Yeah, I am feeling grouchy. Have you seen the movie with Elisabeth Shue, Adventures in Babysitting? Remember the famous line from that film?
Replace "babysitter" with "mother."
Now, you all have a nice day.
Display Comments »For the most part, I attempt to keep a positive attitude about rearing four females. It is not easy. I hated it when older women with crinkled lips, a voice two pitches lower than Lauren Bacall's, drooping, shrivelled breasts, and permanently furrowed brows would feel the need in line at the market, upon seeing all my daughters to warn me: "You just wait until they get older. My boys were so much easier. They'll make you crazy." There would my girls stand: ribbons in their smoothly brushed blond heads, the large bow of their lips stretched into a smile, revealing their pearly-perfect teeth, enormous blue eyes, blinking up at them, and they tell me this crap? I wanted to pinch their weltered bosom and wring their puckered mouths.
This is the hardest thing I have ever done. Ever. Ever. Ever. I refuse to think that rearing any child of either sex is easier than the other. It can't be; to do this job correctly will lay you flat on your back. It will stress you; frustrate you; and steal your very heart without you even noticing. And just when you think you finally have it together, something else will come along and challenge your pithy smugness. I have been kept humble and been humiliated. I have endured the delivery of four human beings from my very body, dealt with swollen leaking, painfully engorged breasts, been bitten, puked on, pooped on, gone without sleep, and many material things. But those are nothing to helping my two adolescent daughters know themselves and know this world in which they live; to understand the frailties of both themselves and their fellow human beings; to keep that in context with our religious beliefs; to help them learn to establish boundaries that are healthy and when and how to let someone else know them; to learn the gracious gift of charity- that is, to examine one's motives and intentions before reacting. I wish I could shove them all back in, carrying the weight of their bodies in extra girdth. Surely the stress gained in my body would be reaped in the relief of my soul?
More and more, I am finding that this making of them is becoming the making of me.
Display Comments »The Rubber Band Story? O.K. fine!
You know those odd cravings that a woman can have while pregnant (yes, I realize this eliminates roughly 50% of those reading)? Well, with my fourth and final pregnancy, I ate well, slept well, and took my delicious prenatal vitamins. So, I wasn't lacking in minerals, calcium, or any other strange vitamin/mineral need induced by the presence of another human being growing in a woman's uterus.
Read more Bon Appétit » Display Comments »It is no coincidence that woman are typically more relational than men. In 9 out of 10 couples I know, the woman has more friends than her husband has, and she desires their company more frequently than a guy does that of his. (Wanna argue? Go back at look at the "t" word up there, otherwise, read on or head out).
So, while I have the perfect-for-me-man, intelligent-unperfect-but-maleable children, I really miss having a girlfriend right now. I miss having someone to go get a cup of coffee with at 9 p.m. I miss accessory shopping. I miss heading to the cinema and splitting the $10 Jumbo Popcorn/Soda/Candy special. I miss...I miss...I don't know; I just miss.
And for all you Pollyannas out there, 99% of the time, I appreciate the Glad Game, but this time, count me out.
Display Comments »When I see the way that Leonardo DeCaprio has gone from rather simple and cheesy roles, such as the one in Titanic, to getting critical acclaim for his latest work, I feel compelled to pause. To wonder. To ponder, even:
If Leo, then why not Corey Haim?Life is a mystery. Everyone must stand alone.
Extra-special Note: If you like what you read here, you can always visit me at my own blog. And if you don't like what you've just read, you can still visit, because I'm all about people. I love me some people. Mmmm, people. Group hug.
Display Comments »While in St. Louis last month, I decided to take advantage of the proximity of good shopping location. I didn't know what I was looking for specifically, but I knew that I would know it when I found it.
I am not ashamed to say that I will take knock-offs, as long as they are well-made, but then I hardly doubt that Issac Mizrahi is a second rate designer. He just sells to the Target crowd what said crowd won't be fool enough to pay too much for. So, anyway, with my delicious Panera coffee in hand, I swung through his section. My eyes immediately fell on a knee-length, silk faille skirt (of course, I don't look like a twelve year-old boy in it like the model does). I paired it with a black, boat neck 3/4 sleeve tie neck sweater, black fish-nets, black square toed heels (I had wanted these, but alas, all the nines were gone), some sparkly drop earrings, a simple silver bangle to accompany my right hand ring (last year's birthday gift from R), and I was set for a few seasonal events. Imagine my vain delight at seeing my skirt and sweater picks in this month's Lucky.
Read more Honk Honk (The sound of my own horn) » Display Comments »I have learned that nothing in life is truly free, save salvation. You always pay for everything at some point in life. The returns can sometimes be a significant debit or deposit into a memory's account. My list:
1) Eating that second cinnamon roll.
2) Taking the extra time to parent correctly- that extra five minutes at bedtime, jumping on the trampoline despite having delivered four children, riding bikes, letting all the children into your bed when hubby is gone on a business trip, saying yes when you really want to say no for no-good-reason, listening when all you want is quiet.
3) That third glass of wine or cosmopolitan.
4) Buying a lipstick quad (the lasses know to what I am referring) for only one color.
5) Politeness.
6) Anger- either way. Can scare the bowels clean when needed, or can alienate those you love most.
7) Greeting your husband when he walks in the door.
8) A genuine smile or laugh.
9) Talking too much.
10) Saying too little.
11) Wearing those cute heels can be good. Wearing them on a five block hike cannot.
12) Sitting in the tub too long.
13) Leaving the house on an overcast day without an umbrella- not good if going to church or a meeting. Perfect to season a pensive walk.
14) Reading trivia. Fun. But can distort a person's sense of real life.
15) Blogging. Yes, blogging. Readers, enhanced knowledge, a window to the world, annoys card-carrying liberals, gives Newsweek something to write about, Or steals from real life, creates false sense of community, contributes to purchase of varied pajama styles.
It is extremely difficult for me to walk away from many things that are considered "settled" so please don't consider this list all-inclusive or definitive.
What are some on your list?
Display Comments »There have been very few things that have caused me to nearly pee my pants from laughing, but this goes on the Top Ten List. Via ZB.
(How appropriate seeing as I will be flying again this week...)
Display Comments »O.K. so it's now obvious that I don't prefer Ian Thorpe. The definitive reason I don't is that he is pompous. He lacks humility in sport. You can be the best; you can be competitive; you can produce results. I am not talking confidence. I am talking being able to shake your competitor's hand. I am talking about sportsmanship. I was very proud of Michael Phelps winning the Bronze. Of course, I would have preferred he win the Gold (but my motives were less than honorable; for I desperately wanted to see Ian knocked from his high horse). Michael Phelps has exhibited congeniality, determination, and he swam his personal best in the Men's 200 Freestyle competition. He swam across the lanes to shake the hand of Ian, whom he admired and respected as the fastest swimmer (who wouldn't want to race the fastest swimmer? A high bar produces the best results). Ian barely gave him the time of day, and after the ceremony, Michael reached over to offer his congratulations, and Ian shook his hand limp wristed and with wry grin.
There. That's why I dislike Ian Thorpe. Confidence is attractive; cockiness isn't.
Display Comments »Due to the overwhelming response, I present (and recall that I can never claim anything to be all inclusive because someone can always come up with one more song)
More 80's (Pop, of course, there are several other genres to list):
You Might Think, Cars
Cover Me, Bruce Springsteen
Dance Hall Days, Wang Chung
I've Been in Love Before, The Cutting Crew
Your Love, The Outfield
Undercover Of The Night, Rolling Stones
The Longest Time, Billy Joel
Magic, Cars
I Feel For You, Chaka Khan
Mandolin Rain, Bruce Hornsby & The Range
Big Time, Peter Gabriel
Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Tears For Fears
Money For Nothing, Dire Straits
Take On Me, A-Ha
Things Can Only Get Better, Howard Jones
Raspberry Beret, Prince & The Revolution
The Boys Of Summer, Don Henley
Head Over Heels, Tears For Fears
Smooth Operator, Sade
Run To You, Bryan Adams
No More Lonely Nights, Paul McCartney
Too Late For Goodbyes, Julian Lennon
I'm On Fire, Bruce Springsteen
Lay Your Hands On Me, Thompson Twins
Need You Tonight, INXS
One More Try, George Michael
What Have I Done To Deserve This?, Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
What's On Your Mind, Information Society
I Get Weak, Belinda Carlisle
Fast Car, Tracy Chapman
Always On My Mind, Pet Shop Boys
Straight Up, Paula Abdul
If You Don't Know Me By Now, Simply Red
The Living Years, Mike & The Mechanics
Love Song, Cure
What I Am, Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians
The End Of The Innocence, Don Henley
And will find the rest tomorrow...wait, later today, that is...maybe...
Some of My Favorite 80's Songs:
Paul Young-Everytime You Go
OMD-If You Leave
Spandau Ballet - "True"
A VIEW TO A KILL Duran Duran
THE WILD BOYS Duran Duran
Only the Lonely The Motels
OWNER OF A LONELY HEART Yes
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE Police
SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE Thomas Dolby
THE SAFETY DANCE Men Without Hats
BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Pretenders
THE SWEETEST THING Juice Newton
TAKE IT EASY ON ME Little River Band
HEAT OF THE MOMENT Asia
ADDICTED TO LOVE Robert Palmer
. HOLDING BACK THE YEARS Simply Red
TAKE MY BREATH AWAY Berlin
SOMETHING ABOUT YOU Level 42
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU U2
DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER Crowded House
THE LADY IN RED Chris De Burgh
I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR U2
. KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF Georgia Satellites
JUST DIED IN YOUR ARMS Cutting Crew
SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE Robert Palmer
THE FLAME Cheap Trick
HANDS TO HEAVEN Breathe
THE TIDE IS HIGH Blondie
. I LOVE YOU Climax Blues Band
LOVE ON THE ROCKS Neil Diamond
HUNGRY HEART Bruce Springsteen
Life In A Northern Town, Dream Academy
Another One Bites The Dust, Queen
While You See A Chance, Steve Winwood
Don't Stand So Close To Me, Police
Hey Nineteen, Steely Dan
Idea for this posting fun borrowed with permission from ResurrectionSong.com
Display Comments »
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
HammerHead
