May 30, 2006
Wordless Wednesday - #4
Can you guess? Leave a comment if you are playing this week. Heck, leave a comment if you aren't. Come on, join in the fun!!!
Posted by Moogie at 9:58 PM | Comments (49)
My heart is beating again
I need to slow down. I need to focus. I need to pay attention. Goodness, I nearly passed out when I opened my mail today. I had correspondence from my insurance provider regarding my surgery. It outlined what would be paid by them, and what, I thought was my responsibility. The numbers have been rounded.
Them: $9,000
Me: $3,500
Cough. Pant, pant, pant.
At this point, I said what any mature, level headed adult would say: "Holy Crap!" I'm pretty sure it was worse than that but my parents read this blog (Hi Mom and Dad!) so I have to keep a lid on it.
I called the insurance agency and was connected to Mrs. Nicecustomerservice Lady, who quickly explained to me what the bill meant.
It turns out, the part not covered included the amount that my provider would be writing off. My portion consisted of the deductible, and some small amount that I'm not sure what was all about. My responsibility turned out to be $110.
Dear Mrs. Nicecustomerservice Lady,
Will you marry me?
Mrs. Moogie
Posted by Moogie at 6:30 PM | Comments (4)
May 29, 2006
A change in plans
You'll remember in my post I told you that we were going to the waterfront today, to watch the boats and play in the park. Well, we had a change in plans. Our family is like that. We kind of take it as it comes, and when a good opportunity pops up, we go for it. It's nice to be unstructured at times. It's another way of saying we are not very organized.
I think I'm going to keep a set of old towels, buckets and shovels in the back of the car during the summer months just in case. We often go out on drives, and sometimes we land at the various beaches along the way.
It was a beautiful day as there was a nice breeze blowing and it kept us nice a cool. One of the nice things about this particular beach is that it had showers where you could rinse off and a playground near by where I let the kids run around until they were mostly dry.
We've had MT with us, who is the little girl Meelie spent the night with on Saturday, with us for most of the day. They play so well together. When we got home from the beach, Meelie called MA (another one of Meelie's friends) and, since we are such masochists, we invited her over for a play date as well. In reality, it works out fine because the kids are totally occupied.
But wait! There's more! Two other friends on our street came over to play as well. So I'm marinating steaks for dinner, and preparing salad and potatoes, and I have six kids in the kitchen with me. And they get the idea that it's time to clean the fish tanks. On a side note, they were in desperate need of cleaning so this was a plus. Generally, one of the adults cleans them, and the kids help. Because Chickie wanted to earn some extra money, she took on the task by herself, with little helpers of course.
It was totally somewhat chaotic for a bit, with the cooking and the cleaning going on. Of course, they wanted me to be there for advice, so I was constantly interrupted. Don't tell anyone but I quite enjoyed it. My husband retreated to the garage, and the bbq, getting it all prepared. He has a harder time when there are a bunch of kids around.
All in all, it's been a great day. Visiting with friends, going to the beach, getting dinner ready and cleaning fish tanks. All of this done with kids surrounding me.
If you ask me, it couldn't get any better than that.
Posted by Moogie at 5:44 PM | Comments (2)
May 28, 2006
In Betweener
I spent yesterday hanging out with my oldest daughter. Meelie was at a sleepover/play date with one of her friends. We decided that we would first visit the Golden Corral for lunch, and then head on out to the mall.
My intent was to get some new clothes suitable for work. Unfortunately, I'm in an "in-between" stage, which simply means that one size completely hangs on my body (or if it's pants, falls off), and the other causes me to lose circulation and pass out. I couldn't even find any shoes to buy. It was disappointing as they had some really great sales going on. Of course you can understand why some of the things are at such great bargains. They are butt ugly. I had nightmares about some of the dresses they had.
All was not lost though. I did buy Chickie a shirt that said "I'm Gonna Be Somebody" and a purse. I found out that you really need a purse when you are going into the 7th grade. Well, a purse and a second set of holes in your ears. I passed on the latter one.
We then went to Claire’s which is definitely a place you need to go to at all times. To be fair, they do have some cute things, and earrings that Chickie (and I) can wear that don't hurt our ears. Due to a nickel allergy, we both have trouble finding earrings we can wear that won't cause our earlobes to grow into goo-filled grapes in a matter of minutes.
Another place we haunt whenever we can is Bath and Body Works. I needed to pick up a few things and since they were having a great sale, I let Chickie pick out some body lotion and spray. Let's just say that when she was done testing everything, she smelled like a walking floral arrangement/fruit basket.
We also visited a few stores that I'd never heard of before, but was reassured that they were the "place to be."
- Pac Sun: For some odd reason, I kept thinking of the Karate Kid movies, and repeating "Pac Sun, Pac Moon" (wax on, wax off). It was as this point my daughter informed me that I needed to cease this behavior at once or she would send me to my room. There was some interesting looking things in this place, none of which I would choose for myself of course. Luckily, her style is still pretty safe yet. There was a saleslady who had so many body piercings I lost count after 12. I couldn't tell you how many she had in her ears alone. The color of her hair reminded me of something you would find in the bottom of a baby's diaper after she ate too much squash.
- Aeropostale: Here, she wanted to show me a pair of tennis shoes that she really wants. Nice enough looking, nothing too funky but when I looked at the price I immediately thought "OMG, this would be a down payment on a house." This is where we talked about doing extra chores to earn more money, and I'm not sure, but I think the light bulb has gone off in her head. I'm not going to buy you everything you want, but, if you wish to work for it, we may be able to make a deal.
- Journeys: Found the same shoes, but they were more expensive. They carried alot of the same clothes as Aeropostale as well. She showed me some shirts she liked, which are your normal scoop necked shirt, but longer and fitted. In short this means if she raises her arms, you can no longer see her belly button or the bottom of her nipples.
All in all, I'd call it a successful day. Right now, we are all going to head on down to the waterfront and watch the boats, play, and generally tire ourselves out. It's a beautfiful spot, and I can get some good pictures there.
Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day everyone.
Posted by Moogie at 5:01 PM | Comments (4)
Sleeping In
When I was younger (long before children), it was not uncommon for me to sleep in until noon on the weekends. When I started to work full time, I became used to getting up early, so my body clock never let me go past 8:00 or so.
And then I had kids. Sleeping in? What's that?
Now, my kids sleep longer than me. I'm lucky if I make it to 7:00 am these days. Long gone are the luxurious days of lying around until I felt like getting up. I get too restless.
I've recently switched my shift to where I start work at 6:00, which means I have to get up at 4:30. It is extremely rare that I will make it much past 6:00 am on my days off now. It's still nice because it's so quiet in the mornings. I can have my tea, surf the net or read a book with no interruptions. I like coming in early because that means I get off that much earlier, which in turn allows me more time to do things in the evenings.
In retrospect, I guess I still really am sleeping in. That's another hour and a half I don't get during the week.
What about you? What do you consider sleeping in?
Posted by Moogie at 9:09 AM | Comments (4)
May 27, 2006
What's for dinner?
We had a rare moment this week, in which both of the children were off with some friends for the evening. I made some taco salad and quesadillas. I'm really bad at "presentation" but I've posted some pictures of how it turned out. This recipe can be made many different ways, even low in fat and it still comes out fantastic. Especially on a hot summer evening.
Lettuce of any type, you can even mix them. In this case I used Spring Mix, Spinach, and American Salad Mix (bags...I go for simplicity).
Then, add anything you would normally put in a salad. In my case, because I used the American Salad Mix, I added mushrooms, bell peppers, green onions, and celery. Be creative!!!
Take a small onion, and dice it. Put about a tablespoon or less of oil in a pan, and sauté the onion along with some garlic in the pan. Add your meat of choice (I used ground turkey breast but any meat will do - leftover meat works well). Add chilli powder, basil...just use a bunch of different spices. When that's cooked (or heated up if it's leftover), add a bit of your favorite salsa, just enough to moisten the meat mixture and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
Crumble some tortilla chips and lay them on the bottom of your plate or bowl. Top with salad mixture, and then the meat, and then some grated cheese.
The dressing is pretty much your choice but it goes best with Catalina or Russian (I used the lite version of both). Put some chips on the side to serve as scoopers.
As you can see, you can really vary this recipe alot. I'm trying to cook low fat, so I used the ground turkey breast, low fat cheese, and lite dressing. If you need me to be more specific in the ingredients, drop me a line and I'll send you a more structured version.
Bon Apetit!!!
Posted by Moogie at 5:27 PM | Comments (1)
Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt - #4
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To all of you who are playing this week, leave a comment with your link so others can come and visit you. If you're not playing, go ahead and leave a comment anyway. I'd love to hear from you! Happy Memorial Day everyone!
Posted by Moogie at 8:16 AM | Comments (20)
May 26, 2006
Dropped on their heads at birth
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
That is the only plausible explanation at any rate. I'm not always sure I am cut out to be a mother. Take yesterday evening, for example.
We have a trampoline out in the back yard. When my husband cuts the grass, he moves it around. At this particular point in time, the trampoline was sitting on the side of the deck. The deck is about 2 1/2 feet or so above the ground, and around the edge of the deck is the railing. The trampoline had sat there since the night before, due to shaky weather (major downpour) and impending darkness.
I was putting away some things inside, and I thought I heard footsteps on the roof. I immediately thought I was delusional, and dismissed the idea as ludicrous. But the footsteps continued. I put it down to the kids being outside and running around on the deck. For kids, they sure do have heavy footsteps. It really sounds like a heard of elephants in a tap dancing contest.
After a while, I was able to isolate the sound, and much to my disbelief, it was coming from the roof. Only, it didn't sound like an animal.
I stepped into the sunroom, which is windows from about the waist up, and my jaw immediately dropped to the floor. As I stood there and watched, each child jumped of the roof, on to the trampoline below. The roof. They jumped off of the ROOF. On to the trampoline.
When my eldest daughter took her turn, she did a half twist in the air. Judging from the look on her face, I can tell you the exact moment she saw me leaning against the bookcase observing her descent, and what was going through her tiny little pointed head.
BUSTED!
Before you say something like "kids will be kids," I want to back up and tell you that they had done this before and I had strictly forbidden them from ever doing anything like that again. I went through the entire safety speech, blah, blah, blah. I then told them all (my girls, and their two friends) that if they ever so much as entertained the thought of going anywhere near the roof, trampoline or not, I would tie the four of them up to the ceiling fan and turn it up full speed. Well, not really but you get the picture.
Last night Chickie, whom I once considered to be a bright child, actually asked me if they could do it "just one time." I think the drinking water in Georgia must be tainted or something. I told her absolutely and unequivocally, NO.
As you can see, that had no effect. I called all of the children out into the garage. The time spent waiting for them to get out there, allowed me to calm down enough to think clearly and formulate a course of action. The kids are pretty well tuned into my moods. It's much better if I yell at them, than if I cross my hands over my chest and speak softly.
Me: Did I not tell you two weeks ago, that you were not allowed to jump off the roof on to the trampolines?
Them: Yes.
Me: Chickie, did I not give you the same answer when you asked me this evening.
Chickie: Yes.
Me: Then why did you guys do it?
Them: Because we just couldn't resist!
Me: Look, I love you all very much, and I don't want you to get hurt. What you did, again, after I expressly forbade you to do it, was a direct defiance of what I said. Do you understand that?
Them: Yes mam.
Me: Good and you will have all night to think of it.
At that point, I turned to my girls and told them that they were grounded, and would be spending the evening in their rooms, no TV, no computer. That's kind of like a slow death in my household.
I then turned to the other two, and told them to go home. They breathed a sigh of relief until I told them that I was going to call their mom. At that point, the youngest girl broke down crying and apologized, telling me that she was so sorry, and she would never do it again.
The call to the other mom went just as I expected (THEY WHAT???!!!). We both hung up, convinced our children may not make it to the next year.
The whole dropping on the head thing sounds better and better.
Posted by Moogie at 4:28 PM | Comments (10)
May 20, 2006
The Rehearsal
Here are some pictures of the rehearsal on the day of the recital. I apologize about the quality. The lighting was really poor. On top of that, I have no stills of Chickie's tap dance because I was taking a video of it. My husband had left to get us checked into the hotel.
Added to that is the fact that I can't figure out how to make the videos we took into a file that can be uploaded on to the internet. I've got a Cannon DC10. Anyone have any ideas?
Posted by Moogie at 8:07 AM | Comments (7)
May 18, 2006
Attention!
From here on in, the child formerly known as Melie No, will henceforth be referred to as Melianator.
ONE. MORE. DAY. OF. SCHOOL.
Pass the Vodka please.
Posted by Moogie at 5:14 PM | Comments (8)
Thursday Thirteen - #3
(Banner courtesy of Chaotic Home
Thirteen Things About Moogie
- On May 21st, I will be married for 18 years. If it is possible, I'm happier and more in love than the day I said "I do."
- I have little to no self confidence.
- I am, by nature, a workaholic, but my family still comes first.
- On my 18th birthday, I was in an automobile accident. It was my fault. Since then, I have always worn my seat belt, even for short distances. The paramedics told me I wouldn't have been injured if I was wearing one.
- I love to cook and am good at it (so says my husband). I rarely use a recipe, and if I do, I tend to modify it as I go. I like to make things up.
- I hate vegetables for the most part. I need to eat more of them to keep my diet balanced.
- Speaking of diet, I have lost 18 pounds so far, and have done it slowly. It isn't too bad as I have to completely avoid fatty foods, and make sure my intake of fiber is high. It's good stuff and so fun to feel how loose my clothes are becomming.
- I am very fortunate to have the parents I have. I love them dearly, and don't get to visit/talk to them on the phone nearly enough. I consider them not only my parents, but my best friends.
- I am the youngest of three children and the only daughter. To this day, I have no idea why I am close to both of my brothers and they are still talking to me.
- I love to go to the movies with my girls. I really enjoy kids flicks and I have no problem admitting that. My husband doesn't like it so much, so I'm more than happy to take them.
- I still have not gone back to Curves, and am a bit nervous about doing so. I am planning, if things keep on going the way they are, to start back up again Monday, but take it slow.
- I went through infertility treatments to have both of my children. I wasn't supposed to be able to have the 2nd. All of it was well worth it, and I have no regrets.
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments, including mine!. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Posted by Moogie at 6:26 AM | Comments (18)
May 17, 2006
Wordless Wednesday - #3
Posted by Moogie at 6:01 PM | Comments (9)
May 14, 2006
You are my hero
Dear Mom,
I cannot tell you how many times I have sat down to write this, only to stare at a blank screen for what seems like hours. I am so afraid that I will not do you justice by writing this post.
You are my hero.
I love you so much. I value you as a mother, and as the years have gone by, a cherished friend. You have been with me through better or worse, and in sickness or heath. Your unwavering support of me, no matter what, has left me feeling so blessed.
How do I begin to tell you how much you mean to me? Where do I start?
I am a wife and a mother of two beautiful children. But I am also a daughter of one of the most loving, kind, compassionate, caring women that I have ever met. Your children always came first in your life, and since I have had children, I realize just how much you sacrificed for all of us.
You quit work to take care of your mother, and then your mother-in-law when they needed full-time care. You taught me the meaning of family, and just how important they are. Through thick and through thin, your family is always there for you, even when you screw up big time. Like me.
You are my hero.
You never gave up on me. Ever. Even when I was in my typical teenaged, young 20's know-it-all stage. You know what I'm referring to. The time when my parents knew absolutely nothing and they didn't understand me or what I was going through. Typical angst of a young adult that I imagine drives most parents crazy.
The thing is, and I wouldn't admit it to you when I was younger, I always knew I could count on you to back me up. To pick me up when I fell flat on my face, and dust my clothes off, pointing me in the right direction. I never figured out how you did it, and do it, but you always made me, and make me, feel so much better about myself. You were my safety net. It allowed me to explore life, always confident that if I messed it up, you would be there.
You are my hero.
There are too many memories to write about in just one post. I remember the very first time I made a batch of cookies from scratch, and how I kept coming over to the family room where you were laying on the couch reading, asking you advice. Do you realize how important that made me feel? To this day, I remember that fondly.
I remember how you were there for the birth of Melie No. I can still feel your hands rubbing my feet when the contractions hit. I can still sense your presence near my head, rubbing my hair and my scalp, your voice enabling me to remain calm.
Do you remember my blue and white down vest, back when they were popular? And how, one time, when you washed it you found a bag of marijuana and a pipe in the pocket? And when I came home from school I found my freshly washed vest, with the baggie and the pipe laying on top of it, as well as and article on the dangers of marijuana by its side. You see, you instinctively knew that confronting me would make me run the other direction. You have no idea how that positively affected my life.
I could go on, but then I would need to write a book. This is only the tip of the iceberg.
Mom! I did it! I have two beautiful girls and my one wish is to raise them like you raised me. With complete and unconditional love. I know they will unintentionally hurt me, like I did you, but I also know, that showing them how I am always there for them and never giving up, will help them realized that Mom is not so dumb after all. And that she is someone they can count on.
Again, my words do no justice in expressing my love for you.
Just know this. I love you and I always will.
Thank you.
Posted by Moogie at 1:07 AM | Comments (5)
May 12, 2006
Were you shocked?
I watch American Idol. I admit it. Chickie and I watch it faithfully every week, and when we can't watch it at the time it airs, we record it. Now that I have that confession out of the way (BTW, we are also addicted to House, CSI, Law and Order, Cold Case, to name a few, just in case you thought I was shallow).
For those of you who do watch it, were you shocked at who got eliminated? I have to admit, that one took me by surprise. I must say that I really have come to love the contestants that are left, so I think any eliminations would be hard for me (and Chickie) at this point. Even Ryan was shocked. And that's another thing. Ryan needs to stop with the snarky comments regarding Paula. Ahem.
Right now we are both pulling for Taylor. This is hard as we both really love Elliot as well. Of the three remaining, I think that Katharine is probably the most talented, but just doesn't have the personality of the other two, especially Taylor.
And that brings me to another point. It seems that the winners are being picked, not for their talent, but for their personalities which ups the popularity vote. I personally would love to see this show have a panel of judges who actually make the decisions. They would consist of record producers, song writers, entertainers and the like. I think we would then see the cream of the crop.
What do you guys think? Additionally, who do you think will be voted off next week?
Posted by Moogie at 7:21 PM | Comments (2)
Rest in peace Jessica
May God bless you and grant you peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
With you in Heaven, I know that all of the children waiting for their parents will be well looked after.
Goodnight Jessica. Know that your spirit will live on and that your time on earth, though short, has made this world a better place.
Posted by Moogie at 4:57 PM | Comments (3)
I spoke too soon
Ok, so today I was supposed to be running around like the proverbial chicken with its head cut-off. Between you, me, and the lady next door, I'm going to thoroughly trash this Murphy person when and if I ever find him.
I went to work as planned, mentally making a checklist of everything that needed to be done. I'd been there about 3 1/2 hours when I received an email from my mom telling me that they wouldn't be able to come up this weekend after all. Dad's neck is really hurting and he just wanted to stay home. Disappointing? Definitely. But certainly understandable given the circumstances. I am grateful that my father spoke out about it. The last thing they need to do is go visit when they aren't well.
Right after I sent a reply to their email, I received a call from my husband informing me that Chickie had called him at work and she was sick and had a fever.
Sigh.
Sick.
Recital.
Tomorrow.
Crap.
I went to pick her up and the poor little thing looked miserable. On a side note, I will not be able to call her little for much longer because she's about an inch shorter than me as I am typing this. Most likely she will have shot past me by Monday.
Luckily, it looks like she may just have a cold, and this is the day of misery. I've gotten the fever down by alternating Tylenol and Ibuprofen, and while not completely gone, it's significantly lower. She's determined to perform tomorrow, and that, as much as anything else, should let you know how strong willed she is. She's worked very hard for this moment.
I'll pretty much sit back and let her take the reins on this one. There's a better than even chance that she will feel much better, but in all honesty, she's the only one who knows how far she can go. She's spent the better part of the year, covered in sweat, plagued by sore muscles and blisters. I have never been so proud of her for sticking to it, and finding something that she really loves.
I'm hoping Mr. Murphy will take the Misses out for a fun filled Mother's Day weekend, and leave Chickie alone.
Posted by Moogie at 3:52 PM | Comments (3)
May 10, 2006
Posting Lite
Heh..sounds like some kind of diet doesn't it? If it's about shedding pounds, I'm all for it.
Sorry my posting has been somewhat on the non-existent side. These last two weeks of school have made for a heavy schedule. This means some things get put to the side. Like my blog. Darn that real life anyway.
The girls have their recital this Saturday so we are preparing for that. My folks will be coming up for it and will stay with us, so that means "OH.MY.GOD.I.HAVE.TO.GET.THE.HOUSE.CLEANED!" That's not actually necessary with my parents because they come to see us, and they don't administer the white glove treatment. Kind of cool if you ask me.
Meelie had a bit of oral surgery yesterday. I'm not medical but I'll try to explain it. The little flap that connects your gums to upper lip had to be reduced. It was pulling her tissues which in turn, caused a gap in between her two front teeth. They lasered it, and the teeth should now move together. Poor little thing is only allowed to eat non-spicy, soft foods for a few days.
I've been using my reserve of patience up, and I'm afraid I have hit rock bottom. I can't wait until school is over. The kids have effectively driven me over the edge. Getting Meelie to do her homework has been a massive undertaking, which at times has been an exercise in futility.
God grant me patience.
On the other hand, Chickie is excelling in school. It is amazing what a little talk with her can do. I basically told her that unless she can prove to me that she can keep her grades up (and I don't expect perfection), and do her homework, there is no way that I will let her sign up for extra dance classes next year. She is passionate about dance. It's the next best thing to boys. It's all good, and I am more than willing to spend the money as long as she holds up to her end of the bargain.
As far as my health, I've had some issues here and there, and am still struggling for a balance with my diverticulitis. I had another attack last week, but the antibiotics have kicked in and I seem to be doing better. There are days when I feel overwhelmed with it all, because the writing on the wall is becoming clearer, and easier to read. I still haven't given up all hope though, so time will tell.
On this note, I bid you a temporary goodbye of sorts. As stated above, the recital is Saturday, and the girls have an appointment with my hairdresser at 9:30 that morning to get their hair done. Then we have to be in the city by 2:00, and the recital is at 7:00. This will make for a long day but it is very much worth it. Mother's Day will be a day of rest, and it will be extremely special because my mom will be here (Dad too) to share it with me.
I couldn't ask for a better Mother's Day gift.
Posted by Moogie at 8:58 PM | Comments (3)
May 8, 2006
Speaker phones rock
Our old phone finally went caput and the one we got to replace it has quite a few features on it. One of which, is a speaker phone. It's a hand held, so my oh-so-social Chickie, can take it and barricade herself in her room, distancing herself from her ever-nosey sister.
Did I mention one of the features was a speaker phone? Chickie has discovered this, and loves it. Quite often she goes into her room and lays down on the top bunk and gossiping away with all of her friends. And the cool thing is you don't even have to eavesdrop to listen. I can be sitting here, surfing away, and hearing the entire conversation.
Yes, I do listen. I also go through her backpack and her room from time to time. I want to know what is happening with her. Truth be told, she's pretty open and so far has no problem telling me everything.
Am I snooping? Probably. The point is that I want to stay informed. There very well may come a day in which she is not so forthcoming with information. But if there are problems, I'll know about them.
I know that this is a heated topic for some, and I'd really like to hear your input.
Let's discuss.
Posted by Moogie at 5:51 PM | Comments (13)
May 7, 2006
Race to the finish
There is only two more weeks left of school. How in the world did the year fly by so fast? And why, if I may ask, does everything always get so hectic?
The girls dance recital is on May 13th, and Meelie has practice on Monday and Wednesday, Chickie, Tuesday and Thursday. Just the coordination of that alone is enough to make my hair fall out.
The schools have every activity known to man taking place at the end of the year. Field days, awards ceremonies, end of the year parties. It all seems to take place within a matter of weeks.
It's hard to believe that the year is almost over and my eldest will be moving into the 7th grade, and the youngest 3rd. The time is slipping by so fast. What happened to my babies? They are growing up so fast. I'm excited watching them grow up, and form the basis of who they will be for the rest of their lives, but does it have to happen so quickly?
The funny thing is, as they grow, I find myself growing as well. My kids help me become a better person. I've also realized that I am a fierce champion when it has something to do with them. If I feel it's wrong, I have no problem speaking out about it, and speaking loudly if the situation warrants.
These past 11 years have been the most exhilarating, exasperating, fun, heartbreaking, emotional, frustrating and wonderful years of my life. I wouldn't change them for the world.
Unless of course, I could slow it down just a bit.
Posted by Moogie at 7:49 AM | Comments (5)
May 6, 2006
What not to wear
We are headed off to the Shrimp Festival once Chickie settles on an outfit. This is the 4th time that she has changed. She keeps tweeking it, even down to the bra. I'm guessing this is just a taste of things to come.
I'll see if I can get some good pictures of the festival. It's always a fun thing to attend.
Posted by Moogie at 11:42 AM | Comments (2)
Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt - #3
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Eyes Wide Open
On occasion, I have been known to let my children borrow my camera and go take pictures of whatever they want to. The results can sometimes be hilarious, and at times interesting.
In this picture, my eldest daughter took a picture of her eyes. I think it came out pretty good and it even fits the theme. Thank you Chickie! I didn't think I was going to be able to find a picture that fit.
Posted by Moogie at 9:19 AM | Comments (27)
May 4, 2006
Thursday Thirteen - #3
(Banner courtesy of Chaotic Home
Thirteen Movies my Children Love
- Chicken Little
- Phat Girlz
- War of the Worlds
- The Wild
- High School Musical
- The Shaggy Dog
- Shrek I and II
- Cinderella
- Princess Diaries, I and II
- A Cinderella Story
- Fern Gully
- Madegascar
- Racing Stripes
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Posted by Moogie at 7:53 AM | Comments (50)
May 3, 2006
I need to write a parenting book
I am so "Mother of the Year" material, and here's why.
Chickie had to go to a doctor we hadn't seen before. She was extremely nervous. When we were sitting in the room, waiting for this mysterious doctor to appear, I worked on distracting her.
Look, a shiny penny! Ok, that worked for me. But not so much for her.
I was cracking jokes, and doing silly things. And when the doctor comes into the room? We were both making farting noises to the tune of "Old McDonald."
Hey now, give me the credit I deserve. I told her we were practicing for the Mother-Daughter talent show next month.
I so deserve that award, don't you think?
Posted by Moogie at 6:23 PM | Comments (6)
Wordless Wednesday - #2
Posted by Moogie at 7:54 AM | Comments (22)
May 2, 2006
It's all about the whining
I went back to work on Monday part time and it has been wonderful. Well, if you didn't count Monday, in which I was so overwhelmed, I thought I would throw up. Luckily, I kept my cookies in the jar, and muddled my way through all of my email and voicemail messages, not to mention the mounds of paperwork on my desk. It took me all of my 4 hours just to figure out where I had left off and what I needed to do. Today was much better.
I'm tired, but it's a good tired, and no pain is involved. Everyone has been so kind to me. It's kind of overwhelming. But there is a limit to my kindness factor, so I thought perhaps this would be a good forum to bring up some of the finer points.
Please, don't get me wrong. Everyone has been wonderful and I know they mean well, but I WISH THEY WOULD STOP ALREADY!
First off, I had surgery. I did not die, and at no point was I close to death. Was it rough? You betcha, but it was oh-so-worth it in the end. Sorry, no pun intended.
Please do not tell me stories about how your Aunt Bertha had the same surgery and had to be rushed to the hospital because she developed peritonitis due to a leaky bowel. You are talking to a person who developed every disease known to mankind while taking Anatomy and Physiology in college. I'm trying to maintain an upbeat attitude in which I am holding a flag shouting "this is the surgery that will end all of my problems!"
Same with giving me horror stories about the numerous adhesions I have. Yes, I know the odds. I've talked to the doctors and have done my research. I'm doing everything possible to avoid those complications. Time will tell. Instead, focus on the positive. Something like "now that you are better, when are you going to start bringing muffins in again?"
I can walk, really I can. I know I limp from time to time, but that is mainly due to habit. I had 4 months of chronic pain, so I learned to compensate. It takes a while to get over that. Today I was checking out some things in the warehouse. A lovely man that I work with came up to me and said "you are walking sideways again, straighten it out Private!" At which point he came up beside me and put his arm around my shoulders and shouted "to the left, to the left, to the left, right left!" I love that. It helps me remember to think when I walk. He was also the one to tell me not to be too upset because the scars from the surgery will now prevent me from wearing a bikini. Get the point? It's all about the humor.
I realize that everyone recovers at a different rate. I am not crazy because I came back in three weeks. It was the right time for me. I was going crazy with boredom, which tended to make me depressed. Trust me, I know my body now and have adopted a new attitude. I won't overdo, and I won't wait around until it's too late again if something is wrong. I've found my voice now. And I'm not afraid to use it.
Listen, I work with a great bunch of folks. This is no way meant to be a bitch fest about it. I'm touched that they care, really I am. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, even though at times I get hairballs.
When someone comes back after surgery, illness or whatever, focus on the positive. Add a little humor. It makes a huge difference.
Really, it does.
Posted by Moogie at 5:01 PM | Comments (5)
