorial Day

I'm getting up on my soapbox so get ready, I'm up early today so my ability to think and convey that through type may come out a little scattered or foggy.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

That means honor thy veterans, people!

The past two years I have gone shopping to get my son a patriotic shirt for Memorial Day. Our wonderful little town does a parade that goes right past our house. But as I shop for a red, white & blue shirt with a flag or a patriotic slogan all I find in the boys department are r,w&b shirts with generic sports symbols on them! WHAT THE HELL?!??

Retailers: Memorial Day isn't like the Olympics!!! It is not about sports you, morons!!! It is a day to remember those who have died for our country and honor and thank those who have survived. And say a prayer for those who are still out there fighting!!! Get a freakin' clue!!! Drop the sports crap and make some real patriotic stuff!!!

Yes, Memorial Day has become the "start of the summer season" in a lot of shore towns and yes a lot of us have picnics. Even we host an annual picnic but we all have to stop and remember what this day is really about.

Hang a new flag outside your house.

Thank a veteran

Go to a Memorial Day Parade and applaud and cheer

Make a donation to a veteran or active service member organization

Say a prayer for a solider.

Honor the brave who have fought or are still fighting for our freedom.

"We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led

It seems to signal the skies

That blood of heroes never dies."

- by Moina Michael

Memorial Day Tribute - A salute to the men and woman who have fought for our country.

A video from the History Channel website (forgive the advertisement in the beginning)

Lordy, lordy, lordy

My son goes to a Christian pre-school which we are very happy with although....
The God questions have started!
My husband and I are not overly religious people. Its just not who we are right now but we do want our son to have the basic religious education/understanding so we like his pre-school, we read the religion-based children's books my overly religious brother & wife send and encourage saying grace when my son expresses an interest (we don't say it in our house but my in-laws do, some friends and apparently they say it before snack at school). But the questions are freaking me out! He is only 3 and he's got some dousies already!

The other day, while in the middle of playing my son asks,
"Mommy, did God make toys?"
Ok, I thought, this one is pretty easy and me being logical minded I could handle it.
"Well, no, honey. Technically people make toys but God makes people."
He ponders this by muttering to himself:
"People make toys, God makes people......who made God?"

I freeze. Shit! Is my first though. He didn't direct the question towards me, he was still muttering so perhaps he won't ask. Please don't ask me. Please don't ask me.
Thankfully he did not actually ask me. Pphew. Tough question successfully avoid. One point for mommy.

Then yesterday...he and I were not feeling well so we were cuddled on the chair. My husband was about to head out to run some errands when out of nowhere our little thinker asks:
"Why did God make us?"
My husband and I both freeze and exchanged panicked-wide-eyed glances.
Fuuuuuck! How do we answer that? Can we call someone for an answer? is the silently exchanged conversation. Then my oh so brave hubby says, "Well, I gotta go. Don't worry, I shout him a mean and yet panicked Wuss!! don't leave me! You're the catholic! look at him and he stayed. We tried the psychiatrist approach...
"Why do YOU think God made us?
And the little stinker didn't take the bait! Damn it! He just said he didn't know and waited for us to tell him why!
My husband tried the overly complex answer, Well, God made mommy to keep daddy company and he made daddy to keep mommy company and he made you to keep us both company."
Yeah, even I was confused by that. I on the other hand went for something basic,
"Ummm, well honey, God made us.....ummm.....so we could all be together"
"Oh. Otay." conversation over.

Pppphhhew! Thank G.....wait a minute.....

No, I'm not crying!

I'm not a crier. I can cry. I do cry, occasionally. Movies and sad things and highly menstrual days make me cry but not not stupid little things. Perhaps it is better to say that I am not a public crier. I will not cry at the movie theater. You've all read the post about how I am at funerals. Don't like people to see the crack in my composer I guess. It's just who I am. Prideful I suppose. And this isn't about crying in public but more so the stupid little things.

Yesterday I picked my son up from preschool and he burst out of the room saying "Happy Muffer's Day, mommy!" and handed me a poem with his hand print and a small gift. He didn't mention opening it so I thought I'd wait till Sunday. That's big for me.....letting a gift wait. Real hard.

Today my cute little fellow shine through as my son and demanded I open the gift! Yay! The gift is a cute pin made from a puzzle piece, painted gold with little bedazzle jewels glued on it. I don't wear pins. Not my thing. And I know that he didn't do this by himself, the teaches tell them what to make and then help/do most of the work but, for the love of Pete, I practically started crying. Its the first gift my little guy has made for me and he was so excited to give it to me. I showed my mom when she came by and I started getting teary-eyed.

Apology update

Thank you, everyone for giving me your thoughts on this dilema. They really did help! Thankfully I did get a better apology the next day, perhaps not has bleeding-heart as one would hope for but it was better then what is normally given and I will take that.

I'm sorry but.....

Apologies. How do we accept them if they don't feel right? Do we accept them?

I need some insight here, ladies. What do you do when you really need an apology from someone someone who let you down and has been told that and they finally give it but you do not get the warm fuzzies from it? It feels like its followed by a "but......". It doesn't feel like its from the heart; doesn't feel like they feel bad for what they did.

How do you accept an apology you really want but falls short of what you need?

Fill In Friday

Not only did I remember to do Fill-in Fridays, I'm doing it the night before!

1. The first rule of working in an office and getting along is keeping your head down.
2. Steamed clams.
3. When I think of carnivals I think of tents and food row.
4. Lilacs my favorite spring flower.
5. Things on my desk include my laptop and mouse and technically, its just a lapdesk.
6. Not taking responsibility for your actions makes me wanna shove someone.

I am very excited! My wisteria has begun to bloom again! It was running rampant against the house when we bought it so I had it chopped down with the intention of moving it and training it to climb something else. And of course I have not got around to moving it yet. But since cutting it, it continued to grow and show leaves but the flowers never bloomed. This is the first time in 3 years that it is blooming!

My Gram C planted the wisteria and loved. She told me she always got compliments about how beautiful it looked. So I very much want to keep it and keep it in view. Gram passed away this past December. I think this is her showing her presence around me.

Yay Spring!

I do believe spring is upon us. The flowers are in bloom.

Our sandbox has fresh sand and is open for diggers.

I made my son his very first pair of cut-off jean shorts. love those!

And I do believe we have dwellers in our blue bird house.

Sorry, the little buggers took off as soon as I took out my camera so no birdies in the pictures. They're not blue birds either. My mom thinks they are chickadees. I didn't know that was an actual breed!

Blooms

We've had a couple of gorgeous, actual spring-like days this weekend. While outside I decided to take some pictures of the lovely flowers that are in my yard. I planted none of them. They are all flowers or plants that my Gram planted when it was her yard.

Daffodils gallour

English Ivy, I think, with little purple flowers. Beautiful but I worry snakes like to hide in there.

Can anyone tell me what this is? Its rather large bush (?) in the back of our yard. We'd thought about pulling it out until we saw it bloom. Today is the first day I've seen flowers on it this season.

Quit smiling so much!

I went to a viewing the other night. Hold the condolences, it was not for someone I really knew. With out dragging you through my whole family tree, it was my mom's cousin's wife's mother. Everyone called her Omi. My only memory of her, and her now deceased husband Opi, is from when I was about 8. We were at a birthday party for my Great Uncle (Omi was his daughter-in-law's mom - am I confusing you yet?). The party was at a local VFW and for whatever reason I was hanging out at the VFW's bar. Ok, alright, I was behind the bar helping myself to the soda. While back there Omi & Opi came over and asked for drinks in that fun grandparent-sort of way. They taught me how to make a screw driver! Seriously! I must have done well because Opi kept coming back. I swear for the rest of the party I was the bar tender. Real funny memory for me.

Anyway, Omi is not really the point of my post. Funerals, specifically viewings is the point of this post. I've been to more then I can count. It is sad but to be honest I don't mind going. I think they are important, a way to show our respect for the deceased and our love and compassion for those left to mourn. Its not to say I enjoy going, I don't but they are easy for me; it feels appropriate and the right thing to do. They don't stress me out like they probably do most. But here is my...........problem? Weird quirk causing me to post?

I think I smile too much at viewings. I don't cry easily, or at least not when perhaps one should. Ask me to flash a smile for a photo and it feels forced and awkward. Put me at a viewing and I smile real easily. I can't seem to do a sympathetic smile. My natural reaction at viewing is a nice bright smile. I think I feel like people have had enough sympathetic and would rather see someone who is not looking sorry for them. Does that make sense?


Am I freaky? Is this wrong? Should I be trying to look like I am pitying the people left behind?

Bald Eagles

Hi, all. I wantd to share something neat with everyone. A pair of Bald Eagles have nested and reproduced in an area preserve. The birds have already hatched (April 4th) but are still in the nest. The preserve, Duke Farms, was able to place a camera in the area of the nest. Below is the link. It is a live feed so if it is evening (ET) you probably will not be able to see much. Sorry I didn't think to post this before the eggs hatch.

"Duke Farms Bald Eagle Nest"

Here is a picture a picture from when the first egg hatched:

Fill In Friday (post #2 of the day!)

Woo-hoo! Two posts in one day! Look at me go!! Had to do this week's Fill-in-Friday late, of course.

1. Anonymous...screw you.
2. Friendship is a slippery slope at times.
3. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, looking so greasy.
4. The colors and wonderous smells are what I look forward to most about Spring.
5. Who needs therapy when I can rant on the internet.
6. Peep bunnies MUST go into the Easter Basket!

Little Slice of Home

I’m volunteering at our tiny “reading station” library. I love this little library. I came here as a kid to look for books. My Gram W volunteered here for as long as I can remember. I have vague memories of coming here with her when she volunteered. It is not a busy library, except during summer reading, but I loved just sitting at the counter with my Gram hanging out and feeling a part of something. I feel comfortable here and it reminds me of her.

I like my volunteer time for the fact that it is usually my own. It is some time to myself, in between visitors of course, to read, reflect, blog, journal, look for new books or just think about Gram W.

I bring my son here to for story time and to look for books. He seems to love it too. I recently had him with me when I was scheduled to volunteer. I hoped between the puzzle area and the toys I brought for him he’d be able to keep occupied for 2 hours. You know what he wanted to do? Hang out at the counter with me.

I love my little library.

I'm bored and watching trash tv.

I've got some time to myself tonight so here I sit with my computer. Like its so unusual these days. I've become way to addicted to this thing. My poor son is going to end up resenting computers if I'm not careful.

I need to get back to regular post rather then the cheesy list and question. [whispering] I do love those, though. Anyway, so here I sit, trying to think of something to write about and keep getting distracted by Real Housewives of New York. What's worse, is RH of NY just ended and now they are showing a preview for RH of New Jersey! Ugh! For those of you who don't know, I am from Jersey. And no, I am not one of those North Jersey girls with big hair, fake nails, boobs, tans and too much make -up. God, no!! And this new show......OMG! Such a bad name for Jersey Girls. These women look like the picture next everyone's Jersey Girl stereotype. Oh, brother! They must have put out an add looking for "stereo-typical" NJers. There is a set of sisters who come from a big 'ol Italian family, they've already used the phrase "blood is thicker then water" and the sons are talking about opening a strip joint. Good lord. Just call it Real World Soprano's Neighborhood and be done with it. Can you feel me rolling my eyes.

Ghosts of BFFs Past

Go away, ex-BFF! Be gone! Before I drop a house on you too!
*sigh* Yes, I am still struggling with stupid ex-BFF. Not the actual person because lord knows she wouldn't make an effort to contact me, or would she.....

A mutual friend, one that was always a good friend of mine but that xBFF didn't really like, (Mutual friend really rubbed xBFF the wrong way) recently told me that xBFF friended her on Facebook. Mutual friend knows how xBFF felt about her so she found it odd. Still confirmed the friendship, though. xBFF even PMed her. The usual stuff "how are you? do you still live XYZ?". Mutual friend responded but kept the information limited and conversation brief. She was suspicious (as was I by this point in her story. Hell I was suspicious from the beginning). Then xBFF not only PMs her back but blathers on about what she's up to and, get this, sounds perky. Now it is hard to sound perky in via text but for xBFF to sound perky.....FREAKY! She wore bitterness like it was a prize tattoo.
Wow. That was either a bad metaphor or a really funny one.
Anyway, mutual friend felt the need to tell me all of this because she wondered if xBFF was eventually going to ask about me or contact. Heads up to Roxy.
*sigh*
I just want her to go away. I think. What I want is closure to my friend-wound but I really don't know if I'd want to talk to this person. She hasn't contacted me but the threat of her making her way to the people that are "my people" unnerves me some.
There is a good side to all this.....xBFF FINALLY locked down her Facebook account!! Now I can't spy on her anymore. Which is a good thing. Not really. Because I obviously couldn't control it my need to peak.

I still feel like its not over. In two years of living within 5 miles of each other we have not crossed paths. I can't imagine that is going to last forever.

Fate - just rip off the damn proverbial band-aid and get it over with already!!!

If you tell the truth you have nothing to remember

"The Honest Scrap award comes with a caveat or 2. Firstly you have to tell your readers 10 things about you they may not know, but that are true. Secondly you have to tag 10 people with the award."


I'm not a huge fan of the "you must tag # people" or "forward this on to # friends or else" so I so screw the second part. Do it if you like it.


1. I'm a member of our local Historic Preservation Commission. We review applications for constructions & such that come to the township regarding structures older then 50 years or withing close proximity to our historical districts. I was recommended by a local friend. Though I live in the town I was born & raised in and love the history dearly I do believe in some level of progress. Most on the Commission are extreme in the other direction, expect average home owners to do things to an expensive historical standard. Someone needs to speak up for the average home own so for that reason I applied and accept a position.....to be the one who stirs the pot. And I do enjoy stirring that pot.

2. Much like another friend who did this list, I don't like leaving things on the DVR. If you watched, delete it. You know you're not going to watch it again! We only have so many hours to store stuff!

3. I cannot stand very long. Don't like to and I think I am not physically able too. I find it very uncomfortable and it wears me out. I start to feel weak and become desperate to sit down. It will consume my attention until I am able to sit. I also fidget.....a lot.

4. I pray to God or whoever that there is life after this, re-incarnation or something. It makes me crazy scared to think there may not be.

5. I like to sing along to music. Doesn't have to be all the time but if I know the words....and what's worse, besides the fact I cannot sing well, if someone is paying attention to me singing (and I don't stop out of embarrassment) I preempt the "cool" parts of the song because I think its cool and impressive that I know the words. I know....what a dork!

6. With respect to #5, I really enjoyed taking my son to stores with me so I could justify signing out loud to the music played in stores. I've got to keep the baby entertained, right?

7. I expect people to pick up on non-verbal cues. Not all, just the basic obvious ones. Alright, obvious in my opinion.
Example: a person is walking towards a room to which you are standing in the doorway....the non-verbal cue would be said person wants to walk through that doorway into that room, thus meaning you should move or make way.
And when people don't get these cues, I become very disappointed in them and irritated. And I'm not sure if I expect too much of others.

8. I'm lazy. It is a habit/addiction I cannot break. Comfort is important to me.

9. Friendships were always one of the most important things to me growing up and yet I have learned to not expect so much from them and stopped working so had to be the "good friend". I feel like it didn't pan out well for me.

10. I fill out these questionnaire/get-to-know-you things and blog because I think it is fun but I still always wonder if all this over-sharing will come back and bite me in the proverbial ass.

Huggin & Stuff

First I must apologize for my lack of creativity lately. Seems the rare chance I get to blog I'm putting up a list of some sort. Well, I am a sucker for questionnaires and lists. I promise, as soon as creativity strikes I will spew it all over my blog. [giggling] Is anyone else getting a gross mental image? Until the creativeness starts to bubble in my belly, here is yet another questionnaire-list thing.

Brandi & Jo - here is a little insight into the cute side of parenting.


Interview w/ My 3.5 Year Old Son
All answers are exactly as he told them to me. (contains translations or my comments)
question obtained from some one's Facebook page.

1. What is something I (mom) always says to you?
My widdle sweedee pie. (My little sweety pie)

2. What makes mom happy?
huggin’

3. What makes mom sad?
dayin’ bad duff (saying bad stuff)

4. What does your mom do to make you laugh?
tickle me and I tickle you too to make you waugh (laugh)

5. What was your mom like as a child?
you ate and did dis (you ate and did this) he proceeds to pound chest and walk backwards

6. How old is your mom?
10

7. How tall is your mom?
like, two fousand feet tall! (like, two thousand feet tall)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
hug me

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
you call me. You wait.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
because I wuv you! (because I love you)

11. What is your mom really good at?
high trickin! It’s when you turn ober on your head. (ummm, I have no idea what "high tricking" is. He totally made it up)

12. What is your mom not very good at?
doin sumptin’ like dis (doing something like this) he proceeds to roll around on the floor and stick his arms in legs out

13. What is your mom's job?
keepin’ me safe, keepin’ me huggin, keepin’ me not afraid.

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
sausage (blah! No way! I have no clue why he said this. I don't even make sausage for breakfast)

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
hugs

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
like a girl character. Like Minnie!

17. What do you and your mom do together?
we pay outdide and pray da bug duff ("we play outside and spray the bug stuff." We have an obscene amount of boxelder bugs that drive me crazy)

18. How are you and your mom the same?
we’re not da dame, 'member (we are not the same, remember)

19. How are you and your mom different?
betuse you hab mowe curwy hair den I do. (because you have more curly hair den I do)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Betuse you wike me. Betuse I know. (Because you like me. Because I know)

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
huggin’ again (can you tell we are a huggy family?)

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
home. My favobwit pace is dumwhere dat wittle tiny fighter people wive wif enormous dinosaurs. (Home. My favorite place is somewhere that little tiny fighter people live with enormous dinosaurs.)

Alphabet

A friend posted this as a facebook note. I decided it post mine here.

A-
Available: no
Age: 34
Annoyance: people who don't take responsibility for their actions, stupid peoplw lacking in common sense.

B-
Beer: Blue Moon
Birthday: December
Best Friend: position currently empty. They might be over-rated
Blind or Deaf: neither now that I have tube in the ear
Best weather: Sunny and 80's with a cool breeze (ok, stole this answer from friend)
Been in Love: yes
Believe in Magic: sometimes
Believe in Santa: I wish I could but I have recently filled his position

C-
Candy: not right now, thanks.
Color: blue
Chocolate/Vanilla: depends
Chinese/Mexican Food: depends on mood
Cake or pie: depends on what kind
Continent to visit: Europe
Cheese: on some things

D-
Day or Night: Night
Dancing in the rain: surprisingly have not seend the entire movie

E-
Eyes: brown
Everyone's got: something someone else wants/wishes they had.
Ever failed a class: yeah

F-
First thoughts waking up: I should have pushed for the softer mattress

G-
Greatest Fear: I don't want to talk about it
Goal: be happy, raise a happy, good natured child
Gum: wintergreen but Gum-bastards don't seem to make straight wintergreen any more. Only that other crap, cool mint, polar blast, winter ice....Posers!
Get along with your parents: yes, now that I am no longer a hormonal teen

H-
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5' 7"
Happy: just sulky right now.
Holiday: vacation
How do you want to die: don't want to talk about that either.

I-
Ice Cream: heavenly hash
Instrument: piano

J-
Jewelry: wedding ring and watchin is manditory. Engagement ring when goin' out.
Job: hardest freakin' one there is!

K-
Kids: one, currently
Kickboxing or karate: always wanted to try kickboxing
Keep a journal: I try. It never goes well

L-
Love: give some to get some
Laugh: get a lot from the kid
Live: as best you can

M-
Milk: blah
Movies: don't see many these days. Last one was lame.
Motion sickness: only when pregnant or having ear/sinus issues.
McD’s or BK: BK for lunch today. Have to stop.

N-
Number: unlisted

O-
One wish: becareful what you wish for

P-
Pepsi/Coke: whatever
Perfect Pizza: plain
Piercings: ears

Q-
Quail: um, like the bird?

R-
Reality T.V.: voyeristic addiction
Radio Station: depends on mood and song or conversation
Roll your tongue in a circle: in a circle or roll-up like a hot dog roll?
Ring size: itdy-bity. Skinny fingers

S-
Song: nothing going through my head at the moment. Surprising.
Shoe size: 8 or 9ish
Salad Dressing: ranch
Sushi: ewww! gross!
Shower: yes!
Strawberries/Blueberries: strawberries unless your making muffins then blueberry please!

T-
Tattoos: not on me
Time for bed: when I'm tiredish
Thunderstorms: fun for cuddlin'

U-
Unpredictable: relationships

V-
Vacation spot(s): shore and hopefully Colorado

W-
Weakness: my son's adorable face
Which one of your friends acts the most like you: hard to say since most of my friends are online these days.
Worst feeling: being pushed out of a long-time friendship
Worst Weather: extreme heat & humidity

X-
X-Rays: what about 'em?

Y-
Year it is now: 2009
Yellow: Brick Road

Z-
Zoo animal: monkey

And the theft continues.....

I stole the questions below from Holli's Blog who actually stole it from Brandi's Blog who stole it from someone else's blog, and so on, and so on, and so on......

1. What one day of your life do you think was the BEST day?
Since I'm a mom I should probably say the day my son was born but lets face it, there was some pain and some drugs, it was a long labor so that actually day was a wee bit foggy. And the day after, when I was a little more clearheaded, had the anxiety of oh my god! I'm in charge of this little person!! So as you can see neither of those days works.
But I am going to stick with a mom answer. My best day is any random day when moods mesh well and my son makes me laugh and smile and smothers me in hugs.

2. What one day of your life do you thing was the WORSE day?
Probably the day my dad had his heart attack. I was a teenager and it scared the hell out of me.

3. If you had to pick the BEST year of your life, when is it and why?
I'm torn between the year my husband and I started dating - I was in love and everything was beautiful. And the first year of my son's life. That was a really physically and emotionally draining year and yet I remeber feeling so happy.

4. If you had to pick the WORSE year of your life, when is it and why?
Hmmm....another tie. The year following my dad's heart attack was rough. He had a qunituple byass and it was hard to watch my stong dad be laid up and recoving for so long.
The other year was more recently. My BFF shut me out of her life and it ran its toll on me. Depressed me and my thyroid really out of wack which takes a lot of time to come back from. Another friend stopped talking to me as well. So now I had to struggle with my health and find new friends. Sucky year.

5. Most recently, what night did you do something you LOVED?
We bought dinner for our neighbors, they had help us with something that day, and the 4 of us hung out talking after dinner while our son and their boys all played. We are enjoying having good friends that live so close and whome have great kids who adore our son almost as much as he looks up to them.

6. Most recently, what night did you do something that you HATED?
It was a few years ago now but it was the funeral of former BFF's mother.

7. Tell us about your best relationship that did not work out.
I assume romatic relationship but I didn't really have any great ones prior to my marriage. If I have to pick something....I had a best guy friend in college. We were honest with each other about the stuff going on in our lives but we eventually ended up in bed and, well frankly that did not go well. Things fell about after that. He made a great guy friend.

8. Tell us about your worse romantic relationship you've had.
That would probably be the guy I started dating because he followed me around like a love sick puppy. It was fun for a little while but he was 2 years younger then me and it started to become obvious after awhile.

9. Is there a celebrity you'd like to spend a "no holds barred" night with?
Yes! And I have a list! In no particular order:
Jeffery Dean Morgan - various, Supernatural, Grey's Anatamoy, Weeds.....
Harry Connick Jr. - musician, actor
Mark Walburg - singer, actor
Taylor Kitch - plays Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights
Jenson Ackles - Dean Winchest on Supernatural

I actually remembered to do Fill-in Fridays Hurrah for me.

1. Holding a door open for a stranger was my last random act of kindness.

2. Another place another me.

3. Truth & honesty in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, tea or water.

5. Take separate paths.

6. Our son reminds me that there is hope.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hitting the bar w/ the girls, tomorrow my plans include working at the library & a furniture delivery and Sunday, I want to organize my new dresser!

Fill-In Saturday

*sigh* Once again, forgot to do this on Friday. Oh well. I'm just going to skip the standard weekend question at the end.

1. I'm stubborn, I'm logical, I don't like to lie

2. Why do I have hips and not boobs?

3. How does this confangled thing work anyway?

4. Every morning I put slippers on my feet.

5. I consider myself lucky because my son naturally happy.

6. One day we'll see each other again.

F-16 in Your Pants

This is something I was forwarded via email. Supposedly it is an actual letter from an Austin woman sent to an American company regarding their feminine products and PC Magazine named it their 2007 Editor's Choice for best webmail letter.
(ok, so its not exactly current but it is still too funny not to share)


Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customer's monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants . . which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words:
'Have a Happy Period.'

Are you f------ kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness, is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong'.

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bullshit. And that's a promise I will keep.
Always.

Best,
Wendi
Austin , TX