Saturday, December 31, 2011

What I learned in 2011

Normally this post is about the awesome things that made this past year great. Unfortunately, 2011 had been a cruel master and I can only think of a handful of things that would make that list. So in keeping with the Top Ten tradition that has become my end of the year post, I give you this:


Top Ten Things I Learned in 2011
(in no particular order)


10. For every thing you do, there will always be someone telling you that it isn't good enough, you're not good enough, it was okay but it would have been better if you did it this way. If you let those people infect you, you too will become toxic. 

TL;DR Toxic people suck, and eventually they need to be cut out of your life like a limb that has gangrene. 


9.  Just because you acknowledge that things are the way that they are, doesn't mean that you have to be okay with it. You have every right to be upset, angry, and as disgusted. Coming to terms with the situation let's you actually move, and not just tread water. It's up to you if you move forward or backward.

TL;DR Acceptance isn't a synonym for capitulating.


8. My grandmother taught me not to hate people. She told me that it is easier to hate people than it is to love them. "Hate" she said, "is easy. It takes no energy. It is the laziest, loneliest way to live." I can honestly say that I have never felt that way towards anyone... until this year. She was right, HATE IS EASY. It was such a wonderful feeling, and I held onto it. Eventually though, I realized that by hating these people, it meant that I still cared. I was continuing to let them hurt me because I still cared enough to feel anything towards them, even if it was something as ugly as hatred. 

TL;DR Apathy is better than Hate.


7) I always say that "loyalty" is one of my negative traits. I love passionately, ferociously and with all of my being. Once you reach the inner circle and I call you friend, I am one of those people that will defend you even when I know you're wrong, and give you the last five dollars in my pocket. I have very friends who don't turn into family, and because once I love you, I give you my power. In 2011, two people used my love for them for toilet paper. After a while, the woman I have loved like a sister since I was old enough to remember, pointed out to me that I was keeping people at arms length, and pushing others away. She told me that I was overly guarded, like I couldn't trust her anymore. 

TL;DR Trust is a fragile thing.


6) Even as a child I have loved nail polish (even though I couldn't put any on in the house because my mom is severely allergic and it would send her straight into an asthma attack). They have always been weak, brittle things that pealed. One of the first things I did when I moved into my own place was buy nail polish, and I learned how to take care of my nails so they grow and be strong. It beome a ritual with me: Sunday night was mani/pedi night. Somewhere along the way this year, I just stopped doing it. Sunday just became another night, and I neglected them, night after night, week after week, and am now showing the wear. They are short, and frayed and just over all icky... and I put a coat of polish on them last night. I didn't buff them and smooth them out. I just slapped on a coat of clear and called it a night. But today, seeing them shine a little in the light, just knowing that it's there raised my mood immensely. I couldn't believe that I had stopped ever doing it. 

TL;DR Remember to do that one small thing that makes you happy.


5) When there is something dramatic going on in your life, it's all encompassing. It's all you can think about, it's all you can deal with, and you go to those closest to you, just so you don't have to hear your thoughts anymore. You talk with them, they do whatever their designated role is (listen/offer advice/etc.). You might even get a free beer or two out of the deal. Just be careful that you don't end up becoming that one guy at the office, or in your group who tells the same one story so many times that it can be recited it by memory.

TL;DR Shut up, people have their own stuff too.


4) After putting in over 140 job applications for anything and everything you can think of, and not getting a single face to face interview (if the emails saying you don't have the right qualifications to mop the floor don't make you scratch your head, how about the follow up phone call that basically said was that they aren't  getting hire you for a dish washer position because your husband is a chef. Yeah, that last one didn't happen to me, but to a friend), telling yourself that your state has an unemployment rate of 9% only works for so long. I did hear about a place, and I went in to talk to the guy. I'm a regular so he knows my face. I told him I needed a chance. He understood that. We'll wait and see, but it has been the most promising of things for a job outside of the house that I have had since I started looking for a job. 

TL;DR It really is who you know.


3) The Chef and I have never really had a 2 year old, meaning that what people have described as the "Terrible Twos" I have never witnessed first hand. Pineapple has decided to show us all of the great times we were missing out on. She throws tantrums. She is stubborn. She will make herself cry and blame her brothers. She will make herself cry and blame the dog. She eats one thing at dinner, but has to have everything on her plate. She thinks that "no" applies to everyone but her. She wants what you have until you give it to her, and then she gives it to the dog. She gets mad if you don't do whatever it is she wants you to do Right. This. Second. She will make herself cry and blame her sister. She will ride our American Bulldog like a pony (I blame the dog for this because the dog lets her). She is frustratingly adorable, and there has been many a day this past year that she has made me smile despite all of the problems. 

TL;DR A babies laugh can make everything right in the world.


2) When things were at it's worse this year, The Chef and I had many a well wisher say to us, "There's always a light at the end of the tunnel." (It's been turned off due to budget cuts.), "It could be worse" (You're right. It could be. Check back with me tomorrow and I'll tell you how it got worse.), and the classic "Things will get better." (Yeah, I know this, but that doesn't really help me today now does it?) But during all of it, one of my dearest friends reminded me why I love her as much as I do. I was talking to her on the phone, and told her of the latest crisis that had happened. To which she responded with "You're life sucks, Alicia. It just blows." She wasn't being sarcastic, she meant it. She wasn't being mean, she was just stating fact. I can't tell you have happy it made me for her not to blow smoke, and just be with me, for me, 1000% on my side. We have always been candid with each other, and we are always on each other's side.

TL;DR You need that 100% honest friend who will always have your back.


1) We did experience a grand act of kindness this year. It wasn't asked for but offered. It's hard to remember that there is good things, good people in your world, when the universe is busy knocking your feet out from underneath you (did I mention that it likes to point and laugh at you too?). It was something that in the grand scheme of things didn't really matter, but it mattered to us. 

TL;DR Even when the light is off at the end of the tunnel, sometimes people come by with a flashight. 

Friday, December 30, 2011

Why I haven't been blogging

I realized I turned my blog into a monstrosity. It was just painful to look at. I'm not quite sure what exactly I was thinking, but I know that it was defiantly one of those nights when sleep was running on the low side.

I like my header and hate it all at the same time... although I will more than likely change it too.

But at least now, with the background gone, I might come back more... post more. You know, the awesome little things like that.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

11 years in... things still change

As far as parents go, I have to say I'm pretty damn lucky. I have a mom who is was all up in my business, and a dad who still teaches taught me about the "real world". From her I learned how to stay strong when my babes are playing every card they have hoping I will cave, and from him I learned to question authority, even if I had to follow the rules. Between the two of them, I learned what kind of mom I was going to be. A delicate mix of authoritarian and friend, caregiver and teacher. It's what I know, and I have never, ever, questioned it. 

But, as I have come to learn, and more importantly understand, all of my babes have a healthy dose of The Chef in them. Although I see more of me in some than I do the others, they are not copies of me. What worked for my parents in raising me, isn't always going to work with my babes. I never was 100% satisfied with the job I was doing as their parent. It felt as if something was missing from the core skill set that had been ingrained in my being from my own childhood. I could never quite put my finger on what was "wrong", so I consequently dismissed it as the baggage that all parents carry with them.

Then, while doing something completely different, I stumbled across this video. Watch the first 45 seconds or so if you don't want to watch the entire thing (The video is 8 mins, but worth it). 



You own you. No one else owns you. 


This struck a chord inside of me, and although I had accepted my (perhaps imagined) shortcomings as a parent, a thousand light bulbs were suddenly turned on. 

Even though I had not meant to treat my babes as "lesser" entities, I had been. I had been treating them like they were an extension of both The Chef and I, and not the individuals that they are. I had been treating them as possessions. I had always known that they were their own people, but now I understand that they are their own people...

... and it has changed the way I parent them.

For instance: not that I was ever free with my hand across their bum for a spanking, but I would be lying if I said that I never did it, (and click this link for an explanation of why/how I did it) I doubt very seriously that I will ever raise my hand to Pineapple. Even at her tender age of 22 months, I do not own her.  

I never thought that parenting was static. I believed that certain fundamentals would always exist, but being awakened the way that I have been, has filled me with equanimity, and that is something that has been missing for far too many years.



(End Note: I know what the video is. It describes the Philosophy of Liberty as defined by the Libertarian Party (and just in case you didn't know, I am a Libertarian). You can find out more about Libertarians HERE and the Libertarian Party HERE). 



Monday, September 12, 2011

What I've been up too

I have been keeping myself busy... and it's not with paper. And if I ever think about it, at the right time, I may actually take a picture of it.

Let's just say, I feel extremely satisfied.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

A Letter to Pineapple

Dearest Pineapple,

We need to talk.

You know I love to party with you. I adore it, and with your brothers and sister being home on summer break, it's been a big wet towel on our escapades. We really haven't had the time to hang mono e mono. Sweetness, I understand, I do. Trust me, watching Bubble Guppies without you isn't something I would do.

Your plan, elegant in it's simplicity, is why it went so well for the last couple of nights. It was completely brilliant to scream at the top of your lungs at 3 am, because you knew I'd come to you. Your cheerful "Hi!" and wave as I opened your door... I tip my hat to you ma'am because you know that when you scream like someone is trying to kill you, that I will be there within seconds... and I always will be.

Pineapple, it has to stop. It's not that I don't enjoy the 3 to 4 hours of being exhausted to the point that I can feel a migraine tickling the back of my brain with just you. It's fantastic that you are wound up, wanting to sing and dance and yell at me if I close my eyes for longer than a simple blink. There is nothing I love more than to have cheerios shoved into my mouth (or nose, or ears) cuddle you.

We need to stop getting together in the middle of the night like this. For the love of Maude it needs to stop. You will thank me for this one day, maybe not tonight, as I rub your back and tell you to go back to sleep, maybe not tomorrow, when you are mad at me and give me the attitude that only a budding 2 year old is capable of... but probably the day after when you don't take a 5 hour nap and will actually be awake in the afternoon we are cuddled up on the couch watching none other than the Bubble Guppies.


Monday, July 25, 2011

Grace in Small Things: Day Seven

Today marks my first week posting over at Grace in Small Things. It's not as hard as I first expected it to be. In fact, when I missed Day Four, I almost got out of bed to post, but I waited until the morning. I posted those graces before I could forget them, before I even had my first cup of coffee.

Right now, it's just lists of five things, no meaning behind them, just my random observations through the day. I am sure that there will be one or two that will have me puking all over it, but in all honesty, keeping it at just a list is enough. It has helped... and for all the fancy ways to describe it, I just FEEL happier.

I can't say that I am back to 100% yet, but I'm working on it. It'll happen.

I'm going to continue to post over at GiST my dailies, on Sundays, I will start off the new week.












If you want to read my dailies, check out my blog over at GiST.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Banana has been on this kick of wanting to watch scary movies. Her best friend (who has just moved out of state) watched and told her about Paranormal Activity. She begged me to watch it when she found out that The Chef and I had it recorded on his DVR to watch for one of our stay-at-home date nights. I told her no more than once because I *knew* it would scare her. But still she begged, she told me all about it, and pleaded her case to both The Chef and I. This time it wasn't just me telling her no, she got the same answer from her dad.

Well tonight, being a Friday there was nothing on the television. I suggested a movie, and seeing that Paranormal Activity was only an hour and a half, The Chef pressed play, and I looked at her and a smile was pulling at the corners of her mouth. I asked her if she was sure she wanted to see it. She nodded yes, her eyes fixed on the screen, her lovey placed gently at her side.

She was doing great until The Chef said, "Whoa". She climbed up into my lap, holding her lovey tight to her chest. We watched a few more minutes, and I whispered in her ear, "It's ok if you are scared. If you want to go and watch TV in the other room, we won't tease you." But she stayed strong... that is until the last 2 minutes. She stood up and said "I'm outta here", and she walked out. I suggested watching one of the Hannah episodes that is recorded on the front room TV. The Chef and I half laughed, and suddenly the movie was over, and I have never been so glad that she had decided to leave. She missed the last 15 seconds, and The Chef and I both agreed that it would have been THAT which her nightmares would be made of. She walked back into the room, and we told her that she had made it, that she had watched the entire thing.

She got to watch two Hannah episodes, and we sent her to bed with hugs and kisses and telling her to think good, happy thoughts...



... and she ended up sleeping on the couch.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Grace in Small Things The First One

Because the Universe in her wisdom has decided to smack me and mine around, I need something to remind me why people smile.. that the glass is actually half full... and all that... stuff.

The idea behind Grace in Small Things (GiST), you are supposed to post 5 things everyday, for a year. I know I have to work up to that. (Yeah, I MAY eventually finish the 30 days of Blogging) So I am going to go with 5 things today... and we'll take it from there.









(Thanks to Heather for her ability to call Perfect Timing)

Want to play? Click Here

Saturday, July 16, 2011

To Banana on her 9th Birthday

Hello Sweetheart.

I find the older that you get, the harder it is to write you these letters. Not for any other reason than, I am running out of words to describe the awesomeness that is you. You laugh when you should cry, you jump when you're nervous, you like being the center of attention (like is an understatement), and you have your father's wit and your great grandmother's ability to tell people to go to hell, and they thank you when you're done.

You have this uncanny knack of being able to tell if something isn't quite right, and you do everything in your power to try and make it right, even if it borders on being annoying. You care for things, and when you grieve, it's deeply with your whole heart. You have amazing superpowers, and don't even know it.

You have decided to let your hair grow, and that is in part to your dad whispering into your ear at night. Although he understands that if it's short it's easier to take care of... even though I have to remind you daily to brush it. When I apply dye to my hair, you beg to let me dye yours. (NO) Your nails are always done, and you beg me to let you use my nail polish (Yes), and you love skirts, and lace, and being frilly... but you also love mud, and throwing down with your brothers.

When you want to do something, you give with all your heart... and I know what kind of problems that can bring years down the road, I can't stop you from that either.

You are destined for amazing things... just keep being you.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

30 Days of Blogging: Day 12, Day 13 and Day 14

Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without

My Phone

As I told you in a previous post, I didn't want to give up my "pay as you go" phone, because it wasn't registered, and "The Man" didn't know who I was. BUT, The Chef and I were at a point where the pay as you go airtime was no longer worth it (and with the promise that the new restaurant was going to pay for them... take a guess how many times that happened***) we took the plunge and went and bought good phones... smart phones... and now I am so dependent on it, that if I leave the house to check the mailbox, I feel lost (I'm really not that bad, but close). For someone who didn't want to be tracked, I sure have swallowed it hook line and sinker.

I'm an addict.


Day 13: Photo that makes you laugh

Jelly


Day 14: Website you love to visit

There are a few websites that I visit daily... but the most entertaining of them by far is Fark.com. So many just different things on there, and the titles of the stories are piss your pants laugh out loud funny. Enjoy... you won't be disappointed.






***If your answer was ZERO, you are correct. Here's your cookie.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

30 Days of Blogging: Day 9, Day 10 and Day 11

Still playing catch up....

Day 9: Your Favorite Quote

Being a scrapbooker and a card maker... I have a ton of them. Here are 3 err... I mean 4:

"Hope is the dream of the soul awake" ~French Proverb

"A girl should be two things, classy and fabulous" ~CoCo Chanel

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What? You too? I thought I was the only one'" ~C.S. Lewis

"How can I set free anyone who doesn't have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it's a lie- people claim they want to be free- everyone insists that freedom is what they want the most, the most sacred and precious thing a man can possess. But that's bullshit! People are terrified to be set free- they hold on to their chains. They fight anyone who tries to break those chains. It's their security... How can they expect me or anyone else to set them free if they don't really want to be free?" ~Jim Morrison



Day 10: Something you're afraid of

There are several ways I can answer this... You chose which way I'm going...

I'm afraid of taking a shower when The Chef isn't home. I have watched one too many of those stupid "home alone, the psycho-killer breaks into the house" movies and shows.

Now you know one of my dirty little secrets.



Day 11: TV Shows you are currently addicted too

Oh wow... I'm a TV addict.... but to say I'm addicted to a show... That's a rough one. Several I can live without... but here are the ones I get testy about if the babes erase them off of the DVR.

Eat Street on the Cooking Channel (It's all about great street food here in the US)
Nurse Jackie on Showtime (Jackie is a RN, a wife and mom, and she's also an addict.)
Top Chef (all of the various incarnations of it... right now it's Top Chef Masters.)
Sanctuary (Helen Magnus doesn't age, and helps the mutants of the world)
Oddities (LOVE this show. It's all the weird stuff that our parents warned us about.)

30 Days of Blogging: Day 6, Day 7 and Day 8

I'm just combine them all because I want to be on track for Friday's post, I'm a slacker I know, but what do you do?

Play catch up, that's what you do. So....

Day 6: A random picture that makes you happy
by *crimson-diablo on deviantART
It's the entire Stargate Cast through the 10 years done in this little people style that I adore. Yes, I'm a geek... but it makes me happy.



Day 7: Favorite Books (In no order)






Day 8: A place you have traveled to

Mt. St. Michel

Notre Dame


Musee D'Orsay
And what is most excellent about the last one, is that the museum is online. Check it out here.






30 Days of Blogging: Day 5

(Note: Not my fault that I'm behind... Blogger has been down... and then when it came back up, I just didn't get around to it. I suck. I know.)

Day 5: A Song that means a lot to you.

After completing the 30 Day Song Challenge, I realize that there were some songs that just didn't make the list... for whatever reason...

This song is the first one ever that The Chef and I danced too.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

30 Days of blogging Day 4

Day 4.... Weird Collection or hobby

I've been trying to come up with something all day... and all I can think of is something I want to start collectiong...

See I have been watching this show on the science channel called "Oddities"... and I it has reignited my love of the weird and macabre.

I want a hurricane jar filled with vertebrate. Im thinking something small.

If nothing else it would definatly start a conversation.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

30 Days of Blogging: Day 15 (err... I mean Day 3)

Day 3 of the 30 Days of Blogging is to post pictures from your wedding. Since my anniversary happens to be during this adventure, I am going to wait and blog Day 3 on Day 15, which is the day my anniversary falls, and I'm going to post Day 15 as Day 3.

Day 15 (my day 3) is: Share a Bible Verse

This is an interesting one. I haven't read The Good Book cover to cover, although I have read a few chapters all the way through. I have sat around the table with others and discussed said chapters, said verses. I have learned from all of them, what my future is, and what my past was.

And lately I have been asking "why" more than I ever have, and when I was at the bottom, ready to throw my hands in the air and say "screw it" I just so happened to click on one of those "random Bible verse" links, and this is the one that popped up:

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Things are going to be alright.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

30 Days of Blogging Day 2


Day 2: Take a photo of a random part of your day and tell us about it 

Soda is bad for you and I have been known to drink too many of them. So a few months ago when I forgot to get some at the store and I was too lazy to run back out I decided to cut back on it. I only let myself have one or two (I'm not a sadist) a day. I do feel better and I have a smidge more energy. 

Random enough for you?

Friday, May 6, 2011

30 Days of Blogging: Day 1

Day 1: The Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

I have started and deleted so many blogs over the years. I wasn't feeling very creative when I decided on the title, because that is exactly what it is, it's just my account of my personal... stuff... when I want to share it. Little musings if you will about what my life is... and...

Aw hell... There is no "special meaning" behind it.

I was just feeling lame.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

30 Days of Blogging (Or: I told y'all I was a list addict)

One of my Mommy friends Brigitte, started this 30 Days of blogging. I say, oh why not, because I can't tell you just how many times I sit here with a "new post" window open and have nothing to say. (Besides, like I said, I'm addicted to lists...)


Here's the list (and yes, this counts as Day 0)


Day 0: The 30 Day Challenge Explanation and Description 
Day 1: Meaning behind your blog name 
Day 2: Take a photo of a random part of your day and tell us about it 
Day 3: Photos from your wedding 
Day 4: A weird hobby or collection 
Day 5: A song that means a lot to you 
Day 6: A random picture that makes you happy 
Day 7: Favorite books 
Day 8: A place you've traveled to 
Day 9: Your favorite quote 
Day 10: Something you're afraid of 
Day 11: TV shows that your currently addicted to 
Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without 
Day 13: A photo that makes you laugh 
Day 14: A website you love to visit 
Day 15: Share a Bible verse 
Day 16: Describe your dream house 
Day 17: What’s in your purse? 
Day 18: Photos from around your town 
Day 19: Something you miss 
Day 20: Nicknames 
Day 21: Favorite Movies 
Day 22: Share the oldest photo that’s saved on your computer 
Day 23: Something you fear 
Day 24: A photo of somewhere beautiful 
Day 25: 3 things you hope to accomplish by the end of the year 
Day 26: Something that stresses you out 
Day 27: Your favorite poem 
Day 28: A photo of the inside of your car 
Day 29: 5 things you are thankful for 
Day 30: a picture from today

Monday, May 2, 2011

Don't worry (or I won't talk about this too often)

I, like the rest of the country last night, watched as President Obama addressed us, and told us that our nation's No. 1 Bad Guy was taken out by an elite Navy SEAL team. I sat with The Chef, my jaw slightly agape because of the shock. I figured that Osama bin Laden had died years ago, in a cave because his kidneys gave out.

Once the "WTF" moment had worn off, I looked at him and jokingly said, "bin Laden has been dead for months! Barry (because that is what I would like to call Obama around my house) drug him out to start the reelection campaign!"

I am one of those people who believe that just because you can't see them, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.(I kid, I kid). But in all honesty, I wanted to keep my burn phone because "The Man" didn't know who I was (Yeah uh, I'm not kidding about that one).

But I never thought for a fraction of a second that other people out there ACTUALLY believed that Barry pulled a stunt like that. The theories I have seen plastered all over the Internet range from, "Oh that was perfect timing. /snark" to "I keep seeing Usama bin Laden on the news. They killed the wrong man." to "They are dumping his body in the ocean because Obama doesn't want us to see the body. I smell a cover up."

And there is lots of praise and relief talk going on too. Posts that I have read (granted this is just on Facebook and twitter) cover the spectrum from "I am at peace now. Thank you President Obama." to "Don't forget Bush started it." to "Bush may have started it, but Obama finished it." to my own status on Facebook this morning "Obama executed the order, the SEALs executed the man" to a personal favorite "All told, it is a victory. That being said, I would have liked Ducky to examine the body."

Yes, I have a point and I am getting there... give me a minute.

Which brings me to a lively little conversation I had on a friend's status with another one of her friends. (Confession: I love to talk politics, and I love it even more when the person I am having the conversation with doesn't necessarily agree with me. Anyway...) Her status message said something along the lines of,"Glad he's dead, now do something about the gas prices." Being in the somewhat snarky mood I am in this morning, I piped in with "He'll do something closer to election time." (Ok, I said something about pushing the green agenda too) which led us to "Bush kinda sort did this to us (the economy) to "Um... kinda sorta, but the bubble that bust and flung crap every where was actually started under the Clinton administration." which ultimately brought us around to how the 2 party system in this country is beyond broke. Then we all agreed though that third party candidates have souls, which is why the electoral college ignores them.

I'm almost there, give me another second.

We then started talking about how the majority of Americans in this country are sheep. We are too worried about upsetting the guy sitting next to us, so we just sit back and gobble all of the bull that we are handed. No one stands up anymore and and screams at the top of their lungs "Shenanigans!" We as citizens started down the slippery path into blind acceptance on 9/12/01. We were shocked. We were scared. We had just witnessed the unbelievable. Someone attacked us. And instead of holding the powers that be responsible for not blasting Afghanistan back into the Dark Ages (Electromagnetic Pulse anyone?), at the time when our leaders should have shown the world exactly how big the USA's testicles were, when we, as a society, should have DEMANDED IT, we just sat in our homes, wringing our hands together in worry, wondering when it was going to happen again.

And blindly swallowed everything our government handed us.

On October 26, 2001 The Patriot Act went into effect. The hive mind of this country accepted the stripping of some of the most basic civil liberties that made this country great, and they did it so readily. If you said, "Um... wait a second." You were questioned. "If you have nothing to hide, why does it bother you?" You were dismissed as an "uneducated quack" but worst of all you were called unpatriotic, and you remember, being called unpatriotic then was the equivalent to being a terrorist sympathizer and saying that we had it coming (Yeah, I have a first hand account of all of that).

We are failing ourselves. Even though we don't believe that politicians are honest, we still vote them into office time and time again. Even though we think it's over the line that a six year old is assaulted by searched by a TSA officer, what are we doing to take back our power as proud, strong, patriotic Americans?

We are just sitting on our couches, playing Farmville on Facebook, wondering about what can be cut out of our budgets just so we can put gas in our car to get to work, that is if you are one of the lucky ones to even have a job. We are swallowing our pride and standing in line at a food bank for a handout. We are wrapped up in our personal problems, that we aren't really paying attention to exactly what our elected officers are doing.

And that's just the way they like it.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Nine Days


I only have NINE DAYS!

Where did the time go?

What the heck am I going to get the kids to do this year?

There are only 9 days until Mother's Day. Only nine days to wrestle the babes to the ground and make help the babes create something magical and wonderful for their grandmothers (and the great grandmother too).

Now shush! I know I did this to myself. Instead of just letting Mother's Day pass with nothing more than a phone call and some home made cookies, I put myself into a bind when the home made crafty gifts were made and delivered. Last year, it was cut out hand prints of the kids (and I know they rocked because my mother in law has hers hanging on her wall in her dinning room with all of the pictures of the family). The year before that, the babes painted terra cotta pots.

And so this year, I'm looking for something cool, unique, something that encompass all of the babes, and that will rock. Something that all of the grandmothers will enjoy...

...and I know I will find it...

...about seven days from now.

Monday, April 25, 2011

30 Day Music Challenge: The Complete List

My friend Jennifer was doing this 30 Day Song Challenge, and I wanted to play too. She sent me the link to where she received the instructions, and I did decide to play along. I love music challenges. 


I know I have blogged some of them, but here is the entire list with the links to the YouTube vids. 


30 Day Song Challenge:




*Day 01 – Your favorite song
Dave Matthews Band: Jimi Thing
*Day 02 – Your least favorite song
Sarah McLachlan: Angel
*Day 03 – A song that makes you happy
Bon Jovi: It's My Life
Day 04 – A song that makes you sad
Patti Smyth (Feat. Don Henley): Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough
Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone
Verve Pipe: The Freshmen
Day 06 – A song that reminds of you of somewhere
Pink: So What
Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to
Dixie Chicks: Goodbye Earl
Day 09 – A song that you can dance to
Madonna: Ray of Light
Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep
Sun Kil Moon: Gentle Moon
Day 11 – A song from your favorite band
Dave Matthews Band: Where Are You Going
Day 12 – A song from a band you hate
Muse: Uprising
Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure
Snoop Dog: Gin & Juice
Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love
Ke$ha: TiK ToK
*Day 15 – A song that describes you
Miley Cyrus: The Climb
Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate
Bryan Adams: Summer of '69
Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio

Alanis Morissette: Hand in My Pocket
Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio

James: Sometimes
Day 19 – A song from your favorite album

Booth and the Bad Angel: I Believe
Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry

Stabbing Westward: Save Yourself
Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Glee Cast: It's My Life/Confessions mash up
Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad

Dave Matthews Band: Grey Street
Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding

AC/DC: Highway to Hell
Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral

Johnny Cash: For The Good Times
Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh

Barenaked Ladies: Ninjas
Day 26 – A song that you can  were able to play on an instrument

Poison: Every Rose Has A Thorn
Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play

Europe: The Final Countdown
Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty

Coldplay: Violet Hill
Day 29 – A song from your childhood

Fleetwood Mac: Second Hand News
Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year

Superchick: Beauty from Pain

*I blogged these. Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 15

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

It's Complicated

I've been wanting to blog for a while... but the only thing of note was how The Chef and I were assulted and betrayed by people whom we loved... but I didn't want to continue to give them power.

Am I giving them power now by mentioning it?

It just seemed everytime I turned around, scabs were ripped off, and the freshness produced more hurt. I wasn't looking for it, but it always seemed to end up on my doorstep.

But its done now. The door has been slammed shut.

The people who assulted us, who took away what was ours, have closed the doors.

Like I said... it's complicated.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Day 15 of the 30 Day Music Challenge: A song that describes you

I went ahead and decided not to blog all of the 30 Day Music Challenges. I'm doing the full challenge on Facebook though, so if you care, you can find them all there. Anyway...


Day 15 is a song that describes you. This was a particularly hard one. I mean, songs that describe me change weekly... hell hourly. 


The first one that came to mind was actually this one:


Dave Matthews Band: Save Me


But then I thought about it for a half a second and thought of this one:


3 Doors Down: Krytponite


But that wasn't right either. 


I'm past that. I'm healing... It's been hard... I haven't been assaulted like that since high school. But with age and maturity comes a different healing, a deeper more substantial one.


And then I thought of this one:





Yes, I know it's Miley. Yes, it's Disney Hannah Montana Miley. 


Lyrics:


can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa