I Got a New Toy!!

After reading lots of reviews and searching everywhere comparing prices, the husband approved my choice for a new digital camera. See, he doesn't let me make any type of electronic purchase without his stamp of approval because he's the tech geek and thinks his brain is superior to mine when it comes to gadgets. So I made a list of what I believed to be good camera choices for my price range and told him to check it out. He was impressed with the research I'd done and agreed with my number one choice. I couldn't believe it!! He ALWAYS finds something that he believes to be better than what I've chosen.

Of course, now that we own the camera, Jason tells me that it's not that nice. But really, he just doesn't know how to use it and therefore is not appreciative of all its fabulous features. I, on the other hand, am quite pleased with my camera and have been taking lots of pics. I'll share a few with you...mostly of how I torment poor little Scrappy Doo. As I've mentioned before, the Little Dog doesn't like to have his photo taken, he's not nearly as vain as the other mammals living in the house, and therefore he usually runs away and hides when he sees the camera or goes into attack mode and barks and lunges towards the lens. Like this...
But occasionally, he sits still long enough for me to get a nice shot of his sweet little face like this...



But I must say that my favorite is this...Scrappy in his new fisherman's outfit!


He hated the hat and tried to rip off the jacket. But he eventually chilled out and came to realize that I have far too much power over him and receive far too much enjoyment from dressing him up to allow him to destroy the lovely outfits that I so carefully choose for him. He can be so ungrateful at times, I must work on his manners.

And finally, since it is the holiday season, I'll share with you a picture of my beloved Christmas Tree...

Gosh...it sure does look lopsided...I wonder if it really is. Or maybe I took the picture on a weird angle. Who knows?!?! But I can tell you that this the only Christmas decor up in my house at the moment. It took me 3 hours to do the tree, because everything must be just so. And damn it, the more I look at this picture the more I realize that it's doing my work of art ANY justice. I wish I could invite you all over to admire it's beauty. *Sigh* Anyway, I've been exhausted ever since. I can't even bring myself to hang the stockings. Pregnancy is kicking my ass!!!

This morning my neighbor and I took our dogs to Pet's Mart to have their pictures taken with Santa. How fun! This crappy grainy picture cost me almost $10. However, $5 of each picture package sold goes to benefit homeless pets. So while I was busy dressing my Scrappy Doo up in silly holiday garb I was also helping out a worthy cause. Yes, I'm a do-gooder :)

P.S. The other adorable pooch is Schroeder, Scrappy's best doggy buddy.

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Hopefully the food will be good and the family will be pleasant company.

Hopefully you'll eat to your heart's content and didn't watch the Today Show and learn how much so little food can add up to (caloric wise). That way you may not be disgusted by the memories of what you ate during previous Thanksgiving meals and you won't need to consider boycotting dinner altogether this year.

Hopefully you'll take some time to reflect on this past year and give thanks to all things good.

Hopefully you'll get everything you're looking for if you're one of those insane idiots who decides to go shopping on Friday. (I was one of those idiots last year, standing outside in the cold waiting for Best Buy to open at 4am. I was far too lucky, I got everything I wanted in record time. So I won't be doing it again this year. I know how to quit while I'm ahead.)

Hopefully we can all take a moment this Thanksgiving and give thanks for the everyday things in life that we may take for granted.

And finally, just for fun...

In the comments...what are your holiday plans? Are you hosting dinner? Does your family have any strange traditions? Will you be traveling? Do you plan to go shopping on Black Friday?

And The Winner Is...

Michael Symon is the new Iron Chef! This is just so cool, I think! One thing is for sure, I'll never be able to afford to eat in his restaurants now, they probably raised all the prices last night as soon as the finale of The Next Iron Chef aired which declared Symon the winner. So if anyone is in the Cleveland area and ventures to either Lola or Lolita, let me know all about your experience!

IT'S A BOY!!!


There you have it, all this time of wishing for a baby girl is gone, it's a boy. I'm going to live in a house where I'm out-numbered 5 to 1 (that is counting my male dogs, of course). All in all, I'm happy and feeling fortunate, so far everything looks great and he's healthy. But I still haven't felt the baby move. So other than my ever expanding abdominal cavity, it's still somewhat of a foreign idea to me, I'm growing a tiny penis inside of me at this very second. CRAZY!!! Just blows my mind, really!

I must say that this pregnancy is flying by. I'm just shy of being 5 months pregnant but it seems like only yesterday I was peeing on a stick and looking wide eyed at the positive results. In another 5 months, I'll officially be a mother. Man, that is too freaky!

I was reading an article recently, 30 things that no one tells you will change once you've given birth. The one point that I can't stop thinking about is this...

"The dog that has always been "your baby" will become just a dog."

At first I'm thinking, not my dog, not my Scrappy Doo. He's my BABY BOY and he always will be. And then I started to feel guilty that I might not love him as much. What is it going to do to the little dog if he feels neglected?!?! He may just have to go on puppy prozac. I couldn't bear seeing him depressed. Jason says that Scrappy is going to have a really hard time when the baby comes, says he will be real jealous. Jason is also convinced that Scrappy is going to try and pull the baby off of the couch one day and try to eat him or play with him like he's a rag doll. He tells me it's all my fault because I baby him. But I don't think that it will be a problem. I babysat my girlfriend's 5 month old a couple of weeks ago and Scrappy just wanted to lick her death. That's all. He didn't even attempt to nip her cute little nose. (Halley, if you're reading this, I apologize if it seems like I turned your daughter into a lab rat. It wasn't like that, I promise!) He was a perfect angel, that Scrappy Doo. Once Jason witnessed that, he said maybe the little Scrapper will be okay with the new baby.

How I managed to turn my "It's a Boy" news into a story about my dog is beyond me. I suppose that is a sign that I need to get my priorities straight. NOW. In the comments..what else is going to change after I have the baby that most people aren't warned about. But please, try not to scare the crap out of me!

I've said before what a reality television junky I am, remember? Anyway, I've been watching The Next Iron Chef on Food Network for two reasons. One being that I absolutely adore cooking competition shows. I consider myself to be a pretty well acquainted with my kitchen and my culinary skills are quite nice (if I do say so myself). However, I am amazed each and every time I watch Iron Chef...whether it be the old Japanese shows or the newer American version. I'm left feeling awestruck every time. Why? Because I have no idea how anyone could be given some random ingredient, 1 hour and produce several top quality dishes. I'd be still peeling potatoes by the time my competitor was plating their 3rd dish. With that said...the second reason I'm watching the Next Iron Chef is because there is an extremely talented chef by the name of Michael Symon who hails from from Cleveland. How exciting is that! I'm sorry to admit that I've not eaten at any of his restaurants due to the inability to get a reservation several years ago and I've not ever tried again. And now that he's a budding television star on a national network, I don't even dare try. But it's all pretty cool just that same. The show airs on Sunday nights at 9pm eastern time on the food network. The final battle to decide whose cuisine reigns supreme and will get the coveted title of Iron Chef will take place next week. If you're interested, you can learn more about Micheal Symon here. Allez Cuisine!!!

Oh what a week it has been. I've had two extra children at my house all week due to the lack of parenting skills of the biological parents and the grandparents being out of town. So...the lovely 3 year old niece and the exuberant 8 year old nephew have been testing my patience and mothering skills since last Thursday evening.

Oh the stories I could tell...but I'll just share one to let you know how my week has been and why I'm so relieved to see it end.

The other evening while watching t.v. the sweet niece was happily chasing Scrappy Dog vivaciously around the living room. To my surprise, Scrappy Dog looked terrified of the sweet niece and quite unsure of how to handle the little tyke since previous attempts at her nose were severely punished. Given that Scrappy was trying to be a good boy he rolled over onto his back hoping for a belly rub. Immediately the sweet niece noticed the little dog's penis and said "Aunt Nina! Aunt Nina! What is that? Does Scrappy have a bone stuck in his belly? Is that the bone we gave him to eat the other day? Look!!! It's STUCK!!!" I tried so hard to ignore her question and stifle my giggles but she's relentless. So as calmly as I could I told her that Scrappy does not have a bone stuck in his belly. In fact, that is not a bone at all. I told her that is how Scrappy goes pee-pee. This answer was enough to tame her curiosity for all of 20 seconds before she asked me what was the "pink thing" poking out from the top. I put Scrappy back in his cage and didn't let him out for any extended periods of time for the remainder of her stay.

Thank God it's FRIDAY!!

My Truths

What do I know for sure? To be honest, not too much. But I'm more than happy to share my personal truths...


1.If I decide to flat iron my extremely curly hair, it's going to either rain or be super humid outside so that I look like a crazy person with ball of frizz sitting on top of my head.

2.The moment I give my "old" clothes to the local Goodwill, I find the perfect occasion to wear that crazy gold beaded top with the faux fur collar.

3.The older I get, the more I realize, family really is most important.

4.Never let anyone borrow more money than you can afford to not have paid back. Especially when it's a family member, you almost NEVER get that money back.

5.Just when I think that everything is going well in my life, some dumb ass shows up and fucks everything up. Almost always.

In the comments...share your own person truths.

Lacie

This is one of my favorite pictures of my Lacie Dog. She was our first dog. I got home from the store one day and found her in my living room. We hadn't discussed getting a dog so I thought maybe we were just dog-sitting for someone. Nope. She was ours. I think in this photo she was about 8 weeks old. Maybe even a little younger. It was sometime in July. She was such a good puppy. She was potty trained in less than two weeks and NEVER had accidents in the house. She only chewed her toys. Honestly, we had no idea how well behaved she actually was until little Srappy-Doo (a.k.a. the terror) was added to the family. As Lacie grew, she turned out to be a wonderful companion and guard dog. I never felt that anyone could harm me or anyone in the family as long as Lacie was around. But she also was super friendly to all. My friend Nicole always calls Lacie "bossy" because she makes you pet her, regardless of what you want. The sweetest dog ever, that is how I'll remember my Lacie Dog...

...Today we had to put her down. One of the hardest decisions I've had to make in a super long time. Her health had been declining for quite some time and I probably should have done this sooner. But I was selfish and wanted to keep her because I love her sooooo much. Anyway...I held her until she took her final breath. Then I held her some more. I made sure that the final thing she saw was my face. I told her over and over that I was sorry and I love her. I hope she understood. I told her that I was sorry that she wouldn't get to meet the baby. I know that some of you think I'm ridiculous, but Lacie loved babies. She watched over them. Lacie would wake me in the middle of the night when I used to keep my niece if I didn't hear her crying. She was such a good dog...

...Shortly after leaving the vet's office I had a doctor's appointment of my own. I heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time today. It was the most beautiful sound. I thought of the circle of life.

Here is the major announcement that I promised a while ago...I'm having a baby!!! This is the ultrasound picture at 7.5 weeks (today I'm just a bit over 8 weeks). I know it seems to be not much more than a blob right now, but if you look closely you can see the outline of a tiny body. Amazing!!!

So, this is why I haven't been writing and hardly commenting on other blogs. Because honestly, I've been a wreck!!! My emotions are going berserk and only seem to be getting worse. I cry often and about nothing. And sometimes about everything.Furthermore, I've never been so tired in my entire life. All I want to do is sleep. When I wake up, I think about when I'm going to be able to sleep some more. It's pathetic, really. Oh...the nausea. I haven't actually thrown up at all. But I've been blessed with this looming feeling of having to vomit all the time. Why they call it morning sickness is beyond me because I have this feeling morning, noon and night. The moment I think I'm feeling alright I get woozy all over again. So I'm trying not to think about it at all, not that it helps any.

Hopefully my friends who have already experienced pregnancy are right when they tell me that these feelings should pass soon. I'm really looking forward to not being so weepy and tired. But until then, forgive me for abandoning everyone. I'll be back as soon as I'm feeling a bit better!

Today's Inspirational Quote

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream." -- Mark Twain

Home Remedies

My favorite home remedy for a cold is the hot tottie. However, I'm completely convinced that it only works if someone else makes it for you. For those of you out there who have never had a hot tottie, be warned, they are disgusting. It's best to try and drink it as quickly as possible.

For anyone who has dogs, lavender oil is great for keeping fleas off of your pooch. It also will make them smell quite yummy.

My favorite zit remedy is lemon juice. Either rub a piece of fresh cut lemon onto the unsightly culprit or dab some lemon juice concentrate on a cotton ball and apply it that way several times a day. This works much faster than store bought goos that you can only wear at night because they leave a nasty residue on your skin.

Jason isn't feeling well. My neighbor told me that he should rub Vic's on the bottom of his feet, put socks on and go about his business. I thought this to be strange, I've never heard of this one. But I've passed on the information and he says he may try it before he goes to work tonight. I'll keep you posted.

In comments...what are your favorite home remedies? Or maybe you've just heard of some wacky ones that you'd like to share, whichever.

I woke up this morning quite sad, full of thoughts that haven't been with me in a long time. Though, I'd be lying if I said I never thought of him. But last night I had a dream, and he was there. Just as I always knew him...

You see, we met at the age of 10. We only saw each other once a week at P.A.T. (I think that stood for Program for the Academically Talented) class. We quickly became friends, the best of friends actually. As we grew older and entered Jr. High School neither of us could have been more pleased to know we'd now be attending the same school. We'd see each other every day. We had several classes together. We also decided we were in love. Awe, who doesn't remember young love without a big grin? Holding hands while walking to class, writing love letters hoping the teacher doesn't catch you, sneaking late night phone calls, scribbling "I love so-and-so" all over your folders. What fun all of that was! Oh, we were inseparable. Life was perfect. But soon, seeing each other only during school wasn't enough. So he invited me over to his house one day after school to play basketball. His mother said she was looking forward to finally meeting me after hearing only my voice after all these years. And so it goes, the walk to his house after school, introductions were made everything was great! Until I got home and he called. It was at this moment that I witnessed for the very first time how ugly the world can be. He told me that his mom thought I was really nice but she had no idea that I wasn't white. He told her it didn't matter and she had a million reasons why it did. I'll spare you the nasty details that came over the next 2 years (we were not easily separated, as I said before) except to say that it was indeed nasty. Heated conversations took place amongst his and my mother, he and his mother as well as his mother and I. Eventually, after lots of sneaking around and pretending to date other people his parents won. We just couldn't do it anymore. We were defeated. It was so uncomfortable that we hardly ever spoke to each other throughout high school. We always exchanged looks that said "I miss you" but we never spoke. Actually, I did get the courage to call him once when we were in 11th grade. And I did tell him that I missed him. He sounded as sad as I was feeling and said, "Nina, please don't."
And that was our last phone conversation, ever. My last memory, is a good one. We were at senior brunch. I told him I would like him to take a picture with with me. He looked extremely surprised, yet happy. We put our arms around each other one last time, just long enough for it to hurt.

The adults used to whisper, let them be, they're only kids. It's not like they're getting married. They don't really love each other, they don't even know what love is. Even though these people were trying to help, these words were not comforting. They were a slap in the face.

Years went by. I always wondered where he was. I was sad (for selfish reasons) when I heard he'd gotten married. I was even more sad when I heard he was getting a divorce. Because even now, the thought of him unhappy makes me unhappy.

Looking back, I can say, yes. Yes, I loved him. I loved him the only way I knew how. He was my most trusted friend. Were my feelings of love as complex as they are today for my own husband and family? Of course not, I was indeed young. But we are all capable of love, at every age. And I beg of all the parents who read this, never deny your child the opportunity to love someone because you can't get over your own shortcomings about race.

Forgive me for being all over the place, but the truth is, it's hard to think clearly, because the emotion is still so strong. The tears will not stop falling. Just know that I cry not for the friendship that was taken away, or for my heart that was so badly broken. That pain has gone, although I sometimes still hurt from the scar. I cry for the ignorance of the people in this world who can not see past the color of one's skin. I cry for the people who still think that it matters.

Hmmm...

It certainly has been some time since I've posted. Tera seems to have lots to say since she posted twice today, maybe she'd like to be a guest writer here?

It isn't that I've nothing to say...God knows I've got plenty. I just haven't felt much like sharing, sorry. But I will say that I've got a major announcement to make, soon. So...until then, in comments lets talk about what's going on with everyone. Any late summer plans? Is anyone stuck in this heat wave without air conditioning? Did anyone get a new puppy? Has anyone had exciting vacation sex? How about a new hair cut? Someone has to have some news about someting...

Back To Reality?

I've read Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. I've had several days to digest my thoughts. Thanks to Dagromm I don't need to have a discussion here regarding the book. All I will say is that is was thrilling. I am super satisfied with the ending, minus the epilogue. And now I must force myself to move on.

However, since I completed the book on Sunday night, I find myself with nothing to do. I've spent all of my free time during the last 2 months reading, reading and more reading. Although the latter has been quite relaxing and extremely self-gratifying, I am in dire need of finding a new past time. Is seems as though I've forgotten who I am and I don't even remember what I used to like to do. Tera seems to believe that I've become obsessive with all my Potter talk and I'm afraid she may be correct.


In my attempt to force my mind back into a reality without witches, wizards, invisible train platform entrances, Elder Wands or horcruxes, I've poured myself a nice glass of Merlot. Wine helps everything. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Kinda like when I was still reading the books. And when I've had too much I get sleepy, can hardly keep my eyes open. Now that I think about it, wine has the same effect on me that reading all them books did. I want more, but know it's just best to stop and get some sleep. God willing, there is always tomorrow.

Sometimes when I've had too much wine my mind wanders, easily, off into some place that is unlike any other world. My emotions flow freely, sometimes too freely. I speak my private thoughts aloud. Actually, I found myself doing that often when I was reading Harry Potter. I'd be talking, laughing or gasping, unbeknownst to me, until Jason would yell from another room to ask if someone stopped by and should he put some clothes on. (He likes to travel though the house in his birthday suit as though we don't have windows.) I did learn throughout my 2 month reading excursion that reading and wine do not mix well. Instead of my body becoming fuzzy the words on the page become fuzzy. I do not suggest combining the two, reading and drinking wine, that is.

I'm glad that I've confronted this issue. It's helped me understand that I'm not ready to move on. I just need some more time (and maybe more wine). It hasn't even been a full week since I completed the final chapter of Deathly Hallows, the end of an era. No one grieves that quickly. Hell, I studied psychology in college and this is the perfect opportunity for me to put some of those skills to use. Anyone who took Psych 101 knows that Kubler-Ross said the first stage of grief is denial. I'm defiantly in denial. I'm secretly hoping that the upcoming Dateline interview with J.K. Rowling will include an announcement for another Harry Potter installment (beyond the encyclopedia of Potter characters). So... until I'm ready to move on to the anger phase, I may just start my second read through of Book 7.

In the comments...what do you do when you can't let go.

Eclectic Concepts III

The patio has been laid, the $30 per bag polymeric sand (OUCH!) has been swept into the cracks, sprayed down and hardened. Finally, the masterpiece is complete! However, as a whole, my back yard looks like hillbilly heaven. Mounds of earth that were dug out need to be re spread and grass needs to be planted. We still have to create the sidewalk that Jason deems necessary for reasons unknown to me. It is, however, nice to step back and admire all my hard work in it's final state. I took this picture with my cell phone. If I had a digital camera, the photo would probably do the finished product more justice but I don't. Hmmm...sounds like I have a reason to go shopping!

The final installment of Harry Potter will be in my hands, hopefully, this Saturday no later than 12:15am. Given that it goes on sale at 12:01am, that should allow ample time for the purchasing transaction. Of course, that's assuming I manage to obtain a spot towards the front of the line . Until then, I'm selfishly neglecting my husband, my child, my dogs, my cooking and cleaning responsibilities in order to continue my quest of reading the entire series beforehand. I began reading Book 6 last night and if I've planned properly, I shall finish just in time for the release of Book 7 while all the details will be fresh in my mind. Ooohhhh, the anticipation is heightening!!


As I mentioned in an earlier post, I plan on secluding myself from the world in order to read Book 7 in total peace (as quickly as possible) in the attempt to not be exposed to any spoilers in the media. This morning, Jason informed me that his computer geek king of illegal Internet downloads friend reported that the first 500 pages of Deathly Hallows are floating around on the web somewhere. I'm not sure that I even believe the latter, but my husband just looked at me crazy when I told him I would not be searching for this illicit document because true Potter fans appreciate the waiting part of the official release. He really does think I'm nuts.


I had a visit with my doctor yesterday. After having me stand in awkward positions, poking and squeezing my muscles, tendons and ligaments, he concluded that my bum leg (that is STILL not working to its full capacity) is not permanently damaged. He prescribed me some pain patches and ordered me to take a short daily walk to re-build muscle strength. He doesn't believe my tango with the Hayabusa has left me with an irreversible impairment, its just a severe muscle strain. However, if I'm still in pain after a week of exercising, I'm to have x-rays just to be sure. Feeling good about the prospects of my limp eventually disappearing completely, I dropped off my prescription with plans to go home and talk a walk. However, after walking through the parking lot and all the way to the back of the store where the pharmacy is located and back, my leg was exhausted and I was in a great deal of pain. My ability to rationalize most any and every thing led me to conclude that I'd done enough walking for the day and I went home and rested. Today I'm going to try again. I think I'll try the treadmill though. Then I can sit down and rest without having to borrow the neighbor's lawn.

My back-yard neighbor gave me more flowers. They're absolutely beautiful. This time, I'm happy to report that she gave me 4 plants.



I thought that summer would provide me the time to sit back and think of something clever to blog about. Maybe share funny or heartfelt stories. Given my lack of postings lately, it's safe to say that nothing could be further from the truth. Hell, I've hardly even been reading any blogs let alone posting to mine...I plan on playing catch up...soon.

Ode to the Hayabusa

Feeling brave, I mount the beast.
Feet planted firm, quickly my heart beats.
Ready to go, I breathe so deep,
Into first gear I'm ready to leap.
With the lift of my foot it's time to shift,
I pull up gently and quickly yell "OH SHIT!"
Into first gear, yes, I got.
Pull in the clutch...
I remembered not.
The beast stalled out and jerked to the side.
600 pounds quickly falling on my behind.
I see myself moving swiftly towards the ground,
Never before has my heart so hardly pound.
To my rescue he came, pushing me up as I fall,
My right leg bearing the weight of it all.
Slowly we dance with the beast in limbo,
Grunting and pushing...up, up, up she goes.
Finally I'm steady, yet shaking all over.
I dismount the bike and thank Jay for his shoulder.
I think I am fine until I must move.
I attempt that first step, call it anything but smooth.
I scream out in pain as I fall to the ground,
For about one week now, I hobble around.
The Hayabusa got the best of me.
I had to scoot around on my butt unable to put pressure on my leg or knee.
About a day later I was able to crawl.
Within 2 days I could walk while leaning on the wall.
Now I'm better, walking upright,
Just a small limp reminds me of my plight.
No time soon shall I try again,
To tame the beast for which my leg must now mend.
My desire to ride has not yet gone.
But rest assured, the Hayabusa, I will not be on.
My next attempt will surely be
On a motorcycle better suited for me.

For Tera

Tera said I should try this, so here it is!

One of My Many Quirks

I need balance in my life. And I like nice round even numbers the best. It's a habit I picked up as a young child and I've never truly grown out of it. I believe it all started with bedtime kisses when mom tucked me in. A quick peck on the cheek would never do, oh no! I had a well thought out routine. It began with one kiss on the left eye then the right. Next was my forehead followed by my chin. Finally, a peck on my nose and then my lips. Every single night. In that order. I couldn't sleep without it. God forbid mom and I got to laughing too much and one of us screwed up the pattern 'cause I'd make her start over. On the rare occasion that I go to bed with my husband, (he works the night shift) I'll sometimes have him kiss me goodnight in this this same way. I giggle about it. He just thinks I'm a weirdo.

When I'm out shopping and there is any type of 2 for 1 deal, I HAVE to buy both items. Even if this is not required by the store in order to get one at half price. Why buy 1 when you can have 2? One is a lonely number. And when I'm buying fruit or veggies by the piece, I always get an even number. Although, when I buy 10 apples it doesn't quite work out. If we each eat one a day, being that there are 3 of us, who gets the last one?

My neighbor offered to give me some of those pretty little hanging flower bags. I got real excited because I didn't purchase any myself this year since I've been too lazy to go to a real nursery and the Home Depot doesn't seem to stock them. I thought, "Ooohhhh, I'll hang one each on either side of the garage door!!" However, I misunderstood what she said. She said that she only had "one" not "some". I tried to hide the disappointment on my face as I graciously accepted her offer. I've (accidentally on purpose) forgotten to make the journey across my back yard and pick it up. Why on earth would I only want one? I can't have flowers hanging from one side of the garage and not the other, that would be a symmetrical sin! I'm secretly hoping that she doesn't send the single bag over with her daughter. I've been thinking really hard about what I could do with one bag and I'm not coming up with any possibilities. My mind just refuses to function in terms of "one".

My husband and I are in the process of building a patio. I'm very excited at the way it's coming along. The pattern is basically one large stone surrounded by 16 smaller stones. His original design theory consisted of some crazy abstract kidney-shaped crap. The thought of which made my stomach flip. I had to very calmly state, "Now Jason, you KNOW I like things to be symmetrical." I mean really, how else am I to clearly visualize the placement of furniture, plants etc. He figured it best not to press the issue. Needless to day, the patio will be rectangular upon completion.

In the comments...tell me about your idiosyncrasies or feel free to poke fun at mine.

Hillary Clinton Sopranos Spoof

Nance said that Hillary needs to show us that she is human and can relate to women on a "real" level. I think this campaign ad is a good & funny attempt to show the more personable side of Mrs. Clinton. Although, I sincerely hope there is no hidden message here that she has mafia connections :)
Anyone who saw the Sopranos finale should appreciate this.

Memories

Music is amazing. It is the one and only thing in this entire world (that I can think of) that has the ability to reach all people regardless of what language they speak, what their culture is or where they live. Several years ago I had the pleasure of being the guest of my Ghanaian friend to an African themed party at Oberlin College. Most of the attendees were African born students and dressed in their native garb. I didn't understand the language of the songs nor did I know how to do the traditional dances. But I quickly joined in and thoroughly enjoyed the beat of the music while appreciating the opportunity to be a part of the experience. Music is what brought everyone together. Music has the power to transcend boundaries and unify people who may not otherwise interact.



Briliant Donkey has a post up about moving to the country. This reminded me of the short time I spent living outside of the city. Honestly, this was not my most favorite experience. I'm a city girl through and through. I hated the bugs, the field mice and the inability to jump in my car and run to the local corner store in under 2 minutes. But looking back I must take the time to appreciate one thing in particular you just don't see in the city. My most beautiful "country" memory comes from standing in the middle of the road during the dead of night and seeing the tree lined streets glowing with lighting bugs. The sight is breath-taking. The trees look as through some meticulous decorator spent months putting up Christmas lights. The trees, on a summer night, twinkle so brightly. The spectacular display of these little bugs is truly an exquisite and radiant sight.


I really miss the Saturday afternoons spent at Basil's with Tera and Rey. That was our girl time. We would eat, drink and be merry. It was during these times that we sat around and giggled like little school girls. No boys allowed, usually. On rare occasions we'd allow a significant other to crash our weekly party but not often. The afternoon aways ended in smiles and shopping. I appreciate the times when we attempt to recreate those outings when one of them is visiting but they're never quite the same. Only because they are too few and far between. I think you two should move back to Ohio!


My first solo trip in a stick shift vehicle left me feeling over-confident. I'd made the 30 minute drive from my house to a park only stalling once. The park has a couple different entry points that are all downhill. Some much steeper than others. With that said, my arrival was a cake walk. The departure, a disaster. The park had a heavy traffic flow that day and I was in the middle of it. The beginning of my up-hill travel to leave the park began well, the cars were moving at a steady pace. Then I had to stop. When it was time to move again, I rolled backwards almost hitting the car behind me. I panicked. I stalled. I was scared to death of trying to re-start the car to try again so I just sat there. The pile up of cars behind me was growing quite large. Thankfully, a man traveling down the hill stopped at my window and asked if I was driving a stick and having a hard time getting up the hill. I told him yes. He put his car in park, causing a pile-up in the opposite direction now, hopped in my truck, drove me up the hill and then ran back down to his car. I was soooo grateful, but very embarrassed too. That was about 8 years ago. For the past 5 years I've driven a standard transmission car every single day. These days shifting gears and rolling on hills feels like second nature to me. But I NEVER drive myself to that park. Ever.


The latter memory reminds me of another that also took place in the above mentioned park. This is a picture of Buck, my Aunt Jo's super fat Dalmatian.
This photo was taken by a photographer from the local newspaper and was featured in MSN's Week in Pictures last year. Pretty cool, 'eh? She was super excited and proud knowing that people all over the world may be viewing her pleasantly plump pooch.




In the comments...feel free to reminisce about your own memories!

10 in 5

Susan has a group event in progress...lose 10 pounds in 5 weeks. I'm feeling up for the challenge and I'm counting on Tera to help me out. I mean, just cause we live 5 hours apart doesn't mean we can't take work out together. Maybe we can take walks together on the phone, right Tera?!?!? O.K. that's probably not going to happen, but I am going to make an honest attempt. Hell, ten pounds in the right place may just put me back into a size____! Not going there~sorry!

I gave my word to participate on Tuesday. I actually forgot about it until today when I revisited Susan's blog. Maybe I'm having some short-term memory issues. Anyway...I've decided to start immediately by only having one beer tonight. And on Thrusday I'm going to make the attempt to eat healthy and work out hard. That way I can have a few beers when I watch the CAVS game. Shit, this is going to be harder than I thought.

Cleaning House

There comes a time when we must all do a bit of cleaning in our lives. Yes, we have to scrub floors, walls and toilets but today I'm referring to a different type of cleaning. Today I'm getting rid of, for good, an extremely emotional draining relationship that has caused me nothing but drama for the past several years.


I think it's safe to say that most people encounter this situation at some point. You have a friend that you've kept around just because he/she has always been there even though you have no desire or energy to nurture the relationship anymore. The conversations are dry. Sometimes combative.

In my particular situation, I think this woman just does not, can not and will not attempt to understand that life does not always go as planned. Life is part of a forever changing continuum and those who refuse to go along for the ride eventually get left behind.


Lots of people experience this for the first time when they graduate from high school. We make promises that we'll be friends forever, no matter what. And I'm sure the intentions are pure, we just have no idea that often times the promise is empty. And we try, really we do. But people go away to a far off college, join the military or just move away. Sometimes we get married. Whatever the case may be, people grow apart. Priorities change. We no longer have time for the 2 hour long conversations at 1am about the guy you met at the bar. Some of us grow up and others don't. I grew up.


For me, I learned a lot about the personal relationships in my life when I got married. Non-married girlfriends don't always understand the dynamics of a husband and wife. But then again, why should they? For the most part, this is a non-issue. However, one person in particular, always seems to find a way to attack the way I live my life and my marriage. At first, I tried to explain how things change after you get married. Especially when there is a child involved. I tried to help her understand the effort that is involved in making sure things run smoothly at home. I attempted to explain how my standards of happiness have changed from material things to emotional wealth. Anyone who is married with children, or who is a parent can relate, I'm sure, to the fact that running a house is not always an easy feat. No longer is it appropriate to only worry about yourself. Don't get me wrong, I don't ever put my friends on the back burner, but my family comes first. Period.


I am happy. I feel that thus far, my life has been a success. I have learned that success in life is not always measured by what job you have, how many degrees you hold or how many hours a week you work. Success is different things to different people. My idea of exactly what it means to be successful has changed several times over my 29 years on this earth. However, one thing is for sure, and I have learned it from my husband, success and happiness often go hand and hand. And when I realized that this so called friend of mine was incapable of accepting that this is my point of view, (for my own life, not hers) I knew it was time to put the friendship to rest. I don't need people in my life who judge the choices I make. Who refuse to be happy for me because they chose a different path in life and define things differently. I need supportive and positive people surrounding me. Not someone who attacks me when I don't answer a phone call and assumes the reason is because my marriage is in a rocky place or the kid pissed me off. Often times she even takes it personally and starts an argument that never gets resolved because there was never a basis for it to begin with. I don't have the time nor the patience for needy co-dependant people who make unwelcome attempts at analyzing my life.

Sometimes the end of a relationship is not always a direct result of how that person treats you. Sometimes you just get tired of all the negativity. Who wants to talk to someone when 90% of the conversation is "woe is me"? Married women do not want to hear about the affairs other women have with married men. We all know that misery loves company and I'm no longer interested in being that companion. Furthermore, I don't want to talk to someone who is constantly bad mouthing other people that I care about in a selfish attempt to get me on their side. No thanks, we're not in pre-school anymore and we can't kick people out of sandboxes when someone in the circle of friends has a little tiff.


I talk to my friends on a pretty regular basis. At least a few times a week, often more. Certain people, a few times a day. But in the event there is an absence in communication, my true friends never ask "why?" beyond the point of inquiring if everything is alright. They don't take it personally, they respect the fact that I have a family to care for and things often become hectic out of the blue. And I do the same for them. To those friends that I speak of, and you know who you are, thank you, and I love you.


Friendships should not be a burden. They should not be a constant battle. Sometimes things change, people change and we have to deal with those changes accordingly or the relationships can not possibly be expected to survive. Today, I have realized a relationship that I've had for almost 15 years must come to an end, for good. It's toxic, causes me stress and I'm no longer willing to try and repair it. Sometimes it is just better to understand that all damages can't be repaired. I must chalk it up as a loss and put my garbage on the curb.


Before I end I'd like to share something that rings so true to me and the judgements that have been made against me:

Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind. ~Daphne Du Maurier, English Writer


In the comments...Toast to all things that make you happy. Cheers!

Cavs Lead the Series!!!!

Seriously, is Lebron James human? NO ONE could stop him. He promised his team that if the score was close in the 4th he'd find a way to win the game. After 48 points and 50 minutes of playing time, the Cavs beat Detroit 109-107 in double overtime to take a 3-2 lead in the series. We truly are all witnesses!! GO CAVS!!!!

I'm a Pot Head!!

A Harry Potter pot head, that is. I'm a friggin' junkie.

Before I'd read the books, I could not understand for the life of me why so many adults were acting like crazed maniacs over a children's series. But like I said, that was BEFORE. I don't know that I've ever read books quite so entertaining and appealing to so many different age groups and people types. Now I'm one of those crazy people too. Sad, but true. To anyone who has not read the series, I highly recomend doing so. Even if you think this is not "your type of book". I've yet to run across anyone who has read the books and thought they were just "o.k." or did not like them at all. If you enjoy reading, you'll enjoy the adventures of Harry Potter.

I also love the movies. They stay very true to the events in the books. I've never missed opening day (first showing, always) of a Potter film. Even if that means I take the day off work. Luckily, the next movie will be released in July and I'll be on summer vacation. So calling in sick with a fake belly ache won't be necessary. Furthermore, I absolutely can not surf through the channels, see that a Harry Potter movie is playing and keep on surfing. I'll stop whatever I'm doing to sit down and watch. At the very least, I turn on all the televisions in my house so I can watch as I'm cleaning from room to room. It really is a bit of an obsession. Given that The Goblet of Fire has been playing almost daily between HBO and Cinimax, I've not gotten much done around the house. Especially since the new windows have been installed and I can (thankfully) no longer hear the dogs bark while there outside. No more annoying dog interruptions, yeah buddy!


One of my friends asked me if I've ordered the new book, The Deathly Hallows, coming out in July. I have not. I'm having an awful time with this decision. Should I order it online to ensure that I get a copy? But then what if the mail/UPS/Fed Ex man is running late and I'm not able to begin the final book until late in the day? If that were to happen, I chance seeing a spoiler on the tv news or online. That would just break my heart. I'm pretty convinced that Harry will die, along with He Who Must Not Be Named, but I need to discover the fate of all on my own. So maybe I'll reserve a copy, pre-paid of course, at one of the local bookstores and hope for a midnight opening. I can not forget, though, a story I was told by my Harry Potter loving Aunt Jo who attempted to attend one of those late night escapades... When the most recent book, The Half-Blood Prince, was released and there was supposed to be a midnight opening, the people never showed up at the shopping mall to open the store! I absolutely can't chance that!!! I'm really struggling here, I need to have my muggle hands on that book as soon as humanly possible. I plan on locking myself up somewhere and reading it in its entirety as fast as possible. I may even leave my home to stay at the local Holiday Inn to ensure that my husband doesn't attempt to foil my time alone with Harry and the gang. (He gets a bit jealous when my attention is devoted so extensively to something other than him.) After all, this is the final installation. I must savour every single word on every single page.

Eclectic Concepts II

The window people are coming to do the installation bright and early Tuesday morning. They told us to take down all the blinds/curtains and remove certain decorative wall hangings that are close by. Jason helped me with one friggin' window. Just one. Then he left for work. Bastard. I've got a long night ahead of me. Furthermore, my computer sits in front of a window. That means I'm going to be without the black hole, a.k.a the Internet, for close to a whole day because I'll have to move it. What the hell am I supposed to do while I have my morning java?

Sometimes you just have to suck it up and make the best of it.

The Cavs lost to Detroit tonight. Really good game. Close. Hopefully next time King James will step up and score some more points. I should have been rearranging furniture and taking down blinds instead of watching the Cavs miss game winning 3 pointers.

I taught Scooter Dog to catch a Frisbee today. Now I just have to teach him to release it from that big ass mouth of his. That's going to be the hard part, he's stingy when it comes to toys.

I still love my Zune. But I'm also still waiting for Fringes to send me some music. Hint hint!

My biological clock is tick, tick, ticking. I think I'm finally ready to begin the mating ritual for purposes other than fun. Now if I can just convince myself to stop taking that damn pill. For anyone thinking that I already have a child, he is my step-son. I need to have one of my own in order to mold him or her into my own personal slave.

For the second time in less than a month, my husband informed me that he wants to have a party. Don't get me wrong, I love having a house full of people. But this party is to watch Ultimate Fighting. Although I thoroughly enjoy watching those idiots beat the shit out of each other, I often find myself feeling super aggressive afterwards. I'll need to be on my best behavior to ensure I don't pick a fight with any of our guests. It will be difficult.

There is an ongoing debate in my head. Do I have to go to every single baseball game as long as someone from the family is there? I mean, it's not even June yet and I'm already feeling burned out from the little league drama. Can't I pass on a few? Tonight I left early and it felt good. I'm such a rebel. Or maybe I'm just a wicked step-mother.

Elliot Yamin (3rd runner up from last season's American Idol, remember?) sounds a lot like Donny Hathaway. To me, anyways. Jason says absolutely not, not at all.

A few weeks ago I put some Hawaiian bread out in the lawn for the birds. They didn't like it, I suppose, because it sat out there for days. Maybe it was too sweet for the birdie palate? Scrappy Dog scarfed it down whenever he managed to bolt out of the front door. So he, evidently, loved the bread. Yesterday I put out some plane 'ol white bread and this morning I watched the birds come and go for every single morsel. I guess birds like bland food.

Although I could go on all night with my random thought patterns, I need to shut my computer down, move this desk and take down the blinds. Only two more rooms to go before I can retire for the night :)

Favorite Music

Last night I took the leap into the world of handheld digital media and purchased a Zune. So far I love it. But I'd like some suggestions for the ultimate music library. In comments, tell me a couple of your favorite songs. Especially the oldies that I may be forgetting about as I build my play lists.

Happy Birthday, Spam!

With all the talk of food in the last post I thought I'd share something I learned today. Evidently, today is the birthday of Spam. It was introduced in 1891 by the Hormel Packing Company.


If you're a die-hard Spam lover, you can take a trip to the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota. Seriously, did anyone even know that such a place existed?

I know that it is difficult for many to admit that they indulge in the occasional Spam sandwich or fried up as a breakfast meat since we really don't even know what Spam is. But let me be the fist to say, "Hi, my name is Nina and I like Spam." But I will also say that I haven't eaten Spam in quite a while. I got kind of nervous years ago when I realized that Spam truly is a "mystery meat". But given that today is a Spam celebration day, it may just be what's for dinner.

Just a little side note: even if you do not like Spam, every household should be equipped with several cans in case of a national emergency. That stuff will last for years if you have to hide out in your bomb shelter.

That Damn Tera!!!

I was tagged by Tera. So being the good sport that I am, here we go...

The meme:
1. Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you. Include the city/state and country you’re in.


Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, USA)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, United States)
Todd (Louisville, Kentucky, United States)
miss kendra (los angeles, california, u.s.a)
Jiggs Casey (Berkeley, CA, USA! USA! USA!)
Tits McGee (New England, USA)
Kat (Ontario, Canada)
Cheezy (London, England)
Paula (Orange County, California, U.S.)
Jeff (Colorado, USA)
Fringes (around Houston, US)
Tera (Somewhere In KY by way of OH, USA)
Nina (Cleveland Area, OH, USA)

***I'm not adding links to everyone on this list, that seems to be a lot of work. If there is an easy way to do it, I don't have a clue as to what that way is. Sorry.


2.List your top 5 local eating places.

1.El Carreton (they don't have a website) is the greatest for Mexican food. Plus the waiters drink beers while they think no one is looking so I think they're cool.
2.The Cheesecake Factory is great for people like me who don't know exactly what they feel like eating before they go out. Their menu is enormous and there is something for everyone.
3.Applebee's has the best happy hour. All the appetizers are half off. The downside is that I often run into my students after I've had too many glasses of wine.
4.For special occasions I like Chez Francois. Great service, award winning wine lists and the food is to die for.
5.Basil's is my hands down favorite for good 'ol fashion bar food. (if you visit this site you'll find a picture of me...bonus points if you can guess who I am)


3. Tag 5 other people (preferably from other countries/states) and let them know they’ve been tagged.

1.Anali
2.Mist1
3.Nance
4.Induced Homomorphism
5.Eslocura

Old Enough

At what age is it appropriate to start having children do more for themselves? I'm ready to hand over some household responsibility.

The child in my home is going to be 12 in just a couple more months. The husband says that he's going through a transformation...he's beginning to take pride in the way he dresses, he's making semi-good attempts to comb his hair in a presentable fashion and he cares if his shoes get dirty. Jason says that he's at the age where "he can smell his own piss". (Please, don't ask. There are lots of Jasonisms that fly around this house daily). So I'm wondering if I can slap some more responsibility on his ever broadening shoulders and growing ego.

Young D already has a list of chores that are posted on the fridge that need to be completed daily. The only supposed exceptions to the latter are large amounts of homework, baseball or football games/practices. Sometimes the get out of jail free card is used for a number of other less important things like American Idol or Dad wants to go somewhere and doesn't feel like waiting for Poky Joe to finish washing the dishes or walking the dog. But that's a whole other issue, let's not go there today.

Anyway...I figure it's time for the young buck to learn how to do laundry. His own, of course. I wouldn't dare let him touch my clothes. He does enough damage to mine by leaving chocolate bars and ink pens in the pockets of his blue jeans.

If I may be honest here, my motive is two fold. First, I HATE doing laundry and I have no idea how three people can create sooooo much of it. And on the rare occasion that I've managed to get all the dirty clothes washed (just as I've finished my victory dance) the little man has this magical way of conjuring up two or three more loads that have mysteriously been placed in the corner of his closet. Not by him, of course, but by the little people who live under the floor-boards. Those bastards really irk me, I'm going to have to call the little-people exterminators to handle that one. Moving on. I've decided that if he washes his own clothes, I'll no longer need to be concerned with the dirty clothes that pop up out of thin air once I'm done dealing with the laundry demons. He can have his own hamper. In his own room. Then it's no longer MY issue.

Second, I think it's time for the young man of the house to see what it's like to be a bit more responsible for himself. It's time for him to learn exactly WHY you can't tell someone that your uniform is dirty 20 minutes before the game. He needs to learn that life will run much more smoothly when you don't wait until you've completely run out of clean underware to ask if anyone washed clothes the night before.


Seriously, the most important factor here...I don't want to have to wash so many damn clothes. PERIOD. He's old enough, right? Besides, my mom always told me that one of the plus sides of having children around the house is having the authority to make them do the stuff parents don't want to do. So maybe I'll approach this new task for D as a scientific experiment proving her theory.

Pick a Side Already!

In case you missed it, tonight was the Republican Party candidate's debate.

When asked whether or not he believes in evolution, Sen. John McCain answered:
"I believe in evolution. But I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon and see it at sunset, that the hand of God is there also."

Is it just me or is McCain's response a bit contradictory? Where I come from, the answer would be a simple "yes" or "no". I wouldn't be allowed to pick and choose which parts of the Bible I want to believe. But hey, that's just me.

I'm still pulling for Obama.

Eclectic Thoughts

I've got a ton on my mind so let me apologize for the incoherent rambling before you read on...

I hold grudges. This is admittedly one of my worst flaws. And let me tell you, it's bad. The people who know me best may not even realize I am this way because I'm not always vocal about it. But I NEVER forget when someone has wronged me. And I'm wondering about this now because I'm realizing that holding grudges stresses me out. My life would be so much easier if I'd just forget about the time when...

Thinking about grudges brings me to forgiveness. If I continuously hold grudges do I truly ever forgive anyone? Or myself, for that matter. Honestly, very rarely. I really have to find a way to work through all of this.

I went bowling and ended up hurting my finger. A bowling injury? Who gets those? Whatever. The cool part...a couple of nights later I was at the local watering hole with some friends and I told one of them about my injury. He said, "Give me your hand." I obeyed. He rubbed my finger for 30 seconds or so (while I carried on a conversation with someone else) and asked if it was any better. Amazingly enough, the pain was gone! When I asked what he did the reply was, "I prayed for your finger to stop hurting." Ahh...the power of prayer even works in a bar. More so, I was touched. Deeply. (just for the record, I was not drunk.)

Window salesmen are shitty. They are all liars. Except for the one who shows up last and gives the best price, of course. He's great.

My Lacie dog has some funky skin disorder. I bathed her tonight in the "special" shampoo that has to marinate on her skin for 10 minutes. Keeping a 100+ pound dog in a bathtub for 10 minutes is not easy.

When I want to sit down and blog my mind is empty and I have nothing to write about. When I've got a million other things that I should be doing, I sit down at the computer and this strange power takes over me and I can just go on and on and on...

Today was supposed to be the beginning of the the little league baseball season. Opening day, the big hurrah! It rained. The fields were too wet. All games were cancelled. My point? Baseball season is already too long and here we are, on the first day, already extending the season. It's going to be a long summer.

I had to go to a baby shower today. We all know how I feel about "showers" of any type. But somehow I got recruited for the job of writing down who bought what gift. Really, I didn't mind. I would do anything for _______. Well, at least I didn't mind until the mother-in-law of the mommy-to-be decided to be super-grandma and it literally took her about 30 minutes to open super-grandma's gifts. Why didn't she just save some of that shit for after the baby was born? (I am happy to report that there were no games.)

Barack Obama disappointed me during Thursday's debates. He did a fine job of NOT answering the questions. I'm considering supporting the crazy guy from Alaska. I liked him, he had no problem whatsoever speaking his mind.

It's probably time that I stop. I need to finish wiping dog hair off of the bathroom walls before the effects of the wine set in.

Back In The Day

Everyday I receive an inspirational quote that also comes with a "today in history" fact. I found today's trip back in time interesting and worth sharing. It said:

"...today is the birthday of the License Plate (1901)?
New York became the first state to require license plates on
cars. The first plates cost $1.00. It's gone up just a bit
since then."

I had to purchase plates last month and the going rate was $65. The renewal sticker that we must get each birthday is about $53, I think. I know that this varies from state to state. I'm curious to know what it costs elsewhere for those of you who don't live in Ohio.

The other day my son was eating a box of $.25 candy (Cherry Bombs) that my husband and I used to pay 5 cents for when we were his age. I also remember when it cost only a quarter to enjoy a fun filled day at the local pool. Last summer the price was $2.00. When I graduated from high school, the price of gas was just under one dollar per gallon and everyone was saying how high that was. A pack of cigarettes were $1.80 and I swore that if they ever went over 2 bucks I'd quit. Now here we are at over $4.00 a pack and I'm still buying...

In the comments...take a trip down memory lane. How have the prices of your favorite activities, foods or vices changed over the years?

What's For Dinner?

The weekend was BEAUTIFUL! Sunny and warm. We turned off the furnace and opened all the windows. Lovely, just lovely. I woke up on Sunday morning feeling motivated to get outside and clean up the yard. I picked up sticks, pulled weeds, laid mulch, trimmed the shrubbery, scrubbed the outside table and chairs and played with the dogs. All in all I had a pretty productive day. To say I was exhausted would be an understatement. However, we must eat. Now mind you, Jason was asleep the whole time, while I'm slaving away, since he worked the night before. When he wakes up, I ask him would he like steaks on the grill for dinner. He says that sounds great. So off I go to the local Convenient store.

Upon arrival, I realize that everyone else in town must have had the same brilliant idea (a steak cookout) because my only purchasing option was New York Strip Steaks. This is fine by me, I happen to love a good strip steak. However, I know this is a potential problem for the husband as he's a t-bone or fillet lover. But what is a girl to do? The selection was limited. I choose the best looking from the bunch and head home.

When I return to the house, Jason is outside prepping the motorcycle for a ride. He informs me that he's going to pay his aunt a visit and asks when dinner will be ready so he can be back in time. Then comes the conversation I prepared myself for during the 3 minute drive home:

Jason: What kind of steaks did you buy?
Me: Strip steaks.
Jason: (rolls his eyes)
Me: That's all they had.
Jason: I didn't say anything.
Me: You didn't have to, you rolled your eyes.
Jason: It's just that strip steaks don't grill up nicely because they're not that thick. Fillets would have been better.
Me: The steaks are plenty thick enough and they'll be fine.
(Jason makes his way to the refrigerator and pulls out the package of steaks.)
Jason: Where's the meat? This isn't enough?
Me: There is more than enough for the two of us. You always tell me that I don't make enough meat and then you retract your statement after you've eaten by saying how full you are. Stop thinking you always have to eat like a pig.
Jason: This isn't enough.
ME: (I'm angry now) Well, go over to Aunt Francine's house and eat. Maybe she made steak that is the right cut and thickness and cooked properly. I'm going to make this for MYSELF. And it's going to be good!! I'm serious, Jason, I'm not cooking you a steak!


Before he left for his aunt's house, he asked me again when dinner would be ready. In a not very polite way, full of expletives, I promised him that I would not be providing him with dinner in any way, shape or form. I reminded him that what I chose to prepare was not high enough on the "Jason's meat standard list" and he better find some dinner somewhere else. Period.

He left. I cooked MY steak in my favorite Calphalon pan, INSIDE, because now I've been sucked dry of any remaining energy and don't want to wait for the grill to heat up or have to be bothered with running in and out while it cooks.

Dinner was scrumptious. The steak was juicy and cooked to perfection, medium rare. I enjoyed it thoroughly along with a baked potato smothered with butter, sour cream and cheddar cheese. I also prepared myself a nice crisp salad. I ate my dinner, ALONE. And just for the record, I did not finish the steak. I'd eaten about half of it when my belly said it was time to stop. Apparently, the steak WAS big enough.

After dinner, I decided to take a hot bath laced with baby oil to soak my aching muscles and quench my sun dried skin. I've got it all planned out. I can stay in the tub for about 30 minutes and when I'm finished it'll be time to cuddle up in bed to watch the Sopranos before nodding off for the night.

The bath was refreshing for my muscles but relaxing for my mind. I laid down, willing my eyes to stay open just a bit longer so I can catch up with the happenings of Tony and the gang. I never even heard the opening theme song. But somewhere along the way of my blissful dreams, Jason came home. He woke me up asking, "Where's my steak?" I gave him a groggy response of, "Still marinating in the fridge." He said, "You really didn't make me any dinner? I can't believe this!!" I rolled back over, anxious to return to dream-land, thinking...did he really think I wasn't serious? I thought I made myself clear when I told him to eat while he was out. I vaguely remember hearing him in the kitchen cooking the steak he didn't want. This morning, upon further investigation, my suspicion was confirmed when I found the refrigerator void of the supposedly unwanted, not good enough for Jason, steak.

Maybe next time he won't be so damn critical of my choices. Or maybe he'll volunteer to cook dinner (Jason is an excellent cook) to ensure the food is to his liking. Hopefully, he'll just keep his pie-hole shut and be grateful that I even cook. Damn it!

BLAH!

Just finished paying all the bills. Depressing. I hate watching the balance in the checkbook plummet. (But I'm sure I can still manage those cute shoes I saw yesterday).


My mom gave me a copy of Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook (I love Martha) but so far all I've learned is that I don't clean my house enough.



Today I received my highly anticipated sexy black leather jacket that beautifully rounds out my motorcycle attire.
But guess what? It doesn't fit & I'm going to have to send it back. I had to squeeeeeze my boobs into a very awkward position to zip the damn thing as though breathing was optional. I knew I should have ordered the other one. So now I'm faced with paying for the return shipping costs and restocking fees. I'm so disappointed. I could keep the jacket and go on a crash diet in the hopes of shrinking my breasts. Or maybe I could look into a reduction surgery. Or maybe I should just exchange it for the next size up and hope the extra room needed in the chest area will take some length off the sleeves. How and the hell am I supposed to know which size to opt for when obviously the sizing chart measurements can't be trusted? Oh the joys of online shopping!!!


My tulips are not going to make it. Not because of all the crappy weather we've had but because a certain Lacie Dog likes to lie all over them when she sun bathes and that damn Scooter eats the would-be blooms. Would anyone like to adopt a dog? I'm willing to part with Scooter, immediately! He comes with a lovely cage and I'd also be willing to feed him for a year. Furthermore, he's a wonderful running buddy/security guard. The only stipulation, no returns and no exchanges. Sorry.

Obviously I could use some cheering up. Feel free to tell a feel-good story in the comments.

Mission Accomplished

Yesterday's class was challenging, full of slow curving maneuvers and making quick stops. Then end result, I passed the class with only having 5 points deducted from my riding skills evaluation test. And let me just brag a minute here...Jason passed as well. But he also had 5 points deducted on the same portion of the test as myself. Given the fact that he's been riding for years, I feel pretty damn good knowing I did equally as well!


One down-side of yesterday's class...it was freakin' cold, raining and the winds were bone chilling! Down-side #2...I crashed, hard! While practicing making a quick stop coming out of a curve, I failed to straighten out the handlebars and flew right off that damn motorcycle! It happened so fast I didn't even realize I'd wrecked until I was laying on the ground. However, my instructor told the class, "If you're going to crash, crash like Nina!" I went down, rolled away from the bike without hitting my head and jumped right up yelling, "I'm okay!!" as I gave the onlooking riders in my group a big smile and a thumbs up! I was even told that I did it all with grace :)


Anyway, I'm fine and have no major injuries. I've got some nice bruises from my beautiful shoulder rolls and my leg was throbbing last night after I'd rested for a while and the pain had time to set in. But all in all, I'm glad it happened. My biggest fear was falling off the bike because I just knew I'd kill myself. I'm happy to report that I survived. They say everyone crashes at some point in their motorcycle riding adventures. Hopefully, I got mine out of the way and I'm grateful it didn't involve being on an open road with traffic.


The next step is finding the motorcycle right for me. Although I did well in the class (minus the wreck) I'm smart enough to know that I need tons more practice. I won't be heading out to the city streets anytime soon. I will continue to practice in secluded areas until my confidence levels have raised dramatically. But I still want to ride Jason's Hayabusa...someday!

Update

I'm on my way to day 2 of the motorcycle class. Yesterday was a blast...I didn't fall off the bike, drop the clutch (at least not while in motion) or run into any fellow motorcyclists (although I did have one close, very close, call). All in all it was a success. I've learned that my biggest obstacle is myself, go figure.

Today it will be colder and wet. Definitely not optimum riding conditions. I'm just hoping the $10 rain suit, that will most likely melt if it comes in contact with a hot pipe, will not be necessary.

So I'm off...and in the words of my husband, "HELL YEAH I RIDE BIKES!"

A Good Read

OH OH OH!!!!! Eric Jerome Dickey has a new book out!!! I believe that I've mentioned before that I like to read smut. And boy is he smutty! I'm so excited, I haven't even read it yet and I'm recommending it to all. I know, I know, that's not legal. But I can honestly say that I've never been disappointed by this author. He really is a wonderful writer. My favorite title by him is Milk in My Coffee. How about I recommend that first...enjoy!

Shear Genuis?

Tonight I was sucked into to another reality tv show, Shear Genius on Bravo. Bad. Awful. Heinous. Ghastly. That about sums is up. One of tonight's themes, hair art. Maybe I just don't possess the predisposition for hair love. I'm still trying to figure it all out. In any case, Bravo has stooped to a new low. I'm a huge fan of Project Runway (even though it seems like the winners never produce the promised fab designs after they win) and I eventually got into Top Design. Loved Jonathan Adler's cheesy "See ya later decorator!" farewell line. But this hair cutting show, wow! Since when is styling hair a competition? Does anyone really ever come out on top if the end result is a head full of feather boas? Or a treasure chest balanced on one's crown? I do remember when America's Next Top Model had a crazy hair episode:

The Top Models are not nearly as dreadful as the Shear Genius girl. Agreed?
Perhaps I prefer the Top Models because the focus was more on the modeling or maybe because I knew it would be different next time. Nevertheless, I'm praying the urge to feed my reality tv huger will not be victorious to the battle of the shears. It will be a huge waste of time and brain cells. Although one of the perks is a contest in which one lucky(?) viewer of the show, along with a friend of course, will win a $5000 hair cut from one of the stylists. But given the premiere episode theme, that could be dangerous. I suppose I'll just need to wait until June for the return of Heidi, Micheal and Nina to Auf "real" designers on Project Runway. Until then, I'm forced to boycott Bravo.

Awe hell, who am I kidding? I'll most likely succumb to the "shear" pressure and tune in next Wednesday confident that it has to be better this time. In the meantime, I'll look for a 12-step program for reality tv addicts.