Rough Draft

Where Does It All Go?

Some days, normally the weekday days, go so damn fast.  Of course, the weekend days, they crawl by at a snails pace, the bastards.

Why is that?

One minute I'm drinking coffee and watching The View, and the next minute it is time for Josh to walk through the door at 3pm.

My kids have a very regular bedtime.  Where is this going?  I'll bring it around, I promise, just stay with me here. 

Even the older two have a fairly "early" bedtime, granted they both have televisions in their room (I know, I know, don't send me hate mail on the horribleness of kids with televisions in their rooms and how it will ruin them for life and you will/would never be the type of parent that would allow THAT brain-numbing awfulness for your darling children), but it means that by 8:30 I am granted a few hours of total peace and quiet, free from the bickering, arguing, and overall annoyances...that should be spelled out for parents on the joys to come...on pregnancy tests, right after you pee on the stick, of course.

Anyway, I need this time.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I love my children a whole lot, but lord help me, I need some friggin downtime too.  Time to just sit.  And have quiet.

Okay, we are screwed, I did sort of go off on a tangent and I'm not sure I remember now where I was headed.  It is a tad bit late and I didn't have that much coffee and I did spend time in our incredible downtown library meandering dreamily amongst book after book and carting off another half dozen (okay, maybe it was eight...who's counting...perhaps the bitch behind the counter that wouldn't let me use my husbands library card because mine was getting to the twenty book limit and the kind folks at our local, albeit tiny, library allows me to do that and could care less if I use my husbands damn library card.  I mean, I did say it was MY HUSBAND and not some jackass on the corner whom I don't know from Adam.  This is the man who has fathered my children, Miss Librarian, so kindly take the Moby Dick out of your ass.  Okay, now I'm really off task here...)

Hmmm, let's see...days go fast Monday through Friday...bedtimes...libraries...kids.  Ah, yes.  Tonight I was reminded WHY my children have regular and EARLY bedtimes.  I don't always allow for this but on rare occasions I let my parental guard down and whammo, here we are.  We all got sucked into watching Animal Planet and how this one guy crashed his plane in the middle of nowhere, broke almost every bone in his lower regions, almost got trampled by elephants, eaten by hyenas (could their be a worse way to die and yet we KNEW he was going to survive because he was narrating the story, so we kept reminding ourselves that he in fact does NOT get eaten by those nasty creatures), and was sitting in 100-degree heat fearful that his plane was going to blow at any moment and that he found licking the glass off the plane might produce some amount of liquid.  It was riveting. 

I agree.  I am rambling with no clear end in sight.  I led you to believe I had some serious point in all this and well, it is late, and I don't.  Although, tonight I promised the kids we would watch a movie and because we were glued to the guy listening for tigers in the middle of Africa, it was 9pm before we even started the movie.  The movie being Mamma Mia (again and again and again) of course.  I have seen it too many times to count at this point.  They love it (Josh doesn't really like it) and I love it.  oh, and let's not forget they also had ice cream at like 9:45 and when I turned my back Josh soaked his bowl in chocolate sauce.  What happened to their mother tonight?  Therefore, all of this makes the day that much longer when they ALL stay up THAT late!

BINGO! That was my point.  I like their regular bedtimes because it gives me some downtime where I don't have to shhh anyone, tell them to stop bickering, or any host of a million other parenting goodness that we parents have to do over and over and friggin over again.  And, well, I like them going to bed early.  Yep, that was it.  See how I laid it out for you, got lost on a wild tangent or two, lamely tried to remember, and then brought it around, even more lamely?  I have some mad skills, do I not?

Yeah, I know.  Hey, now it is late and dammit, I didn't have any downtime so I need to claim temporary insanity.  Not insanity like the freak with the fourteen kids, but insanity brought on by rewinding Dancing Queen more than three times.  I think I'll go to bed now.

Magic Is Getting Back At Me

I believe that my ongoing irritation with Magic Johnson and his stupid tax loan commercials that play every other second had come back to bite me in the ass...

This past weekend could be summed up in one word:  BASKETBALL.

A little backstory.

Through our church and all the Catholic schools in the Treasure Valley (and beyond) play in this tournament one weekend a year.  The church pays all the players fees, provides a uniform, and in return the kids practice for several months leading up to the tournament.

Our church, since it isn't a school, incorporates middle school kids from several different schools close by.  Every Sunday since fall the kids practiced.  And, our church made up of TWO separate co-ed teams.  They scrimmaged together, they practiced together, week after week.

The tournament was a double elimination.  So, Friday night was the first game.  It was a landslide.  Every time our team went to the hoop, they made the shot.  They were on fire and we blew the opposing team away.  Saturday morning brought our first lost but Saturday afternoon we won.

There always seems to be a handful of truly amazing players on every team my kids have participated on, and this team was no different.  There were a few that absolutely were fantastic basketball players.  My son, bless his heart, really made such improvement from when he played last year with his middle school.  And, he ended up making several points all weekend, which I was very proud (and, oh my God, so was he!).  But, moreover than the eight points he made was his support for his fellow players...that was really great to witness.

The games after Friday night were close.  Like within two-four points, tops.  Every game was a nail biter.  It was exciting for sure.  I wish Larry was here obviously to watch his son play and because he enjoys basketball...but, also because I could have used someone knowledgeable in all the rules.  I think there are more fouls and whistle blowing in basketball than in any other sport.  At one point, every minute one team or another were throwing free-throws.  And, a few times I leaned over to some knowledgeable looking person and asked my stupid questions (I may not understand it all, but I do want to).

Because we only lost one game on Saturday it meant a Sunday morning game for sure.  However, if we lost that game, we were through.  We could go home. (Okay, part of me was certain this was going to happen, thank God I brought my book...which I finished...for the downtime.  I called Larry after every game to fill him in and told him it looked like we were NEVER going home.) 

What was interesting about that first game on Sunday was we played the OTHER co-ed team from our church.  The same kids they practiced with.  The same kids they scrimmaged with.  It was almost funny how they all knew their opponents moves.  My favorite part of Sunday morning was when both teams from our church stood on the court and prayed together in one big huddle.  So touching.  And, after we won that game, many of the players stayed to watch our team continue...including their coaches.

Onto game two an hour or so later.  I loaded Josh with some carbs and water and made him sit down.

Another close game.  Another exciting game.  Another win.

Which meant, we were in the finals.  We would either take first place or second.  The kids were beyond THRILLED.  There was so much excitement in the air.  Despite being at the Catholic high school since 8:30 that morning (they offered a pancake breakfast before the games started at 10am) and the fact that the other two kids were AMAZINGLY patient and really, really good at just sitting around all day, we were all so proud of these kids for making it this far.  My throat was raw from screaming and my hands were sore from clapping.

They were introduced before the game.  They played their hearts out. 

We didn't end up winning, but it was again a close game, 27-31, and we ended up coming in second in the tournament.  So exciting!

I had a chance to talk to one of Josh's coaches during the week because I wanted to thank him for his time and for being such a positive coach.  Every time Josh left the court (he didn't play for long at any given time) the coach patted his back, high-fived him, and was full of smiles even if Josh had accidentally given the ball to the other team, more than once.  And, he suggested that Josh keep going with basketball and encouraged him to continue playing...which is great because Josh is really not the "sport" kid in our family...and please don't misunderstand me, I personally don't care if he loves sports or doesn't love sports, and I am a mom who will support whatever it is he is interested in, however, he has never been very inclined towards sports and I do believe that kids, especially teens, need SOMETHING to keep them busy...and, he does seem to enjoy basketball...and when I told him what his coach said, he lit up and agreed, he wanted to keep playing! 

Here are a splattering of photos taken over the weekend.  (This was a posed one with his funny coach providing a little harsh talking to!)                (And those amazing players I was talking about...the guy holding the trophy...wow...he was INCREDIBLE...and #33 standing next to him...she was also INCREDIBLE!)

Ran.Dom.

Sick of this Octumom and her rambling bullshit.  SHUT UP ALREADY.
Sleepy.
Cold in here.
Disciplined the kids tonight and in between the three of them, the dog sat there too staring at me, and in between my sentence, I spotted the dog and broke out laughing.  She looked serious like she was in on the discussion sorry for all she did wrong as well.
Watched Oprah today and wish I didn't.  Shit, that was DEPRESSING.
Terrible singing on American Idol tonight.
Although, the last guy, Adam Lambert, was simply enjoyable to look at.
So, I voted for him.
Even though Jennifer did NOT like his black nail polish, stating that only girls should wear nail polish!
Feels like spring over here, but I'm sure that damn groundhog will remind us of how many more weeks of winter we really have left.
Tick tock.  The clock seems to be moving quickly.
Overwhelmed.
Evenings are lonely without Larry around.
I wish I could figure out how to get that fucking wheel on the lower shelf of the dishwasher.
Cleaned up the garage.
Told Larry I threw the Christmas lights where Christmas lights don't belong.
And, that I don't care right now.  (He'll fix it next Christmas.)
Ice freaked out on the fridge, and Josh wanted to open the damn thing up until I almost spit green goo out my nose and had my head turn in complete rotations because Oh. My. God. I have no fucking clue how to open and close that thing either.
Ugh.
More layoffs announced at Larry's old job.
We chatted about how funny (and not in a funny-ha-ha way either) that his particular layoff last summer was the only one not announced on the news every other day.  Not sure why that bugs me, but it sort minimizes his layoff, and dammit, we are still paying the price from those long months without a job. 
Tired of answering the question if Larry has found a job here yet.
Um, yeah, NO.
There is nothing.
I even questioned him because it seemed like he was feeding me some line of bullshit.
He said there is absolutely no engineering jobs in this town and prospects have literally dropped off.
Yeah, sometimes I feel like I'm dropping off as well.
The good news is that I think we have totally narrowed our "city" (and city being entirely too liberal, we are talking a borough, townships, little things on a map) and I am finally feeling good about that.
And speaking of jobs, Larry is loving his and all things seem to be moving along just fine.
Knock, knock.
I just knocked on some fake wood here on my desk.
For extra good luck, perhaps.
Because knocking on wood has ALWAYS helped in the past.
I have read about 15 books since the beginning of January.
I am one small book away from being "on target" for my 100 books this year.
Of course, this nonsense only matters to me and my crazy goal setting crap.
And, it is ONLY February.
I bought ice cream for Valentine's day.
That shit has got to get OUT of my freezer.
I am eating entirely too much of it.
Ugh, again.
I wish I had someone to rub my shoulders.
There are some serious knots.
Annoyed that a light just went out on my stairs.
Those low lights near the actual steps.
Shit.
This weekend I am going to brave the world of car-land and take the Suburban in for an oil change.
Yippie.
Larry made some comment about how once we are united again things will change...
Damn right it will, HE will do the shit with the car, replacing lights, and fixing wheels on the dishwasher that his clearly lame and ever-so-slightly challenged wife cannot manage.
Let's stop here, shall we?
I'm beat.  And, there is ice cream calling my name.
See?
Must stop eating it.
I'm so weak.

The Quirky Middle Child

Besides the fact that my eleven year-old still loves to collect Matchbox cars, needs his own personal blanket to sleep with, and that he is turning into quite a little reader...this child cracks me up constantly.  He tells me he loves me all the time.   He gives me hugs and fights to sit next to me on the couch whenever we are either reading or watching a movie.  He makes me laugh with the things he says.  He is a good boy with a sweet disposition, despite his occasional stubbornness.

However.

He has a few little quirks.  And really, who doesn't?  I told him I HAD to share here on my blog.  Yeah, he was thrilled.

1.  His favorite color?  Lavender.  Yes, as in a shade of purple.  Lavender.  I had to stifle my laughter when he proudly announced this favorite color of his and I didn't want to burst his bubble by stating that lavender is usually reserved for 8 year-old giggly girls with flower wallpaper and frilly bedspreads.

2.  He has always had the absolute CUTEST way of saying words.  My all-time favorite was how he used to say "sprinkles" when he was a toddler.  He called them: Sprink-Smokes.  It was so cute that I never corrected him and...like fifteen year-olds that are actually going to school without the need for diapers because they are in fact potty trained...I figured it would work itself out on its own, and it did.  However, he asked me yesterday if we were going to the school's fundraiser at "Baa-Jaa".  At first I had no idea what he was saying.  What the hell was "Baa-Jaa"?  Oh.  Then, I remembered the flyer.  Baja Fresh.  But, Baa-Jaa sure sounds fancier.

3.  This morning for breakfast I gave the kids homemade blueberry muffins and kiwi.  Harrison insisted that I not peel his kiwi because he said he wanted to eat the fuzz.  I told him I didn't think that was the best part of the fruit, but he insisted that eating the fuzz was OKAY and didn't taste bad.  Really?  Yuck.  But, okay, I left the fuzz on and then told him I was going to take his picture for my blog to prove that he was crazy enough to eat the fuzz on the kiwi fruit.  Does anyone else do that? 

I love this boy.  Quirks and all.

Seems Like Yesterday...

...actually, that isn't entirely true.

Because three years ago today was WAY worse.  Watching my father die in front of me is something I will never forget.  The pain, the sadness, the emotional roller coaster.

And while I am definitely sad, very, very sad, I am functioning.  In fact, on days like today I actually prefer to spend quiet moments by myself in my sadness so I can cry and pray...but I am not Put-A-Pillow-Under-My-Head-And-Stay-In-Bed-All-Day sad either. 

I miss my dad every single day.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him, miss him, miss talking to him, miss his voice (luckily I can still call my mom and when I get her answering machine I can still hear his voice), miss asking him stuff, miss his interactions with my kids (Larry told me he was missing dad today too as he had watched one of our home movies that feature Josh as a toddler at a Gymboree event and dad was there holding him and the two of them were laughing and smiling together), miss his presence in my life, and since nothing comes close (long story) I miss his absolute unconditional love he had for me.  And, I know, the love is still there and all of that...I guess I miss his absolute unconditional love HERE ON EARTH when it was more, let's say, TANGIBLE.  I miss him always calling me, I miss our Sunday morning routines, I miss his waffles, I miss his hands, I miss his advice, I miss it all and then some and so much more.

My point is, I miss my dad regularly so a day like today only brings complete focus to the anniversary of his death and the rude awakening that he really is gone.  I grieve in my heart, every day.  I grieve in my own little ways that I don't show the world and that most people never even notice or pay attention to because it is that personal, every day.  I grieve my dad, every day.  And my world is definitely different without him HERE.  Here, here.  I know he is "here" but, you know what I mean.

We talk about my dad all the time with the kids.  And, they have seen me sad and cry over him many, many times.  They all know what today means.  Jennifer wanted to know if we were going to celebrate somehow.  Before I could answer she asked me when his birthday was and if we could celebrate that instead.  I told her of course we could...anyway she wanted...so, I'm pretty sure it means some sort of cake.

Jennifer asked me last night, "Is Papa alive in heaven?" 
Me: "Yes, Jennifer, I believe Papa is alive in heaven and is happy and not in any pain and is surrounded by beautiful things and angels and so much more."
Jennifer:  "Then I can hardly wait when I die so I can see Papa again and hug him and he will not be sick."

I look forward to that too.  In the meantime, life moves onward and upward.  And, my dad is always close to me, no matter what change awaits us, and for that I am comforted.  And because that is all I have, besides the good and bad memories, I will take it and cherish it and continue to live life as I were meant to...

Good Intentions

I'm sorry but I don't have it in me today to blog.  I have been at the high school with Josh's basketball game for over 8 hours (they kept winning their games!) and I can't even concentrate on washing the dishes let alone forming complete sentences.  I'm beat.  I'm done listening to the screams, the whistles, and the buzzers.  I'm on sensory overload and right now I need a serious break from it all, including my blog.  I'll be back tomorrow...

Punch Drunk

I honestly don't know how busy-BUSY people do it.  You know, those people who have something on their calendar ALL THE DAMN TIME.  Not only do I LOVE being home way too much, love being mellow and relaxed, I absolutely cannot stand, and therefore do not do well, with this go-go-go mentality.  And for those of you that are busy type folks, this kind of day is probably your average-Joe-Wednesday or Saturday or Tuesday.  For me, solo, it is a son of a bitch.

In fact, at the moment I am so exhausted I can't really feel it yet.  Sort of a cross between punch drunk crazy and loopy.  In another words, I won't be making any major decisions regarding investments or possible new homes to live in.

It started this morning.

By 10am we were on the move...driving (all the way, shut up, I've been out of southern California too long now and driving ALL the way towards the airport/mall/downtown is now way FAR especially since I had to actually get on a little thing like the FREEWAY that I almost never have to do anymore!) to the first of two basketball games today.  The kids played AMAZING and it was one of those nail-biting games that we ended up losing, but since we are in a double elimination, we are set to play again in a few hours, at another school, further into downtown.

(Luckily, there is a very kind older dad that comes up to me after each game and asks if I know where we are headed to next.  To which I say no.  And he attempts to show me the crazy crack smoking chart that is a double-elimination-headache-starter.  And, while we are on the subject of my lameness...I actually really enjoy watching basketball however more than once...okay maybe a dozen times...I leaned over to Harrison and asked him why the ref was blowing his whistle...again!  Is it only me or do those basketball ref's blow their whistles A LOT?!?)

Left the basketball game, ate a packed lunch in the car, and dropped Jennifer off at Corinna's for Gabby's birthday party with no real set time in which I will be back to pick her up.  "Sometime between later and way later."

Went home for exactly forty-five minutes.  Watched some freaky Animal Planet show with Josh and tried to close my eyes for ten minutes, didn't happen.  Changed my clothes and called Margo who agreed to take Harrison 2.5 hours before the scheduled Blue and Gold banquet with the Cub Scouts (his last since next month he will officially be a Boy Scout) so he could be there on time and not late with me and Josh.  Dropped him off.

Headed to basketball game #2 (technically three if you count last night's game) which was yet another exciting game.  If we lost, it would have been the end of our basketball tournament.  Adios.  Sleep in.  But, if we won, it meant a Sunday morning game with play-offs later in the day.

Yeah, his team won.  (Okay, I was rooting for them because I really wanted them to win, but let's just say I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if they had lost.  He has an amazing team...they are so good and I am so proud of Josh who, while is not a fan of traveling across the court dribbling the ball, is damn good at...whatever position it is called where he is almost always near the hoop...look, I'm loopy okay...and he made several baskets and showed so much confidence on the court!!!)

Left the second basketball game and arrived at the cub scout banquet a little late but in time for dinner...which Josh and I had exactly twenty minutes to eat because he needed to be at the church to be taken to mass and the dance for the basketball players (I should say that the basketball tournament through the Catholic church is co-ed).  Went back to the banquet for another 90 minutes.

Went to pick Jennifer up and sat with Corinna and Dave for over an hour, with my feet up, eating chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches and chatting, quietly.  I swear, a blanket and a soft pillow and I would have just crashed right there.

Now, I am waiting for Josh to be dropped off (his coach, Mike S. agreed to DROP HIM OFF AT HOME which means I don't have to head back out to the church to pick him up!).

Tomorrow we have breakfast at the Catholic high school by 8:30 and a game at 10am.  If his team wins, they play again and again until they lose.  Meaning we could feasibly be at the high school the entire day. 

Hold me.

In the time that it has taken me to write this post, my hands have become heavy and unable to type with ease.  My head is foggy and the sleepy exhaustion is starting to set in and take over.  My eyes are crossing and closing.  I want sleep.  I'm not even sure I could read (gasp!). 

I will also say this: THANK YOU to three amazingly wonderful, thoughtful, and kind people that truly helped me out today.  Corinna, who agreed to take Jennifer for way longer than her daughter's birthday party and fed her dinner too.  Margo, who on a moment's notice agreed to watch Harrison and take him to the banquet on time.  Mike Scott, Josh's basketball coach, who agreed to meet me at our church and drive him to the mass and dance which is on the outskirts of town, and drop him off at home so I didn't have to pull the other two kids out of bed at 11:30 to drive to the church to get him. 

I am very hesitant to ask for help like that.  It is not something I like doing because I never want anyone to feel that I am taking advantage, because that would never be my intention.  However, today, I simply could not drive all over town and be in five places at once and without these kind people, I would have been more frazzled.

Days like today is what makes my situation the hardest.  I really need that extra adult.  The help I received today is EXACTLY what I needed.  So, THANK YOU for helping me.  I truly appreciate it.

Boob Tube, too much of

I have not been a huge watcher of television for a long time.  Now, I say that loosely and without airs of the brave souls and overall awesome human beings who simply do not have television sets nor watch television at all because they are too busy solving world peace, finding the cure for Cancer, and writing the great American novel to lower themselves to the pea-brain-ness of common folk and their television shows.

Now, that being said, I don't watch a ton of television, but not because I absolutely hate the mindnumbing-ness that is television today, but more because I don't have time.  Well, that and the fact that once we moved into "Mountain Time" all normal television viewing ceased to exist.  It is humanly impossible to watch a show at 7pm when the kids are still doing homework, reading, and so on.

Okay, yes, I hear all you out there claiming TIVO and DVRing.  Here's the thing.  When Larry lost his job over the summer, that was the first "frivolous" expense we cut out and just haven't gone back to it.  GASP! The Horrors! We are living in 2009 without the ability to record television shows.  Contact the authorities, there is a backwards, hick-loving, carrot-chopping simpleton living amongst you.

Here is my television breakdown.  Why, you ask?  No reason.  I mean, who gives a rats fuck what television watching I do on a daily basis?  I hardly care.  But, I am talking about it today, so it fits, yes?  I'll tell you what, just pretend you are interested, even if you aren't and be assured that tomorrow there will be some other bullshit I'm yakking about.

I watch a lot of morning television.  I'm ashamed to admit that I am a fan of the fluffy semi-news shows like Today followed by the ridiculous, annoying, and yet I-can't-stop-watching-similar-to-a-train-wreck, The View, followed by another hour of Today with an even more annoying Kathie Lee Gifford, and then Regis and Kelly. Basically, semi-news followed by fluff, fluff, and yet more fluff. 

Can't believe I just admitted all that.  I'm so ashamed.

Now, in my ultra lame defense of my complete pathetic television watching, I don't sit and watch it and do nothing else.  Yes, I am justifying dammit and since this here is my space, I can say whatever the hell I want.  I guess I simply have it on in here while I'm writing and doing other thrilling household things that us stay-at-home moms never admit to but keep us busy, busy, busy. 

After all that I like to catch a bit of news, local and global via CNN.  After the news I'm basically out of television commission until 9pm when two shows come on that I watch during the week:  Medium and Life on Mars.  I watch American Idol, Leno, evening news too...which, happily is the only thing about Mountain Time that I like.  Evening news at 10pm and Leno at 10:35.  That rocks.  That sums up pretty much my television viewing, overall.

So, based on the above, I have come to the following conclusions:

1.  I am more than tired of listening to Magic Johnson talk about his money making business mowing lawns as a child, how he was injured his second year playing basketball and how his team went onto the championships anyway without him (is it me or is the guy totally egotistical? Wow...because, the team was nothing without you, Magic!).  I will be glad when April comes and goes and he will no longer be pimping tax loans.

2.  Yet another missing little girl from Florida.  Is there something about Florida?  Anyway, It is hard to watch those stories with the appropriate amount of sympathy.  Now, don't get me wrong...the fact that a missing little five-year old is TRAGIC and SAD and HORRIBLE.  However, it is hard to stand behind a "couple" who say stupid things like, "Maybe the door was left open, but I thought I locked it."  What?  I have been jaded since that sicko drove her two little sons into a lake.  My money is on that girlfriend.  Which brings me to the next thing.  Has no one questioned the fact that this 25-year old guy has a 17-year old girlfriend?  Isn't there something slightly wrong here?  Seventeen?  Um, hello?  Why are they all acting as if that is totally okay and legal?  Like the cops are saying, "Okay, one problem at a time.  Let's find the little girl first and then we'll come back and arrest this guy for statutory rape."  This morning, on the semi-news, Today, I think the young girlfriend said she knew the registered sex offender living nearby and has talked to him.  Seriously, girl, shut your mouth and get some legal bigwigs behind you, pronto.

3.  The commercial with the girl riding her bike with the long red armpit hair absolutely cracks me up.  I have no idea what she is selling.  I can't remember right now...cell phone, maybe?  Doesn't matter...it MAKES ME LAUGH every time in a totally ridiculous-borderline-gross way.  Okay, maybe a life is what I need here.

4.  The Celebrity Apprentice is coming back.  I'm not sure I realized it was gone.  I do have a sick enjoyment for Donald Trump and I kinda like him in a weird, unhealthy way.  However, celebrities?  First, why? Why not the normal people who could use the job and/or the exposure to then get a job?  But, other than that...aren't we using the word "celebrities" a bit loosely?  Are they shaking the salt shaker-of-celebrity a little too liberally?  Andrew Dice Clay?  Tom Green?  The slutty Kardashian sister? Dennis Rodman?  I think if I was in the "limelight", let's say, and I got a call for Dancing with the Stars or Celebrity Apprentice, I would be like, "Fuck, I'm through.  I'm done.  I'm no longer successful in my chosen career.  Dammit!" 

5.  I would like to say thank you to Jimmy Dean.  Those commercials featuring the Sun who is pushing breakfast to the lowly fog, rainbow, and moon.  OMG.  They are my favorite! I love the Sun and how he minimizes his massive job of providing heat for all...and still not only encourages a good, healthy, HOT breakfast, but also is the cheerleader for his downtrodden group of friends.  I know it is totally silly but when the moon becomes "full" after eating some sausage sandwich, I laugh every time...as if the double meaning is the best thing I have discovered and heard all day.  (Sometimes it is and sometimes I feel like the varying shades of grey rainbow unable to shine in bright colors...Maybe a sausage sandwich will help.  Who knew?) 

As I am writing this, again with the Magic Johnson commercial.  ENOUGH already.  I am tired of hearing his childhood-feel-good  story.

I am editing this post right now, and ANOTHER Magic Johnson commercial has come on.  Say no to Jackson Hewitt. 

Grabbed more coffee, started a load of laundry, fed the dog, and came back to the editing of this post: ANOTHER MJ commercial.  I think I may have to kill myself.

Yawn

I was sitting in here ready to close down the computer and realized I haven't updated today.
Just one of those days.
I'm actually not feeling all that great.
Pain in strange places.
Like a cold that is just on the outside, waiting, patiently.
Same old, same old.
Tired.
Stressed.
Overwhelmed.
Finding books to be my calming center.
Ready to curl up with a book and a blanket.
Not ready, nor excited about the very busy weekend ahead of us.
Wishing I could manage to be in two places at once.
Lonely.

In My World

Best Guilty Pleasure...finding awesome chocolates wrapped in red foil and shaped like a heart for 75% off.

Funniest, Most Inappropriate Line Said By A Young Child...a few nights ago Harrison could not sleep.  He came downstairs (scaring the shit out of me, twice) to inform me that he couldn't sleep.  By the time I went to bed after 11pm, he was STILL awake and looked like a crazed boy.  I was just dozing off to la-la land when he came into my bedroom to announce that he really, REALLY can't sleep (and waking ME up I guess seemed like a logical solution?).

Harrison:  "Mom, I really can't go to sleep.  I'm trying! Can I just sleep in your bed?"  (I will state for the record that I am not a fan of kids sleeping in my bed, not ever, even as little toddlers/babies, they have always slept in their own bed, me in my own bed, and that is how I like it.)
Me:  "Honey, you need to try and relax, shut off your light and try to go to sleep.  And, no, you cannot sleep in my bed."
Harrison:  "But, I can fall asleep if I'm in here.  I need to be in bed with someone in order to go to sleep."
Oh dear.

Biggest Baby-Good-Riddance Moment...tonight on American Idol and that pain in the ass, obnoxious, freaky, albeit talented, Tatiana.  Adios.  Thank God.

Best Mail Day Delivery...my books from Barnes & Noble arrived today.  I was able to fondle my own John Adams, and with the cover that has the image of the actual John Adams and not Paul Giamatti, because I am completely anti-book covers that feature the movie cast and not the original cover.  Yes, this can also be combined with: Craziest Thing You Have Ever Heard, too.  Okay, I will admit, I might have hugged the book up to my chest more than once.  That's normal, right? 

Best Book Related Moment...listening to the author of our book club for February sit in our circle chatting and listening and answering questions.  I could have easily sat with him for hours and asked him a ton more questions.  Over the top fantastic.

Saddest Moment Of The Week...my Auntie Ann passing away.  I will share a favorite memory with all of you...one out of a million because I grew up with my aunt and uncle living a block away...until the mid-70s when they bought a house in San Diego and we would visit them several times a year for long weekends.  My aunt always made homemade biscuits for breakfast.  I can smell those biscuits baking in the oven and instantly think of her.  In fact, a couple of weeks ago I made biscuits and talked to the kids about "papa's sister" who used to make these exact biscuits when I was a little kid.

Most Tiring Thing On Television...this whole Octumom/Scary Angelina Jolie Lookalike crazy woman who thinks she can raise 14 children without a job, without a home (and the mother is about ready to lose her own to foreclosure, OMG), without a spouse, and with crazy, delusional ideals that make her think student loans should be used for ninety cases of diapers and visits to the nail salon? I swear, she is a fruitcake. 

Most Pathetic Thing To Listen To ...I don't know if the damn groundhog saw his shadow or didn't and really, who listens to some silly pesky groundhog anyway?  But, the 50+ temperatures with blue skies and gorgeous sunny days is absolutely screaming spring to me.