I'm A Loser, Baby...

I love Friday night...specifically the drive home from work. It is so full of promise and excitement for the weekend ahead. This weekend I have experienced the awful dichotomy of wanting to relax (do nothing) and wanting to go somewhere and have fun. This morning JBB woke me up EARLY which meant I was tired from the start, though Hubby and I did manage to have actual adult convo while the kids were playing.

My crowning accomplishment for the day was to get my brows waxed at a new wax boutique that is about 3 minutes from home. Now this makes me sound fancier than I really am, and I'm ok with that. One of my super cool pharm-mommy friends recommended it to me and they did not disappoint. Somehow even with the waxing and pulling and tweezing, it was so relaxing I almost fell asleep. The only part that really hurt was when she had to tweeze a grey hair from my right eyebrow. Yep, I said grey. That hurt, in more ways than one. Anyway, I was completely pleased and feel like my skin looks better and I look younger. (I guess not having a big grey hair coming out of your forehead will do that). Here's the before and after:


Then I came home and proceeded to take a series of naps and then a hot shower (second one of the day) and feel guilty, grumpy, and depessed because I was too tired to do anything else. Why is that? I am just tired from work. It's not weird to think that I need a day to just veg, right? Why is this lazy-ish kind of rest just not relaxing? I feel like the day is wasted because I haven't played with the kiddies very much or cleaned house or done laundry or even gone shopping. Thank goodness tomorrow is church (pre-planned activity early in the morning) so I will have a good start to the day. If all goes well (eg, I don't fall asleep), then we can go to the pool in the afternoon and I won't have another online pity party.

Sly Love

Hubby and I watched Rambo last night. We are not very current...it was on pay-per-view and we had a free movie coupon. Nevertheless, it was great. Now I have to qualify that by saying it is very, VERY violent and some scenes make you want to turn away. But the final big scene when Rambo has to rescue the missionaries is sufficiently awesome (in an action movie kind of way). Nice touch with Rambo going home to see his father. I'll basically watch anything that Stallone is in. Now if I could just get that "porn" movie from the early 70s, I would have his full body of work.

Rambo 2008

First Blood 1982
Wow. Which actors have created/crafted a character that is still relevant after 30 years? How many actors have created two? Sylvester Stallone is amazing (try to ignore Stop or My Mom Will Shoot, Oscar, and Rhinestone).

Does Blogging Make Me Look Fat?

It's time for me to take some action...JBB asked me if I have a baby in my tummy and I most certainly do NOT! But I am reeling from his honesty. So I have a new diet plan. It is pretty simple. I am going to stop eating so much. And drink more water.

I once made fun of a study that said the more diet soda people drink, the heavier they get. Now I think there's something to it. (Well, I am still not convinced because I think the researchers merely identified an association and did not establish a cause and effect relationship, but I digress). I am about to eat my last Oreo and then I will begin the aforementioned plan of attack on my bulging belly. I'll let you know how it goes.

Show Me the Money!

Today JBB's school took a field trip to Build-A-Bear and to the Macaroni Grill for lunch. Tonight he explained the whole day to Hubby and me with lots of enthusiasm and phrases like, "and then....and then....and then" without pausing even to take a breath. Hubby and I listened intently, all the while sneaking smiles at each other and basking in the glow of adoration for our firstborn.

We the parents had the option to send extra money to buy an outfit for the bear. I am embarassed to say that JBB had extra money only because I didn't have exact change and was too late to get any. Well, I have learned my lesson...I will always plan to send extra on a field trip. I have never seen a child so excited to have a teddy bear dressed as Spiderman. That's the best money I've spent in a long time.

Apparently JBB's Friend only had enough extra money for the basketball player outfit (instead of the Spiderman). When the teachers tried to gently stear him away from the Spiderman to something more afforable, he said, "but I have to have enough money! My parents are both doctors!"

Oh, snap!

Redneck moment of the day:

I love My Name Is Earl (thanks for the reruns TBS) and when Joy slurs her words, I have no trouble understanding what she says.

Look at the Camera Everyone

It's that time. Oh yes, the church directory. It was pretty entertaining really.

The photographer told us all about her 9 kids (age 27 to age 6)and 7 grandkids. She also told us about her husband going back to school to study diesel mechanics and that he works in the morning and goes to class from 2 until 9:30.

It always amazes me how some people tell you all about their lives in an instant. It wasn't necessarily unprofessional-we learned a little bit about her which she probably thought made us more comfortable with her and I'm sure it makes her day go a bit better by being able to talk about her family. Still I think it's funny when people tell you all about themselves right away-mainly because I just don't do that. (Except, of course, on the internet).

Anyway, we smiled while keeping our backs straight and our knees pointed in the right direction. Then we got to view everything on a laptop and we were also offered the fabulous opportunity to purchase all or some of the pictures in color, black and white, sepia, with or without a fuzzy vignette background all at the amazingly low low price of $169. Uh, no. Something about the artificial pose and the oh so grey background kept me from thinking that it was a good deal. We got the proof only page for a cool $25. Good enough for me.

More About Mr. Russert

Hubby is still studying, the kiddies are in bed, and after having already fallen asleep on the couch, I am now wide awake again, being kept company by the internet.

It was a week ago today that Tim Russert passed away. I woke up this morning and found myself sad just thinking about it. I guess even I didn't realize what I fan I really am. I had been kicking around the idea of another post about him, about how I want to Russert-ize my life. His priorities were never skewed by his passions.

If you want to see someone who had it all, this is the man. He had an amazing work ethic, a vigorously brilliant mind tempered with a sense of humor and an ever-present humility and respect. He was uniquely devoted to God, to family, and to work. In that order. When I think of Tim Russert, I think of a man who got it right.

I have to thank one of my fave blogs Ashley's Closet for posting about this. At the conclusion of Tim Russert's funeral today, that Hawaiian/ukelele version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was played. Moments later, a very rare double rainbow appeared over the Washington sky. You can't make this stuff up. Grab a kleenex and check this out.

Anonymous Exposed

This week marked a major milestone for me. I told one of my dear IRL friends about my blog. So if your reading, Dear Friend-hey there, thanks for your call today, and congrats on your great consignment purchase! Other than Hubby, she is the only person I know that knows about my blog.

That makes me feel pretty secure (private). There are so many things that I would like to post about, but I have this crazy (paranoid) fear that somehow, someway, someone that I know will stumble upon this and find themselves. Like today my SIL left me a message inviting us to go camping with them, lots of family and lots more kids. Talk about a recipe for disaster...or maybe I should not talk about it.

Or that one of the pharmacists that I work with just got divorced and I feel this odd compulsion to bring him something homecooked to eat. Except that it would be really weird because we just don't have that kind of relationship.

Or that one of my friends is going to have a tummy tuck. This is so win-win...she will look fabulous AND she has a crazyily high tolerance for pain which means she will tell me it is not all that bad and that I can make it through which will directly result in my own tummy tuck after we are not paying all that law school tuition.

So that begs the question, bloggy friends...How many of your real life friends know about your blogs? Have you ever posted, saved, and then deleted out of fear that someone would find you? And finally, in the spirit of semi-full disclosure...here I am without any makeup (most crucially without any lipstick) and sporting a large zit situated center-chin.

Giddy and Gleeful

I just visited one of my fave pharm-mom blogs and saw the most wondrous thing...she included me in the You Make My Day award!!

I am SO honored...Can I Get My Subscription Filled? is so funny and very therapeutic. Not only would she be my buddy IRL, but I think we would do a helluva job running of a pharmacy.

I would love to pass the award on to...
multislackingmama.blogspot.com
The Mamalicious is a beyond funny, kr8tive queen of the internetz.

mommysmartini.blogspot.com
Mommy's Martini - so thought-provoking.

www.scarymommy.com
A Scary Mommy is a funny mommy.

thepreppyprincess.wordpress.com
The Preppy Princess is so delightfully classy, deliciously comprehensive, and oh so preppy.

tresposhepreppy.blogspot.com
Tres Poshe Preppy is the very first blog I started reading. So fun, so pink, and yet so green.

freshpalette.blogspot.com
Things That Inspire is about interior design. Beautiful and relaxing.

fashionherald.blogspot.com
Fashion Herald blogs about the stylishness of 34th Street in the great NYC. I would like to trade lives with her for a day.

clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com
Very funny...especially the post about Toby Keith's "She's a Hottie."

Thank you bloggy friends for making me giggle, relax, and escape on a daily basis-all through the magic world of the internet.

EDITED TO ADD: I am so sorry the links in this post aren't working. I'm quite sure it is a newbie blogger mistake/user error, but I don't know how to fix it. Sorry you have to cut and paste in the address to visit the site. Just think, it is kind of like a card catalog or a rotary phone (you know, annoying and archaic).

Crazy or Extremely Observant?

So, is this possible...some days when Pretty Girl gets up from her nap, she looks more beautiful than she did when she went to sleep. Hubby thinks its crazy and my mother thinks its sweet, but I am totally serious.

Film Critique

I'm LMAO at Talladega Nights. I know it's pretty stupid and has been around quite awhile, but that doesn't diminish my adoration. I generally hate movies...for several reasons. Most of them are just too damn long and put me right to sleep.

And then lots of them just take forever to get started-fifteen (agonizing) mintues is not uncommon. I really need to laugh or gasp within the span of the opening credits. It also helps if there is a rousing, palpitation-inducing theme song (subtle nod to the master, Bill Conti).

Of course, the writing must be superb. Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby thanking 8 lb 6 oz baby Jesus for the "bountiful harvest of Domino's, KFC, and the always delicious Taco Bell" is an excellent example. It also needs to be quotable. No line is more worthy than, "Yo, Adrian, I did it!". Bonus points for cameos by SNL alums or Darrell Waltrip.

A lively, eclectic mixture of characters is essential as well. Jim Carrey's ass asking, "do you need a mint? Maybe some Binaca" still makes me laugh so hard I feel as if I have actually excercised-like in a gym, with a trainer. Blue Collar Comedy Tour counts as well. After all, Larry the Cable Guy's "I don't care who you are, that's funny right ther" is quite divergent from the comedy of Ron "Tater Salad" White, who likes to get drunk in pub-lick.

Finally, its gotta end right. Not some ambiguous, thought-provoking, Oscar-winning nonsense. Oh no, I don't put up with that because my dear, I don't give a damn. And I don't like surprises either. All conflicts must be neatly resolved and everything in order prior to the movie's end so there is time for a warm fuzzy and another good theme song. "Shallow Hal" is a decent example. "Bruce Almighty" is pretty fuzzy too.

If a movie meets my stringent requirements for excellence, then rest assured I richly reward the effort by languishing copious amounts of time on repeated viewings and eventual memorization. Shake 'n bake, baby...shake 'n bake!

In Memoriam

This afternoon I turned on cable news and saw the saddest thing...Tim Russert died this morning of a heartattack at the age of 58. I think I really became a loyal fan during the 2000 election. I will never forget those white dry erase boards with the breakdown of the electoral votes. I have watched him on Meet the Press for as long as I can remember. He has always captivated me...his style of interviewing that was probing, intelligent, tough but never mean, succinct, researched, insightful, humorous even. Last week I was watching Meet the Press and I was thinking how much I was looking forward to watching him this election season. What an amazing man...such a towering talent with beautiful humility. Farewell Mr. Russert.

What Was He Thinking?

Did anyone see the John McCain interview with Matt Lauer? He said it was not so important to get the troops home as it is to decrease American casualties. This is not a good soundbyte.

I like John McCain. I respect John McCain. I think it is smart that he won't give an exact timeline for withdrawal from Iraq. I like that his sons are in the military. I am in awe of his former POW status. I know that the core purpose of a nation's military is to go to war and when not at war, to prepare for war.

But I tell you, when I heard him say that, my first thought was about all the children whose parents are serving extended tours of duty. Those little ones wandering around their houses, clutching a sippy cup in one hand and a blanket in the other, longing for their mommy or daddy. And all those mommies and daddies that work so hard in the deserts of Iraq, dodging roadside bombs and excitedly waiting for a few moments to get to a computer and email those little children. Yesterday I filled a prescription for a new Army recruit. He looked so young. Guess when his birthday was? 1987. I thanked him for his service and he just beamed. I would imagine that he is on his way to Iraq. I hope he doesn't have to stay for too long.

The Natives

Redneck moment of the day...

"She gossome big oh eyezzz donshee?"
(Translation: She's got some big old eyes, don't she?)

Comment regarding my eyes from a very tan (leathery) woman who had fashion rings on every finger, bright pink fingernail polish from at least a month ago, many small, random, unidentifiable tatooes, and cigarette perfume. Uncertain if her comment is a compliment.

Miscellany

An update on our friend who fell from the scaffolding...

I went to their house last night to take supper, visit, and help them organize the medication schedule. He is much better and is now able to sit up in bed and talk. What a miracle!

Maybe it is because I am so very Southern or maybe it is because I adore my father because he is so strong and gentle or maybe it is because I adore Hubby because of the same strength and gentleness, but it is particularly earth-shattering to me when a young, vibrant, strong man with a wife and a couple of beautiful kids is in some type of peril. It is like all hardworking and honorable thirtysomething husbands and fathers should somehow be invincible, untouchable, made of steel.

I have been thinking a lot about my dear friend His Wife and putting myself in this situation. I am so very thankful that this story has a happy ending already, with just rest and medication between now and full recovery. Hubby is my strength, security, emotional shelter, advocate, comfort, partner, best friend, confidant. He holds my heart, my trust, my adoration. In my mind, he is invincible, untouchable, made of steel. And I pray nothing ever happens to shake me out of that blissful image and into a world of tests and vials and hospital wards.

Tagged!

I was tagged by one of my absolute faves Fashion Herald, a totally chic NYC fashion blogger through whom I love to live vicariously.

(Post rules at the beginning of the post. Answer all the questions. Tag 6 people, go to their blog and leave a comment to inform them that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.)

1. What were you doing ten years ago?
Hubby and I had been married for 7 months. We had been fighting for 6 months and 3 weeks. We lived in a tiny little house too close to my family. The days were long and bleak punctuated by short bursts of fun. We will celebrate our 11th anniversary this fall. I have learned the following two things about marriage: it is hard and it is worth it.

2. What are five things on your to-do list today?
work, supper, the kid's baths, the kid's laundry, clean up the clutter that has appeared since Cleaning Lady was here, go to bed early, use some cuticle remover...I guess learn to count and prioritize too since that is more than five things

3. Snacks you enjoy?
Salty: chips, salsa, guacamole
Sweet: chocolate

4. Places you've lived:
-my parent's immaculate and beautifully well-decorated house
-my very messy dorm room
-tiny house near my parents after Hubby and I were married
-400 sq foot apt in Midtown Memphis after Hubby and I moved away from the tiny house
-river-front apt on Mud Island in Memphis; I still miss watching the sun set over the Mississippi River
-our red-brick, white columned colonial

5. What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?
save a lot, spend a lot, give away a lot, get a massage three times a week, have homes in Tennessee, Tokyo, and a beach somewhere

6. People you want to know more about?
all my bloggy friends ;)
Oh....maybe that meant IRL. In that case, my grandmother, my husband, my children, McCain and Obama, Sly Stallone.

I tag...
Mommy Learns to Blog
Confessions of a Slacker Mama
More Wine Please
Life Inside my East Coast Nest

Weekend Update

Whew! Let me tell you, it has been one busy weekend. Friday morning a dear friend from church fell from scaffolding and hit the back of his head on concrete. Scary. Friday night Hubby was at the hospital waiting for word, the kids were playing, and I was so nervous that I just paced around. And played online. And then paced around. And then played online. Thank you blog friends, reading you really calmed me. Fast forward to today after many scans and tests, he is home from the hospital with no major damage and orders to rest for 10 full days. Thank You to our gracious God.

Saturday I had an appointment at Portrait Innovations for pictures for the kids. For those of you who haven't been, imagine if McDonald's took kids pictures and you've pretty much got it. Their A/C was broken (90 degrees outside) and our photographer mumbled so badly that I kept having to ask him to repeat himself. That said, it is a good place to go for cheap, update-the-family pics. Here's one...

The kids were so good that I lavished their tummies (and mine) with the entire McDonald's menu. We took naps and then went to the pool. Today we had church, lunch, quick nap and back to the pool. After supper tonight (leftover KFC...I was nearly too tired to heat it up in the microwave), Pretty Girl fell asleep in her high chair and JBB fell asleep in my lap. Now they are settled in bed and I am curled up with the computer and watching Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Redneck heaven. Yee-ha!

She Came, She Mopped, She Conquered

Within eight hours a team of Cleaning Lady, Welder Son, and Helper Lady transformed my house into a sparkling gem. Oh yeah. No exaggeration here. As I walked in the house inhaling the cleanliness, I keep looking in little nooks and crannies, thinking that she certainly didn't clean there. Clean. Surely not here. Clean. Surely not THERE. Clean. She didn't miss an inch. I just kept walking around from room to room in amazement. Being in the ocean splashing in the waves is the penultimate of relaxation to me, and I have now discovered that coming home from work to an immaculate house is a close second. Ah...therapy via Clorox.

Help Is on the Way

Well, I finally did it. I broke down and called a maid/housekeeper/cleaning lady. Now I have to admit I don't know what the PC term is...kind of like server but not waitress and flight attendant but not stewardess. She came today and gave me an estimate for a deep clean. I think I will enjoy spending this money more than I do on buying new shoes! She is a charming, loud, energetic, country woman...a stereotypical red-stater with a Loretta Lynn accent. One of those salt-of-those-earth types who has virtually no internal monologue. Today was the first day we met but I already know all about the women that work for her, that her son is a professional welder but has helped her clean since he was 8, that her daughter has a heart condition, that her husband helps restore her old vaccuums so she can recycle them, that she hates Dyson vaccums because the attachments fall off, and that she is allergic to dog hair (occupational hazard, I guess).

She has an amazing eye for dirt. She walked into our sunroom and looked at the upper windows and said, ooh, you have cobwebs up there-we will take care of that. Huh? I never noticed those cobwebs before...but it was the first thing she saw. I was impressed. Just like ignorance is bliss...if you do not seek out your cobwebs, you will not find them. She will remove the aforementioned cobwebs on Thursday and Friday. I am absolutely giddy!

I feel like a burden has been vanquished, a dusty oppression will be wiped away, and there will be the sparkle of cleanliness throughout accented with the wondrous smell of cleaning products. Ah...I feel like I just had a ninety minute massage followed by hot tea and a sit in the sauna. At least as far as cobwebs go, money can buy happiness.

It's 3 am, I must be lonely

Ok, well not lonely exactly, but I do have that song stuck in my head. Particularly annoying since it is the wee hours of the morning. I have a cold and I woke up with that awful stuffed up feeling and only able to breathe through one nostril. Nice. Hubby has midterms this week and so I came downstairs to sleep on the couch. I am currently breaking two cardinal rules of good sleep hygeine. That is, watching tv and playing on the computer. I'm pretty sure eating is against the rules of being able to fall back asleep too. Oh well, my tummy just insisted. I do hope this post doesn't put anyone else to sleep-that is, unless it is 3 am for you too-but I am about to fall over asleep and drop my laptop. Good night internet.

My Lost Template.....That is now back

I am so grouchy! I haven't the vaguest notion of what happened to my striped template from pyzam. I found some great templates (free even!) and I can't get them to work either. Of course, I have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to fix it. Sorry it is so boring looking now. Does anyone know if you need to extract the files when you download the template in the new xm format? I am not even sure that question makes sense. I am only good on a computer if everything works-I am not your go-to gal for troubleshooting. Sigh...I guess I will have to leave well enough alone for now. I am feeling like a bad mommy for being tied to the computer for so long! I know I will regret this tomorrow at work when I am missing my little ones...both immediate and extended-release guilt.


Thanks for all the kind comments! My template is back...turns out I had saved the original. Whatever, it was a serendipidous finding. BUT my blogroll is gone!!! I'm so sad...So now the work begins-I can't stand not sharing the page with my faves!


Sigh...ok now I have my blogroll back. And it's already time for bed with no interesting post to add. Maintenance sucks.