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.

Mama mia!!!!

Mother's Day had its ups and downs. I always have this fantasy of having breakfast served in bed and then being waited on hand and foot for the rest of the day while being showered with love and appreciation. Doesn't usually happen, but they try and that is what counts. I know they love me. How could they not?! Ha!


I have two sister who are 11 and 10 years older than me. They became mothers long before I did. When I was a teen my mom, my sisters and my middle sister's mother-in-law had tradition of going out on Mother's Day for a ladies only brunch. They would give each other funny presents, have some cocktails and laugh together. I was not included since I was not a mother. Their tradition went on a several year hiatus when my sister's mother-in-law passed away.

However, in 2003 my mom decided that the Mother's Day brunch should resume including moi, of course, since now I had Sage. When I heard the news, I had an idea...a wonderful awful idea. I begged my mom to let me plan the brunch and with a slight hesitation she agreed. She likes to be actively involved in planning so it was hard to let the newbie take over. I also decided to keep the venue a secret. I had to keep it a secret because I didn't want anyone to chicken out or rain on my parade. You see, I decided to take them to a Drag Show brunch at a gay bar downtown.

Mother's Day morning arrived and they were still in the dark. Besides myself, the group consisted of my Mom, my two sisters, and my Mother-in-law. As we were waiting in line to go into the bar, my sister sidled up to me and pointed at the hostess. (Picture if you will King Kong Bundy in yellow chiffon with a blond wig) My sister whispered to me, "I think that hostess is a man!" My hand flew to my chest and I gasped, "Really?! You think so?" Inside I am laughing my ass off.



The brunch was a big hit. I was the hero of the day. My mom said it was the "best Mother's Day ever!!" And that is my best Mother's Day memory.








Brunch: $20


Drinks: $12


My mom with man boobies in her face: Priceless

My parents never loved me

And here's the proof...





What kind of a messed up 5th birthday present is that?!! I cannot believe my parents seriously did this to me. Come on!!!

My baby turned 5 on Thursday and in September will be entering kindergarten. This has been a tough one for me. But he is excited and oh so ready for the next step. He has grown up way too quickly--a result of having an older brother I am sure. Instead of watching Diego he watches 'iCarly' and 'Drake and Josh.' Instead of playing innocently with blocks or cars, he is out having epic Nerf gun battles with the boys in the 'hood. The birthdays are tough---Imagine something that you own completely but every year you have to give up a little more ownership, a little more control. It's like giving up a little piece of myself. I am excited for them but scared too. I fear change!!!!

I wish things could stay the way they are right now. Because now seems kind of perfect.

One thing leads to another

The green dust has been mucking up my mind, ya'll. The pollen usually doesn't kick my butt this bad. But for the past month I have been a coughing, snotting, couch loving, junk food eating, ass dragging human equivalent of a three-toed sloth. I have tons of thoughts in my head but not motivated to get them out. Until now...

Because of my period of sluggishness, I have packed on a few pounds. My only exercise has been to watch "The Biggest Loser" and feel guilty. But Alan and I know that the dreaded bathing suit season is coming which is the motivation we needed to buy a treadmill and get our fat assess moving again. Alan finally finished putting it together Sunday night while I was at work. He made the grave mistake of leaving the boys alone in the room with it while he went to run their bath. Alan heard a loud crash and then crying. Here's what happened in Shepard's words "I was walking on the treadmill and then Sage put it on speed and I flew off the back." Yes, poor Shepard went flying off the treadmill and crashed into the wall behind him and busted his lip. And was Alan sorry that Shepard got hurt? Well, of course he was but he was more sorry that he didn't get it on tape so he could get it in cash. Later in the week, this conversation was overheard:

Sage "Shepard, I love you."

Shepard "Talk to the hand."

Speaking of exercise motivation...Shepard walked in on me getting out of the shower one morning and said in his sing songy voice, "I see your butt...it's wobbly." After that blow to my ego, Shepard sang, "I see your penis!" I said, "I don't have a penis." Then he asked, "Well, what do you call it?" That did give me pause. I was not sure what to tell him. I didn't want him to call it a 'pookey' which is what I grew up thinking it was called. I told him it was my private area. So then he sang, "I see your private area!" Alan said I should have told him it was my 'Va Jay Jay.' Not sure how that would go over in church preschool.

Speaking of discussing sensitive issues with your kids...Sage is almost 9 and I have been agonizing about what tell him about body/sex issues and when it is appropriate. I decided to start with how babies are born. I came across a show on TLC where they were going to show a woman having C-section. Sage was born via C-section because he was breech so I thought it would be a good way to broach the subject. Sage watched the surgery and said it was gross. But he was very pleased to find out that the first body part he presented to this world was his butt. Then I went on to explain to him how babies were born without surgery. I told him that women had an extra hole down there that was connected to a uterus where the babies grew. When the baby is ready it comes out of that extra hole. Sage thought about it and then said, "Hmmmm, that's like mammals." It was a relief to have that first sensitive talk over with. And imagine my delight when, at my parent's 53rd anniversary dinner last night, Sage used the word 'uterus' in a sentence.

Speaking of sex stuff...I read an article in the paper about some middle school students in my county that got busted for sexting (taking nude pics of them selves and texting it to classmates.) So I told Alan about it and demanded that he sext me right now. He promptly dropped his drawers in the middle of the kitchen. Ok, kind of low tech, but I guess that was fine too. (Picture unavailable

Speaking of not wearing underwear (and Alan wasn't wearing any)...Shepard heard Alan and Sage discussing a Star Wars character named Commander Cody. He started associating this name with the phrase "going commando." So whenever I hear him say "I'm going Cody today" I have to do an underwear check.

Speaking of wearing underwear...This is my favorite underwear picture ever.

Swine Flu, my ass!

Did you hear that they renamed the Swine Flu? It's now H1N1 virus. Is it me or does that make you want to call it the Heiny Flu? Ass lovers everywhere will now be afraid for their lives. Do you love ass? Oh you do?! Well the Heiny Flu is coming for you. I hope they will be distributing some ass masks for protection. Since it is a combo of pig, bird and human germs, why don't they call it the "You will get this flu when pigs fly"virus. That would be catchy. Or how about the "You couldn't have just stayed home and drank your tequila!" flu. All good options.

I am a little surprised at all the panicking going on about this thing. I have heard so many conspiracy theories surrounding the virus I am starting to think it should be called the "Panic and wring your hand about the flu but don't pay attention to what we are doing over here" flu. And did you hear that the Egyptians ordered the slaughter of like 300,000 pigs? Crazy! Where is PETA when you need them. Shouldn't they be protesting in the streets of Cairo, stripping down and doing their nude commercials, holding up signs of bacon?! Mmmmmm, baaaaacooooon. Hey Egypt, that's a lot of freaking pork products you have on your hands there. I am willing to help you out. Just send all the bacon to me!! Thanks, Egypt.

AL TV

Sleeping Beauty (that's me) was awoken this morning not by a gentle kiss but by the sounds of 'I Love Rocky Road.' It was Weird Al Yankovic who woke me from my comfortable slumber. I've always thought Weird Al was funny but I never realized the genius of Al until Sage started to become a huge Weird Al fan. It all started last year when Sage told me one of his favorite rap songs was 'White and Nerdy.' I know a little about rap and was sure he had mixed the title up with a Chamillionaire song called 'Ridin' where he declares that he's "ridin' dirty." So I googled it to see why he came up with his alternate title and found the Weird Al version. And there it was--comedic genius. I remember him from the '80s but didn't realize that he was still going strong. Sage enjoys watching his videos on You Tube. I have to say I always laugh when he screams "HO!!!" at a garden hoe in the 'Fat' video. This guy definitely does not get enough credit.

There are some good ones on You Tube--classics like 'Fat' and 'Eat it' and some more recent ones like 'Amish Paradise', 'Smells like Nirvana', and 'Pretty Fly for a Rabbi.' But my all time favorite is 'White and Nerdy.'

Better batter therapy

Whoa, who was that raving maniac posting yesterday?! OK, there are many sides to me and one of them is an angry, violent wildcat. Whatev, they are my inner demons and I own them! Plus I look really cute when I rave. ;)


I'm feeling a bit better today due to time and the great support and advice I received from my blogging buds. It seems that batting practice is a wonderful way to blow off steam. I tried it. Well, I wasn't able to get to the batting cage but I pulled out Shepard's Fischer Price Better Batter Baseball. I took a few swings with the Spiderman bat and it was helpful. I guess the neighborhood kids were wondering why the Better Batter baseballs were taking me for granted , why they hear but never listen, and why they had to "Take that, you fucker!!" Much better than Enya.

Like a chainsaw

I am not in a good place today. Life has been dog piling on me lately and I am feeling overwhelmed--not sad so much as angry. I've got a raging hot, nasty knot of anger just sitting in my gut and no way to get rid of it. I mean I am wife, mother, nurse and community member--it's not like I can go around raging and breaking shit. Although that would feel really good, it's just not practical.

That's my problem, I too freaking practical and worried about others. All of the roles I have in my life are pretty thankless jobs. I don't get a whole lot of validation from being a mom. Not their fault, they're kids and the world revolves around them, you know. And since I am married to a man, same story. Maybe if I had a wife it would be different. At then there's my job where people won't say boo to a doctor but will lay it all on a nurse. So, I handle a lot of problems and I am tired--and angry. No one tries to understand me but they damn sure don't want to walk in my shoes. No man is an island, but I am not a man. There's no safety net in my world and that pisses me off!!

I've been listening to a lot of Enya and Jim Brickman to try and calm myself and get all centered but that's just made me want blast a cap in something--not a living thing, maybe a fluffy pillow or a fuzzy stuffed bunny. Why can't there be a room where I could just go all rock star? You know, throw bottles at the wall, chairs out of the window, shoot a TV--cool stuff like that. I'll just have to settle for some rage music and a heavy dose of fantasy. Here's the angriest song I know--it started a riot at Woodstock. Killer!



Just one of those days, ya'll.

F-F-F Foolin'

I want to thank all of you who watched my kid's kick ass talent show video. He has over 100 hits on You Tube and though that is just a blip in the big scheme of things, it is really exciting to an 8 year old. So thanks. And if you haven't watched it, then do it you heartless bastard!! (See last Wednesday's post)


Today is my HALF Birthday so you may send me half the love you normally would on my actual birthday. And wine, send wine.

The best April Fools prank I ever pulled was when I was in college. I called my older sister and told her I was in jail. I had the fake crying and everything (I was actually laughing so much it sounded like I was crying.) I never thought she would buy it because it was April Fools Day and I was not a rowdy youth. I mean seriously, I was such a good girl--never caused trouble. But she believed me and it was great. So the next year I called her up and told her I was in jail again. I thought she would laugh and say "Oh, ha ha. Yeah, I remember last year." But for some reason, she believed me again. I think that's the first time I knew my sister had some serious mental issues.

I love to prank people but I am not very creative. My idea of a good time is to hide and then jump out and scare them. That has always been fun to me. Especially when I get Alan--maybe that's why he is so jumpy. And there was one time I got Sage so good that I made him cry. I did feel bad about that especially because I peed my pants while I was laughing so hard.

The best scare I've ever done was totally an accident. It was the first year Alan and I were married and I was trying to be creative in my use of all the lingerie I had received for my wedding. One evening I put on a sexy black lacy number and closed myself in the coat closet of our apartment. My idea was that Alan would come home, open the coat closet and be pleasantly surprised when he found me all sexified. However, here's what actually happened. He came in the door, opened the coat closet door, saw me and simultaneously screamed and fell back against the wall behind him. He then slid down the wall and landed on the floor in shock. I had throw the coats aside and scramble out to check his breathing and pulse. He was kind of traumatized and there was no lovin' that night. I learned a good lesson that day. Mortal terror isn't sexy. Oops, my bad.