I finally bought my birthday present!

Yes it was my birthday last week, May 28th to be exact. I was born on Memorial Day but it changes every year so the holiday is always near my birthday. And when in school I almost always had finals near or on my birthday too. We did have a party the Saturday before, the cute baby picture is of one of the guest's babies. They have 5 children, 4 are adopted. They found out they were pregnant with this baby 2 weeks after they adopted their 4th child (a 2 yr old) and only a few months after they had adopted a newborn. These people are nuts but I love them to death and their oldest son is in love with our daughter. He's the sweetest most sensitive child I've ever met. The hubby calls him our future son in law does this give you an idea of how lovely this boy is? Daddies don't let their little girls go to any old boy you know.

Anyway I never liked my birthday, old bitterness and the like. This time around was no different. I had an awesome birthday party that Saturday (I have pictures, I will blog it, promise) but the actual day? Not so great. We had no plans, it was a Thursday and we all had work and school but the hubby was taking us out to dinner anyway. I had a craptastic day at work. Really, the worst day ever and everything fell apart. To add insult to injury (and I know this is petty but I'm a girl and these women at work are awful) they normally get together and get a card and someone bakes cake in our respective groups. Some groups make bigger deals out of it than others, decorating office doors and what not. Our group not so much, card and birthday cake, nothing big which I find good. When a birthday comes around everyone pitches in a dollar or two to buy the card and pay for the cake mix or whatever. They make big ass cakes. I always pitch in because I like most of my direct co-workers except the three Bitches of Eastwick, or as my boss likes to call them, The 3 Little Piglets. No lie these 3 beasts have fast food for breakfast and lunch. Every. Single. Day. Regardless these beotches are the ones who normally organize the birthday 'celebrations'. I don't like them much because they are catty, mean and vindictive but I'm nice to them because I work with them and I'm a grown up. Sorry, I'm rambling again. So guess what I got at work for my birthday? Nothing. Not even one person saying happy birthday. And I know at least 3 of them knew it was my birthday because I told them. See now this is where I feel kinda petty and shallow. I was actually offended that no one said anything. It was bad enough that I always try and do something for theirs. I have been there for a year, we've celebrated everyone's birthday. So call me shallow but why not mine?

So I was feeling all woe is me that day until I txt-ed the hubby and he txt-ed back "Well if it makes you feel any better I had a spear thrown at me today and the sergeant had shit thrown at her today." I felt better then. I may work with the Three Bitches of Eastwick but at least I'm not in a max security prison. Perspective, people, perspective. Sometimes I just need to be reminded. And actually I pretty much felt instantly better as soon as I got in my Jeep, turned on my radio and drove away. Oh and lets not forget, cranked up the a/c, lordy but it's hot out here.

As for the present the hubby asked me what I wanted. He bought me a beautiful necklace (and I'll get pics of it, I had every intention, seriously) but he wanted to get me something more. My dad bought me a new lens for my wanna be DSLR camera (it's back ordered till my June) and I want to be able to drag it and the camera around. I have a wee bag that will fit just the camera (or the little video cam by itself) but not with a lens. I found a bag I wanted awhile back linked in a blog but for the life of me could not figure out what the blog was (bookmarks Michelle, use them). Recently, like on my birthday (thank you Bakerella) I figured out which blog it was. Bakerella's. Like I'd remember to look for a camera bag on a baking web site. Sure, duh. Tracy Joy had given her one of the bags with a cupcake print for the price of shipping, which, if you think about it, was brilliant maketing. Bakerella had recently been on both Martha Stewart and The Pioneer Woman. Can you imagine the kind of traffic she got from Bakerella's posting? Dayum smart move. Still not so sure why they are closing up shop but whatever.

I was entirely too thrilled to re-find this camera bag website. I didn't have a need for a large bag back when she had originally posted the link and it was kind of expensive. They hubby wanted me to look for other camera bags with padded straps before making a decision and I did. The closest I found to something I'd adore as much was $175. I don't think so. That's almost as much as my wee little wanna be DSLR. Plus all of Tracy Joy's bags are on sale. It's less than half even with the detachable flap. Which I plan on making more of all by myself. And maybe even switching out the strap with a padded one. Either way it's still less than $90 after shipping. After shopping for other camera bags I quickly figured out this was a deal. So I bought it. Today. While at work. And when I came home today the hubby told me to "Go ahead and order that bag you wanted for your birthday sweetie." and I said "OK". This is marriage, it's how you get exactly what you want. Which in this case was:
The brown Kristine Shooting bag (I'd probably gone for the black but it's on back order and I already have a lens on back order, I'm not that patient)

And the flap in Carnival Bloom. (pictured above). What I really wanted (pattern wise) was Boho Orchid (pictured below) and only available for the Joey bag and that bag is too small. If I'm going to get just 1 bag it might as well be big enough for me to take everything in my purse too.
But see, isn't this pattern cute too?

It's ok though, I have tons of velcro and I suspect I can whip out tons of flaps in any fabric I want.

I'm here

No seriously I am. I have just been annoyingly bogged down by life and I find it, well, annoying. We had 2 kids' birthday parties to go to today (one of them is the beautiful baby in this picture). Yes, for those of you who don't have children and have yet to experience this part of parent hell, the fact that I didn't strangle anyone is a total miracle. I actually got out of the one from 10am-12, I sent the hubby instead. I would have really liked to skip the 3-5 one too but the parents are good friends of ours and I normally love hanging with them. Of course since it was their party they did not have time to socialize with just one person so it was not a fun as I'd like. I suppose that's the universe telling me I am not the center of the world but I never really listen anyway, why start now?

I have been taking a lot of pictures and have every intention of writing no less than 5 blog posts with all of them. Once I get them off of the camera and that may be awhile.

In the meantime I will leave you with this, Twilight got better after the middle of the book. Seriously. I am almost done with the second book now (which, btw, is a re-worked version of Romeo and Juliet). I can fully understand why teens love these books and I think parents should appreciate them too. They are like Laurel K. Hamilton's books rated G. Which is good, one of Hamilton's major faults is that she has too much sex and violence in her books. It get real old real fast. So much so that you are bored of it by chapter one. Stephanie Meyer does a fabulous job of keeping the adult reader intrigued but dumbed down enough that a younger reader would not get lost. She has the main character refer to the Romeo and Juliet story no less than 5 times in the first half of the book. If you didn't 'get it' it's because you weren't paying attention at all. I am much more into the books now and will probably get the third book. It's good. I've read better writers but really, this is good. Someday when my kid gets to this level of reading I think it'll be much better to have her read these than the romance novels I was reading when I was 10. They were a bit much for that age level. Of course Meyer also goes into all the nuances of teen relationships and does it perfectly. All the heartache, tears and oh I am never going to get over my first love crap we all go through. Oh it's good too, you don't think it's as lame when you're reading it as it is in real life. Man you couldn't pay me enough to go through those years again.

I'll be back soon, with flighty photos and random babbling. Oh and I got a new lens for my camera for my birthday. It's back ordered (of course) and I won't get it until mid June but I'm ok with that, I still plan on being into camera fun by then!

A 'quickie' update and a random pic from LOL dogs

I have ton of pictures and random stories from the party this past weekend. And the guests we had from California. I missed them as soon as they left the house but more on that later, when I download the pictures (no I still haven't installed Photoshop Elements, this me me, being real) because we all know a post is useless without the pictures. I put this one up because I am absolutely sure this is what Roxy looked like before she was used an abused by whatever sad excuse she had for previous owners. She's such a beautiful dog.

Back to where I was going with this post (yes, I have a direction, it's just circular, as per the norm) I did so much this weekend but I also did as I told you all I would do. On Monday (after our guests left) I plunked myself down on the couch with the frog dog Corbin on my lap (he has a thing for my lap and my lap only) and a certain book in my hands. Random snacks and drinks may or may not have been within arms reach. Along with the phone and all 3 remote controls. No I was not watching tv as I was reading Twilight. The kid sometimes watches things I do not prefer her watching, it's easier if I just keep the remotes and change it at will.

So here begins my book saga. The hubby was sweet enough to stop by another Half Price Books (we hit up 2 others while our guests were out) and found me the second book in the series. One of the guests that was here actually has the downloadable versions of the first 3 books that he sent me. Of course I'm a purist and do prefer the paper versions so if I run across the 3rd at Half Price then I will probably buy it. If I stay with the series that long.

I am fully halfway through the first book. Not quite enough that I can give ya'll a full and final review but I do get a good sense of the writing. Now don't think that me reading half of the book in one day means it's a good book. I am a damn fast reader. Seriously folks, 1000 pages in a weekend can be done without really being into the book, just having it there as a convenient distraction. If it were bad though I'd only be about a quarter of the way through it. I read books the way some people chew bubblegum. It doesn't have to be good gum, just chewable. It doesn't have to be a good book, just readable.

I can see why tweens and teens love this book, it's very good reading, especially for that age/maturity level. Don't get all bent out of shape Stephanie, I'm not done yet. I think the problem I'm having with it, and it's not so much a problem as a lack of love that everyone else seems to have, is that there are several books/authors I can name off hand that are so much better. One in that age/maturity group no less. Now ok, that sounds really vain (especially since everyone loves these books) but I've read a lot of books. I've read a lot of books in this genre. You may think there are lot of good books in this genre but no, there is a lot of crap in this genre though.

The one author that comes to mind first, who is also in the same adolescent age range, is Garth Nix. I didn't even know he was writing for adolescents his writing is so mature. I didn't notice as in I had already read and entire series of his and went to a book store, a sci fi bookstore no less, to find more and they pointed towards the childrens section. I fully admit I was totally embarrassed. Not that I should have been though, a good book is a good book and there is just no two ways about it. Now he's not a vampire writer, he's just sci fi with a young, strong, female heroine (yes honey that was a redundancy, get over it) and he does a stellar job of bringing the reader totally into the book, all of them really.

If romance/horror/vampires are your thing I have 2 recommendations. The first I love, the second I used to love but have decided her nuances drive me insane. It's entertaining still though so I consider it mental bubblegum so I'll include her in.
High up on my list (and Stephanie pay attention here) is Charlaine Harris. She's the one who wrote the books the Trublood HBO series is based on. DO NOT WATCH THE SHOW thinking you will get the same experience, trust me it doesn't work like that. Plus it's HBO, they thrown in a bunch more nudity and sex than any show needs unless it's porn. I have read all of the books and they are insanely WONDERFUL. If you 'liked' Twilight then Harris is going to knock your socks off. Seriously.

The other author, that I find mildly annoying, is Laurell K. Hamilton. She does both vampires and fairies but they are 2 separate book series that overlap on occasion. She's very good but her fashion sense is stuck somewhere in the mid 80's and she always describes clothing in great length. Men in white lace sleeves? No.

I am going to finish Twilight in the next few days and when I do I'll let you know what I really think. I am not yet ready to give it a yea or nay, I just read enough to know that Meyer is not nearly as good as some other authors I know. Ya'll can burn me at the stake later.

Dairy anyone?

Sometimes I have interesting posts, other times they are random thoughts that seem to go on for longer than anyone really needs to go know about that subject. Welcome to random thought day my dears.

I started my day with a bowl of cereal and then later a glass of milk. None of you see anything odd in that unless you are my husband. He will probably call me an alien when I get home and ask me what I did with his wife. You see I don't do dairy. Milk, yogurt, cheese, cream, it's just not my thing. I wasn't raised with dairy because my mom wasn't raised with dairy. She grew up in the Phillipines and they don't have refigerators in their there homes there. Third world country, they don't have a lot of things we do here. God bless America, complain all you want about this country I'm not leaving, it's awesome here. All this leads me to though is the fact that I don't like the taste of dairy products. Not even cheese cake, yes that's right, it's too dairy for me even with all the sugar.

There was one point in my pregnancy (4th or 5th month) that I had a craving for milk and it tasted wonderful. I finally understood how people could sit down and enjoy a glass of milk. Really before that moment I had no idea how someone could sit and drink a glass of it. To me it's kinda like how one would drink a glass of heavy cream. Ew yuck, too much, no thanks. I was what, 27 years old before I could appreciate a glass of milk ad that was short lived. Maybe lasted 3 weeks and I'd be drinking a pint at any given sitting.

I don't order or make my sandwiches with cheese. I don't like lasagna at all and I don't put cheese on top of my tacos, burritos, or shepherd's pie. I make all those things with cheese for the family but I'll leave the cheese off of parts so that I don't have to scrape it off of my serving. Everything except the lasagna, I just won't eat that stuff.

Just to let ya'll know, not liking dairy may have some draw backs. I do a specific test at my work, vitamin D. It's a complicated test and runs a bit over $100 a pop but it takes me only 5 minutes to run a sample (about 15 minutes prep time) so if I have the phlebotomists draw my blood I can run a sample on myself no problem. Ya'll know that vitamin D levels show whether or not someone is osteoporotic right? It's not just calcium, it's vitamin D too. I can go on and on about this but I'm going to leave that up to you guys too look into if you're interested. If you have any questions on it though feel free to ask. Anyway I decided to run my levels the other week. The cutoff point for vitamin D is 30 ng/ml (yes, that is nano grams). Lower than that and you're osteoporotic. This is normal in women after menopause and older people but nowadays we even see it in children so the test is becoming more common. Ever hear of rickets? Yup, we still have that. Our children do not get enough sun, using sunscreen over spf 8 restricts the uptake of vitamin D from the sun and no kid likes dark leafy greens to eat. No, iceberg lettuce and celery don't count.

I didn't expect to have a vitamin D deficiency. I eat my greens and I am always out in the sun with out sunscreen. My level? 25 ng/ml. Well into the osteoporotic range. Can you say holy crap what? I'm just not that old, why so low? Of course there's no really figuring out why I am so low, there's only taking supplementation until my levels go up and staying on those supplements. So I am taking no less than 4000 iud of vitamin D daily. That's 100 times the recommended daily dose. After 10 days my levels still had not budged. I'm now experimenting on myself, I will keep taking my levels every week and figure out how long until my levels go up and how much vitamin D I need to be taking.

Now I wouldn't recommend everyone doing a study on themselves but I would recommend that the next time you see your doctor you ask to have your vitamin D levels drawn. Without the vitamin D in your body you don't absorb that calcium, not cool. So I have begun to come to terms with dairy products too. I still can't handle the thick ones like cheese and yogurt in higher volumes but I am drinking milk. Can't say I'm enjoying it per say but I will drink it. With water between like very few sips. Plus did you know orange juice comes with vitamin D added? Convenient huh?

Confessions of a reading addict...Hi my name is.....

Update
#1) No, I have not touched Twilight. I do, however, expect to fully adore the book and I haven't even read the back cover. I don't know what it's about but trust me, I'll love it.

#2) You know how I was expecting the kid to take my money and buy some useless book-like thing with dodads? Well shame on me for having too little faith in my child. She bought 2 chapter books for a series we've been reading with her. Totally her level books and just for the sake of being the little girl that she is one of them came with a fluffy pen. I'm good with that, she bought chapter books with all of her money. I am very proud of her and everybody is happy.

#3) I did start to read the book I bought for the hubby. I love it so much that I am not only half way through but when the hubby got home I started reading it aloud to him. It's so easy to read (set up like little quippets from daily teaching life) that I managed to read aloud almost half of the book to him. It's a really really wonderful book that I'd recommend to anyone. Laugh out loud funny and makes you appreciate teachers all the more.

I made this purchase with a specific goal in mind and I did not expect to love it as much as I do. I only started reading it because I went out to lunch by myself and like to read while waiting for my food. Could not put that book down it is so good. Seriously folks, it's like $6 and change on Amazon. If you are making an order from Amazon put it on your list. You will not regret it.

I bought it to try and get the hubby into the "I love being a teacher and I miss it" mode. Every teacher becomes a teacher for their love of children and watching them grow. I think in the maelstrom of hell that was the San Diego Unified School District he had been tortured so bad that he had lost sight of it. This book was to bring him back down to the important part of why he is a teacher. It did that in the first 3 pages. Mission accomplished even if I got no housework done last night. Awesome. Book.

Weekend plans already set in stone: Guests are arriving tonight from San Diego. We are having a party Saturday night and the guests from SD are here until Monday morning. I have Monday off (so does the hubby, WOW NOVEL) and as such I am going to become one with the couch and Twilight. I could have finished cleaning the house last night in preparation for all this but I read instead. See how my schedule has it's priorities? No touching Twilight until after the people have left. The book I am on now is sucking up my time as it is....

Oh yeah, I went there

The hubby and I are readers. OK well maybe that's not a realistic word to be using for what we are. We are obsessed with books. We've been known to not live in the real world due to a good book. Just let our life run amok while we delve into some really good pages and ignore the world around us. He always has a book no him, they are piled around our house and tucked in every bathroom and both cars. He, more than I, has a book that he's always reading. Sometimes more than one at once. The kid? Well her's is an uphill battle. She's still drawn to the books that come with charm bracelets and whatnot. We won't buy them for her anymore, it drove us batty.

We are practical in our book buying though. We normally frequent Half Price Books because, well, in the kind of volume we go through books it'd be terrible for us to buy full price. We wouldn't be able to pay our mortgage, seriously. This week is the book fair at the kid's school. We let her get a book or two from there most times it comes. She is not suffering from a lack of books, we just restrict them to the ones that are at her level and don't come with jewelry, a diary, or sparkly pens. Because we're Scrooges and she has all that crap and she won't read the book attached to it. Her love of reading will come later I'm sure, I have faith. She's inherited all of our other bad ocd traits I don't see why this one won't show up eventually.

So today her class goes to the book fair at 11am. I was going to go with her if they went first thing this morning but alas, not to be. So I gave her $10 (and sadly, no restrictions) and told her to get what she wanted. I was supposed to take her to it last night when they had parent night but we forgot. We had our nails done last night and went out for Subway afterwards, I wasn't ignoring my parental duties! So this morning I went to look at what they had at the book fair after I dropped her off at class. Just in case there was something that I knew she'd want I wanted to know how much it cost. She's pretty predictable in her book tastes so I wanted to get a feel for how many of the dodad books I was going to have to contend with. I gave her $10 and no restrictions, what the hell was I thinking? I was tired this morning, seriously. I went to the bathroom and realized I put my panties on inside out and was too damn tired to bother righting them. Shh don't tell anyone I told ya'll that.

Fortunately there were very few books with dodads stuck to them. Unfortunately I did find they had a grown-up section (no, not adult, grown up). I need more books like I need another hole in the head. Now mind you I am not reading a damn thing right now. Unlike my hubby this is not terribly unusual for me. I am like an addict when it comes to books and I can't do anything else but become absorbed in a book when I get a good one. It's bad so I restrict myself to book reading only when I have the time. It's like that whole having a kid when the time is right. It never happens. Which means I stop reading until I just can't help it anymore and I have to read. I don't drink or do drugs but really, who needs them when there are good books to read?

So I'm going through the grown up section and I see Twilight. Ok now I have a friend with the whole series and she's been telling me she's sending them out to me. And I've been waiting for close to a year now. It's so not going to happen this decade. So I've been waffling about buying it myself (it's like $10, not exactly a trauma) but I know once I start I won't be able to stop and then I need them all. I haven't even been out to Half Price Books to look to see if they have it. I try not to go there, it's like an addict going to a crack house, bad bad bad. Anyway the book fair (of course) had all of the Twilight series sitting out there. Proceeds go to the school you know! Of course it's the richy school so it's not like they are hurting but still. I was still on the fence about it though but they had this other book there too, 32 third graders; one class bunny and you know how the hubby is trying to get back into teaching right? I took one look at a little quip inside this book and had to have it. It's funny even if you aren't a teacher, this man is hysterical. Amazon has an option for you to read the first pages on it, take a look. It's adorable!

So with that in hand I had to get Twilight too. I mean if I'm going to buy the one I of course need to buy the other. What is it that makes my brain do this? You know if I hadn't found the cute book I may not have even bought Twilight. And I've been looking to read Twilight for ages. This makes no sense at all whatsoever to me. Anyone else out there have some freaky shopping logic that makes no sense? It can't just be me, they have marketing people come up with this crap somehow I know it.

I have now begun the Twilight saga. Almost. It's my birthday party weekend and we have guests flying in Thursday night and no less than 20 people over for a bbq on Saturday. The house is a mess and the grass in the back yard hasn't been mowed since mid 2008 (don't worry, no rain means no grass growing, kinda). My front flower beds look awesome though! Regardless, we have lots to do so I will not crack that book until after the guests are gone. Seriously I can't, I know Stephanie understands me on this one right Steph? I can't lose my 12 days yet, must get though birthday/holiday weekend first.

I feel great today!

These were the first words out of my child's mouth this morning when she climbed out of my bed (her alarm goes off she climbs in my bed, we go back to sleep, it's a ritual). I thought to myself I wish I could say the same. Ahh age, it really gets to you after awhile doesn't it? By the time she came back upstairs after eating her breakfast though she was dragging. Too optimistic? I suppose. She had a great day on Monday. Her fav class, art, was Monday (they alternate between art, PE, computers and music) and when I went to pick her up from her after school at gymnastics the main guy was testing her to see where she was at. Apparently the tall skinny no ass kids are ringers for getting onto the teams. She has been asking me about getting on the team. I guess one of the other girls was recently invited to the team and my kids was envious. Big surprise there right?

I had to then explain to her that parents didn't get their children on the team, that the kids had to earn their way up. Since she had only been going sporadically (remember, daddy had those weird shifts) she wasn't advancing very quickly and plus I don't think she was taking it very seriously. Once I explained that though, oh boy look out. Even the teachers came up to me and commented on how much more she was trying. Life lessons huh? I swear we all learn them before the age of 10, most people just don't pay attention.

Monday she was evaluated and she was invited on to the 2-3 level team. She was thrilled! And all about buying the new team leotard. Since, you know, it's all about what you get to buy right? I was very proud of her for reaching her goal so quickly, she'd only been told about having to earn her way up 2 weeks ago. The only down side is that she is going to her grandmothers in San Diego for the entire summer. Last day of school (and her gymnastics) is June 4th. Yes that's right, I gave my kid away for 3 months. I think my hubby is going to have some serious separation anxiety. So I didn't start her out on the team and won't until she gets back in the fall. I did, however, mention to her that she has to perfect her cartwheel over the summer (it's not all that) and then I called her grandmother. Who promptly looked into half day gymnastics camps for her so that she can continue on with her new skills.

Have I mentioned that kids are expensive? And damn, what is up with all of the thousands of different programs you can put them into? I'm really glad neither I nor the hubby are terrorists when it comes to after school projects/sports/what not. These kids can get overinundated so quickly! We've so far had her do ballet (age 3-5 and she performed on stage, big performance), swim (she's a fish so I suspect we'll have her in this again, someday), theater (she has another summer camp for this at her grandmother's), and gymnastics. Now don't judge, we only actually did gymnastics because she was bored with the YMCA afterschool care she was in and the gymnastics was only $30 more a month. Well until she gets on to the team that is. I'm pretty sure that, just like all the rest of the sports, this will cost us more in the end. I tell you what though, if she tells me she's got too much on her plate that's it, none of the sports crap. I see what soccer moms do every weekend and all week nights and I am sooo grateful that my kid does not do soccer. Ick, I hate that sport. The kid has only done one of these activities at any given time too, I don't believe in doubling up. I'm not a stay at home mom you know, I'd go insane. Not with the stay at home mom part, with the insane schedules these kids keep!

There are other reasons

My hubby actually posted a new post to his blog Sunday. It's been decades, I think his last post was April 4th and the post before that was mine. Odd that he is not a big blogger, the man is constantly writing. The spiral notebooks all over the house are full of his scrawlings. Regardless, the topic of his post today was his new job change. No he has not made it out of the corrections officer job he has just switched positions inside the prison, he now works in the law library. The regular shift jobs there are either 'A' or 'B' card. Both are 4 days on, 4 days off. 'A' card is the day shift 'B' card is the night shift. The hubby was 'A' card. 'H' card, however, is the mon-fri 8-5 gig. Being on 'H' card would mean that the hubby would not be able to carpool as he did before (only 1 other person rather than 1 person for every day worked). It would mean that he left the house at a normal hour, 6am, and came home around 6:30 pm. Plus he'd be home weekends (they work one Saturday a month in the law library, no big) and holidays too. Yeah that's right 'A' and 'B' card shifts don't get holidays off, prisoners always need babysitters since they don't play well with others.

The positives in this case outweigh the negatives. It is still at the prison, it is still dangerous, and it is still 90 friggin miles away. His schedule is the same every week though and we have him on weekends and holidays and he gets home earlier, doesn't wake at 3 am and doesn't constantly suffer from sleep deprivation. 4 days off was great and all but more often than not it was during the week and he was home alone. Sleeping. Not much good having half the time off when all you do is sleep now is it? Don't get me wrong, ultimately his goal is to have a regular elementary school teaching job come fall. No more prison crap but in the mean time we get the hubby back so it is a degree of better. I'm all about degrees here people and every little bit helps.

As to why he ended his post with 'There are other reasons' well that's one of our long term goals we've been putting off for awhile. A really long while. We never planned on having just one kid. I was an only child (thankfully no one else had to endure my mother) and the hubby had an older brother. 5 years older to be exact so it wasn't like they were very close as children either. We would have liked to have 2 kids closer together in age but after the kid was born life was insane. Plus, living in So Cal? OMG it was so expensive we never lived in a place big enough for just the 3 of us. It wasn't just impractical it was impossible.

Right now it's only kinda impractical. We made the decision that once the hubby got a job that was relatively normal we'd start trying. If one waits for 'the perfect time' the human race would cease to exist. I am a true believer in this and lordy knows I am not getting any younger. It chaps me that I know people who are totally incapable of taking care of themselves (i.e. over 30 and still living with their parents, kid you not) that have no less than 2 kids. It drives me batty. People like us, college degrees, own a home, moderately successful and yet we have waited almost 7 years (the kid will be 8 this year) because we want to be at least a bit responsible about procreating? The justice in this world, totally non-existent. The hubby is getting tired of me complaining that everyone else is breeding but us. I swear these people in Texas are like friggin bunnies. The last couple we knew that had just 1 kid (and we are the minority) are having another. Sadly this is Little Miss M's parents and she's such a terror I think her parents should be sterilized. Good thing I didn't give them my blog address huh? Oh never mind, not like I say anything on here I wouldn't say to their faces, I'm real nice like that.

Regardless June is the month we are starting on this new adventure. Of a planned pregnancy. Novel! That last one, as wonderful as she is, was not on the agenda and put a big ol speed bump in the hubby's grand plan. OK he's not much of a planner but it really was not was he was looking for at the time. How's that for neutral? My bad, you can just call me speed bump from now on. Lord knows thats how big I get when preggers. I am officially 36 on the 28th of May, that puts me smack dab into 'old' as far as ob/gyns are concerned. They do things like stick needles in your placenta at 20 weeks and all kinds of hideous tests I'll probably opt not to have. Much to everyone's dismay I'm sure. If this plan comes to fruition ya'll will probably get an earful of info you probably just never really wanted to know. Well except for Trailboss and her 2 daughters already moving on to have babies at the same time (how cool is that?). My apologies in advance.

Wish us luck, we're so going to need it...

I am not a Star Trek fan

This is a review, in case ya’ll were wondering. Don't want to pull a fast one on ya or anything...

Star Trek, The Future Begins
I tell you what, I’ve never been a Trekkie. Star Trek has never been my thing which is kinda odd seeing as how me and almost all of the people I hang with (and the one I married) are sci fi geeks. Of the highest order might I add. Dungeons and Dragons (still play it) and all the dorkdom it entails, thank you very much. Star Trek? Never really did it for me so when the hubby said he wanted to see it, even more than the new Wolverine movie (very odd for him) I was like, um ok, whatever floats your boat. I am not a big Marvel fan either so it was 6, ½ dozen the other to me.

I was not expecting to be terribly thrilled with either movie choice so when we were running a bit late and the hubby was getting all uptight about it, like hubbies do, I was like, ‘k whatever. Such a loving wife huh? We weren’t that late though, he got popcorn (a bad addiction of his, he’ll make himself sick off of it before he’ll stop eating it) and sodas and the trailers weren’t even over yet. No big, theaters expect everyone to be running late.

I knew by the end of the opening sequence that this film was another masterpiece from J.J. Abrams. This film is STELLAR, just amazing on so many different levels I wouldn’t even know where to start. Oddly enough I think the Trek fans will like it less than those of us who are non fans. I mean I’ve seen a few of the tv episodes and maybe 1 or 2 of the movies but I was never a Shatner fan. Well that’s not entirely true, I loved what he did as a possum in Over the Hedge. I don’t think they could have picked a better actor for that part. Seriously folks, if you haven't seen him as the dad possum go rent it, it’s damn funny.

Anyway, why do I think the fans won’t like it and the rest of us will? Dude, they played the time space continuum card and basically jacked everything prior to this film. They changed the history of Star Trek and they did it while kicking some serious ass. It was wild, I don’t know how they did it and made it all play out so smoothly but dang it was good. The action is fabulous, it must be seen on the big screen. Fat home tv’s just aren’t going to cut it. You can tell the guys who wrote the screen play for Transformers (Orci and Kurtzman) wrote this one too. It wasn’t a copy of that action but it did have the same flavor and you know, I love Transformers. LOVE IT. Like planning a Transformers tattoo of some sort. Seriously.

The Future Begins starts just before the birth of James T. Kirk and if you were a Trekkie you’d probably know from the get go that they were changing history with this one. It starts off with a dramatic event that didn’t happen to the original Kirk. An ‘alternate timeline’ as it were. You get to see all of the crew when they started out in the academy, when Kirk meets Bones, oh and the humor. Even if you only know a wee bit of the original Star Trek you’ll be able to catch all the little things. The cast they picked did an awesome job following all the character traits of the original actors/characters, oh it is just too cool! And so funny!

No lie people, you must go see this I the theater. Trust me, iz gud, you’ll love it!

Meme me baby!

I know lots of people hate these things but I am abby normal, I love them and find them entertaining enough to pass them on like the swine flu.

What are your current obsessions?
You know I'm mildly ocd and the word obsession may not mean the same thing to ya'll as it does to me. Right now, it's spring so I'm going to go with planting. I don't garden so much as buy plants and plunk. More on that in a later post I'm sure...


Which item from your wardrobe do you wear the most often?
That would have to be my black yoga pants that I got from Old Navy. They have a folding waist band so it doesn't matter how big your belly gets. It's practically maternity wear. Shhh don't tell anyone I said that.

What’s for dinner?
Oy I had the flu Tuesday night so my motivation to make something is somewhat low. I do have chicken though so I was thinking rice with lemon chicken. I'll let you know how that goes.

What is your greatest fear at the moment?
Fear? I try not to do fear, it leads to stress. I hate stress.In this economic state though I'd have to go with both of us losing our jobs. It wouldn't be the end of the world and we would survive but it'd be a pain in the ass.

What are you listening to?
Country (see the list on the side bar) much to the husband's dismay.

If you were a mythological character, what would you be?
Eris, Goddess of chaos. And I quote
"Eris is Discord, and may be called strife and quarrel as well."
Lets face it, it's a girl thing

What are your favorite holiday spots?
For the winter holidays, anywhere with snow. For the spring, anywhere things are growing and green. For summer, anywhere with water. This should all be a given, no?

What are you reading right now?
Nothing, I have yet to get that shipment from Brenda with the Twilight books.

What is your guilty pleasure?
One? Am I supposed to have just one? OK I went to Bath and Body Works yesterday so I'll go with that one. I must have lovely scented lotions and soaps. I really don't care what they cost either.

Who or what makes you laugh?
People make me laugh, I'm not picky and, as a general rule, people are stupid. That means its just a matter of people watching for long enough, you'll get a laugh out of me.

What is your favorite Spring thing to do?
Plant! Didn't I already cover that?

Where are you planning to travel next?
I am like fine linen, I don't travel well. The farthest I'll go voluntarily is Austin. I love Austin.

What is the best thing you ate or drank lately?
Today it was greek food. Recently in the past 30 days? I went to The Chart House with some friends and they had this clam chowder that was to die for.

When was the last time you were tipsy?
I don't get tipsy, I never drink enough to. Alcohol tastes like crap to me. Like licking a magic marker. Never been drunk either. Seriously.

What is your favorite ever film?
I don't have just one.
Transformers rocked and I can't wait until the next one
Serenity, Joss Whedon is god
The newest Star Trek, this will be my next blog post peeps, it kicked ass in a big major way. BIG.

What is the biggest life lesson you’ve learned from your kids?
Take your time. It'll all get done eventually, the important part is the trip there.

What book do you know you should read but refuse to?
Les Miserables

What is your physical abnormity/abnormal physical ability?
I don't have one. Unless you count my brain and that's not a physical abnormality so much as a mental one now is it?

What is your favorite color?
Purple but ask me tomorrow and it may be green.

Can the people outside your car hear the music playing inside your car?
Dude, I drive a Jeep.

And the one I am adding:

Do you think being a blogger has changed the way you write?
Oh my yes. The hubby has actually said my writing has improved. He's a writer so I believe him but I can't see it. Regardless I am still going to continue, wether or not I'm getting better.




The rules of this meme are as follows:
- Respond to and rework the meme.
- Answer the questions on your own blog.
- Replace one question and add one question.
- Tag 8 people.


ps, I didn't delete one question but ya'll can do what you want. As per my norm I am not tagging anyone. I think these things should be enjoyed and there for voluntary. I was raised by hippies, can you tell?

Sleep deprivation?

For the longest time I've had trouble getting to sleep. The hubby doesn't because he's in a constant state of sleep deprivation getting up at 3 am and coming home at 8pm. I have trouble falling asleep and then when his alarm goes of at 2:40am it wakes me up and then I take awhile to get back to sleep. Less than ideal situation for me but this is the job he chose so this is what we get to live with.

For the past 3 weeks I've been spending most of my awake free moments squeezing in everything that one can possibly squeeze in (work, pick up kid, getting hw done with her, and making dinner) plus I've added in as much exercise as I can. We try to go to the pool every single day (this past weekend the kid was too tired so we didn't go) and since the kid can swim very well I can do laps and not stress. Seriously, she's just like her daddy, a long ass fish. Thin as all get out too so when she does finally get out of the pool her lips are blue as a corpse, looks terrible. Or really awesome if you're into that goth look.

After that, late late late into the stupid hot evening, when it gets down to you know, 90 something degrees, I take Jaynie out for our long walk and alone time. Spoiled butt head. I try to do this before 10pm because I know the hubby waits up until I get home and I hate keeping him up too late when he has to wake like 4 hours later. It's a decent amount of exercise but I think it's the running around trying to get everything done that really wears on me.

I used to do all the running around anyway but I was not trying to squeeze in the physical activities too. The combination has made it so that I now take 15 minutes to fall asleep rather than the 1-2 hours. I like it. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep it up before I have a "I can't keep up" breakdown but in the meantime the sleep deprivation is no longer due to the inability to fall asleep. Twice in one night. Did I mention I now no longer notice when the hubby's alarm goes off? That's nice too. I hate that 2:40am alarm.

How many boxers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

It doesn't matter, a boxer will just play in the dark!



Look out Roxy, here comes Jaynie!


Yeah like she gives a hoot right?


And it's on!

My daddy has these damn books

These books are the bane of the residents of this household. The hubby is a gamer (as in Dungeons and Dragons), actually we both are but he's the DM (dungeon master) so he needs the reference books. We have no less 60 of these monsters stacked all over the house and normally in piles. On the couch, next to the couch in the bathrooms. Don't ask, they drive me and the kid nuts because they blend in to to color of the floor and the couch and we end up kicking them and breaking our toes. When they are on the couches there's no room to sit. This chocolate chair that Jaynie is wedged in is a small chair, big people can't fit in it. My hubby has a waist line almost smaller than mine (yes, I do find that fact annoying) so he fits in it just fine. We never actually gave the size of this chair any thought until we had larger friends come over. Not very comfy looking for them.

Jayne usually likes to get on the couches but he doesn't like having anything up on them. If there's a pillow or a remote control or a piece of paper up on it he'll stare at it until you remove it. He's very indignant about this, the look on his face if you don't immediately remove it is classic. When I took this picture he hadn't even asked for the books to be moved. He wanted up so bad that he just squeezed up there and pretended they weren't there. He tried real hard to not touch them but the chair, it's too small!

More dog you say?

Well that I can do. The hubby and I exist to alternately spoil, entertain, and torment the inhabitants of our home whilst I chronicle it on my blog. Really it's just fodder for the SPCA and CPS though but whats life if you don't live it on the edge? Do you like that picture of the dead Jaynie? On the couch we don't allow dogs on? Except when we get all lax with the rules in the house, which is like always. Lets look at it a bit more closely and try and get an idea of just how toasted this dog is...



As yes, there you go, now that's a good portrait don't you think? It looks as though he bellied up to the bar for one too many drinks doesn't it? Enough so that he really doesn't care daddy is taking a picture of him with his upper lip wrapped upwards towards the sky and stuck to the fabric of my couch. Just tacky no?

Here, lets get a bit closer because you know, we can....


Dogs, we own them just so we can jack with them.

He looks like this (and right now even he's in about the same spot) because this is post evening walk. He and I have been going on a walk every single night and I think I've mentioned the weather thing? Yeah, after the family gets back from the pool I take him out. It's still in the mid 80's and stupid humid out and dang it all if it doesn't kick our butts. He loves it but this is what we get afterwards. One burnt out puppy. It's great.

Play time with Corbin

My poor dogs, they have it so rough. Especially Corbin, he's so small that playing with the big dogs kicks his butt and kinda gets him too worked up. I mean he has to practically walk on his hind legs to get to the big dogs and they tend to ignore him like a gnat. Yeah, rough life. Every once in awhile the hubby gets him all riled up while getting down on his level. The big dogs would never lower themselves to such indignities. Corbin looooves his play time. What I didn't get a picture of (because it's an action and not a still shot) is after they were done Corby was out in the hall and did a sneak attack on the hubby while he was standing in the room talking to me. It was such a funny cat like action. Corbin is an anvil with legs, cat like actions are rare and far between with him. So we're standing there and Corbin comes tearing in full speed and tags the hubby. Hubby looks down at stopped fuzzy-ever-so-sly-anvil and starts to laugh his ass off. That dog is such a funny little idiot, it's terribly endearing.