Monday funny

It's Monday and you need a little giggle, so watch this. If you don't think this is funny, then grab the nearest 5 year old to watch it with. You will laugh at them laughing at it. Trust me. I've seen it like 75 times and it never gets old.




Have a weiner day!

Lesson learned

Make no mistake about it, people, parenting is a job. It is a job without monetary benefits, without promotion, and without free perks. If you thought that your life's purpose was to have children, raise children and have those children appreciate the job you did, then you will end up a sad shell of a human being. Unsolicited praise from my kids is very rare and when it does happen, I feel all giddy like a kid on Christmas morning. If there is one thing I have learned as a parent, it is never to look to my kids for any kind of validation of my worth. Here's my most recent example.

I volunteered to bring in a Halloween snack for Shepard's kindergarten class. I decided to go all out--I made bloodshot monster eyeball cupcakes, square pretzels half dipped in chocolate and black and orange sprinkles, and string cheese cut into the shape of a creepy finger with a slice of grape for the fingernail. It took me most of the evening before and the morning of snack day to complete the food. On snack day, I personally delivered the snacks to his class and helped the teacher serve them on carefully chosen Halloween napkins.

That afternoon when Shepard arrived home I asked him, "Shepard, did you like the Halloween snacks I brought to your class?" He replied, "No, it was yucky. I didn't eat it." Shepard is an extremely picky eater and if things look the least bit different he refuses to try it. However, I had worked so hard and I felt really down about it. Alan had a talk with him that evening and told him, "Shepard, you really hurt Mommy's feelings. You should apologize to her."

So the next day, Shepard came up to me, took my hand as he looked me in the eyes, and said, "Mommy, I am sorry your snacks were yucky."

I am a superhero--but you knew that already

It rained here off and on all day on Halloween. But we didn't let that dampen (ha ha) our fun. We got the carving, baking and costuming done for our annual neighborhood party. This year Sage was an evil clown--he worked on his insane laugh for weeks. Shepard was the cutest little cowboy ever. Ah, he is still such an innocent flower. I wonder how long I have until he starts wanting to be a psychotic killer of some sort every year.

Alan and I were superheros this year.

Let me present to you...da da da daaaaahhh...

Captain Roadkill and Wal*Mart Woman!!!

I bought most all of my costume components at Wal*Mart! Can you believe it? I even had one of my neighbors say that I looked hot. Alan agreed and kept wanting to do rude things to Wal*Mart Woman. Man, if I knew dressing trashy would make me this desirable I would have started a long time ago.

Remember kids...

Save money, Live Better.

A sign from...no, not God.

If there was ever a more clear sign to "get blogging" (as my blogging buddy Clippy Mat so eloquently put it) then I don't know what it would be. Here it is compliments of, you guessed it, my son, Sage.

Boys will be boys, I suppose.

Looks like Scarecrow is happy to see you.

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!

Time keeps on slipping

Do I really look 39 to you?!! OK, don't answer that. And stop using your zoom, dammit!!!

All hail the Birthday girl!! That's me. I have made a birthday resolution which is to rock the last year of my 30s. This decade has been good to me. I have wonderful memories. I don't know what to expect from my 40s but I will think about that tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day.

I started my day with the kids giving me lots of hugs. Sage even walked with me to the bus stop instead of 10 feet in front of me. I felt so special. Then it was off to coffee with my girlfriends. I am having lunch with my mom at the botanical gardens and dinner with my whole family tonight. Should be a fun day.

When Alan and the boys were discussing my birthday present I told them not to buy anything. I said that the best present they could give me would be to keep the house clean for one week. So, they bought me Rockband 2 for the Xbox. Yes, I love it. I love the drums although I probably look like a spaz on amphetamines when I am playing. I am terrible at guitar. But I think I really shine at the mic. I could totally be a rock singer if it wasn't for the off keyness. Ha!

So what should I do in the last year of my 30s--something I have never done before. Get a tattoo? A piercing on a part other than my ear? Go to Mardi Gras? Vegas? Have sex in a car? On film? Wear a cowboy hat? Go camping? Get in a fist fight? Dye my hair? Take up wrestling? Sewing? Stick to a diet until completion? Have plastic surgery?

I will take suggestions but just keep in mind that I do not jump out or off of things. I am not afraid of heights--I am afraid of falling from them. I am ready to crazy go nuts this year. So let me know what you think. (And if you say plastic surgery, you have to name the part. But if you say my nose, I will cut you!!)

2009's putting J.Hi in a corner

Noooooo, not Swayze too!!

What the hell is going on here?! Why is the year 2009 trying to kill my childhood?

I swear if Simon Le Bon dies next, I am going to freaking LOSE IT, People!!!!

Up yours 2009!!

And don't even think about messing with Michael J. Fox!!!!!

Free at last, free at last

The kids started school last week and boy have I been lazy!!! I was sad to see my baby Shepard start kindergarten...well, I was sad for like thirty seconds after he got on the bus and then I was elated. It's the sweet smell of freedom, baby! Weeeeehoooooo!!

Shepard has adjusted well to school and says that he loves it. On Friday, he was able to pick a prize from the treasure box in his classroom for being well behaved all week. When he got off the bus he showed me his prize and said, "Look what I got on the last day!" Later we were discussing how he does not go to school on Saturday or Sunday but would return Monday. He seemed surprised and said, "Who will I have when I go back?" Ha! I guess he thought four days and he was done with kindergarten.

Sage is in 4th grade this year. On Friday, his school showed the older students the Obama speech. I asked Sage about the speech and he said, "I think it was about education or something."

I knew Shepard would do well with adjusting to school. But I did have one big concern. He is still not wiping his own butt. He can do it, he just chooses not to. He usually calls Alan or me to come in to help him. Halfway through the summer we decided to get tough with him and refuse to come when he called. But the child would just sit there. I swear I think he would have sat on the toilet all day waiting for us to do his dirty work. I couldn't stand it and would usually go in and help him. However, with school coming, I knew I had to dole out some tough love.

This was a typical exchange...

"Moooooommmy!!! Come here!, I'm in the bathroom!!!

No Shepard, you have to try and wipe yourself!

Mommy!!

No! I'm not coming.

Mommy, I'm not pooping. I'm stuck! I'm stuck in the bathroom, Mommy. Come here!

Shepard, you have to try wiping first and then I will come and check you!

But it hurts my arm to wipe!

Shepard, everyone on the whole planet wipes. I know you can do it too.

Mommy, come here!!!

No!!

Come on, Mommy. I'll buy you new pillows!!!!"

Ok, how am I supposed to resist that? It's mental torture. Alan was more impervious to his pleas and when he was there I had to rely on his strength. One day Shepard called, "Daaaaaady, come here!" When Alan refused, he continued, "Moooooomy!!!" I refused. Then there was a pause. "Saaaaaaage!!!" Sage said, "Oh No!! I don't think so."

I finally had a serious talk to Shepard explained to him that when he went to kindergarten his teacher would not wipe his butt. I asked him what he was going to do if he pooped at school. He said, "I am only going to do number one at school." Well, at least he has a plan. Hope that works for him. I did tell Sage that I was going to have to list him as Shepard's 'Poop contact' so he could help Shepard wipe at school. Sage said, "Well, I hope it's during Math class."

Picture perfect

Here's the picture montage I made for Alan. Watch it quick because YouTube said they might shut it down since I used a copyrighted song.

Party in the U.S.A.

I threw Alan a party for his birthday this past Saturday. He actually turns 40 on December 8th however, he wanted a summer party so we could hang out on the porch and deck. So we called it a '39 and holding' party. It was a great success but whoa, am I tired! I had to cat nap off and on all day yesterday and then slept a good 8 hours last night. I still feel a little slow today but life goes on and so must I.

One thing I did realize while planning this party was that it was much easier to pull off then some of the parties we gave in our 20s. When I think back I remember Alan and I frantically cleaning, buying food and drink, and setting up all by ourselves. And a lot of the time we had low turnout--people would be very noncommittal or have other things going on. It was very frustrating. But now it seems like we have no problem pulling off a great party. I had so many people come to me and say, "What can I do?" One of the advantages of getting older, I suppose, people are just as busy but not so self-centered.

The magician/juggler I hired was a great success. I was worried people would think it was cheesy but the guy was great. He did the most amazing card tricks, was very funny, and, best of all, juggled fire on my deck. Oh how I wish I could juggle fire. That is always a crowd pleaser.

After the juggler left, I did a little tribute to Alan. I went over some Alan trivia, read a history of Alan and showed a picture slide show. I am going to throw it on You Tube and post it later. We had great fun and have a wonderful memory to cherish. But it is a good thing my 40th is over a year away because there is only so much fun I can stand in one year. I'm getting older, you know.

My tribute to John Hughes

When Sage was 6, I found him like this one day. He said, "Daddy taught me how to do this." Alan was so busted! But I had to smile since it was right out of one of my favorite teen movies "Weird Science."

Gary?... By the way, why are we wearing bras on our heads?

Ceremonial

RIP John, you made me laugh

And I thought I loved him then

Country songs just hit right home with me. I heard a song this morning that made me smile. It was Brad Paisley's song "Then." I really related to the sentiment in the song, especially today.

I remember, trying not to stare the night that I first met you, You had me mezmorized...

I first met Alan while in our 4th year of college. We were out at a bar with friends and our groups happened to be standing next to each other in the back of the room. He quietly sang along with the band. I remember his smile when I teased "I love it when you sing to me." We saw each other out a few more times that semester and we flirted, but he was never pushy. In fact, I finally had to ask him out. I called to invite him to my sorority formal and he accepted. And then he asked me out for that night. And we never looked back.

I hadn't told you yet, but I thought I loved you then...

We dated a little over two years. I'll never forget how we used to kiss at every stoplight while driving around town. The first time he told me he loved me, I responded with, "I think I love you too." He wasn't offended, he just giggled at me. I was so guarded but he knew that. He was alway so sure about us. He won me over.

We've come so far since that day, And I thought I loved you then...

I told him that when he proposed, I didn't want him down on one knee. I wanted him to start our life together just like we would live our life together--on the same level--partners. I couldn't wait to marry him. And, like our first dance song said, it was a whole new world. It was a big adjustment but we did it together.

And now you're my whole life, now you're my whole world...

Alan is just a great person. He can still surprise me after all these years. He makes me laugh. He loves me even when I don't deserve it. He is a wonderful father. My boys are so lucky. He has been right beside me for every major and minor decision--every happy time, every sad time. He's knows me best and he still loves me.

What I can't see is how I'm ever gonna love you more,But I've said that before...

I love you, Alan. Happy 15th Anniversary!!

Let sleeping kids lie

Sage crawled into bed with me early this morning and said, "Shepard looks so cute when he is sleeping." I told him "Well, God invented sleep so parents would keep their children." I explained, "Some days kids drive their parents crazy and misbehave so much that by the end of the day the parents say 'We can't take it anymore!!!' and then the kid goes to sleep. When the parents come to check on the child, the child looks like a little angel--so sweet and innocent. And the parents' hearts are filled with love and they decided to keep him. I asked him, "When you looked at Shepard sleeping, did you feel all lovey toward him?" Sage nodded. "See, it works!"

Sage reminded me of the time when he was 2 and we were trying to transition him from a crib to a toddler bed. He was having a very hard time with the transition. He loved the idea of having a big boy bed but when it came to actually sleeping in it, he didn't like that so much. We would put him to bed and then return later to find he had left the bed and fallen asleep in another part of his room. Here he is behind the door...

Under the rocking chair...

Under the bed...

In the corner with all his stuffed animals...

And finally, (this one nearly gave me a heart attack), up on the changing table.

When I'm at work and new parents ask me, "Should I wake the baby?" My answer is always NO! They'll learn soon enough...you never wake a sleeping child.

I am...Polka Master!!

Alan will turn 40 in December. However, he wants an outdoor party for his birthday so I am throwing him a "39 and holding" party at the end of August. Yes, you are all invited. Anyway, the planning has already begun because I want it to be SPECTACULAAAARRRRR!! I have been exchanging emails with a few entertainers, one of which happens to be an accordion player. (You have to understand what I am going for with this party; I crave an air of cheesy, but memorable, ridiculocity.) Initially I sent this man a short, polite note inquiring about his rate and availability. This was his reply, "Where, what location?" There was no "hi, how are you, thanks for your interest, yada yada" just "where, what location?" So I wrote him back with the name of my subdivision and where in my city it was located. So here is the reply I got...

"I know where" your subdivision "is located. I just needed to know in town or out-of-town for quote purposes. I've booked 187 engagements this year, to-date; your date of August 29 is currently open on my booking schedule for your starting time frame at 6PM but that could change at any time(I'm playing earlier that same day). If interested, I would suggest you book me now, not later, to be assured the date will remain open on my booking schedule."

I know I shouldn't try to infer tone from an email but he came off a little too big for his frilly britches to me. He included his resume and a picture of himself and then assigned me eight questions that I was supposed to answer and send back. Here's the kicker--he charges $200/hour!!!!!!!! What the hell?! You know in my job I help sick people get well and I don't make one fourth of what this ass clown is asking. I quickly replied that I was still exploring my options and would not be booking him at this time.

Mr. (self-proclaimed) Polka Master wrote back again and said this...

"So you're shopping around? I don't compete with anyone from this area; I play accordion and sing with the best in the entire country, with a lot of charisma, and mix very well with my audience, make them feel comfortable, at home, take requests, etc. If you're looking for someone who is not a true professional with years of entertaining experience, then I'm not your choice. Can't hold your date and time frame without a commitment."

Wow, I have never run across such an uppity accordion player. Here is the email I wanted to write back to him...

Dude, do you realize you play the accordion?! Seriously, are you mental?

Well, I didn't send that email because you never know when you might really need a totally arrogant accordion player. I don't want to burn my bridges. However, I have decided to go with a roving magician/juggler/unicycler who not only sounds fun but was very polite.

A peek into the male brain

Alan and I had just woken up and were cuddling before the day began. Alan said "I had a dream about you last night." I was waiting for the graphic details--what lingerie would I be wearing and in what position. But he surprised me.

Alan, "I dreamed that you were a lesbian."

Me, "A lesbian?"

Alan, "Yeah, and not the good kind."

Me, "What do you mean--the good kind?"

Alan, "Oh you know, the kind that would let me watch or join in."

Me, "So the bad kind is..."

Alan, "The kind that would shut the door in my face and say 'We don't need you' "

Me, "Oh."

Alan, "Do I have anything to be worried about?"

Me, rolling eyes, "No."

Then 10 seconds of silence.

Alan, "You're going to blog about this, aren't you?"

Me, "Of course I am."

Later in the week we were out with a couple for dinner. When I related this story to them, the woman of the couple looked as confused as I was about the good kind of lesbian. But the man said, "Oh, I knew exactly what he meant." More evidence that all men share one medium to large size brain. Ha!

Number 3

I took the boys to the dentist yesterday. Shepard was happy to go and said, "Yay, I love the dentist!"

***Side note: Let me just say, for the record, that my kids are waaaay too spoiled. When I was little I had a 60 year old scraggly-haired dentist with a gravely voice and smoker's breath. And he scared the crap out of me. I always behaved because I was paralysed with fear. I didn't want my kids to have that fear so I picked a mild mannered pediatric dentist with a bright, cheery office and prizes and balloons. Little did I realize that I was turning them into the "pansy asses" that my father predicted when he found out I got a baby wipe warmer for my baby shower.
My kids have been through about 10 toothpastes and still cannot decided on one they like and agree on--it's too minty, it's too fruity, it's too spicy, waaaaah. (And here it comes, I guess these speeches start in the late 30s...wait for it, wait for it...) BACK IN MY DAY, I had one choice of toothpaste and that was white Colgate. That's what my mom bought and that's what the whole family used and I didn't question it. Kids today!!

Sage wasn't as excited about the dentist visit being that he is not as easily impressed by cheap toys and balloons anymore. When we arrived the hygienist whisked them away for x-rays. It was Shepard's first teeth x-ray and he came back smiling. Sage took a bit longer and when he finally came out, he too had a grin on his face. He walked up to me and said, "I vomited." I surmised that the vomit was due to his strong gag reflex. He has had difficulty in the past tolerating the x-ray film back in his mouth. I guess I should have warned her. I was a bit horrified and asked, "Did you vomit on their floor?" He said, "A little bit" and again smiled looking quite pleased with himself. Then he went on to say (in his best Monty Python voice) "It smelt of ELDERBERRY!" Life is always an adventure with Sage around.

Later when Shepard found out Sage vomited he said, "You did number 3?" My kids have decided that, along with number 1 for pee and number 2 for poop, there is a number 3 which is vomit. Diarrhea is number 4. Cha Cha Cha

I wanna rock with you

I mourn for Michael Jackson today. But I mourn for my '80s Michael, my Thriller Michael--not for what he became but for what he was. You cannot deny his influence. His music brings me back to my teenage years and will always have a special place in my heart. Another American tragedy.


I am way, way too upset to exercise today. How could I possibly run the treadmill when Michael is dead? I had planned to start again today after my mourning period for David Carradine. And before that there was some jazz musician who died--or was it a singer? or maybe cinematographer? Can't remember. Damn, if these people don't stop dying, I will never be fit.


Speaking of tragic deaths, our big TV died on Monday. We had a 36 inch TV bought in 1998. I will never forget when we bought that TV. Alan and I were so freaking excited. The night before it was to be delivered I came down with a horrible stomach bug and threw up all night. In the wee hours of the morning Alan had to take me to the ER. Minutes turned to hours and we started getting nervous that we would miss our TV delivery--between 10 and 12 that morning. As I lay on the stretcher, pale and lethargic, IV in my arm, I lifted my head, took Alan's hand and said, "Honey, you have to leave me. You have to go get our big TV." Alan said, "Are you sure?" I replied, "Yes, we cannot miss our delivery time. You have to go. Go get our big TV." Alan did reluctantly leave me in the ER and got home just in time. My mom arrived soon after to pick me up and take me home. I spent the rest of the day recovering on the couch in front of that big TV.


But now we have a new big TV. A flat screen!! Wooo, welcome to the 21 century. Now I can watch 46 inches of Michael Jackson coverage all day long.


The 'We are the World' video is on. Haven't seen this in years. Michael has his sparkly socks and white glove on. Wow, that's when Kenny Rogers still looked real, not like a muppet. Bruce Springsteen is so constipated. Oh there's Bob Dylan. Is he still alive? What the hell is Dan Akroyd doing in there? Oh, sing it Ray!! I love Kenny Loggins 80s hair. Let me ask you, is it true that we make a better day, just you and me?

Seeing 'We are the World' really makes me want to watch the Jimmy Kimmel "I'm F*cking Ben Affleck" video again. And then I will watch Weird Al's "Fat" in tribute to Michael.

Found: One selfish shrew

Here I am again, Friends, to inform you that my quest for the elusive J.Hi has ended. I have accomplished my mission. I found her. I went to her house and upon receiving no answer to my knock, I decided to wander around to the backyard. Who should I find lounging on the deck but Miss Thang herself. I confronted her and here is the transcript...

Reader: Well, well, well...if it isn't J.Hi sitting here with her feet up.

J.Hi: Reader!! Hi, how have you been?

Reader: Oh, do you really want to know?!

J.Hi: Um, sure.

Reader: In turmoil, complete and utter turmoil! I haven't been able to eat, sleep, or enjoy "I'm a Celebrity, get me out of here."

J.Hi: Oh no, Reader, why?

Reader: You have some nerve asking me that. You left...you left without one word. It's been over a month since I've heard from you. One day you posted and then there was nothing...no post, no goodbye...nothing. How could you?!

J.Hi: Reader, I'm sorry. There were just a lot of things going on--Shepard had soccer, Sage had SOL tests, then the end of school came...I had both of the boys' birthday parties to give, I was working and before I knew it--vacation. It's just been crazy.

Reader: Save it, sister!! You think you can just neglect me like that? Just go off and live your life and not blog about it? Well, you keep treating me this way and one day I won't be there. I will not be taken for granted!! I will not be ignored!!

J.Hi: Oh Reader...I...I'm...so...

Reader: WHAT?! You're so what?

J.Hi: I just feel terrible. I didn't know you would miss me. I am so, so sorry. Reader, please look at me.

Reader: no

J.Hi: Reader, take my hands and look at me. Come on, look at me...please. I have something to say.

Reader: fine

J.Hi: Dear Reader, I was wrong for leaving you that way. I am truly sorry. My life was so busy and the time just got away from me but that is no excuse. I should have posted. I should have let you know what was happening with me. I will try and do better for you. I am not perfect and I may lapse. Sometimes I may go for a while without posting but that doesn't mean I am not thinking about you. You fill a void in me that no one else can. I will never abandon you. I cherish you, Reader, and I will always, ALWAYS come back to you. Will you forgive me and give it another chance?

Will you, Reader?

Hmmm? One more chance?

Reader: What-Ever, Bitch!! Now get your lazy ass to the keyboard and start writing!!

Suspicions

I am starting to get suspicious. I have found more photographic evidence and it seems that J.Hi may not be in as much distress as I thought.

Here she is at Shepard's preschool graduation. She is looking pretty happy here. No distress to speak of.

And here she is with Sage on his 9th birthday. All smiles. Hmmmm, interesting.

Finally, I found out that she went on vacation with Alan, Sage and Shepard to their cabin in the mountains. I thought surely I would see her a total wreck at the thought of 'roughin' it' without Internet, cell phone service, and four days sans jewelry. Here she is handling challenges the only way she knows how.

I am starting to think she is not in trouble but may be having....FUN!!!! Could it be? Could she have forsaken us for a measly month of fun? Oh, this will not stand! I will be paying her a little visit tomorrow and she will answer for this. Oh yes she will!

J.Hi sightings

Hello again Friends,

I'm the one who posted yesterday. You can just call me Reader. After a day of searching and asking around J.Hi's 'hood I still was not able to find her current whereabouts but I did dig up some information. It seems that she was sighted on Memorial Day weekend at the zoo with her family. I found some pictures documenting this visit. Rumor has it that after buying the food to feed the animals, her sons balked and she was forced to do the dirty work. Here is J.Hi being licked by a very long, black toungue.

The family then proceeded to the camel area. where J.Hi instructed her husband, Alan, to take a picture of "the one with two humps." This is the result.

Well, the zoo visit did not give me any clues as to why she is not posting so I decided to talk to her neighbors. It seems that later that same weekend she was spotted at a neighborhood party.

Alright, now we're getting to it. Poor J.Hi! What could be going on with her that she would allow a picture like this to be taken? She obviously is very disturbed? Maybe from the giraffe licking? Possibly. Is she giving us a distress signal here? Is this a cry for help? What ill fate has befallen our Princess of the Pedestrian? Our Madame Mundane? I am going to get to the bottom of this and will not rest until I help her. Truly I cannot live without the weekly accounts of her everyday extra average humdrum life. So on I go. I will report back, Friends.

Where in the world is J.Hi?

Hello Friends, It's been over a month and we have not had a new post from J.Hi. I am a regular reader of this blog and I want to know where she has been? Why hasn't she posted? Doesn't she care about us? Is she really a wife, mother, nurse? Is she really a woman?!!! Or has this all been a ruse, a dream sequence? Have we just woken up without her? I am afraid. I don't think I can live without her. Where are you J.Hi?!! Please come back to us, I am begging you!!!!!!

Ok, I need to get a grip and just go out there and find her. I am going to do some investigation today people and I will let you know what I find out. Please say a prayer for me, for her, for all of us.