Miss Informed

What's Up, Chicken Butt?

2009-02-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

I have been considering donating time to my local rescue mission....I really think it would be a positive thing to put my focus into once a week. Especially because it isn't about me and entirely for helping others who are down on their luck. But I have to admit...I get a little frightened of weird people. I know this is a total assumption and yes, I am generalizing that people that go there are weird. It sounds awful- I know- but there are some odd scary ones I guarantee! And being a girl and all...YIKES! Then I start playing the what if game and all bets are off! I imagine one bum hiding by my car waiting for me to go to it to try to rob me or hurt me. I really can't see myself getting escorted to my car?? Can I??? So then what happens to little ol' me if that happens? Or rapists, or demon possessed people--I ain't playin'. I have seen that so I know that can be real.

SCARY!!!

I do want to help and I know in a round about way I will be helping myself as well. I have to trust my guardian angels got my back so I should be fine!

It's a new adventure and I am looking forward to checking it out.

The Day After...

2009-01-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

Don't you just hate the day after you have a big blow up with your spouse? I did in fact have one with my hunny last night. Today, like most days following, I have that gnawing pit in my stomach. I feel sorta raw and exposed...and disappointed in myself and him and my words....guilty for my lack of ability to be vulnerable enough to tap into and communicate the heart of the matter. Thus ending up in a bitter brawl all the while sad and missing him. That was what the whole deal came down to..if only I just said that instead of all the other crap!!!

I love him so much and am so proud of the fact we are happily married going on ten years. I don't doubt for a second I didn't marry the right guy.

He is so right for me and I too am a good fit for him. It's just...ARRGGG! I hate the terribleness I can almost physically feel when we argue...ESPECIALLY when one of your kids may have heard some of it....I just hate how I can be sometimes!!! Guilt sucks!

I am really embracing this New Year. I think instead of hoisting on myself a bunch of unrealistic resolutions I just plan to be better. Work on myself and be the better version of me. I need to shift my focus in area's and re balance out. My most important priority is being the best mother and wife to my dear family I can be. I do want to get healthy and drop a good thirty pounds but if it rolls around Dec. 30, 2009 and I am still packing some pudgy spots but have accomplished my desire to be a better mama and wife, then I still win. I will be more than content with that.

Don't Even Go There, Mister!

2008-05-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Blah, blah, blah blah blah....raw raw raw and all that jazz. That is all I can come up with today....

And I'm done....

Snnoooozzzzz!

2008-03-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

Hello insecurities,
Is that you knocking on my door...?
Should have known you'd come back around
And try to torment me all the more.
Hello insecurities,
You're no friend of mine...
The damage you could potentially do
Is far less than unkind.
Hello insecurities,
Why do you hide in the back of my thoughts...
The little voice
Waiting to be heard, waiting to hinder.
Hello insecurties,
I don't like the person you make me become.
Don't want to carry the baggage that bred you
Deep in my spirit I want to loose you
From the troubling hold.
Hello insecurites, it's time to shut the door.
Choose to reject the familiar sound whispering in my ear.
Goodbye insecurity, you were never a friend of mine.
Although you kept me company...
You were far less than unkind.

Spring Fever...Make that HAY FEVER!

2008-03-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I hope this blog finds you well. I am scrambling trying to iron out some business in my life at the moment and keep my sanity. Not an easy feet I tell you. I have recently took on extra responsibilities and have been reaping blood, sweat and tears ever sense.
*** Quick recap: Holidays were a blurr as always but marvelous...like an amazing dream you can't capture and is hazy the next morning...but you knew it was delicious. Like that.
*Easter was special. Peeps are already stale though...and sadly my favorite Cad bury Mini Eggs have been pulled from the shelves till next year after Valentines Day... I can't quit you:(
*I am looking forward to a full year ahead with dates, deadlines and being mom all rolled into one gigantic blob of stress...and joy.
*Went on comped Vacay with good pal of mine to hideous Reno...I SAID it was comped! I still put down too much of my own moola in those smoke filled dens of Greed! I OFFICIALLY HATE CASINO'S! I hate the people it turns you into and your friends for that matter. Worst vacation ever!!!! ...Side note: Obviously I didn't win...and am bitter! Lack of sleep and empty pockets make for fuel to the fire for fun argument ridden drive home. NEVER AGAIN!
*One more gripe: Where have all the good movies gone? There's nothing out in the theatres....What's the deal?! I suppose I will have to just watch my old favorites at home for now.
***Exciting trip planned: To Victoria, Canada and Seattle, WA. In July so that will be a relief to exit Hades and head someplace cooler for a change.
Gotta run, felt good to get back in the ol' saddle of blogging for a change. XOXOXO to all!

Consistancy Is Highly Over Rated

2007-09-12T15:09:00.001-07:00

I have been busy being fabulous and have procrastinated re posting for a month it seems...Where oh where does the time go? I can tell you where mine goes at least when Internet surfing:
Perezhilton.com.
Anyone check that site out? It is the blog of all blogs, the Queen of gossip...celebrity gossip that is! My favorite type indeed. Me loves some Perez with all his overweight sass! He looks like a walking queer Lucky Charms Irishman. Oh yeah, did I mention a fat one...
I get to roll out to San Fran this weekend and see Colbie Caillat in concert. I love her. Her style is laid back and artsy. I dig her style. I am going for the girl fun too. My great buds Julie, Rebekah and my sis and friend Heather are all going. I look forward to the many laughs and memories to be made. Also can't wait to get to the city. I just love the city!!! It has the coolest vibe and energy.
Did I mention I need to go shopping! I am desperate for a new freaking wardrobe, shoes and all. Come on Oprah, give this girl some money! Isn't that what we all secretly wish? If only I could make it on her damn christmas show I would really come out with a loot! Harpo knows how to throw down in the currancy department. Ah well...
Another day, another dollar...
Slowing but surely.

Vacation's Have Taken Over My Life!!!

2007-08-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

In the past two weeks I have traveled in the car approximately thirty eight hours strictly to and from my destinations. My butt is going numb just thinking about it!

First vacation was to my hometown in Oregon to visit my family. Specifically my grandma, Motsey who is suffering from Dementia. It was super awesome to get to see my cousin Kerri and her family who I haven't seen in 4 years. They actually reside in the home we built way back when we lived there till I turned eight. Now just a short walk down their long drive way leads to my Papa and Motsey's house they lived in way back when and continue to live in now. Up the hill lives my aunt and uncle but now days my aunt lives with Papa and Motsey to help care for Motsey and give my Papa a break.

Seeing my Motsey was very hard at first. You know how you generally are closer to one set of grandparents? Well, they were it for me. It was SO So SO sad seeing her for the first time. I was all nervous because the last time I spent with her she was fine. We both cried saying goodbye and we did our little secret sign to eachother where you take your pointer finger and middle finger and cross them to signify your closeness. This time she didn't recognize us...you could just tell. Once she hugged my little girl and looked down at her she started crying...I think it's because we look so much alike. That was all it took! I cried the ENTIRE time. Could not stop. I kept my sunglasses on and just wept. She wanted me to sit by her. We visited a bit and she remembered my husband talking HIGHLY of him. It meant a lot. Then later she came to my cousins for dinner and even on her own called me by my name. It was so nice to hear come out of her mouth. But very short lived.

Each day my cousin re-explained who we were to her. At one point my cousin said,"Isn't it so nice Ahna came to visit us?" Motsey looked at me and said,"You're Ahna?" I shook my head yes and she just layed her head on my shoulder and cried hard.

I don't regret going even with the hard, hurtful moments. We always promised to be close and made grand scheme's I would live with her one day when I grew up. Funny how things turn out. I tried once to do the "secret sign" to her but it caught no spark in her memory as I could tell. I realize from that trip love doesn't change. You don't have to fear the change of a person because the love you two share is timeless, changeless...It is always there no matter where you go, no matter if you try to stay away because reality is to painful. It is always there.

Searching For The Bling...

2007-07-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

The night slides were wicked cool! I am such a chicken but I had a great time. I think the "men" were happily surprised as well. We missed Miss Random Girl and her man. I know it would have been much funner with her there to make me laugh. One funny thing that happened was a girl named Heather was there with us and we all went out into the "wave" simulated pool they had there. All was cool once the waves started cranking up until it felt like we were being hammered in the head by them over and over again! This girl Heather is on the shorty side:) and was basically being drowned right before my eyes so of course I saved her. She clung to me like my little toddler clings to his mama! I was glad to help her out and in fact it was an upsetting situation. We decided to stick to the slides! I cannot wait to go back!

Lately I have been scouring every inch of my floor. Why? you ask. Simple. I looked down at my trusty left hand and SHOCK and HORROR my middle "rock" of a diamond fell outof my wedding ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in denial and HOPE I find it miraculously somehow... I just can't believe I lost it for good. I did so much laundry and dishes that day and even made a trip to my friendly Waly-mart. It is going to be expensive to replace it. I am bummed! I bid (stupidly) on a diamond on eBay...I won it for $1,067 dollars. The bad thing is :

A. Buying sight unseen, not a good idea

B. Who gets a 1.14 carat for that price?

C. It's in Israel?!!!

I think I am gonna have to buck up and take the bad mark against me cause I am not paying for it. Too much money to send to a DIFFERENT country on blind faith...

Grateful For The Little Things

2007-07-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my son underwent the last step in his needed oral surgery. The first time was only rough at the last...but when it got bad it was REALLY BAD. They strapped him down on the "table" and he wore a gas mask. I was getting really upset and felt totally faint. I am squeamish. The sound, smell of the sterile room...the whole thing is too much for this mama. I took a friend but vowed next time my good ol' hubby would be there. It happened yesterday and OH MY GOODNESS it was by far worse than last time. My poor son cried and fought the entire time. It took like an hour and a half. Daddy stayed in the room and they asked me to leave because it was making it worse on the little guy. I am grateful I didn't have to stand in that room. I think I would have ripped my son up and tore outta there. I am especially grateful that the dentist put on white front caps on my little guy. It was an act of kindness. Afterwards I crawled in the backseat and little man fell asleep on my arm looking just like Angelina Jolie...his poor lips were soooo swollen. I am grateful we are through with all that...

On a lighter note, this Friday we are going with a group of adults to Water Slides. I CAN-NOT wait! It is gonna be such a blast! Adults behaving like giddy children sounds like a recipe for success! I just need to scout out some adult board shorts. No daisy dukes for this chicka chick! I wouldn't want to make anyone covet:)

Five For Five...Get Em' While There Nice and Hot!

2007-07-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was a youngster. Just graduated high school and just about to start at a trade school doing nails...Nothing like the horror stories of the dreaded beauty school!

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Probably taking more fun vacations than this summer, that is for sure!....

Five snacks you enjoy:

1. Chocolate anything...white or milk. I'll pass on the semi-sweet thank you!
2. I like Sun chips or Doritos on a summer day
3. Ice cream. My favorite being Chocolate chip cookie dough, Chocolate Malted Crunch...Triple Chocolate
4. Kettle Corn- Such a perfect medley of salty and slightly sweet
5. Roasted Corn on the Cob at the fair...mmm, Heaven!

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:

I know WAY more than five but what comes to mind would be,
1. Baby Got Back by SirMixAlot...that's my beat!
2. I will Remember You- Sarah McClachlan
3. Dancing Queen-Abba
4. Johnny-Poe
5. I Wanna Sex You Up- Colour Me Badd

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Tithe
2. Pay off loan
3. Rent out house, buy land and build dream home
4. Take 2 fantastic vacations with family and friends
5. Put in savings

Five bad habits:

1. Lack of self-discipline in exercising, cleaning...uggghhhh!!!
2. Irritable at times
3. On this computer TOO MUCH!
4. Talk on cell phone when driving...attempt at texting when driving
5. I don't curl my hair everyday and I wish I would make myself do it.

Five things you like doing:

1. Spending time with my family and friends
2. Spending time with my two kiddos doing anything at all
3. Going on dates with my husband
4. Cooking or baking new things
5. Entertaining

Five things you would never wear again:

1. Fish net leggings in neon pink
2. Polka dot dress--eeks!
3. Perm
4. Jelly shoes
5. Yellow crocheted friendship bracelets, unless of course my darling muffins made them for me.

Five favorite toys:

1. The Bullet:)
2. Computer
3. Curling Iron
4. Kitchen Aide Mixer
5. Radio!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome Back...

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

Last Saturday night after some aggressive prodding...(sounds questionable I know, but in reality it was only a pushy phone call from a buddy that was oh so needed) I threw on a cute summery dress and some strappy heels and headed off to my ten year high school reunion. It was slightly nerve racking entering the large room not knowing what to expect. Quickly I realized it was not so scary and re-be-friended old friends and even made some new ones. My husband was such a champ in a semi-uncomfortable situation. We even won a prize for being married the longest! The food was yummy and we danced and danced! I now see attending as a positive thing whereas before I felt pretty negative about the entire situation.

Happy Fourth of July! It is smoking hot in my neck of the woods. This is the part of the summer where I climb into a pool and basically never come out! GEEZ, I felt I was going to loose my mind sitting out in the blistering heat for a Bbq yesterday- all day! Sweat was pouring out of every crevice imaginable. Damn, it was HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The fireworks were nice and we went night swimming afterwards. I only night swim in a lighted pool mind you. No unidentified swimming object gonna be nibbling on these tootsies:)

Then I went home and had some more aggressive prodding...it is in fact the best way to end a night!

Who's Eating Your Lunch???

2007-06-27T16:04:00.000-07:00

Oily.
Grumpy.
Sticky...
Upon washing the streaking sunscreen off my face I have started to ponder my pet peeves. I think I roll through life as a happy person but veer off the road to irritation quite quickly. Actually I think my irritation mode is constantly running on idle waiting to get "pissed off".
Some things that bother me and rub me the wrong way are:

1. Summer Blues...
The way sunscreen makes my skin feel after wearing it in the bloody heat for hours. I don't even like rubbing it in on my kids anywhere near there hair, because who likes to feel that oily? Yuck!

2. The Diss...
When people have plans with you and show up like half an hour late consistently and don't bother calling. I think that reeks of rudeness. It sends a message that their time is more valuable than yours and how dare you get upset? It seems to never occur to them they are inconveniencing anyone else. Maybe they really aren't thinking beyond themselves at all. I hate that!

3. The Idiots...
Whiny gripers that only want to talk about how miserable their lives are for hours on end and then do nothing to improve it. People like that are so exhausting!

4. The Double Dater...
When you are hanging out with your buddy and they start texting someone else- like even in a movie theatre during a movie. They hold an entire conversation back and forth on-going through the night. In my book, that is also a majorly rude thing to do. If you wanna hang out then don't be on two "dates" at once. That is insulting!

5. Miss Thang...
People who try to be perfect or who are so self-important. Ugg! Makes me wanna knock them off their pedestal they are perching on. I can't stand when people say things like, " She would be pretty if...I sure would love to give her a makeover....would you look at what she's wearing...(snicker, snicker)" Good grief, Who made you fashion god? Get over yourself!

That is enough. Ahh, to vent. Purging the soul is so cleansing. I feel better already! These five are just a few things I could think of in the spur of the moment. Lord knows there are much more. What drives you crazy???

Wrestling With Myself

2007-06-14T21:52:00.000-07:00

I am restless tonight. The lights are out...it has finally gotten dark, the kids are in bed dreaming and my hubby is out like a light as well. I am stir crazy. So why not ponder the meaning of life on ol' blogger? That sounds just fascinating:) It is a funny thing this blogging deal. I searched blogs the other day and came across someone who literally blogged only about the episode of Seinfeld he watched that day. EVERYDAY! Weird! Everyday, same thing. Everyday, no comments. That is freaky to me...crazy with his black background and red letters.

I think I can see the allure of blogging. The concept of other strangers viewing your thoughts and replying is interesting. I wonder if it is the narcissist in us all that enjoys being "fed" or stroked. Having our own personal "fan club" to pat us on the back like little puppies all lined up on our porch waiting to be thrown a bone. Hmmm, maybe I am just jaded because I lack such a following. Errr...rather, any following whatsoever. Ah me. It is strange how now I feel less pressure to concoct something interesting to say. Why bother? Now I can write about how my bebe flip flops were so adorable and expensive and how disappointing it was to discover how badly they hurt my feet. Now I can say without fear of being judged that this past Mother's Day I received a Mother of The Year award at my church and later that same week found out from the dentist my precious son has 1-2 (yup that's right, twelve) cavities and needs some capped. I feel like that adulterous pastor Jimmy Stewart. Guilty for deceiving so many. I imagine a recall on my award due to lack of information about my need to allow my son to have "chocolate milk hot" every morning for the good part of a year. Why should I not tell you that? Oh frippin' well.

I have finally made my decision that in fact I will be attending my ten year high school reunion. I think it will be fine. I am not sure how to feel about it and accept and suppose there is no set rule of thumb of how one should feel when facing seeing loads of people you A.) Lost contact with or B.) Choose never to see again (aside from the ten year reunion of course). It will be a chance to see how everyone has aged. It will be a trip to see all my classmates as "adults". The boys now men with broad shoulders and most likely soft around the middle. Now that I think of it hell, aren't we all?!! I am sure everyone will be toting around pictures of their children and I am sure none will be rocking the grill my son will be. We are just "G's" like that, you KNOW boooyyyy? I will be sure to bring my award for Mother of the Year. Take that prom queen bizzaaatch!

Regret

2007-06-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Looking at the picture,

faded in the frame...

Standing side by side

The smile on your face

Wonder if it's real

Wish I could go back there and give you a piece of my mind.

Wonder if I ever knew you...

Ashamed how things turned out.

Guilty to play a part of the charade.

Why do I allow myself to trust so easy?

How can things get so turned around completely?

Why is there all these undefined sides and everything is so unclear?

Everything is so unclear...

Replaying it all in my mind.

Fighting with you in my mind.

All the things I should have said,

Pour out so easily in my head.

Should have wrote you a letter,

Maybe made things better...

For the moment.

Distracts me from the present.

Should just let it lie.

Afraid it all will fade away.

Afraid to let it die.

Forgiving is the easy part.

Moving on..it is the test.

Looking back has shown me

That loving you,

That's what I did best.

Simply Me...

2007-06-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

Where I am at in my life:

A good place

Who I most want to be in life:

A good person

How close I am to achieving that goal?

Depends on the day and the mood;)

Where am I headed?

I am opening up my life to positive things. I have been constantly shifting position to find one that "fits" me.

What do I feel about my past?

I feel like every past lesson, trial, mistake has built character inside myself. The years of wrestling and struggling are necessary for EVERYONE to truly come to full potential. In some ways you have to become a survivor...sometimes of yourself, sometimes of others. Mainly the sufferings inbed a true appreciation for the good that eventually comes.

What have I learned about friendships?

I have learned you OWN nothing. Friends are literal gifts that enhance my life. I have no hold on them or they on me. I have learned that there is a reason for boundaries and I have learned the consequences of what happens when those lines get blurred. I have learned loyalty and privacy is a gift a true friend should always come with. I have learned no matter how long you know someone you must give them the space and acceptance for them to change. Why shouldn't we? We change. Time shifts and life experiences each are the very things that mold us. And everyones experiences are unique.

What have I learned about myself?

I have learned to fight my weaknesses. To come against the things in my personality that hinder me at times from being the person I want to be. Not to just accept them and shrug it off as part of my character. I believe purposeful resistance is the only way to change. I have learned I have a purpose and I do make a difference. I am learning to be kinder to myself.

What have I learned about love?

I have learned love is all encompassing. It shifts easily between you and your spouse, your children, your friends, your family, your God. Love is faithful. Love is kind. Love is healing. Love can be counted on. The kind of love I am talking about is the real deal, not just the bubble gum machine kind- that is the "generic, knock off" version. The "worlds" version of love will leave a bitter taste in your mouth and disappointment in your heart. But when you stumble across the real thing, pure and shining it is a beautiful thing to behold. Treasure love. Treat it gently and give all yourself up to it. Love never fails.

What I have learned about God...

I have learned He is everything. Much more than my Saviour, more than my Lord, He is my peace, the answer to all my questions, doubts and fears, He is the one that meets me at the end of every road I have went down, He is the one who lifts me up from every dark cave I have stumbled upon. He is my friend. He is my guidance, my motivational speaker, my councilor...He never makes me feel like an idiot, like a failure. Infact His word reminds me of the good in myself when it seems all has forgot. He holds my hand. He is the one thing that is final. And I have just begun to crack the vastness of His glory. He is effortlessly good and true. He is everything...

Where's Waldo?

2007-06-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

I have been pretty busy as of late wrapping up the school year for my two kids. My eyes are on the mend. We are preparing for a yard sale. The whole point of having one is to de-clutter...hmmmph! Can I just tell you my house is in complete disarray. It is as if by some magical force my house has been tipped upside down and shaken- like the effect of a snow globe when the snow settles...everywhere. I so look forward to earning MAYBE $300.00 in exchange for the mess I will get stuck organizing.

Ah well...It's summertime and the weather's easy...
One of my hubby's elderly clients gave us a 1978 motor home. FREE. With a rocking air conditioner and oven, stove, yadayada. Now we can go on those camping trips without my insisting that we sleep in the back of my honey's truck for very legit safety reasons! He is stoked. He's been fixing it up like crazy these past weeks. He is going to re-upholster the cushions and replace all the damaged wood,(it suffered a roof leak).
I still haven't caught the Pirates 3rd flick. Hopefully tonight. Somehow I have maintained avoiding finding out the ending.

Last Monday I had a great group of gal pals over to enjoy a light lunch.
(Don't be fooled, no luncheon I put on is ever "LIGHT").
We had a fun time eating in the shade by the fountain. I made the best Strawberry Lemonade! It was peaceful and fun and I have always been a firm believer in keeping in touch with your friends. I am always up to host a girls night or whatever just to spend some much needed "mommy" time with my peeps!

I REALLY want to take a vacation with a few close friends and fly to L.A. and star watch, shop and sight see. Just do everything I have always wanted to do when I am down in that area getting stuck shaking Mickey's hand! Don't get me wrong I dig Disneyland but I think there is A LOT of other great stuff to enjoy around there just for adults. Definitely a trip for the girls!

Do you suffer from Dry red eyes?

2007-05-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

Yes I suffer from dry, red eyes. Lasik went pretty good. They don't tell you it is gonna hurt so BAD afterwards. It could be compared to road rash on the ol' peeps. I felt like I could go insane before the stupid Tylenol pm kicked in. Tylenol pm you say? Yes. That is all they give for pain. Insensitive bastards. I felt much better once I woke up from my nappy nap in the hotel and now I am makeup free for one week. I am excited to be completely healed!

Here's a little video that reminded me of my predicament, no idea what they are saying aside from "Sore eyes." I totally am the little china men in the slick sunglasses! Can you say SEXY?

Tomorrow...DUN DUN!!!!

2007-04-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

I am bucking up and going for it. Tomorrow is the BIG day! The day I endure Lasik. I kinda am in denial at this point and not doing my usual over-analyzing because then I will just freak myself out! I am excited and kinda feel like a mother who is gonna deliver, " I just want my baby to be healthy..." Yes, all I really care about is making it through the entire procedure without any of those unfortunate complications a small percentage of patients experience. No, I don't want to be included in one of those statistics! Cross your fingers, say a prayer for me cause I am going under the beam!

Tag Dat Ass!

2007-04-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

Alright, alright I'll play! Geesh! I have been officially tagged by Miss Crazy Elaine and ya know what? I am down! Today is about my 5 obsessions...Now all I need to do is pick five out of many.

1. eBay...Damn. I unfortunately have been spotted and pulled in by there radar tractor beam and haven't been set free since. ANYTHING you want you can get. It is just a bid away from being sent to your door. The only teensy weesny down side is they track how much you spend and keep it there in your eBay for your unsuspecting husband to stumble across.

2. The Internet in general. My daily routine is get the kids off to school and hall ass back to check my email, myspace(Like YOU don't!) and then my blogger. I so DESPERATELY need to get a life beyond the net.

3.Music. I love nothing more than to be listening to my favorite tunes!

4. The Hills~totally and shamelessly addicted. Love Lauren Conrad, Love Audrina, LOVE LOVE Whitney...love the drama, love the fabulous clothes...love the sappy music they play in the background that completely makes the scene. Ahhh, *sigh* Cannot wait for Season Three!

5. I am obsessed with Emily Giffin at the moment. She is an author of Something Borrowed, and then Something Blue. Next I will read Baby Proof. I am expecting them to arrive any day! Thanks to none other than eBay!

Twenty Eight Flames On The Cake...

2007-04-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

It is officially almost here. It will occur in approximately seven or so hours. The day I popped out butt naked and was ready to take the world by storm. My birthday. I was a cute kid, big brown eyes and eventually long brown hair. I always was fiery and always up to something. I had a fantastic imagination and played just fine by myself. I grew up on 130 acres my family joint owned with my aunt, uncle and cousin, and my grandparents. Basically we owned an entire mountain in Oregon. We called it Cloud 9. If I could do it that way with my kids I would. Live somewhere with tons of land and animals for them to explore. No childhood beats that in my opinion. It was amazing living like that with my family. My sister and I and our cousin-who really was like my other sister were always together. Things were so much simpler then. Scraping knees and making mud pies was the daily norm. Anything was possible.

That was a very long time ago! Now as I turn twenty eight it is completely odd that all too soon I will be thirty. Time just ticks on. I am planning on having a kick back day relaxing and enjoying my family. I feel content and blessed. I feel like I have been through a lot in this past twenty eight years. I definitely have learned a lot and continue to learn.

It is sad this is the two year mark me and my best friend haven't shared. The loss of friendship sucks, there is no other way to put it. It doesn't matter who is at fault or who is to blame, aside from all of that the bottom line is it is just plain sad. It is pointless to try to dissect a relationship categorizing ""you did this" and "I did that" contributing to our impending doom. It is what it is. People fail people, we are all guilty of it. The loss of something you felt was permanent is just hard to accept.

I just finished a book called, Something Borrowed. Very great book but it did bring some of the B.F. issues up again in my mind. I know that is why this feeling is coming back to me. I enjoyed the book even if it was crappy circumstances. Next I will read, Something Blue...it is the follow up sequel. Should be good.

I am thankful this birthday for my health, my children, my husband...all my wonderful family and friends. My mother. She is the ultimate best friend. I am very thankful for every blessing God saw fit to send my way.
Love this song, it is how I feel:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1803996846

Eight Years, High Rollin' and Buckcherry...

2007-03-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my hubby and I celebrated eight years of marital bliss(HA! I know I am not fooling anyone, we all know marriage takes work!) by shacking up at a Casino hotel. Classy, I know. I am by no means a gambler but I heard you could get a beautiful room with jacuzzi for an affordable price, so why not? Plus another benefit is they have the fantastic steak house where we planned on eating anyway so we made a night of it. The rumors were true, the room was so spacious and very nice. The dinner was fab. We dined on calamari, prime rib and yummy garlic mashed potatoes...finishing it all off with a DELICIOUS chocolate raspberry Bombay'. Scrumptious!!!! We had window seats and after dinner we headed out to the balcony just in time for sunset. It was perfect. I made my husband take some pretty cheesy pictures and then after thoroughly embarrassing ourselves we slunk back to our room.

A.K.A.~Cheesy Pic!

Not sure what to do with the rest of the night we thought we would try our luck at a little gambling. I went to a quarter machine and deposited like five dollars. Surprise, surprise I hit and won $61.o0. Ding, ding ding! That is all it takes for me to get the fever. We took like three more trips back and forth to the room to dip into some more money. I won some and lost some. We ended it at the roulette table where my husband and I each had $20.00. He lost his really fast. I stayed and played till I walked away with my $20.00 and won his back. I have a knack for guessing the correct color....Too tempting!

Has anyone heard of the band Buckcherry? If you have you would know it is not kid friendly. My friend had me listen to a song entitled, " Crazy Bitch." Heard of it? I generally like rock 'n roll but this I am not so sure about. It is something I would have loved in my angry years...

Lights, Camera...Action!

2007-03-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

I have been quite the movie buff as of late. I recently watched Premonition with Sandra Bullock. My thoughts are this movie is a BIG let down. Does anyone notice the fact that indeed SHE is the one at fault for his untimely... well, never mind. You might have wanted to see it. My advice is don't bother.

In contrast to my feelings for that one, I thoroughly enjoyed Reign Over Me starring Adam Sandler and...someone else who is famous I am sure. It was SUCH a great movie. Tough subject but so truthful. I sat back and thought, I wonder how many families are still jacked up like that from 9/11? I ugly cried only once. It really was a lot about friendship and helping each other. LOVED it!

I want to see the movie Shooter, not as in Shooter McGavin...loved that scene in the bar in Happy Gilmore," Why don't you just go live by the bay, and eat some clay...what do you say? I just may!" Adam Sandler is hilarious!!!!

Of course not that Shooter though. I am talking about the one with handsome, sexy, rrrraaaarrr! Mr. Marky Mark. He is so hot. Even with his enormous nostrils...mmmhmmm!

That's what I'm Talking About!

Shark Infested Waters...

2007-03-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

My friend and I occasionally venture to our local sports club, aka gym and go for a relaxing dip in the pool. It is always lovely and there is babysitting for up to two whole hours(Score!). On this particular night we decided to head to the hot tub first. Inevitably it always gets too hot after about ten minutes so like always, we headed to the medium pool where two older ladies were soaking and two young girls were. We headed to the deep end of the pool so I could rest my arms on the side. Once settled we began one of our in depth conversations not really aware of our other pool companions. Like usual my shark fear grips me in about any body of water. My imagination is very vivid and cruel. So there I was hip deep in conversation, neck deep in water and my mind started to wander. I thought, if I was in Hawaii right now in the water this is totally the depth shark attacks happen." Now my brain starts sending images to myself of a shark...Jaws(to be specific), coming sideways with its mouth open for my thigh. " You better knock this off. You aren't in a ocean, so no sharks are HERE-DUH!" I shift slightly uncomfortable in my recent thought process. Focusing back on my friend I just happened to glance down mid sentence to see the terror that awaited me. The exact leg I was imagining being dismembered by a shark was about to be hammered into by a dark large object. My instincts kicked in and I lifted my leg quickly and made a sharp inhaling sound. My buddy, as she informed me later, just saw my face look down and freeze in horror. She followed my line of sight and saw a large dark object coming at me and so she screamed loudly. Whatever the object was hit my leg and an idiot girl emerged above water spouting to her friend, " I told you I could make it to the other side!" I wanted to grab her by her innocent neck and snap it. I was so frightened, but of course once it went down it was frickin' HIL-AR-IOUS! The old ladies were pissed because we frightened them with the commotion. Tough shit! One old lady said, "What? Did you watch Jaws today? Did you think you were the only ones in the pool?" We slunk over to the hot tub where I informed my pal of my just prior imaginations. She said she didn't want to admit it in front of ol' crabby patties that what she automatically thought after seeing my face and the "Object" coming so swiftly towards me that in fact it was a shark. She said she wondered, "How did sharks get in here? And how are we gonna get out of these shark infested waters?" I was laughing so hard! It was one of those moments you cannot get out the laughter fast enough. It was such a strange coincidence. Freaking hilarious. I will always remember that night at the pool.

Ebay Is The Root of All Evil...

2007-03-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been kept hostage to Buy It Now! and Hurry! An Item You Are Watching Is Ending Soon! Of course how could I forget my all time fav, You Have Been Outbid! Hurry And Bid! Don't Let It Get Away! It is official- I am an eBay addict. It all started when I was searching site. You can find just about anything on there and can get practically anything your little heart desires-for a cost. It is such a rush when the minutes tick down on an item you desire and someone starts to bid against you. It is all blood, sweat and tears in the end. It is man vs. man~3 minutes to go. It all has come down to this moment. The question is who can type the next bid in the fastest to beat the clock and the opponent by 50 cents. I have been the conqueror 5 times. And my bank account is feeling it. I need to just stay AWAY from eBay!

Juicy Fruit is Appropriately Named

2007-03-08T08:58:00.000-08:00

Just saw Music and Lyrics yesterday. I love Drew Barrymore and generally like the ever funny Englishman- what's his name who likes prostitutes? Yeah, him. The combination of the two of them? Not so much. The chemistry was lacking and the story obviously far FAR fetched...Nothing like The Holiday with Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz. See it already!!!! It comes out the 13th!!!!

In other news the weather has gotten me in the mood to travel. We missed our girls trip last year. This year we shan't miss it! Either San Fran again or L.A.~ Laguna Beach...maybe run into Lauren Conrad. Slap Heidi in the face and stomp on Spencer's big toe if the opportunity arises. Yup, shameless Hills fan. Can't get enough. I wish I could somehow contact MTV and demand the show stretch for one FULL hour. This sampling the buffet isn't what a shallow smorgasbord is all about! I want five courses!

I saw a funny picture of a crazy hat and thought I would bring out my own. Although it is not me in the pic but my ex best friend and her mama. We went out for my ex b's b-day and her mom came along. This irritating balloon guy made a balloon extravaganza hat for Donna. Pretty funny. Of course he made an engagement ring for the b-day girl. Good memory of a LONG night!

The Butt of All Jokes and Chunky Eggs....

2007-03-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

My what a pain my computer has been! I HATE the little error/debug boxes that continuously pop up frustrating the hell outa me! Urrggg! Finally I can post! This past week has been nuts. First, most importantly our little miniature Yorkie passed away from internal bleeding. What an unexpected sad thing to happen. He was a good little dog and was part of the family. It was very upsetting. We LOVE TIPPER but are glad he isn't in pain anymore.

On a lighter note, the most DISGUSTING thing happened just this morning. I was going to cook my hubby some eggs before he went off to work. Now let me say right off the bat, I am sure we all have had the horrific experience of cracking an egg and GASP! there is a slight trace of "blood". That too is sick but not even close to what went down in my kitchen approximately 45 minutes ago. There I was cracking my first egg, all good. Here comes the second...crack and thump thump. Wha? What in the WORLD is that extra LUMP settled near but SEPARATE from the yoke. Like "brothers". This grayish, beige-ish "ball" of God only knows what had slid into the frying pan and began to fry. OOOooooohhhhh, ewww and icky and everything foul under the sun had used there vial powers and really messed a sister up this morning. I made my husband do away with it while I scurried away to compose myself(a.k.a. warm up the ol' computer for some much needed web searching). Is that not so awful?

Two days ago I was taking my little boy to school in a track suit(whatever, it is early!!!) and this man in a suit runs up to me as I am making way to his classroom. Mind you directly behind me is a guy I semi had a crush on eons ago taking his son to his class as well. This business guy was 30ish and he says, " 'Scuse me but are those new pants." In my immediate vanity I thought, "wow, this is really weird, I am about to get hit on at my sons school holding my child's hand." " No, why?" I said. I figured his next sentence would have something in it like," Did you want some fries to go with that shake?" Ohhh foolish woman that I am I apparently forgot I was in a TRACK SUIT-velour so help me! Not a real eye catcher. He then bursts my bubble by proceeding to tell me," Because you've got a big long sticker on your butt. Don't worry, I won't take it off for you." I ashamedly reached back and alas my fingers brushed the feeling of something smooth and shiny. Damn. A sticker from one of my kids shirts. In XSmall. Sure these are my new work out pants in xsmall. Yeah right. I mumbled something about him being a good citizen and slunk away. Come to find out my loving husband who is a prankster had put it on me but forgot the not so important step of taking it off before I entered the big cruel world! That butt head! He will pay! He isn't the only trickster in this household. I just have to think of something REALLY really good.

(totally unflattering pic, I know but it serves it's purpose and hey I have lost 25 punds since then so yeah me!)

Lastly I have been tied up setting my son up an ocean themed room. We bought him this bed that looks like a boat. Scene it? They have it at Pottery Barn for kids. We got it for a fraction of the price at Costco. We painted his room light blue with dark blue accents and white trim. That alone took forever! Then I painted ocean scenes all along the bottom of the walls. My back felt like it was breaking after two days of hunching over. It is cute though and he just loves it! Next is new windows and blinds. His room is all windows so it is gonna be pricey! It has to be done though. I tell you living in a 100 year old house means the work is NEVER ending!

The Wrinkle Room And All That Jazz...

2007-02-20T20:30:00.000-08:00

Last Friday night my friend Star turned 34 and so we went out for her b-day. She decided we would go to a club nicknamed The Wrinkle Room and oh boy was that the truth! Having no idea what to expect we all showed up and it was an over-the-hill smorgasbord! All kinds of "peeps" ages 45 and up shimmied to Old Time Rock 'N Roll. Perms and loafers were in abundance! The women had on mini skirts(slip showing of course), pumps (what else?) and even rayon "Sunday best" dresses graced the group. It was quite a seen. The men were in Dockers(pleated fronts), and casual Friday attire shagging around to Billie Jean. One man in particular kept himself busy by feverishly playing the drums with his cocktail straw on his glass. Intense man, intense. One couple in particular caught our attention(laughter) with their "eagle eyes" locked onto each other while they simultaneously shoulder shimmied back and forth and doing mirrored leg lift/kicks sorta moves. The woman had a pear shaped booty and sported a calf length floral rayon number. Elaine from Seinfeld had NOTHING on this gal! We could barely keep the laughter in! It was like the hugest group of high school chaperone's who were trying to live on the wild side had met up. The STRANGEST thing happened around 11:30. The DJ's changed. The lighting changed(goodbye neon plexi-glass, hello strobe lights!). The old Miami Vice crowd went to bed and in an instant it was Bone Thugs N' Harmony. Angle wood up to no Good. Everyone was Shakin' Der Money Maker! It really was the craziest club I HAVE EVER BEEN TO and do not plan on returning although we did walk away with memories to last a lifetime. It was worth it in the end. Makes for great, "Remember that one time..." material. Oh yeah, and especially doing the "eagle eye" couples impersenation. Especially that.

You're My Honey Bunch, Snookem Nookem...

2007-02-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

So yeah, basically I got spoiled yesterday. My sweet love got me a dozen red roses, bling bling earrings and a giant white chocolate kiss...mmmmhmmm! We had a great day from morning till night. He went to work late so after I dropped off the kiddos at school we stopped by a bakery and got some yummy scones. We munched on them at home and visited. Super relaxing, and rare. Usually by the time I return from getting the kids to school he is bustin' ass to get to work on time. My husband has truly become my best friend. It wasn't always that way, before I had a best friend so I had that role filled. Now that my relationship to that girl has changed I see what a blessing it is to have such an amazing relationship with your spouse aside from the regular sex, bills, raising a family type stuff. We have really discovered how much we enjoy each other. Ahhhh, I know. Quite throwing up in your mouths. I mean it!

We met because my sister and his sister were best friends in high school. He is four years older than me. He is a triplet! Two sisters and him make three. Anyway, we met a few times but nothing memorable. Then in high school I was a freshman and he was a senior and I remember him a little bit. He was a cool senior with an older girlfriend. I was a wild freshman...well, as wild as a freshman can be. After I got outta high school I ended up getting a job for his mother where he worked. He had a girlfriend and I was dating quite a few different guys but was really hung up on one certain one. I didn't really notice him other than in a friendly way. I remember one day I was working and I looked out the big window at the front of the shop and there he was joking around with another guy doing some dance moves. Sounds corny I know but he got my attention right then cause the boy could dance. I love to dance soooo much and he appeared to feel the same. Flirting ensued and his relationship was already falling apart. The thing with the guy I liked fell apart as well. Everything just came together. I went out to a local club and he showed up and we have been together ever since. Over 8 years total, married almost 8. I couldn't be happier. I married the perfect man for me!

Valentine Shmalintine

2007-02-13T10:01:00.000-08:00

Every year on Valentines day, Mothers Day, our anniversary or my birthday I get these nasty little "expectations" that tend to grow as the date approaches. It results in shameless hinting and dropping ideas for gift cards galore. I inevitably would end up highly disappointed in my love of a spouse because just as he married someone who enjoys their significant other to shower them with gifts, I in turn married someone who is a last minute, who really cares? kind of shopper. Doesn't sound like the two mesh very well, huh? Yeah, I thought so too. This Valentines instead of trying to "retrain" my husband who is super giving and thoughtful in a lot more important ways anyway, I am focusing on changing myself. Because who can really change someone else anyway? No one, that is right and I sure don't want to be one of those wives trying to constantly "FIX" her husband. No thanks. I need my own fixing and I know damn well the only one in charge of fixing me is ME! So this year I am kinda planning the date and, BIG surprise! When the rubber meets the road, all I could come up with is a dinner and a movie. So original! We will have fun though because with two muffins under the age of 7 dinner and a movie dates don't come around too often! I am happy to spend yet another Valentines day with the man who really does meet my needs and with whom I dearly love!

It Came In With The Tide

2007-02-10T18:07:00.000-08:00

Vacation was great. The weather was perfect, the air wasn't too cold and even the drive didn't make me car sick. All was perfect up until Saturday when a few startlingly hacky sounding coughs emancipated from my lungs. By Sunday it was confirmed. It wasn't just from all that laughter that I was suffering from phlemn, it in fact was the dreaded chest cold that is going around my hometown faster than Viagra pills in a retirement home. Harhar. Anyway, on my way home my love lost husband informed me that my adorable daughter was too dealing with the same cold. I got to come home sick to sickees and unfortunately for my love bug daughter she STILL is not well. Still fighting the bug. My son has gotten it and it has already passed and she is pinned down with it. Poor sugar. Seven days later.

F.Y.I. ~ Never eat at The Purple Rose in Fort Bragg. Yu to the uck! I ordered a chicken taco and the chicken had some strange white gravy smothered into the meat. MMMMmmmmHhhhmmmm. So sorry but I didn't order it "Creamofsomeyoungguy" style. ( ***Throwback to Wayne's World 2)

I got to see so many seals in the ocean it was the highlight of my trip. Seeing them climb up on rocks to sun themselves or whatever they do it for was so awesome. I must admit I was waiting to see on gobbled up by Jaws but it didn't happen. Damn.

Just look at all those bathing seals. Who needs Marine World when you can get the real thing for free!

Simple Snaps Of The View

2007-02-07T16:27:00.000-08:00

My friend showed me all kinds of great "hidden" beaches that are not in the heart of town and are off the beaten path. I cannot wait to go back with my family.

Just a 20 minute drive out of town leads you to ocean front property where farmers live with amazingly green pastures and houses right on the water.

On the day we went sight seeing we stopped off on the road many different times and took pics from up high.

One night we snuggled up in our cozies and trudged out to the beach with my wool blanket me and my love purchased on our honeymoon in Mexico for $6.00. It really has paid off.

Me and My Girly Friend in Fort Bragg...

2007-02-07T15:55:00.000-08:00

In a restuarant on Saturday we cheezed it up and took pics of ourselves before heading off to Mendocino.

Prepare Yourself

2007-01-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

As I am sure you have noticed, I have obviously entered the "cleansing of self " stage of the fast and that is why I have being incognito from blogger as of late. Ummm....right. No, honestly I just have been too focused on what flavored cardboard I can scarf down next! Nothing specific on my mind, just ramblings so bear with me please.

***I am just curious am I the only person who has to switch deodorants every couple months or so when the deo decides to have an adverse effect on my delicate underarms? I am not one of those people who can just hold to one that miraculously works for..ev..er. No, I cannot raise my hand if I am sure because if it has been more than a few months of using the anti-perspirant I most assuredly am entering the UN-sure zone. I am the secret sniffer. Take for instance Dove, which worked wonders at first. I smelt shower and powder fresh, for awhile. All to soon I begin smelling like a can of Raid. Not fun, not pretty.

Does everyone's face get not smooth as they age or is it just me? I am startled and amazed at how badly I have an urge to get one of those chemical peels. Please just burn off a few layers! Don't inject me or tighten me, just smooth me out. Like an exfoliater on steroids. Hook a sista up!

I am excited to report I am checking out this weekend and going to the coast with a longtime friend for some R&R. I can NOT wait. I love little beachy towns overflowing with artistic energy. I am so looking forward to digging my feet in the sand and just breathing the clean air. I will be keeping a quick eye on the ocean though desperate to catch sight of a fin. I will play coy with the waves, getting braver by the minute only to realize I have gone out too far (if the wave comes half way up my calf I have indeed gone to far!) only to run like hell back to a safe distance. Only ignorant people don't know that most shark attacks happen in shallow waters! Besides last vacation I took there I met a diver who, upon answering my nosey questions, informed me that his best friend who also was his diving partner got eaten by a GREAT WHITE two years past. HEEEELLLLOOOO, who has that happen to them? Most people I know have never met someone who even knows someone who has been bit. Well, it also could be not everyone is going up and talking about their shark obsession with random strangers gearing up to go dive in the great blue. Hmm, could be. Ya know not cause ya ask not. That is my take on it. I am just saying.

Have a fanflippin'tastic day people! Remember if you care enough, you will smell your best!

Fasting Is Fun?

2007-01-24T16:10:00.000-08:00

I am hip deep in a Daniel fast. Three and a half days of no preservatives, artificial flavor, no sugars, no meats, nada. I am surviving on veggies, fruits, and natural foods. I am loving Trader Joes at this time. I found some veggie chips with flax seeds. Mmmm. Tastes "almost" like the real thing (Snicker, snicker). Oh Doritos, I miss you so. My church started doing this fast last year. Some people did it for a full 21 days! I did it 9 total, split into 3 weekends. My husband and I are hanging in for 11 this time. It is amazing how run down I felt yesterday. I had a sugar crash. It is amazing how FEW "pure" foods are even out there for the taking. Not much. No wonder people are living longer, we have been preserving our insides! My church is doing it in a corporate venture to see some prayers answered and purify our spirits as well as the physical body. And did I mention I am putting out more gas than the average AMPM? This is going to be interesting. Someone, could you please pass me the sea salt????

Be Gone Mean One

2007-01-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

I have this lovely little friend who is my peep fo shizzle. She is funny, interesting and intelligent...well, most of the time. She has this funky "situation" that keeps her life tied up in knots like an over eager pretzel. It...Gets...Frustrating. Unwrap the frickin' pretzel and straighten your life out pronto! I am the counselor type of friend which means I am a pretty good listener and I enjoy helping my buddies. She is one of them. She is in a committed relationship although she still carries the torch for her long time "friend" of 10 years. Yup, she is in love with someone who just continues to pull her chain. Again, and again. It is like a sick and twisted game of catch and release with the same exact person over and over. And did I mention HE calls all the shots. HE knows she is in love with him and whenever the subject could arise and she gets gumption HE fades out of her life for a time. Until HE decides HE cannot take it anymore and needs a "she" fix. I think HE is a selfish bastard! I am so sick and tired of him making her miserable. Why do certain men feel the need to be so cruel, controlling and UUURRRRGGGG?!!! I swear she drops whatever she is doing if HE asks anything of her. Men like that deserve no respect. They also deserve someone to do the exact same twisted game to them until they are miserably consumed. That would only be fair.

Feel The Burn?

2007-01-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

Oh My Good Grief!!! I am not gonna survive this. Heart pounding, calves pinching, temples throbbing. Not to mention the amount of sweat flooding from my pores. Cleansing? Maybe. Worth it. (Hesitantly...)Yes. This describes my first work out in about 2 months. I totally fell off the wagon this past holiday. As in, I fell off the wagon straight into a vat of peach cobbler,pies, some ice cream , and many a decorated xmas cookie just for variety. Ugg. My "fall" started mid October up until now. What a bitch getting back on the wagon was! I hate this wagon. It is good for me but such a PAIN! I cannot believe how 2 months can't destroy any possible shape you were working towards getting yourself into. Totally unfair. I am in hating this mode. Precore can kiss my giggly bum. I don't even like the Precore right now, and that is sad to say because I always enjoyed it. I am also sad to say I could only survive 15 minutes of it. What happened to my regular 30 minutes? I am going to have to start from 15 and build my way back up. Oh YIPPEE! My shaking limbs can HARDLY even wait!

Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Rush

2007-01-11T12:47:00.000-08:00

I caught a marathon of this show on tv the other day and quickly found myself engrossed in a two hour viewing of Jack Osbourne, first son of the world’s most famous TV family on a mission. He never really caught much of my attention on his MTV show of his crazy family. I didn't care about his frumpy, pasty self at all really. Then the other day I was flipping channels and Wala! I was hooked. The premis of the show is he wants to take on one of the planet’s most extreme climbing challenges – El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. El Cap is a vertical kilometre of sheer rock in California’s Yosemite Valley - an extreme undertaking even by the standards of hardened professionals. There is a small snag in this plan - Jack is virtually a complete novice at climbing, unfit and about 56 lbs overweight. And trust me, upon seeing the mountain via cabel~ it is enormous!
He did some of the world’s most exciting and challenging outdoor sports. He jumped off Verdon Gorge in France – a sheer rock face of 1,000 ft to conquer his fear of falling. He ran with the bulls in Pamplona – literally be chased by wild bulls through the narrow streets of this Spanish town. He cave dived in Spain - swimming through underground flooded chambers to reach caverns in the ends of the earth. He also used ice axes and crampons to ice climb to an altitude of 12,000 ft in the Alps. It was amazing watching him literally transform his flabby self into a "cut", rock climbing machine! If you happen to get the chance to watch this show you should. It is really awesome to see these wild stunts done by JACK Osbourne. I felt proud of the kid.

Oh the HORROR!

2007-01-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

Seinfeld Moment
Last night a group of us gals headed to dinner and a movie. All was going smoothly. We got outta the restaurant on time to not be late to The Holiday( seen it 3x's now people. I highly recommend!). At the end of dinner I got my check and it says $2.99 for my Strawberry Lemonade, which was fine but I hadn't gotten a refill so I felt the need to ask for a refill and then preceded to gulp it down. It made sense at the time as how to "get my money's worth..." Whatever! By the time we reached the Theatre I felt like a tick ready to pop so after getting my ticket and trusty Whoppers I headed to the loo. I am funny about the restrooms I inhabit even for those brief moments of relief. I want them CLEAN! I quickly surveyed the toilet and headed in. Upon closing the latch and forming my stance I gazed down to my feet and Horror of Horrors is someone's small turd that had been somewhat smeared! I loudly said, "what is that? Gross!" I can only imagine what the other potty users were thinking I had discovered in my little stall. In dismay I finished QUICKLY and fancy footed it out of there! SO GROSS! Where are the cleaners and WHO in their right mind sharts like that? Come on and atleast have the decency to clean up after yourself. Didn't your mama teach you manners?

New Year, Same Stuff...

2007-01-04T15:58:00.000-08:00

Ringing in the new year hours early via satellite at my sisters pad was fairly lack luster. No champagne, no Martinelli's, no fantastic crudities. When the clock struck midnight in my time zone I was surrounded by a bushel of Goth looking teenagers ( why the skinny boys grow their hair long and they sport skinny squeeze jeans I will never know, I guess it proves how depressed they are not to care about their appearance that much!) I did get a smooch from my hubby and kisses from my two darlings. Still it is not what I would have preferred my "New Years" party to be. Ah well. I don't really take all that New Years mumbo jumbo too seriously anyways. Infact it is pretty comical. Some people really are dead serious regarding resolutions...on week 1. Check back in on week 3 and resolutions are generally out the door so to speak. Look at the way the media targets all of the resolution makers. Walmart advertises all these work out clothes and fitness balls...Give it till next week and back on the big "Rollback flyer" will be none other than Doritos and Pepsi and Twinkies and yoga pants will be replaced by lounge pants. Everyone knows how it goes with those resolutions. So my resolution is just to have a stinkin' good year. More vacations. Atleast one vacation with just my friends. No drama. And lounge pants. Comfy, cozy lounge pants.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Sad Days...

2006-12-30T17:16:00.000-08:00

My husbands very close friend of 5 years just passed away on Christmas Eve. Today was the funeral. His health has been deteriorating for some time now, but now that he is gone everything is just so final. The funeral was so beautiful. The crowd was amazing. 256 people jammed out his church. That is as big as a wedding. He was so loved. What an inspiration of a wonderful person he was. Full of integrity, honesty, kindness, mercy...all amazing qualities he was full of. He was a light that blessed so many. It is sad to know and see my husband hurting and to see him lose one of a few of his true friends. For some reason once they got to know eachother they just clicked. The had such a deep bond and love for one another. How sad that his family and all of us have to suffer this loss. The good thing to know is he is no more pain, no more suffering. Bless you Dave. We love you. We will see you again.

Happy Birthday To My Friend!

2006-12-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

I threw a lil' shindig together for my galpal Miss B. We had all different ages intermixing and it ended up being a very fun night. I busted out my new Chocolate Fountain and Fondue pot I scored specifically for the par-tay on the day after Thanksgiving sale! As all parties do, it did "bend" the bank but didn't break it because I got to delegate a bit on having other attendees hook a sista up by bringing some grub. My buddy friend is now officially 24! I am pushing 28...eeks. I feel like an old boot.

Nice to Know I Figured It Out

2006-12-22T14:32:00.000-08:00

A - Available or single: Married baby. Stick a spork in me cause I am done!

B - Best friends: Shaky on one(she'll remain nameless), Rebekah, Crystal, Leticia...my fam.!

C - Cake or pie: Depends on the flavor and my mood. Thanksgiving: the answer would be pie, Birthday: the obvious answer would be cake...I like what I like when I want it.

D - Drink of choice: H2O!

E - Essential item you use everyday: Soap, shampoo...um, shower!

F - Favorite color: Purple

G - Gummy bears or worms: The clear(I like to believe they are pineapple flavored) worms.

H - Hometown: I hang my hat in Cali

I - Indulgence: Desserts and having "me" time to do whateva

J - January or February: February is hands down better because I am usually down & out all through January recooping from the holidays.

K - Kids & names: 2, Fairy Girl and J man!

L - Life is incomplete without? My family to laugh and joke with and just be myself.

M - Marriage date: March 27th

N - Number of siblings: Uno. A sista

O - Oranges or apples: Ripe sweet oranges without seeds

P - Phobias or fears: Being eaten by a shark, or bit, really doesn't matter. Anything shark related scares the bageebeez outta me!

Q - Fave quote: "You hold me by the hand, I hold you by my heart"

R - Reasons to smile: My husband being silly for me, my children and the little people they are...my dog loving me. Friends saying a kind word. Reading funny blogs...I could go on and on. I try to look for the positive.

S - Season: Fall, warm enough to not having to lug around a jacket and everything just becomes magical out in nature.

T - Tag 2 people: Nihilistic, Random Girl

U - Unknown fact about me: I don't have an easy time coming up with fantastic ideas to write about...uh...wait, maybe you already knew that. My bad.

V- Vegetable you don't like: Chard

W - Worst habit: Got a pad of paper, pencil and an hour?

X - Xrays: Do not enjoy having them. I hate the bright light they put on you and that heavy drape...no thanks.

Y - Your fave food: Desserts

Z.Zodiac Sign:Aries

I Never Was Great At Tag...

2006-12-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my favorite read, miss Crazy Elaine, I got tagged to do this. Here goes nothin': As for the three people who check on me, go right ahead and do this on your page. I would enjoy seeing what you come up with!

A-Animals, I dig em. Especially fuzzy, little adorable ones. I love dogs best when they are puppies. That is why I buy the mini ones.

B-Blondes or Brunettes? I think Brunettes, being I am one! I like mystery with slight depth of personality. I don't buy Jessica Simpson going from, " Chicken from the Sea?" to "I go home and read poetry to unwind." I am sorry but I just don't downshift that fast. Brunettes are better! They really will read poetry and they ain't trippin' over tuna!

C- Christmas. It is my alltime is my fav-O-rite!

D-Desperate Housewife? Who ME!? If I was a character on the show I would be the ex-lawyer-come-mother with the kiddos running her ragged!

E-Energy or lack thereof! I am gonna go with Lack thereof!

F- La Familia. Family is the most important thing in life. Fo Sho!

G- Great Read. Good Books are a treasure, finding time to read them is Priceless!

H- Holiday, as in The Holiday starring Kate Winslet(love her), Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and oh yeah, the funny but not so good looking Jack Black. Saw this movie twice and will be buying it at my nearest Walmart on the Tuesday it hits the shelves!

I-Incident. Isn't it interesting how quickly someone(me) can loose their patience and want to put the SMACKDOWN on the random pedestrian taking their sweet time heading to their car essentially blocking traffic at the mall?

J-Jokes. Just kidding, I only revved up the engine and semi lurched at them once so that hardly counts!

K-Kidman, as in Nicole. She is superb and fascinating! Wonder how celebrating Christmas is in rehab with her man?

L-Loosen' Up My Buttons Babe, but you keep frontin' me...Snoop Dog is one ugly gangly mo fo. He looks like a total criminal! Spooky long one with gangsta eyes. Creepy.

M- Mandarins are some great tasting fruit! Why is it that the big mesh bags filled with them that people are selling on the side of the road always taste so much better than the stores?

N-Never say never, you just might surprise yourself!

O-Ophelia(see, brunettes dig poetry) Rayne, the name I wanted to name my daughter when I was pregnant until my husband said, "Oh right, come here Ophelia and let me feel ya!" I changed my mind.

P-Purple is my favorite color. As if you hadn't noticed...

Q-Q-Tips are a necessity. I like to get in there and get nice and clean.

R-Reckless driving. I plead guilty. I used to have a nickname in High School my principal gave me," Crash." I hit a parked garbage truck...Stupid thing! I hit a lot of things actually, another parked car, a fence(actually I flipped through two), a deer(atleast that was a moving target!) Don't worry, it was all the other drivers faults!

S-Sandy Beaches. White Sand. Or black sand. Doesn't really matter. I just wanna be there enjoying the sun and ocean kicking back someplace amazing and tropical.

T-Taintor. Anne Taintor. One funny chicka who uses vintage pictures of ladies and jazzes them up with hilarious captions. Go find her in the bookstore and have a laugh on me!

U-Umpqua Bank, what is up with them? They seem weird to me. Don't know why really, they just do. Whatever...

V- Vacation. I need one desperately. A week would be fine, two would be better. I want to go to Ireland and get down with the Irish. Or ofcourse Italy would be amazing. I need a magic money tree.

W-Whitney Houston is finally making some right choices by leaving her crazy, dead lipped "Poison" man, Mr.Bobby crazy Brown!

X- Y,Z! X is freakin' hard, didn't what's her name, Christina Aqguilara change her name to X-Tina for awhile there when she was rockin' the skunk hairstyle and grabbing her crotch more than Michael Jackson? I think so. Glad that stage passed.

Y-Years. They keep coming and they keep going.

Z-Zany. I want to do more "zany" things. Keeps ya young. I am not making my New Years Resolution to be more zany though, no thanks. That just sounds retarded! Who does that?

Happy Birthday!

2006-12-21T18:35:00.000-08:00

Here's some thoughts I wrote on the Holiday. Hope you enjoy.

It’s that time of year again! The hustle and bustle of Christmas. December is the only month I can think of that I cram 3 months worth of activities into 31 all too short days! It’s so easy to get completely overwhelmed with the mad shopping sprees, searching for those perfect gifts for those special someone’s. Getting your heels clipped by another shoppers eager cart, juggling work dinners, church functions , children’s plays, babysitters, family get tog ethers, not to mention wrapping 30 plus odd shaped gifts to jam under the tree all in the name of holiday spirit. This is my Christmas reality and probably yours as well. And it is just exhausting. Not to say that any of these functions are bad or unimportant, because they are. Otherwise we wouldn’t do half of them and really there’s no getting out of them even if we wanted to. You cannot pull the covers up over your head and let December pass you by so this Holiday Season I am challenging all of you and myself a few things. First, live in the present. No I’m not talking about when you are up to your neck in wrapping paper and you feel like you’ll never tackle the complex job of wrapping all those presents. I’m saying when your watching your child or grand children decorate the tree, instead of making mental to do lists I challenge you to sit back and really take the precious sight in. Even taking this thought a step further , try your best to not only live in the present, but also to Stay in His Presence. The word presence and presents sound very much alike but one is entirely different from the other, and although both are talking about gifts one has a price tag and the other is priceless. His presence will take us through anything with peace and keep our eyes on what its really all about anyway. I got to thinking about my friends this past year whose birthdays fell on a holiday, everyone always says it stinks to have a birthday fall on a holiday and of course the worst would be Christmas because you would get overlooked. There is a important thought in that statement. No one wanted their birthday on Christmas because in all the business of doing the Christmas norm you wouldn’t receive the acknowledgement you desired being that it’s your day. This holiday season I pray we all remember who’s day Christmas really belongs to, tuck it away in your heart and cherish Jesus for the amazing blessing He is. Live in the present, stay in His presence and keep in mind that when you strip all the “stuff” surrounding Christmas away, all that truly remains is a baby in a manger, the Savior of our world.

Wowee! I am BACK!

2006-12-19T20:32:00.000-08:00

Alert the press! Miss Informed has officially figured out how to get back on this frustrating machine! What a frickin' PAIN in the back, literally speaking! I guess if you aren't frequently posting that eventually they make you sign in on this deal, which is fine if you REMEMBER your username and password which come to find out, I did not. Luckily my ginko biloba has kicked in and I am now back to tell you all about it! Are you all surviving this madness called CHRISTmas season?!! I barely am scraping by. My son had massive vomiting in bed with me all night last night, and I am sure that more than once he rubbed his sweet wet puke face against my innocent cheek. My fingers are crossed and I am praying I don't come down with this one folks....makes for a fancy Christmas season. Would someone hand me a burp cloth please?!!! Send me some "WELL" wishes. Until next time America, Cheers to Airborne!

My daughter doing a Costume Parade at school

2006-11-08T10:15:00.000-08:00

Such a lovely princess...ahhhh! No wonder she won. I am so thankful for my muffins!

Phew, Glad That's Over!

2006-11-01T13:27:00.000-08:00

Alas, we can officially kiss Halloween goodbye and get on to better things such as Thanksgiving(yeah!) and Christmas(My alltime fav). This is my favorite time of the year because everything is so family oriented. I did enjoy Halloween but after my early party everything Halloweenish just seemed like, "Whatever, we already did all that!" The actual day was fun though, I worked in my daughters class and she was announced over the intercom as Prettiest Costume. Ahhh, my mothers pride juices were flowing! She looked so lovely. My son on the other hand looked very handsome and swash--buckling in his pirate ensemble. I am glad it is over though, nothing like trooping your over dressed kids from grandparents to next grandparents house. Uggg. Today I'M THE ONE WHO NEEDS A NAP!

Shiny Little Things

2006-10-30T15:59:00.000-08:00

What is it about a fantastic teeth cleaning session that can bring on a case of the vanities. Like you step back into your car and WALAAA! You cannot stop flashing your pearly whites at yourself...while humming. Flash those teeth and BAM!!! as Emeril would say! Damn girl, ya got some nice teeth.

I Survived Halloween Party 2006!

2006-10-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

Total kids count: 13

Total time it lasted: 4& 1/2 hours

Total hours it took to clean up mess: Atleast 3

Total Assessment: Totally worth it!

The kids came looking so cute! We played fun games and ate yummy goodies, ran around like wild banshees and succumbed to exhaustion slumping down to the floor to endure a 1&1/2 hour movie: The Haunted Mansion. It was a busy and exciting time for kids and adults who were desperately trying to maintain sanity! I can hardly wait till next year!

2006-10-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween to all! It is so crazy how fast this year is tumbling by. I really dig celebrating Halloween. This year I am having a fun party for my little goblins and their other trolls. It should be a blast. It is so cute seeing them all dressed up in their costumes. I have to scrape up something to wear because I insisted all the moms coming MUST dress up...that totally backfired when I realized the local Wal-Mart wasn't carrying my preferences. Neither Target either...oh well. I think I am gonna pull out a hideous brides maid dress and be a Queen. I will have to see if it still fits~ It will be entertaining for sure! Have a fun, safe Halloween.

Eye Surgery? Not for weenies.

2006-10-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been considering Lasek. It is a way to correct your vision flaws and basically go under the "knife-laser beam" to get 20/20. Yikes. It is a great concept and it fairly affordable but the idea of someone lasering my eye isn't the first thing in life I wanna line up to try. I am not sure. I know tons of people are happy with their results and I would LOVE to not have to put on my specs first thing in the morning and take them off last thing at night. Hmmm. We shall see. If I do go thru with it, I absolutely will keep you posted regarding the whole experience!

I HAVE OFFICIALLY LOST MY BACKBONE!

2006-09-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

LOOK HOW HAPPY THESE PAMPERED CHEF CONSULTANTS ARE. A LITTLE TOO HAPPY. A LITTLE TOO EAGER. THEY KNOW THE SECRET. ONCE YOU TASTE THEIR DELICACIES YOU TOO WILL GIVE OVER YOUR SOUL. BIIAAATTTCCCHHHHEEEESSSS!

Has anyone ever been to one of these? Or perhaps you are a multiple Pampered Chef party goer. I am usually down for attending a shindig for practically whatever reason," Friend: I haven't seen you in the past 72 hours..." Me:" Let's have a party!" Seriously I am a sucka for fun and most any reason is good enough in my mind to get together. It all started when I went to my mail box and received a neatly arranged postcard from my favorite(only) sister. Hooray she is hosting a P.C. party. Here's the PROB, I loose my marbles when attending parties that are masked as a fun, informative get togethers when truly the sole purpose for you being there munching the goodies is so you can empty out your own pocket book on their product. If you are a true pushover you will most assuredly have signed in blood to host your own show in the next 6 months by the time the last slice of Hazelnut Chocolate Cake is cut. Or, so I have heard. The overly enthusiastic slightly manic Consultant will make sure of that. I feel slightly obligated and resentful upon receiving the invite. GAME PLAN: Damn, now I need to go for support, but I won't buy anything more than the random heat resistant Spatula for $12.00 and I most certainly AM NOT hosting a party! Night of party arrives, I kiss loving husband and perfect angels goodbye as my dear husband shouts after me, " See if they can take back the P.C. stuff you still have in the box." OUCH. After gathering my purse and flipping him the bird I make way to the Partay! Still having my game plan intact...Until, that is, my sis opened her door holding warmed Choco hazelnut spread ready to pour ontop the miracle cake they whipped up in just 12 minutes in the microwave (using only P.C. products-OFCOURSE)! Oh shoot...I wasn't prepared for this. Inhibitions- GONE! GAME PLAN?- I left it at the door. I am completely enraptured by the lovely, outgoing Jewish consultant and all her kitchen gadgets, utensils... German forged full tang knives. I had no idea what full tang meant. It sounded to me like a beverage that need some diluting but Mrs. Wonderful In the Kitchen was more than happy to explain. I was useless and ready to do her bidding. Before she could say Mazel tov! I had signed my check and given her a blood handshake to seal the deal on hosting a January party. I am having P.C. remorse today. Although if I rack up enough catalog sales and sucker enough people into coming by guilting them and promising yummy food, I might get a few 60% off items. Besides, who wouldn't want to bring out that inner chef? I am going for the knives!

Freaky Deaky

2006-08-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

Listen Montel, you need to rethink the way Sylvia Brown is treating your guests...She has made more than a few cry and I feel as of yesterday's show has devastated a couple lives. Seriously Sylvia, you are bringing me down! Yeah, yeah so you are hooked up with the "other" side and all, so you have seen some ufo's and talked to some aliens in your time...So what? Does that give you the right to tell that poor woman she would never get the miracle of having a baby? Or the woman who asked if her mother would get her zest for life back and you said "no, she is about to cross over"...That woman in particular looked EXTREMELY shocked and devastated. The camera never spanned back her way. I wonder why! Who's to say if for all she knew her mama was just experiencing some heavy depression or something and WHAM! Sylvia drops the "death bomb". It's not right Sylvia, it's just not right.

2006-08-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

My wonderful kiddos running from the waves...

2006-08-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

The first pic. is of the guy starting his show, the next is of the two girls...I love the effect.

And...I'm Spent

2006-08-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

I know, I know! I remember the rules on blogger: Use it or loose it. SORRY! Promise I have not been in hiding. I have just been running ragged the past month. After Monterey we took our kids to Fort Bragg for 4 days. It was so much fun. We tried different restaurants daily, tried different beaches daily too! *** We DO NOT recommend the Denny's in that town whatsoever! It is totally grimy and disgusting. So are the waiters/waitresses. YUCK!
Anyway, the first night we got there it was still dusk so there was some light in the sky so we decided to head down to the wharf area and go to the first "beach" once you enter the town. It is not a clean beach but we decided to give it a shot being the light was fading FAST. We meandered around and decided it was time to head back to the car when lo and behold here come this group of interesting hippy looking people raking the sand in an area. I was not sure what they were doing but whatever, it is a free country. We are loading up our trunk when I look over and notice they are beginning to FIRE DANCE! It is so cool, amazing, beautiful! The girl is rockin' Aerosmith and swaying to the music while she spins fire in the most mystical way. Entrancing! Ofcourse we scramble back and find our own "patch" of sand to cobble squat on and enjoy the show. The two girls and man took turns performing. The man was Australian and he rocked it! We gave him a donation because we had to go and he did this AMAZING shaman dance for us. That consisted of dancing to tribal music and rolling the fire all over his body. He actually lit his own bald head on fire. Don't ask me how, but literally there were flames dancing on his head as he rolled the fire wand over it. Then it ended with him eating the flame. It was SO AMAZING! The rest of the trip was great. We put in some fantastic family time and will go back shortly I am sure. Now my daughter has started school and if you know me at all you would no I am not a morning person! So basically I do the duty of getting her up and to school on time but in the end it leaves me whiped all day long! I am adjusting...My son starts this Monday. Boohoo...sniff...sniff. Both of my babies away from their mama for 3 hours daily. Oh well, I will get some much needed time to myself. Lookout GYM, here I come!

Lovely Monterey

2006-08-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my husband and I loaded up, kissed the kiddies goodbye and trailed off to Monterey, California for a friends wedding. It was refreshingly cool there and something about being near the ocean is so wonderful. We did the walks on the beach, ate at the Warf at some delicious award winning restaurant that specialized in Calamari. Yum! We met up with my sis, her hubby and mutual friends. We enjoyed strolling the beach in the cool evening. So calming. The first night we headed over to the club/pub Mucky Duck. It was congested! We ditched it and went to a club that was $20 bucks for my and my man to get in, Club Aquataine? Something like that. This place was very different. Good tunes to dance to but the crowd was interesting at best. Cage dancers which are usually pretty cool but at this place it was this one girl that stole the show. She was on the larger scale with a big booty and squishy looking thighs. How would I, a mere attendee of the club know what her personal backside looked like? Because she showed all of us, silly! She displayed her "assets" in a mini pink number and she shook her cage vigorously to the music( I stated she reminded me of King Kong). It was a full moon that night fo sho! Scandalous people, scandalous!
The wedding was very lovely and the bride was gorgeous. It is always so nice to attend a wedding and feel like you are seeing two people who truly love one another, rather than going through the motions. On the last day we made way to the Winchester Mystery House which in the end wasn't too mystifying. Weird/Crazy maybe but I didn't detect much other than a musty old house with some amazing stained glass. I would love to have some of her Tiffany windows, but they don't sell that in the gift shop now do they. Oh well. It was a good trip overall and it is always great to get away and even better to come home.

Procrastination Nation

2006-08-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is the best way to go, putting things off until the last minute. Some people work better under pressure. I think I do fairly well in this area. Once I have ripped myself from denial and shifted into driven I can be quite effective. Take packing for a trip for instance. I am a list girl for sure. I would prefer to make lists regarding things I need to accomplish rather than out and out accomplishing them right away. You see, I need to feel organized and not rushed. Then I kick myself in the butt when the time is right, a.k.a. right before the deadline and I git er done! Now I have two vacations to plan and pack for and here I sit scrowling through my mental lists and typing this here blog. So it goes. Reminds me of the saying, "you can't give a leopard new stripes" or something like that...I yam who I yam.

Duh Dum, Duh Dum, DUH DUH DUM!

2006-08-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

Thats right, it is Shark Week people. My sister and I take Shark Week very seriously. If you aren't a Shark Week enthusiast maybe you should rethink that if you plan on sticking...hmmm, let's say anymore than a big toe into the Deep Blue Sea! If you haven't seen it before you should check it out. Discovery Channel has footage of Great White Sharks attacking something so hard they COMPLETELY come out of the water. If only I had a pic of that I guarentee it would shock you! Sharks have long been a fascination and GIGANTIC fear of mine. They are amazingly terrible creatures that bite and ask questions later. Razor sharp rows of teeth. Crazy eyes. They smell blood from far off. They can sense boat crashes. No kidding. They are coming...to eat you!

Loving Looks...

2006-07-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

What is it about children that can melt your heart and make all feel right in the world with one loving glance? You could be having the most miserable day, week, whatever... and waalaa one precious look can melt all frustrations away. What a blessing children are. Little walking, talking miracles in our lives. My kids are my heart. Bottom line. They are "it" to me. The reason to be. Even though I would probably consider myself to be somewhat of a "scrambling mother" of sorts at times, they are where it is at. My joy, my heart, my love, my children.

Jeepers, Creepers, Where'd You Get those..CHOMPERS!

2006-07-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

Anyone hear of this weirdness? Back in the South someone caught a fish with teeth that resemble HUMAN teeth! Sounds strange out outright gross? Yes. Considering going swimming in a lake anytime soon? No.

Fisherman Scott Curry reeled in the 20-pound fish on Buffalo Springs Lake and immediately noticed the catch had human-like teeth. A game warden photographed the fish and is attempting to identify it. General Manager of Buffalo Springs Lake Greg Thornton told KLBK13-TV in Texas that he has never seen anything like the fish in the 36 years he has lived near the lake.The leading theory is that the fish is a Pacu, about which Wikipedia has this entry:
The Pacu is a common name used to refer to several species of South American freshwater fish that are closely related to the Piranha. They are vegetarian or omnivorous and are commonly kept as aquarium pets. They have unusual teeth, which strangely resemble human teeth, which they use to crush seeds that fall into the water. Pacus have been illegally introduced as exotic species throughout the world into freshwater habitats, including discoveries in the United States in Utah, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, Arizona and Texas...

Those teeth are very freaky indeed and I wouldn't want them to mistake my toes as seeds they crush in their freaky mouths. NO THANK YOU! First there are scary toothed fish, a.k.a. sharks in the ocean and now this! Is no water beside chlorinated pools safe anymore?!!

107 Degrees, 102.6 Temperature and The Day of The Sharts...

2006-07-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

First let me start off by saying it is summer. No single person deserves to be sick in summer. Everyone should be swimming or going on glorious vacations or anything but be SICK! Shut in for a week. COME ON! This sucks! My poor precious daughter has caught some mysterious virus that symptoms would point to strep throat but cultures would say it is not. So basically it is untreatable and she has to wait it out, let it run its course, yada yada...Poor baby. I am juggling motrin and tylenol for my sweetie pie and she just stays HOT! The stupid fever is a stubborn one for sure! I am not one who does well when my kids are sick, hurt, in danger, in potential danger of anything I view as potentially dangerous! I am a tad bit anal regarding my children but seriously, they are my heart. I am making her tons of different meals hoping she will take a few nibbles and pouring all these different drinks HOPING she will drink on some of them. So there she sits on the couch surrounded by various cups of ice water, apple juice, gatorade...whatever I can think of and random plates of food spread around for her liking. Poor baby! Today she comes in and says mommy I accidentally pooped on the couch. Oops is right. Ugg. It has been an interesting week and I'll be damned if my throat isn't a little scratchy today. I am doubling up on vitamin c and praying not to encounter this evil tonsil killer!

*********Why the unrelated pic? Because it is funny and I hear laughter works good like a medicine! So there!

Nacho Libre

2006-07-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

Last night I went and saw Nacho Libre. Truthfully I wasn't expecting much after I read some reviews. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. It was OFCOURSE stupid funny. I enjoy stupid humor though. It wasn't overly stupid, just enough. I thought it was hilarious! I cracked up and from what I could tell the audience enjoyed it too. There were a lot of laughs. I was really concerned I was wasting my money and time after I got to the movie theaters and saw they had it showing in the crappy theatre. You know the one, shoved in the corner of the place. The small screen one with terrible air conditioning. Yeah, that one. But still there was a good sized crowd and it was really funny. If you like Napoleon Dynamite then trust me you will enjoy Nacho Libre! Siesta!

Concert At the Casino

2006-07-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

For my good friend, Random Girls 36th birthday we rolled out the red carpet and high tailed it up to our nearby casino for a night of giggles and Michelle Branch...now with Jessica Harp starring as the Wreckers. The dinner was fun to sit around and visit and I had the PLEASURE of sitting close to the funniest gal on the planet! NO kidding! She is pure perfection! Her name is Julie and she is a spunky italian who is so highly oppionionated and overly informed she NEVER runs out of things to say! What a doll! The birthday girl was having fun enjoying her buddies and taking lots of photos! She looked like a rockstar with all her mysterious eye-liner. Woooo! Voo-Doo woman! The concert was good, but SHORT! They only have one album and so I was suprised it lasted only about an hour-if that. (I was thankful the tickets were so cheap!) They sound good together though. The best part of the night by far was going back to Random Girls house and putting blankets out on the lawn and shooting the breeze for a few hours. I had so many good laughs that night. These girls are lots of fun!

Buttered Popcorn Anyone?

2006-07-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Well, actually Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway wear Prada in this funny and entertaining movie. I wouldn't necessarily categorize this as a comedy because there were serious parts. It was a good flick and I would recommend it. I got to see it opening night with some of my girlies after dining at the new Italian restaurant in town. Yumm! We were celebrating my friend being laid off from her job- yes, oddly enough it is a good thing. My friend and I ordered the most amazing lasangna that came in this large bowl. It looked like it could quite possibly feed a family of 4 no prob. So I said in joking to the waiter,"Who ordered the Stuaffers party size Lasangnas?" Funny to me, maybe not so funny to him. Ahhh well. We got to munch on our platters of lasangna while being serenaded with the accordion. It was very fun! Then it was off to the movies to meet some more buddies. The movie was the perfect finishing touch to an already great night! I think girl night needs to happen more often!

**Did I mention our to-go boxes were like 3 pounds each? Lunch today? I am thinkin' left overs!

TOLD YA I'D PROVE IT!

2006-06-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

Here is how my husband found me, with murder on my mind. Later, in pic #2 that is me looking around for something to kill. It is tough out in the wild woods. As far as 4th of July goes what Miss Informed and her fam is doin is anybody's guess! Consider this though, if you find yourself camping and notice a crazy looking girl mumbling about what a disgrace "Bens" are in our modern day and age, and the horrors of quarter showers, just nod as she walks by. High chances are it is me, Miss Informed in the flesh opting out of enduring hours of boy on boy wrestling. Succumbing to nature, the lesser of two evils. Keep in mind that word on the street is when confronted with a crazy don't meet their eye. I may just be lookin' for something to destroy! Especially if sited early in the morning...

NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!

2006-06-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

Good lord this year is passing by fast! Mother nature unfortunately played a big fat CRUEL joke on us by skipping spring altogether and going right for the juggler of Hades heat! PG&E must love it as they are raking in the big bucks ALL summer long. I have been living in various pools as of late. Bouncing from one pool to the next. Or the random lake thrown in for variety. I am pruning up incase you were wonderin'. But it is the only escape from the intense heat. Usually I am the type to just stay indoors for pretty much half the year, starting mid May and reappearing after the first rain in September. Makes for so many fun times! Ummm ...Not so much. So this year has been different. I gotta get out of my house and entertain myself and my two kids somehow. How better than a cool, crisp dip? It is second best to hanging out at the freezer section at your local Albertson's. Promise! That too can be rigorously refreshing depending on how long you can keep the freezer doors open without getting noticed. Now with July 4th nipping at our heels it is spawning much grief at our humble abode. What to do? Why is it so hard to make a flippin' plan. My husband and I always seem to have the most irritatingly difficult time deciding on a plan and committing to it. *Insert frown* We go back and forth, back and forth until inevitably it is too late and we are stuck at home with me being pissed and resentful and him watching Ultimate Fighting on the boob tube for hours on end! Let's hope not! I say lets go to the coast, he says lets pack up and brave the outdoors. Now people I just explained generally this is my hibernation time and I don't necessarily ENJOY being out in the heat ESPECIALLY when dust and smoke factor in, most likely at that point you can factor me out!
Rarely do I get a wild hair and consent to go camping. Recently I did. We actually had a great time until night came. I have this little fear of being attacked in my tent by a bear-this could be part of the anti-camping philosophy-and so I suggested we sleep in the campershell. We loaded up the truck along with my air mattress and made way to the beautiful woods...Well, sort of woods( a man made lake constitutes nature to me) All was going peachy until I realized it wasn't much cooling down that fine evening and I am a have the windows shut and the door locked kinda gal. Needless to say we packed in the back of our truck and sweated tell sun up! I slept awful and was such a bitch the next morning. I wanted to KILL something. Don't believe me? I will prove it.

Still Small Voice...

2006-06-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

I DESERVE TO BE HEARD

Last night my husband and I made love. This probably sounds usual and obvious to most, but to anyone who is married for multiple years with two kids under their belt might understand more. Simply stated, it doesn’t happen all the time. Not to say sex doesn’t often occur, because it does. I have no problem with doing that duty! But more often than not it is just that…SEX. There is a distinct difference between making love and sex. Both feel good and are enjoyable but one is mainly physical and the other awakens the spiritual, sacred places. It is a beautiful thing to behold. I felt precious and oh so loved beyond words. Feeling that connection with my husband makes me realize why I married him in the first place.
In life it is all to easy to get so side tracked on day to day business so you loose perspective on the truly important, irreplaceable, priceless treasures surrounding us. Loose sight of the things that really matter. Not the things that distract us from the truth. That is just that, a distraction.
Being married and having two kids can take a lot of work and dedication. Also it crushes a lot of false expectations and brings about so many unexpected blessings. It makes you feel out of control in many ways. Sometimes that alone makes me want to panic. It is a hard balance of learning how to maintain who you are inside with all the other titles you hold. Ahna the mother, Ahna the wife, Ahna the christian, Ahna the friend…and so the list goes. What about Ahna the person? There has to be a balance. It is necessary. Is it just me, or does anyone out there ever feel like gagging on the ordinary? I swear I wish just once the sky would part, the clouds would role back and magically the God of all creation would look down and say,” I see you Ahna. I SEE you. You are not alone and you are not just a minnow in the fish bowl of life. You have relevance and you are making a difference.” Well, who wouldn’t want to experience that, really? Ahh well, that is where faith steps in and you just have to trust and believe.
Make every day count, tell the ones nearest and dearest how much you love them. Life is what you make it!

Old Friends Die Hard

2006-06-17T01:35:00.000-07:00

I just had such a wonderful night with an old friend that recently I have reconnected with. It has been a great blessing for me to have her in my life. It is funny how 7 years can go by and you can still connect with someone so well. It is a bit suprising to me. When I opened the door to her when our paths crossed I had no idea what would come of it. So I am thrilled things just keep looking up!

Friendship is such a tricky thing. Ask me if I thought that 2 years ago, and I would have said wholeheartedly "no way, friendship is smooth sailing..." My how time can change a person's mind... One friendship in particular is bogging me down. My "best friend" none the less...Funny how even that has changed drastically. I will set the stage so you can understand, 15 years ago we became BF and that continued on through the years: tears, fights, make-ups, break-ups, breakdowns..etc.,. She even lived with me and I fought side by side with her in her divorce...Honestly, in our friendship we always had issues, we both are strong yet sensitive girls so we would continually butt heads. Looking back now I see our friendship was in patterns. Times of "really good, borderline sublime" and then times of, "why are we even friends at all?" We clashed often. It is so sad for me really to see this sisterhood die. I recently bumped into her and neither of us even spoke to each other, our kids just talked. That was awful, I wish we as adults could atleast get some civil closure. How can you have a relationship with someone for 15 years, and then POOF it is up and gone just like that? Without a moment of closure? That is really what our relationship turned into. Beyond friendship, hell we fought like family...Unfortunately we weren't stuck with eachother the way family is. The unbreakable bond ended up being made of plastic rather than steel. I feel the loss of it and it saddens me deeply. I wonder if we will work this out? I know I want the friendship but I don't want the patterns. No more super highs and lowest of lows. I want her friendship but in an adult way. I don't know if that is too much to ask or if it is impossible to remold such familiar territory. I suppose time will tell.

Family Vacation

2006-06-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went away to a nice sunny place and enjoyed some long overdo family time. It was relaxing and always entertaining! We went with my husbands family. Never a dull moment there! I was unsure at first of how it would all go because usually there is at least one dramatic family upset when they all get together. My man's family is full of highly opinionated, eccentric people with whom I love. I do not love the drama though. When I first married into the family all my husband and I ever argued about was his family, and trust me, that was enough to keep us busy the first year of marriage! The trouble was I worked with him and his mother prior, and for a while after the "union" so all the normal adjusting pains of mother & daughter-in-law's was amplified resulting into some major bad feelings towards each other. Luckily for all of us, these problems eventually subsided and I can honestly say I really love the woman lots. I am blessed by her. She can still do things that drive me nuts but my love for her softens it, and now I realize she isn't the all-bad monster I made her out to be in my mind. Even still, I was slightly concerned over the weekend plans because his step-dad is very loud and obnoxious at times! I know he has a good heart but he can be overbearing. He and my husbands sister have this love-hate relationship going on. Actually she has the same type of relationship with her own mother too. Instead of any family drama, there was just a lot of laughter and sun burns! It was a good weekend. I am lucky to have family on both sides I enjoy vacationing with! My kids loved it. My daughter swam like a fish without any swimmies this weekend making mom & dad "oh so proud"!

House of Wax

2006-06-13T20:13:00.000-07:00

Hilarious! * This probably isn't blogger etiquette & posting this may for all time make me a blogging "Poser" being that I didn't write it, but I could care less. It is so frickin' funny it would be worth it! One time I tried Nads, which lookin' back on it now, the name alone should have set me off. It sounds like some treatment for crabs! But the way that Aussie woman ripped unsightly hair off of a hairy man's back had me mesmerized and hooked me in! Once the stuff arrived in the mail, I tried it once! One lone strip on my leg was as far as I got. The hair did stay away for approximately 2 weeks, but it hurt like hell! All I can say is the hairy guy from the infomercial musta got paid a heck of a lot!

All methods have tricked me with their promises of easy, painless removal -
the Epilady, the standard razor, the scissors, the Nair, the EpilStop, and
now . . The Wax.

My night began as any other normal weekday night. I came home from work,
fixed dinner for my son and we played for a while.

I then had the thought that would ring painfully in my mind for the next
couple hours: Maybe I should use that wax in my medicine cabinet. I set up
my boy with a video and head to the site of my demise, um, I mean bathroom.

It was one of those cold wax kits. No melting a clump of hot wax, you just
rub the clear strips in your hand, peel them apart, press it on your leg
(or wherever) and ignore the frantically rising crescendo of string
instruments in the background. No muss, no fuss. How hard can this be?
I mean, I'm not the girly-est of girls but I'm mechanically inclined so
maybe I can figure out how this works.

You'd think.

So I pull one of the thin strips out. It's two strips facing each other,
stuck together. I'm supposed to rub it in my hand to warm and soften the
wax (I'm guessing).
I go one better: I pull out the hair dryer and heat the SOB to ten thousand
degrees. Cold wax, my ass. (Oh, how that phrase will come back to haunt
me.)

I lay the strip across my thigh. I hold the skin around it and pull. OK, so
it wasn't the best feeling in the world, but it wasn't bad. I can do this!

Hair removal no longer eludes me! I am Sheena, fighter of all wayward body
hair and smooth skin extraordinaire! With my next wax strip, I move north.

After checking on my boy and verifying that he was, in fact, becoming one
with Bear and learning all about smells, I sneak into the bathroom for The
Ultimate Hair Fighting Championship.

I drop my panties and place one foot on the toilet. Using the same
procedure, I then apply the wax strip across the right side on my bikini
line, covering the right half of my vagina and stretching up into the
inside of the right ass cheek.

(Yeah, it was a long strip.)

I inhale deeply. I brace myself.
RRRIIIIPPP!!!!

I'm blind! Blind from the pain!

Vision returning.

Oh crap. I've managed to pull off half an inch of the strip. Another deep
breath. And RIIIP!

Everything is swirly and tie-dyed?

Do I hear crashing drums?

OK, coming back to normal again. I want to see my trophy - my wax covered
pelt that caused me so much agony. I want to revel in the glory that is my
triumph over body hair. I hold the wax strip like an Olympic gold medalist.

But why is there no hair on it?

Why is the wax mostly gone?

Where could the wax go, if not on the strip?

Slowly, I eased my head down, my foot still perched on the toilet. I see
hair - the hair that should be on the strip.

I touch. I feel. I am touching wax. I look to the ceiling and silently
shout "nooooooo!!" And realize I have just begun living my own personal
version of "The Tar Baby."

I peel my fingers off the softest, most sensitive part of my body that is
now covered in cold wax and matted hair, and make the next big mistake - up
until this point, you'll remember, I've had my foot on the toilet.

I know I need to move, to do something.

So I put my foot down on the floor. And then I hear the slamming of the
cell door.

Vagina? Sealed shut.

Ass? Sealed shut.

A little voice in my head says "I hope you don't have to do #2 anytime
soon. Your head just might pop off."

I penguin walk around the bathroom trying desperately to figure out what I
should do next.

Hot water!

Hot water melts wax! I'll run the hottest water I can stand and get in -
the wax should melt and I can gently wipe it away, right?

Wrong.

I get in the tub - the water is slightly hotter than is used to torture
prisoners of war or sterilize surgical equipment. And I sit. Now the only
thing worse than having your goodies glued together is having them glued
together and then glued to the bottom of a tub. In scalding hot water.

Which, by the way, does not melt the cold wax.

So now I'm stuck to the tub.

I call my friend, C, because she once dropped out of beauty school so
surely she has some secret knowledge or trick to get wax off skin.

It's never good to start a conversation with "So my ass and hoochie are
stuck to the tub.
She doesn't have a trick. She does her best to suppress laughter. She wants
to know exactly where the wax is on the ass - "Are we talking cheek or
hole, here?" she asks. She isn't even trying to hide the giggles now.

I give her the run-down of the entire night. She tells me to call the
number on the side of the box, but to have a good cover story for where the
wax actually is.

"You know that if we were working the help line at XX Wax Co. and somebody
called with their entire crack sealed shut we'd just put them on hold then
record the conversation for everyone we know. You're going to end up on a
radio show or the Internet if you tell them the truth."
While we go through various solutions, I have resorted to scraping the wax
off with a razor. Boy, nothing feels better to the girly goodies than
covering them in wax, sticking them to a tub in super hot water and THEN
dry shaving the sticky wax off!

In the middle of the conversation (which has inexplicably turned to other
subjects!) I find the little, beautiful saving grace that is the lotion
provided with wax to remove the excess. I rub some in and start screaming
"It's working! It's working!" I get hearty congratulations from C and we
hang up.

I successfully remove all the wax and notice, to my dismay, that the hair
is still there. So I shaved the damned stuff off. Hell, I was numb by that
point anyway. And then I put the box of wax back in my medicine cabinet.

Never know, I may want to try it again!

Seeing Double...

2006-06-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

Anyone ever notice how similiar Miss Katie Holmes and Nick Cannon look? Seriously! Look at the way they smile in that, " I am cute and I know it..." way.They do the same scrinch of their nose and show their little pointy teeth(top and bottom) and sometimes even do something strange with their tongues. To prove my point ( because unfortunantly the pics aren't doing it justice), just tune into some old Dawson's Creek episodes, then immediately watch Drumline and you will see exactly what I am talking about. No kidding! Ofcourse, the resemblance begins and ends with their mouths!

I'D RATHER BE SMELLING THE ROSES...

2006-05-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

That's right, I would much rather be smelling the roses, relaxing with my kid's, typing on the computer or even writing about it rather than doing it...CLEANING, that is. Uggg. It is sadly ironic and secretly shameful that I, as a stay at home mother hate to clean. Dread it, put it off, would rather leave, shut and lock the door behind me and pretend it isn't there type of mess. That is what it has accumulated to. I need to get into my kids rooms and just gut them out! TOO MANY toys. My room is filled with stuff I need to gut out too. I don't think this curse is alltogether my fault-- entirely. I mean, when I was growing up whenever a job seemed to overwhelming I just sort of shut down. I couldn't just start somewhere. It always seemed hopeless! Like my house at the present. Definantly overwhelming. I am not a good organizer. Too much stuff to organize. It doesn't help I have saved all of my children's clothes since birth...never know if we decide to have another one... Then ontop of that mountain, my kind sister gives me her kids clothes that are in good shape. Her kids are 9 and 6. So I have all these larger sizes stored away for the future as well. Doesn't bode well for the storage space. I am swimming in all this extra stuff. It is affecting my mood in a bad way. If only I could be more like flippin' Martha Stewart, that girl can organize! She folds her sheets like the hotels do. Hey, that takes some major talent in my opinion. Oh well. I have to get going. The day is getting away from me all together too quickly, just like yesterday. If I don't hurry and clean even a little bit, I won't get anything done around here again today. Plus I am taking the kids swimming later. Maybe I will clean for 30 minutes. I am sure I can get some stuff done in that time?

FAMILY UPDATE

2006-05-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

You take the good, you take the bad, you take it all and then you have, the Facts Of Life, The Facts of Life...Ok, no I am not turning into Tudee! Lol!
Family matters get pretty confusing and complicated at times. I have been having to be around my "enemy" relatives I talked about in a earlier blog as of late. It is such a trip when you know someone talks so badly about you and acts nice to your face. It does a number on my head. I can't be fake like that. Although, I think I have come to the conclusion to not be so walled off when I have to be around them. I think I am just kind of relaxing into the reality of the situation and am coming to really accept it for what it is. I can enjoy certain things about these people when I find myself around them but when the night's done, it is done. I know who they are and that they aren' t the type of people I want to consider friends in my life. It is okay that it is the way it is. It has taken me 4 years to understand there is no understanding these people and how to function in the circumstances. I am such an analyzer it is sickening at times. I have given myself permission to let it go, to come to terms with knowing there is no perfect solution and no understanding the reason they do what they do. As with all things in life sometimes all that really matters is if we can figure out how to be okay with things no matter what path the other person chooses. We are only responsible for ourselves...

Taylor Hicks Got The Job Done...

2006-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Did anyone catch the American Idol finale? It was the best one to date! It had awesome live performances by Live, Deon Warwick, but the best by far was the surprise of the evening--Prince!He is so old and still so cool! He has maintained the same image that made him famous in the first place. He also had these hot mama dancers that looked like twins and moved like synchronized swimmers...It was hot. Oops, back to the winner. Taylor Hicks didn' t even catch my eye in the beginning of the show. I thought Katherine McPhee would be the one to win. Obviously that was not the case. I stopped tuning in for awhile, and one night I caught a show. There standing and singing in all his rockin' sex appeal was Chris Daughtry. Hello America! You let one slip through the cracks! He managing just fine I hear, signed as the lead singer for the band Fuel? We'll see. Anyways, I think Katherine McPhee will do just fine. She is beautiful and the girl can SING! Besides look at Reuben Studderd vs. Clay Aiken...Who's famous now? ***Although Clay Aiken is starting to look a bit crazy!!!!

OOPSY?

2006-05-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

Oh Crap, Oh Crap, Oh Crap!!!! I just screwed up big time! We have semi-recently redone our kitchen. New tile, stovetop, oven, etc.,.Well, I was just making cookies with my son and above my stovetop/oven area is our spice cupboard. My husband has told me on more than one occasion to go ahead and take the heavy bottled spices down, as they could damage our flat glass stovetop. Ofcourse I acted like I was going to, but let's just say I never really got around to that...Anyhoo, those stupid Spice Islands just have to be my favorite, and coincidentally they come in a HEAVY glass jar. In the middle of me reaching up for the Baking Soda, out my Spice Island Thai Seasoning comes tumbling down. "Oh crap," I say as I believe I just hear it break already thinking, "Oh well, I will just replace it ". Alas, once I look down it is not the $5.00 bottle of spice, but unfortunately more like the hundreds of dollars stovetop lacking a chunk of glass. WHOOPSY! I am sooo busted. Those dang spice bottles are resilient, gotta hand it to those guys at Spice Island. Not so much for Home Depot's glass stovetops!

Weighty Issues

2006-05-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

Miss Informed

IRVINE, Calif. — Tapping into the late-night market, Taco Bell said it is creating a new meal called the Fourthmeal.

According to a news release, Fourthmeal is the late night meal between dinner and breakfast. The program launches April 17 at participating Taco Bell restaurants nationwide and will be supported by a campaign that features television, radio and outdoor advertising, an interactive Web site at fourthmeal.com and in-store merchandising.

"Not so long ago, the term 'brunch' was coined for people who ate a late breakfast," said Bill Pearce, chief marketing officer of Taco Bell Corp.

The Fourthmeal launch is supported by three national TV spots produced by Foote, Cone & Belding.

ANYONE HEAR ABOUT THIS?

I saw the sign for the "fourth meal" as I was taking my daughter to school. I think it is just rediculous! Imagine encouraging an already obese America to go ahead, go for the 4th meal! Yeah, with extra sour cream and more of that delicious fatty ground...beef? Hmmm, what were they planning to do, up the daily calorie content to 3,000? Oh, and I forgot add a side of nachos bel grande with that, as well. No thanks! My advice, skip the fourth meal...

Never Enough Time

2006-05-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

Ever notice how quickly the days just rush by? Like living life in hyper speed? It was just Christmas 2005, now I turn around and already it is summer '06! It freaks me out when I really ponder it. If I could just reach out and grab the hand of time to slow things down, I would. If only time was a tangible thing. I have dealt with issues of wanting to be in control, I am sure that is why it is so mind boggling and against my nature to except life and role with it. There is nothing we can do about it, so it is silly to obsess. I suppose it is the nature of things. Time ticks on. So if you choose to get bound up and stagnant the only one your hurting is yourself. Time dutifully marches on with or without you . That is why it is so freeing to forgive and let go of the issues that trip us all up. Forgiveness is a choice and really isn't even about the other person, it is like freeing yourself from a ugly cage you had the lock and key to all along. I feel the sooner you learn a lesson, the sooner you won' t be stuck being bound to repeat it. Once you "get" something that test is over, and it's like God is going, " okay, Ahna what should we work on next!" Hmmm, I have given Him lot's of choices so what will it be now? Ha, ha...

Pissed Off At Relatives

2006-05-21T20:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been informed that you are suppose to blog daily. Okay. I am figuring the system out. Today sucked. SUCKED!!! Here's why: I choose (yup, it's ultimately my fault) to attend this bridal shower for my cousin. Let's put it nicely, we aren't on the best of terms. It is one of those quirky family issues that is complicated and involves all the woman on my mom's side minus grandma. I said it was complicated! So, like I was saying here comes this invitation in the mail, and I basically disregard it. Had my mind made up to not go. Well, time goes by and pushy, opinionated (whom I totally relate with and love dearly) aunties step in and needless to say I decided I'd be the bigger person, put on a happy face and do the family duty of attending. Mind you, this girl didn't show to much of my stuff and didn't even come to visit me in the hospital when my 2 babies were born. Arggg! NO more bitterness about that...? So we all show to this thing and GOOD GRIEF talk about uncomfortable!!!! I wanted to ditch the whole gala 15 minutes into it. We car pooled so we would have each other for support and that totally bit me in the butt once I realized the lovely plan back fired and in essence I was trapped! So the shower lasted 2 miserable hours with many awkward lulls. My question is this, if and when does family priorities get thrown aside and you are allowed to "skip out" on functions that you would rather not be at and others would most likely rather you not attend? Is it proper etiquette? I always tend to feel guilty like I am proving them right to my grandma(who is a neutral party to the drama, yet is fed lies from the enemies)if I don't show. It is a tricky situation and there's not enough room on my blog to address all the issues and blows that have been dealt. Summary: just dealing with mean-spirited people here. Not my cup of tea.

2006-05-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

Hello world, it is I miss Blogger in Training! I am proud I just figured out how to upload pics on this thing. Oh, it's the little things in life that mean the most!

TRAGIC MEMORIES

2006-05-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

So, the past few days I have been working on creating this video for my church. It consists of pictures flashing on the screen kind of like a slide show. The song its set to Praise You in the Storm. The song by itself is very touching, but a thought came to me that I could make this video using certain events that were impacting: September 11, Sri Lanka Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and Soldiers in Iraq. It really turned out well, needless to say the day I spent researching pics online was so devastating to even see over a computer the mass devastation these events involved. Heartwrenching. What a tearful day. It gave me such a sense of compassion and desperation for these sufferers and survivors. It makes you realize that it truly is a small world after all, and no matter where you go human suffering, and pain and loss is the same in every language, every country,every ethnicity. Everyone grieves, everyone suffers. I just wanted to touch the faces of those crying, embrace those children in Sri Lanka lost and forlorn without their families. Hold the hands of the horrified people dealing with 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina. It makes me want to do more. Find ways to help these people. Bring comfort when there has been such loss. It is a eye opener, truly looking at the faces of such a tragedy. It is to easy to hear about these things on the news, feel sorry for these people but distance yourself so you don't do anything about it. Just go about your pretty, neat & tidy everyday lives. Not again, next time I am going to contribute some way, somehow. It won't sit right with me otherwise.

Miss Informed

2006-05-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

Miss Informed
Survivor anyone? Is anyone out there watching Survivor Exile Island? I am completely irked! Aras just won...Sorry if I happened to spoil it for anyone. So frustrating. I don't usually watch this show but for some reason my hubby and I got into it. And Terry should have won, or Cirie. I can relate to Cirie on many levels. Terry was deserving in my opinion because he worked his tail off week after week as the under dog. He solely kept himself alive out there. Cirie on the other hand had the comfort of a strong alliance later in the game. The thing about her that makes her deserving is she completely blossomed out there. She was a nurse, a regular mom. She stated in the last episode something along the lines of she was proud of herself because she basically lived on the couch the past 35 years due to lack of confidence and fear of the unknown. Now with this experience she truly realized her true strength and potential. Although Aras was well spoken, natural and generally came across as a yoga, "peace, loving" guy, I feel his true colors showed when he corned Danielle. Threatening her!!! It was sooo good what crazy Shane said to him at final deliberation with the jury regarding Aras. That he can't get by just by being judged on intention, that he would be judged on performance. So true, he talked this wonderful talk- but when push comes to shove he got in self preservation mode and I can pretty much guarantee he wasn't pinching his two fingers together on a mat going"hmmmmmmmm". Nope, not when he was trying to push around Danielle. Irksome! That is precisely why I shouldn't get into these shows, although it does show a good example of human beings. How they relate, handle stress, starvation, etc.,. Okay, maybe I will tune in next season!!!!

2006-05-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Just a Few Things About Me: I am opinionated, I am funny, I love a good time, I can't stand waking up early(lately that's my life), I hate writers block which I am suffering from even now...I want to understand and learn about other people in other countries, I am currently not reading like I should because as of late I am a internet addict(pisses a lot of people off-"You need to get another phone line!")...Whatever! I have my own ideas on things and I don't usually have any problem sharing them, I love photography, I love art, I love creativity, it inspires me. I am laid back. I need more self-control in every area of my life, to get things in balance. I am beautifully flawed and that won't change. I am a work in progress...and that is what I will always be...

Miss Informed

2006-05-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

Miss Informed

Hello there world! I am totally new to all this blogging stuff and I thank my good friend Julie for getting me going! Also a shout out of thanks and gratitude to her cousin, Stacy an expert blog creator. A master. He took the cool pic on my page and adjusted it to his liking- He did awesome! I am excited and unsure of what to expect from this. The idea of putting your thoughts and feelings out there and possibly getting responses is highly interesting to me. I hope to meet lots of intelligent, interesting and completely cool people here. We'll see...