i got groped by grover June 23, 2008

Last Friday DH, sister and I took the boys to Sea World in San Diego. We had soooo much fun! It was a great day to go and escape the unusually horrible heat. Monkey Boy declared the Shamu show ‘boring’ and #1 son will never step foot again on Sea World soil.

On to the explanation… the first time we took #1 son to Sea World he was 4 and I was about a million months pregnant with Monkey Boy (okay, it only felt like a million but was really more like 8 months) and we lost him.

We lost our son at Sea World.

To this day I cannot relay the story without tearing up. Can you imagine how much more I felt being pregnant? Obviously we found him and all ended well but he has not forgotten it. To finish off the demise of Sea World, #1 son got sick as soon as we got home and proceeded to throw up all night long (Have I mentioned that this is a child who has only thrown up in daylight twice-including Saturday morning? No? Yeah, totally true). So now Sea World is tainted because it made him sick when he otherwise wouldn’t have been and almost made him miss his first All Star game (which they won-and he got a hit that was inches away from his first homerun). My drama king of a son now hates Sea World.

But you wouldn’t know it from the photo, would you? We actually bribed our boys to take this photo, promising Shamu shaped cookies/ice cream if they played along. Telly Monster and Grover were nice to the boys but Grover… Grover got so friendly with me he had to have his hands pried away from me by his handlers. And even then he didn’t stop touching me (hence the hand on the head). As we walked away Sister teased me that I had just gotten groped by Grover.

And that was my weekend. Or at least part of it. How was yours?

 

Happy Birthday Baby! June 22, 2008

Today is #1 son’t 11th birthday. It truly seems like yesterday since he was born. He’s growing into such a handsome young man. Here he is on the last day of school (the 17th) with his fifth grade teacher Miss Jones. That morning the school had a promotion ceremony for the 5th graders who are going on to middle school (6,7 & 8th grade, there’s no Jr High where we live). It was really fun to see all the kids that we’ve known since Kindergarten move on to middle school (including the goofy one behind Miss Jones!).

I was told when he started school that time would fly and before I knew it he would be grown. How true it is. We still know kids he went to Mom’s Club & preschool with and I can’t believe how fast time has flown.

#1 son made honor roll and the LIttle League All Star baseball team. We couldn’t be prouder.

They say that kids change your life and that you don’t know true love until you’ve loved a child… so true. Baby we love you and are proud of your successes and how you pick yourself up and dust yourself off when things don’t go quite your way. We’re blessed to have you. Happy Birthday!

kick for nick June 19, 2008

Army Private First Class Nick Madaras loved soccer and knew he could make a difference in the lives of a children.

‘The war itself at times confused Nick, the way is confuses many others. He believed in what he was doing, and truly wanted to help the people of Iraq. Nick particularly was fond of the Iraqi children. He would see them kicking bags of rocks around the streets trying to play soccer and realized these kids are no different than him. When he was home on leave in July 2006, he rounded up as many balls as he could to bring back to the children of Iraq. Nick figured if a war that had raged on for more than thirty years in the Ivory Coast could be stopped because of soccer, why couldn’t one be ended in Iraq?

Nick was killed in action by an IED on September 3rd of 2006 at the age of 19. The men in his unit and all of us back home were completely devastated and continue to mourn to this day. Our way to get back at the men who did this, however, won’t be a course of hatred and rage. Instead we are spreading Nick’s love of soccer and his dedication to the children of Iraq by sending to Iraq soccer balls to be distributed to the children of Iraq directly by our soldiers in the field. We are all fulfilling Nick’s dream by collecting and distributing these balls. Nick’s Comrades in Arms have told us that when the times get really rough over there and they’re searching for a reason for all of the madness, they can hand a ball to one of the children and look at their eyes glow with happiness, remember Nick, and realize that yes, it is worth it.’ Written by Tom Thresher

ESPN did a story on Nick, here is the video.    http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=null&brand=null&videoId=3218181&n8pe6c=2

For imformation on donations here is the link.

Pants or no pants? June 18, 2008

When I was a kid I couldn’t stand surprises.

 I would carefuly unwrap my presents under the tree. I had to know in advance what I was getting for Christmas. I was careful to not tear the wrapping, pull the design off the paper with the tape or leave any trace that the package had been unwrapped. I not only unwrapped my gifts, but would also unwrap my sister’s as well. If she had gotten something better than me or something I wanted, I would switch gifts. I was the first to wake up in the morning and I would have already examined everything in my stocking and my sister’s before I woke her up.

I was prepared.

See, I was never any good at presents. I hate surprises. I always wanted to know what to expect.

I’m not a pantser. Flying by the seat of my pants is too much for me. Oddly, I have surrounded myself with people who don’t plan ahead, don’t make lists and who never know if the meger plans they made will work out or not.

I’m a pantser by proxy. And a small part of me envies my friends who are pantsers. I wish I could be more like them and just go with the flow.

Are you a pantser or a preparer? Do you wish you could be different or do you surround yourself with people who are different than you?

 

Big deals and steals June 18, 2008

There has been much talk about the high prices we are being forced to pay. I came across an article on Yahoo that has a list of items that have either come down in price or have stayed the same, here goes:

Electronics -The average price of a point-and-shoot digital camera has fallen $28 from a year ago, to| $178, according to the NPD Group, a consumer tracking service. The cost of LCD flat-panel TVs is also expected to drop $18 this year, to an average $848, while notebook computers are forecast to fall 9 percent, to $775, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. The trade group says you can also expect lower prices this year for plasma TVs, DVRs, desktop computers and cellular phones.

That’s because as time passes, companies can more efficiently produce the equipment, Vice President of the National Retail Federation Scott Krugman said. The speed at which new products are released also has an influence. “What is new is now old so much faster,” he said. “Prices come down sharply.” Uh, huh. And when faced with the decision to buy a giant plasma with HDTV or food for my babies… it ain’t gonna be a new TV buddy.

Women’s Clothing -Another area to spot savings is women’s apparel, even though the price for men’s and children’s clothing is on the rise, according to the CPI’s April 2008 report.

“It’s a much smaller part of the overall retail business,” George Whalin, president and CEO of Retail Management Consultants, said. “Men buy clothes as needed, whereas women buy clothes based on a whole variety of other reasons.”

If a female consumer went to a clothing store today, she would pay at least 4 percent less than she did a year ago for a pair of pants/slacks, which have an average price of $19.07, according to NPD. The price of women’s shorts decreased from $14.20 to $13.81, almost 3 percent, and the overall price of women’s sleepwear decreased $0.85, averaging at $13.25. Each of the subcategories — pajamas, nightgowns, sleep shirts and negligees — all posted falling prices. Usually I feel the need for new clothes when I go on a trip (you have to look good right?) but since I can’t afford to go on a trip what do I care if shorts cost 39 cents less? Jeez, I could buy almost 3 gallons of gas for the same price as a pair of shorts!

Hotel Rooms -There’s more good news. For travelers left sulking about increasing flight costs, the average daily rate for hotel lodging decreased in the month of April, down from $109.44 to $108.07, according to Smith Travel Research, of Hendersonville, Tenn.

This slight price reduction mainly stems from a decrease in business travel, JP Morgan economist Glassman said. “People start realizing that phone calls or teleconferences can work,” he said. Um, still can’t afford to fly or drive anywhere so why would I need a hotel room? Duh!

Theme Parks -And if lower hotel prices inspire consumers to take a vacation, it might include a trip to a theme park, where prices are also falling. Six Flags (NYSE:SIX - News) cut $10 off entry prices at the majority of their 19 parks in April, setting admission at $34.99 for its St. Louis park and $24.99 for the Texas-based Hurricane Harbor water park.

“People just aren’t going out as much,” Glassman said. “People are getting squeezed, and they’re starting to push back.” Wow! A whopping $10 off! It will cost me at least 5 or 6 times that to drive up to Six Flaggs and the same amount on the return trip home.

Toys -If the kids complain about not going anywhere this summer, you can try to appease them with another cheaper item: toys. The severe competition in this industry, paired with cheap overseas production costs, caused this steady 5.3 percent year-on-year decrease, Glassman said. Demographics may also play a role. The industry’s target audience is shrinking, as the nation’s second largest demographic, 15- to 25-year-olds, has simply outgrown its products, Glassman said. Ah, what kind of toys are we talking here folks? Pretty much all the 15-25 year olds I know only want electronics or products that work with electronics. Last I checked they weren’t playing with Tickle Me Elmo!

“As there are fewer and fewer children, it’s going to have an effect on the toy industry,” he said.

Dinnerware -Household goods brought more price cuts, particularly in dinnerware, according to NPD. Although prices didn’t decline for every product in this category, the price of formal, fine dinnerware, which NPD defines as bone china or porcelain with a metal accent band, decreased about 6 percent, falling from $39.58 to $37.10. Plastic dinnerware fell from $1.95 to $1.74, on average, and multi-pack sales saw the biggest reduction, falling 14 percent to $7.42. Generic multi-pack dinnerware, the bulk packaging of one identical item, averaged at $11.66 in May 2005. You may have me here. Except that plastic dinnerware is not very PC. And I was thinking of finally getting that fine bone china 300 piece place setting I’ve been eyeing in Sakes since 1992. Oh but wait… I can’t afford to fill those plates with any food. Bummer.

guilty pleasures… June 16, 2008

Tonight I indulged in a guilty pleasure.

While DH took the kids to an Angel game I whipped around the corner and bought Chinese food and those cookies with an almond on top. Then I poured myself a glass of cheap Shiraz (maybe it was more like 2) from Trader Joe’s and sat down at the dinner table to eat, drink and… read. The only thing that would have made it better was if I was sitting in the bath tub (although I would never do that-I have a weird thing about food in a bathroom-it’s just gross).

I have a few other guilty pleasures-

I love to watch American Idol, and I’m geeked out enough to know all the contestant’s names.

I love circus peanuts. You know, that spongy orange candies shaped like a peanut.

I love cheesy music from the 70’s, especially disco. One hit wonders… bring ‘em on.

I like to shop catalogs and circle all of the things I want (and then I don’t order them).

I like to play solitaire on the computer. For hours. It’s a sickness really.

I love to watch TMZ. I like how they make fun of all the celebrities. It’s awesome.

Ebay. I put a whole bunch of stuff on my watch list and then don’t buy them. I suppose it’s the on-line version of my catalogue shopping.

What are your guilty pleasures?

why shouldn’t they be as miserable as the rest of us? June 15, 2008

Today at 5:01 pm clerks in county registrar’s offices all throughout the state of California will begin issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples.

New Jersey, Connecticutt, Alaska, Washington DC, New York, Oregon and Vermont have a registry for domestic partners (they also acknowledge same sex marriages from other states).

Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain recognize same sex marriages.

Oh, the times they are a changin’. Whichever side of the argument you fall on, there is no denial that strong feelings are held by both sides, just as the arguments against a woman’s right to vote, the abolition of slavery and equal rights. Yes, I do equate them. When we exclude one group from sharing the same rights as the whole than we are going against what our forefathers created our country to be. As an example, during the civil rights movement many people thought blacks to be inferior in every way to whites. Further more, they should not be allowed the same rights, freedoms, and privileges afforded the rest of society. Is the issue of gay rights any different?

Many wave the bible in their hand when they say that marriage is a right between a man and a woman and is sanctioned by God. The same augment was used to deny blacks their rights… and women. I won’t go into my religious beliefs or even begin to argue this bible passage versus that, I’ll just leave it in the hands of those who wrote our constitution. That same group of brilliant scholars who created the greatest country in the world, a country that many still die trying to immigrate to.  A country created to allow it’s citizens their fundamental rights without intrusion or exclusion.

I know I’m opening the biggest can of worms but tell me… Should gay couples be given the same rights and freedoms as the rest of us? Or is marriage more than a legal contract between 2 people and is solely sanctioned by God, not the state or country?

Happy Father’s Day! June 14, 2008

This one is probably in poor taste for Father’s Day but here goes:

One night a father overheard his son saying his prayers: “God bless
Mommy. God bless Daddy. God bless Grammy. GOODBY Grampa.”
The father thought this strange, but soon forgot about it. The next day,
the Grandfather died.

About a month later the father heard his son saying his prayers again:
“God bless Mommy. God bless Daddy. GOODBYE Grammy.” The next
day the grandmother died. The father was getting more than a little
worried.

Two weeks later the father again overheard his sons prayers. “God Bless
Mommy, GOODBYE Daddy. That was enough to almost give him a
heart attack. He got up real early to avoid the traffic, stayed at work
through lunch and dinner. Finally he went home after midnight relieved
to be still alive. He apologized to his wife for being late, saying he had a
very bad day at work.

“You think you had a bad day?” his wife yelled. “The mailman dropped
dead on my doorstep this morning!”

Happy Father’s Day everyone. Special wishes to DH who has been an extrodinary father in every way. Thanks for taking up the slack when I’ve been tired or sick, for being the best example of what it means to be a man and for showing your boys you love them everyday in every way. You’re the best!

when bad books are good June 12, 2008

I read a lot of books. I devour at least 3 a week. So I consider myself a good judge of what makes a story good.

Recently I read a book that I had to force myself to finish. Half way through I wanted to throw it on the floor and shout, “You already bleedin told me that about a million and one times.” or “You know what? I don’t freakin care if they ever get together they’re so fickle they can’t decide if it’s day or night.” And the plot twists were so contrived I couldn’t help but wonder how it ever got published.

Writing is hard. For those of us who sweat over our keyboards pounding out what we’re sure is incomprehensible drivel, we understand this. Heck, we live it. So although I spent my hard earned money on 385 pages of shite, I was glad I did. Because if that basura (trash) got published then the crap I write has better than a snowball’s chance in hell of getting published too. Please keep those horrible books coming because it only boosts my confidence all the more!

Have you read a book you had to force yourself to finish? Have you ever read one you refused to finish? Please respect the author’s efforts and don’t reveal names or titles but feel free to blast away at they story.

 

They have nipples, don’t they? June 12, 2008

The other day my critique partner MIss Heather and I met to go over our work. The subject of how a guy would speak and think came up when she used the word bewildered  to discribe what her male character was feeling. I thought that a man would not use that word, he would use words like concerned, threatened, confused, and so on.

Maybe living in a house full of guys I kind of get how they think. I must admit though that I was thrown for a loop when at the tender age of 2 #1 son could make himself burp and of course thought it the height of hilarity to do so often. DH just about busts his gut laughing at any bathroom jokes. And then there was that scene in the movie Meet the Falkers (I think I have the right movie) where the cat uses the toilet and the bathroom noises (for lack of a better word) went on for several minutes causing Monkey Boy to back up and watch that scene over and over keeling over in laughter.

 I don’t get their humor but I do think I have a handle on how they think.

To help Miss Heather out I told her a story about a conversation I had with DH several months ago. He and I were watching some show that had a woman on with breast implants so huge and shiny that they looked painful.

“Do guys really think those look good?” I asked. “How can that be attractive? They are so obviously fake and gross looking, I just don’t get it. Do guys even care if they’re real?”

DH looked at me and said in his straight-faced, matter of fact way, “They have nipples, don’t they?”

That was a huge “huh” moment for me and really hit home for Miss Heather too. So now when I write my guys I think about that comment and I find it easier to think like a dude.

Have you had a “huh” moment with a man, where something he said or did helped you to understand him better? Or are they just too different from us to ever understand fully?