The Problem with Blogging...

At least for me - is if you take a sabbatical or go on a WalkAbout it is very hard to come back into the blogging fold.
I feel an obligation to 'splain my absence as well as catch you up on the happenings in my life.

so here goes the Catch Up Entry....

• Bon Jovi concert was excellent - GREAT seats!
• The right guy won American Idol - Serious Mrs. Robinson fantasy running through my mind.
• Have a new litter of kittens. Now trying to keep the kids from killing them
• Kids are out of school - Sam is already in MS with Grandparents and currently en route to Disney World with her Grandmother and baby sitter.
• The grass needs mowing
• I had shoulder surgery three weeks ago today and my whole d*mn arm still hurts.
• My Mom came and took care of me. I love her anew!
• Had something good happen for me at work - not adding details - but made the last few HORRID months of work seem not so horrid.
• Had something bad happen at work - some long time colleagues were laid off last week. Always sucks.
• Relisting our house on Monday to sell so that we can move closer to Dallas (and Sam's school)
• Have done TONS of work on our place - almost too nice to leave now.
• Monthly gas cost are in excess of $850. Must move closer to town...
• The house that we really like for moving into is on the same street as a registered sex offender.
• Would you move there? Does it matter what the sex crime was - hubby seems to think it does.
• I do not feel any remorse for my opinion that all sex offenders are vile evil creatures.
• My husband was fired for apparently no good reason.
• Was unemployed for almost two months. I work from home. We spent a lot of time together.
• I discovered I am not looking forward to retirement.
• He is now gainfully employed at a job he REALLY wanted with outstanding benefits.
• For the first time ever, there were measurable improvements for Sam in her end of year testing.
• Shortly after my surgery Sam ate 40 cherries, pits and all. Cherry pits are toxic. Hubby and Grandmother took her to the ER. Cherry pits are only toxic if they are pulverized. She is fine.
• Savvy and Smith came down with Strep within five days of my surgery.
• I had to go to the ER twice after surgery - without going into detail - I will say that no one reminded me pre-surgery that taking narcotics for several days will, er, um - stop up the plumbing.
• Au pair leaves in September (Sob!) trying to figure out if we can actually afford another one. (hubby took measurable pay cut with new dream job)
• Have read about 12 books already this summer. James Patterson (trying to catch up on all the Alex Cross series) and Anita Shreve top my favorites.
• Saw the latest Indiana Jones film. I enjoyed it primarily for the nostaglia of it. If I had never seen the other three (as a kid) I prolly would not have liked this one very much...
• Au Pair's parents came over for a visit and we had a fabulous time with them.

Okay - I am out. That's it. I (you) are pretty caught up now.

We can now return to regular programming.

parenting tip #568

never EVER hold a funeral for a kitten for the benefit of 9 and 7 year old girls.
particularly when the 9 year old is special needs and the 7 year old is a drama queen of epic proportions.

don't do it.

it ain't pretty.

it took an over sized bottle of red wine for me to recuperate...

RIP sweet Callie.

it's official - America is tone deaf

i know - don't start on me - i should get a life.
get out more
write about something socially relevant
or mildly entertaining even.

but get this people - i don't get out.
i am not getting a life anytime soon.
and i am DONE with the american idol voting public.

I was down right shocked when Michael Johns was cut two weeks ago. He was a shoe-in for at least the top four. He has real talent. I will be one of the first to buy his CD. but I never personally voted for him. so I had no one to blame but myself.

last night really PISSED me off.
The top two performers of the week in the bottom two.

seriously people - what is this? senior superlatives all over again? This popularity contest masquerading as a talent competition has got me in a complete tizzy (or couldn't you tell?)

and how does yawning on camera or crying every week and flubbing your lyrics make you more popular than people that can sing AND perform! Who is this fan base voting for such nonsense?

sincerely, i like all the top six contestants. They are all likable. All are talented to some degree. But as far as who performed the best on Tuesday night versus who was in the bottom two on Wednesday night -
SERIOUS DISCONNECT here people.

And I did vote for Carly. for the last several weeks. many times.
Therefore I have earned the right to bitch, sulk and complain.

This is me.
Bitching.
Sulking.
and Complaining.


on another note and perhaps contributing to my sullen mood...
after my PC got a virus, I did. Sinus infection leading to an ear ache.

I have not had an ear ache in 25 years at least.
Fluid behind the eardrum - can't hear well kinda junk. 10 days of antibiotics and three weeks later - my hearing is still not back to normal.

and let me just say this - PMS ain't got nothing on ear aches for cranky, irritable, bad moods. I have hardly been able to tolerate myself.

and I was starting to feel better - until last night.
back to bitchy...

public service anouncement

If you get an IM from a coworker that you rarely - if ever - IM with and the content says something like this "WOW! Is this really you?" followed by a geocities link

DO!NOT!CLICK!ON!THAT!LINK!

And when I say Trust Me On This - I mean TRUST ME ON THIS DAMMIT!

I have been infected. First time ever...

on a MUCHO GRANDE scale with the msn.com variety of the Vundo Trojan thingamagig.

McAfee cannot fix it - not the last time I talked to my internal IT helpdesk anyway.

I love you all - but I do not want to talk about it.

girlfriends...

I have been walking around since I got back from Houston yesterday patting myself on the back.

Seriously. As if I did something spectacular...

I am so proud of myself for having such unbelievable girlfriends.
I mean I am good. DAMN good at choosing top-notch, high quality, genuine, could-not-do-better-if-i-custom-ordered GF's. I have written about girlfriends before. I am just in awe of how meaningful these relationships can be!
(Read this - it's old and I promise 90% of you have never seen it.)


My friend T in Houston has a beautiful home and is a wonderful hostess. She heated up the pool and hot tub for us. (I have to quit typing every few seconds to scratch the sun burn on my back...)

My friend R lives here in Dallas - though we rarely get to see each other - we drove down and back together. It's the shortest four hour drive EVER when we travel it together.

Our friend S lives in Toronto and she flew in for the occasion. I am so flattered that she would go to all that trouble to be with us.

We have all worked together at the same company over the past twelve years and have a lot of the same business associates. Common experiences. Have traveled together - as a group and in pairs - on endless business trips and conventions.
Oh, the war stories we tell...
And those that we don't. (grin)

The really cool thing - to me - is that professionally - these women have all at one time or another acted as a mentor to me. Sometimes unknowingly. But all are phenomenally talented, composed and SUCCESSFUL in their jobs. I have observed them in action over the years and taken so much from them that has added to my own professional accomplishments.

the bonus - not only are they exceptional professionally - they are outstanding women on a personal level as well. compassionate, witty, fun-loving, passionate, accepting and so on and so forth...

Please, someone, tell me - how does it get any better than that?

so anyway - i am pretty button-popping pleased with myself today.
I did a damn fine job of picking out my girlfriends!

on a more humble note - I am most grateful they chose me too. I aspire to add as much to their lives as they do to mine!

briefly...

being 40 ain't near as bad as I thought it would be

It's snowing at my house for the second time this week

i am addicted - ADDICTED - A.D.D.I.C.T.E.D to American Idol - it is the highlight of my week.

I hate getting up every morning because I am so very unhappy with my work. (I am being as politically correct here as I can on the off chance that someone from my work reads this...)

I work with some really wonderful people and few grumpy old farts that pretty much spoil it for the rest of us.

i am sick to death of working from home and spending 20 hours of every day in the same room. i feel like a cave woman. Especially since the hubby unscrewed all the can lights except the one over my desk to save money.

Going to spend the weekend in Houston with three beautiful, exciting, intelligent, fun loving girlfriends that I don't see near often enough!

we are taking salsa lessons Saturday night.

Oh, and how about this NONrecession we are in. nothing like paying $3+ for a gallon of gas and $5 for a gallon of milk.

having surgery at the end of the month to have my rotater cuff (shoulder thingie) repaired. I have heard it is very painful. I am really looking forward to that. NOT!

A dear childhood friend has a recurrence of cancer. it appears to be serious.

and the beat goes on...
Peace.
Out.

absoutely nothing profound to say...

Yesterday was the big day. turned 40 and all that jazz.
The sky did not turn purple and rain down Ben Gay and support hose...

I got to sleep in - sort of. My parents have this God awful tradition of calling me on my birthday at the crack of dawn. It goes something like this...
"Happy Birthday Darling."
"MMMMFanks"
"Are you still in bed?"
"MMMHmmm"
"Well you woke us up a lot earlier than this (insert current age here) years ago."

I don't know why I thought this year would be different.
It wasn't.

So while I did not get to sleep late - I got to lounge around in bed undisturbed longer than usual because the au pair got up early and taped the kids to the floor.
At least that's what I think she did because they have NEVER in their entire lives been that quiet between 6 and 8 AM.

The night before, hubby and I caught an early movie - Vantage Point (4 out of 5 stars) then went to dinner at a wonderful local Italian place I have always wanted to go to. Au Pair gave me a gift cert for dinner. (she sooooo rocks.) It was early when dinner was out - so we went to see another movie. Jumper (3 stars).
So it was a late night.
And a fun one.

So after lolling about for awhile in bed trying unsuccessfully to go back to sleep, I finally sent for the kids. They ran in and climbed all over me in bed. And while I love the affection I am always amazed at how painful a bony elbow can be in breast tissue. Those mammograms ain't got nothing on my kids' elbows.

Savvy had planned games. So we played Pin The Tail on The Donkey - she drew a picture of a donkey, taped it to the wall, had a ribbon with tape and a blindfold. It was a riot.

Then we had a scavenger hunt and lounged around and watched Hairspray.

The au pair had planned lunch and baked a cake so I had very little to do as far as food prep. T'was lovely.

And in the afternoon - hubby helped me clean out my last flower bed of dead junk and leaves.
AWESOME GIFT of time and labor!

Wasn't it thoughtful of them to schedule the Oscars in honor of my birthday. I was really touched by that show of affection from the Academy of Motion Pictures.

And did I mention that I got Bon Jovi tickets? In the section right beside the stage.
Can you say REACH OUT AND TOUCH???

so um, yeah - you're going to hear about the Bon Jovi concert from now till April 12. And maybe a few days after that whilst I come down from my Jon Bon Jovi high.

hate it for ya...

my au pair is better than your au pair

If you've been by here the past few days, you know I have a pretty nasty case of the Poor Pitiful Me's. It's not been any fun being me.
until today...

Today - this morning - I had a marathon conf call/web-demo that lasted almost three hours. I did not have a chance to grab breakfast before starting. So when it was over at lunch time, I was STARVING!

The Au Pair had left to pick up the son at school and then take him for a fun outing. So I went off to the kitchen on my own to fix me some lunch.

There was a small pink piece of paper on the table that said, "Watch the stove."

And I immediately thought Oh SHIT! she left something on on the stove and I was supposed to watch it and surely it is burned by now.

So I looked at the stove and nothing was on. But there was a pot on it and another note beside it.

It said "I figured you'd be starving when you got off your call. I cooked some pasta, here's the sauce. Heat it up in the microwave and lunch is ready."

I almost cried. Someone had really thought about me and my needs and done something about it. Every now and then someone does something for me that is so thoughtful and completely unnecessary - like this - and I feel all warm and glowing on the inside. Like my heart is going to burst.

And that, my friends, is my definition of a Warm Fuzzy.

get over yourself

is what I would tell myself if I was my friend and knew what was going through my mind in regards to my 40th birthday.

for some reason - and i don't know why - I am spending an inordinate amount of time obsessing about this birthday.

it's just stupid. really.
i know that.

and I can't decide if it is because i am bothered about being older. i mean remember when you were 18 and 40 was ancient. I mean REALLY old.
Yeah, I remember that too.
now 18 seems unbelievably YOUNG!
when did that happen?

And part of it is that I would LOVE a big huge party with all my friends there.
But that would require funds we don't have. Need to be dumping moola into finishing our master bath so we can relist the house and move closer to Sam's school.

Pretty sure hubby is getting me the Bon Jovi tickets. And I am split on my emotions on that too. I really want to go to the show. I really want good seats. But again, the MATURE responsible adult in me knows that we should spend the money on the house and moving.

Tomorrow we have to pay a $1000 deposit for Sam's school. Just paid our land taxes - which are obnoxiously high in Texas because we don't have state income taxes. Money is flying out off the checkbook. Christmas was a Cash Only affair, both grandfathers and two kids have just had birthdays. So needless to say - we are cash poor right now.

so maybe it just sucks to be turning 40 and not have any discretionary income to do with what I want. At the same time being responsible enough to not go on a credit card binge to get and do what I really want.

Like I said - Get.Over.Yourself, tcole

Post Note - To those of you out there with real problems, I apologize for complaining over nothing...

10 things

My friend Misty challenged me to list 10 things that make me happy.
And I have been thinking about this list for well over a week now.
I fear my list makes me appear uncreative and shallow.
not that i care.

1. my son running up to me arms wide open squealing "HUGGY MOMMY!"
2. sleeping late*
3. long hot uninterrupted baths*
4. losing weight*
5. time spent with my girlfriends*
6. having the time to read a really good book*
7. samantha coming home from school and telling me she has a new word. (she only gets new words when she can pronounce them correctly 100% of the time)
8. going shopping and finding a really good deal
9. someone complimenting me on my children's manners
10. Having money left in my checkbook the day before payday*

* these are all theoretical because they never happen anymore - but if they did, it would make me very happy.

cold shower first thing in the morning

Last night I dreamt I had a serious make-out session with Simon Cowell.

For those of you living on Mars - Simon's the sharp-tongued Brit judge on American Idol.

Maybe it's the kinder, gentler Simon the producers are pushing on us this season.

Maybe it's the accent...

Maybe it's his manly chest...

I don't know.

But I can tell you this -

I will never EVER look at Simon the same way.

Politics And Religion

Yes, I am going to take a walk on the WILD side... And blog about Politics And Religion...

I realize these topics are taboo for many people in polite conversations.

However, for those of you that know me, you know nothing is taboo. And I am not alway polite...

And it may help you to understand my motivation for this post...

A couple months ago at my Southern Baptist church I had a serious disagreement with one of the preacher's decisions regarding the congregation of our little country church. While his rhetoric was spot on, his methodology for enacting said rhetoric was HUGELY and intolerably out of line.

So hubby and I decided to stop attending our little church. I was hugely saddened by our decision. I love this church but felt it was important to separate ourselves from the decision this one man made as it appeared to represent the entire church body.

In my despair, I emailed (on Facebook) several of my cherished life-long friends and told them about what had happened and asked for their spiritual support. And, bless 'em - they gave it lovingly and willingly.

And out of our very supportive conversation, an idea grew - we decided to do an on-line Bible Study. We selected a book and started discussing (via IM) a chapter every week.

So a couple weeks ago we were getting together on IM - waiting for everyone to join - a couple of us gals started talking about preferences for presidential candidates. The other two - preferring republicans. And I said - kinda tongue-in-cheek - "I try very hard not to vote the GOP ticket if I can help it."

And one of my dear friends - that I have known since childhood says to me/us - "I cannot talk about this with you anymore as I have a serious disconnect from Liberals."

ouch.

that stung.

and really hurt my feelings... (don't disparage my friend in comments - please - as I do love her dearly)

so I am a liberal. I mean I have been called worse. truly.

Growing up at my Grandfather's knee in South Mississippi I found myself Southern Baptist and Southern Democrat. The two were one in the same. coexisting. for all practical purposes, indistinguishable from the other.

when, exactly did that change? and has it? changed.

I can remember my Grandfather telling me how all the local democrats - on the state and county levels - created jobs for people during the depression years. Roads were built. people got paid. families got fed.
And this was VERY close to home.

These jobs created by the local democrats kept my grandfather's family and close-knit community from going hungry. And afforded some of them the extravagant luxury of sending their children to college.

There was no greater affront than for these kids to go to college, get a degree and come home a Republican. Lord Forbid!

But it happened...

And I heard about it. More than once, mind you.

People of my Grandfather's generation did not forget transgressions of such magnitude.

Many of my people in South Mississippi - Great Uncles, Cousins, and Great Grandfathers - were elected officials on the county and state level. On the Democrat ticket. Southern Baptist, all. My roots.

I was living in Baltimore, Maryland when William Jefferson Clinton was campaigning against George Bush. I remember a visit home to Mississippi and my Grandfather taking his worn, well-read Bible and sharing scripture with me that, to him, indicated Bill Clinton would be our next president.

He was so certain of his conviction he told me that if George Bush was elected president again he would put down that Bible and never pick it up again. And he meant it.

But Granddaddy and his Bible were right, lest you forget the results of that election...

I know you are dying to know what verses he shared with me - and there were several. But the only one I can recall is this...

God is talking to Abraham about his descendents - bearing in mind that Abraham's descendants are the people of Israel.

"I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12: 3).

Granddaddy went on to explain at that time, President Bush had provided missiles to the enemies of Israel and had trained those enemies on how to use these weapons against the people of Israel.

President Bush had literally cursed Israel.

You do the math...

Granddaddy did.

People have always said of Democrats - All they want is more taxes and bigger government.

People, please. Who in their right mind wants more taxes? Not me. And I damn sure don't want any more government than we already got - 'cause we got more than we need as it is. Still, I am realistic enough to acknowledge there are some necessary evils...

But I am a democrat.

I reckon I must be a modified version.

My Daddy always said we didn't make enough money to be Republicans. That cracks me up. I have pissed off more than a few people with that comment.

So I am a Democrat. But I did not get here blindly. It would be easy for you to say I drank the family kool-aide and just went along with the inherited rhetoric.

Do I really seem the type?
to follow anything blindly?
seriously, people.

There's more than just my roots. I got some branches as I grew up...

Young Democrats in college.

Card carrying member of Planned Parenthood.

Met Al Gore at a political rally my Jr year of college when he was still a senator from Tennessee. My Dad and I chatted with him - just the three of us - for about ten minutes. I told my Dad that night on the way home I wanted That Man in the White House one day. And if the people in Florida knew how to punch a hole and/or count - I would have gotten my wish.

Personal family history with Trent Lott. I know what kind of man he is. I knew before everyone else did.

I won't get into the issues - but now you know my politics.

Call me a liberal.

whatever...

Now on to religion.
I did say Southern Democrat AND Southern Baptist...

You have probably heard people say "I was raised in the Baptist Church or the Catholic church, etc." I have said it plenty of times myself.

Well any good Bible thumper worth their salt knows that God doesn't have grandchildren. Either you are a child of God or you ain't. Doesn't matter what church you were raised in. Just because Momma and Daddy are members, doesn't mean you are. It's not like the Country Club...

Simple enough concept.

But it just so happens that my Christianity came to me via the Southern Baptist Church. That does not mean I am especially fond of Baptists. Even if I am one…

Most Baptist are wonderful, loving, God-fearing people. It's the few (okay, maybe more than a few) zealots that give the rest of us a bad name.

My church, growing up, was full of imperfect sinners. Even in my youth, I was not blind to the inequities present in our congregation. Black families that dare darken our First Baptist door were quickly invited to attend the Negro Baptist church on the other side of the tracks.

One of the deacons played a role in a lynching of a black man accused of raping a white woman.

We were encouraged to bring our rock and roll records and cassettes to the revival so we could burn them and rid ourselves of all the hidden satanic messages.

But still, in the midst of all this, I had the most phenomenal Youth director, who along with his wife supported me and the other youth in our church. We learned about fellowship and covering each other's backs. Our youth group did not enjoy a utopian existence, but for the most part - we were there for each other - at church and at school.

That Baptist youth group got me through many a rough spot in Jr. & Sr. High School. It gave me a solid moral foundation. At the same time opening my eyes to the inherent flaws in most organized religions.

and that being they all like to stand at the fence and yell:

"You're going to hell and we're not.. Nanny Nanny Boo Boo"
"No, You're going to Hell!"
"No, You Are."

So what do I believe?

Here goes...
I still consider myself a Baptist. guilty by affiliation.
But I am a Christian first.
I believe spirituality - through faith - is your personal relationship with Christ, the Son of God.

Thus Christianity.
Religion, is socialized spirituality. And it is Religion that often gives spirituality a bad name...

One thing that makes me a really bad Baptist - and I like to think a really good Christian - is I do not judge. I don't. And the good Baptists will write to me and say "we don't judge. God judges."

No, really, I have been to Sunday School with you folks. I know how you talk about all the Catholics going to hell in a hand basket. And how you like to poor mouth the non-denominational churches - and call them ‘Feel Good’ Churches - like that's a bad thing. Let's get something straight - If I can't go to church and FEEL GOOD about it, I don't wanna go...
I've heard what you say about people that drink. And dance and good heavens, the homosexuals.

JUDGE. JUDGE. JUDGE.

And I don't think the Baptists are all that special. And just like I can talk about the rednecks, I can dis the Baptist - because I are one. You will NEVER catch me talking trash about other denominations.

Still, I like to imagine that the Methodist talk about the Catholics and the Lutherans talk about the Presbyterians.
and so forth and so on...

It's someone's motto or I heard it in a movie -
"Kill 'em all - Let God sort 'em out."

me, my motto -
"Love 'em all - Let God sort 'em out."

good news - bad news

The Good -
Sam's fever is non-existent this morning. And no one else is showing symptoms of the flu. I take back what I said about the CDC.
I always said that you could inject Savvy with Ebola and she would not even get a sniffle. The child has a top notch immune system. We are seriously testing that theory this week.

The Bad -
In an attempt to entertain aforementioned kids inside this week, I put a king size sheet over my ANTIQUE dining room table yesterday to make a 'house' for them to play in. Thinking the worst possible thing that could happen is that they might bump their sweet little heads on it while going in and out.

That's what I get for thinking...

This morning Savvy tells Sam she needs to check the chimney on the "house". And we all know where the chimney is, right? On TOP of the "house". So I hear BAM and then Smith wailing...

I go into the dining room and my ANTIQUE dining room table is COMPLETELY upside down. All four legs up in the air. Sam had climbed on top of the table to check the chimney - as she was instructed to do by her bossy little sister. Her weight on one end, FLIPPED THE DAMN* THING COMPLETELY OVER. Scared the shit* out of every one of them.

Lucky as hell* someone's head was not crushed in the process. My dining room does not have carpet or wood floors. We are talking HARD CERAMIC TILES here peeps.

In my questioning rage of WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING that ensued, Savvy says - "she (Sam) had checked the chimney before...."

YOU MEAN SHE HAD ALREADY BEEN ON TOP OF MY TABLE????!!!!
AND WHAT MADE YOU THINK THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA????


* This JUST happened and my language choices reflect the immediacy of my angst.

playing host

my daughter, Sam is playing host to the flu bug this week.

lovely, huh?

4 AM this morning she crawls in bed with me sporting a 102 degree F fever.
And yes, we ALL had the flu shot this year. Apparently the strain making the rounds 'round here was not covered in this flu season's vaccine. Nice try, CDC. Close, but no cigar...

So it is only a matter of hours, really, before I have three kids, a hubby, an au pair and likely ME with the freak'n flu.

so before I succumb, a few follow up points from recent posts...

Hubby asked again what I want to do for my 40th birthday. Again, I tell him "nothing". I know I should tell him something - but I can think of nothing. Money is tight. I'd really like tickets to the Bon Jovi concert in April. REALLY good seats. I'd like that a lot. My foolish pride refuses to let me tell him that.

Super bowl with the in-laws was fun. seriously. 'cept for the beginning of the 4th quarter when I had to take a time out and bath all three kids by myself. Put them in their PJs so that when we got home, we could just toss them in bed as we walked past their rooms.

Mainly it was fun - and this is a gross display of ignorance here - because Eli Manning is the QB for the Giants. Until the day of the Super Bowl, I did not realize this. And while I am not a Giants fan, per se - my family (my Mom, Dad & brothers) are MANNING fans.

Archie's from Drew, Mississippi, for goodness sake. He played for Ole Miss. So did Eli. Both go back to Ole Miss and hang out in The Grove for football weekends. My brother was telling me yesterday about chatting with Eli and Archie last year in The Grove. (and yes, we forgive Payton for going to Tennessee.)

My dad was friends with Archie's coach at Ole Miss, Coach Vaught. My Dad has met him a couple times over the years at golf tournaments and such. And every time - Dad says Archie's just "Good People."

So through the years we have watched Payton and Eli and enjoyed their successes. I just didn't remember that Eli was with the Giants.
So the game was fun. The ending - phenomenal!

Okay - going to make some home made chicken noodle soup.
And prepare for the worst.
hunkering down
over and out...

yeah, I know

i am behind.
cut me some slack, will ya?

had work training class in Dallas Monday through Wednesday.
Dr appointment and the work-load-catch-up game yesterday.
And today went to Sam's school with pizza and cupcakes for lunch to celebrate her ninth birthday with her classmates. (not a word...)
grocery and birthday shopping last night (I missed the season premiere of LOST.)

so in other words, I am chasing my tail trying to keep up.
The weekend doesn't hold much promise to that end.
Tomorrow to Medieval Times with 5 school girls to have dinner.

Superbowl Sunday. (sigh)
if anyone has any really good excuses so that I can send the hubby and kids to the in-laws and stay at home alone and watch pride and prejudice instead - well, i'd be most grateful...

other than that, I'm fine. really.
how 'bout you?

voices inside my head...

I got my first iPod back in December.
And I love it. Have had more fun playing with it.

There have always been certain male singers that really Do It For Me.
And having them serenade me in my ear like this is really Doing It For Me.
Silly little thing. Yes, I Know.
But hey, it makes me very happy, et al. And I'll take all the happy, et al I can get.

Throughout my life there have been singers. voices. that to me, had an certain essence to them.
a sensual, feral characteristic that always appealed to me on a very visceral level.

in other words - listening to them really Does It For Me.

It's not their looks or necessarily, the lyrics. it is simply The Voice.

And who are these voices, you ask?


You might be surprised...

First is Steve Perry of Journey. Any song will do. I just happen to like this video...





Next, Dennis DeYoung original lead singer of Styx. LOVE him!
Again, no particular song. In fact, some of my favorite tunes from him are the lesser known ones that didn't get real air time and wouldn't make the Styx Greatest Hits album.




and wrapping up my list today is a newcomer, relatively speaking.

I have been an admiring fan of his acting for years. and due to that admiration, I had to see the movie Rent. and then I had to have the soundtrack. which is now on my ipod and Jesse L. Martin croons in my ears daily. and this guy - I do LIKE to look at. I like it a lot (blushing)



So there you have it.

the voices in my head.

and what they Do For Me...

40 and fabulous

or something like that.

I turn 40 next month.
hmm

trying to decide how I feel about this little milestone.
and trying to convince myself it's not really a big deal.
and is it?
really?
a big deal?

hubby asked me today what I want to do for my birthday. I told him I'd have to think about it and get back to him. (suggestions are appreciated)

we had a rather serious falling out about this birthday several months ago. I wanted to go on a cruise or to a tropical island with a handful of girlfriends. he pointed out that our family fund did not allow for such an opulent celebration. regretfully, he was right. (I'd never tell him that.)

He has now told me that anything he does for my 40th will not be enough. That it will not live up to my expectations. he got that right.

But I am pretty much over it now. Went on my cheap little cruise with a Fabu girlfriend. A few more of us girls are getting together in Houston in March to toast my 40th.
So I am good.

but what to do?
what to do....


My oldest daughter turns 9 in less than two weeks. We are taking her, sister and two friends to Medieval Times for the dinner and show. That will be a ton of fun - for all. Actually looking forward to it.

For my son's 4th birthday two weeks later we will be going to Chuck E Cheese. (shoot me now)

My second daughter's birthday is at the end of March and you'd think it was the most important gala of the season. We (she) change(s) plans on a regular basis - the one constant is that it will be themed after High School Musical. And I am to buy her "Cool-Girl Clothes" for her birthday.

So it's like birthday season at our house for the next few months.

poor hubby.
He just doesn't get birthdays and the significance that goes along with them.

and me?

I just don't know if I got it in me to Party Like A Rock Star.

I feel much more like an overweight, tired, disgruntled, middle-aged Mom.

And that, I am certain, is NOT fabulous.

my cruise - the recap...

I am beat down dog tired. in my bones.
wiped out could sleep all day for at least three days.

it's cliche - but i need a vacation to recover from my vacation.

and I did not party THAT hard. seriously, folks.



Work is kicking my butt. playing catch up. a lot of pressure at my job as of recent. learning a new software package and having to 'make my numbers' in support calls is sucking a great deal of joy out of my life. if you want to motivate me - hang a BIG FAT JUICY RAISE out there in front of me. don't count on metrics being a motivator for moi.
another day. another post.

About our cruise - several of you asked for a report because you are looking to do a cruise yourself some time in the future. So for you, first, the logistics:
I travelled with my lifelong girlfriend S. She just finished Grad School and was on the cruise for a prep course for her exams to be a Nurse Practitioner.
We have been best of friends - more like sisters - since we were 5-ish. We know each other inside and out - warts and all. So no matter what, we always ALWAYS have a good time together.

The cruise was dirt cheap - less than $350 each for a four day cruise.
Mobile, Alabama to Cozumel, Mexico.
Carnival Cruise Lines - our ship, The Holiday.

Let me also say - you get what you pay for.
That said, my expectations were probably too high.

To start off, when I looked up directions to the terminal the morning of our departure, I find that we would have to pay $60 to park for the four days. I thought that was a bit steep in MOBILE ALABAMA. And after we got on the boat - before we departed, we met a guy on the deck that points and says - "oh, you could have parked for free across the street over there." And sure enough, there were about 100 cars parked in the lot he pointed to.
Bummer, dude. When you are on a shoestring budget, every cent counts. In my mind, that cost us about 6 fruity rum filled cocktails...

The Carnival advertising tells you when pay for your cruise "virtually everything is included." It's the 'virtually' that gets you. If you don't drink alcohol, sodas or juice and don't play Bingo and don't want to buy any pictures of yourself - then Yes, 'virtually' is appropriate. Special note - the iced tea taste so bad, you are almost FORCED to drink sodas.

But trust me - they are going to - at every turn - work to get more $$ out of you. And I guess that's how they can charge so little for the cruise itself.
I just have this thing about being nickel'd and dime'd. I'd rather pay one big fat fee up front and drink and eat and play all I want.

I am not dissing Carnival. They did a decent job. And I confess ignorance.

Our cabin was clean and cozy. The beds were really comfortable - and I ought to know as I travel and stay in hotels on a pretty regular basis for work. I never once woke up with my back hurting - and THAT is saying something. I have a sleep number bed at home and almost always ache when I sleep in different beds. So that was a HUGE plus to me. I could sleep late and not hurt the rest of the day.

The walls were paper thin between cabins. I had thought ahead and brought ear plugs so this was a non-issue for me. However I can see how it might be a problem for others...

Our cabins were cleaned at least twice a day - we always had clean towels and almost always had ice in our cabin - without having to ask. Bonus.

The staff on the boat was well above average in level of service. I would not say exceptional - but still, very good. no complaints - they easily met all expectations.

Here's what disappointed me - the boat's interior was old and tired. Think Love Boat.

The pools (not that i got in one) were as big as some hot tubs I have been in. and they have an Ick Factor that defies explanation.

The food, overall, was mediocre. while not out and out bad, none of it was spectacular. I have always heard how fabulous the food is on a cruise. I was NOT impressed. at all. What they lacked in quality, they made up for in quantity. Food was always available.

As I have said before, I have travelled a ton over the past ten years - usually for business on an expense account. I have entertained customers on expense accounts. I am accustomed to eating at very nice restaurants. (Think Spago's, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Fogo de Chão, etc) so perhaps my expectations were too high. perhaps.

Someone was ALWAYS shoving a camera in your face to take your picture. this is one of my personal pet peeves. Obviously, this did not bother a lot of people as their smiling toothless redneck mugs could be spotted on the picture racks every morning.

Yes, this was a total redneck riviera cruise. i can say that because I R one. (this comes under the rule where family can talk about their own family - and since i AM a redneck - I can talk about them!)

I completely and TOTALLY underestimated the people watching opportunities on this cruise. Was some of the best entertainment of the whole excursion. seriously. What not to wear. how not to sit. which tattoos age better. what not to say. endlessly entertaining...

And speaking of entertainment, I went to one of the nighttime shows with the Holiday Dancers. Again, I was expecting WOW! and got just okay. The kids could dance. no doubt. but the singers were really weak. Seen better in the tryouts of American Idol.
I worked at Six Flags Over Georgia for six years. We had better talent and shows there.

I LOVE piano bars. Some of the best nights of my life have been singing and swaying the night away in piano bars. The piano bar on the boat was one of the few indoor smoking areas. HUH? I felt so sorry for the guy playing and singing in all the smoke. He was decent as far as piano players go and I don't know if he'd of had more of an audience if it was non-smoking or not. I think one of the keys (pun intended) to a successful piano bar is that you play a lot of songs that a lot of people know the words to. That was not the case here. Wierd songs I had rarely heard and did not know the word too. And I know the words to a bus-load of songs.

Karaoke night was fun. They had it every night - we only made it for one night. Yes, I am a Karaoke Whore and had a ball singing my heart out to Delta Dawn.

We had fun in Cozumel. Walked ourselves silly shopping and sight-seeing. The shopping was very Tourist Trap-ish stuff. We should have done a shore excursion and then bought all our tourist crap when we got back to the boat. Just about everything we bought out and about could have been purchased right there at the dock for the same price.

We did have lunch at Mr. Buffet's Margaritaville on the deck over the Caribbean. That was really nice. Paid resort prices for a decent meal - but was still very enjoyable - even if you don't care for shot girls wandering around and balloon hat artists and the wait staff throwing some waiter over the deck fully clothed because it was his birthday. oh, and there was a senorita with sombreros willing to take your picture - for you to BUY. I would have enjoyed this a TON more in college. Of course I could not have afforded to eat there when I was in college. tit for tat, i guess...

Insider Information you might not hear anywhere else:
On Carnival, there is a drink card you can buy. one flat fee (about $27 w/ tax and gratuity) and you can drink all the soda and juice you like. Otherwise - you pay for each one. and the drink card does NOT include bottled water. I saw one family bringing a case of bottled water and a 12 pack of soda onto the boat with a little wheelie cart. I thought that was silly. I was WRONG.

You are not allowed to bring liquor onto the boat. but ppl do in their checked luggage.

Clothing - I seriously over packed. Because I just did not know what to expect.
If you plan to sun bath or swim, packing is even easier. A swim suit or two and a wrap for the days is great - if it is warm enough outside. For this time of year, it can be cool and windy on the outer decks. and the inside has serious AC. I was most comfortable during the days in a nice coordinated work-out/track-suit type ensemble with a jacket I could take off over a t-shirt.

In Mexico - shorts and a t-shirt.Only one night was really formal. And that meant anything from feathers and velvet to nice pant suits. for men - suit and tie. I don't remember seeing any tuxes.

Most nights, it was what they called 'casual elegance' - whatever that means. Could be clubbing clothes, Sunday-Go-To-Meeting outfits or for some, starched jeans and large shiny belt buckles...

when you disembark, you will have the choice of having your luggage taken off for you or carrying it yourself. If you are in a hurry - CARRY IT YOURSELF. The difference could easily mean several hours. And if you have a plane to catch - it could be imperative.

However, if you want to sleep in, take your time and hang out in your cabin for several hours then have the porter take your luggage for you. The only catch is - you must have your bags packed and in the hallway before midnight the last night of your cruise.

We choose to carry off. The carry off-ers disembark first. Still, when we arrived at customs, the line was a mile long. S noticed a woman ahead of us that had been on 14 previous cruises and she got a porter for her luggage. There was a different line for porters and it was significantly shorter. So we tipped $10, got a shorter line and had help with our bags to our car. Definitely worth $10!

One of the best duty free/tax free deals was liquor. yes, i am a lush...

First off, the bottles were a full liter and not .750. So they were bigger. And the ones I bought cost about 50% less than what i recently pd for the .750 size.
If you are going on a cruise and might bring back liquor, swing by your liquor store and price out your favorite spirits before you leave - then you'll have a better idea of how good the deals are. I had recently bought several bottles over the holidays and KNEW I was getting a kick butt deal.

And you can only bring back one bottle duty free. I brought back four. (Gave two away as gifts!) bought them on the boat. and admitted it to customs and they did not make me pay duty on them. So I got four bottles that would have easily cost me more than $120 at home for $58 on the boat. Even if i had to pay the duty it would have been no more than $2.80/bottle - which is still a substantial savings.

There are stories to tell - a few, anyway. And I will share them with you when I get my hands on all the pictures.

in the mean time just know this - I have learned that I have pretty high standards.
Or maybe I am just a little bit snotty about things. I really don't know.
I was not at all disappointed with the vacation itself. It was as relaxing and enjoyable as I had hoped.

It was just a disappointing cruise experience. And if that's the worst thing that happens to me in 2008, it's going to be a GREAT year!

Hi Honey, I'm home...

Back from the cruise as of yesterday afternoon.
still unpacking and digging out from under with my work.

a fabulous time was had by all.
i have a list of Do's and Don'ts coming up for you...

Will fill you in on all the GLORIOUS details soon!

is.it.time.yet?is.it.time.yet?is.it.time.yet?

tomorrow morning - after I get the hubby off to work and the kids off to school, I am off on my adventure.

A CRUISE. My first ever. EVER!

I am so excited. (can ya'll tell?)

The literature says the boat has wireless internet access. I love ya'll and all but I will NOT be taking a computer with me. Nope. And I have every intention of turning my cell phone off as soon as I embark. International roaming rates are not in the budget.

I have about killed myself preparing my family (and work) for this trip and my absence. Sam's medicines refilled. Dosage schedules outlined. Family schedules typed, adjusted and retyped. Copies to everyone with their responsibilities highlighted. emails to teachers. bags almost packed. pantry and freezer stocked with easy to prep meals. ipod soon to be updated with cruising music and a book on tape. (James Patterson) smutty paperbacks packed.

It's a lot of work when you're in charge. DA-YUM!

So we are clear - I plan on doing NOTHING on this boat. ship. whatever they call it.

There might not be a single story to tell when i get home - unless some well intentioned purser tries to get me to participate and i throw them overboard w/out a second thought.

Taking camera. there might be pics. we'll see. no promises.

Bon Voyage, Ya'll...