My Two Cents

Hello!!!! Anybody there???

2011-04-01T17:59:00.002-05:00

So I was thinking the other day about friends that blog, and I thought "Hey! I can do that! Wait a minute... I do. Well, I did, but it's been forever - and I mean FOR.EVAH.VAH!!!" So, I'm going to try this again and be a little more diligent about posting. Honest. I'm really going to try.

Forever - and a day

2009-07-22T19:04:00.006-05:00

I started thinking about the blog page the other day, and realized it had been a while since my last posting. With everything that's been going on the last couple of months, I really haven't had time to do much posting. So, I grabbed a chair, opened the lap top, and logged into my account.

My last posting way May 31, 2008.

I'm a slacker when it comes to blogging, and there's not really an excuse for it. So, in an effort to catch up in the last year, I'll try and hit the high points...

The Bug is getting ready to start FIRST GRADE in a shade under 3 weeks. She's also lost 8 teeth and we have the first consultation with the Orthodontist on Tuesday.
The Bug will be starting 3-year-old Preschool in September, along with ballet. She's determined that her first rehearsal is actually going to be her recital.
We got stairs to the backyard from our deck, a fence and a dog. But not in that order.
We got a Wii for our anniversary (Thaniks, S&P!). We downloaded Super Mario World a couple of weeks ago. It's as addicting now as it was in 1991.
I survived being Room Mom for Bug's kindergarten class and Jillian's 2-year-old preschool class at the same time I was teaching preschool and going to school. I think I have a few brain cells that didn't revolt from the various days of stress.
Speaking of school, I FINALLY graduated! Boards, now that's a different story...
Boards are schedule for August 17th. Hopefully the remaining brain cells won't abandon me between now and then...

That's some of the highlights... I make more of an effort to blog in the coming free time.

25 Things Every Good Southerner Knows...

2008-05-31T18:38:00.003-05:00

The difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit.
Pretty much how many fish make up a mess.
What general direction cattywumpus is.
That “gimme sugar” don’t mean pass the sugar.
When somebody’s “fixin” to do something, it won’t be long.
The difference between Yankees and damn Yankees.
How good a cold grape Nehi and cheese crackers are at a country store.
Knows what, “Well, I Suwannee !!” means.
Ain’t nobody’s biscuits like Grandma’s biscuits !!
A good dog is worth its weight in gold.
Real gravy don’t come from the store.
When “by and by” is.
How to handle their “pot likker”.
The difference between “pert’ near” and “a right far piece”.
The differences between a redneck and a good ol’ boy.
Never to go snipe hunting twice.
Learned what happens when you swallow tobacco juice at some point.
Never to assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
You may wear long sleeves, but you should always roll ‘em up past the elbows.
You should never loan your tools, pick-up, or gun to nobody.
A belt serves a greater purpose than holding Daddy’s pants up.
Rocking chairs and swings are guaranteed stress relievers.
Rocking chairs and swings with an old person in them are history lessons.
Butter makes everything better.
Just because the fashionistas say it's okay to do it, white shoes and/or pants are only acceptable after Easter and before Labor Day.

She's Growing Up!

2008-05-04T20:21:00.003-05:00

It's official. My Number 1 baby is moving up in the world.

I registered The Bug for Kindergarten on Thursday this last week.

Bug reading to Jack the Cat on Saturday morning.

She's growing up way too fast, and I'm going to have to invest in Kleenex.

9 Words That Women Use

2008-05-04T20:05:00.002-05:00

My girlfriend Autumn sent this to me last week, and I thought it was worth sharing...

9 WORDS WOMEN USE

Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
Loud Sigh: This is not actually a word, but a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here arguing with you about nothing. (Refer to bullet # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
Thanks: A woman is thanking you - do not question this or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' ... that will bring on a whatever).
Whatever: Is a women's way of saying Fuck You! There's not much recovery from this one.
Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

I know that this is "9 Words", but I also want to add my own - The Scream. If you are in a different room than your wife/girlfriend/significant other and she screams, get off your ass and run - do not loaf - to her location immediately! If her scream goes unanswered by you and you get the "Don't worry, I'm okay", consider yourself in deep shit. You better start planning on how you're going to dig your way out of this one!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful women in my life - you know how you are!!!

Spring Break 2008

2008-04-19T17:44:00.006-05:00

Since I've finally recoved from all the driving I did during Spring Break, I guess it's time to post some pictures of the trip to LA (Lower Alabama, that is)...

A moment in the sand when Bug & Bear aren't fighting.

Bug & Ethan (she still calls him "my man")

Bear & Dee Dee discussing the properties of sand.

Bug & Bear hanging out on the roots of a tree I used to play on when I was a kid.

* sigh *

2008-04-19T17:40:00.002-05:00

For the first time in a very long time, I'm alone.

Really alone.

Yes, the cats are here, but I am the only biped within my home. Everybody is in PA watching Nephew #2 get Christened. I wanted to go, but I had Clinical today and couldn't get out of going.

sucks.

Bug's Favorite Song

2008-03-12T16:16:00.003-05:00

Several months ago, Adam and The Bug were listening to the radio and this song by Avril Lavigne came on. Since then, Bug had called this song the "hey-hey-you-you-i-don't-like-your-girlfriend" song.

Aren't kids hysterical sometimes?

LMAO!!!

2008-03-11T15:25:00.001-05:00

Did anybody see this on Ellen? One of my colleges sent me the link and it aparently is a real product. Check it out and be prepared to snicker till the cows come home.

The Bug, Part Deaux

2008-03-10T20:08:00.003-05:00

A while ago, I posted a picture of The Bug after she lost her first tooth. Since then, the second has fallen out and her big girls teeth are quickly taking their place. As I look at her permanent teeth growing each day, I can only think of one thing...

How are all those big teeth going to fit in that tiny little mouth?

And then I'm thankful there are people called Orthodontists that walk this planet.

Young Love

2008-03-10T14:42:00.004-05:00

The Bug has a classmate that The Bear is completely in love with. Bear does nothing but talk about Jake and when the get married. I took this picture Friday afternoon while the kids were playing. It was Jake's idea to hug all over the Bear. Is this young love in bloom, or just childish infatuation?

Jake & The Bear - March 7, 2008

You be the judge.

The Passing of a Musical Legend

2008-03-04T02:26:00.003-05:00

I was reading 14 Giants earlier this evening, and found out that Jeff Healey died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. If you remember the song Angel Eyes from 1988, then you know who Jeff Healey was. Mess of Blues, Healey's first rock/blues album in eight years, is being released in Europe on March 20, and in Canada and the U.S. on April 22.

May he rest in peace.

The Bug is Growing Up

2008-01-21T13:08:00.001-05:00

This picture was taken not long after we got back from New York. Bug had two teeth loose on the trip, and I kept expecting one to come out before we got home. Thankfully, it waited until we got home.

One down, one to go.

Dessert, Anyone?

2008-01-21T13:01:00.000-05:00

I present to you a scrumptious specimen of mankind.

Yumm-o!

Laugh Till You Pee

2008-01-09T15:34:00.000-05:00

I'm cleaning out my e-mail today, and I came across this link from my friend, Autumn. Don't view this if you hate cat humor. If you like cat humor, don't drink anything whilst you watch this... Enjoy!

New Year's Resolution

2008-01-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged in forever.

My New Year's Resolution is to blog three times per week.

Let's see how long that lasts...

Does This Really Exist??

2007-11-28T20:50:00.000-05:00

Adam and I watched an episode of The Naked Archaeologist on History International tonight. This particular episode was about archaeologists searching for evidence of Joshua. Throughout the show, the film makers used Lego sets to recreate several scenes - battles; parting the Red Sea; etc. After about twenty minutes, Adam turned to me and said "Are those Biblical Lego sets? I wonder if you could get one of those at the Lego Store?"

Getting to Know You - Christmas Style!

2007-11-28T11:10:00.000-05:00

A very dear friend sent me the following e-mail yesterday, and it's quite cute! I actually learned some things I didn't know about myself.

Welcome to the "Christmas Edition" of getting to know your friends! Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Copy this entire e-mail and paste into a new blank e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so they apply to you. Then, send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. It's the season to be cheerful!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper.
2. Tree--Real or Artificial? Usually real, but this year we’re going artificial.
3. When do you put Christmas tree up? The first weekend of December. I really can’t bring myself to put the tree up before then.
4. When do you take the tree down? Anytime before Epiphany (January 6th, 2008 – the first Sunday of the Liturgical calendar).
5. Egg Nog – Yea or Nea? Yumm-o!!! Gimme a big ol’ mug – with a little shot of brandy!
6. Do you have a nativity scene? We have two – one for the living room chest and one for the girls - but we'll probably get another one this year.
7. Favorite gift received as a child? Do I really have to decide?!?!
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Father.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Jillian.
10. Worst Christmas gift? If I named the gift, that person would get their feelings bent-out-of-shape.
11. Mail or email a Christmas Card? Mail.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? It’s a tie between A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I love them both equally!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually early November. Since Emily has a November birthday, I get both done at once.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.
15. Favorite food to eat on Christmas? Slab of Beast!!! Unless we are both sick as dogs, I make a prime rib, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, and some other yummy stuff.
16. Clear or colored tree lights? Clear.
17. Favorite Christmas Song? I don’t really have one favorite, but I like Little Drummer Boy.
18. Travel during Christmas or Stay home? I really love staying home for days in my PJs, but we’re traveling to visit Adam’s family in NY the day after Christmas.
19. Can you name Santa's reindeers? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph.
20. Angel or Star on Tree top? Star.
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? We open one present on Christmas Eve, and then everything else Christmas Day.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The fact that retailers insist on putting out Christmas decorations before Halloween! There really needs to be an amendment saying that retailers are not allowed to begin putting up decorations before Thanksgiving.

I Hate Driving

2007-11-26T08:17:00.000-05:00

This year, we went to my Dad and Step-mom's new house in Fort Worth for Thanksgiving, and it was a really nice visit (pictures to come), but the drive - yes, I said drive - there was a pain in the ass! I'm OK with the "once-a-year-drive-to-Long-Island-to-see-Adam's-family" drive, but the 14-hour drive to and the 16 1/2-hour drive home (in the rain, no less) has totally put the kibosh on wanting to go anywhere else for the rest of the year. I'm sure this might change, but don't expect me to want to do this again anytime soon.

Oh, how I love having family in four different states, and having to visit them all!

Strange...

2007-09-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

This story was one of the "recommended" reads today on MSNBC.com. When you consider that a funeral in the US today can start around $6,500 - and that's before the cost of a cemetery plot - this makes sense. The whole idea of a home funeral does sound a little weird, but this is how most - if not - individuals were buried until the mid-twentieth century.

Personally, I'm of the school that "if it still works, give it to somebody that needs it and cremate the rest". Hopefully, my family will honor those wishes.

What the ???

2007-09-19T10:59:00.000-05:00

So I'm reading through MSNBC.com this morning, and I came across this story. I had to read it a couple of times before I finally got the point of it. Read it yourself, and let me know what you think. I'm thinking that the woman will probably have to eat the paper the lawsuit is printed on.

Friends vs. Southern Friends (Yes, there really is a difference!)

2007-09-13T15:56:00.000-05:00

I got this from a nursing school friend of mine, and it is so true!!! Enjoy!!

FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Always bring the food. And lots of it.

FRIENDS: Say "hello."
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Give you a big hug and a kiss - usually more than one!

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad, and really mean it.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Usually being a starched handkerchief and cry with you. And for you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will spend hours at the dinner table talking, laughing, and just being together. Then do the dishes before leaving.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you. Most of the time they know you better than you know yourself. For some of us, that's scary as hell.

FRIENDS: Knock on your door and wait to be invited into your home.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!" If you're not home, they'll start dinner and wait.

FRIENDS: Are for a while.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Are for life. And then some.

If you find yourself deprived of Southern Friends, this will serve as an excellent educational tool for why you should look into the possibility of finding some - fast! If you already have some Southern Friends, consider yourself lucky. These really are the best kind of friends one could ask for.

To all my Southern Friends... Thank you for being my friend. I love y'all more than you could know!!!

First Day of School

2007-09-05T11:21:00.000-05:00

Tuesday was the first day of school for the girls. Emily is old hat at the "first day" thing, but this was Jilly's first "first day of school". I'm not sure if I'm more excited or more sad about this - my baby is now officially a big girl.

At home, getting ready to leave for the First Day of School. Don't you just love Jilly & her lunchbox?!?!

Emmy's ready to get back to school - and back to her friends. Doesn't she look very grown up?

It's Jilly's big day! Her first day of school!

"Come on, Jilly. I'll show you where to go. You're going to have lots of fun at school today. I'll be there, so don't be scared."

They really don't stay little long enough!

I'm Trying

2007-08-14T11:59:00.000-05:00

Over the last several weeks, I have started several postings, but never finished them. I am hoping that I will be able to complete each of these in the very near future.

But then again, if wishes were fishes the sea would be full.

I'm an Inky Wretch!!!!!!

2007-07-16T10:52:00.001-05:00

A big thanks to BG for including me in her "Inky Wretches" section. It's the first time in my life I'm happy to be called a Wretch!

The Next Level of "Chick Flick"

2007-07-16T10:22:00.001-05:00

I'm visiting 14 Giants this morning, and Ryan had a side posting by the most fabulous Gloria Steinem entitled "A Modest Proposal". I'm reading through the article, and Ms. Steinem made a good point:

If you call a movie or novel a "chick flick", then why not call a movie or a novel for guys a "prick flick"?

It's a little unorthodox, but I think it gets the point across.

Thanks for the Memories

2007-07-14T19:47:00.000-05:00

During one of my late night tube-surfing fits, I watched an old favorite - SportCenter on ESPN. In years past, I was one of those that skipped the morning talk shows and went straight to SportCenter. Recently, I either haven't had the time to watch an entire episode or The Girls won the battle of the remote. This particular night, I needed my FIX.

I guess I must have gotten into the broadcast about half was through, but the story that caught my eye on the ticker was that one of my favorite sportscasters is leaving. Dan Patrick will depart ESPN after nearly 18 years on August 17th, 2007. This is a little difficult for me. It's a just another way of life saying YOU'RE GETTIN' OLD, CHICKY!

Thinking that Dan Patrick has been with ESPN for nearly two decades, I thought I'd look back at a few things from 1989...

The cost of a gallon of gas was $1.12 (give or take a couple of cents, depending upon where you lived).
Our President was George H.W. Bush, and Dan Quayle was the VP.
A first-class stamp cost $0.25.
On average, you would expect to pay $148,800 for a new house.
A gallon of milk was $2.34.
A dozen eggs cost $0.96.
The median household income was $28,906.
The population of the United States was 246,819,230.
The average life expectancy was 75.1 years.
Inflation was at 4.6%.
Our federal debt was $2868.0 Billion.
"The Little Mermaid", "When Harry Met Sally" (one of my all time favorites!), "Born on the Forth of July", "Steel Magnolias", and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" were in theatres.
Best Picture went to "Driving Miss Daisy" (Bless the soul of Ms. Jessica Tandy).
The San Francisco 49ers won Super Bowl XXIV.
The Detroit Pistons were the NBA Champs (Bill Lambier and Isaiah Thomas - what a pair!).
The Oakland A's won the World Series in 4 games over the San Francisco Giants (remember the earthquake right before the first pitch???).
The Exxon tanker Valdez ran aground off the coast of Alaska, dumping 11 MILLION gallons of oil.
The drug AZT is shown to slow the onset of AIDS.
Lucille Ball, Salvador Dali and Sugar Ray Robinson all died in 1989.
Robert Fulgham's All I really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten was released.
Frozen yogurt, Tetris, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were the "IT" things.
Nolan Ryan records his 5,000th strikeout - at age 42 (thank you very much!).

I guess I could say "Ahh, for the good ol' days", but why would I? I'd still be in high school -albeit a Senior in high school - and I wouldn't have the wonderful family and friends that I have today. So let's just say it this way... I'm happy the good ol' days are just that - good.

Thanks for 18 great years, Dan. May you find peace in all your future endeavors, and may you have a long life filled with happiness.

Now if Stuart Scott leaves, I'm really going to have a problem...

Flying The "Un"friendly Skies

2007-07-12T22:21:00.000-05:00

Since I didn't get a chance to watch the evening news tonight, I've taken to watching a lot of the stories on-line. I'm scrolling MSNBC.com tonight, and I come across this story. I'm a mommy, so a story that has a headline of "Mom and Chatty Toddler Kicked Off Flight" is an invitation that screams "READ ME NOW!!!"

The toddler in question is 19-months old. Jilly is 18 months old (as of today - Happy Birthday, Bear!!). I can understand what a mother traveling with a small child is going through. I'm sure that she was doing the best that she could under the circumstances, and to get on a flight with a stewardess that has a police-type attitude is probably the last thing this mother needed.

The most interesting thing about the whole she-bang is that Continental Airlines has done nothing to suspend the attendant during this investigation. Even with as many witnesses as the mother has - particularly the gentleman that the attendant leaned over to tell her that she needed to shut her toddler up - this woman is still "flying the friendly skies".

Many of the individuals that become attendants do so for the "glamour" of the job, not for providing assistance to those traveling. Too bad for those of us that fly.

I guess that this is just another reason the American Public - yes, that's you Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public - should hold those individuals within the service industry more accountable in their position.

Maybe the flight attendant should have removed herself from the flight. That probably would have made everyone's day a little bit brighter.

My Number Is...

2007-07-10T13:37:00.000-05:00

I just got off the phone with my GP's office regarding the results of my blood work that I had to have done for school. Everything is normal - including my cholesterol levels. Now keep in mind that this is the first time in my adult life that I have had my cholesterol levels checked, and I was expecting them to be outrageously - even insanely - high.

My cholesterol is 171. Yea, me!

According to The Mayo Clinic's website, any total reading under of 200 mg/dL is "desirable"; 200 ml/dL to 239 ml/dL is considered "borderline high"; and any total reading over 240 ml/dL is considered "high". I did not ask for the entire breakdown of LDL versus HDL versus Triglycerides, but I'm going to go by and pick-up a copy of my blood work this week.

ARGH - Part Deux

2007-07-03T10:47:00.000-05:00

So I just logged onto the Web, and one headline reads "White House Won't Rule Out Eventual Pardon For Libby. More Soon." Why the hell should this surprise me?

BG, you are definitely correct! I don't know if we'll be able to make it till 2008!

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-07-02T17:35:00.000-05:00

Yet another reason the bastard should be impeached!!!!!!!!!!

BG, I need your help and guidance!!!!!!

Future Artist at Work

2007-06-26T11:01:00.000-05:00

After the girls were in bed last night, I tried to gather all of the crayons that were strewn about the TV room and wrangle them into the red bucket. The whole "best layed plans of mice and men" sort of thing. I thought I was doing a good thing by picking-up after the girls so that it would be one less thing I would have to do in the morning.

I was in the laundry room. Emmy was downstairs having a teaparty with Smoovdah, Elizabeth & Panda. Jilly was in the TV room. It was quiet... Too quiet to be comfortable. I go into the TV room, and get treated to this sight...

I shouldn't be mad at Jilly, I should be mad at myself for not picking-up all of the crayons. She's just being little and exhibiting her inner artistry, so I figured that I'd at least leave it on the wall until Adam gets home tonight from work. After that, out comes the Magic Eraser and there goes Jilly's masterpiece.

Although I could leave it there for a while. Emm'y wall art is still a fixture in the TV room, and it hasn't gotten a scrubbing... yet...

Judgement Day

2007-06-25T16:53:00.000-05:00

I've had a few things going on, so it didn't really occur to me that I should probably check to see if grades were posted for Spring Quarter. Even though one class was entirely on-line and the other was a hybrid, I figured something would happen between the end of the quarter and when grades were due to the Registrar's Office.

Anyhoozers... I checked today, and I am the proud owner of a 4.0 GPA. Hooray for me!!!

Summer Quarter classes start on July 9th, and I'll be taking Diet & Nutrition and Drug Calculation & Administration. I'll have one on-line class and one classroom class.

Sounds like barrels of fun, eh?

OUCH!

2007-06-19T14:51:00.000-05:00

Adam and the girls were outside playing Saturday evening whilst (I love that word - whilst!) I was fixing dinner. I guess they had been outside for about an hour, when Emmy comes inside rubbing her left cheek. I really didn't think much about it, until I saw this...

This was taken this afternoon, so it looks much better than it did right after it happened. Long story short, they were racing and Emmy grabbed Daddy where she shouldn't have grabbed Daddy so he wouldn't win the race. Daddy was in full run and spun in the opposite direction from which Emmy was grabbing him, and she went sliding on the sidewalk. We've both had the conversation with her before about pulling and grabbing on Daddy. Hopefully now she's learned a lesson.

When a 17-Month-Old Attempts to Dress Herself - Front and Back Views for Your Added Viewing Pleasure

2007-06-19T14:42:00.000-05:00

The Barbie shirt is actually one of Emmy's nightdresses; the socks are Adam's; and the bloomers are from the 2-piece outfit that came from Gramaw and Poppy for St. Patrick's Day. If this is what happens at 17-months, then we're all in trouble when she's 16! YIKES!!!

Laundry

2007-06-19T14:30:00.000-05:00

After running around like a chicken with my head cut off last week - it was VBS week at Church, and I was in charge of snacks for 135 kids and toddlers - I've kinda ignored the laundry room. So like any good Mommy, I spent yesterday and most of this morning playing catch-up and keep-up with ump-teen loads of clothes. As I was folding one load of the girls' clothes yesterday afternoon, Jillian decided she would help me sort and fold things. This is what it looked like about ten minutes into her "helping Mommy fold the laundry..."

I think she's still just a little young to help do anything other than put stuff in the washer and then help transfer wet stuff into the dryer. But, then again, she could surprise us all...

I'm Late, But What's New About That

2007-06-13T13:18:00.000-05:00

I should have written this posting yesterday, but I've had a few things going on this week. We have three very special people that had birthdays on Tuesday: DeeDee, my Mother (the BIG 60!); Auntie Carol; and Mac-a-doodle.

We love you all very much, and hope each of you had a fantastic day!

Hooray, hooray for Tuesday!

2007-06-11T20:20:00.000-05:00

I know it's still Monday, but Tuesday is Orientation/Registration for summer quarter and getting back into the whole nursing school thing. I've been through this before and I really shouldn't be nervous, but it's a whole new group of people with a whole new group of expectations and standards, and yadda, yadda, yadda. I should be excited, and I am, don't get me wrong. I'm just ready for this whole damn thing to be over and done with.

I'm tired of being a professional student.

4 Year Old Humor

2007-06-05T18:09:00.000-05:00

Emily has become quite prolific in telling jokes lately. This is her latest,courtesy of our neighbor Carol...

Why was Tigger looking in the potty?

Because he was looking for pooh!

Ya' just gotta love toilet humor!

GooberBug and GooberBear

2007-06-05T10:08:00.000-05:00

I was on the phone with Kim this morning organizing our Friday Burger Bo-Nan-Za, when the girls came into the TV room wearing the following "costumes"...

I love my family!!!

He Stole My Post!

2007-06-05T10:03:00.000-05:00

I love my husband more than I can say, but he stole my last posting! He claims that his was funnier, but I think mine was more in depth (thanks, Kimmie!). So, to get back at the plagiarising hunk 'o man I married...

I Love You, Bay-bay!!!!!!

Package from DeeDee

2007-06-02T19:33:00.000-05:00

The girls got a package from my Mother today, and it contained the following:

One book for each girl
2 pairs of Speedo pool shoes
2 pairs of Speedo goggles - one pink, one purple
Jilly's afghan, in green
Speedo swimsuit for Emmy

As soon as I opened the box, Emmy went straight for the wrapped package (Jilly's blanket) and demanded that she be able to open it. Jilly grabbed her book and immediately started coloring in it (it's an Eric Carle board book of colors, and not a coloring book), and Emmy pitched a fit until I got the blanket unwrapped. Typical reaction from both girls.

Jilly wanted to wear her goggles as soon as she saw them, so Mommy obliged. Emmy saw Jilly and wanted her's on as well. Mommy again obliged. This is what ensued...

Are they cute, or what???

Speachless

2007-06-01T12:40:00.000-05:00

I checked my e-mail a bit ago, and this picture was forwarded to me by a friend from nursing school. I don't know if the gentleman is married or not, if he has children or not, but we should all take comfort in the bit of normalcy he is bringing to this small child's topsy-turvy life. Enlarge the photo and read the caption underneath. It's sad but heartwarming.

God Bless our Servicemen and Servicewomen. May they return to their loved ones very, very soon.

Let's Go Swimmin!

2007-06-01T11:32:00.000-05:00

The pool is officially open in our subdivision, and we've been a couple of times this week already. Jilly likes sitting on the steps and splashing - but who doesn't?!?!?!

Emily wasn't too sure the first night, but she's very quickly become a little fish.

We're also working on teaching Emily to swim WITHOUT her floaty suit or her swimmy ring, and I think that's not really going to be an easy task. However, it just so happens that our neighbor Chad was a lifeguard/swimming instructor during his time in the Marines (boo-yah!).

Hopefully, she'll pay a little more attention to Mr. Chad than she does to Mommy during swimming lessons!

We Belong at The Zoo - I Think...

2007-06-01T11:04:00.002-05:00

Adam & I have talked about getting a membership to Zoo Atlanta since we took Emily for the first time in the Spring of 2004. So when we went to the Zoo back in mid-April with the Yatabes, I went ahead and purchased a Family Membership. I filled out the paperwork, and the lady at the desk told me that we should have our permanent membership cards within about four weeks. Until we got our permanent cards, we could use the day's ticket stub and our driver's license to prove membership on any subsequent visit.

(l to r) Emily and Juliet, Autumn & Ella Yatabe - April, 2007

It's now June, and we haven't gotten the darn cards yet. I've e-mailed and called several times to find out where our cards are, and I was been told that they were printed on May 14th and mailed to our correct address. OK, that's all well fine and dandy, but now answer me this...

If it take the USPS two days to get a package to Mother in Daphne, AL, and 3-4 days to get a package to Sonny & Patricia in East Islip, NY, should it not take less time to get something from Zoo Atlanta to Buford, GA? I'm thinking it should take no longer than 2 days.

My latest e-mail communication was with Kelli (how cute - she spells it with an i) earlier this week. She told me the same thing - information entered on May 9th; cards printed on May 14th; mailed the week the cards were printed. She also told me that she would have the cards reprinted and we should receive them within 7 to 10 business days.

I'm thinking if we don't have the cards by Monday, we're taking a trip to the Zoo, and I'm going to stand right there whilst they print our cards and put them in my hot, little hands. Otherwise, I might really might need to be put in the zoo.

Hand Sanitizer Fanatic

2007-06-01T10:14:00.000-05:00

I don't know why, but Jilly LOVES hand sanitizer. She came into the TV room this morning with the bottle saying "Mommy, more". Maybe she's just being conscious of the fact that she needs to keep her hands clean. I don't think that has anything to do with it. I think she likes it because it's cold and slimy.

It's Been How Many Days?

2007-05-23T12:51:00.000-05:00

Since school is over for Emmy and my quarter is quickly coming to a close, I promise that I'm going to better about posting stuff. I don't know how often it's going to be, but I'm going to try an post something at least every-other-day. Wish me luck!!!!!

Meet The New Neighbors

2007-05-18T20:44:00.000-05:00

We've lived in this house for just over 6 years, and we've been lucky enough to have the same fabulous neighbors the entire time. That was until about six weeks ago when a "For Sale" sign went up in Cheryl's front yard.

The couple that was originally slated to purchase Cheryl's house ended up not buying it because the builder never ordered the cabinets for the kitchen, and it was going to push back their closing an additional six weeks than what they were originally told. Long story short, they had - at the time - one-year-old triplets, and were not too happy about having to wait longer to get into a new house. In the end, their misfortune was our gain. We were sent Cheryl and her two boys.

Not going into too much detail, she was newly divorced with two boys, ages 9 and 7. Over the years, we've watched over each other's homes, cared for each other's pets, laughed, cried, and had two babies. Being the child of divorced parents, I knew what Cheryl's boys were going through. Many afternoons, she would talk and I would listen. I knew that she didn't need someone to give her a lecture, but someone to listen whilst she vented.

Anyway, about a week before Spring Break, I came home from picking up Emmy from school, and there was the sign. We talked a couple of times about it, and she told me that since the boys were getting older, it has getting more and more difficult traveling. Ryan (almost 15 - yikes!)had played JV football this year and was more than likely going to play Varsity next year. Sean (running head-on into teenage years) was getting more involved in music and other after school activities. She had been tossing the idea around about moving, but finally decided it was the best thing to do.

Her house was on the market for about a month, and I was curious to find out what our new neighbors would be like. Our landscaper, Scott, told me that it was a young couple with a two-year-old, and they seemed like nice people. Cheryl had also mentioned this to me, and that they would be closing the end of April and would probably move in that next weekend. So, I watched the house for a moving van, and waited.

We were sitting at the table, eating a very late dinner after EmmBug's recital, when I saw lots of lights and cars slowing down in front of our house. I snuck a peek out the front window, and there was the moving truck - along with three or four other cars/trucks/vans with lots of stuff. Here were our New Neighbors.

They've been in their house now for about two weeks, and we've waved several times either going to or coming from the mailbox, but tonight, we finally got to meet Chad, Stacy and Liam. I was on the phone with Kimmie, and Emmy came running upstairs - "Mommy, our New Neighbors are here. Come on, you have to meet them. Daddy's outside right now with them!" Ah, the enthusiasm of a four-year-old. We talked for about an hour or so, and the kids ran up and down the driveway and sidewalk.

Welcome to the neighborhood, folks. We hope you like it - and our nieghbors - as much as we do!

Crazy, Man

2007-05-14T00:21:00.000-05:00

I got a letter from Lanier Tech this week telling me that I've been accepted into the Practical Nursing program. On the one hand, I'm relieved that I got accepted. On the other hand, I have a feeling that this summer is going to be very busy. Now if I could just get my Advisor to call me back, I'll feel a lot better.

Does anybody know who I can talk to about cloning? I think I might need a few more of me...

She Sleeps Like...

2007-05-11T07:58:00.000-05:00

We have had a really busy week, and both the girls have taken it in stride. If the day - or week, like in this case - is particularly busy, one or both of them might fall asleep early, might sleep through the night, and might not make a sound until birds are chirping the next morning. Last night, it was Jilly's turn.

Thursday was Muffins for Mom at Emmy's Preschool. I was lucky enough to be asked by Emmy's teacher if I would be the Room Mom this year, and I said yes. It's been very busy this week (it was Teacher Appreciation Week), and I - and Jilly - have been at the Preschool practically every day for the last two weeks getting things in order for Ms. Sarah and Ms. Robin's Class, as well as organizing the Preschool Teacher Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday.

Anyway, the entire point is that we got home Thursday after picking up Emmy from school (Jilly fell asleep in the car on the way home), and both girls were tired and cranky. When Jilly gets really tired, she wants to be held (who wouldn't want to be?), and she wants to put on her jacket (don't ask me why, but I'm guessing it's a security thing for her). So about the time I was starting to fix dinner, Jilly brought me her jacket. I didn't read too much into it until she started whining incessantly. I picked her up, and she immediately put her head on my shoulder. S he already had Binky, so it was only a matter of time before she drifted off to sleepy time.

I went about what I was doing, and in about 10 minutes, she was down for the count. As I headed back upstairs to lay her down, I peaked in on Emmy. Thankfully, she had fallen asleep on the couch. I put Jilly in her bed, praying that she wouldn't wake up and be a pill for the rest of the night. Adam got home about 6:30, and Emmy was up with her second wind - Jilly was still asleep. He asked if I thought Jilly would sleep through the night, and I told him she might, but I almost doubted it. I was hoping for a couple of hours, but the entire night would be great!

We ate dinner, changed into jammies, and Emmy settled down for a bit of The Good Night Show on Sprout before bedtime. I checked in on Jilly a time or two and she was sleeping like a log - snoring included! I almost felt bad that I didn't change her into jammies before I put her down, but I figured if I did that then she might not sleep at all. So, there she lay in her blue and white sear-sucker overalls, white shirt, and an over-sized purple windbreaker that used to fit Emmy six months ago.

I checked on Jilly for the last time about 11:30-ish, and she was still sound asleep. I considered waking her up to feed her, but that thought went in one ear and very quickly out the other. I figured if she was hungry, she would wake up and let everybody know about it.

Emmy and I both slept-in a bit on Friday. We were up making biscuits with snow (Emmy's version of cinnamon rolls) and bacon when I finally heard Jilly stirring. I checked the clock, and it was almost 9AM. The poor thing must have really needed the sleep - all 16 hours of it! Before I could get to the stairs, Emmy was hollering "I'm the line leader!" and ran up before me. We peaked into Jilly's room, and there she was, still in her jacket, "reading" a book to her stuffed animals. She caught sight of us out of the corner of her eye, and immediately wanted out of her crib. Not too very long from now, she'll be able to climb out of her crib by herself - but that's getting ahead of myself.

I scooped Jilly up and gave her a big hug and kiss, then eased her to the floor to let Emmy do the same. The first order of business was to change Jilly's diaper. Even though she had just gotten a new one before going to bed, she really needed to have had a change around midnight. Jilly, says I, just because the box of diapers says 23 to 35 pounds, doesn't mean that's how much these things can hold! Both the girls laughed, since Mommy is the funniest person in the world. I changed her into a t-shirt and cotton shorts for the time being, and headed back downstairs.

On most mornings, Jilly will eat a bowl of cereal and have a cup of juice and a cup of 1/2 smoothie and 1/2 milk. Today, she ate like a field hand having his last meal - a bowl of cereal; juice, milk and a smoothie; 2 cinnamon rolls; half a scrambled egg; and 1/2 banana & a couple of grapes. Then, to top this off, she ate half of my Quaker Breakfast cookie - oatmeal raisin, of course! Good thing I had gone to the store earlier in the week!

Poor Baby

2007-05-06T21:48:00.000-05:00

I am so sick of this Paris Hilton crap that's plastered all over the media right now. Who the hell cares this poor little rich girl got pulled over and issued a DWI, then got her driver's license suspended, then failed to show for several court dates, then showed up for the last date 10 minutes late?!?!?!

Who cares that this poor little rich girl probably wipes her ass with hundred dollar bills every time she takes a dump in her golden toilet? It's no skin off my nose!

Who the hell cares if she's famous? She infamous, if you ask me.

Should this trollop be considered a role model for young girls? Hell, no!

Why does society want to hold such an individual to god-like standards? Who the hell cares!

Get over it, America! This little snot-nosed brat isn't any better than the rest of us! Just because her family has more money than God doesn't mean we should try to be like her, want to be like her, or even dream to be like her.

So, shut the hell up, Paris! Tell your "fanz" to put the ix-nay on the petitions to Arnold, and show up for your time. Maybe 45 days in jail will put a little meat on your anorexic bones and slap some sense into your over-processed head.

Put on your big girl panties, and deal with it. That's what the rest of the real world does, bitch!

You Are Temperance

2007-04-30T22:06:00.000-05:00

So I'm tooling around Bedtime Stories tonight, and I came across this quiz entitled What tarot card are you? I'm not really into all the whole tarot card thingy, but I decided to try the link and give it a try (since I am curious about stuff). Anyway, according to the quiz, I am Temperance.

You are Temperance
Time. Ages. Transformation. Involuntary change

Temperance is another card of aspiration, but also of much change. It often represents complex situations. Positively, you can harmonize contrary forces.
Temperance is, on a surface level, about "tempering." The original pouring from cup to cup might have been about cutting wine with water. So this is a card about moderation. There is, however, another angle to the card, that of merging seemingly impossible opposites. Sagittarius, the centaur, merges beast and man into a unique creature. And then there is the bow and arrow, one moving, one stationary, working together to point the way. Temperance may be, at first glance, a warning for you to "temper" your behavior, to cut your wine with water. But it may also be a reminder to that seemingly irreconcilable opposites may not be irreconcilable at all. Belief that fiery red and watery blue cannot be merged may be the only thing standing in the way of blending the two. Change the belief, measure out each with care, and you can create otherworldly violet.

What Tarot Card are You?

Take the Test to Find Out.

I'm sure if I took the quiz again and gave different answers, I'd get something entirely different. But you do have to admit, things like this are kinda fun, aren't they?

Look at Them Lashes!

2007-04-27T14:15:00.000-05:00

One of the things I love the most about my EmmyBug is her amazing eyelashes. Adam has the same long, lush, luxurious dark brown lashes. When people meet Emmy for the first time, they usually comment on her big beautiful eyes, her multitude of lashes, or a combination of the two.

Emmy had rehearsal for her ballet recital today, so she did have on a little bit of make-up. As we were standing at the check-in table, I overheard a couple of mothers talking about the little girl "over there" that was wearing the false eyelashes. I looked over at the moms just in time to catch both of them quite openly staring - almost gawking - at EmmyBug.

I caught their eyes, and smiled politely. I didn't say anything to either of the two women, but I did have a few things that ran through my brain...

Are you crazy? My daughter doesn't need false eyelashes!

Take that, you Barbie-wanna-be-bleach-bottle hussy!

My daughter has better eyelashes than you AND your spaghetti-thin, over protected weakling!

Try getting those babies from an over-priced plastic surgeon! Not gonna happen!

It's Here! It's Here!

2007-04-26T09:20:00.000-05:00

I finally saw both trailers for Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix. If the trailer is only a smidgen of what we can expect from the movie, then hold onto your broom sticks! It's going to be a fantastic ride.

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/

I've Had It!!!

2007-04-26T07:16:00.000-05:00

I am at the point that I need a serious intervention. You know that show on A&E that follows an addict and ends with the addict's family and an interventionist telling the addict that they either accept help or accept the consequences of using drugs? For me it's not a drug addiction, it's the inability to clean. Are there interventionists for my disease?

I don't know if "Clean Sweep" is accepting applicants for any new episode, but if they are, I'm ready and willing for them to come sweep my house!

You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!

2007-04-24T15:29:00.000-05:00

I'm tooling around on a few of my favorites, and I come across something very disturbing - think the Cialis commercial, but more terrifying. The movie-turned-Broadway-production-turned-movie-again Hairspray is being released this summer, and I just came from the website. John Travolta and Christopher Walken are portraying Edna and Wilber Turnblad, parents of the film's main character, Tracy Turnblad.

I am sorry to say that although the movie looks promising, I don't think that I am going to like it because of Travolta in a fat suit. For the life of me, I can't see anybody in that role other than Harvey Firestein (he made the Broadway production sizzle). I will have to say that the movie's saving grace will more than likely be Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle. She totally rocks!

Check out the trailer at http://www.hairsprymovie.com/.

My Side of the Story

2007-04-24T14:18:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading my hubby's blog, and I am very disturbed by his most recent posting (Adam's Blog is linked at right). What he conveniently leaves out of his story is the fact that this happens EVERY MORNING, not just today!

Adam also left out the fact that when he woke me up at 5:45 AM, he asked if his jeans were in the dryer or if I (meaning his still half-slumbering wife) needed to put them in the dryer. When I told him that they needed to be put in the dryer, he then asks me to "help" him get his breakfast and lunch ready for work today. I'll do the dryer, but I'm not traipsing downstairs to fix his food for him. The sun's still down, for cryin' out loud!!! He should be happy that I set the coffee machine for this morning.

Isn't it amazing how certain details are omitted when different people tell the same story? Shocking!

Caught Red Handed!

2007-04-23T09:07:00.000-05:00

The Soda Thief strikes again! Don't you just love the look on Jilly's face? It's like she's saying "What do you mean I have to ask first?" She's just too cute for her own good.

Daddy's on His Own Today

2007-04-21T23:14:00.000-05:00

Like most weekends, I had to work, so Adam was on his own to take the girls to a birthday party at The Andersons' today. Emily (on her own) and Jillian (with a little help from Mommy) picked out their outfits and carefully set them out the night before so that everything would be ready. I sent Adam an e-mail with a couple of things in case I forgot to tell him the next morning as he was coming in from the Shop and I was on the way out the door to the pharmacy.

Anyway, the party started at 1:00, so I told Adam that if he wanted me to fix Emmy's hair to bring her by on the way out and I would do it. He didn't, but did pull her hair back into one big pony tail. I'm sure it looked very nice, but by the time I got home from work, it looked like she'd slept in it (if you've had the privilege of sleeping with her, then you understand what I'm talking about).

I'm almost glad it's time for Emmy's ballet recital. After that, she gets her summer hair cut - hooray!

I've Peed in My Pants

2007-04-21T23:02:00.000-05:00

Figuratively, that is. It's the middle of the night, and I know I should be counting some type of mammal, but I've just visited Blue Girl's Blog (http://bluegirlredstate.typepad.com) , and found a thread entitled Just Having Fun With Bush. Scroll down and find the post entitled Expert Advice From Our Nation's Leading Speechalist. Check it out if you have a free couple of minutes. It's good for a laugh or two.

The Soda Thief & The Princess

2007-04-20T20:20:00.000-05:00

It is understood in our house that if Adam has a diet soda, then it is fair game for everyone. We've tried giving the girls their own cups, but everybody ends up drinking from Daddy's cup - the abandoned cups sitting on the coffee table in puddles of water condensed on the outside from the melting ice. Here's tonight's prime example of The Soda Thief...

Emily likes to dress up, but not in the normal way most kids like to play dress up - she likes to dress up like several things at once. Tonight, she is a Ballerina Princess Kitty Cat Butterfly (although the order of her title is likely to change at any given moment). Here she is posing for the camera.

Day Two for Adam

2007-04-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

It's Day Two of NutriSystem for Adam. So far, so good. He's alredy lost 7.5 pounds (so he reported after getting off the scale).

Keep up the good work! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Sisterly Love

2007-04-20T08:36:00.000-05:00

I think I may have opened a can of worms with breakfast this morning. Since most of the breakfast items we have in the house are quick and easy, I decided to do something a little bit fun - I asked Emmy if she wanted to help make 1, 2, 3 Biscuits this morning. Of course, she was all into baking, so we turned on the oven and got a can of biscuits out of the fridge.

Each biscuit had to be rolled out. Emmy carefully chose which number cookie cutter to use. She (with a little help from Mommy and Jilly) cut out the buscuits and placed them carefully on the cookie sheet. The cookie sheets were put into the oven until they were just slightly golden.

While we waited for the buscuits to cook, Emmy showed Jilly the proper way to cut numbers out of playdough. The dough had to be rolled out just right, and the cookie cutter had to be positioned just right on the playdough. In the end, this is what Sisterly Love looks like...

Let's Get Walking

2007-04-19T07:12:00.000-05:00

Kimmie suggested that we start walking together. I'm all for it. The more folks we can get to walk with our group, the more accountable we all will be. How about tonight???

Hooray - Part 2

2007-04-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today is Adam's first day on NutriSystem. I could tell - before he even got to work - it was going to be a rough day. We both got up about 5:30 AM - him to shower, me to get his meals together for breakfast and lunch. Adam doesn't really like dairy, so adding this into his diet is a little more difficult (I guess I'm going to have to add a lot of calcium rich vegetables). Anyway, I jumped in the shower. When I got out, I could hear his truck pulling out of the drive way. I threw on my robe and headed downstairs to fix my morning cup o' joe. Before I could even take the first sip, Adam walked back in the door.

"What did you forget? My good-bye kiss this morning?" Adam looks very sheepish.

"No," he replied. "I forgot my bag."

Good to know that he remembered his breakfast and lunch when he was pulling out of the drive way instead of half-way to work. I also got an extra kiss, so that wasn't too bad.

Good luck to my hubby today!! We Love You!!!

Hooray for Adam!

2007-04-18T14:42:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, Adam told me that he wanted to check out the NutriSystem program to see what it was all about. I told him that I thought it was a good program, and reminded him that I had been on the NutriSystem program in the late 1990's and I had done really well. At the time, I was about 250. By the time I finished the program, I was about 175. With the exception on putting on a few pounds here and there, I was able to keep a good amount of the weight off. When we got married, I think I was about 190. For me that was great!

Tomorrow will be a new beginning for Adam. We ordered the NutriSystem program towards the end of last week and it arrived today via UPS. I sorted everything out and arranged "Adam's cabinet" with all of his goodies. Tonight, he will have his "last meal" and then the roughest part - he's got to get on the scale.

It's going to be tough, but I'm with him 100%.

Growing Up and Growing Older

2007-04-18T14:15:00.000-05:00

I got a call earlier this morning to remind me that the girls both have appointments with the pediatrician on Thursday morning - Jilly has her 15 month and Emmy has her 4 year old Well Visit. This got me thinking that it won't be much longer until both girls are only having Well Visits - not the every 3 to 6 months they do when they're babies.

Adam and I often talk about having another baby, but I'm torn. My pregnancy with Emmy was rather uneventful, except for the fact that I gained almost 100 pounds. I really liked being pregnant with Jilly. You couldn't even tell that I was pregnant until I turned to the side. All total, I think I gained 35 pounds during my second pregnancy - that included the baby!

I'm not going to think about another baby right now. Things are too screwy with school. If we did have another one, where would that baby sleep, and would the two older ones really want to share a bedroom? I'll think about it later...

In Prayer

2007-04-16T15:33:00.000-05:00

Dear God, I sit in reflection on the events that have transpired today on the campus of Virginia Technical Institute. Lord, Hear my prayers.

Be with those on campus as they battle this tragedy they were thrust into this morning.

Be with the parents of those students and faculty members that were killed.

Be with the students and school personnel that were injured. Speed them recovery, mentally and physically.

Be with the families of those that are injured.

Be with the family of the young man accused of this horrendous action.

Be with the health care professionals - emergency personnel, nurses, doctors - as they care for those that were injured. Grant them knowledge so that they may speed healing to the injured and comfort to the families.

Be with the school Administrators as they work to improve security through out campus.

Be with our country as we try to understand why this happened, the wounds that this has inflicted, and the anguish this has imposed upon our well being.

Lord, Hear Our Prayers. Grant peace and serenity to those 32 souls that have entered Your Kingdom today. May they dwell in Your love forever.

Amen

Disturbing Thought

2007-04-16T09:19:00.000-05:00

I woke up last night from a very disturbing dream. It's several years in the future, and both the girls are grown. I'm at the mall with some friends having lunch, and I overhear some young guys talking about this "hot babe" they saw at some strip club the weekend before. It didn't mean much to me, but it did get me thinking... If your child is a stripper, what do they list as their occupation on their income tax returns? Do they list "Exotic Dancer" or "Pole Maven"? What about "Femme Fatal"?

It really had nothing to do with my dream, but it is something to think about...

Bedtime Stories

2007-04-15T21:36:00.000-05:00

One of the links that I have on my page is to another blog entitled Bedtime Stories. I have no idea who the guys is, but his profile states he's a 30-something doctor living in Malaysia. I stumbled onto his page whilst reading an entry on another favorite page, Puntabulous. The author, one of my fabulous brothers-in-law, lists several links for other blogs. One day while recovering from a rather side splitting episode of Super Viagra, I checked out the other pages that Craig had linked, and the name caught my eye. Interesting, thought I.

Anyway, it's been a couple of days since I last checked in on the adventures of Dr. Bedtime Stories. The last posting was about running into a guy in a bakery that recognized him, but he couldn't figure out who in the blue-blazes this kid was. Long story short, the kid was the baby brother of a friend from high school, and the last time The Good Doctor saw him, the kid was kindergarten age, chubby and naked (so states the kid).

Where am I going with this? I really have no idea, but it did get me thinking about something... If you ran into someone that knew you, but you couldn't remember them to save your life, would you pretend to remember the person to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation, or would you admit to a total brain fart?

Think about it...

From The Mouths of Babes...

2007-04-13T14:23:00.000-05:00

I'm making potato salad to take to a friend's house for dinner tonight. Jillian is taking a much needed nap, and Emily is having art time. I hear Emily stomping on the ground.

"An ant! Mommy, IT'S AN ANT!" Continuous foot stomping accompanied by some chuckling.

"Where? Show me." I ask, looking for this minute creature my eldest is apparently afraid of.

"THERE!!!" More continuous foot stomping.

"Honey, I don't see anything."

"Don't worry, Mom. I think it's dead. Oh, well back to work."

Fire the Bastard - Part 2

2007-04-12T18:10:00.000-05:00

CBS finally did the right thing and fires Don Imus. If it was up to me, he would have been fired that day. On the spot. No questions asked, and no two weeks paid vacation.

Women need to rule the world. If that was the case, he would never be heard from again. That's my two cents.

A Moment of Reverence, Please

2007-04-12T17:52:00.000-05:00

I learned today that Kurt Vonnegut died last night at his home in New York at the age of 84. Vonnegut is an individual that has had such an impact on everyday life in American Society that his absence will be felt as a gaping whole.

So in memory of his amazing, and often controversial, life, we bid you a fond farewell, Mr. Vonnegut. As a result of your works of literary prose, our lives are that much richer. Thank you for your contributions.

"I One The Ice Cream Truck..."

2007-04-12T17:33:00.000-05:00

Adam and Emily have this game they play called "I One The Ice Cream Truck". The first time I heard them doing this exchange, I thought it was the corniest thing in the world. Emily absolutely loves it. You can, of course, substitute anything for the ice cream truck. It generally goes something like this:

Emily: I one the ice cream truck.
Adam: I two the ice cream truck.
Emily: I three the ice cream truck.
Adam: I four the ice cream truck.
Emily: I five the ice cream truck.
Adam: I six the ice cream truck.
Emily: I seven the ice cream truck.
Adam: I eight the ice cream truck.
Emily: You ate the ice cream truck! Daddy, you can't eat an ice cream truck!

Adam feigns hysterical laughter and Emily shrieks to break glass.

Ah, the joys of childhood.

Frustratingly Bad Turns Good

2007-04-12T17:15:00.000-05:00

I finally got pulled off the wait list for the AHS 104 class, and I'm officially in. Last night was the first class, and it looks like this is going to be the most boring class I have taken. This class was originally supposed to be 15 students. In talking with the instructor last night after class, she told me that some how the schedule got screwed up and of the 4 sections that were being offered, this was the only one at night. Clear as mud, huh?

Fire the Bastard!

2007-04-10T17:45:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, I'm not talking about Shrub in this posting. I'm referring to Don Imus.

It's been on the talk shows today, and one of the lead stories on the nightly news, so I'm sure that everyone is quickly getting tired of the half-hearted appologies that Imus has issued. I feel for the Women of Rutgers, the Women of America, the Women of this Amazing Planet. It is a case of "open mouth - swallow entire body".

Hopefully, somebody will quickly realize this man does not belong on the public airwaves.

Not So Frustratingly Bad News - Part 2

2007-04-10T15:32:00.000-05:00

So the frustratingly bad news has been upgraded to the "Crap!" classification. I talked to the Admissions Office today, and I have to retake the Biology course. CRAP! However, the upside to this is that I get to take it on-line, so I decide when I get to go to class and what I wear.

I'm still waiting on the AHS 104 thingy. I'm wait listed for the evening class, but I got into the Tuesday - Thursday morning class. Again, I say CRAP!

Blue Girl Rocks!!

2007-04-10T11:58:00.000-05:00

This is the most recent posting from one of my favorite blogs. You go, Blue Girl (http://bluegirlredstate.typepad.com/)!!!!

Even Rebels Have to Tuck Sometimes

"Do I have to tuck?"
"Yes. You have to tuck."
"Why?!"
"Blue Kid, don't start. Just tuck!"
The Skimmer yells from another room, "C'mon, Blue Kid. We only ask you to tuck twice a year. Now tuck!"
"Why? Who cares? I hate the country club. It's so stuffy."
"Don't think of it as the country club. Think of it as free food. Now, tuck your shirt in."
We get to the club my parents belong to and are standing in the coat check line when Blue Kid leans over to me and says, "Nothing but old, rich white guys. It's like a Halliburton convention in this place."
I just love Blue Kid.

God, I just love Blue Girl!

Chocolate High

2007-04-10T11:54:00.000-05:00

You might or might not know that I gave up chocolate for Lent. Since the Season is over now, I'm devouring anything that remotely resembles, smells or looks like this wonderful delight. I sure am glad that research says a small bit of dark chocolate is good for your health.

Bad thing is I think I gained back those 10 pounds already... That stinks.

Another Speed Bump in My Education - I Think...

2007-04-10T10:48:00.000-05:00

OK, so I have good news, some better news, and some frustratingly bad news about the whole nursing school thing...

GOOD NEWS - I got accepted into the Lanier Tech Practical Nursing program, and if everything goes according to plan, I should start this summer quarter. It's a good thing in that classes are Monday and Tuesday nights and Clinicals are Saturday from 7AM to 7PM.

BETTER NEWS - I got approved for a HOPE Grant, so my tuition is covered, and I get an extra $100 per quarter to cover my books. Down side to that is that some of the nursing books can cost upwards of $200 EACH! Guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, huh?

BAD NEWS - My advisor and the Dirctor of Admissions are both on Jury Duty this week, and I can't get an answer from anybody about the really frustratingly bad news (see below).

FRUSTRATINGLY BAD NEWS - I have been told that credits that are more than 2 years old will not be accepted, and those classes will have to be retaken. This means that unless I can get a waver, then I'm going to have to RETAKE ENG 101, MAT 101, PSY 101, and AHS 101. Yes, it's been more than 2 years since I took these classes, but looking back at my transcript, it really pisses my off that I made an A, a B, an A, and a B, respectfully, in each one of those classes (side note: AHS stands for Allied Health Science). Please keep fingers and toes crossed and hope that I don't have to take these stupid classes again.

A Day at the Aquarium

2007-04-04T20:16:00.000-05:00

Today, we took Mother to the Georgia Aquarium . My original plan was to be out and about this morning by 10AM so that we wouldn't be rushed and stuck in Atlanta rush-hour traffic going home. Well, even the best laid plans get FUBARed. I got logged onto the GA website around 8:45, and there were plenty of tickets available for the 10AM, 11AM and noon slots. By the time Mother got her act into gear, the next available tickets were for the 2PM time slot. Great, just what I wanted to do - take 2 tired girls into a packed, noisy environment.

Anyway, we got to the GA a little before 2PM, and everything went fine getting through the line. Since it's Spring Break, the place was packed to the rafters! Emmy had to go to the potty as soon as we made it into the atrium, so we went. Unfortunately, so did everybody else in the fricken place. We eventually made it in - me with Jilly, Mother with Emmy. Quite funny, let me tell you what.

We made our way through, and I noticed that the doors were open to the Grand Ballroom. I was not going to miss this, so we went in, and it was wonderful! I guess somebody finally got it through their thick skull that it would be a good idea to have the ballroom open for more seating during normal hours. It was quiet, and the views into the whale shark and beluga tanks were fantastic. Even though there were other people there, it wasn't elbow to elbow, and the girls had great views of the many schools of fish. Thankfully, Jilly finally fell asleep (hooray for quiet!).

We wandered through several of the exhibits for the next hour or so, and it was funny to watch Mother with Emily - the elder generation trying to point things out and tell a story or relate a point, and the younger generation flying by with only the slightest glance at an object. I guess that's probably commentary on today's society, in general.

Anyway, we made it through almost the entire GA, when Emily hit the wall and her tantrum button flipped into the "ON" position. Needless to say, we didn't make it through the tunnel and to the Big Tank. I really wanted to go so that Mother could see Jilly's reaction to the fish going everywhere. Oh, well... I guess we'll save that for another trip.

"I Do Myself" - Part Two

2007-04-03T08:47:00.000-05:00

For Christmas, Mother gave me something called a Shark. It's like a DustBuster, but a million times better. Anyway, I had it out this morning and Jilly started shrieking. I thought it was because she didn't like the noise. Nope. She wanted to clean the floor.

I guess she got my Meme's cleaning gene.

Your Source for Silly

2007-04-02T15:49:00.000-05:00

My wonderful brother-in-law has a blog that is hysterical. He illustrates "The Adventures of Super Viagra", and it's quite entertaining.

That's my two cents.

"I Told You So!" and "I Do It Myself"

2007-04-02T13:38:00.000-05:00

As the mother of two wonderful girls, I marvel at their abilities. Every time I turn around, one or both of them is doing something that either sends my blood pressure through the roof or dissolves me to a puddle on the floor. Here are examples of both instances that happened within about 10 minutes of each other.

Dee Dee, my Mother, is coming into town this evening for a visit. If you know Mother, then you know that she usually spend more time cleaning my house when she is here than she does actually enjoying her time with her granddaughters. Anyway, I'm picking up the books in Emily's room, and the next thing I heard was the patter of little bare feet in the kitchen. I step out of Emily's room and immediately fly into panic mode as I see that the gate to the stairs is wide-the-F&$# OPEN!!!!! In the .00000001 seconds it took me to get down the 15 steps, Jillian comes around the corner of the dining room with the "I'm so proud or myself" look on her face. The little monkey had gone down the steps BY HERSELF!!!!! I remember the first time that Emily went down the stairs by herself - Adam at the bottom of the stairs, and me about a step behind. After I got over the shock, I was in a puddle on the floor. My baby isn't a baby anymore.

On the other hand, there is Emily. She's too smart for her own good sometimes, but other times, I don't think she has a lick of sense in her head. For lunch today, she went into the garage to get a diet orange soda out of Adam's "beer fridge". She brought me the can and told me that "Daddy lets me drink it with a straw all by myself". OK, I thought, maybe she's big enough to not make a mess. She took it to the table with the requisite "Mommy's upon pain of death" speech. No sooner did I turn my back when I hear "Mommy, I need a towel". I think my BP shot up about 50 points.

I gave up alcohol and chocolate for Lent this year. Damned if I'll give up either of them again! I'll be glad when Sunday gets here. After today, I really need a drink.

Rocky Top?

2007-04-02T11:26:00.000-05:00

When I was growing up, the big question was "Alabama or Auburn?". Since I started my existence on this glorious planet on the Left Coast, I threw folks by responding "UCLA". As I got older and understood what the Alabama - Auburn rivalry meant, I became aware that there was also the Alabama - Tennessee rivalry. Last night I shocked myself.

I was channel surfing during a commercial - as I always do - and remembered that the NCAA Women's Semi-finals were being broadcast on ESPN. I flipped over, and discovered that the UNC - Tennessee game has just started. I decided I was going to watch, just because I have this thing about dynasties in sports that interest me. Case in point - Coach Pat Summitt (www.coachsummitt.com).

One of the ESPN commentators made the remark that Pat Summitt would most probably reach 1000 wins before she reaches 200 losses. I checked her website, and after last night's win versus UNC, she now has a record of 913 wins and 177 losses - that's 83.8 %! This does not include her international W-L record (63-4). Add this in, and she's 976-181. Amazing when you consider the winningest coach in NCAA history was UNC's men's basketball coach Dean Smith (879-254 when he retired in 1997). Damn, it makes me proud to be a woman!!!

Anyway, I watched the game as silently as I could, so not to wake my slumbering spouse, realizing that every tick of the clock was another milestone in Coach Summitt's history making career. When the final buzzer sounded, I found myself doing something my Alabama friends would find insulting... I was singing "Rocky Top".

As I patiently await the women's National Championship game on Tueasday night (CBS @ 8:30 PM EST), I'll remember it's OK to root for Tennessee against Rutgers. It would be nice to see Pat Summitt raise Championship Banner #7.

Until August, that is. My blood does run Crimson and White, ya' know.

Too Much to Do

2007-03-28T11:12:00.000-05:00

I have too much to do, and not enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished - family, school, running a household, (and least of all) having time for Mommy. I saw a couple of neighbors at Wally-World on Sunday, and Eric hit it right on the head - I don't really work to work. I work to have a vacation form being a mother. For that, I may be faulted, but I don't think I can be a good mother without having some time to myself for decompression.

Take today for example. I am still coping with the fact that I'm not going back to nursing school - again. Last year was a completely different situation (having a baby), I came to terms with the fact that I needed to put the welfare of my infant above my desire to further my education. It was not "dropping out" of school, it was devoting myself to my child and realizing that I would not be able to get back the first year of her life if I tried to continue with school. This year, it was the case of being borderline - along with 12 other classmates - and not having anything to push you over the edge. Those of us that were *this* close to continuing are all in agreement on one thing - the grading rubric must change!!! I'll explain why...

First Quarter, your grade is determined by 4 tests, the final, and how your group does on a presentation. Second Quarter, your grade is determined by 4 tests and the final. That's it. Nothing else. So all the work that is done preparing for labs and check-offs, clinical preparations and the ever important Care Plan paper, counts for shit. I don't know exactly how many hours I spent on that fricken paper, but I'm sure it was close to 200 hours. And the damn thing didn't count towards my final grade. I even talked to the program director about this gross misjustice. She told me that in the past, the care plan did count toward the final grade, but that it brought a majority of the student's grades DOWN. How the hell can that happen?!?!? You get your CP client, and then you have a month to work on the damn thing, and you can give any part of it to you clinical instructor at any time for help/feedback. It seems to me that the care plan should be a given "A" in the class - that is unless you screw it up by not turning in the paper to begin with. I guess this falls into the category of "No use crying over spilled milk", huh?

Get Ready. Get Set. GO!!!

2007-03-27T16:12:00.000-05:00

Well, I've taken the plunge and started my own blog page. This page probably won't be about much, but it will be an outlet for my brain that I can't discuss with my other half.