It might be a close one, though. :)
In my ongoing saga to keep you just intrigued enough to keep coming back (or morbidly fascinated that someone with a higher authority actually let me procreate!) for more, I'm about continue on, yet again, with another sequel to this post and this post. If you want to get caught up, please do. If you want to take a walk on the wild side and just jump in, right in the middle, you do that. Either way, I'm still here. Also, I've decided that this is as good a way as any to mark the passing of the 200th post on my blog! Yay, me!
#41. One of my favorite things to say if I really am unhappy with something is "This sucks eggs." I'm not sure why eggs have been given the honor of being the thing that sucks the most. In fact, I really have nothing against eggs. Its just fun to say it. Go on. Try it. You know you want to.
#42. I watched The Mummy for the eleventy-billionth time tonight. Its not nearly enough. I will again find myself parked in front of the screen the next time its showing. I guarantee it. And it won't matter if I'm still unemployed at the time, and down to our very last $9. I WILL be in the theater on August 8 to see The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
#43. I do not like Brad Pitt. I do not think he's a very good actor, nor do I think he's particularly handsome. That could be explained by the fact that I also think he's dumber than a box of rocks, and stupid guys generally just don't do it for me.
#44. I've told you, heck--even shown you, I can sing. I played the clarinet in elementary school. I was in the top vocal performance group all through high school. HOWEVER... I can not read a single note of sheet music.
#45. I absolutely believe that Rice Krispie Treats count as a breakfast food. They're made from cereal, aren't they? So they count.
#46. When Jock was a brand new baby, I used to go over to my grandma's house several times a week, to wash the baby's clothes. She tried to teach me to knit and crochet, got me hooked on the Doubleday Book Club, and let me pick cherries off the tree in the backyard. However, I still can not knit or crochet if my life depended on it.
#47. My dream car, should I ever win the Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, would be a 1954 Chevy Bel Air. Blue and white exterior. White interior. Obviously, my children will never be allowed inside it.
#48. I used to be an editor and talent scout for an online publishing house.
#49. I'm an insomniac. Mild, definitely, but its still there. I cannot get to sleep...ever...before somewhere between 2 and 3 in the morning. And I'm usually up 3-4 hours later.
#50. I'm an incredibly sentimental person. Which feeds my pack rat-ness. And also means that I cry at just about anything. My boys are endlessly amused at this.
Ok. Once again, I'm stopping there. Apparently, my brain completely shuts down at ten random facts about myself. I could feel it getting sluggish somewhere around fact 5, but when I sat here for 15 minutes to come up with that last one, I knew it was done for the night.
Besides, its time for me to go lay in bed counting the rotations of the ceiling fan for a while.
Showing posts with label Memes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memes. Show all posts
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Things You Probably Don't Really Care About Knowing
Ok. Here it is. The things you never knew about me, and still really aren't sure you actually want to know. No pressure to read the whole list at once. In fact, it might be more fun if you just spread the influx of knowledge over several days.
1. I'm left handed. Of course, that doesn't matter when I type.
2. My favorite movie ever is probably Labrynth, but Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure runs a close second.
3. When I was in the 6th grade, I wanted to be an truck driver like my dad. I was going to drive a pink truck.
4. I have to inspect each individual egg in the carton at the grocery store before I can even put the box in my cart.
5. I'm a direct descendant of a Cherokee Indian Chief. Which makes me a Princess. (kinda explains the narcissism, doesn't it?)
6. I suspect I would leave my husband in a heartbeat if Trace Adkins came knocking on my door. He knows this, and only asks that I remember to send child support regularly.
7. I barely passed my drivers test the first time I took it.
8. I didn't have my first kiss until I was 15.
9. I really love banana flavored popsicles and banana flavored Slurpees.
10. The longest relationship I had before I got married only lasted 9 months.
11. I completely lose track of time in any book store.
12. Before I actually had kids, I wanted six. Four boys and two girls.
13. I have NO athletic ability at all, which is why its amazing to me to see how much my boys DO have.
14. Strangely enough, despite the lack of ability, I was on the wrestling team my freshman year.
15. I played the role of Frenchy in our school's production of Grease my sophomore year.
16. I still watch cartoons every chance I get.
17. My nickname in junior high was Smurfette. Don't ask.
18. I can't swim at all. Can't even float.
19. I have never seen the movie Gone With The Wind.
20. My favorite color is forest green.
21. I actually liked the movie Grease 2.
22. I can sing Amazing Grace to the Gilligan's Island theme.
23. I have not ridden a real bicycle in about 19 years.
24. If given the choice, I will ALWAYS choose country cooking over something fancier.
25. I miss the show Fraggle Rock.
26. I have a sad tendency to carry a grudge.
27. I am petrified of bees, even though I've never been stung by one.
28. I had a poem published in a national magazine my sophomore year.
29. I also had a poem published in my yearbook that year.
And this is where I stopped. I got stuck. For crying out loud... I can't think of 100 different things about myself?!? Although even if I could think of enough, there's no guarantee they'd be worth reading. I mean, I joke all the time about being something of a narcissist, but even I don't think you all really want to sit through that list.
But it still bugged me that I couldn't think of more to tell you. So when I was tucking Bug in tonight, I decided to ask him what HE would tell people if he was asked to talk about me. His list was much better than mine, so I'm going to share it with you. And as luck would have it, his list is also shorter!
1. I love my family.
2. I love God.
3. I love to cuddle. Sometimes too much 'cuz he and Jock really have other things they'd like to be doing rather than hugging me. (Hey! These are his words. I'm just the court recorder here.)
4. I like fruits and vegetables.
5. I like to sing, and am really good at it.
6. I don't like mushrooms. In any form. Cooked or not.
7. I like everything green. Except boogers. (This one prompted a several-minutes-long giggle fest for the two of us, as I couldn't quite believe he said that.)
8. I read 1000 books a month. (Not quite.... but it was refreshing to see that he's inherited something from me, even if its just a flair for the dramatic!)
So there you have it. I decided NOT to do the entire 100 things list. I'm relatively certain no one will be that disappointed.
But, just for you, Flea.... if I had to pick a tree that I might want to be? I think I'd be a money tree. That would keep my kids coming back to see me often well into their teen years!
1. I'm left handed. Of course, that doesn't matter when I type.
2. My favorite movie ever is probably Labrynth, but Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure runs a close second.
3. When I was in the 6th grade, I wanted to be an truck driver like my dad. I was going to drive a pink truck.
4. I have to inspect each individual egg in the carton at the grocery store before I can even put the box in my cart.
5. I'm a direct descendant of a Cherokee Indian Chief. Which makes me a Princess. (kinda explains the narcissism, doesn't it?)
6. I suspect I would leave my husband in a heartbeat if Trace Adkins came knocking on my door. He knows this, and only asks that I remember to send child support regularly.
7. I barely passed my drivers test the first time I took it.
8. I didn't have my first kiss until I was 15.
9. I really love banana flavored popsicles and banana flavored Slurpees.
10. The longest relationship I had before I got married only lasted 9 months.
11. I completely lose track of time in any book store.
12. Before I actually had kids, I wanted six. Four boys and two girls.
13. I have NO athletic ability at all, which is why its amazing to me to see how much my boys DO have.
14. Strangely enough, despite the lack of ability, I was on the wrestling team my freshman year.
15. I played the role of Frenchy in our school's production of Grease my sophomore year.
16. I still watch cartoons every chance I get.
17. My nickname in junior high was Smurfette. Don't ask.
18. I can't swim at all. Can't even float.
19. I have never seen the movie Gone With The Wind.
20. My favorite color is forest green.
21. I actually liked the movie Grease 2.
22. I can sing Amazing Grace to the Gilligan's Island theme.
23. I have not ridden a real bicycle in about 19 years.
24. If given the choice, I will ALWAYS choose country cooking over something fancier.
25. I miss the show Fraggle Rock.
26. I have a sad tendency to carry a grudge.
27. I am petrified of bees, even though I've never been stung by one.
28. I had a poem published in a national magazine my sophomore year.
29. I also had a poem published in my yearbook that year.
And this is where I stopped. I got stuck. For crying out loud... I can't think of 100 different things about myself?!? Although even if I could think of enough, there's no guarantee they'd be worth reading. I mean, I joke all the time about being something of a narcissist, but even I don't think you all really want to sit through that list.
But it still bugged me that I couldn't think of more to tell you. So when I was tucking Bug in tonight, I decided to ask him what HE would tell people if he was asked to talk about me. His list was much better than mine, so I'm going to share it with you. And as luck would have it, his list is also shorter!
1. I love my family.
2. I love God.
3. I love to cuddle. Sometimes too much 'cuz he and Jock really have other things they'd like to be doing rather than hugging me. (Hey! These are his words. I'm just the court recorder here.)
4. I like fruits and vegetables.
5. I like to sing, and am really good at it.
6. I don't like mushrooms. In any form. Cooked or not.
7. I like everything green. Except boogers. (This one prompted a several-minutes-long giggle fest for the two of us, as I couldn't quite believe he said that.)
8. I read 1000 books a month. (Not quite.... but it was refreshing to see that he's inherited something from me, even if its just a flair for the dramatic!)
So there you have it. I decided NOT to do the entire 100 things list. I'm relatively certain no one will be that disappointed.
But, just for you, Flea.... if I had to pick a tree that I might want to be? I think I'd be a money tree. That would keep my kids coming back to see me often well into their teen years!
Friday, February 8, 2008
I Know, I Need, I Think, I am
Amy at Memories and Musings of a Mommy (have I told you yet how fabulous she is? Yes? Good!) tagged me for this meme. Actually, she tagged me with it a little bit ago, and I'm just now getting it done. Well, more like taking a deep breath and tackling it, but you get the idea. And since all the memes Amy has tagged me with force me to think about them before I write them, she's probably not too surprised that I took my sweet time getting this one done. :)
At first glance, this one seems pretty easy. Simply finish the sentence with the first thought that comes to mind. So sit down, strap yourselves in, and lets take a ride through my neuropathways, shall we?
I know chocolate eases most crying fits.
I believe in my children.
I fought the urge to puke when I walked down the aisle at my wedding.
I am angered by parents who don't get involved in their children's lives somehow.
I love watching my boys play sports.
I need laser hair removal (what? you already knew I hate to shave!)
I take my husband for granted often.
I hear music in everyday noises.
I drink too much soda and not enough water.
I hate razor burn.
I use my quiet time at night to blog.
I want to always encourage my boys to make good choices.
I like family movie night at our house.
I feel so proud of my sons' accomplishments.
I wear my heart on my sleeve. Proudly.
I left my sanity behind when I had kids.
I do adore my rescued dogs more than I thought I ever would.
I hope my boys make more of their lives than their father and I have.
I dream more often in vivid technicolor than in black and white. But my nightmares are more often black and white.
I drive like I'm late for getting there yesterday.
I listen to what my children are trying to say, but can't, rather than the words they are actually speaking.
I think I'm doing a decent job as a parent most days.
I wish for more happiness than sorrow for my children.
I should expand my comfort zone when it comes to cooking.
I regret no decision I've ever made to become who I am. If I did, I'd regret the person I am today. And really, I quite like her!
I care about more than I probably should.
I said "hello" with a smile to at least five new people today, but have yet to meet my new neighbors.
I wonder often how we manage to spend more than we make.
I changed boyfriends too often in high school.
I cry when I let myself think about how my kids are growing up.
I lose my heart each and every time one of them smiles at me.
I leave the last load of laundry (usually socks or towels) in the dryer for most of the week, sadly.
I am so excited for baseball season to fully begin for my boys!!
Like I said... at first glance this one seemed easy enough. But, like all things that seem too easy, it took me a couple of hours to complete. Granted, I was distracted by a movie playing in the background (LOVE Nathan Lane in The Birdcage!!), but still....
And as with all memes, I'm supposed to tag someone. Generally, more than one someone. But here's the thing..... I've tagged you all so often that I'm actually scared that if I do it again you'll all quit coming to visit me here! So in the spirit of compromise, I'll just leave it with an open invitation to whomever wants something to do one day when you find yourself facing Blogger's Block!
At first glance, this one seems pretty easy. Simply finish the sentence with the first thought that comes to mind. So sit down, strap yourselves in, and lets take a ride through my neuropathways, shall we?
I know chocolate eases most crying fits.
I believe in my children.
I fought the urge to puke when I walked down the aisle at my wedding.
I am angered by parents who don't get involved in their children's lives somehow.
I love watching my boys play sports.
I need laser hair removal (what? you already knew I hate to shave!)
I take my husband for granted often.
I hear music in everyday noises.
I drink too much soda and not enough water.
I hate razor burn.
I use my quiet time at night to blog.
I want to always encourage my boys to make good choices.
I like family movie night at our house.
I feel so proud of my sons' accomplishments.
I wear my heart on my sleeve. Proudly.
I left my sanity behind when I had kids.
I do adore my rescued dogs more than I thought I ever would.
I hope my boys make more of their lives than their father and I have.
I dream more often in vivid technicolor than in black and white. But my nightmares are more often black and white.
I drive like I'm late for getting there yesterday.
I listen to what my children are trying to say, but can't, rather than the words they are actually speaking.
I think I'm doing a decent job as a parent most days.
I wish for more happiness than sorrow for my children.
I should expand my comfort zone when it comes to cooking.
I regret no decision I've ever made to become who I am. If I did, I'd regret the person I am today. And really, I quite like her!
I care about more than I probably should.
I said "hello" with a smile to at least five new people today, but have yet to meet my new neighbors.
I wonder often how we manage to spend more than we make.
I changed boyfriends too often in high school.
I cry when I let myself think about how my kids are growing up.
I lose my heart each and every time one of them smiles at me.
I leave the last load of laundry (usually socks or towels) in the dryer for most of the week, sadly.
I am so excited for baseball season to fully begin for my boys!!
Like I said... at first glance this one seemed easy enough. But, like all things that seem too easy, it took me a couple of hours to complete. Granted, I was distracted by a movie playing in the background (LOVE Nathan Lane in The Birdcage!!), but still....
And as with all memes, I'm supposed to tag someone. Generally, more than one someone. But here's the thing..... I've tagged you all so often that I'm actually scared that if I do it again you'll all quit coming to visit me here! So in the spirit of compromise, I'll just leave it with an open invitation to whomever wants something to do one day when you find yourself facing Blogger's Block!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Deja Vu!
Karen over at The Rocking Pony tagged me with this latest meme. I thought it could be fun to go back through my old posts and find some to link here. Of course, I also thought it would be fairly easy.
Um, yeah. Not so much.
However, deciding I was up to the challenge, I've linked some old posts here for you, with the obligatory Rules of The Meme at the end. (If you get a bit lost on this one, feel free to see the rules first, and use them as more of a tour guide!)
I'm going to ask you all to simply disregard your initial reaction if it seems a post or two doesn't quite fit the category. Its my blog, and I'll sort it how I want to. :)
Here goes:
Family. There were a lot to choose from here. After all, this whole blog is dedicated to my family. But I chose this one because if it hadn't been for her, none of the rest of this would even be relevant.
Friends. Ok. This is a blatant shout out to my blogging buddies out there! :) I found some of you as a direct result of this particular post. Besides, you all take up such a significant portion of my day, and my daily thought processes, that you have all completely earned the dubious honor of being labeled my FRIENDS.
Me Me Me Me. I chose this old post because it really does catch the general theme of my life. BUSY.
Something I Love. I thought this one would be harder to narrow down. Figured I'd have to link a couple of posts. And then I found this one, and knew it for the perfect choice that it was!
Anything I Choose. Just because. It was a fun one to write, and its brought me some good luck as there have been no more girlfriends since then!
*Rules of the Archive Meme*
Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written.
But there is a catch:
Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are… what you’re all about.
Link 4 must be about something you love.
Link 5 can be anything you choose.
Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least TWO of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better. And don’t forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!
And so as not to offend the Meme gods..... here's the lucky five that get tagged!
Holly over at AnGlOpHiLe FoOtBaLl FaNaTiC. She's one of my newest blog buddies, and I'd love to see some of her older stuff without doing all the searching for it myself. *sigh* I'm just lazy like that.
Chris at The Superdad Chronicles. I know I've tagged him before, but he's been such a good sport about it that he lucked out again!
Amy at Memories and Musings of a Mommy. While this tag doesn't quite equal the Discipline Meme she tagged me with, its a start!
(and here is where I have to pause for a minute. I've already tagged a few of you with other things, but ..... just forgive me for this, ok? And, Hallie, since I know you hate being tagged for anything, I'm letting you off the hook here, ok? However, should you want to willingly participate, no one will stand in your way!)
Lunanik at Secrets of A Black Heart. I think she's been with me now for quite a while! Which means that she's bound to have some posts at least as old as mine are!
and finally.....
Kidzmama at Not A Spare Minute. I love how she writes, I love reading about her kids, and she's let me tag her before with no complaints!
There you have it! Please let me know what you think of some of my older posts, and check with the friends I've tagged to see their archives!
(and I'll try not to let myself get sucked into any more memes anytime in the near future!)
Um, yeah. Not so much.
However, deciding I was up to the challenge, I've linked some old posts here for you, with the obligatory Rules of The Meme at the end. (If you get a bit lost on this one, feel free to see the rules first, and use them as more of a tour guide!)
I'm going to ask you all to simply disregard your initial reaction if it seems a post or two doesn't quite fit the category. Its my blog, and I'll sort it how I want to. :)
Here goes:
Family. There were a lot to choose from here. After all, this whole blog is dedicated to my family. But I chose this one because if it hadn't been for her, none of the rest of this would even be relevant.
Friends. Ok. This is a blatant shout out to my blogging buddies out there! :) I found some of you as a direct result of this particular post. Besides, you all take up such a significant portion of my day, and my daily thought processes, that you have all completely earned the dubious honor of being labeled my FRIENDS.
Me Me Me Me. I chose this old post because it really does catch the general theme of my life. BUSY.
Something I Love. I thought this one would be harder to narrow down. Figured I'd have to link a couple of posts. And then I found this one, and knew it for the perfect choice that it was!
Anything I Choose. Just because. It was a fun one to write, and its brought me some good luck as there have been no more girlfriends since then!
*Rules of the Archive Meme*
Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written.
But there is a catch:
Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are… what you’re all about.
Link 4 must be about something you love.
Link 5 can be anything you choose.
Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least TWO of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better. And don’t forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!
And so as not to offend the Meme gods..... here's the lucky five that get tagged!
Holly over at AnGlOpHiLe FoOtBaLl FaNaTiC. She's one of my newest blog buddies, and I'd love to see some of her older stuff without doing all the searching for it myself. *sigh* I'm just lazy like that.
Chris at The Superdad Chronicles. I know I've tagged him before, but he's been such a good sport about it that he lucked out again!
Amy at Memories and Musings of a Mommy. While this tag doesn't quite equal the Discipline Meme she tagged me with, its a start!
(and here is where I have to pause for a minute. I've already tagged a few of you with other things, but ..... just forgive me for this, ok? And, Hallie, since I know you hate being tagged for anything, I'm letting you off the hook here, ok? However, should you want to willingly participate, no one will stand in your way!)
Lunanik at Secrets of A Black Heart. I think she's been with me now for quite a while! Which means that she's bound to have some posts at least as old as mine are!
and finally.....
Kidzmama at Not A Spare Minute. I love how she writes, I love reading about her kids, and she's let me tag her before with no complaints!
There you have it! Please let me know what you think of some of my older posts, and check with the friends I've tagged to see their archives!
(and I'll try not to let myself get sucked into any more memes anytime in the near future!)
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Things You ALWAYS Wondered About.....
.....but never quite got around to asking me.
Yep, I've been tagged. Chris over at The Superdad Chronicles, tagged me for this meme. Seven things you didn't already know about me. Seeing as how I've admitted here that I don't even shave my legs on a daily basis, is there really anymore you WANT to know?
However, the gauntlet has been thrown down. Now all I have to do is think of seven things that might be marginally interesting. :)
1. I might have mentioned on here a time or two that I have an obsession..... err, have the hots for.... umm, maybe I should just say REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE..... Keifer Sutherland. From the first moment I saw him in Lost Boys (although it might have been Stand By Me... I can never remember which one of those came out first) I have been head over heels for him. Seriously, I've seen every movie he's ever done. I start my countdown to 24 every year at Christmas. His pictures are plastered all over my wallpaper on my computer at home. I was only *sort of* joking when I said that I would leave my fairytale Utopia at the drop of a hat for him. All he'd have to do is look in my general direction. Coach knows this, understands this, and has vowed to support it should we ever find ourselves in the same location as my beloved Keifer.
2. I have not ridden an actual bicycle since I was in the 9th grade. That would be 20 years, for those of you trying to figure it out. I've ridden the occasional exercise bike, but not one that could actually take me anywhere. I have no idea why this is, but neither do I have ANY inclination to change it.
3. When I was in high school, I wanted to fly fighter jets. I even went and took the military entrance exam, and was told I scored higher than 90% of the MEN that take it. I know I scored higher than my baby brother who is currently in Naval Intelligence. Two things stopped me from actually enlisting. 1~~My vision is beyond ridiculously bad. Its so bad that I can't even pilot commercial planes, and probably wouldn't even be allowed to get my private pilot's license; and 2~~ The recruiter informed me that at that time they still were not allowing women to actually control the cockpit of fighter planes. Not being the patient sort (really, more of the instant gratification sort) I was not willing to wait until the military changed its ways. So, I walked out. I did, however, thank the recruiter very politely for having spent so much time with me, and even for taking me to sit for the exam.
4. My favorite professional sport is hockey. Why? Because of all the checking and cheap shots. Some sports are just more fun to watch when they get bloody. It also might be because my kids don't play it, so I'm therefore free to enjoy the bloodshed without any worry that my kids will one day be in that position.
5. I've never been to Disneyland. I can tell you Goofy's original name, have watched every Disney movie ever created, I even know the names of Daisy Duck's nieces. But I have never been to the Magic Kingdom. I think I've about got Coach talked into taking me there for my 50th birthday. Granted, that's not for 15 years; but I WILL go in my lifetime. This I swear.
6. I can't read music, but I can sing with near perfect pitch anything I've heard once. I was in several musical performances in high school, and in the top performance groups, but I could never read the sheet music. I've also done a lot of performances at various events, but again, I have always needed someone to sing/play the piece for me first. My mom is the same way.
7. Strange family factoid: There are 10 years between my mom and her youngest brother. There are 10 years between me and my youngest brother. There are 9 years between my uncle and myself. There are 9 years between Jock and my youngest brother. (Also, while not really about me, Jock had the exact same weight and measurements as Coach did at birth, while Bug had the exact same weight and measurements as Coach's younger brother.)
Ok. There you have it. Seven things you never knew you wanted to know about me. I'm supposed to tag some of you for this, but I won't. For one, I think I've seen this on a few of your blogs already. For another, you've all mentioned how tired of doing this particular meme you are.
So thank me. I'm sparing you.
Yep, I've been tagged. Chris over at The Superdad Chronicles, tagged me for this meme. Seven things you didn't already know about me. Seeing as how I've admitted here that I don't even shave my legs on a daily basis, is there really anymore you WANT to know?
However, the gauntlet has been thrown down. Now all I have to do is think of seven things that might be marginally interesting. :)
1. I might have mentioned on here a time or two that I have an obsession..... err, have the hots for.... umm, maybe I should just say REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE..... Keifer Sutherland. From the first moment I saw him in Lost Boys (although it might have been Stand By Me... I can never remember which one of those came out first) I have been head over heels for him. Seriously, I've seen every movie he's ever done. I start my countdown to 24 every year at Christmas. His pictures are plastered all over my wallpaper on my computer at home. I was only *sort of* joking when I said that I would leave my fairytale Utopia at the drop of a hat for him. All he'd have to do is look in my general direction. Coach knows this, understands this, and has vowed to support it should we ever find ourselves in the same location as my beloved Keifer.
2. I have not ridden an actual bicycle since I was in the 9th grade. That would be 20 years, for those of you trying to figure it out. I've ridden the occasional exercise bike, but not one that could actually take me anywhere. I have no idea why this is, but neither do I have ANY inclination to change it.
3. When I was in high school, I wanted to fly fighter jets. I even went and took the military entrance exam, and was told I scored higher than 90% of the MEN that take it. I know I scored higher than my baby brother who is currently in Naval Intelligence. Two things stopped me from actually enlisting. 1~~My vision is beyond ridiculously bad. Its so bad that I can't even pilot commercial planes, and probably wouldn't even be allowed to get my private pilot's license; and 2~~ The recruiter informed me that at that time they still were not allowing women to actually control the cockpit of fighter planes. Not being the patient sort (really, more of the instant gratification sort) I was not willing to wait until the military changed its ways. So, I walked out. I did, however, thank the recruiter very politely for having spent so much time with me, and even for taking me to sit for the exam.
4. My favorite professional sport is hockey. Why? Because of all the checking and cheap shots. Some sports are just more fun to watch when they get bloody. It also might be because my kids don't play it, so I'm therefore free to enjoy the bloodshed without any worry that my kids will one day be in that position.
5. I've never been to Disneyland. I can tell you Goofy's original name, have watched every Disney movie ever created, I even know the names of Daisy Duck's nieces. But I have never been to the Magic Kingdom. I think I've about got Coach talked into taking me there for my 50th birthday. Granted, that's not for 15 years; but I WILL go in my lifetime. This I swear.
6. I can't read music, but I can sing with near perfect pitch anything I've heard once. I was in several musical performances in high school, and in the top performance groups, but I could never read the sheet music. I've also done a lot of performances at various events, but again, I have always needed someone to sing/play the piece for me first. My mom is the same way.
7. Strange family factoid: There are 10 years between my mom and her youngest brother. There are 10 years between me and my youngest brother. There are 9 years between my uncle and myself. There are 9 years between Jock and my youngest brother. (Also, while not really about me, Jock had the exact same weight and measurements as Coach did at birth, while Bug had the exact same weight and measurements as Coach's younger brother.)
Ok. There you have it. Seven things you never knew you wanted to know about me. I'm supposed to tag some of you for this, but I won't. For one, I think I've seen this on a few of your blogs already. For another, you've all mentioned how tired of doing this particular meme you are.
So thank me. I'm sparing you.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Children Do NOT Come With A Guidebook
When I started this blog, I didn't really know what to expect. I thought I might "meet" a few nice people. Laugh at some funny stories. I even dared to hope that I might end up with some new friends out of this, people I could email with and really get to know on a more personal level. Didn't ever occur to me that I'd occasionally be letting the entire internet get personal with ME.
One of my "daily reads", Amy at Memories and Musings of A Mommy, has become one of my favorite reads. She's insightful and intelligent. Plus, she seems like a mommy that's got it all together. One of the things I like best about Amy's blog is that she doesn't just post drivel. (Not that most of you do..... lol... and if you do, well-- I'm actually pretty sure you do it intentionally!) Which is why one of her latest posts intrigued me so much.
Spare the rod and spoil the child?
Years ago, parents were able to discipline their children in whatever way they saw fit. Often, that discipline included spanking. I can't even count how many adults of my acquaintance when I was younger would talk about "picking out their own switch". These days, its a very terrifying prospect to admit to anything harsher than a time out, for fear of your actions being construed as child abuse. And NOTHING scares me more than the thought of losing my children in ANY way. And yet, there have been times I've found myself in the (unenviable) position of deciding to spank or not to spank.
My boys have not always been the easy, loving children I've painted them here. (I know, that comes as such a surprise to all of you out there!) And I've not always been the patient, kind, understanding mama I am right at this moment. I have an unfortunate combination of a quick, often vicious temper, and a rather short strand of patience. These qualities make parenting with love and logic quite a challenge sometimes. However, because I ADORE my boys, the often herculean effort is made to remain rational when they are not. I am not perfect, and my boys instinctively know which buttons to push and when. Bug, especially, has been my challenge as I've mentioned before.
With my boys being so very different from each other, the discipline styles have -- out of necessity -- been different. Jock has always been the type of personality that responds well to warnings, and minor punishments such as time-outs when he was small. Bug isn't so fortunate. He's inherited the same unfortunate combination I suffer from. Combine that with ADHD and what we suspect is some form of a sensory disorder, and it is a recipe for meltdowns. It helps that I can understand that, so when I'm able to remain calm I can generally calm him down and he and I talk things through.
I notice I've said a lot, but not answered the question. Do I spank my children?
The answer is not a simple yes or no. If it was, I'd have to answer: Yes, I have. There have been moments with each of them, after all other punishments and disciplines had failed (more than once, I might add), that I felt it was the only option left to me. Was it effective? At those particular moments in time..... the answer would be: Only sometimes. And it depended on the child. Almost always with Jock. Rarely with Bug. Any sort of physical contact with Bug during those meltdown moments was painful for him both emotionally and physically. At those times, I sat with him on his bed, holding him in a hug on my lap, rocking him and singing softly until his tears and tantrums were spent. Sometimes that took just a few minutes. Often, that took a lot longer. And on rare occasions, that took a couple of hours. There were times when Coach had to come and relieve me, because you simply can't hold your child when he's at his breaking point without getting close to your own.
There is a difference between spanking and beating your child. As it was mentioned on Amy's post (I'm sorry.. I don't recall if it was Amy herself, or one of the comments), if you take pleasure or feel justified, I feel its gone beyond a mere spanking. There is a certain truth to the old saying "This hurts me more than it hurts you." It should ALWAYS break your heart as a parent to inflict any pain, no matter how minor or temporary, on your child. ALWAYS.
My boys are older now, and the disciplines have changed. We no longer even consider spanking as an option. First, there is something patently absurd about spanking a teenager. Second, as the boys have matured, they are better equipped to think things through. Now, we find that the best punishments are ones they have had a hand in designing themselves. The most effective has been giving up something important to them. Something that THEY have chosen as important. It has helped to establish a lasting connection in their minds that their actions have consequences.
I thought this would be a difficult subject to write about, and I wasn't wrong. My parenting style differs from many others out there. And even though my kids are older now, and we don't really face this issue any longer, I'd love to know how each of you tackles this situation. *** Here's the people who have tackled this sensitive subject before me:
Miche does not spare the rod
Jo-N wants to be her children's best friend.
Tot's Mom spares the rod and believes in patience.
Huckdoll spares the rod and believes there are more effective yet gentle ways to discipline than spanking.
Kelly at Ordinary Art has a three-step approach that does not always work but leaves tiny tushes mark free.
OhMommy has spanked and never will again.
Amy spanks when necessary.
The Sports Mama found it depended on the individual child and the situation.
Instructions:
1. Go to your blog.
2. Post about the topic.
3. Give me the hot, hard, and heavy linky love
4. Copy the last paragraph above and add your name and discipline style.
5. Post that paragraph onto your blog, including links. (Yeah, you will want to sharpen a pencil and stab it in your eye at this point. But, isn't that half the fun.)
6. Go to the five people you have tagged and leave them a comment to know they are now, it.
7. Sit back and let the comments roll in.
I would really be interested in how these people tackled this subject:
The Burgh Baby's Mom
The Kidzmama
Karen at The Rocking Pony
Karen at Lyrics of My Life
and Lunanik at Secrets of A Black Heart
***Please, don't be shy about leaving me a comment. All I ask is that you be respectful. It takes a lot of courage to post something so personal for the entire world to see. I am not asking to be judged, as I will most certainly NOT judge you for your personal style of parenting. If you can not refrain from being mean and judgemental, I would ask that you please NOT leave a comment here today.
One of my "daily reads", Amy at Memories and Musings of A Mommy, has become one of my favorite reads. She's insightful and intelligent. Plus, she seems like a mommy that's got it all together. One of the things I like best about Amy's blog is that she doesn't just post drivel. (Not that most of you do..... lol... and if you do, well-- I'm actually pretty sure you do it intentionally!) Which is why one of her latest posts intrigued me so much.
Spare the rod and spoil the child?
Years ago, parents were able to discipline their children in whatever way they saw fit. Often, that discipline included spanking. I can't even count how many adults of my acquaintance when I was younger would talk about "picking out their own switch". These days, its a very terrifying prospect to admit to anything harsher than a time out, for fear of your actions being construed as child abuse. And NOTHING scares me more than the thought of losing my children in ANY way. And yet, there have been times I've found myself in the (unenviable) position of deciding to spank or not to spank.
My boys have not always been the easy, loving children I've painted them here. (I know, that comes as such a surprise to all of you out there!) And I've not always been the patient, kind, understanding mama I am right at this moment. I have an unfortunate combination of a quick, often vicious temper, and a rather short strand of patience. These qualities make parenting with love and logic quite a challenge sometimes. However, because I ADORE my boys, the often herculean effort is made to remain rational when they are not. I am not perfect, and my boys instinctively know which buttons to push and when. Bug, especially, has been my challenge as I've mentioned before.
With my boys being so very different from each other, the discipline styles have -- out of necessity -- been different. Jock has always been the type of personality that responds well to warnings, and minor punishments such as time-outs when he was small. Bug isn't so fortunate. He's inherited the same unfortunate combination I suffer from. Combine that with ADHD and what we suspect is some form of a sensory disorder, and it is a recipe for meltdowns. It helps that I can understand that, so when I'm able to remain calm I can generally calm him down and he and I talk things through.
I notice I've said a lot, but not answered the question. Do I spank my children?
The answer is not a simple yes or no. If it was, I'd have to answer: Yes, I have. There have been moments with each of them, after all other punishments and disciplines had failed (more than once, I might add), that I felt it was the only option left to me. Was it effective? At those particular moments in time..... the answer would be: Only sometimes. And it depended on the child. Almost always with Jock. Rarely with Bug. Any sort of physical contact with Bug during those meltdown moments was painful for him both emotionally and physically. At those times, I sat with him on his bed, holding him in a hug on my lap, rocking him and singing softly until his tears and tantrums were spent. Sometimes that took just a few minutes. Often, that took a lot longer. And on rare occasions, that took a couple of hours. There were times when Coach had to come and relieve me, because you simply can't hold your child when he's at his breaking point without getting close to your own.
There is a difference between spanking and beating your child. As it was mentioned on Amy's post (I'm sorry.. I don't recall if it was Amy herself, or one of the comments), if you take pleasure or feel justified, I feel its gone beyond a mere spanking. There is a certain truth to the old saying "This hurts me more than it hurts you." It should ALWAYS break your heart as a parent to inflict any pain, no matter how minor or temporary, on your child. ALWAYS.
My boys are older now, and the disciplines have changed. We no longer even consider spanking as an option. First, there is something patently absurd about spanking a teenager. Second, as the boys have matured, they are better equipped to think things through. Now, we find that the best punishments are ones they have had a hand in designing themselves. The most effective has been giving up something important to them. Something that THEY have chosen as important. It has helped to establish a lasting connection in their minds that their actions have consequences.
I thought this would be a difficult subject to write about, and I wasn't wrong. My parenting style differs from many others out there. And even though my kids are older now, and we don't really face this issue any longer, I'd love to know how each of you tackles this situation. *** Here's the people who have tackled this sensitive subject before me:
Miche does not spare the rod
Jo-N wants to be her children's best friend.
Tot's Mom spares the rod and believes in patience.
Huckdoll spares the rod and believes there are more effective yet gentle ways to discipline than spanking.
Kelly at Ordinary Art has a three-step approach that does not always work but leaves tiny tushes mark free.
OhMommy has spanked and never will again.
Amy spanks when necessary.
The Sports Mama found it depended on the individual child and the situation.
Instructions:
1. Go to your blog.
2. Post about the topic.
3. Give me the hot, hard, and heavy linky love
4. Copy the last paragraph above and add your name and discipline style.
5. Post that paragraph onto your blog, including links. (Yeah, you will want to sharpen a pencil and stab it in your eye at this point. But, isn't that half the fun.)
6. Go to the five people you have tagged and leave them a comment to know they are now, it.
7. Sit back and let the comments roll in.
I would really be interested in how these people tackled this subject:
The Burgh Baby's Mom
The Kidzmama
Karen at The Rocking Pony
Karen at Lyrics of My Life
and Lunanik at Secrets of A Black Heart
***Please, don't be shy about leaving me a comment. All I ask is that you be respectful. It takes a lot of courage to post something so personal for the entire world to see. I am not asking to be judged, as I will most certainly NOT judge you for your personal style of parenting. If you can not refrain from being mean and judgemental, I would ask that you please NOT leave a comment here today.
Friday, November 23, 2007
A Game Of Tag....
... and I'm it!
I've been tagged for my very first meme! How cool is that? Karen over at Lyrics of My Life tagged me with this one, and it looks more interesting than some others I've seen out there.
*I'm curious, though..... Why are these so much more interesting and acceptable when you're doing it in a blog, but if you send it in an email you get sent immediately to the "trash" folder?
Anywho.... please do read on. The questions really aren't ones I've been hit with before, so maybe you'll find my answers interesting. Then again, maybe you won't. And that's ok, too. You can skip right over them to the end. 'Cuz that's where you'll find out if I've tagged YOU or not. :)
I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments.. what is it?
1. Produce: Strawberries
2. Bakery: Fresh poppyseed muffins
3. Meat: Cured pork chops
4. Frozen: Snickers Ice Cream bars
5. Dairy: Single serving Chocolate milk
Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?
1. Black t-shirt
2. Jeans
3. My "hooker" boots!
If I was to listen in on your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?
1. Dude
2. Um, yeah... not so much
3. Psycho dogs, knock it off!
4. Hey Jock? STOP TEXTING ME FROM THE NEXT ROOM!
5. Unless you're paying the electric bill, turn off the lights if you're not in that room!
So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?
1. Reading
2. Calling Coach just to be silly and make him smile
3. Hugging my boys
We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Reading... in any room I don't have to lock myself into!
2. Dancing around the house to 80's music
3. Watching Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
4. Surfing my blog roll
5. Napping
We are going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it'll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. Hippos
2. Tigers
3. Birds of Prey
You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on t.v. of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?
1. 24
2. Ellen
3. Bones
4. CMA's
You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?
1. French Vanilla
2. Orange Sherbet
3. Chocolate
Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?
1. My old cell phone
2. Old grocery lists from the last several (maybe more?) weeks
3. My kids' ID/fingerprint cards
4. A hair band
5. The key to my mom's house. (Even though she lives out of state and I think might have even changed the locks by now. *shrug* Its been a few years.)
You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let's pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. World famous recording artist (sounds way better than "singer" .. lol)
2. High school vocal music teacher
3. Taste tester for Hershey's
4. Life Coach (really, that's just a great way to get paid to give someone your opinion of how their life should be going!)
If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say? (I just talked about this in a very recent post!)
1. Dont park behind your brother's truck. Ever.
2. Try going to math class once in a while. Its a great way to actually learn the subject.
3. Worry more about what you think of yourself, and less about what others think of you. In ten years, the only one you'll still talk to from that crowd is yourself, anyway.
4. Don't worry about names for baby girls.
Well, that was actually fun! So who am I tagging? I'm going to shoot for a variety from my blog roll, because I'd love to get some unique answers to these questions! No, its not required blogging.... lol... but it would certainly be fun to see how you answer them! Hmmm.... I think I'll go with.....
The Redneck Scottsdale Princess and Sue at The Rusty Road to Zion.
TAG! YOU'RE IT!!
I've been tagged for my very first meme! How cool is that? Karen over at Lyrics of My Life tagged me with this one, and it looks more interesting than some others I've seen out there.
*I'm curious, though..... Why are these so much more interesting and acceptable when you're doing it in a blog, but if you send it in an email you get sent immediately to the "trash" folder?
Anywho.... please do read on. The questions really aren't ones I've been hit with before, so maybe you'll find my answers interesting. Then again, maybe you won't. And that's ok, too. You can skip right over them to the end. 'Cuz that's where you'll find out if I've tagged YOU or not. :)
I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments.. what is it?
1. Produce: Strawberries
2. Bakery: Fresh poppyseed muffins
3. Meat: Cured pork chops
4. Frozen: Snickers Ice Cream bars
5. Dairy: Single serving Chocolate milk
Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?
1. Black t-shirt
2. Jeans
3. My "hooker" boots!
If I was to listen in on your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?
1. Dude
2. Um, yeah... not so much
3. Psycho dogs, knock it off!
4. Hey Jock? STOP TEXTING ME FROM THE NEXT ROOM!
5. Unless you're paying the electric bill, turn off the lights if you're not in that room!
So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?
1. Reading
2. Calling Coach just to be silly and make him smile
3. Hugging my boys
We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Reading... in any room I don't have to lock myself into!
2. Dancing around the house to 80's music
3. Watching Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
4. Surfing my blog roll
5. Napping
We are going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it'll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. Hippos
2. Tigers
3. Birds of Prey
You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on t.v. of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?
1. 24
2. Ellen
3. Bones
4. CMA's
You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?
1. French Vanilla
2. Orange Sherbet
3. Chocolate
Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?
1. My old cell phone
2. Old grocery lists from the last several (maybe more?) weeks
3. My kids' ID/fingerprint cards
4. A hair band
5. The key to my mom's house. (Even though she lives out of state and I think might have even changed the locks by now. *shrug* Its been a few years.)
You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let's pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. World famous recording artist (sounds way better than "singer" .. lol)
2. High school vocal music teacher
3. Taste tester for Hershey's
4. Life Coach (really, that's just a great way to get paid to give someone your opinion of how their life should be going!)
If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say? (I just talked about this in a very recent post!)
1. Dont park behind your brother's truck. Ever.
2. Try going to math class once in a while. Its a great way to actually learn the subject.
3. Worry more about what you think of yourself, and less about what others think of you. In ten years, the only one you'll still talk to from that crowd is yourself, anyway.
4. Don't worry about names for baby girls.
Well, that was actually fun! So who am I tagging? I'm going to shoot for a variety from my blog roll, because I'd love to get some unique answers to these questions! No, its not required blogging.... lol... but it would certainly be fun to see how you answer them! Hmmm.... I think I'll go with.....
The Redneck Scottsdale Princess and Sue at The Rusty Road to Zion.
TAG! YOU'RE IT!!
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