Tuesday, April 01, 2008

I think I might have a situation...

..Or something.

I have this aloe plant, it's HUGE. We call it KingKong Aloe:



Ignore the mess.

Anyway, so KingKong Aloe grows at an alarming rate. To give you an idea, it's in a 16" pot, and the window behind it is a little over 5' It's a big frickin' plant. It has baby aloes all the time, they start to grow out of the roots in the pot, and look just like the big one, but smaller. I take them out and give them to neighbors, and everyone on the block has an aloe now.

So when I was watering it on Saturday, I noticed it was growing...something. Right from the middle of the stalk, it looks like...I don't know. A plant head. There, I said it, it looks like a plant head.



All i can think of is this:
Photobucket

Like I'm going to wake up one morning and the dog will be missing, and KingKong Aloe will have fur around the pot, and will be all like FEED ME, SAKI!

Help.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Mmmm

Dear Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips,

I love you. Let's get married.

Sincerely,
Saki in Sodium Over-load

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Toddler Creed - An Ode to Cecilia

If it is on, I must turn it off.
If it is off, I must turn it on.
If it is folded, I must unfold it.
If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled.
If it a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared.
If it is high, it must be reached.
If it is shelved, it must be unshelved.
If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed.
If it has leaves, they must be picked.
If it is plugged, it must be unplugged.
If it is not trash, it must be thrown away.
If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected, and thrown on the floor.
If it is closed, it must be opened.
If it does not open, it must be screamed at.
If it has drawers, they must be rifled.
If it is a pencil, it must write on the refrigerator, monitor, or table.
If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied.
If it is empty, it will be more interesting full.
If it is a pile of dirt, it must be laid upon.
If it is stroller, it must under no circumstances be ridden in without protest. It must be pushed by me instead.
If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon.
If Mommy's hands are full, I must be carried.
If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone.
If it is paper, it must be torn.
If it has buttons, they must be pressed.
If the volume is low, it must go high.
If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.
If it is a drawer, it must be pulled upon.
If it is a toothbrush, it must be inserted into my mouth.
If it has a faucet, it must be turned on at full force.
If it is a phone, I must talk to it.
If it is a bug, it must be swallowed.
If it doesn't stay on my spoon, it must be dropped on the floor.
If it is not food, it must be tasted.
If it IS food, it must not be tasted.
If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water.
If it is a carseat, it must be protested with arched back.
If it is Mommy, it must be hugged.
I am toddler!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Dear Saki...

Dear Spring,

I enjoy your presence in D.C. Please stick around for the next few months until summer comes. I'm a little over winter, and this winter was a particularly pathetic attempt at a season. I'm ready for flowers and sun and warmth, and I can even deal with some rain, as long as it's not mixed with ice pellets like winter sends us. If you stay, I'll give you a cookie.

Sincerely,
Hoping it stays warm

**********************************************************************************************

Dear Weirdos Who Are Googling My Childs Picture,

Enough is enough now. I can see when you search my pictures, and I find you to be creepy. I know people. Stoppit.

Sincerely,
Cecilia's (The Easter Girl's) Mom

**********************************************************************************************

Dear Childish Snapper,

I know you intended for your words to get back to me, just to get under my skin. They did. However, since it's no secret I find you to be classless and reprehensible, it ceases to bother me. The idea of a grown woman, a mother, no less, spewing sludge just to be catty is laughable, and a despicable example for your children. Truly, I pity them.

Truly,
Content In My Own Skin

**********************************************************************************************

Dear D.C. Housing Market,

Shape up! I need to sell this house and go back to Jersey where I belong.

Signed,
Disgruntled Home Owner With a Hugantic Mortgage Payment

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

*$

I don't know anybody who doesn't love a frappachino on a hot summer day.  In fact I heard that Starbucks is actually losing money simply because they can't make them fast enough.  People want them that badly - and they're not cheap, either.  You could feed a kid a kid in a refugee camp in Sudan for a whole week for what we spend on one grande mocha half caff no whip frappachino.

A whole week.

Seven days.

Not that anyone is going to skip their frosty treat to save a kid from starvation.  I mean, c'mon.  They're freakin' delicious.  


Monday, February 25, 2008

You know you're an over protective parent when...

This past week or so, Cecilia has taken to falling over for no apparent reason.  Inside or out, shoes, socks, barefoot; it didn't seem to matter.  She'd get truckin' and all of a sudden, she'd take a massive spill, often times clunking her head on the wall, floor, table, yadda yadda.  It kind of concerned me, because while I know and understand that toddlers fall, this was pretty new to her, and with  rather sudden onset.  Besides, this is my toddler we're talking about here.  Very different situation.  

So I made an appointment today to see her doctor, concerned that maybe there was fluid in her ears, or something was wrong with her eyes, and it was upsetting her equilibrium.  I just didn't know, but better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to my kid.

Off to the doctor we went.  Cecilia topped the scales at a whopping 24lbs, 8oz.  Quite the *chunker.  The doctor stripped her down to her pull up and socks, and gave her the good once over.  Checked eyes, ears, glands, legs, arms, joints, feet, the works.  Unconvinced by what she saw, she set Cecilia on the floor.  But the doctor made one tragic mistake. 

She left the baby on the exam table.  As the doctor was explaining to me what she was about to look for, Cecilia pushed the tiny child sized chair next to the adult chair, climbed both and scrambled onto the table, pulling the baby, and the beloved **Sippy Sips down.  

From there, she had Cecilia walk up and down the hallway, where upon reaching on end of the hall, she would spin on her heel, announce "Ready!  Set!  GO!" and promptly tear down the hall to the other end, baby and sippy sips in tow.  

Back in the exam room, the doctor said "While falling down is something that's not to be taken lightly, I think that it's related to anything bad in this case."  She went on to explain that she feels Cecilia's problem is this:  She's tiny.  She thinks she's big.  She acts accordingly.  She runs when she should walk, she flies when she should run, and in general, she's very physically advanced for her age, but just doesn't have the size to hold all of that up.  

In short, her diagnosis:  Runt.  

I also had to puff out my mom chest with pride when she said how excellent Cecilia's communication skills were, and that she sees 3 year olds who don't speak as well as she does.  I'm kinda surprised my head fit out the door.  





*By chunker i mean itty bitty.  She's in like the 5th percentile for weight

**The plastic bottle of orange juice...or some sort of creepy orange liquid that disappears into the nipple of the bottle when flipped upside down.  

Thursday, February 14, 2008

iWhore

I've shamelessly stolen this from Megan.  I don't think she will mind, though, for we both revel in the mockery that is the iWhore

1 – Allow others to benefit from your iPhone

A man on the street asks you if you have the time. 

YOU: Sure.

Then you whip out your iPhone, hold it up high, waving it around so everyone can see its impressive "clock" function.

YOU: Anyone else need to know the time?!!! Because 
I… HAVE… AN iPHONE!!!

2 – Use your iPhone to save a life

You are on a date in a restaurant. A man is having a heart attack! 

YOU: Coming through! I'll take care of it! I'm an iPhone owner! 

Then you simultaneously call emergency services while accessing Wikipedia instructions on how to perform CPR. To keep the man's wife from panicking, you calm her down by showing her amusing videos of cats wearing silly hats.

DOCTOR: This iPhone owner is a hero! Without his amazing access to information and amusing videos of cats wearing silly hats, we'd have a dead man and a nervous wife. Instead, this couple will live happily ever after. Thank you iPhone Owner!

YOU: Oh, I was just doing what any super cool iPhone owner would do.

3 – Use your iPhone as it was meant to be used... as fashion

Why wear your iPhone on your waist when you can attach it to a headband and wear it on your forehead?

4 – Share your iPhone's information

At the bar, a guy asks you if the local sports team won today.

YOU: Hold on, I'll check that out for you on my brand new amazing iPhone... Sorry, for the delay, I just got my amazing iPhone and I'm still trying to learn all of the amazing iPhone iFeatures... where is News?... Music... Videos... Email... Phone... Crème Brulee recipes... Time Machine... darn this amazing iPhone!

5 – Use your iPhone to fight crime

WOMAN: A man is holding up the Convenience Store owner with a gun!

YOU: No worries ma'am, I am an iPhone owner. I'll simply call 9-1-1... now I'll walk into the store... and take the perpetrator's photo. And... email it to the police.

ROBBER: Stick 'em up or I'll blow you away!

YOU: I own an iPhone.

ROBBER: Really? Wow!

YOU: I know. iPhone says you are suffering from feelings of inadequacy caused by your father's constant belittling of you as a child.

ROBBER: iPhone is right!

YOU: iPhone says there is a support group for your issue approximately 2.9 miles southwest of here.

ROBBER (wiping away tears): Thank you, iPhone owner.

YOU: Of course.

ROBBER: Now I'm going to shoot you and take your iPhone!

YOU: I'm sorry, but I'm going to zap you with 50,000 volts.

ROBBER: Aaaaaaaaaaah!!! 

YOU: The iPhone has a hidden stun-gun feature.

CONVENIENCE STORE OWNER: Thank you, my friend!

YOU: It's my privilege to serve the community. While waiting for the police to arrive, would you like to listen to some U2?


There she is. Sitting there at the bar. Time to make your move. But what do  you say? You start to get a little nervous. Then you remember. "Oh yeah. I have a new iphone. And some oh so witty pick up lines." You relax. You walk up to her casually and say:

I'm no Fred Flintstone, but I can make your bed rock. Plus I have an iphone!

If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put u and iphone together.

Hey baby. iphone you tomorrow?

Hi. My friend over there bet you wouldn't let me google you on our first date. So what do you say? I'll buy you a drink. You can even google me back. My iphone battery is big and strong and fully charged up, so we could google all night.

Did you know my iphone is also a remote control? Let's go somewhere remote and you can have control.

Hi there angel. Did it hurt when you fell from heav- oh, sorry, I'm getting a call on my new iphone…. Oh, it was Saint Peter. He said have a great time on your trip to Earth, and don't worry about being good- they won't keep score up there while you are on leave.

I AM happy to see you but that's just an iphone in my pocket.

Hi there. Wanna use your fingers to enlarge my pixel size?

Is your dad a thief? Because if he is, I'll keep my new iphone hidden when you introduce him to me next Saturday.

I think I need to call Heaven- on my new iphone- because they lost one of their angels.

I forgot my phone number. Can I have yours? I'll store it in my new iphone.

Excuse me- I'm new in town. Could you give me directions to your place? Let me just open up Google maps in my iphone.

How much does my new iphone weigh? Enough to break the ice. Can I enter in your phone number?

You know, inheriting 50 million dollars doesn't mean much when you have a weak heart, even if you have a four houses, two islands and a brand new iphone like this one.

Excuse me, did you just call me on my iphone? Then I guess it wasn't my phone that was vibrating in my pocket.

When Chuck Norris goes to sleep, he checks its closet for the iphone. Too bad he didn't look under the bed.

The iphone can taser your enemies so hard that it can actually alter their DNA. Decades from now, their descendants will occasionally clutch their heads and yell "What the hell was that?"

If you can see the iphone, it can see you. If you can't see the iphone, you may be only seconds away from instant death.

When Bruce Banner gets mad, he turns into the Incredible Hulk. When the Incredible Hulk gets mad, he turns into Chuck Norris.  When Chuck Norris gets mad, he still is very, very, very polite to his iphone.

The iphone has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there.

It is believed dinosaurs are extinct due to a giant meteor. That's true, if you want to call the iphone a giant meteor.

The iphone does not follow fashion trends, they follow it. But then it turns around and tasers them. NOBODY follows the iphone.

If you ask the iphone what time it is, it always says, "Two seconds 'til." After you ask, "Two seconds 'til what?" it tasers you in the face.

Insurance companies can no longer afford to offer insurance protection against "Acts of iphone".

The iphone can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves. Before you have decided to play.

Faster than a speeding bullet … more powerful than a locomotive … able to leap tall buildings in a single bound… These are some of the iphone's subscription features.

There are no steroids in baseball. Just players that have touched an iphone.

When someone with an iphone is crossing the street, the cars have to look both ways.

The best part of waking up is not Folgers in your cup, but knowing that the iphone didn't kill you in your sleep.

The Great Wall of China was originally created to keep the iphone out. But NOTHING can keep the iphone out.If the iphone had been around, you wouldn't have heard of David or Goliath because it would have tasered both of their asses.

The iphone does not sleep. It waits.

What was going through the minds of all of the iphone's victims before they died? An iphone.

The iphone uses a language that incorporates taser shots and sudden temperature changes. So the next time the iphone is totally kicking your ass, don't be offended or hurt, it may be just trying to tell you it likes your hat.

In a recent survey it was discovered that 56% of women whose romantic partners had an iphone reported asking their lovers to bring their iphone with them to bed. And then asking them to leave.


Thursday, February 07, 2008

To Whom It May Concern...

Dear Dairy Products,

Oh how I miss thee.  I count the days until we can be together again, with no one coming between us.  Only 214 more days.   

Love,
Your Beloved Saki


****************************************************************

Dear Lactaid,

Fuck You.

No, really.  Fuck You.

Sincerely,
Saki

*****************************************************************

Dear Yoga Pants,

Don't tell Dairy Products, but you have become my new favorite thing in life.  

With Love Always,
The Very Comfortable Saki

Friday, February 01, 2008

In the land of oil

This morning, one of CNN's headliners was this story, regarding the ridiculous profiting of Exxon.  According to the report, Exxon is netting $1,300 per second.  In case you were wondering, that is the highest profit ever shown by any U.S. company.  

Nineteen years ago, due to gross negligence, one of Exxon's ships, the Valdez, was responsible for spilling eleven million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound.  Not only was this the largest oil spill ever to occur in U.S. waters, it is considered one of the biggest ecological disasters in the world because of the amount of coastline affected, and the massive loss of aquatic and marine life.  
Being coated with oil, the birds and other wildlife lose their ability to not only retain heat, but also to remain buoyant on the surface of the water.  In an attempt to cleanse themselves, the animals then ingested the crude oil spilled, resulting in a slow death of dehydration and starvation.  Rendered flightless, birds washed out to sea with the currents, unable to save themselves
You may have been comforted by those groups that "clean" the birds after a spill.  Or maybe you even remember those Dawn dish detergent commercials, depicting friendly faced volunteers happily scrubbing an oily duck.  Do you know what that process entails?  First, they catch the bird and then bring it to their facility.  Step two is "purging the bird," which is about as pleasant as it sounds.  A hose is shoved down it's throat and the bird is pumped full of a solution until all of the ingested oil has been shot out the other end.  Many don't make it through this process.  The survivors are then scrubbed, dried, scrubbed, dried, scrubbed, dried, until all of the oil has been removed.  This process, however, also removes the birds natural oils which help it to float and maintain body temperature.  So the clean birds are placed together in a giant temperature regulated room until their body produces enough natural oils for them to be returned to the wild. . . .Which is still covered in oil because 11 million gallons doesn't just clean itself up.

In fact, trying to remove crude oil from the shoreline has been compared to "trying to sop butter up off of a toasted english muffin."  The crevices and the pores just can not be fully cleaned and returned to their original state.  It will never be the same.  No amount of Dawn detergent, no amount of friendly faced volunteers will return it to it's natural state.  Scientists have estimated that as little as 10% of the oil spilled was actually retrieved.  

But I digress, I am getting off of my original topic.  Exxon was ordered to pay billions of dollars in punitive damages.  Now, I am not a fan of fixing mistakes with a wad of cash.  However, loss of natural beauty and wildlife aside, the Alaskan shore communities thrive on fishing.  It's their livelihood.  And it was ripped from beneath them because of Exxon.  Families were suddenly without income.  Their businesses, their boats, their homes, were oil soaked and destroyed.  

Nineteen years have passed now.  Long enough for children to have been born, grown, and graduate from high school.  Long enough for boats to have been scrapped, or replaced.  Long enough for marriages, divorces, and career changes.  Long enough for a good number of those fishermen from that maritime community to die in one of the many ways life and their chosen occupation offer. 

If you're still as angry as I am, drop Exxon a line, and tell them that this has been going on for nineteen years too long
Exxon Mobile
5959 Las Colinas Boulevard 
Irving, Texas 75039-2298 
(972) 444-1000 

Thursday, January 31, 2008

And then there was one.

I've been avoiding posting this, even though I've known since Monday.

I went in for an appointment with a new doctor, because the old one was seeming to be more and more of an incompetent asshat.  

There is only one viable baby.  It was in there, heart beating away, and the other is dark, shadowy, "reabsorbing" as the doctor gently put it.  

How lonely for the other one.  

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Thank you, Merriam-Webster

Electile Dysfunction: n.  The inability to become aroused over any of the choices for President put forth by any party in the 2008 election year.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Up close and personal with my uterus

I was right - I was measuring exactly a week behind. The new EDD is Sept 8th.

My uterus is retroverted, and the Dr. had a hard time getting a good shot of everything.  One baby is measuring perfectly 7w1d with a heart rate of 156. The other is teeeeeeeny tiny, and the Dr. couldn't locate a heartbeat. He said it's one of two things:

It's either a non-viable pregnancy that will reabsorb and will be no consequence to the first baby. He seemed to lean towards this, but refused to commit to anything. 

Or, because of the tilt of the uterus and bad angle he's getting a bad shot at it, and part of the baby is behind the other one, or it's just not a great angle for viewing the heartbeat. 

So...He offered a few courses of action. One was to come back in two weeks for an ultrasound. The other was to come back at 12 weeks for the nuchal translucency screening (which I was planning on getting anyway). i opted for the second one. I go back the last week of February for the screening, and then we'll know for sure.  I asked him "So, you don't think I'll be carrying twins to term?" and he said "I wouldn't bet the bank on it, but I've seen it happen."

I was so thrown off from the whole "Oh hey look! Two!" thing that I didn't ask for pics. Sorry guys.

How's THAT for an update?

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

But...It has CARBS!

People are always on the lookout for a new diet, especially this time of year when resolutions are still fresh on everyone's brain.  THe trouble with most diets is that you don't get enough to eat (The Starvation Diet), you don't get enough variation (The Liquid Diet) or you go broke (The All-Meat Diet).  Consequently, people tend to cheat on their diets, or quit after three days.

Over the years, you may have noticed that most two year olds are pretty trim.  Now the formula to their success is available to all in this new diet.  You may want to consult your doctor before embarking on this diet, otherwise, you may be seeing him afterwards.  Good luck, and I present to you:

The Toddler Miracle Diet
DAY ONE

Breakfast:  One scrambled egg, one piece of toast with grape jelly.  Eat two bites of egg, using your fingers.  Dump the rest on the floor.  Take one bite of toast, then smear jelly over your face and clothes.

Lunch:  Four crayons (any color), a handful of potato chips, and a glass of milk.  (Take only three sips of milk, then spill the rest onto the carpet.)

Dinner:  A stick, two pennies, a nickel, four sips of flat Sprite.

Bedtime Snack:  Throw a piece of toast onto the kitchen floor.


DAY TWO

Breakfast:  Pick up stale toast from kitchen floor and eat it.  Drink half bottle of vanilla extract or one vial of food coloring.

Lunch:  Half tube of "Pulsating Pink" lipstick and a handful of Purina Dog Chow (any flavor).  One ice cube, if desired.

Afternoon Snack:  Lick a lollipop until sticky, take outside, drop in dirt.  Retrieve and continue slurping until it's clean again.  Then bring inside and drop on rug.

Dinner:   A rock or uncooked bean, which should be thrust up your left nostril.  Pour grape juice over mashed potatoes and eat with a spoon.

DAY THREE

Breakfast:  Two pancakes with plenty of syrup.  Eat one with fingers after rubbing in hair.  Glass of milk.  Drink half, stuff other pancake in glass.  After breakfast, pick up yesterdays lollipop from rug, lick off fuzz, put it on the cushion of best chair.

Lunch:  Three matches, peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Spit several bites onto the floor.  Pour glass of milk on the table and then lap up like a dog.

Dinner:  Dish of ice cream, handful of potato chips, some cherry juice.  Try to laugh juice through your nose, if possible.

DAY FOUR

Breakfast:  One quarter tube of toothpaste (any flavor), bit of soap, an olive.  Pour a glass of milk over a bowl of cornflakes, add half a cup of sugar.  Once cereal is soggy, drink milk and feed cereal to the dog.

Lunch:  Eat bread crumbs off kitchen and dining room carpet.  Find that lollipop and finish eating it.

Dinner:  Drop pieces of spaghetti onto the dog's back.  Insert meatball into ear.  Dump pudding into milk and drink with a straw.  



Repeat days of diet as needed!!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

A fish's dream should stay in the sea

We took Cecilia to the Baltimore Aquarium on Sunday.  I wasn't quite sure how the day would go, because when the alarm clock went off at 7am, homegirl wasn't exactly enthusiastic about getting out of bed.  Or about her bath.  Or getting dressed.  Or getting in the carseat.  You get the picture.  She perked up a little bit when she discovered breakfast was a donut with rainbow sprinkles.

After a longish and uneventfulish drive to the inner harbor, we paid the astronomical twenty two flippin dollars to get into the damn aquarium.  But it was worth it to see her reaction.

Cecilia loves fish.  We have a little 20 gallon tank here at home, with half a dozen fish, some snails and a few shrimp.  She likes to watch the fish, pointing and yelling "ISH!!!  Mama!!  Ish!!!!"

She thought the aquarium was the best place ever.  She stood at the giant plexiglass tanks, waiting for the fish to swim by.  As they approached, she'd do a little bounce.  And as they passed her by, she would wave and yell "Bye!!  bye ish!  Love you!"  

My kid is SO cute. 

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Let's all go to Gullah Gullah Island

I went to the midwife** on Monday for my first prenatal, which was pretty uneventful, other than the three sticks it took for the Quest technician to draw my blood.  "It hurts me more than it hurts you," she said.  "I hate when I have to stick twice, and it kills me when I have to stick three times."  

Uh huh.  I'm pretty sure it definitely hurts me more.  

Yesterday, the nurse calls back with the results - glucose is good, HIV is negative, obviously, beta hormone levels are at 2800, which according to her is "Much too low to sustain a six week pregnancy," and i'd have to come in on Thursday for a second blood draw to ensure properly rising hormone levels.  Since I was in the waiting room at a different (and unrelated) doctors office, I cut the conversation short, and by the time I was finished with that doctor, the midwife had left the building.  Sadface.  

The midwife called bright and early this morning, and cheerfully announced that my hormone levels were 2800, but she thought I was closer to 4 weeks than 6 weeks anyway, and that I could come in the have them checked again, if I wanted.  

Excuse me?  

I spent a good portion of yesterday moping around, because as most of you know, or I guess maybe you don't, I was less than excited by the news of this pregnancy.  And by less than excited I mean threw-myself-down-on-the-bed-bemoaning-my-existence-and-swearing-my-life-is-ruined.  I've since come around, and now the new baby has a nickname - Binya Binya.  And everyone knows that once something is named it's officially part of the family.  It's become a little more real, and acceptable to me, and I suddenly felt guilty, as if I wished negative things on the baby in the midst of my pity party sob fest.  

Anyway, since I still entirely feel pregnant, and continue to get more crabby and cranky as the day goes on, I am assuming all is well.  But I'm still going to get the numbers checked - just in case ;)  




**  Haha, look at me all having a midwife instead of a doctor.  Fancy pants.  I wanted to have the baby at home with an even crunchier midwife, and completely avoid all this hoopla, but it got the swift and stern veto from everyone I brought it up to.  Boo.  

Friday, January 04, 2008

Homeslice

Wok: I'm making a list of all the reasons I'm glad you're pregnant. Wanna hear it
Saki: Ya.
Wok: 1. im gonna be a god mother
           2. you cant belly flop me in the mornign or you'll squish the baby
           3. we can eat all day and loaf cause i can be sympathy pregnant.
           4. finally there will be someone who pees as much as i do
and
           5. its a new baby to play with


.......To Be Continued...........

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

2008

Well, the long awaited 2008 is here.

It brought with it a dying car, which is currently being fixed to the tune of 3k. Lovely.

It also brought this:
Photobucket


How 'bout that shit, huh?

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Candy is Dandy, but Liquor is Quicker

With the holidays fast approaching, things are in full swing here at the Casa de Costa. Usually by this time, I'm elbow deep in flour, sugar and butter, as I make cookies to send to the neighbors, and family and friends.

This year, however. I've decided that cookies are like, SO 2006. This year is the year of candy, kids. The menu goes as follows:

Chocolate covered pretzels
Chocolate dipped oreos
Kahlua truffles
Pecan Caramel turtles
Coconut haystacks
Fudge
Chocolate covered coconut (think almond joys)
Peanut butter balls.


And thus concludes the insanity. I'll update if this half baked plan actually takes place :)

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Zen

INNER PEACE Calmness in Our Lives.

I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives. By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show (no, seriously), you too can find inner peace.

Dr. Phil proclaimed, the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished."

So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, a bottle of Vodka, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos and a box of chocolates.

You have no idea how freaking good I feel.

Friday, December 07, 2007

Paging Ms. Sasaki!

M, email me :) I know you read this. Do iiiiiiiit.

lilmissimpatient@comcast.net

Thursday, December 06, 2007

In My Daughters Eyes

My kid loves to read. I mean LOVES to read. Homegirl will sit still all day if there is a welcoming lap and books to be read. Sometimes, if there's no one around to read to her, she busts out one of her books and reads to her doll, pointing out the important characters, like we do when we read to her. Eavesdropping outside her door, you can hear her telling her doll "Duck. See? Duuuuuck."

She has no shortage of books of her own. Though, I must admit...I've hidden a few of her books from time to time. One can only read "My Food: Guess what I like to eat" or "8 Silly Monkeys" so many times before one begins to grey prematurely. Despite the impressive library of cardboard books, she still finds interest in the three bookshelves that I have filled with books from college, newer books, well read books, and books on my "if I ever have an hour to myself ever again, I'd like to start to read this book" books. It's pretty comical to see her sitting with her doll, reading Dostoevsky or Alice Walker. Prime toddler reading material.

Anyway, last week, she came running up to me, holding a book, proudly announcing "DADDY!!" as she pointed to the cover of the book. I roared with laughter, because the cover of the book depicted a woman with long flowing dark hair. "Daddy!" she insisted, handing me the book. I don't even know where the book came from. I think maybe freecycle in a grab bag of books? Who knows.

Anyway, Evan was pretty peeved when I giggled the story to him. He sat down with Cecilia and the book at the table and he pointed to the woman on the cover. "Is that Daddy?" he asked her. "No. Mama." she answered. Evan smirked. Cecilia didn't think he was a woman afterall. Then, she pointed to a picture in the background that I failed to notice. "Daddy." she said, pointing to a sketchy dark haired man in the background. "Mama, Daddy" she said pointing to the two pictures.

And so, in my daughters eyes, I am...Native American? Greek? Whatever it is, I'm pretty poorly dressed.

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Monday, November 26, 2007

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas time!!!! And with only 28 shopping days until Christmas, and black Friday behind us, you guys had better get a move on.

I dragged my sorry self (and my husbands even sorrier self...and my 18 month old) out of bed at 4:15 on Friday morning to go stand in line like an asshole at Circuit City, in hopes of electronics on sale. Not only was it 40 below, but the group of seven men in their mid twenties behind us were so drunk they could barely stand. One wore a beer cooler on his back, like a backpack, and they joined together in songs about standing in line, and mocking other people waiting in line with them. I kept hoping that at any second they would just fall over and pass out on the concrete, but no such luck.

From there it was Target, Sams, EB Games, Walmart, Pier 1, and two malls. WTF was I thinking?

Since today is Cyber Monday may I suggest that you wrap up some holiday shopping (or start holiday shopping, as the case may be) at Art From the Ashes**. You won't be disappointed.



**Yes, I am shameless :)

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Vote early, Vote often, Vote Democrat

It's election day! I know you all are busy doing the happy dance that the pre-recorded-trash-talking-phone-calls will stop, and the obnoxiously large, highly glossy, libel filled fliers will stop pouring our of your mailbox, but don't forget to take a minute to GO VOTE!

If you don't vote, you lose your right to complain about:
Taxes
Schools
Roads
Public Services
The Police Department
The President (and all of his henchmen)
The weather
The middle east
The war
Car insurance
Health insurance
..and pretty much everything else that you guys like to complain about. Voting is easy, it's fast, and it's kinda fun. GO DO IT.


Are you still sitting there reading? WTF? GO VOTE!!!

Monday, November 05, 2007

A belated Happy Halloween!!!!

Getting psyched up for the big Trick-or-Treat
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"Mom, this hat is ridiculously large, and everyone will laugh at me."
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"GIVE ME CANDY! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOW"
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"Daddy gave me candy. HE loves me."
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"Soooooo tiiiiiiired..must...fill....bucket..with....candy.."
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Friday, November 02, 2007

NaNo!

November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, as it is (semi) affetionately called. Its a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

So, wait, the what now? To recap:

What: Writing one 50,000-word novel from scratch in a month's time.

Who: You! We can't do this unless we have some other people trying it as well. Let's write laughably awful yet lengthy prose together.

Why: The reasons are endless! To actively participate in one of our era's most enchanting art forms! To write without having to obsess over quality. To be able to make obscure references to passages from our novels at parties. To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.

When: Sign-ups begin October 1, 2007. Writing begins November 1. To be added to the official list of winners, you must reach the 50,000-word mark by November 30 at midnight. Once your novel has been verified by our web-based team of robotic word counters, the partying begins.

Are you up for the challenge? For the record, at 1:23 on the second day, my word count is zero. but fear not, dearest blog readers, there will be output. Oh yes. There will be output.

And for those who are slightly more faint of heart, there is also NaBloPoMo National Blog Posting Month. Not quite as drastic, but we can't ALL live on the edge, now can we? The challenge of NaBloPoMo is to make a blog post every singe day in the month of November. And so, Mike, Lauren, Lindsay, Elisabeth, Oooooohhh that's right, I'm calling out names. Sign up, and blog. Write!

Watch out, kids, creative juices will be flowing EVERYWHERE!

Friday, October 26, 2007

'Tis the season

Of scumbag politicians and all that nonsense. So, in the spirit of the season, a thought -

The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion," casually,
think about whether or not you want the politician spending your tax
money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising
agency did a good job of putting that figure into perspective in one
of its releases.

a. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
b. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
c. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
d. A billion days ago no-one walked on two feet on earth.
e. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate
our government spends it.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Daaaaaaaddy....

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I want a pony noooooooooooooooow

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Betchya didn't know...

Two names you go by:
1. Saki
2. Babe

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Black tanktop
2. Pink yoga pants

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. spend time with family & friends
2. garden

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. a nap
2. To win the lotto, pay off the house, cars, etc

Two favorite pets you have had/have
1. Guido
2. Rizzo

Two people who will fill this out
1. Lauren
2. Ambah

Things you ate today:
1. Rye toast
2. 3 pieces of gum

Two people you last talked to:
1. My mom :)
2. Evan

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Getting a costume for my Happy Halloweeny girl :)
2. Playing with chalk outside

Two longest car rides:
1. Mobile, AL to Cliffside, NJ
2. Northfield, NJ to Boston, MA. It wasn't THAT long, but god it felt like it

Two favorite holidays:
1. Christmas Eve
2. My BIRTHDAY :)

Two favorite beverages:
1. Green tea
2. Hot chocolate

Now, here's what you're supposed to do ... and please do not spoil the fun. Copy this, delete my answers and type in your answers. Leave the whole thing in my comments so I feel loved and adored. Because I am loved and adored....right?

Thursday, September 20, 2007

The Mima

Jemma: I think God's trying to tell me something.

Saki: ?

Jemma: this morning walking outta 7-11 i almost get backed into by a Herr's potato chip truck. so close. In gym, i was bent down, and when i stood up, i got hit in the head with a football. THEN they're doing work on franklin so my bus driver dropped me off on davis and second...which really had nothing to do with my god tryna tell me something, it was just a major inconvenience.

Saki: God's tryin' to tell you to shop at WaWa.

Jemma: Do you know how packed it is in there?

Saki: Dude, don't mess with the word of God.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Tales from the MSNBCasey Vault

Once upon a time......

In a not so distant past, Luker bought a motorcycle.
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He brought the motorcycle over, in hopes that he and The Hubbin' could hoist it up onto the back of his truck, as Luker is only one man, and can not drive both a motorcycle and truck simultaneously. The back of the truck was emptied, in preparation for the bike.
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Not wanting to be hasty, Luker and the Hubbin' surveyed the situation, deciding upon the best way to lift it.
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"How much does that weigh?" I asked Luker. "Eh. About 400lbs or so," he answered, pulling on his gloves. But it has a full tank of gas. So maybe a little more." I just nodded, watching the menfolk. Lauren and I stood beside each other, snickering here and there as the Great Motorcycle Hoist of 2006 attracted the neighbors, but was failing to get off the ground. Lauren, not being one to stand idle, finally came forward, and showed the boys how it was done.
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Victory, AT LAST!
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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

And what would Tuesday be without a good Dubya joke?

The US Postal Service has issued a recall of a stamp they created with a
picture of President George W. Bush to honor his achievements while serving
as the president of our nation. The problem was discovered when claims had
been made that the stamp was not sticking to envelopes, and that mail which
had been sent using the "Bush" postage was not being delivered. President
Bush demanded a full investigation into the allegations. A special Postal
Service Investigation team was formed and after several months and many
dollars spent, made the following findings:

*The stamp was manufactured properly.
*There was nothing wrong with the adhesive.
*People were just spitting on the wrong side

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Catch O' The Day




Last night we were largely unsuccessful at crabbing, with our wholloping five crabs. Three of crabs were almost keepers. Almost.

Maybe we should call it catfishing? :)

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

For Serious.

A girl from New Jersey and a girl from the west coast were seated side by side on an airplane.

The girl from New Jersey , being friendly and all said, "So, where ya from?"

The west coast girl said, "From a place where they know better than to use a preposition at the end of a sentence."

The girl from New Jersey , sat quietly for a few moments and then replied: "So, where ya from.... bitch?"

Friday, August 03, 2007

Start a revolution

The lovely Lauren the Great has called my attention to this atrocity. The "Second Look Project" is a prolife organization, calling for people to "take a second look at the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. They feel the need to flaunt their skewed views and half truths on the DC Metro with larger than life sized posters, placed in the front of the metrobus, for everyone who gets on and off to see.

Since the DC Metro is not self sufficient, meaning, the fares collected do not sufficiently cover operating expenses, the shortfall is collected from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. A portion of our taxes go to the metro to help cover operation. I endorse mass transit. Honestly, I do. Better for the environment, keeps traffic under control, you can drink yourself into a stupor and take the bus to within a few blocks of your front door. Rah, Metro.

However, I can no longer support this public service that blatantly speaks out against the rights of women. Fact is, by age 45, 1 out of every 2.5 women in the United States has had at least one abortion.

Who are these women? They are single women, married women and divorced women. They are your sisters, your cousins, your aunts, your mothers, your neighbors, your co-workers, your schoolmates, they are women you see every day when you go out into the world. These women come from all different age groups, races, socio-economic levels and religions. They are the women sitting beside you on the metro bus.

How dare a publicly funded service speak for me, by advertising this crap. If you're as outraged as I am, speak up!

You can contact the Second Look Project directly:

Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Contact: Deirdre McQuade
202-541-3070

And you can also contact the DC Metro, and tell them that you refuse to use their services, until they take an unbiased stance on this issue:

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority*
600 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-962-1234
csvc@wmata.com

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Dear Capital Beltway

FUCK YOU. That is all.



PS - Maryland, fuck you too :)

Saturday, July 21, 2007

A little Shel Silverstein love

There once was a boy named Gimme-Some-Roy...
He was nothin' like me or you,
'cause laying back and getting high
was all he cared to do.
As a kid, he sat in the cellar...sniffing airplane glue.
And then he smoked banana peels, when that was the thing to do.
He tried aspirin in Coca-Cola, he breathed helium on the sly,
and his life became an endless search to find the perfect high.

But grass just made him wanna lay back and eat chocolate-chip pizza all night,
and the great things he wrote when he was stoned looked like shit in the morning light.
Speed made him wanna rap all day, reds laid him too far back,
Cocaine-Rose was sweet to his nose, but the price nearly broke his back.

He tried PCP, he tried THC, but they never quite did the trick.
Poppers nearly blew his heart, mushrooms made him sick.
Acid made him see the light, but he couldn't remember it long.
Hash was a little too weak, and smack was a lot too strong.
Quaaludes made him stumble, booze just made him cry,
Then he heard of a cat named Baba Fats who knew of the perfect high.

Now, Baba Fats was a hermit cat...lived high up in Nepal,
High on a craggy mountain top, up a sheer and icy wall.
"Well, hell!" says Roy, "I'm a healthy boy, and I'll crawl or climb or fly,
Till I find that guru who'll give me the clue as to what's the perfect high."

So out and off goes Gimme-Some-Roy, to the land that knows no time,
Up a trail no man could conquer, to a cliff no man could climb.
For fourteen years he climbed that cliff...back down again he'd slide
He'd sit and cry, then climb some more, pursuing the perfect high.

Grinding his teeth, coughing blood, aching and shaking and weak,
Starving and sore, bleeding and tore, he reaches the mountain peak.
And his eyes blink red like a snow-blind wolf, and he snarls the snarl of a rat,
As there in repose, and wearing no clothes, sits the god-like Baba Fats.

"What's happenin', Fats?" says Roy with joy, "I've come to state my biz
I hear you're hip to the perfect trip... Please tell me what it is.
"For you can see," says Roy to he, "I'm about to die,
So for my last ride, tell me, how can I achieve the perfect high?"

"Well, dog my cats!" says Baba Fats. "Another burned out soul,
Who's lookin' for an alchemist to turn his trip to gold.
It isn't in a dealer's stash, or on a druggist's shelf
Son, if you would find the perfect high, find it in yourself."

"Why, you jive motherfucker!" says Roy, "I climbed through rain and sleet,
I froze three fingers off my hands, and four toes off my feet!
I braved the lair of the polar bear, I've tasted the maggot's kiss.
Now, you tell me the high is in myself? What kinda shit is this?

My ears, before they froze off," says Roy, "had heard all kindsa crap;
But I didn't climb for fourteen years to hear your sophomore rap.
And I didn't climb up here to hear that the high is on the natch,
So you tell me where the real stuff is, or I'll kill your guru ass!"

"Okay...okay," says Baba Fats, "You're forcin' it outta me...
There is a land beyond the sun that's known as Zabolee.
A wretched land of stone and sand, where snakes and buzzards scream,
And in this devil's garden blooms the mystic Tzutzu tree.

Now, once every ten years it blooms one flower, as white as the Key West sky,
And he who eats of the Tzutzu flower shall know the perfect high.
For the rush comes on like a tidal wave...hits like the blazin' sun.
And the high? It lasts forever, and the down don't never come.

But, Zabolee Land is ruled by a giant, who stands twelve cubits high,
And with eyes of red in his hundred heads, he awaits the passer-by.
And you must slay the red-eyed giant, and swim the river of slime,
Where the mucous beasts await to feast on those who journey by.
And if you slay the giant and beasts, and swim the slimy sea,
There's a blood-drinking witch who sharpens her teeth as she guards the Tzutzu tree."

"Well, to hell with your witches and giants," says Roy, "To hell with the beasts of the sea
Why, as long as the Tzutzu flower still blooms, hope still blooms for me."
And with tears of joy in his sun-blind eyes, he slips the guru a five,
And crawls back down the mountainside, pursuing the perfect high.

"Well, that is that," says Baba Fats, sitting back down on his stone,
Facing another thousand years of talking to God, alone.
"Yes, Lord, it's always the same...old men or bright-eyed youth...
It's always easier to sell 'em some shit than it is to tell them the truth."

Monday, July 09, 2007

What's my age again?

Since it's officially hot as balls here our morning routine of playing outside has been cancelled in lieu of sitting in the air conditioning and watching Sesame Street.

Have I ever told you how much I adore this show?? This morning I was particularly amused to find "Law & Order: Special Letters Unit" and any self respecting Law & Order fan will appreciate this:








Muahahahaha

Monday, June 25, 2007

The face of sick

Cecilia had been feeling like crap the past few days, when her fever spiked to 105, we brought her to the ER. They ran a bunch of tests, and admitted her last night. Her white cell count is really high, and her fever is fluctuating. They have her on a broad antibiotic, and a bag of fluids. No one seems to know what's wrong with her, they think it's a bacterial infection of some sort.

Keep her in your thoughts, guys. She's so little and sad.




Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Thou Shalt Not Flip the Bird

Vatican issues 10 Commandments for drivers


VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Got road rage? The Vatican on Tuesday issued a set of "Ten Commandments" for drivers, telling motorists to be charitable to others on the highways, to refrain from drinking and driving, and to pray you make it before you even buckle up.

An unusual document from the Vatican's office for migrants and itinerant people also warned that automobiles can be "an occasion of sin" -- particularly when they are used for dangerous passing or for prostitution.

It warned about the effects of road rage, saying driving can bring out "primitive" behavior in motorists, including "impoliteness, rude gestures, cursing, blasphemy, loss of sense of responsibility or deliberate infringement of the highway code."

It urged motorists to obey traffic regulations, drive with a moral sense, and to pray when behind the wheel.

Cardinal Renato Martino, who heads the office, told a news conference that the Vatican felt it necessary to address the pastoral needs of motorists because driving had become such a big part of contemporary life.

He noted that the Bible was full of people on the move, including Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus -- and that his office is tasked with dealing with all "itinerant" people -- from refugees to prostitutes, truck drivers to the homeless.

"We know that as a consequence of transgressions and negligence, 1.2 million people die each year on the roads," Martino said. "That's a sad reality, and at the same time, a great challenge for society and the church."

The document, "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road," extols the benefits of driving -- family outings, getting the sick to the hospital, allowing people to see other cultures.

But it laments a host of ills associated with automobiles: Drivers use their cars to show off; driving "provides an easy opportunity to dominate others" by speeding; drivers can kill themselves and others if they don't get their cars regular tuneups, if they drink, use drugs or fall asleep at the wheel.

It also pointed the finger at traffic problems particular to Rome, including "minicars" that teens can drive without full driving licenses, and "the reckless use of motorbikes and motorcycles."

It called for drivers to obey speed limits and to exercise a host of Christian virtues: charity to fellow drivers, prudence on the roads, hope of arriving safely and justice in the event of crashes.

And it suggested prayer might come in handy -- performing the sign of the cross before starting off and saying the Rosary along the way. The Rosary was particularly well suited to recitation by all in the car since its "rhythm and gentle repetition does not distract the driver's attention."

The document is intended for bishops conferences around the world, and as such offered recommendations for their pastoral workers, including setting up chapels along motorways and having "periodic celebration of liturgies at major road hubs, motorway restaurants and lorry parks."

'Drivers' Ten Commandments'

The "Drivers' Ten Commandments," as listed by the document, are:

1. You shall not kill.

2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.

5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.

7. Support the families of accident victims.

8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

10. Feel responsible toward others.


************************************

Does the catholic church have nothing better to do with their time than sit around and brainstorm ANOTHER set of commandments? And seriously, isn't that kind of like blasphemy? I bet god is pissed like whoa.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Protect and Cherish; Give Wings to Fly


Welcome to The Family, Gianna.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Be A Superhero!!!***

***Some restrictions apply

Drug Agency Reaffirms Ban on Gay Men Giving Blood

WASHINGTON, May 23 (AP) — Gay men remain barred from donating blood, the government said Wednesday, leaving in place a 1983 prohibition meant to prevent the spread of H.I.V. through transfusions.

The Food and Drug Administration reaffirmed the policy on its Web site on Wednesday, more than a year after the Red Cross and two other blood groups criticized the ban as “medically and scientifically unwarranted.”

“I am disappointed, I must confess,” said Dr. Celso Bianco, executive vice president of America’s Blood Centers, whose members provide nearly half the nation’s blood supply.

Before giving blood, all men are asked if they have had sex, even once, with another man since 1977, when the AIDS epidemic began in the United States, according to the drug agency. Those who say they have are barred from donating. The drug agency says those men are at increased risk of infection by H.I.V., which can be transmitted by blood transfusion. Anyone who has used intravenous drugs or been paid for sex is also permanently barred from donating blood.

In March 2006, the Red Cross, the international blood association AABB and America’s Blood Centers proposed replacing the lifetime ban with a one-year deferral after male-to-male sexual contact. New and improved tests, which can detect H.I.V.-positive donors within 10 to 21 days of infection, make the lifetime ban unnecessary, the blood groups told the F.D.A.

In a document posted Wednesday, the drug agency said it would change its policy if it received data proving that doing so would not pose a “significant and preventable” risk to blood recipients.

The agency said the H.I.V. tests now in use were highly accurate, but still could not detect the virus 100 percent of the time. The estimated H.I.V. risk from a unit of blood is about one per two million in the United States, according to the agency.

Critics of the exclusionary policy say it bars potential healthy donors, despite the increasing need for donated blood, and discriminates against gay men. The F.D.A. acknowledges that the restriction means many healthy donors cannot give blood, but rejected the suggestion that the policy was discriminatory.

_______________________________________________

What a crock of shit this is. Send the FDA a strongly worded email telling them what bigoted assholes they are. I did :)

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Friday, May 04, 2007

She had two hairs upon her head, one was black and the other was red

My daughter was born with a massive amount of silky hair. I imagined all the bows, ribbons, barrettes and decorations I could bestowe upon her tresses. Ahhh, I love having a girl.

But then all her hair fell out before she was a month old. I never got the chance to use so much as a headband.

Until today!

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"Um, mom. For real. This palmtree-looking-thing on my head has GOT to go. It's like, so 1987"

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

But what is the other 12%

You Are 88% Democrat

You are a card carrying Democrat, and a pretty far left one at that!
There's no chance anyone would ever mistake you for a Republican.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

But Wesley, what about the ROUS's?

Our backyard cascades into what we (semi)lovingly refer to as "the fire swamp." If you've ever been to my house, you'll know what I'm talking about. Large, knotted trees, intertwined with vines several inches thick. Dense, green, damp underbrush crowds every square inch of useable space. I have ventured through the entire area, but I'm pretty sure there's lightening sand somewhere over by the Pitts' house, all of this glory is cut in the middle by a stream. Placid.

There is also no shortage of wildlife in the fireswamp. Poisonous snakes, bats, more bats, toads, more toads, and a family of foxes (foxes? Fox? foxen? Foxii?) who have escape my paparazzi abilities.

Sounds pleasant, right? Nice quiet street, nice quiet house, nestled in nature, abundant wildlife....

For the love of god, shut the wildlife up.

I'm a mom. I get about 3.67 non-consecutive hours of sleep in any given 24 hour time frame. I treasure those hours. I think about them often, and they motivate me. And so, when I climb into my comfy bed, excited by the cool breeze blowing gently over my face, inhaling the fresh air, it disturbs me greatly when I can't sleep.

And why can't I sleep, you ask?

Lets start with the owls. For the love of christ, the owls. WhooooooooooooOOOOOOO WhooooooooOOOOOOOOO *pause long enough for me to think they've flown away* WhoooooooooOOOOO WhoooooooooOOOOOOOOO

Add in the bullfrogs from the stream. Bullfrog don't ribbit or make a cute noise. Their sound is somthing akin to a frat boy beer belch. BWWAAAAP. BWAAAAAP.

Followed by the foxes (foxen.) The foxes make noises like a cat that's been hit by a car. Breeerrrrraaawwrrrr breeeerrrrraaawwwrrr.

The crickets, who make a somewhat nice noise, but since I am deathly afraid of them, it gives me the heebiejeebies.

My husband chimes in, with a nasally sleeping on his back snorky snore. Snnnoooooorrrrkkkkkk kkkkkk skooorrrrrkkk

Just as I think I'm about to go crazy laying in bed, trying to sleep but unable, my lovely Cecilia chimes in with "mem?" "Mem?" "MEMMY!!!!"



WhooooooooooooOOOOOOOWhooooooooOOOOOOOOOWhoooooooooOOOOOWhoooooooooOOOOOOOOO BWWAAAAP.BWAAAAAP BWWAAAAP.BWAAAAAPBreeerrrrraaawwrrrrbreeeerrrrraaawwwrrr.Breeerrrrraaawwrrrrbreeeerrrrraaawwwrrr. Snnnoooooorrrrkkkkkk kkkkkk skooorrrrrkkkSnnnoooooorrrrkkkkkk kkkkkk skooorrrrrkkkmem?Mem?Memmy?mem?mememememememememem?


So much for sleep.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

5 years

When I look back on those times
and those dreams left behind
I'll be glad.
Because I was blessed
to have you in my life.

When I look back on those days
I'll look
and see your face.

In my dreams,
I'll always see you soar
above the sky.

In my heart,
there will always be a place for you
for all my life.

I'll keep a part of you with me
and everywhere I am
there you'll be.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Beware! Bewaaaaaaaarrreeeeeee!

Ch...ch...ch...AH..Ah..ah..





muahahahaha

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Happy Easter

From my chick to yours :)

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Thursday, April 05, 2007

Reason #57392520 why I love my sister

The scene: The Beauty Supply Store; Saki and Wok are perusing the hair products

Wok: This says "For virgin hair"
Saki: Virgin hair?
Wok: I guess they mean hair that you have never used stuff on. Or maybe like dye.
Saki: *snorts and giggles*
Wok: *shoving it back on the shelf* My hair has been like....gangbanged.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Because...

My sister and I are mean to my mom, Easter is hereby cancelled.

Don't tell the Pope.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

And on the 8th day, god created frank zappa

Whoever we are
Wherever were from
We shoulda noticed by now
Our behavior is dumb
And if our chances
Expect to improve
Its gonna take a lot more
Than tryin to remove
The other race
Or the other whatever
From the face
Of the planet altogether

They call it the earth
Which is a dumb kinda name
But they named it right
cause we behave the same...
We are dumb all over
Dumb all over,
Yes we are
Dumb all over,
Near n far
Dumb all over,
Black n white
People, we is not wrapped tight

Nurds on the left
Nurds on the right
Religous fanatics
On the air every night
Sayin the bible
Tells the story
Makes the details
Sound real gory
bout what to do
If the geeks over there
Dont believe in the book
We got over here

You cant run a race
Without no feet
n pretty soon
There wont be no street
For dummies to jog on
Or doggies to dog on
Religous fanatics
Can make it be all gone
(I mean it wont blow up
n disappear
Itll just look ugly
For a thousand years...)

You cant run a country
By a book of religion
Not by a heap
Or a lump or a smidgeon
Of foolish rules
Of ancient date
Designed to make
You all feel great
While you fold, spindle
And mutilate
Those unbelievers
From a neighboring state

To arms! to arms!
Hooray! thats great
Two legs aint bad
Unless theres a crate
They ship the parts
To mama in
For souvenirs: two ears (get down!)
Not his, not hers, (but what the hey? )
The good book says:
(it gotta be that way!)
But their book says:
Revenge the crusades...
With whips n chains
n hand grenades...
Two arms? two arms?
Have another and another
Our God says:
There aint no other!
Our God says
Its all okay!
Our God says
This is the way!

It says in the book:
Burn n destroy...
n repent, n redeem
n revenge, n deploy
n rumble thee forth
To the land of the unbelieving scum on the other side
cause they dont go for whats in the book
n that makes em bad
So verily we must choppeth them up
And stompeth them down
Or rent a nice french bomb
To poof them out of existance
While leaving their real estate just where we need it
To use again
For temples in which to praise our god
(cause he can really take care of business!)

And when his humble tv servant
With humble white hair
And humble glasses
And a nice brown suit
And maybe a blond wife who takes phone calls
Tells us our God says
Its okay to do this stuff
Then we gotta do it,
cause if we dont do it,
We aint g'wine up to hebbin!
(depending on which book youre using at the
Time...cant use theirs... it dont work
...its all lies...gotta use mine...)
Aint that right?
Thats what they say
Every night...
Every day...
Hey, we cant really be dumb
If were just following gods orders
Hey, lets get serious...
God knows what hes doin
He wrote this book here
An the book says:
He made us all to be just like him,
So...
If were dumb...
Then God is dumb...
(an maybe even a little ugly on the side)

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Shinin' Down Like Water

I was looking through a box of old pictures today. Pictures of my family from the 30's and 40's. My grandparents, young, sweet faced, my grandfather in his Air Force uniform, my grandmother standing proudly holding onto his arm. I touched their faces, traced my fingers over the yellowed newspaper clippings in their scrapbook.

I made a pile of photos. Photos of smiling faces and summer homes that I didn't recognize. "I'll ask Papou," I thought.

My mother came home from work, excited to see I was pouring through the photos. "What are these ones set out for?" she asked as she picked up the stack of unknowns.

"Oh, I was just going to ask..." and then my voice got stuck. Stuck deep down in my chest and I couldn't say it. I had forgotten.

His number is still programmed into my phone, but I know it by heart anyway. I haven't called it in over two years now. Two years. Has it really been that long?

Sometimes it seems so close, I can still smell his cologne, his marlboros, the cold air on his jacket as he came into the house; tall, proud, noble. I can feel the stubble on his face as he bent his 6'7" frame to hug me.

But more than that, I still feel him around me. Thank god for that.

Friday, March 09, 2007

When we two parted

When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
Sunk chill on my brow -
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame:
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes over me -
Why were thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee
Who knew thee too well:
Long, long shall I rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met -
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Legend of the Concrete Donkey

Or, "What My Mother Bought Me For Valentines Day"


Once upon a time...

Many years ago, I'm going to guess and say a good 5 years ago, my mother and I were driving home from dropping my sister off at her gymnastics lesson. We passed a house that was clearly packing up to move, and on the curb was a HUGE pile of all sorts of good things that didn't fit into the truck, or didn't coordinate in the new house, or something. Anyway, they were throwing out a lot of good stuff. Namely, a concrete lawn donkey, with little saddlebags for planting flowers in. I squealed in delight and commanded my mother to pull over.

"Why?" she asked. This came as a surprise, because my mother takes a great deal of pleasure in plucking antique knickknacks out of curb piles such as this.

"Because I want that donkey!" I yelled in dispair as we drove farther from the house. "Mom!!! TURN AROUND" and so, she did. I was right. There he was, in all of his concrete glory, Dominick Ee-Aww Ee-Aww. She slowed down in front of the house so I could get a better view. "Okay, now stop!" I said, pulling at the door handle.

But she wouldn't stop! She said I'd have to cross the traffic on Mill Rd. to get the donkey, and we had to go that way on the way back from picking my sister up, and I'd be on the right side of the road to just hop out and grab Dominick Ee-Aww Ee-Aww. I wasn't pleased with the idea, but there wasn't much I could do, being seated in the passengers seat and all.

And so, we spent the hour running errands, then picked up my sister, and headed back up Mill Rd. so that I could claim Dominick Ee-Aww Ee-Aww for my own. My stomach knotted as we got close. The pile of stuff on the curb was significantly smaller. My mom passed the house, but he was gone! My donkey had been STOLEN! I looked around frantically, hoping maybe someone had just moved him, but no. All that was left was a sad patch of bent, pressed down grass where Dominick Ee-Aww Ee-Aww had rested just an hour before.

I stormed back in the car, and declared that someone had stolen the donkey. My mother laughed. She's cruel like that.

"MOM!" I said, growing ever more irritated with her blase attitude about my donkey.

Her cheeks grew red as she ried to hold in her guffaws. "What would you like me to do?" she asked, her voice cracking. I can't be sure, but I'm pretty sure she was being sarcastic.

"I want you to drive around the neighborhood so I can see if someone has MY donkey on THEIR front lawn!! That's what I want you to do!"

She sighed, and we started our adventure, slowly trolling up and down the adjacent neighborhood as I sat, half hanging out the window looking for Dominick Ee-Aww Ee-Aww. "Are you looking on your side?" I asked her. She didn't answer, but I think she was.

"So... What are you going to do if you see it on someone's front lawn? We can't steal it, Casey."

"I'm going to march up, ring the bell, and say "Excuse me, but you have my donkey on your lawn. I'd like him back, please." And then, if they give me a hard time, I'm going to call them TrashPickers and say that it was my house they took it from, and they have STOLEN PROPERTY."

She just shook her head and drove on.

We drove until it was too dark to see. Reluctantly, we went home. But for months and months, I looked out the window or Dominick Ee-Aww Ee-Aww as we were driving in town, but he was not to be found.

I brought the donkey up often to my mother, most recently this past christmas. Every year she demands a Christmas list from everyone. I headlined mine with "Concrete Donkey."

"Why do you want one of those?!" she asked. And so I recapped the tale, because she is infamous for her selective memory. I had to keep speaking louder and louder though, to out voice her laughter. After I finished, she said "I have no idea what your talking about."

Indeed.

Christmas came and went. No donkey. Le sigh.


************************************************************


Last Thursday my whole family rolled into town with Valentines Day presents. My dad came in carrying a giant red bag, and this is what was inside:



Long Live Dominick Ee-Aww Eee-Aww!!!!

Sunday, February 18, 2007

If I were an action figure...

When you pulled my string, I would say:

1. You're an ass.
2. Are you cereal?
3. Wtf mate?
4. EVAN!!!
5. Ohjesuschrist.

Courtesy of my sister.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Monday, February 12, 2007

Shake that ass for me

There is a new study just released by the American Psychiatric Association about women and how they feel about their asses. The results are pretty interesting:


1. 5% of women surveyed feel their ass is too big.

2. 10% of women surveyed feel their ass is too small.

3. The remaining 85% say they don't care; they love him; he's a good
man, and they would have married him anyway.