Don't Don't Don't bite your friends

Claire's most favorite cartoon is Yo Gabba Gabba. I don't know if I have talked about it before, but it is for kids who have parents my age.

There is a lot of retro stuff. The characters are very similar to HR Puffnstuff. And they have Atari style breaks. Awesome!

Their main character is some crazy skinny black guy by the name of DJ Lance. He wears an orange body suit and an orange fuzzy hat a la Wizard of Oz guards. I wonder if his voice is really scary because they seem to dub him when he is talking. It is totally bizarre.

The characters are named: Foofa (Claire's favorite), Brobee, Plex, Muno, and Toodee. All human sized puppets. They also have a lot of "guest stars". Their debut show had Elijah Wood doing the dancey dance. Every week they have a new guest do the dancey dance. I think at some point Jack Black did it, but I have yet to see it. They also have something called Biz's Beat.
And yes....it is Biz Markie beat boxing. Hilarious. Claire beat boxing is priceless.

I guess the show is for the "hip" kid and their parents. I do have to say it is one of the less annoying kids shows on tv these days. But today is the exception. One of the songs of the day is,
"don't don't don't bite your friends, chomp chomp chomp? NO NO NO!" I mean really. But it isn't for babies either. I don't know. Just wanted to share what I see on tv from time to time. Interesting and informative isn't it?

Christmas trees and my worst nightmare

We decorated the tree on Friday. The kids had a lot of fun. I was not in the holiday spirit. There are less decorations on the tree then usual and less decorations around the house. But it looks pretty festive. They did enjoy looking at all the old photos on ornaments from when they were "babies". Claire insisted there was "baby me" on one of them. She is funny. She also said, "where is one with me like a big boy?" Claire has decided that she is a big boy like her brother. When should I tell her she is a girl? Oh well.

Back to why I wasn't in the holiday spirit. Ryan said it was because I didn't have my transition day of shopping. After serious thought. I realized he was right. I didn't get to shop. I didn't have the Christmas tunes drilled into my head while red and green glassed over my eyes for an entire day. I didn't have to fight crowds of people who were also caught up in the holiday rush. Sad. I am pathetic. I need to shop in mass quantity to feel Christmasy? Man I have got to get into. This calls for holiday music all day. Good thing my sister Cindi isn't going to be here today. She hates Christmas songs. What is wrong with her?

On another note. Something that is truly terrifying to me. Our neighbor has a holiday party every year the Saturday after Thanksgiving. He is 24. He has lots of friends who come to his parents house to eat, drink, and video game. Last year we went for a bit and they were totally engrossed in Rockband. It was fun. Some of his friends are highly highly meant for the stage.

This year however, there was a new game out. Something about killing zombies and what not. An online multi-player game. Left for Dead. Yuck. I did everything in my power to keep the kids away from that.

Imagine the scene if you will. We went down stairs and there were tables set up all over the place. Computers and flat screen monitors next to each other like some kind of geeked out computer lab. One of the dudes had made his own computer. Ryan checked it out and said it was cool and it had a water cooling system in it. I always thought water and electronics didn't go together. And it was taller then Miles.

So all these 20 something dudes are playing video games. Against each other mind you, but not talking. It completely weirded me out. I asked one of the guys who was playing, what in fact he was playing. He didn't even look me in the eye and said, "warcraft". I must have had the "what?" silence cause he looked up and said with pure exasperation, "WORLD of Warcraft".

Duh! I swear I became the old lady in the room in an instant. OMG! I could feel the eyes lifting from the monitors and shifting towards me. It was like they were wondering who brought the airhead cheerleader from the stone age into the house. Wow. I wanted to shout out, "but I can rock on the guitar! Bring out Rockband please! I'm not old I promise!" Shortly there after we left.

I never thought in a room full of geeks I would be the loser. The times they are a changin' folks.

It's snowing too. Beautiful! I can feel the holiday spirit.

Star Wars and Hello Kitty

"Do you have the Hello Kitty and Star Wars tree ornaments?"

"Oh do you have a boy and a girl?"

Really......I just wanted to tell them I wasn't sure. That my son wanted Hello Kitty and that my daughter loves Star Wars. Who the hell asks a question like that? And to top it off.....didn't tell me where I could find the stupid things.

I finally found them at the Target by my parents house. The kids were so happy. And in fact Miles loves his Star Wars tree ornament. Claire could care less. She did like the fact it was Hello Kitty. No more ho ho titty though. Sad.

Ryan and I decided the kids needed some alone time from each other. They have been joined at the hip for the past 2 weeks due to me being sick. So feeling a bit better today, I took Claire up to my parents house to do some shopping and whatnot. She did not want to shop with me. My dream of a shopping companion is slowly fading into the sunset. So she stayed at my parents house to play with her cousin. Ryan and Miles stayed home to "geek out". Not my phrase, but that is how I would classify it. They watched Goonies and played video games. Geek central.

Not a bad Saturday. Still sick. *sigh* Oh and Heather likes.....Robward. Her new word for her Twilight obsession. Love it!

Two things I love

Miles humming to every song he hears. No matter if he has heard it or not. Humming loud and proud like he wrote it.

Claire singing the Oompa Loompa song.....

"dippity doo dippity doo, I have a rittle for you, dippity doo"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ok. I am done talking about how I am better. I'm not. I am just going to stop jinxing myself. Sick again. But on some wacky anti nausea meds. I feel drunk without the upset stomach! The verdict is 4 doctors and they have no idea what is wrong. Done.

Today we were able to go to Ryan's parents house for the holidays. It was nice. Yummy turkey and all the other stuff. We spent most of the day there. I played a little guitar hero with my nephew. He brought his Xbox 360. I had to use the controller as they don't have a guitar. Playing this way....I DO NOT rock. Talk about confusing and hard. But after a few songs I did pretty good on medium.

Once home we had dinner. Thanks to medicine I was able to eat. I made the kids a great dinner. I think I won parent of the year award from their perspective. They had.....hot cocoa, popcorn, fruit snacks and cookies. Oh well....they have been awesome and ate tons at lunch. And it is a holiday.

Now they are watching, what else? Willy Wonka. For the umpteenth time. They love this shit.
Sadly tomorrow I will be forgoing the yearly tradition of shopping. It will be a first in 15 years. I have to say I will miss standing in the cold at 3:30 am with other die hard shoppers. I had arranged to bring a "newbie" with me this year and of course I can't go now. Sorry Heather.
But next year I will stay in a bubble for 2 weeks before hand so I can go. It is quite possibly my favorite day of the year.

I do love to shop. It is so fun. Exhilarating. To be out with other lunatics. I mean who gets up at 3 am to get a down comforter for $19.97? Oh hello....that would be me. I just love to find gifts for family and friends for Christmas. And I get a responsibility free day complete with lunch. Ryan knows that he is in charge of the kids and he is in charge all day. I don't even plan when I get home. I just show up. No questions asked. I will be so sad tomorrow. Hopefully if the meds work I will be able to drag myself to Target for a bit with family in tow. It is our family tradition to have each of us pick an ornament of the year from Target the day after Thanksgiving. I would really hate to see that tradition bumped.

I think if this medication didn't require me to be sitting at all times, I would be out shopping tomorrow. But....as it stands........I can't walk a straight line when I am on it let alone drive. Wo is me.

Oh well....Happy Thanksgiving. I am exceedingly thankful for my family and friends. Lots of love to you all.

Three cheers for holistic medicine

I'm back!!!!! Yes people it is true. No more nausea. No more chest pain. No more reflux. No more anything!

I went to the chiropractor today and she fixed me. I love her!

Now back to sassy Claire and whiny Miles. Ryan is breathing a sigh of relief. He did make dinner tonight though. What a guy!

Now if someone (Jill or Heather) would call me back so I can talk about the freaking book that would make my day complete!

Did I say how much I love my chiropractor?!

Finally

I am finally done with all the Twilight books. Good ending. Good closure. I have to have closure. I am sure the rest of my family is happy to see I am done with those books as well. Now they just have sick mommy/wife to contend with.

But I am going to the chiropractor today and the doctor again tomorrow. Hopefully I will get it figured out. I think I am starting to feel better. We'll see.

I was out with the kids today. In the yard and stuff. It is cold out, but we played in the driveway with sidewalk chalk. I drew Miles a huge obstacle course. He loved it. He had to recite the alphabet, numbers, and our full names and where he lives. He also had to spell his name. First and last. Then there were also physical things he had to do. He must have run that course at least 10 times. Oh well.....if I was going to be freezing my ass off, he was going to learn something.

And Claire just rode around oblivious to most of what was going on. She did do the alphabet and numbers as well as the physical stuff. Oh did I mention they were on their scooters? Oh yeah they were. Bundled up with hats, and mittens on scooters running around the driveway and yard. It was funny to see. Almost like it was summer but something was wrong. I must have looked like a drill sergeant guiding the kids around the same course several times clapping and cheering. But they had a ton of fun and now they are having hot cocoa and watching cartoons. They both have really good chocolate mustache's. Ryan would be proud.

Come On!

Woke up this morning. Still sick to my stomach. What is going on? No more heart burn. Just a sick stomach. It has been over 1 week of sour guts. And no.....I'm not pregnant. Just feel like I have morning sickness every damn day! I have been to 2 doctors. They weren't a big help. It is hard to "get up and go" with 2 kids when I feel like barfing.

HELP!!!!

Getting into the swing of things

Well..I am getting better. Thank the lord. Severe heartburn and sick stomach. Sucky! But everyone has survived.

This weekend has been very laid back. Movie night every night with the kids. Back to back nights of Willy Wonka/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Miles loves the original and Claire loves the new one. It is awesome to hear my 4 and 2 year old humming along with the music. I can't get the stupid Oompa Loompa song out of my head for the life of me. But I love to watch what Johnny Depp can do. He is an amazing actor. Oh yeah....cute too.

I have been talking with my BFF. Sadly she has pneumonia. And a cracked rib to boot. I can't even imagine. That really sucks. So, just talking on the phone until she coughs up a lung. And then she says she has to go. Poor BFF.

Tomorrow hopefully I will be back 100%. I have 2 conferences for the kids at preschool. Then grocery shopping with two kids. Should be fun.

I imagine that Ryan is looking forward to NOT taking care of his family all day for a while. Dealing with 2 active kids all day can wear a guy down. Plus a sick whiny wife. He deserves a donut or something. Too bad they have PHO.

For the LOVE!

Lately I have been feeling a bit under the weather. Just kind of queasy and stuff. Some heart burn from eating after NOT eating for 2 days. But this morning I just felt.......off. Not quite right. So I went to the doctor. Once again Ryan had to take the day off. Poor guy.

The doctor indicated that I may have GERD. What the fuck? All I know is she was talking about scopes and biopsies and all this medication for treatment. No thank you very much. I am poked and prodded enough yearly with this curse of liver disease. But to have you scraping the crap out of my stomach literally. Pass.

So I am home with strict instructions. Food list. Things I can and can't eat. Pepcid over the counter. And yes.....the "sample". *cringe* I can't even begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to that. At any rate. Thankfully I can freeze *double cringe* said sample until return if I can't get it to the clinic right away. And as it is Friday, it is looking more and more like Ryan will NOT be allowed in the freezer for a few days. Ah gross. The worst part is no coffee, no chocolate, no caffeine. Those are a lot of things that keep me happy mom/wife during the day. Man are we in for a rocky weekend.

So I am planning on taking a nap. Maybe all this monkey business will go away if I just sleep it off. God....what would I do without my husband? He is utilizing his time well. Waiting to get Miles from his field trip, he is on the roof hanging Christmas lights. I didn't even have to ask. And FYI it is very very cold out. He is excited to use the new timer we got for the lights. Oh boys and their tech crap.

Crushes

AS I am sure you know I have been reading the books Twilight. Duh. Well the movie for the first book comes out tomorrow. I have seen the ads for the movie for months now. So when I read the book the movie characters were already in my head. I think the main actor is dreamy. *sigh* But Jill said no way. She didn't think that he was right for the main character.

The other day he was listed on People.com as one of the sexiest actors. She told me that was the first picture where she was like....."um yep that is him!" As if he were finally beautiful enough to be Edward.

So it got me thinking....are we crushing on the actor because he is pretty or are we, in our minds, equating him to our beloved book character? I mean Heather had this actor on a key chain for crying out loud. I didn't get it until I read the book and now....hello?.....key chain me please. And for that matter....the said actor was in a Harry Potter movie. Looking just as darling but I didn't have the come hither thought then.

I have always had my tv/movie star crushes for as long as I can remember. Well pretty much since puberty. My first? River Phoenix. Mmmmmm......pause.

But it went on from there. Looking back I have always wondered if it was the actor himself that I crushed on or the character he plays? I can say with much certainty that I loved Christian Slater no matter what kind of guy he played. I don't know why. I even watch that show he is in on Tv. Which incidentally has been canceled. But he had me first with Heathers. Because he was awesome. Then there was True Romance. I mean come on people! Brilliant!

But there have been times I will watch a movie with a crush in it and then find that ehhhh not so much anymore. Mostly because his hair was too long or his character was annoying. It happens.
The worst is when you have this notion no.....fantasy about a certain actor and then you see them on one of those late night talk shows and they just ruin it by being 'themselves'.

Case in point. Ryan has had a few crushes he has told me about. They are your standard. Selma Hayek type. But he did tell me about one I just have to talk about. He crushed on Elisabeth Shue. You know the one. Adventures in Babysitting, Leaving Las Vegas. Well he was thinking she was awesome too. Then one night we were watching Letterman, Leno I don't know, and she was being interviewed for something. I said....."hey it's your girlfriend!" We watched together. He in horror and I in hysterics. She was a complete idiot! I mean...dumb. Ha ha. I could see his crush disappearing before my very eyes. Poor Ryan.

I don't know where this is going........oh yeah....my new crush. Twilight dude. Movie and book. He hasn't said anything stupid that I have seen yet. And well......Love that Edward.

It's Here!

I will get the 3rd book today. This will be the last post for a while. Hee hee. Unless I need to come up for air or something. But don't hold YOUR breath.

My friend Heather says the obsession will squelch itself once I finish the series. Closure. I am a big fan of it. She did however tell me about another book on the Stephanie Meyer website. A book she started writing from Edward's point of view. Apparently she is 1/3 of the way done and doesn't seem to want to finish it yet. But it is posted on her site. Oh crap.

Either way once I am done reading the books I will be on the computer. Nothing new I suppose. And at least I will look more like Ryan. My face in the laptop. But I will be reading. Not researching who kicked who's ass on Cage Potato or Sher Dog. Ha....thought I didn't know right sweetie. I have eyes EVERYWHERE!

Ryan's home!

I made it today. Sick but ok. The kids were able to have their pj day. They are still in their pj's and it is 4pm. They have watched whatever they want, eaten whatever they want, and did any activity they want. Said activities include play-doh, book reading, cooking for me via the play kitchen(yum plastic food), and running around like lunatics.

Thankfully no fighting. Surprisingly they just spent the entire day together. Wonderful.

I have now gone 2 whole days without reading any Twilight books. Not to say I haven't obsessed about it all the time. God! I am like a 14 year old girl who is waiting for her crush to call or something. You all know what that feels like right?

But tomorrow begins our regular scheduled programming. Pre-school, lunch and naps.

For now they are happy to see their dad. Running around like laughing hyenas. All three of them. Ryan running into doors to make the kids laugh. And it worked.

Claire just got trampled. But she is laughing so it is fine. Ah the resilience of two and four year olds. I bet Ryan is wishing he wasn't 33. He said his shoulder hurts from ramming the door. That is why I am on the couch watching the madness.

I'm obsessed thank you very much. How are you?

So....I'm sick. Yes yes sick in the real word. I have the aches the chills and the sick stomach. It all came on the other night. I thought it was too much reading. Admittedly so I have read 2 books in the course of 2 days. Ahhhh!!!!!

In my previous post I talked about the Twilight book I was reading. So I finished it in one day. Then on to the next. Done, in one day too. It's like crack. Ryan told the kids when I made the drop with Jill that I was getting my "crack fix". That is all I needed, Miles to tell his preschool teachers. I can just see it now. "Mrs. Teepants, Miles tells us you were getting crack from your friend this past weekend and that he was with you?" Holy shit.

But Ryan then made it very clear that it was a book not crack that had mommy addicted. And addicted I am.

Yesterday afternoon while I was reading I felt a little sick to my stomach. I thought it was because I was having an actual physical reaction to the breakup in the beginning of book two. (Those of you who read the book know what I am talking about.) But it continued. Then I thought maybe it was all the reading had been doing. That is a lot of eye shifting for 2 days straight. It felt like motion sickness. But last night as I finished the book I laid in bed and felt the chills. No....not because the book was done, but because I had a fever. Shit shit double shit.

So Ryan took the day off of work and shlepped the kids all over today. He was able to get a good dose of Stay at home mom.

Now I sit, sick with nothing to read, I mean do. Ha Freudian slip. I can't get the 3rd book until Jill is done and she is sick too. Hopefully she has breezed through the 3rd and 4th book so I can read them when I am better. Wednesday can't come soon enough. (That being the next time I will see Jill).

Yes. I am obsessed. God damnit!

Much to my chagrin

I am a sheep. I have to fully admit it now. I would like to have thought I didn't got with the crowd, but here I am fully admitting it.

In 2003 I swore up and down I would never never never watch Sex and the City. First off I wouldn't because I wasn't going to be "one of those" girls, and second I didn't have cable. Thanks to 3 months bedrest due to surgery, and my good friend Eric and his then girlfriend Bridget I was given all 6 seasons of it on dvd. I watched it and loved it. Sadly I was in line with my BFF to see the new movie this past summer. Bah.....

Next example. My BFF loved the Harry Potter books. I however thought they were for kids. But as a best friend does I faithfully went to the movies with her to "preview" them for her then young son. He is now 13 and doesn't need the preview but we are still going and I find myself looking forward to the next motion picture installment. And......after the last movie, I reluctantly borrowed all the books from said BFF. The last one released just in time for me to read. It also was several days of me ignoring my family. Ryan understood it, but I fear he was a little annoyed. I was dreaming all things Harry Potter. Bah Bah.......

And last but not least.....Stupid Twilight! Thanks a lot Heather S. I tried to stay away from the hype. I am on the gossip sites and I do have eyes. I have seen all the promos for the movie which in fact look nice. But it was Heather's AIM account that said when she was idle....'on a date with Edward Cullen'. What the hell? And who the hell was that? Certainly not her husband Brian. Ha.....so I asked and she told. She said I would love it. I do like a good vampire book anyway or a good vampire movie. So I told Jill about it and she promptly went out and purchased all 4 or 5 books the other day. She said she loved them. I just borrowed the first book from her yesterday. I just started reading it this morning. Oh shit. I mean.....it is really good. Baaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!

I feel like a teenage girl. I don't want to do the laundry. I don't want to pay attention to the kids. I don't want to help Ryan clean the house. I just want to read. I tell you what. The way this book is written. Love it. But like I said before I hate being a sheep. I feel like in that movie Freaks.....when they go after the lady who scams them.....People are coming after me to get me to be part of pop culture. "One of us! One of us! One of us!"

So I am breaking from the book to blog and to make lunch. I don't think I have spoken more then a few sentences to the family since starting the book.

But Ryan was warned. He knew what would happen. I love him for that. And for indulging me once in a while.

25 was so luxurious

On my 25th birthday I woke to Ryan making breakfast. I probably was up around 11 am. I had either been out with friends at the bar the night before, or was planning to that night. Or did both, that was certainly not out of the question back then. Pure indulgence for my birthday.

Today I woke at 3:45am with Claire yelling. Moved to her room around 4:30am. Ryan left at 6:15 and Miles came into my room at that time. I was up and dealing with 2 fighting kids by 6:30 this morning.

I made breakfast for 2 crabby kids and myself. No big plans, no bars, no clubs. Too old for that business and can't afford that AND a babysitter. Just dinner with the kids, Ryan and 2 friends. It is Thursday night. (B. Skog Thursday)

Today consists of playdate, nap (for me hopefully), making dinner, and putting the kids to bed for school tomorrow.

Yay birthday! To make matters worse. 25 was 10 years ago. *see my frowny face?*

Salty mood aside....my husband gave me something he knows I love. Bath and Body Works gift card. He is sneaky. I always use my gift cards for the kids or him. He knows that and tells me I should us it on myself. But he knows this is a place I will indulge MYSELF. I love him. Thanks Ryan. It was a bright bright beacon of light this morning.

Is it Christmas now?

Today Miles woke up at 6:20. He wanted to say good-bye to his dad. We ran in the dark and cold together, me in my pj's and Miles' party bear trailing behind us to the garage door. We flashed the lights but it was too late. Ryan was pulling out of the garage and closing the door.

I went to get my bathrobe and I heard the garage door re-open. Miles had been sitting on the stairs and was looking through the front door window. Looking ever so slightly forlorn. Apparently Ryan had seen this from the street and couldn't resist coming back. So I ran out to the living room not sure who the hell is getting into my house and see Ryan and Miles snuggling on the bottom steps.

Then Miles went to the living room window and saw that snow had fallen and stayed on the grass. He looked at me with the fattest hopeful smile. "Is it Christmas now?"

How perfectly 4 year old of him. I said, "sorry buddy not so much."

What a downer. I could hear the Debbie Downer music playing in his head. Wah wah wahhhhhh.. then he asked for a granola bar to soothe his pain.

If only easing disappointment were that easy for me. There would be granola bars in this house forever.

Some lighthearted fare

I realize I have been ranting and raving lately about things I have not much control over. So I decided to list the things that get me through a day.

1: watching my favorite DVR'd shows while the kids rest

2: Ryan coming home early from work

3: having a tv crush. Innocent yes, and so much fun

4: talking to a friend on the phone I haven't talked to in a while. That means you Sk3tch.

5: hearing about my BFF's day at the preschool. It makes me thankful I only deal with 2 pre- school kids at a time ever.

6: sadly I like blogging. Never thought I would but I do.

7: getting a call from a friend to plan something. I usually do the planning.

8: watching heavy Asian eyelids at the dinner table. It means they will go down easily and quickly.

9: having the house clean at the end of the day. Nothing for me to do when the kids actually go to sleep.

10: the tv nap. Dozing during a show and then going to bed.

What the FUZUCK?!!!!!!!

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Arkansas_Unmarried_Couple_Adoption_Ban_(2008)

Ryan said he read because this passed, kids who have been placed with gay and lesbian couples will be removed from their current living situation. That means......these kids who have been ADOPTED LEGALLY will be taken from their PARENTS!!!!!

“We believe that the best place for a child to grow up is in a stable home with a married mother and father,” said Jerry Cox, president of Family Council Action Committee, which obtained 95,000 signatures to place the proposal on state ballots. “But we also believe in blunting a gay agenda that we see at work in other states with regard to marriage and adoption issues.”

I am moving to Canada. I see in my future, government telling me my interracial marriage is no longer legal and therefore my kids will be sent back to Korea to be adopted by wholesome white couples who are married and whatnot. I'd like to see them try to take our kids from us. OOOOHHH the blood would spill.

(Ok.....clarification. Once the law passes Jan 1 2009 kids in foster care will be pulled not the ones adopted. However, those couples who are in the process of adoption may not be able to complete their adoption if they are 1. not a married couple, 2. a gay or lesbian couple.) I'm sick.

Ode to the Saturday morning cartoons of yesteryear

Do you remember waking up early on a Saturday morning and plunking down with cold cheerios to watch Bugs Bunny? Or maybe HR Puff n Stuff? I loved it.

Sara and I would be up at the butt crack of dawn, only to find my dad already cooking bacon and watching Bugs Bunny. We would sit and laugh for hours. Or what seemed like hours. Probably only about 30 minutes. But happily munching cold cereal or eating bacon and eggs. My parents were ahead of the times with a small black and white dial tv in the kitchen. It was pure bliss.

After breakfast dad would go and rouse mom out of bed (it was her day to sleep in) and Sara and I would go downstairs in pj's and finish our smörgåsbord of cartoons. Land of the Lost, the Buggaloos, Fat Albert, and Woody Woodpecker. We would rock out with the sprinkling of School House Rock. I know about conjunction junction and how a bill becomes a law. Do you?

Ryan said he would watch GI Joe, He-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Funny. I don't remember those as a little kid and as a matter of fact, Sara would have loved them. She was a real tomboy growing up.

So yesterday, Saturday morning, as I was getting ready for a long stint at the hospital with mom, Miles woke up and said to Ryan with big eyes and a grin the size of the Atlantic Ocean, "dad, didn't Clone Wars DVR last night?"

Ok so a few things made me think. First of all, DVR? He knew that? Of course he did. Tivo and DVR make it easy to watch cartoons pretty much all the time. Second, the simple fact that he knows what day is Saturday, surprises me as he and Claire have so many cartoon channels all the live long day. I never thought he would know what 'Saturday morning cartoons' were. But he did. And only because Ryan was home and up early. He knew Star Wars cartoons were on from the night before and they had been DVR'd.

I do miss that feeling of waking up to watch cartoons. It was only one day a week and I loved it. It was a special time Sara and I had with dad where we could watch tv uninterrupted. No mom telling us to go outside and get exercise so we wouldn't bug her. But I guess that was a different time. My parents COULD send us outside without reservation and without them.

Hopefully my kids will be able to remember something as special as a Saturday morning cartoon fest. Who knows. Maybe they will tell their kids about how they had this old fashioned contraption that DVR'd and TIVO'd things. Ha, it's like records and cassette tapes. I loved them, and they have no idea what the hell they are. Shit....I'm getting old.

Oh California.

I have been paying attention to Proposition 8 in CA. It disgusts me. I can't believe a Democratic state would vote to overturn gay marriages. For real. San Francisco is there for crying out loud.

Why is it that people are so afraid of gay marriage? Do they think it will effect them in anyway? I can't imagine how? Ryan said that some people are concerned that if there was gay marriage then health insurance would increase, because of adding more coverage. Do you think gays and lesbians don't have jobs or health insurance? Please. Do they think because the bible says no that means they should say no too? But ask those folks how many of them were virgins on their wedding night. I know, I am reaching a bit. But I can guarantee there aren't that many people in the US who are living by the literal sense of the bible. IF there were, there would be a whole hell of a lot more Jehovah's Witnesses around. And we all know how we all feel about them knocking on our door.

Let's put it into a different perspective.

Ask your parents if they remember what it was like when two different races were married. Ask them what their parents thought of it or how they felt. I guarantee it wasn't the same as it is now. Civil rights, women's rights, etc., all were at the time thought to be wrong, against nature. People of color had no rights. Women had no rights. Look at it now. These are people's civil rights. Anyone hear the phrase....."there should be no mixing of church and state"?

Ryan and I are raising our kids to know it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if a white person wants to marry an Asian person, or two men want to be married, or two women. Maybe in 20 years gay marriage won't be a big deal. Just like interracial marriage isn't a big deal now.

Who of you would be on my side if there was a law that said that my marriage was wrong and should be overturned? Hmmmm.....

I am too young for this crap!

Once again, my mother is in the hospital. Once again I will shuffle the kids around, have Ryan take the day off, and spend the entire day there just to talk to a doctor. She has got pneumonia. And she wonders how she got it? She tells me, "I only went to Target the one time when I just got out of the hospital." (which by the way was 2 weeks ago) I told her that is a lie. You were out at least 15-20 different times. Even trick or treating with the kids for crying out loud. Then I got the oh yeah I forgot.

No wonder she is sick. So I am off to the hospital to sit. All damn day. Yay me.

So then my sister calls. I am her guardian and conservator. Mind you this is AFTER all the crapola with my mom. My sister calls to tell me she has been having Caribou coffee 2 times a week and she gets the white chocolate hot cocoa with all the whip cream and chocolate sprinkles. Two times per week. Oh brother. The girl is diabetic. Talk about sugar overload. Then when I tell her try the sugar free hot cocoa, she calls back to say she will just have a smoothie. ARGH!

4 phone calls later from her and her staff trying to 'negotiate' I just gave up. Just have the damn cocoa. Have the damn smoothie. Just keep track of your blood sugar, and don't eat DairyQueen 2 times later in the week. For crap's sake.


Then the usual evening family stuff. Get dinner, answer a million phone calls, cause everyone knows to call me when my mom is sick, get kid's stuff laid out for tomorrow, and answer more calls. Tell my dad what he needs to do tomorrow.

Then (this is the best one yet) field a call from my aunt who doesn't live in the state, telling me that it is my fault my mom is sick because I have her watching my kids all the time. Ha ha ha. Totally laughable being I don't EVER have my parents watch the kids, but not-a-so-funny the fact she thinks it is true. So I bite my tongue and deal. Just listening to her tell me what I am doing wrong. Then she tells ME to update HER.

SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!

And yes.....I am having a pity party now. I am going to be 35 in a week. I am not old enough to be my parent's, parent. I am too busy parenting my own kids and my 33 year old sister.

And Jill....YOU KNOW I CAN'T HANDLE ANYMORE THIS WEEK!!!!!

Go vote.

I have never been a political activist. Just ask anyone. I actually just registered to vote in the last 2006 congressional election. Just to vote against someone. Yep I was that person.

But this year is different. Maybe because as a minority woman it is going to be very historic for me and my kids no matter who wins.

We voted. Ryan and I took the kids. We went to the Jr. High, sat the kids on the gym floor with fruit snacks and books, and did our thing.

I had heard lines were hours long. Apparently not in Woodbury. From the moment we left our driveway to the moment we returned to our driveway it was a total time of 16 minutes. Voting and all.

You still have time. It's only 5:30.

Am I right or am I right?

Ryan has tried to convince me for many years that it is socially irresponsible for families to be extremely large. He thinks really large families use more natural resources then they should. I guess 'they' say you should really just repopulate the earth with yourself. Meaning you and your spouse should only birth 2 kids, and if you want more you should adopt so you don't add to the population. Does that make sense?

I don't know I guess I get it. It is a completely ethical and eco subject. Replenishing the earth and all. Not adding more then what you are already taking away. Ethically I feel people should be able to make their own decisions about family planning. I have friends who adopt to keep the population growth down and friends who will have children until they feel they are "done" having them.

Ok.....I have to preface it with....I am sorry if I offend. This is not meant to upset anyone.

There is a show that I watch with the kids. A great family show. Jon and Kate plus 8. It is on TLC. Love it. It is so funny. This couple, one being Korean so bonus for the kids to see that, had twins and sextuplets. Accidentally. They did fertilization and because their religious beliefs prohibit them from 'selection' they ended up with 8 kids. All pretty healthy kids too. They are funny and cute and like every other kid I have seen. And the parents yell at their kids and love them just like all other parents I have seen too.

I get it. It was an accident. They didn't WANT this to happen but it did and they went with it. Ok....fast forward a little and during commercial break I see a new ad for a new show.

17 AND COUNTING. What the hell?! Those damn Duggers. You know.....the family where the poor woman has been pregnant or nursing for the past 23 years and she looks about 33. Yes I know you know what I am talking about. I understand they have their religious beliefs and I am not sure which religion they are but really? 17 and counting? That is 17 kids mind you. All using up our natural resources. I get that back in the late 1800's and early 1900's you needed a large family to help on the farm, but I watched and episode just to see....and well those kids weren't farming. Unless you call Don Pablo's the homestead.

And the oldest just got engaged. He tells the camera that "his Lord doesn't think kissing before marriage is ok so they just do a lot of hand holding". Or something along those lines. They show the boy getting engaged and they hug. They frickin' hug!!!!!! That is it. Then out to Don Pablo's where they are seen praying in the restaurant and basically hand screw each other at the table. Cause they are JUST holding hands. No kissing until their wedding night.

I have no problem with a family being religious. No problem at all. But....what the hell? That is all this show is about. Religion and how they are going to keep having large families because that is what the Lord wants. And this one who just got engaged plans of having a large family too. His fiancee thinks it is a great idea. She is all on board. With her super long hair and super long skirt. But her face said to me...."holy shit!"

I get it though. If you weren't allowed to kiss until marriage, think about what sex will to do you. No wonder they have 17 kids. I am surprised they don't have more now that I think about it.