Duck does it again

A few minutes ago, my wonder boy, Duck, just reached into his mouth and pulled out his 4th tooth. HAH!

Ignoring Lao Tzu

If you noticed in today's Quote of the Day (look to the right, folks,) you'll notice that the strength is in the silence and I completely and totally agree. In fact, I've been silent a lot lately, a lot more than I usually am. I have taken Willie Nelson's advice when he says, "Never miss a good opportunity to shut up." I wish like hell some other people would avail themselves of that little bit of wisdom, but I digress. Silence is a good thing, but since it's a new thing for me, my friends are starting to freak out and think that I've been abducted by aliens or something, so today I'm speaking out. You know, just a few things on my mind. No big whoop.

Sushi is just as good at 10am as it is at 8pm. At least it was today. I've got one raging case of PMS and it was either sushi or a shotgun and, well, there's no application process or waiting period for the Full Moon Combo.

Speaking of waiting periods, you might recall that I have to take the online defensive driving course to avoid getting points on my license after my little fender crunch. Today I signed up for one of the courses and started the process. Again, no big deal. It's a course with 7 chapter exams and then a final exam. It mentioned that it was a 7 hour course. HA HA I thought. I'm a freaking fast reader and test well, so I figured that I'd be in and out in a couple of hours max. WRONG! The damned course is timed! Yes, indeedy, you cannot move on past each page until a certain amount of time has lapsed. Seriously, I think they must assume it takes folks 2 days to read a single paragraph. Stealth can read faster than this and he is 4! It is torturous to have to wait. Thank you, Sweet Elvis, for iTunes, online games, herbal antidepressants, whatever. JEEZE LOUISE, folks. Mind numbing, I tell you.

My beloved yoga class has been moved from 6pm to 4pm. CRIKEY, talk about childcare crunch, eh? I'm going to try to take Duck and Stealth with me today. DDFF will be there and she is bringing Garoo and Filbert - I'm hoping they all can play nice for an hour or so. And I'm also hoping that my little yogi, Duck, doesn't come bursting in and trying to attend class with me. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing that pleases me more than watching my little man twist and breathe and bend, but Mama needs some time.

My kids are obsessed with cars now. Yep, all kinds of cars. They know makes and models and scream with delight when they see something new. This, of course, thrills B to no end. My. Dear. Lord. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE at least let us get a female dog.

I taught some friends of mine private childbirth ed classes this week (DDFF, muscle yaki on me, Mama.) Five and a half hours of talking and demonstrating and teaching and answering questions and watching videos and breastfeeding my Jerry Garcia doll. GAH!! It was a great class, but I have to admit that I feel it was wasted on the couple I was teaching. They are rather well off and prefer to do things privately so I believe they wanted me to teach them because they knew I would come to their house and do it privately, not because of what the class entailed. It was strange - like they were taking this class because they felt obligated to because "that's what pregnant people do" and not so much because they cared to learn anything. Or maybe they just didn't want to learn what I was teaching. Maybe they wanted to learn how to let their OB walk all over them. Maybe they wanted to learn how long it takes from saying, "I want the epidural" to getting the needle in their spinal column. Maybe they wanted ... I don't know what they wanted. It seems to me that they would have benefited more from the generic, bland hospital classes that don't really teach you anything other than how to be a good (read: compliant) patient. Regardless, I enjoyed spending the time with them, I enjoyed the money I earned, and I think that at least a few things sunk in. I just wish everyone were as passionate about this kind of stuff as I am - I wish people would learn to care BEFORE instead of after.

So Erzulie is having some issues and here it is, nearly her first birthday. Truth be told, I'm not sure it's Erzulie that is having the problems. I noticed a few weeks ago that I was having trouble getting some songs to sync from iTunes onto 'Zulie. It would get stuck, hang up on songs, and just get all pissy. SO I did a bunch of reading in the iTunes Forums and came up with the idea that perhaps I needed to get a new cable to connect it to my computer. Makes sense - the cable that came with it has been run over by the wheels of my desk chair a bazillion times and slammed into metal drawers and probably the wires inside are all gnarled up. So I went and spent $25 for a new cable yesterday - to find that it still got hung up on a song or two, but *not the same songs* that hung it up before. So now I don't know if the problem was the cable or if it's something else. I don't know whether to return the new cable and get my money back or if I should keep it. DAMMIT. I hate being up in the air.

I've not said one thing about this next topic yet. I'm going to say one thing and one thing only and I'm only going to say it once. Here it is. I've been hearing sooooooooooooo much about Anna Nicole and Britney Spears lately. I mean, it's everywhere. It's on the news, on the radio, in the papers, and all over people's blogs. What I find absolutely hysterical, however, is how many people are writing and complaining or making fun about how it's all over the news and papers and it's all anyone talks about. It's so absurd. Here's the deal folks - you are just as responsible for it being such a media spectacle as CourtTV, E!, NBC, People Magazine, etc. Media outlets write about it because there are folks like you out there that care about it. Think you don't really care? Then why in the hell are you taking time out of your day to write about it, talk about it, post about it, ask about it, care about it?????? If you are really interested, really concerned, then by all means, learn about it, talk about it, care about it, But don't sit there and say how horrendous it is that it's all anyone talks about and then obsess about it yourselves! Gimme a break, eh? End of rant.

It's so funny how things change. I spent Monday at JP's house and we had a clothing swap. She's gained some weight (and looks fabulous - she was too thin for too long,) and I've lost some weight, so we both cleaned out our closets and traded. By the end of the day, she got 7 new pair of pants / jeans and probably 5 shirts and I got 4 pair of jeans, a pair of khakis and a pair of brown pants that I love. Recycling at it's best.

Spring is coming - it's nearly here. HALLE-FUCKING-LUJAH!!! Sorry folks, this one deserves to remain unedited.

Tax refunds - one down, one to go. SCORE!

I got a great purple silk pillow yesterday for my bed for 75% off. Here's my public service announcement - If you see anything purple that is 75% off and it doesn't sing "I love you, you love me," BUY IT!!!!!! Purple is good mojo and we all know that we could all use the good mojo we can get.

I've knitted 4 baby hats in as many days. Heh. Babies. They're cute, they're adorable, they are NOT mine!!! I'm really looking forward to being an aunt again. Just a few more weeks and B & D are gonna have their little Nameless Wonder. YAY!

I need a haircut.
I need a massage.
I need a vacation.
But first...

I need a shower.

Later!

A must see

Special thanks to DDFF for pointing me towards this documentary,  It should have been made ages ago.

 

Check out Pregnant in America.  Be sure to view the trailer.

 

It's time to change our ways, America.  Peace on Earth Begins with Birth.

I have to vomit now

I just figured and efiled our taxes.

This year is different - this year I had a 1099 and mileage expenses.

 

I don't feel so well ....

Court

So I had my court date this morning for my little wreck I had in January and the prosecuting atty said, "Mamakohl is in violation of colliding with another motor vehicle resulting in significant damage!!"   

When I had my turn to speak, I said, "First off, I'd like to point out that significant damage was to my own vehicle -I was going about 8 mph and slid under Jeep."  The judge asked the Pros Atty if that was true and the PA said, "uhm, yes, that is correct - significant damage to her vehicle, minimal if any damage to the other." 

Well, DUH!!!!

Anyway, $72.50 + court costs (total $95,) and I get to take an online defensive driving course ($30) to avoid getting 2 points on my license.

The judge was kind and the online course will be simple and no points on my license.  Good enough.

Oh well, at least I wasn't hauled off in handcuffs.  I saw that happen to some poor woman today.

And, finally, if you get caught pissing on a bush in my county, as did some college guy, you'll be fined $125 + court costs because it "makes it really unpleasant for everyone around you."  NICE.

Happy V Day!

February 14th is about much much more than Valentine's Day, folks.  Please take some time and visit VDay, contribute if you can, and continue to make it a part of your life Until The Violence Stops.

 

Now, onto the good lovie dovie stuff.

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all lovers.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all non-lovers.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all believers.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all pessimists.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S Day TO ALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!

 

It was my morning to get up with the kids. Of course, they got up before anyone had a right to be awake, but whatever.  It was just as well that they got up - I had plans for them.  I had planned a special breakfast for them.  I will never forget, as long as I live, the year that I went to the breakfast table as a kid on Valentine's Day and found a box with chocolate in it that spelled out "I Love You."   It was from my mom and it was sitting on my breakfast plate.  It meant so much to me that she would do that - and I was just a kid.  I have carried that with me since then and I wanted to show my smallest Valentine's how much I love them.  So off to the kitchen I went, stubbing my toe in the dark, to make Duck and Stealth something special to start the day.

But I stopped dead in my tracks when I turned on the light.

 

Sitting in front of my teapot was a card addressed to me.

 

'My greatest gift is to be with you, alone.' -- Maya Angelou

At the heart of our togetherness,

I find truth

and laughter

and the freedom to be myself.

Thank you

for being my joy,

my love.

 

And then there was a lovely message from B, ending with "P.S. Look in the fridge!"

 

Low and behold, in my refrigerator, was a huge box of the best chocolate covered strawberries known to man.    GOOD LORD, B is on a roll!  He stayed up after I went to bed last night and set it all up for me to be surprised this morning.  I'm telling you, he's a great man.

 

So, after munching on a strawberry at 6:30 in the morning, I made breakfast for the kids: pancakes with whipped cream in the shape of a heart and ripe raspberries, Raspberry sparkling grape juice, and a raspberry and chocolate milk shake topped with whipped cream and another raspberry.   And I even gave them each one of my strawberries - am I good or what?

 

What a way to start the day!

 

Tonight is my signature spinach mannicotti, Caesar salad, bread, and cookies for dessert.  And more strawberries.

 

It's gonna be a great Valentine's - B is off, there's snow outside, and I'm surrounded by those whom I love most.

 

Happy V-Day, everyone.  Tell someone you love them today.  And, as Stephan Stills wisely said, "if you cannot be with the one you love, love the one you're with."

 

 

By request

The jewelry B got me for our anniversary - it's a special kind of green turquoise and I forget what the amber colored stones are .....

Me and my Monkey

While out for an off road ride in the truck (we parked it before taking this pic with my phone)





After dinner - look at us looking like grown ups!

I must be 4 years old

I'm so freaking excited about my anniversary - you'd think I was 4 and this was my birthday!

 

SHEESH!

6 years tomorrow

Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary! 6 years ago, B and I took 8 month old Duck to the courthouse and we got hitched. Sometimes it seems like just yesterday. Sometimes it seems like a thousand lifetimes ago.

Our anniversary is always special to us. We lived together for 2 years before getting married and we took a long time to decide to say I Do. Taking that extra time really makes us appreciate our marriage and what we have. We make the choice every single day to be together and have never taken it for granted.

Tomorrow, we are dropping the boys off with the in-laws and spending the day together. I'm not sure what we're going to do, neither is he, and we don't care. We'll be together and that's all we care about. I'm sure there will be loud music and some off road driving - just getting out and having fun.

Tomorrow night, 2(JP) are coming up and we're having dinner at a swank place. We know the owners quite well as well as all the managers. They are expecting us around 7 and B has been told that they're "doing it all up special" for us, whatever that means.

The craziest thing? B is wearing a tie. Yep, and it was even his own suggestion! I couldn't be more surprised if an atomic bomb went off in my bra (hush, you.) So, of course, I went out and bought a new dress for the occasion and it hugs the right parts just perfectly. WAHOOOOOO

I'm so excited, I cannot wait.

6 years down, 294 left to go. I hope those years crawl by - this is just too much fun.

I love you, B. Happy anniversary.

Duck's playlist

Last weekend I sat down at iTunes and started thumbing through my catalogue.  This takes quite some time, what with several thousands of songs on there and more coming every day.  Anyway, I started thinking about the songs I listened to when I was 6 (6 and a half Duck reminds me,) and realized that I have lots of stuff that he would really like.  We sat down and started going through the songs together and came up with a playlist of things that he knows he likes, things that I think he'll like, and frankly, just some things that I want my kid to listen to.  He came up with a few songs that he wanted on there that I, personally, don't care to listen to, but heck, it's his playlist - who cares if he wants the Spice Girls?

 

Anyway, it came out to 6 cds!!  And I don't know who likes the mix more - him or me!  

 

 

08 Reservoir Dogs - Stealers Wheel 

19 - Toni Basil - Mickey      
59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)  

A Little Less Conversation 
Accidently Kelly Street 
All I Wanna Do 

Banana Pancakes 
Beautiful Day 4:08 

Birdhouse in Your Soul 
Black Horse And The Cherry Tree 

Boogie Shoes 
Born In The USA 
Boy Named Sue (live) 
Castles Of Made Of Sand 2:47 
Centerfield
Centerfold 
Chain Of Fools  
Cheeseburger In Paradise 

Coconut 
Cold Cold Cold / Dixie Chicken 

Constellations 

Could You Be Loved 
Crazy Little Thing Called Love 

Crunchy Granola Suite 
Cure - Pictures Of You 

Dance Dance 
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da 
Dear Prudence 
Don't Stand So Close To Me    
Everybody Wants To Rule The World 
Everything You've Done Wrong 
Fee 
Fight For Your Right 
Foxy Lady 
Franklin's Tower 

Friend Of The Devil 

Little Green Bag
Get Up Stand Up 
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun 
Here Comes The Sun 
Hips Don't Lie
Hold Me Now 

Honky Tonk Women 
I Like to Move it 
I Love Rock and Roll 
I Think I'm Paranoid 
In The Year 2525 
Iron Lion Zion 
Istanbul (Not Constantinople) 
Jessie's Girl 
Jumpin' Jack Flash 

Kate 
Kodachrome 
Kokomo   
Labour Of Love 
Let's Get It Started 
Little Martha 
Little Sister 

Maggie May 
Move Ya Body   
Movin' To Virginia 
Mr. Jones
Mrs. Robinson 
My Best Friends Girl 
No Rain 
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 
One Mint Julep    
P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)   
Paint It Black 
Redemption Song 
Respect    
Ring Of Fire 
Ripple 
Rock The Casbah 
Runaway 2:34 

Smells Like Teen Spirit 

Soul Shake Down Party 
Stand 
Stuck in the Middle With You 
Subterranean Homesick Blues 

Suffragette City 
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes 
Sunshine of Your Love
Surfin' safari 
Suspicious Minds 
Sweet Caroline 
Sweet Home Alabama
Swingtown 
Sympathy For The Devil 
The 3 R's 
The Joker 
The Longest Time 

The Na-Na Song 
The Race Is On 

The Weight 

They Might Be Giants - Particle Man 

Three Little Birds (Alternate Mix) 

Time of Your Life 
Trenchtown Rock 

Up On Cripple Creek 
Violent Femmes - Blister In The Sun

Wannabe 
We're going to be friends 
We are the champions 
Where It's At 
White Lightning 

Wild Thing 
Wild World 
Wipe Out 
You Can't Always Get What You Want

You Can Call me Al 

 

HAH!  No Raffi here!

OMG, I'm in love with this

I am so in love with my Friday night yoga class that I'm already starting to be sad about it ending in another 5 weeks. not to mention the fact that I'll miss this week and that will only leave me 4 more classes to attend. I love yoga, have for years and years, and it's so vitally important to my mental and physical health. I have a zillion yoga dvds and videos, but am always hesitant to use them because they don't really give me the work out that I desire, or they are full of instructions for beginners. This is all fine and good for beginners and folks who need the added instruction, but when you've been doing it for 10 years or so (admittedly off and on, but still,) the chatter becomes an impediment to your practice.

Enter my man, Rodney Yee. ZING!

I adore Rodney Yee. I know I'm not alone (shout DDFF!!) I have a few of his videos and have actually had this Power Yoga dvd for quite some time but never used it because, well, see above. Today, however, I decided to give it a go and WOW WOW WOW. I love it. Just love it! It's very comparable to my class on Friday nights but is even more challenging, which is exactly what I want. There is no instructional chatter, simply music and the poses being announced. It's fast paced and made me sweat and stretch and challenge myself. Bliss, pure bliss.

I think I'll still sign up for another class when my current session runs out 'cause I love being around all those women working hard, but this dvd, my friends, is an excellent companion.

Off to the shower -I stink.

I'm just saying ...