May we all revel in the simple joys of the season and remember to always wear a good coat.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
a big and tasty christmas
Okay. This is getting scary, friends. Amidst the hustle and bustle of this jolly ho-ho of a holiday, I found myself center stage the other day, in Mickey D.'s, getting a My Little Pony chotske for the girls and the next thing I know, Mama's ordering a number 5. Super-sized, for God's sake. Cloaked in shame at the sadness within and particularly the booming voice that ordered the trans-ass blowout..I turned to look at my husband, hoping for some sort of guidance, compassion...perhaps an explanation of it all, who knows? Nada. The only gift I got from the guy was a mortified stare and a neon thought bubble along the lines of "Great. In another couple of days, I'm gonna be married to the Stay-Puft Marshmallow giant from Ghostbusters". He took a couple of small steps away from me, and if I am not mistaken..I think I saw him trying to finger his wedding ring off in his left pocket.
Oh, my. Mama has been on a roll lately. Yep. A big, extra-buttered Parker House one, with a glob of honey on the side. What is happening, you may ask? Hell if I know. My morning runs are non-existent, my tofu has fallen by the wayside and my jaws have been gnawing like a rabid rodent on every Christmas cookie I can find. Perhaps it's that holiday depression I've always read about, or those nasty old serial killer hormones of mine..or maybe I'm just trying to fill the empty, proverbial hole deep down inside. Well, unfortunately, after making my list and checking it twice, it isn't any of the above. No excuses. Just post traumatic laziness, I guess. Isn't it funny at how challenging it is to simply accept the happiness and fortune we have in our lives and not find a way to screw it up? I mean, its right there. We deserve it. We earned it. But it seems we always find some way to talk ourselves out of it or nibble around it, I should say. That ole self worth kind of thing, maybe..stresses of the modern world..focusing on what we don't have..feeding into (in my case on) the commercialism of the season instead of the stuff that really counts. Well, this mama needs to take stock in all that this wonderfully red-ribboned holiday has to offer, keep it simple stupid, and get right on back to what Ellen DeGenerous calls, the "loving place". And that goes for my nasal folds and turkey neck, too. Oh, I'll snap out of it and find my way over this mystical gorge. I always do. Hope it happens soon though, before I take Manhattan....and swallow it.
Oh, my. Mama has been on a roll lately. Yep. A big, extra-buttered Parker House one, with a glob of honey on the side. What is happening, you may ask? Hell if I know. My morning runs are non-existent, my tofu has fallen by the wayside and my jaws have been gnawing like a rabid rodent on every Christmas cookie I can find. Perhaps it's that holiday depression I've always read about, or those nasty old serial killer hormones of mine..or maybe I'm just trying to fill the empty, proverbial hole deep down inside. Well, unfortunately, after making my list and checking it twice, it isn't any of the above. No excuses. Just post traumatic laziness, I guess. Isn't it funny at how challenging it is to simply accept the happiness and fortune we have in our lives and not find a way to screw it up? I mean, its right there. We deserve it. We earned it. But it seems we always find some way to talk ourselves out of it or nibble around it, I should say. That ole self worth kind of thing, maybe..stresses of the modern world..focusing on what we don't have..feeding into (in my case on) the commercialism of the season instead of the stuff that really counts. Well, this mama needs to take stock in all that this wonderfully red-ribboned holiday has to offer, keep it simple stupid, and get right on back to what Ellen DeGenerous calls, the "loving place". And that goes for my nasal folds and turkey neck, too. Oh, I'll snap out of it and find my way over this mystical gorge. I always do. Hope it happens soon though, before I take Manhattan....and swallow it.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
dear santa
...as dictated to Mama
Dear Santa,
I love you so much. Thank you for bringing me to Disney World. I love you. I’d like Jasmine pants and a Jasmine bra. (uh-oh) And a rose..and a wig from Tinker Bell. And Tinker Bell shoes and a Tinker Bell dress. And..and..and..uh..a Tinker Bell cookie cutter! And a pretend phone that I can call Bobo on. Oh, I love magic, Santa. I want a cozy robe..pink, with Cinderella on it. I love you so much. Goodbye.
T.
Dear Santa,
I have always wanted toe shoes, Santa. And a pretty ballet dress with a skirt that sticks w-a-a-ay out. And I want some sweets, too. I want a new Sleeping Beauty dress, and a Cinderella dress, a Snow White dress..and a Belle..and a Ariel gown. Oh, and a Doctor kit. (double uh-oh) You’re very special, Santa, and I think that is all I want to say. I can’t think of anything else.
Oh, yeah..and a Pocahontas dress, too.
Love,
W.
PS) Mom sends her thanks to the marketing team at Disney.
Dear Santa,
I love you so much. Thank you for bringing me to Disney World. I love you. I’d like Jasmine pants and a Jasmine bra. (uh-oh) And a rose..and a wig from Tinker Bell. And Tinker Bell shoes and a Tinker Bell dress. And..and..and..uh..a Tinker Bell cookie cutter! And a pretend phone that I can call Bobo on. Oh, I love magic, Santa. I want a cozy robe..pink, with Cinderella on it. I love you so much. Goodbye.
T.
Dear Santa,
I have always wanted toe shoes, Santa. And a pretty ballet dress with a skirt that sticks w-a-a-ay out. And I want some sweets, too. I want a new Sleeping Beauty dress, and a Cinderella dress, a Snow White dress..and a Belle..and a Ariel gown. Oh, and a Doctor kit. (double uh-oh) You’re very special, Santa, and I think that is all I want to say. I can’t think of anything else.
Oh, yeah..and a Pocahontas dress, too.
Love,
W.
PS) Mom sends her thanks to the marketing team at Disney.
Monday, December 8, 2008
t.'s ariel aria
Friday, December 5, 2008
down on main street
To quote a dear friend's mother, "Oh, honey, there's no recession at Disney". My heart is full, my wallet's empty and the girls have not stopped smiling since our return home from Walt Disney World. It was a sweet ride, full of giggles and song and roughly two bottles of hand sanitizer. One that was shared between dear friends..the tall red-haired human kind, and of course, the ones with whiskers, manes and tails. Being awash in all things Mickey was at times just a wee bit overwhelming but I savored every last memory and will hold it dearly for years and years to come. Uncle Greg showed us the best time ever. Leave it to a gay man to do Disney up right and to the max.
We began our trip by soaring toward the Florida sky to visit the girlies Amma and Afi (that's grandma and grandpa to you people). Then off we went, in style, cruising into the town of wonder in the very front of the monorail, thank you very much. Who knew, Big Red had such connections? The morning welcome was alive with dance and confetti and the look on W.'s face when she saw Cinderella's Castle for the very first time was priceless. Well, I guess I shouldn't go that far as the only thing that was actually free was a drink of water from the fountain in Frontier Land. Anything else, get out your purses, folks. But if you hang tough, and dig down deep through all the commercialism, movie promotion and 100 dollar princess dresses..you'll find your magic. You will find it indeed. Or in my case, you can really save some dough and create your very own super-saver magic by packing the kid's frayed, ketchup-stained, Wal-Mart Sleeping Beauty specials that they wore through the park gates every single day...much to the horror and dismay of my Helmut Lang'ed pal. The castle was sparkling with a mind-blowing quarter of a million lights, changing color every couple minutes or so. It was SO worth the price of admission...just absolutely stunning and left this ole gal amazed and misty. The night sky was ablaze in the most gorgeous fireworks ever and seeing Tinker Bell, all lime greened, with wings electric, sailing off the top of the most famous building in the world, flying over the heads of all the wide-eyed kiddos...well, what can Mama say? It was a wonder to behold. If that high wire would have snapped though..talk about reparation and damaged psyches! Yep, you won't find me going to Disney Land in L.A. again. That place is like Dogpatch compared to this 30,000 acre resort.
Oh, yes....but for every sweet and wondrous dream, there's always a nightmare thrown in..like the rain-storm type of REM shaker-upper that poured buckets down our backs for two straight hours...tree limbs a flying, ripped raincoats flapping in the wind, drenched, wailing children in levitating strollers screaming for their daddies. Let me put it this way. It was a Kingdom alright but it wasn't so magic that particular afternoon. Greg wimped out on me that day, having to snuggle up to his laptop to work..leaving Mama Mags to venture out to the Animal Kingdom with the munchkins all by her lonesome. Teeth chattering, armed with only a soaked box of Triskets and my hemorrhaging master card, the three of us Mags swam our way through the park. Thank goodness, his mother, who also happened to be visiting, had the mousy foresight and weather savvy to slip me two rain ponchos before our adventure that day. Me, being the selfless mother I am, cloaked my sopping toe heads in them, leaving myself to water log and limp my way through the Tree of Life. And it proved itself to be just that as it was the only place in the park that had warm air blowing from over head. I could have sat there and watched A Bug's Life 3-D show for the next three days if it wasn't for the two-ton guy in a Goofy hat that was lumbering his way over me toward the exit. But exit, we did...and onward, we soldiered, back out into the nasty wetness. I wasn't about to give up and give in though. And I sure as hell wasn't going to pay Disney 22 bucks for a plastic hood. W. asked me if I thought it best that we return to the hotel, but I assured her that if Jiminy could weather a storm in only his top hat and conscious, then we girls could do it! Besides, when ya spend that much dough on tickets, it would have taken an F4 to get me outta there.
I found out the next day, from the monorail conductor, that a tornado touched down just outside of where we were. Who knew Oz was so close to Disney? The sun eventually peeked it's way through the clouds, somewhat, and we were able to endure a few more hours of fun and frivolity, albeit rather chilly ones spent in a soaking wet bra and fogged up glasses. Don't ask me about that one special hour we spent after closing..walking around the parking lot...my two little ducks waddling behind me, trying in vain to find our hotel shuttle bus, in the end having to make a teary, shivering call to Uncle G. to leave his warm hotel room and 18 dollar Caesar salad and drive over to rescue the three of us. I've never been one who has any sort of sense of direction and it proved itself twofold that day. "Aisles 1 through 6, Miss, Aisles 1 through 6", were the only icy words that our hotel's front desk gal could tell me when I called her for some guidance and just a little bit o' Disney compassion. Oh, yeah, I forgot. I chose not to listen to Gregorio and booked us at a budget non-Disney property. Lesson learned, my friend, lesson learned. All the meanwhile, T-Mag is holding onto her rump, if you can picture it..howling, "I gotta poop, Mommy..I gotta poop! It's coming out!" Good times. My girlies were little amusement park troupers though and kept fudg.., er..I mean, trudging ahead across the sea of wet pavement. In the end, their bravery garnered them two darling Tinker pins from one of the nice security guards, while their mom got nothing but a mean case of jungle foot rot. Oh, well, pretty appropriate for the Animal Kingdom, I guess. Greg came close to calling CPS on the way back to the Best Western but refrained and got us Taco Bell instead.
Our Florida follies continued to unfold and we had the pleasure of meeting up one morning with Greg's family in their lovely suite, joining them for a yummy breakfast at one of Disney's beautiful lakeside hotels. It was nice to see how the other half lives. Particularly, the other half that's able to take a magical ferry ride to the park while the rest of us schlubs hold tight to the shuttle pole, keeping our snoots away from a bunch of arm pits. Next up, was Hollywood Studios..right up my alley. All the glitz and glam of movie land kept all us actor-types enthralled..including the story of ole Walt himself, "One Man's Dream, A Stay-At-Home Mom's Bankruptcy". Yes, it was a fast and furious four day trek across Orlando. Surprisingly, we were able to do all four parks during our stay. I think I set a family record for all that we saw, we did, we lived..in the short amount of time we had there. Big Red said, 'that I deserved that coveted, behind-the-glass Oscar for my ability to squeeze the very last nickel out of admission!" He also told me, proclaiming with Florida resident expertise, that the first week of December was the very best and slowest time of year to visit. He lied, big time, on that part. The after dark Spectacle of Dancing Lights on the "streets of New York" was fab. Our eyes didn't know where to look, it was so incredibly twinkly and festive. However, the 90 thousand bodies that were pressed against mine; also enjoying the twinkly festivities was something this old claustrophobe sure could have done without. And the Fantasmic Arena show was simply mah-velous, darlings! All of Disney's characters were in full swing..as we sat back and enjoyed another j'adorable dancing, fireworked, fountain-spewing extravaganza with Baloo shakin' his money maker and my personal fave, Ursula!
Epcot got a swifter run through than I would have liked, but that's what happens when you have four aching middle-aged feet, two gasoline strength Patron margaritas and 38 degree weather. Ahhh, Florida..normally sun and shorts, but for us- mufflers and gloves. Uncle Greg was so very kind to even allow Mama to have a glorious 30 minute moment alone..to ride something just for herself while he took the youngins to a Discovery Pavilion Fire Safety course. It was there he learned two things about my girls. They both couldn't care less about a shiny, red fire truck and in the case there's ever a scorcher at the Mag's residence, W. will leave her sister to fry in about two seconds flat. The very last night of our trip ended with a 50 piece orchestra and mass choir Candlelight Christmas show, on an outdoor stage by the lake...truly wonderful. The girls were all cuddled up in our arms with their tummies full of cocoa, the holiday trees softly glowing...the joy was palpable. The refrains of Hallelujah were echoing through the World Showcase as we made our way out of the park and back into the real world. Thanks again, Greg, for being my friend, making me laugh beyond measure, and especially for loving my babies and bringing their dreams to life.
We began our trip by soaring toward the Florida sky to visit the girlies Amma and Afi (that's grandma and grandpa to you people). Then off we went, in style, cruising into the town of wonder in the very front of the monorail, thank you very much. Who knew, Big Red had such connections? The morning welcome was alive with dance and confetti and the look on W.'s face when she saw Cinderella's Castle for the very first time was priceless. Well, I guess I shouldn't go that far as the only thing that was actually free was a drink of water from the fountain in Frontier Land. Anything else, get out your purses, folks. But if you hang tough, and dig down deep through all the commercialism, movie promotion and 100 dollar princess dresses..you'll find your magic. You will find it indeed. Or in my case, you can really save some dough and create your very own super-saver magic by packing the kid's frayed, ketchup-stained, Wal-Mart Sleeping Beauty specials that they wore through the park gates every single day...much to the horror and dismay of my Helmut Lang'ed pal. The castle was sparkling with a mind-blowing quarter of a million lights, changing color every couple minutes or so. It was SO worth the price of admission...just absolutely stunning and left this ole gal amazed and misty. The night sky was ablaze in the most gorgeous fireworks ever and seeing Tinker Bell, all lime greened, with wings electric, sailing off the top of the most famous building in the world, flying over the heads of all the wide-eyed kiddos...well, what can Mama say? It was a wonder to behold. If that high wire would have snapped though..talk about reparation and damaged psyches! Yep, you won't find me going to Disney Land in L.A. again. That place is like Dogpatch compared to this 30,000 acre resort.
Oh, yes....but for every sweet and wondrous dream, there's always a nightmare thrown in..like the rain-storm type of REM shaker-upper that poured buckets down our backs for two straight hours...tree limbs a flying, ripped raincoats flapping in the wind, drenched, wailing children in levitating strollers screaming for their daddies. Let me put it this way. It was a Kingdom alright but it wasn't so magic that particular afternoon. Greg wimped out on me that day, having to snuggle up to his laptop to work..leaving Mama Mags to venture out to the Animal Kingdom with the munchkins all by her lonesome. Teeth chattering, armed with only a soaked box of Triskets and my hemorrhaging master card, the three of us Mags swam our way through the park. Thank goodness, his mother, who also happened to be visiting, had the mousy foresight and weather savvy to slip me two rain ponchos before our adventure that day. Me, being the selfless mother I am, cloaked my sopping toe heads in them, leaving myself to water log and limp my way through the Tree of Life. And it proved itself to be just that as it was the only place in the park that had warm air blowing from over head. I could have sat there and watched A Bug's Life 3-D show for the next three days if it wasn't for the two-ton guy in a Goofy hat that was lumbering his way over me toward the exit. But exit, we did...and onward, we soldiered, back out into the nasty wetness. I wasn't about to give up and give in though. And I sure as hell wasn't going to pay Disney 22 bucks for a plastic hood. W. asked me if I thought it best that we return to the hotel, but I assured her that if Jiminy could weather a storm in only his top hat and conscious, then we girls could do it! Besides, when ya spend that much dough on tickets, it would have taken an F4 to get me outta there.
I found out the next day, from the monorail conductor, that a tornado touched down just outside of where we were. Who knew Oz was so close to Disney? The sun eventually peeked it's way through the clouds, somewhat, and we were able to endure a few more hours of fun and frivolity, albeit rather chilly ones spent in a soaking wet bra and fogged up glasses. Don't ask me about that one special hour we spent after closing..walking around the parking lot...my two little ducks waddling behind me, trying in vain to find our hotel shuttle bus, in the end having to make a teary, shivering call to Uncle G. to leave his warm hotel room and 18 dollar Caesar salad and drive over to rescue the three of us. I've never been one who has any sort of sense of direction and it proved itself twofold that day. "Aisles 1 through 6, Miss, Aisles 1 through 6", were the only icy words that our hotel's front desk gal could tell me when I called her for some guidance and just a little bit o' Disney compassion. Oh, yeah, I forgot. I chose not to listen to Gregorio and booked us at a budget non-Disney property. Lesson learned, my friend, lesson learned. All the meanwhile, T-Mag is holding onto her rump, if you can picture it..howling, "I gotta poop, Mommy..I gotta poop! It's coming out!" Good times. My girlies were little amusement park troupers though and kept fudg.., er..I mean, trudging ahead across the sea of wet pavement. In the end, their bravery garnered them two darling Tinker pins from one of the nice security guards, while their mom got nothing but a mean case of jungle foot rot. Oh, well, pretty appropriate for the Animal Kingdom, I guess. Greg came close to calling CPS on the way back to the Best Western but refrained and got us Taco Bell instead.
Our Florida follies continued to unfold and we had the pleasure of meeting up one morning with Greg's family in their lovely suite, joining them for a yummy breakfast at one of Disney's beautiful lakeside hotels. It was nice to see how the other half lives. Particularly, the other half that's able to take a magical ferry ride to the park while the rest of us schlubs hold tight to the shuttle pole, keeping our snoots away from a bunch of arm pits. Next up, was Hollywood Studios..right up my alley. All the glitz and glam of movie land kept all us actor-types enthralled..including the story of ole Walt himself, "One Man's Dream, A Stay-At-Home Mom's Bankruptcy". Yes, it was a fast and furious four day trek across Orlando. Surprisingly, we were able to do all four parks during our stay. I think I set a family record for all that we saw, we did, we lived..in the short amount of time we had there. Big Red said, 'that I deserved that coveted, behind-the-glass Oscar for my ability to squeeze the very last nickel out of admission!" He also told me, proclaiming with Florida resident expertise, that the first week of December was the very best and slowest time of year to visit. He lied, big time, on that part. The after dark Spectacle of Dancing Lights on the "streets of New York" was fab. Our eyes didn't know where to look, it was so incredibly twinkly and festive. However, the 90 thousand bodies that were pressed against mine; also enjoying the twinkly festivities was something this old claustrophobe sure could have done without. And the Fantasmic Arena show was simply mah-velous, darlings! All of Disney's characters were in full swing..as we sat back and enjoyed another j'adorable dancing, fireworked, fountain-spewing extravaganza with Baloo shakin' his money maker and my personal fave, Ursula!
Epcot got a swifter run through than I would have liked, but that's what happens when you have four aching middle-aged feet, two gasoline strength Patron margaritas and 38 degree weather. Ahhh, Florida..normally sun and shorts, but for us- mufflers and gloves. Uncle Greg was so very kind to even allow Mama to have a glorious 30 minute moment alone..to ride something just for herself while he took the youngins to a Discovery Pavilion Fire Safety course. It was there he learned two things about my girls. They both couldn't care less about a shiny, red fire truck and in the case there's ever a scorcher at the Mag's residence, W. will leave her sister to fry in about two seconds flat. The very last night of our trip ended with a 50 piece orchestra and mass choir Candlelight Christmas show, on an outdoor stage by the lake...truly wonderful. The girls were all cuddled up in our arms with their tummies full of cocoa, the holiday trees softly glowing...the joy was palpable. The refrains of Hallelujah were echoing through the World Showcase as we made our way out of the park and back into the real world. Thanks again, Greg, for being my friend, making me laugh beyond measure, and especially for loving my babies and bringing their dreams to life.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
the harvest
Well..another Thanksgiving holiday is upon us. My, my..how fast this last year has gone. When I think of the flurry of activity and the level of emotion that filled these last 365 days..well, two things. 1) I am plum tuckered and 2) I have much to be thankful for. My appreciation spills over the edge of my St. Paulie Girl stein, and once again, amidst the chaos and roller coaster structure that is a mother's life..well, it fills me to sit down at the ole terminal and try to express the gift of goodness, love and light that has been given to me by so many of you. As I always say, my friendships are my greatest fortune. I don't know what I did in a past life, but it must of been darn good to have what I have today. Here. Now. In this very moment. And folks, that is all we have. A series of fleeting moments..some fab, some not so fab..in an ever changing world. And, tomorrow, I think it's essential, at least for me anyway, that we all gather 'round the dinner table, the five star culinary hall or the T.V. tray and take stock 'o what we got and share our thanks with those we love..and reminding ourselves, as well, of all the simple joys of living and the precious meaning that lies within. For it is deep inside those tiny fleeting moments, the grand majesty of life abides. You don't have to run out and get yourself preggars or anything, but kids are sure a great way to stay up and at 'em on all those little daily morsels.
My Top Turkey Five:
1) My amazing girls who have opened my life..my heart beyond measure. Whose joys are my joys. Whose breath is my very own.
2) My husband's tenacity and strength to face the darkest of darks and come back ten-fold. Priceless.
3) The gift of friendship and family..those who share my life, my dreams, my booze..my world. The beyond-Harrods gift of smiles and love that I hold in my heart by having the honor of knowing each one of you.
4) Laughter. A life without it, is not one properly lived, I say. To Tim, I thank you for teaching me that one..at times when I didn't know it was still there even..at times when it saved me.
5) That by the generosity of another treasured friend, in just two short days, my girls get to meet Snow White and soar with Peter Pan. I remember my giggles, my happiness...the armfuls of magic when I skipped-to-my-Lou'd across Walt's special Kingdom in my youth. Yeah, that was the good ole days when 40 bucks got you and your brood into Mickey's casa. Now, it looks like a choice between hocking the wedding ring or downsizing the Honda to a Datsun B-210.
And then there are always those things my greedy self wishes I was thankful for. Hey, I'm only human.
~ my stainless steel Kenmore Elite Kitchen Series.
~ the pewter Lexus with the huge red ribbon that Geez so lovingly wrapped around its chassis.
~ The 10 day, ten night, all inclusive, expenses paid- nanny included, over water-bungalow vacation on the edge of a Tahiti sea. Complete with fins, snorkel and ice cold Dom. Oh, yeah...and crème brulee every night for dessert and a body like Jessica Alba while I'm stuffing it down.
For now, this pilgrim must sign off and skedaddle. Mama has to pull a last minute five-day Disney vacation with a 3 year old, a 5 year old, three carry-ons and two car seats outta my butt. Egads!
Happy Thanksgiving To All!
My Top Turkey Five:
1) My amazing girls who have opened my life..my heart beyond measure. Whose joys are my joys. Whose breath is my very own.
2) My husband's tenacity and strength to face the darkest of darks and come back ten-fold. Priceless.
3) The gift of friendship and family..those who share my life, my dreams, my booze..my world. The beyond-Harrods gift of smiles and love that I hold in my heart by having the honor of knowing each one of you.
4) Laughter. A life without it, is not one properly lived, I say. To Tim, I thank you for teaching me that one..at times when I didn't know it was still there even..at times when it saved me.
5) That by the generosity of another treasured friend, in just two short days, my girls get to meet Snow White and soar with Peter Pan. I remember my giggles, my happiness...the armfuls of magic when I skipped-to-my-Lou'd across Walt's special Kingdom in my youth. Yeah, that was the good ole days when 40 bucks got you and your brood into Mickey's casa. Now, it looks like a choice between hocking the wedding ring or downsizing the Honda to a Datsun B-210.
And then there are always those things my greedy self wishes I was thankful for. Hey, I'm only human.
~ my stainless steel Kenmore Elite Kitchen Series.
~ the pewter Lexus with the huge red ribbon that Geez so lovingly wrapped around its chassis.
~ The 10 day, ten night, all inclusive, expenses paid- nanny included, over water-bungalow vacation on the edge of a Tahiti sea. Complete with fins, snorkel and ice cold Dom. Oh, yeah...and crème brulee every night for dessert and a body like Jessica Alba while I'm stuffing it down.
For now, this pilgrim must sign off and skedaddle. Mama has to pull a last minute five-day Disney vacation with a 3 year old, a 5 year old, three carry-ons and two car seats outta my butt. Egads!
Happy Thanksgiving To All!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
twinkle, twinkle
Thank you, Big Red, for making two little girls dreams..come true.
Jiminy's pals don't have nothin' over mine....
Jiminy's pals don't have nothin' over mine....
Saturday, November 15, 2008
star party
To infinity and beyond. At 8pm sharp last night, the Endeavor
lifted off into a perfectly clear evening sky and so did Mama's spirits. I have always been fascinated by all things astronomy. It’s a total bummer that I can’t add two plus two or maybe I could be sitting pretty, in a five point harness, with three engines burning behind me, each packed with one third of a million pounds of thrust, five of my egghead bros and Commander Chris at my side, shooting through the night sky at 10 times the speed of sound. Boy, oh, boy. Is that exciting or what? But it’s all good. I had my robe and toasties on, sipping a glass of vino, sitting on my rear watching all the glory. That’s tres easier and doesn’t require beyond upper level classes of linear algebra or multi-variable calculus. Oy. The mere thought of that just brings the cold sweat out of me. I mean, I had to cover my eyes when I saw A Beautiful Mind, for goodness sake. I hope for the next 15 days our boys and girls aboard stay safe and accomplish their mission of expanding and repairing our Space Station. As far as the irradiated turkey and dressing goes..too bad they can't fix that problem, but that's what you get when you go on a heroic adventure during a holiday, I suppose. They may miss out on the family din-din but I bet they come home with thanks beyond imagination. That view will do it to ya every time. Sort of puts it all into perspective, huh?
Yes, my two little comets were round-eyed with excitement as they watched the perfectly orchestrated movement of mechanical arms, a smiling crew and the cool as a cucumber flight director doing his thing. Heck, she hadn’t even left the ground yet and there I was...blown away, with a tear in my eye. It just fills me that little ole us can soar through outer space in a 1.7 billion dollar fancy dancy tin can. Money well spent, I say. I’d rather fund that instead of Wall Street and Detroit’s Big Three any day.
Our quest for knowledge and all things great and mystical can not be better defined than our journeys through space. When Armstrong made that small step for us, it was only the beginning of some giant leaps that I believe we’ll achieve as a nation in the many, many years to come..as an important part of a vast global space snooping community. Yeah, yeah, we have a whole lot of stuff down here on solid ground to work on but there is so much majesty out there in that vast black wonder..that we just gotta go for it and I’m willing to chip in a few of my tax bucks to make that happen. With the recent discovery of four more planets outside of our solar system, it continues to hook me, for sure. This new system, HR8799, is 130 light years away from us. Its host star, Fomalhaut- just happens to be 16 times brighter than our sun, thank you very much, and it gets better- one of the planets orbiting it happens to be seven times bigger than our Jupiter!! For those of you who may not remember from science class, it would take 1,317 earths to size up to one Jupiter and now this guy is 7 times bigger than that?? Well, that would mean..uh-oh, there goes that math thing again. Needless to say, it's humongous with a capitol H.! Okay, I’ll simma down now in my Trekie nerdiness, but I can’t help it. It’s exciting as hell. None of these planets are habitable, but still..it's looking to me like another one of those steps making its way to a another leap toward another Earth. Maybe we’re not so alone after all, underneath our cuddly stellar blanket. Who knows, my friends? I just hope for two things if or when we find them- they tell us their secret to living in unified peace and how to make a cheesecake that doesn’t crack on top.
"Preparing our home in space for a larger international family."
lifted off into a perfectly clear evening sky and so did Mama's spirits. I have always been fascinated by all things astronomy. It’s a total bummer that I can’t add two plus two or maybe I could be sitting pretty, in a five point harness, with three engines burning behind me, each packed with one third of a million pounds of thrust, five of my egghead bros and Commander Chris at my side, shooting through the night sky at 10 times the speed of sound. Boy, oh, boy. Is that exciting or what? But it’s all good. I had my robe and toasties on, sipping a glass of vino, sitting on my rear watching all the glory. That’s tres easier and doesn’t require beyond upper level classes of linear algebra or multi-variable calculus. Oy. The mere thought of that just brings the cold sweat out of me. I mean, I had to cover my eyes when I saw A Beautiful Mind, for goodness sake. I hope for the next 15 days our boys and girls aboard stay safe and accomplish their mission of expanding and repairing our Space Station. As far as the irradiated turkey and dressing goes..too bad they can't fix that problem, but that's what you get when you go on a heroic adventure during a holiday, I suppose. They may miss out on the family din-din but I bet they come home with thanks beyond imagination. That view will do it to ya every time. Sort of puts it all into perspective, huh?
Yes, my two little comets were round-eyed with excitement as they watched the perfectly orchestrated movement of mechanical arms, a smiling crew and the cool as a cucumber flight director doing his thing. Heck, she hadn’t even left the ground yet and there I was...blown away, with a tear in my eye. It just fills me that little ole us can soar through outer space in a 1.7 billion dollar fancy dancy tin can. Money well spent, I say. I’d rather fund that instead of Wall Street and Detroit’s Big Three any day.
Our quest for knowledge and all things great and mystical can not be better defined than our journeys through space. When Armstrong made that small step for us, it was only the beginning of some giant leaps that I believe we’ll achieve as a nation in the many, many years to come..as an important part of a vast global space snooping community. Yeah, yeah, we have a whole lot of stuff down here on solid ground to work on but there is so much majesty out there in that vast black wonder..that we just gotta go for it and I’m willing to chip in a few of my tax bucks to make that happen. With the recent discovery of four more planets outside of our solar system, it continues to hook me, for sure. This new system, HR8799, is 130 light years away from us. Its host star, Fomalhaut- just happens to be 16 times brighter than our sun, thank you very much, and it gets better- one of the planets orbiting it happens to be seven times bigger than our Jupiter!! For those of you who may not remember from science class, it would take 1,317 earths to size up to one Jupiter and now this guy is 7 times bigger than that?? Well, that would mean..uh-oh, there goes that math thing again. Needless to say, it's humongous with a capitol H.! Okay, I’ll simma down now in my Trekie nerdiness, but I can’t help it. It’s exciting as hell. None of these planets are habitable, but still..it's looking to me like another one of those steps making its way to a another leap toward another Earth. Maybe we’re not so alone after all, underneath our cuddly stellar blanket. Who knows, my friends? I just hope for two things if or when we find them- they tell us their secret to living in unified peace and how to make a cheesecake that doesn’t crack on top.
"Preparing our home in space for a larger international family."
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
to our vets
This quiet evening, my prayers go out to all of our deceased veterans and their families. I hope the rest of you in uniform come back to us as soon as possible, to fill the empty spots around the dinner tables and the hearts of those who love you.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
prop this
It is indeed a sad reflection in the mirror of this nation that the votes were cast to reject a vital, tax paying, worthy and integral part of our society. It is beyond me at how some of the homies in my old 'hood, unfortunately 52% of said some have opened their wallets and wasted 35 million bucks but have refused to open their hearts and minds to the recognition, the truth, that we are all equal and worthy of every legal right the other joe has, and that discrimination of any kind for any one of us at any given time is just a bunch of hooey. People that live by all things good and lawful in this great country, should have just that..no matter who we may love, or how we may love them, and especially no matter if we go to Moby Dicks on Monday for two-for-one shots night.
And it's beyond me that we, breeders, have a 50% fail rate in our marriages and yet we feel we're experts on the subject and profess that we own the sole right, by God, to walk into the courthouse and legalize our unions. I don't get it. How can you legislate love? How can you truly define it other than feeling it? And how is being gay, different? Well, let's see..just what are they? They walk upright, they communicate by language, they pay, they vote, they work, they serve, they have brains in their heads & feet in their shoes and they are a full 20% of us. I can definitely tell you who they are, from vast experience. Some are treasured 30 year friendships when lava lamps and The Commodores were the thang, some held me up when I thought I might fall..yes, at times in drunkenness while pole dancing at The Revolver, but at other times, too, when life was tough and my heart was hurting or when my husband was about to kick the bucket and leave me with two small kids. They have gifted me with laughter, stocked me up with six months of fabric softener sheets, fed me hot dinners time and time again, bought the wine when I couldn't afford it, came to my matinees when there were only four people in the house, inspired me with their smarts, conversation and talents and even joined me in hurling barbs to those that have the audacity to wear something really ugly to the Academy Awards. And get this. Some are even raising babies in loving homes, some have been there, done that and paid for their munchkins college educations, some are aching to foster and some light up my inbox, so to speak, with beams of pride while holding and j'adoring their children's children. They help with homework when they're tired and don't want to, they go to soccer games, they worry over how they'll get the money to give Jr. violin lessons, and some, I suppose, simply want to sit on a park bench in each others arms without judgment.
But I think they just want to be..to be who they are in the life they live, in the love they give, in the work they do, in the service for their country...just like everybody else. I mean, it's okay to have your valiant butt on the front line, fighting a war you shouldn't have had to fight in the first place, risking life and limb while eating dust, dodging road bombs and bravely protecting the lives of those in your squad but whatever you do..don't ask, don't tell? Good grief. Why is it that we worry more about our kid's teacher being gay but less about how many guns are in the home? Why is it that we often times are more preoccupied with the rights of animals than our fellow human beings? Well said, per usual, Michael Patrick King. And Melissa, you go girl.
I guess I'm gonna have to google the Constitution again to see where it preambles things for me but not for others. And while I'm at it, look up the word love in Merriam-Webster. In the meantime, I will raise my girls to respect others no matter what color their epidermis, how many nose rings they have, or even the sad fact that some still choose to wear cowboy boots. And yes, my dah-ling boys...to always, always hold in the highest, most fuchshia esteem those who worship at the Temple of Liza.
(And per usual, Keith...you nailed it).
And it's beyond me that we, breeders, have a 50% fail rate in our marriages and yet we feel we're experts on the subject and profess that we own the sole right, by God, to walk into the courthouse and legalize our unions. I don't get it. How can you legislate love? How can you truly define it other than feeling it? And how is being gay, different? Well, let's see..just what are they? They walk upright, they communicate by language, they pay, they vote, they work, they serve, they have brains in their heads & feet in their shoes and they are a full 20% of us. I can definitely tell you who they are, from vast experience. Some are treasured 30 year friendships when lava lamps and The Commodores were the thang, some held me up when I thought I might fall..yes, at times in drunkenness while pole dancing at The Revolver, but at other times, too, when life was tough and my heart was hurting or when my husband was about to kick the bucket and leave me with two small kids. They have gifted me with laughter, stocked me up with six months of fabric softener sheets, fed me hot dinners time and time again, bought the wine when I couldn't afford it, came to my matinees when there were only four people in the house, inspired me with their smarts, conversation and talents and even joined me in hurling barbs to those that have the audacity to wear something really ugly to the Academy Awards. And get this. Some are even raising babies in loving homes, some have been there, done that and paid for their munchkins college educations, some are aching to foster and some light up my inbox, so to speak, with beams of pride while holding and j'adoring their children's children. They help with homework when they're tired and don't want to, they go to soccer games, they worry over how they'll get the money to give Jr. violin lessons, and some, I suppose, simply want to sit on a park bench in each others arms without judgment.
But I think they just want to be..to be who they are in the life they live, in the love they give, in the work they do, in the service for their country...just like everybody else. I mean, it's okay to have your valiant butt on the front line, fighting a war you shouldn't have had to fight in the first place, risking life and limb while eating dust, dodging road bombs and bravely protecting the lives of those in your squad but whatever you do..don't ask, don't tell? Good grief. Why is it that we worry more about our kid's teacher being gay but less about how many guns are in the home? Why is it that we often times are more preoccupied with the rights of animals than our fellow human beings? Well said, per usual, Michael Patrick King. And Melissa, you go girl.
I guess I'm gonna have to google the Constitution again to see where it preambles things for me but not for others. And while I'm at it, look up the word love in Merriam-Webster. In the meantime, I will raise my girls to respect others no matter what color their epidermis, how many nose rings they have, or even the sad fact that some still choose to wear cowboy boots. And yes, my dah-ling boys...to always, always hold in the highest, most fuchshia esteem those who worship at the Temple of Liza.
(And per usual, Keith...you nailed it).
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
a new day
This morning my heart sings, 338 has become my lucky number and even the cup of joe I'm slurping has never tasted so good, folks. Heck, if W. didn't have to go to school this morning, I might have made myself a martini! What a night. What a process. What a run. And what a country! Seeing Mr. Obama and his beautiful family all donned up in red, waving in victory, was a sight to behold and I know his Toot would be proud. Oh, I'm just a sucka for families with two adorable little girlies. When Jesse got all misty, Mama was a big ole blubbery mess from then on. And I was crying, too. Ba dum dum. I believe in Barack and I think he will do fine by this nation. And if not, you can just look up this post in another year or two and comment the hell out of it, okay? I'm not so giddy though that I don't realize the Matterhorn of work and challenges he's facing, but he's the dude for the job. And I thought it was difficult getting my girls to eat the boy gummies out of their Flintstone vitamins. Yeesh. But I have no doubt that our brand spanking new Prez will tackle it with honor and dignity..and smarts! Thank the heavens for the gray matter. We've sure been missing that for that last eight years. Three things he showed and exercised through this whole election-schmection process without fail. He never once got down and dirty and consistently conducted himself in a fashion that showed us just what he's made of. Hats off to Plouffe, too. I'd like to hire that guy myself and I'm not running for anything! Hey, I'm ready for change...especially regarding my gray hair and five tee-shirt wardrobe. And props to Oprah. That woman gets anything she wants. And I'm sure one happy little camper about it this time.
Like my hubby said, after arriving home from work at midnight, "It's a new day in America, baby". It surely is..my hard working, tax paying, everyman, dearest. And what a night in Grant Park. 250 thousand? Now that's a lot of pulsating energy, my friends. And I bet the waiters made some serious coin. Yep- it sure feels good to hope instead of fear, to engage instead of fingerpoint, to see a little color in the Rose Garden..a time for firsts..new beginnings. Now all our guy has to do is roll up those sleeves of his and get our alliances back on track, fix our stinky healthcare bag of poo, get our kids out of that desert, wrangle the partisanship monster, pull some jobs outta his rear, drum up a new form of energy and help me figure out how I'm gonna afford to throw my kid a birthday party next year much less send her to college.
Like my hubby said, after arriving home from work at midnight, "It's a new day in America, baby". It surely is..my hard working, tax paying, everyman, dearest. And what a night in Grant Park. 250 thousand? Now that's a lot of pulsating energy, my friends. And I bet the waiters made some serious coin. Yep- it sure feels good to hope instead of fear, to engage instead of fingerpoint, to see a little color in the Rose Garden..a time for firsts..new beginnings. Now all our guy has to do is roll up those sleeves of his and get our alliances back on track, fix our stinky healthcare bag of poo, get our kids out of that desert, wrangle the partisanship monster, pull some jobs outta his rear, drum up a new form of energy and help me figure out how I'm gonna afford to throw my kid a birthday party next year much less send her to college.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
almost
Rest in peace, Madelyn. Ya done good.
"She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me."
"She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me."
a tuesday to remember
V
O
T
E
"Go vote now. It will make you feel big and strong."
~ Bob Schieffer's Mama
V O T E
O
T
E
"Go vote now. It will make you feel big and strong."
~ Bob Schieffer's Mama
V
O
T
E
V O T E
Saturday, November 1, 2008
halloween 2008
My little mermaids...
Daddy's freehand Ariel pumpkin...
At least one of us in the family has talent. ;-)
If you have nothing better to do right now and want to see the whole batty photo shebang of the evening's festivities then click here!
Daddy's freehand Ariel pumpkin...
At least one of us in the family has talent. ;-)
If you have nothing better to do right now and want to see the whole batty photo shebang of the evening's festivities then click here!
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