MUSIC: September - Earth, Wind & Fire

Taking a page...err..or post out of Jori's blog at Jeff & Me+3 here is my first installment of music that has shaped my life!

When I was 9 years old I was asked an amazing, life altering question by my older cousins who were driving a car through Philadelphia.

What is your favorite song?!?

Well...even as a 9 year old I was terrifically astute and brilliant. I chose wisely and still agree with my choice....30 years later.

EARTH

WIND

&

FIRE

SEPTEMBER

Ahhh....this song takes me to every car ride, every dance floor, most parties and good time of my life. It still makes me move and sing along! Every! Single! Time! I hear it!

I think one of the main reasons that it is STILL my favorite song of ALL TIME...is that I still can't quite figure out what they are saying. I can never conquer this song! It is fabulous!

So I ask you, dear reader, what is your ALL TIME FAVORITE SONG?!

Twilight....huh?

OK. Twilight. There are no spoilers, but if you are a Twilight lover and are easily offended - STOP HERE.

I haven't read the books. I *have* read all of the blogs gushing about this series of books called Twilight. I trust you guys implicitly...well...kinda.... Anyway, my 21 year old niece was visiting from out of town last week and I thought that Twilight might be a great young adult flick to go check out - together. She had never heard of it. However, with me talking it up the week before her visit...we were so convinced that we would LOVE this movie and series that we bought the books the day the movie came out and went to see it the first night. We took my husband, too. Do you see where this is going?

There was A WHOLE LOT OF BUILD UP!

We got in line for the movie. WE GOT IN LINE! We managed to get my favorite seats in the stadium seating movie theater...the first row as it goes up that has a railing in front, perfect to perch my dainty feet. The crowd was excited, to say the least. There was quite a bit of squealing and giggling before the movie started. I was so excited.

Once the movie started....the excitement fizzled and the confusion began.

The crowd seemed pretty engaged and ummm...I wasn't. The crowd was laughing, giggling and screaming at places that I didn't understand. I felt like I was watching a foreign movie without subtitles. I WAS A LOST. We all were. My husband was TRYING to fall asleep.

It WASN'T a BAD movie, but it WASN'T a GOOD movie either. It WASN'T a BAD story..., um....but it WASN'T a GOOD story either. I thought the girl who played Bella was very good. I can imagine that the book might be better....but I had heard some references to this series being the next Harry Potter.....umm...no...I don't think so.

OK. That's it. I'm done.

Multi-tasking - It's overrated

When asked how I *manage* to work full time from home in an "office" setting with two little ones in the house, my standard sing-song answer is:  It's the best of both worlds.  

I'm lying.  

It's not the best of both worlds.   

I'm so lucky!, I generally say.  

I'm lying.

I *am* lucky in so many ways, but most days, I don't feel that juggling my position in the company I work for and juggling the emotional, educational, recreational and fundamental needs of my  4 year old and 2 year old qualifies me as being lucky. 

When I'm told that I'm SO lucky that I begin my work day at 5am to finish at 1pm so that gives me an opportunity to be an "active" mother with my children, I want to dummy slap the mentally deficient person who failed to realize that by 1:00pm I've been SO active that there are cuts on my fingers from spinning plates and shards of china on my floor from all of the plates I've dropped and broken.

By the middle of the day I feel like screaming:  I'M DANCING AS FAST AS I CAN!

I'm tired of spinning plates.  I'm tired of juggling.  I'm tired of multi-tasking.  

I WANT TO DO ONE THING AT A TIME.

When I'm having a Pollyanna moment, *which are frequent and not liquor induced*, I do realize that I am fortunate to be able to see my children grow, be available for their daily trauma and drama as well as the laughter and milestones.  But the reality is that I spend most of my day stealing from Peter to pay Paul.

Work, kids, aging fabulous mother with a multitude of doctor appointments and friends to visit, a house to clean, play dates to keep, parent participation afternoon preschool, 3 meals a day to figure out, ...and that's just the obvious stuff.  Add in business meetings, dinner parties, gardening, blogging!, all the stuff I couldn't say "NO" to and all of the stuff I didn't want to say "no" to and you've got yourself a multi tasking maniac.

Here is the worst part.  I'm a generally nice, fun, funny person to be around....however, when the multitasking maniac is in full throttle I am a hectic, annoyed, easily provoked power keg of angst.  I yell at the drop of a hat.  

How many of you guys can relate to this?  Raise your hands.  Ok, put them down...too many to count.

I have always been good at multi-tasking, but now see that multi-tasking has not been good to me.  I'm tired of splitting my view of my job, my kids, my mother, my husband, my *everything*......with everything else!

Get this....I took my mother to a doctors appointment today.  My husband took the kids out and about and there I was....in a doctors waiting room... with my mother... for 3 hours....with nothing else to do...and nowhere else to be.  No kids, no work, no nothing....just uninterrupted time in a doctors office with my mother.  We actually talked...and we laughed...so much...it was fabulous. We didn't yell at each other.  There was no rushing or angst of what I needed to do next....just a relaxed afternoon with my full attention on one person.

I was giving my attention to one act, one person, one situation.

I want that. 

I want that frequently.

I want that with my children.

I want to raise them and enjoy them.  That's it.

I want to cook dinner...with infrequent interruptions....that's it.

I want to take a shower.  Every day!.  That's it.

I want to perform my duties at work without feeling that I'm compromising my children's emotional needs.  That's it.

I want to spend time with my husband...awake.  That's all.

Ok.  I'm done now.

The NABLOPOMO Walls are CLOSING in...

November 28th, 10:37pm - The whole 30 posts in 30 days err...thing....not going so well.....AND THERE ARE TWO OF US!

Here's the thing....I've got ideas....bazillions of them.....well at least 12! I can do this. I CAN PULL THIS OFF!

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...well...tomorrow is another day.

Sign this one,
The Little Engine That Could? aka: Scarlett O'Hara

December 1st, 12:19am - UPDATE - I fell short....but barely...my sweetheart and I did a great job and posted 27 times this month! That's phenomenal! I'm so proud I can't stand it! What does NaBLOPMO have up it's sleeve for December? I'm TERRIFIED!

Thoughts from a Republican Golfer

The election is over thankfully.  Palin is back in Alaska.  McCain to the Senate.  Bush thankfully back to Texas soon.  I must admit I felt as though I didn't have a dog in this race this year.  I would have preferred a Romney or Huckabee.  I consider myself pretty much a fiscal conservative and a socially so so toward the middle.  That being said I could not rap myself around Obama mania this time around.  He is basically...politically.... on the other side of us supply siders.

In this time though I can't help myself to root for this man with my whole heart.  This country needs someone to rally around and I hope this man brings this country back soon.  I do like the way he has positioned himself to hit the floor running once January 20th comes around.  He has already come to the middle a bit.  He is showing that he can't play politics with this country's future right now.  So far so good.  I can now say at this time Gobama!  

Superstar!

I feel like a Superstar today!

Noah's Mommy from Project Mommyhood has given me and my guy a blog award! Can you even believe that? And since we may never pass this way again...I feel that I must celebrate this event with a song :) Soooo...In the words of Mary Katherine Gallagher...."I think my feelings would best be expressed by a song/monologue from "Night and Day" starring Cary Grant! "

Thank you Noah's Mommy! You have a lovely warm blog and I can't tell you how thrilled I am that you consider ours worth your time and consideration! Many thanks!

Now!...everyone go to Noah's Mommy's Blog!

Now ....to make this Award official I must say these incredibly special words...cause...you know...it's special. :)

"This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Now it's my turn to gift this fabulous, prestigious, popular and oh so important award on the other good little girls and boys of Blogland...(can you hear Glinda the Good Witch now?)

These are all fabulous blogs and you should let your clever little fingers walk you right over to their blogs now....bring a beverage and comfy chair...there is a whole lot of good reading waiting for you!

I now dub you Awarded:

Adlibby on the Loose

Pearls of Wisdom

Jeff & Me + Three

Food, Glorious Food....and Life in General

Deconstructing Jen

The Thoughts and Sarcastic Observations of a Starbucks Addict

Penpusher

Go, now, and use your power for good!

Old Crone??

I have read the posts of late on "skin tags".

I would only like to let you all know that my soon to be birthday bride is no where near the crone in Princess Bride. I, being her Wesley, would have to put her in the Princess catagory myself. Knowing what you princesses go through on a daily basis and dare I say "monthly" basis gives me a sense of humbleness at times. We as "the hims" can only imagine the pain and uncomfortableness it can be at times for you all. It is these moments that this Wesley can only say to my princess...."as you wish".

Ashes

Since last Saturday, the Southland here has been awash in soot and ashes...the likes we have never seen in our area...it just usually doesn't reach us. The wife and I have noticed recently as we walk in and out of the house that we are actually walking on the charred remains of someone's home. 30 miles away, someone's home was disintegrated and floated to our home. It is sobering when you know that hundreds of residents in the LA area are homeless right now because of this fire. It is not just the rich and famous of Montecito...but in one instance 480 mobile homes went up in smoke in Orange County. So - we look at the ground full of ash and say a prayer for all those that have lost everything in this fire. Please pray for them and send them clothes for their backs...they need them.

Skin Tags....what the....?

I am turning 39 on Sunday. Apparently I'm also turning into the old crone in the movie "Princess Bride". In the last few weeks I have noticed something very ODD. The tiniest pieces of skin are popping out in the oddest places....and apparently they are called Skin Tags.

They are harmless.

They are a mystery.

They are annoying.

They are odd and ugly.

The medical world has no idea where they come from.

The medical world is not concerned about them.

Seemingly, NO ONE IS RESEARCHING HOW TO STOP THEM!

And I don't like it.

Apparently you *just* burn them off. JUST BURN THEM OFF!!!! NOT YOURSELF....it's a procedure in a doctors office...hopefully after a few drinks.

Today my Little Girl found them while sitting on my lap during mass. She was running her hands on the side of my neck and said...Mamma, what's this? I replied that it was skin. She gave me the scrunched up nose and snobby voiced answer that only an over confident 2 year old can pull off and said..."No it's not....it's a boo boo...I kiss it now. Go to the doctor."

Now I know I'm not the only woman in the world with these things. It's only since noticing them, and of course, being vocal about them, that people are coming out of their shrouded skin tag silence and admitting that they too have had them.

WHY DO WOMEN DO THIS TO EACH OTHER!??!?! Why don't we talk about this stuff? Why didn't I know about them before???? This reeks of the time I found out women get mustaches (I'm Italian...I learned this early...but still)....why don't women discuss this sort of thing. Apparently....alot of women get skin tags and even though they are annoying....they are usually a benign cosmetic problem. A benign cosmetic problem I'll take instead of other more dramatic issues...but one that is annoying the crap out of me.

OK....so just to recap:

• We get hair on our legs and underarm that we must shave in order to maintain our feminine appeal.
• We have to tweeze, wax or thread our eyebrows, upper lips and apparently as you approach 40...our chins!!!! <---I'm so freakin annoyed with that one.
• We get our monthly friend's arrival with her annoying counterparts of bloat and cramps.
• We get enormous (batting eyelashes) pectoral action that we need to upkeep with horrifically expensive and terribly uncomfortable wire curved straight jackets designed to make us more desirable to once again...maintain our feminine appeal.
• Personal heatwaves await.
• We get to carry our progeny for 10 months (9 months???who are we kidding?) and then we get to try to evacuate them from our bodies from *THE* most sensitive area on our bodies.
• We get to be full time mom's, full time housekeepers and full time workers.
• The list goes on.....
• And now....now....now we introduce Skin Tags.

I'm channeling Rose from "Moonstruck"...."You've got a love bite (skin tag) on your neck...your life is going down the toilet."

Would I trade being a woman?

Never.

OK. I'm done. I feel better now.

My Romantic

I being the husband, the him, you might find it amusing that, yes I, before I was even married to my wife, had seen Sense and Sensibility. I also on the other hand love a good shoot up movie like True Lies. I have a wide variety of interest in movies. Bottom line...I love being entertained. I love a good story. I do draw the line at The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. My brother in law and I came to the same conclusion on that movie that we will never get those wasted 2 hours back. If fact my bro in law made mention that he felt like a jackass for wasting his time with it.

That being said...I love a good movie...shoot em up or romantic. I have realized that my son is on the same path....let me set the evening....

As dinner came to a close, the subject of Family Movie Night came up. Different names came up...but we came down on the side of Alladin with the influence of my son :)

As we are cleaning up I start looking for the movie....and looking ...and looking. You who have Disney movies know which ones you have and usually where they are. My wife and I looked high and low. We had to break the news to my son and daughter that Alas we could not find it....It was here where the choice came down to an old classic....Cinderella. My son is usually hesistant on new movies...but once he sees one, it's his new favorite :)

I had my doubts about his interest level it in this one...how long would he watch it before he started in with his cars or trains. Afterall it wasn't Cars, Monsters Inc, Polar Express...action action movies. Well....as the evening proceeded, we see that our daughter is GLUED to the screen...motionless. That is to be expected...my little princess that twirls on the floor to Once Upon a Dream. We were beaming!

It was my son's reaction that actually brought a tear to my eyes. He too was engaged in the movie the whole time. Actually there were times that he didn't like because they scared him abit. It was about the time that Cindrella's fairy god mother came out and tranformed her that he sat in the corner of the couch...knees up alittle...very engaged. He watch intently as the pumkin is transformed into a carriage and such. It is when she gets to the ball....the prince is perusing his potential brides, he spys Cindrella dancing on the balcony by herself...the prince stares, smiles, walks right by the evil step sisters......It is here where my son out of no where starts clapping his hands with this grin on his face....He was so happy that the prince saw past the step sisters and saw Cinderella. My wife and I just looked at each other and grinned. My cars and trains guy is a romantic at heart. This is not to say that we didn't already know he is a very sweet boy but now we know that he is a romantic too. That makes this daddy very happy.

Our Tiny Dancers

Here it is Tuesday...the wife, the mom and I are watching our fall season ritual that is Dancing with the Stars...House... Eli Stone...Brothers and Sisters...and Boston Legal.

As we are falling asleep on the couch after our long day..we see the Dancing with the Stars segment of the brother and sister pro members Derek and Julianne dancing on the floor at the same time. We both have the same idea...could that be our dancing duo someday?

As you can see from an earlier video post...our little girl has a style all her own. Our son is a very energetic dancer when the music plays. To see them prance around the floor in front of us gives us such joy. Our little girl has just learned the beginnings of her latest favorite melody....The song from Sleeping Beauty..Once Upon a Dream. She often just peels off..."I know you...I know you...I know you"...of late she has extended it to "I know you...I know you once a pon a ream" As she hears the song she lifts her arms up and just twirls. Our little guy builds his own little stage and steps it out to "Step in Time" looking just like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.

As you can see ..we are having fun....not only with the head shots that our youngest gives our oldest but also with our after dinner dancing that fills the house on a regular basis.

It is now that time to go to bed and put the Goo Goo Ga Ga to sleep.

P.S - Now after all that you are probably wondering..."How do these two watch all those shows??" It's called TIIIIIVOOOOOO. Good night all!