tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163254810083433962024-03-13T19:30:19.471-06:00Bad Mom BlogRamblings of a stay at home mom of four finding her way in the entertainment industryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-20372381675888996512012-06-12T14:35:00.000-06:002012-06-12T14:35:16.745-06:00Writers blockUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-44442394499932884862012-04-17T16:17:00.001-06:002012-04-17T16:23:00.214-06:00Not yet<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have I mentioned the crazy shit my husband has to put up with from me? Yes, well good because I can jump straight in to this post. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was originally going to write about the food crisis I have been going through this week but as I wrote it, it became more about my grandmother. How does this have to do with my saintly husband? Let me start at the beginning, kind of.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My food crisis started with my crazy ass friends on Facebook, I know a) I have friends and b) they are crazier than me! They were talking about food and someone mentioned Stella D'Oro and I immediately had a craving to find the breakfast treats that my grandmother used to buy. I remember how she would sit and eat them, drinking her coffee from her lavender mug which was her favorite.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She has been gone almost 8 years. I lost my grandfather when I was very young and they were the only set of grandparents I knew. Still doesn't tie in with the husband bit, its coming.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I couldn't find the Stella D'Oro, and it upset me. I felt like I was denied this connection with her. I had been thinking of her since Valentine’s Day. That night my husband and I had gone out to dinner. In the booth beside us an older couple was having dinner and the husband had arranged for a barbershop quartet to come in and sing to his wife. They were wonderful. I couldn't tell you the songs they sang but one, when their voices began to sing "Let me call you sweetheart I'm in love with you" the tears came without warning. My husband just looked at me. All I could do was try to explain, while trying not to make audible crying noises, of how my Nonnie loved this song and would sing it, the emotion had grabbed me so intensely. I could hear her voice singing it in her apartment. I was using a napkin to hide my face hoping not to draw attention to myself, which probably drew more attention to me. My husband smiled and understood even though I was so embarrassed and felt terrible that I had ruined our dinner by bursting out into tears. It took me the rest of dinner to regroup. The song played over and over, her voice filling my head. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She had lost my grandfather when she was in her early 60's and I would ask her if she was anxious to see him. She always said, "Not yet." When I heard that song I pictured them, together, like when I was younger. Ever since my heart has ached to see them; to hear them scold me in Portuguese not to eat out of the peanut butter jar with a spoon; to play cards with them; to get hugs and kisses and to be told how much I am loved and how proud they are of me.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-70435761132892331192012-04-09T17:09:00.001-06:002012-04-15T14:26:57.489-06:00Just keep swimming (or partying in this case)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Day three at South by Southwest was another day of interesting panels. Although I was learning more about the inner workings of the business, the feeling that this is a business built on connections was not lost on me. Everyone saw my blue badge and once they learned I didn't have a film they weren't interested in knowing who I was and making that connection. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As someone who has worked in the private sector I believe everyone you meet can lead to a business relationship at some point. Also, a rule that Wil Wheaton likes to remind everyone of, don't be a dick. The day went on and I tried not to get discouraged and decided I would attend one of the official parties instead of hanging out at the local places. It was time to step up my exposure. I had come a long way and alone and if I was going to network this was the next step I needed to take; besides it was free food and drinks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This plan proved to be brilliant. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It wasn't that I rubbed shoulders with big names; I mean I did that, but I made connections and had fun. Being a naturally shy person this was a test to see if I could overcome that natural anxiety of approaching people in crowds and start conversations. I was meeting people from overseas, NY and LA. I met the team from the documentary <a href="http://www.brooklyncastle.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Brooklyn Castle</span></a> (you can follow them on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Brooklyn_Castle" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@Brooklyn_Castle</span></a>), which I had been hoping to see since I looked through my brochure, and talked with them most of the night. I also met some other business people and the great thing about the night was they were so willing to give me advice as well as just talk. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes you have to keep pushing and if one strategy isn't working you need to be flexible. I didn't want to hit the official parties at first because I had made assumptions about them, also that I didn't belong at them. Too, bad I had the worst hangover the next morning.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-59719186546654075862012-03-26T11:30:00.000-06:002012-03-26T11:30:11.657-06:00What am I doing here?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is the question everyone faces at some point in their lives. I faced it the second day at SXSW. The panels were great and I had my first mentor session, or seven minutes in heaven. I don't want to name drop so I won't tell you who I met with but I admit I was not prepared going in or knowing what to expect. I think the mentor wasn't expecting someone so 'new' to be sitting across from them either. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It wasn't until that evening that it hit me. That day I had been approached by people all who had seen my blue badge and all the conversations went like this:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Them: You are here for film (<i>They looked at my badge and name and introduced themselves)</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Me: Yes (<i>I don't look at their badge because it is rude) </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Them: You have a film here?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Me: No (<i>I smile because I now know what is going to happen and try to engage them in conversation)</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Them: What do you do?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Me: Nothing I get paid for yet (<i>self-deprecating humor always works)</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Them: <i>(end of conversation)</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a huge disappointment because I was not there for free drinks and free food. I went alone so day two was spent standing by myself in the convention center soaking it all in and seeing the worst of people and their self-serving interests. It was the side of business and entertainment you hope isn't true but know is there; those that will climb over the backs of others using the knife they have shoved in to help themselves up. It was a low point. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the advice of a blog I read before going I decided to skip the official parties and head to a local bar hoping to find a friendlier SXSW crowd but ended up handing out with locals all night. That experience could be a blog of its own. They were lovely and I did enjoy myself but, there is always a but, we ran through the topic of kids and their honeymoon...oh, it is why the French hate Americans. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luckily, I pulled myself together on day three. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-84264022559365926802012-03-16T13:20:00.001-06:002012-04-28T14:05:38.926-06:00I fangirled all over myselfI'm going to hell.<br />
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So much for posting every day during Lent but it's ok because God understands. He and I had a heart-to-heart on my drive down to Austin (<em>it was a long drive I had to think of ways to entertain myself</em>) I had things to do, places to be and parties...oh the parties. After taking the last three days to recover from SXSW and process all that happened while I was down in there I'm ready to share the good, bad and awkward with all of you.<br />
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Day 1:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs5G83pnUMX4VmxnqCuVD8nG7vBT3MYzmPzJOkDp10nUFl1synGNFcG3UAk_McelPhBADfny3plsg5BSmKBr8Gyi690FN6WUIp_AFPcqWDslKDdPJ2UV6Lb_EYRMNxsw1klxGDWaelIoh/s1600/20090406_sheeps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs5G83pnUMX4VmxnqCuVD8nG7vBT3MYzmPzJOkDp10nUFl1synGNFcG3UAk_McelPhBADfny3plsg5BSmKBr8Gyi690FN6WUIp_AFPcqWDslKDdPJ2UV6Lb_EYRMNxsw1klxGDWaelIoh/s400/20090406_sheeps.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting my badge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ok, it wasn't snowing but it was pouring rain. I thought Texas was in a drought! I didn't bring a jacket so I was cold and wet and standing in this massive line being herded through while hoping to make my first scheduled panel. After an hour and a half I realized I would miss that panel and adjusted. People had started drinking in line and I could already tell this was going to be a college like atmosphere.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Personal highlights of the day were geek to the core. Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge Harry Potter fan and the webmistress of TheLeakyCauldron.org was doing a panel and then signing her book (<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Harry, A History which I am still reading</span></em>). I couldn't go to the panel (<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">don't get me started on Interactive vs Film badges</span></em>) so I raced to her signing after my lone panel to have her sign her book for me and I was in true fangirl mode. I wouldn't shut up; I kept talking and talking. She was so sweet and even tried to talk with me but I think I cut her off because I was so excited. She is the manifestation of something that until that moment was intangible. I didn't bore her with my story of how my oldest son and I went to midnight release parties for the books and then when films came out we had a standing date to see them opening weekend. When the last film came out, my son now 17, you know him as Child A, went to our first midnight opening. It was a bittersweet moment for me because this was our tradition. Something special we had together. Something I hope he remembers as fondly as I will. All TheLeakyCauldron.org and Leakycon attendees have these stories about what the series meant to them and without these connections for the fandoms we would be lost. They brought the fans together and do great work for charity along the way. It meant so much to meet her, more than the five minutes I spent rambling on and on could convey. She is inspiring. Melissa couldn't have been more polite, even when I cut her off while I was my usual awkward mess.</span></div>
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<br />
Next up was the first of two films I would get to see while at SXSW. I decided to go see The Cabin in the Woods which is a movie that was written by Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon. My sole motivation to see this was because Bradley Whitford was in this movie. If you don't know who he is then I have nothing more to say to you, be gone. I stood in line, in the rain, and was lucky enough to get one of the last few seats. Just before the movie started Bradley Whitford came walking down the aisle...he was there...I was in the same theater as Josh Lyman. No, I didn't start screaming I love you Josh and no I didn't go all paparazzi and take a picture because I can act like a normal person. Which reminds me I didn't ask Melissa for a picture either, I just don't do that. <br />
<br />
So here is the thing about me and Joss Whedon. I am not a fan. I have really thought about this; I've done actual soul searching about why I can't get on the Joss Whedon bandwagon. I have tried to watch, <em>not really,</em> but his concepts are so out of the box that I can't get it and it makes me not want to watch the show. Firefly, Buffy, Angel and Dollhouse; they just drive me insane. I hate the feeling like there is something I am not understanding, or that I am not cool. I am a smart person dammit! While talking with a tech guy one night at SXSW about this he asked if it was just that I didn't like Sci-Fi but that isn't it which led to a great discussion about Sci-Fi movies and books and how it helps him in the tech field inspire new ideas. Talk about things going over my head.<br />
<br />
You have to be open to meet all kinds of people at SXSW and to be reminded of the times in school of why you were the unpopular girl because you didn't think Ralph Macchio was dreamy.<br />
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Come back tomorrow for Day 2: What Am I Doing Here?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-67594303294161961632012-03-05T20:34:00.000-07:002012-03-05T20:34:47.213-07:00Remember what I said about kids throwing rocks, I am not a kid so watch your back!<ol><li>Only slept four hours last night.</li>
<li>Child "C" came home in tears because he is being bullied on the bus and I am just finding out about it today. If I had the energy I would tell you the horrible things the kids said about my child and all of us. Needless to say the words mother-f was used often.</li>
<li>Child "D" brought home a pink slip and those aren't good. He was tickling some kid's butt in line at recess. Okay what the hell does that mean? He is in Kindergarten but, as my mother-in-law would say, golly shits! Which talk am I supposed to have with him?</li>
</ol><br />
<span a="undefined" c="4" class="short_text" closure_uid_mknpjs="151" id="result_box" lang="pt" pc="null"><span class="hps" closure_uid_mknpjs="256" pc="null"><span a="undefined" c="4" class="short_text" closure_uid_mknpjs="151" id="result_box" lang="pt" pc="null"><span class="hps" closure_uid_mknpjs="500" pc="null">Três</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_mknpjs="501" pc="null">greves</span><span closure_uid_mknpjs="502" pc="null">, eu</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_mknpjs="503" pc="null">estou fora</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span a="undefined" c="4" class="short_text" closure_uid_mknpjs="151" lang="pt" pc="null"><span class="hps" closure_uid_mknpjs="256" pc="null"><span a="undefined" c="4" class="short_text" closure_uid_mknpjs="151" id="result_box" lang="pt" pc="null"><span class="hps" closure_uid_mknpjs="303" pc="null">Esta noite</span> <span class="hps" closure_uid_mknpjs="304" pc="null">blogue</span> ruim.</span></span></span><br />
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<span a="undefined" c="4" class="short_text" closure_uid_mknpjs="151" lang="pt" pc="null"><span class="hps" closure_uid_mknpjs="256" pc="null"><span a="undefined" c="4" class="short_text" closure_uid_mknpjs="151" lang="pt" pc="null"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Like the blog, follow me...blah blah whatever</span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-35404538158356915092012-03-04T21:39:00.002-07:002012-03-04T21:47:35.393-07:00Parents, don't let your kids throw rocks!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is 9 o'clock and I haven't written my blog for the day. Didn't I say I would stop writing them at night? At least I haven't been drinking...much. I have a good reason for this being late, no really! I was at the Laundromat today because my dryer is broken. I was writing a boring (<em>let's just keep that boring part between us</em>) recount of what happened while I was folding my clothes in the hopes of making it a mediocre anecdote. AMC saved my ass because The Walking Dead came on and now I'm compelled to vent.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All I ever need to know about parenting I learned from this show. When the zombie invasion comes I will know what to do and if my kids survive (<i>I figure at least one should make it out of the four, he runs really fast</i>) I will make sure they don't do stupid shit like wandering in the woods. I know that it is much like parenting nowadays where parents don't pay attention to their kids screaming up and down the aisles but with brain eating undead people lurking about you would think maybe things would change. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">If for some reason I am the only one to make it through the initial un-death toll and meet up with a group of survivors that has kids in it I know to stay the hell away because they are nothing but trouble. They steal your weapons then lose your weapons then antagonize the enemy. All I could think of was:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF5KRVmxdvQGD5JB57t4VaHQBQbvE1Fcii6b2wV3k8DEN6vx1IMVJiZ47BGDgFXn56gFm66ajHSw-zehjM7cP3j6b3pTsK-ZHpIx_DLhjWmiu3sya7mmFBdBkK2XscqGwomTc2ElZj2cl/s1600/veruca_salt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF5KRVmxdvQGD5JB57t4VaHQBQbvE1Fcii6b2wV3k8DEN6vx1IMVJiZ47BGDgFXn56gFm66ajHSw-zehjM7cP3j6b3pTsK-ZHpIx_DLhjWmiu3sya7mmFBdBkK2XscqGwomTc2ElZj2cl/s320/veruca_salt1.jpg" uda="true" width="313" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I was waiting for:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKNMfMq3OMfYuOxMLmxKXyQFh-OjBDE5aVMkZDF6dwkKjy-grik8EG4FYkA-7o42N-P0TC_0kjm-aIAuv6c547wSALtMoi9CsCuesiAoprugicKKuzxNR8ludEl8Z5Q2NpoMcMs_lgxww/s1600/willywonka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKNMfMq3OMfYuOxMLmxKXyQFh-OjBDE5aVMkZDF6dwkKjy-grik8EG4FYkA-7o42N-P0TC_0kjm-aIAuv6c547wSALtMoi9CsCuesiAoprugicKKuzxNR8ludEl8Z5Q2NpoMcMs_lgxww/s320/willywonka.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This show disproves "It takes a village to raise a child" because there is a village and not one of them is keeping that boy from being a douche. </span>It's called reading a book or other non-psycho activities, kid.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #b2a1c7; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themetint: 153;">If you are enjoying my blog follow it, you won't be sorry. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-17577667052614046172012-03-03T22:39:00.004-07:002012-03-03T22:47:58.982-07:00A week ago I mentioned going to <a href="http://sxsw.com/film" target="_blank">SXSW film festival & conference</a>. I finally bought my badge. Do a little dance, go ahead. Make a little love, I'll cover my eyes.<br />
<br />
The four and half days will be jam packed with me running from session to session and one-on-one mentoring, or what shall be further known as -- my 7 minutes in heaven. <br />
<br />
Making a decision about what to do for business cards was a long process but I found a design I love and now it will be a matter of getting them done on time. Nothing like procrastinating; to be fair it was me being unsure of how to define <em>me</em>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpoX-69CL8lIJjj75-MVHi1OINa9U0VRx4GPM6Qk1HkqCHDeoZBOGbqcjEI8i5tya-CyckV8dzCTXit8ZsjR3wKj7uou3c1Nax-eS6cKhBn7nFn27MOs52wV59LNqKvbQ3OvPJmV5ckWw/s1600/business-card-design-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpoX-69CL8lIJjj75-MVHi1OINa9U0VRx4GPM6Qk1HkqCHDeoZBOGbqcjEI8i5tya-CyckV8dzCTXit8ZsjR3wKj7uou3c1Nax-eS6cKhBn7nFn27MOs52wV59LNqKvbQ3OvPJmV5ckWw/s400/business-card-design-10.jpg" uda="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>ooooh pretty cards (original design by <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/James-Wickenden-Business-card/97524" target="_blank">Jack Crossing</a> )</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Yes, they will be black on one side and white on the other, snazzy right?! Of course they'll have my name on them not some guy named James Wickenden. Although, now that I think about it I may want to order another set so that if things don't go well I can hand those out and everyone at SXSW will be talking about that incredibly awkward woman with the fabulous business cards, Suzy Chapstick!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b2a1c7; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themetint: 153;">If you are enjoying my blog follow it, you won't be sorry.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-1609658580750765142012-03-02T12:24:00.003-07:002012-03-02T12:35:58.039-07:00It's Friday reflectionsDuring Lent I usually give up sex and alcohol because the idea behind Lent is it is supposed to be a true sacrifice and if you have been reading my blog you might have noticed alcohol is my friend. I always managed to keep that promise, not so much with sex. In fact it became my husband's goal to play the role of the devil and tempt me every night. I fell off the sex wagon a few times; God knew because I usually called out his name a few times.<br />
<br />
This year I gave up not blogging on my blog every day. We Catholics are creative when it comes to loopholes like what to give up for Lent or having sex with altar boys*. <br />
<br />
I didn't post yesterday after just one week and I could use the excuse of being ill. Holy shit, Jesus managed to ignore Satan and I couldn't handle a simple blog post while feeling barfy yet I still managed to do my internet stalking, surfing...internet surfing. <br />
<br />
I learned a few things while I was checking my usual sites.<br />
<br />
First: My blog is lame. I need to stop writing posts at night. My writer's OCD turns on and when I check my posts the next day I kick my own ass because it could have been written so much better. <br />
<br />
Second: You think your posts are clever after you have been drinking, much like life.<br />
<br />
Third: My dogs' breath smells like dog food.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhs34R8PnIIzR4DxNOY3F6fM23_ccYzJE8PznwD2kXFs4o4GODpFFBMbWarbCeKPwcSnLbSQgXX1pCqF4AQ5ws6tVO8FyVxWKe_UMDCq81SkjXJ1lz8lvjZ7UOtF1Xtb3MCZO8Jk3Sp98/s1600/2011-02-09_16-25-50_27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhs34R8PnIIzR4DxNOY3F6fM23_ccYzJE8PznwD2kXFs4o4GODpFFBMbWarbCeKPwcSnLbSQgXX1pCqF4AQ5ws6tVO8FyVxWKe_UMDCq81SkjXJ1lz8lvjZ7UOtF1Xtb3MCZO8Jk3Sp98/s320/2011-02-09_16-25-50_27.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bellatrix</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiA6wWfxsi1RrzC806Zobz-NXqp1GOxdBpziCZsgRk48aCUPtbLJiuNZpciIxs_K57R_4kkAhgq8zAa9hyphenhyphenEibHTF1o6PRqUZzWpOtdDjJXI-WbOP09OPBK2qbfWaj72kF0y7YoX9C08e7/s1600/2011-02-09_16-27-49_309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiA6wWfxsi1RrzC806Zobz-NXqp1GOxdBpziCZsgRk48aCUPtbLJiuNZpciIxs_K57R_4kkAhgq8zAa9hyphenhyphenEibHTF1o6PRqUZzWpOtdDjJXI-WbOP09OPBK2qbfWaj72kF0y7YoX9C08e7/s320/2011-02-09_16-27-49_309.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Draco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fourth: If you are mildly enjoying my blog please follow by clicking the button on the upper right.<br />
<br />
Fifth: Tell your friends.<br />
<br />
*If anyone is offended by my making light of that subject, I went to school at Sacred Heart in Turlock, CA and knew <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_O'Grady" target="_blank">this man..monster</a>. It was a joke please move on...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-31113101629362762532012-02-28T22:40:00.004-07:002012-03-01T18:00:56.746-07:00The rain in Spain<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My oldest child, affectionately called child "A", posted on his Facebook the following meme:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 6;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your mom held you in her stomach for nine months, she watched her feet swell, she struggled to climb stairs, she got breathless quick, she suffered many sleepless nights, she became your nurse, your chef, your teacher, your friend. She struggled for you, Most of us take our mom for granted when there's people who have lost or have never even got to have seen there's. Post this if you love your mom ♥</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was shocked that he felt that way; the therapy must be paying off.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then the nagging grammatical OCD kicked in and I shook my head that this meme had made its way around the internet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I couldn't get past the grammatical error in that meme (<i>ok, errors but one that really gets my knickers twisted</i>). It was driving me crazy. How can this be going around the internet and no one notice it sounds like a third grader wrote it? What does this say about what our kids are learning in school?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Does that mean I don't understand the sentimentality of the meme because I am twitchy over the misuse of their/there/they're, no, I am just smart and other people are just stupid. Whenever I correct a grammatical error my children make I am some kind of kill joy accompanied by a well-executed eye roll <i>(they get that from me and I am very proud).</i> Heaven forbid my children know how to use the correct their/there/they're or your/you're or it's/its so that when they have to write a letter (<i>a what?</i>) or some other type of formal writing the person receiving it doesn't read it wondering if they passed (<i>not past)</i> sixth grade.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hold myself to the same standard. Today I tweeted using a plural form of Bloody Mary<i>.</i> When I tweeted I had already consumed a few of the drinks and typed it as Bloody Mary's. Even though I was feeling pretty good, the grammar OCD was in full effect and I couldn't help looking up whether it was correct to use the apostrophe. I discovered it is Bloody Marys per Merriam-Webster.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After this blog I suppose I won't be getting more of the 'I appreciate my mom' memes but I think this is the kind of thing that, although they don't know it yet, they will appreciate when they get out into that big grown up world. Also, that drinking is no excuse for poor grammar!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMQXu2yld55pDlHkA2EP73zXbC5sOHkRQ6YSIK84_ojuZF2UmXC5kGv7Dhsvwr1_DmE8AhT5cUaT-oAhCwbbt7XmONX3xRSaBPLSQOLvH_eY9zXBv2r-4HI9AU-Qa5pRFV2wmcHz8pkvl/s1600/2010-01-04-GWS849.grammar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMQXu2yld55pDlHkA2EP73zXbC5sOHkRQ6YSIK84_ojuZF2UmXC5kGv7Dhsvwr1_DmE8AhT5cUaT-oAhCwbbt7XmONX3xRSaBPLSQOLvH_eY9zXBv2r-4HI9AU-Qa5pRFV2wmcHz8pkvl/s640/2010-01-04-GWS849.grammar.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comic done by GirlsWithSlingShots.com<br />
<a href="http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/comic/gws-849/" target="_blank">other comics here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #990000;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are enjoying my blog follow it, you won't be sorry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That awkward morning after feeling goes away when I stop texting you 30 times. Y U NO TXT ME BACK!!!!!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-11916070756886547612012-02-27T12:46:00.003-07:002012-03-01T18:03:42.283-07:00Chief people herderAs much as I give my husband a hard time I am really lucky because he supports things like this conversation last night:<br />
<br />
Me: "Friend" is talking about going to Bonaroo but I don't think we would want to go to the same shows. It would be fun. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are going to be there though so I wouldn't want to see them.<br />
Him: Don't be hatin' <em>(because he is gangsta like that)</em><br />
Me: There is always SXSW.<br />
Him: Who are they?<br />
Me: No it is another film festival.<br />
Him: They have a film festival there?<br />
Me: No this is something in Texas. Listen to the panels they will have there <em>(I start listing the all the panels I want to go to)</em><br />
Him: Mhmm. It sounds like it would be really good.<br />
Me: You could say no though.<br />
Him: Wait, what? You haven't told me anything about it I thought we were talking about you and 'friend' going to Bonaroo.<br />
<br />
This is how my crazy mind works, just check my medicine cabinet it is filled with medicine for that (<em>maybe it isn't helping</em>). Now I am planning a trip to SXSW and trying to think of what title I can put on a business card to hand out while I schmooze because that is one lesson I learned at Sundance...everyone has business cards. I was found these two sites that offered some suggestions.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2011/11/15/new-media-guru-designer-extraordinaire-and-copy-cruncher-among-business-card-titles">http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2011/11/15/new-media-guru-designer-extraordinaire-and-copy-cruncher-among-business-card-titles</a><br />
<a href="http://12most.com/2011/06/06/12-ridiculous-job-titles-social-media/">http://12most.com/2011/06/06/12-ridiculous-job-titles-social-media/</a><br />
<br />
Let me know what you think?<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are enjoying my blog follow it, you won't be sorry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That awkward morning after feeling goes away when I stop texting you 30 times. Y U NO TXT ME BACK!!!!!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-48445079817323511532012-02-26T21:18:00.002-07:002012-02-28T23:00:05.210-07:00No wire hangers, ever!I had surgery two weeks ago and no, I'm not going to tell you about that right now.<br />
<br />
What I did want to talk about is when I finally get my maid, Hilda, she will not be doing our laundry. The reason Hilda won't be doing our laundry is because my husband, isn't it always my husband, did the laundry to 'help me out' after my surgery.<br />
<br />
Helping out is such a subjective term. For instance, helping out for him meant doing the laundry on the wrong settings. It also meant using so much fabric softener people will be able to smell our April Freshness a block away. His helper attitude was also responsible for clothes being distributed to the wrong children and even myself.<br />
<br />
I figure I will save myself from having to beat Hilda for doing all these things incorrectly because I wouldn't fire her, immigrants from Portugal that work on a cash only basis are probably hard to find.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: purple;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are enjoying my blog follow it, you won't be sorry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That awkward morning after feeling goes away when I stop texting you 30 times. Y U NO TXT ME BACK!!!!!</span></div></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-36169827841198093032012-02-25T21:26:00.002-07:002012-02-28T23:00:30.683-07:00Keep the drinks coming<em>I'll take a Bloody Mary please</em>.<br />
<br />
While we were out at dinner tonight my husband and children B, C and D all were having a lively discussion about cartoons. Some web series called Charlie the Unicorn from what I could gather in between asking for refills.<br />
<br />
<em>Yes, I would like another drink</em>.<br />
<br />
Some may think it is great that he can relate to them but you don't have to be seen in public with him. It is like wrangling an extra kid. Tonight at the dinner table they were loud and quoting of lines from the show--over and over.<br />
<br />
<em>Another drink please</em>.<br />
<br />
As soon as I could get child C and D to focus on eating my husband would get them laughing again.<br />
<br />
<em>You bet I want another!</em><br />
<br />
I think it was after his fourth Jack and Coke that the other customers looked ready to complain. I'm sure a fine establishment like Chili's doesn't allow for such behavior.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: purple;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are enjoying my blog follow it, you won't be sorry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That awkward morning after feeling goes away when I stop texting you 30 times. Y U NO TXT ME BACK!!!!!</span></div></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-92011247888980112602012-02-24T17:43:00.003-07:002012-03-01T18:08:05.913-07:00No meat today, okSome of you might already be aware that it is Lent. This isn't going to be some post that will proselytize (<em>I had to show off my college education. Isn't is a great word? I love that word, say it, go on, it's fun.) </em>or discuss religion more that to say this -- we vegetarians/vegans are better than everyone else and Lent proves it.<br />
<br />
There I said it and you only need to watch Scott Pilgrim vs. the World to see that I am right because we all know everything in the movies is true. <br />
<br />
I give you Todd Ingram:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBTPndcRcvvSB5nmhf_z5GwkFIcHmYjvI-FY8vDtD0GotiY3FVPMvjXjTc9Hzxcr09DyM5bfh_IB98zexVA3tYtXsNx2-n7dvGhauEu7iHoJVj3MF256UVPyJJGq-vfdZYYhjpd6F8Bk2/s1600/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-todd-ingram-close-up-9-6-10-kc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBTPndcRcvvSB5nmhf_z5GwkFIcHmYjvI-FY8vDtD0GotiY3FVPMvjXjTc9Hzxcr09DyM5bfh_IB98zexVA3tYtXsNx2-n7dvGhauEu7iHoJVj3MF256UVPyJJGq-vfdZYYhjpd6F8Bk2/s320/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-todd-ingram-close-up-9-6-10-kc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">He has super powers because he is vegan and can support why he has them with scientific facts. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Why is this relevant, I'm glad you asked! Lent forces all the non-super powered*, meat eaters to make an additional sacrifice and not eat their normal food on Fridays (and other feast days) while we superior vegetarians/vegans can ease through this time of reflection and sacrifice with ease you weak flesh eaters!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>*we only make our eyes glow under special circumstances like when we are in combat to the death or have really bad PMS.</em><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are enjoying my blog follow it, you won't be sorry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That awkward morning after feeling goes away when I stop texting you 30 times. Y U NO TXT ME BACK!!!!!</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-63448647080589761882012-02-23T20:15:00.001-07:002012-02-23T22:27:47.246-07:00Invader Zinc or is it some other vitaminIn my years of being a mom I have learned one thing, kids are a germ magnets. Thankfully I have my Vitamin C and enough alcohol in my bloodstream to not catch what they are constantly getting from each other. <em>That last part about alcohol was a joke...maybe. Unless pills have alcohol then, yes, it is totally true!</em><br />
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One of my children has been staying home from school (<em>I have sent the other two that are a different kind of sick to school because that is what good moms do; you're welcome other parents whose kids get sick)</em> for the last three days lying on the couch in between trips to the bathroom to get sick. Let me back up though because this post was really brought on by the comment my husband made when I told him our son was staying home.<br />
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Me: "Child C" is home again today. He is still sick to his stomach.<br />
Husband: Have you seen him get sick?<br />
Me: (<em>Yes, I gave him the"Are you kidding me look?"</em>) No. He makes it to the bathroom on his own and doesn't ask for help. I wasn't aware I should be following him.<br />
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Now maybe I am missing something. To me, I feel like being a mom is supposed to get easier in this way. It makes up for the other shit you have to deal with as they get older. No more diapers. No more throwing up all over the sheets or on me. They can get their own food. They can throw up all by themselves in a non-bulimic way of course.<br />
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The lesson here is I need to watch my kids throw up or not to tell my husband when the kids stay home from school.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-52508722559507147282012-02-19T10:15:00.003-07:002012-02-23T22:50:53.392-07:00A tale of two teens<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div>Just a peek into the wonder that is my life from something that happened earlier this year as I start up my blog:<br />
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I received two texts this week from my 16 and 12 year old about the same problem. Let me explain. <br />
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Their meal accounts at school have restrictions because they would buy slushies and other junk food burning through their lunch money so I, being the terrible mom I am, limit them to buying only the school lunch. What I didn't know was it also had a dollar amount tied to it so when the prices went up this year it caused our two older ones to have an issue when buying their lunch today.<br />
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Text from 16 yr old: Wow so you still kept my account locked and now I can't buy lunch because its MORE THIS YEAR<br />
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Text from 12 yr old: So you guys put a spending limit on my account and that spending limit is $2.50 and I am always going to be short a quarter unless you change it. I just got lunch and they told me that.<br />
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Ok, they both started with assuming <em>I</em> had put the dollar amount limit but I will overlook that because they are kids and are known to have brain damage when it comes to assuming. According to the text from the 12 year old they <em>could</em> buy lunch so my 16 year old was wrong and he over exaggerated, shocker, and was rude, shocker again. He didn't explain the problem just came out guns blazing. Everything is a battle. A winner and a loser. Case in point, I tried to have a talk with him last night about some stuff that happened yesterday. He had lied, then he gave me attitude because he didn't like where I parked to pick him up because it was by the "stoners" i.e. the smokers which is also right across the street from the school so I thought 'Hey I am being nice by picking the closest spot to the school to get him.' Don't get me started on all these little things.<br />
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I thanked my daughter for being so polite and explaining, even though I was aware and I did go and change the limits. As for the boy I can only say HE MAY NOT LIVE TO 17.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916325481008343396.post-14968720652067342011-07-27T00:58:00.000-06:002011-07-27T03:24:31.981-06:00I'm a big girl now<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A <em>mysterious man</em> was kind enough to give me some advice. Feeling isolated with my writing he pointed me in the direction of how to find writer's groups.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why was I isolated? That is another post but to be brief not one of my friends know I write or aspire to be a writer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I turned to twitter. Anonymously I have found my niche. Not wanting to be seen as just another sycophant of authors or their assistants I kept my relationships as that of a fan. Reading blogs, tweets and learning on my own. Breaking that golden 'don't ask' rule a few times, not as many as I would have liked, but hoping that when I did it was a give and take. Not just one looking to use the other. At least, that was always my intention. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight someone at the group said to be a writer you need to write a million words...then you can start writing (I am paraphrasing what he paraphrased).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found a community, people who are passionate about this dream of being a writer. No, not a dream but a passion. It is a part of who I am and what I feel. Tonight it was time for me to show them a piece of my soul. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have posted the opening of the book I have planned (since then there have been many edits like in all writing). I knew there were things that needed to be fixed and ideas that could be shared. Perhaps some good parts at the very core of it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last time I had shared any writing was in high school, my creative writing class. I write about 'dark things'. We had to read them aloud so I would be called to the podium and there would be snickers from the students and the occasional jibe of "Oh no, it's her turn." It was hard for an insecure 15 year old girl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The week leading up to tonight was torture. Today was...excruciating. I was facing the ghosts of my past and looking ahead to my future. Insecurities abound.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have just finished reading the written comments that were handed back to me now that I am home. We spent an hour verbally going over my first chapter in the group tonight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My deepest and most sincere thanks to a group of men and women that share the respect and passion I do and to the <em>mystery man</em> who led me to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh! What did I learn you ask?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*My voice needs work. I have issues in the beginning with passive voice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*Grammar, which led to the second biggest problem in my opinion after hearing them talk. The prologue confused half the group. In my effort to set up the plot twist I managed to confuse people. Tighten up the beginning. If I wouldn't have left out certain things that were not giveaways it wouldn't have confused people. That was grammar i.e. dangling modifiers stuff like that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*Remind myself that descriptions only belong in the story if they are revealing character or plot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*That I have done a great job at showing, not telling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*They liked my tree, for that you will just have to read the book!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had to list some of the positive things!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2