Okay, OKAY already!!!

So I just deleted approximately 250 "friends" from my facebook page. Well they weren't really friends - most were just random people that were playing the same dumb games I was playing... where you need lots of "friends" playing too in order to get anywhere.

Well I'm not playing anymore; it's a giant timesuck and the novelty has worn off.

It's a symbolic gesture. I have allowed FB to occupy way too much of my time since discovering it in....January maybe? But I'm back. I will TRY to post at least once a week. Really, really try. So please, my ever-so-patient and faithful readers: won't you come back to me?? I was lead astray by that demon FB, but the prodigal daughter has returned. Won't you welcome me with open arms?

To ease myself back into this blog thingy, I've decided to start slow and easy, with a meme.

What? Don't groan!! Memes can be good brain-juice stimulators!! And don't worry, I'm not tagging anyone. I've decided I don't play THAT game anymore either!! If you want to do this? Go right ahead!! And hey, let me know you did it cause I want to know. I'm there for you like that, see?

But otherwise, just read, and smile, and hopefully be glad I'm back. 'Cause I'm glad I'm back...

-----------------------

A, B, C, D, E, F . . .

A - Age: 36 (act surprised!!!)

B - Band listening to right now: Days of the New (Weapon & the Wound)

C - Career future: living it, baby

D - Dad's name: Bill

E - Easiest person to talk to: its a toss-up... either Gina or Nik

F - Favorite song: ONE? I have to pick ONE?

G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Chocolate

H - Hair: Blonde naturally, curly artificially

I - Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry's Magic Brownies

J - Jobs: waitress, nurse, clinical specalist

K - Kids: two - want one? (kidding... no really, I'm kidding)

L - Longest car ride ever: oh Lord, the bus trip to Disneyland in high school. Hell on Wheels.

M - Mom's name: Connie

N - Number of people you slept with: oh lots... wait, what? Oh. They don't really mean "sleep..."

P - Phobia[s]: Falling, Unfathomable measurements (infinity, eons)

Q - Quote: "Of course I don't have my underwear. I'm definitely not wearing my underwear." Raymond, *Rain Man*

R - Reason to smile: Love

S - Song you sang last: Days of the New - Touch, Peel & Stand

T - Time you wake up: when I have to, otherwise leave me alone!!

U - Unknown fact about me: If I tell you, then it will not be "unknown"

V - Vegetable you hate: onions (I hate the crunch *shudder*)

W - Worst habit: nail-picking

X - X-rays you've had: I get x-rayed nearly every day, folks.

Y - Yummy food: Seafood or Sushi

Z - Zodiac sign: Pisces - I'm a lover, not a fighter.


Okay, folks, we're rolling!! And if you have any post ideas, please let me know!!

xoxoxoxoxo

A Meme A-La-JaneyV

Here's the meme I owe JaneyV over at Whittering On. Janey just celebrated her Blogiversary by having a wisdom tooth extracted - not my idea of a great way to celebrate, but to each her own. So I raise a cuppa to Janey and here's my meme:

"Tagged Bloggers post answers to the questions on their blogs, changing questions as they wish:"

1. What do you do before bedtime? Well, I get up, brush my teeth, go to work...What? Oh, you mean RIGHT before bedtime!!! I usually read a book or play Bubble Breaker on my Treo. Something to quiet my ever-swirling brain.

2. What is your favorite sound? Silence. Is that a sound? Or is it the absence of sound? White Noise will do if silence is unavailable. I KNOW that's a sound. I am very sensitive to "ear pollution" and I like to hear myself think!!

3. What were your childhood fears? My childhood fears were pretty much my adult fears. Heights, death, small spaces, the enormity of space and time...Gee, wonder who Plato takes after? Poor kid!

4. What place have you visited that you can't forget and want to go back? Well. I have traveled extensively within the US, but not much outside it. I loved New Orleans, but fear it will never be the same since Katrina. Also loved Seattle and would love to spend more time there. My all-time favorite is St. Mary's glacier just outside of Denver, CO. What a spiritual and scenic place...

5. What has made you unhappy these days? Being away from home so much with my job. Love the job, hate the overnight travel.

6. What websites do you visit daily? My blog, the blogs that are updated from my sidebar, my email accounts, and my company's portal.

7. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is? Well, JaneyV and I have only "known" each other for a short time, but she is an Irish woman with a rapier wit and exceptional writing skills. I love her "Irish-isms" that flavor her writing like a sprinkling of gourmet salt flakes on a steaming ear of buttery sweet corn (that's a huge compliment, Janey, coming from a Midwesterner!). The Blogiverse is a better place with Janey in it!

8. What is your favorite item of clothing? My Spanx, of course!

9. What is your dream for the future? For the near future, it would be to find a living situation that allows me to do the job I love, and be home every night with the family I love. Ah, Bliss! For the long term, I want to enjoy raising my kids, see them leave the nest and live happy, productive lives. Grandbabies would be nice. I want to live to a ripe old age with my mind intact, preferably with my body intact too. I want to die peacefully in my sleep, and to have my survivors talk about what a rich life I led. Guess that's about it. Everything else is frosting!!

So that's me. Boring and ordinary, but now you have a deeper insight into my ordinary-ness!!

Who to tag? Well, how about Monnik, Debbielou, and SUV Mama? Totally optional, and if you've done it already, just let me know!!

An Afternoon Quickie

I'm in the airport, and no, I'm not figuring on joining the Mile High Club.

Just hanging out and figured I'd do a quick Meme. This one's from Travis over at One Word, One Rung, One Day and it's a simple one: grab the book you are currently reading, flip to page 56, and give us 2 - 5 lines. Since page 56 isn't the best for quotes, I am going out of bounds here and going from page 51. This is an excerpt from Dearly Devoted Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay:

(Dexter is meeting his sister, a police officer, for lunch)

'Because I am an inhuman monster, I tend to be logical, and I had thought that her new assignment would end her martyrdom as Our Lady of Perpetual Grumpiness. Alas, even her transfer to homicide had failed to bring a smile to her face. Somewhere along the way she had decided that serious law enforcement personnel must reshape their faces until they look like large, mean-spirited fish, and she was still working very hard to accomplish this....'

'...She called in her location and status and then sat across from me with a frown.

"Well, Sergeant Grouper," I said as we picked up our menus.

"Is that funny Dexter?"

"Yes," I said, "Very funny. And a little sad, too. Like life itself. Especially your life, Deborah." '

If you haven't read the Dexter novels, I would enthusiastically recommend them. The writing is as enjoyable, if not more so, than the story. Now that's my kind of book!

I still owe JaneyV a meme. Hopefully soon, Janey!

ABCs of Me, a meme

Saw this on Tiffany's blog, and decided it sounded fun!!

A:Accent: I'm from the Midwest, where absence of accent is well-documented. Rumor has it that news anchors and the like are heavily recruited from this area for just that reason.
B:Breakfast or no Breakfast: I could skip it everyday. I'm not hungry when I wake up. I usually make myself eat something just because I know I will get busy later and I hate to be starving by lunchtime.
C:Chore I hate: Cleaning the floors. JeepMan does all the vacuuming, God love him. But I get the kitchen/bathroom floors. Around the toilet is the worst. Two males in the house, need I say more?
D:Dog or Cat: Don't have either, but someday, a DOG.
E:Essential Electronics: My laptop and my Treo. Can't do my job without it. And I'm addicted to Bubble Breaker - how lame is that?
F:Favorite Perfume: Pink Sugar by Aquolina for everyday, Donna Karan Gold for special occasions. On him? Tuscany por Homme
G:Gold or Silver: Gold shows off my skin tone best, but I like silver too.
H:Handbag I carry most often: Whatever I found that season at Kohl's. I only buy one per season, then use it up and get rid of it. Not a purse person.
I:Insomnia: Used to get it worse than now. I think I'm just perpetually exhausted now!
J:Job Title: "Professional Education Specialist"
K:Kids: Two: Lulu, 4 and Plato, 7. Gifts from heaven.
L:Living Arrangement: Home with the kiddos and hubby!
M:Most admirable trait: I'm a good listener.
N:Naughtiest childhood behavior: Picking on my sister.
O:Overnight Hospital Stays: Yes. Several. Quite the experience for a nurse!
P:Phobias: Heights - more specifically, falling.
Q:Quote: "'Some stories', she'd say, 'the more you tell them, the faster you use them up. Those kind, the drama burns off, and every version, they sound more silly and flat. The other kind of story, it uses you up. The more you tell it, the stronger it gets. Those kind of stories only remind you how stupid you were. Are. Will always be.'" Chuck Palahniuk, Haunted
R:Reason to smile: Don't have a reason NOT to smile. I live a blessed life.
S:Siblings: One little sister (2 years younger) who I am fortunate to get to call my best friend. She's an amazing woman.
T:Time I wake up: Different every day; when I'm not working I like to sleep till about 9am.
U:Unusual Talent or skill: I'm pathetically usual and non-talented.
V:Vegetable I refuse to eat: Raw or undercooked onion. It's a texture thing.
W:Worst Habit: Picking my fingernails, especially in social situations. I think it's genetic - my mom and sister do it too.
X:X-rays: I work around them every day. I've had a few taken of me on purpose too.
Y:Yummy Stuff: Crab legs, chocolate, sushi, cookies, pecan pie...where do I stop? I LOVE food.
Z:Zoo animal I like the most: Sea lions, I could watch them swim around all day.

Omnivore 100

Kind of a fun meme-thingy, as I love to try new and interesting food.

Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating. (I hate having to do the html to get the crossout, so I'm going to italics them)
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results.
The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche (cajeta crepes, yum!)
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl (on a wharf in San Francisco!)
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (skinny cigar - uck)
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal (vindaloo almost killed me...)
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu (love sushi, but it CAN'T be that good!)
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine (the midwest equivalent, not the original deal)
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (yum, yum, yum and yum!)
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate (mayan)
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Wow!! 73...not bad. I'll try most anything once. I DO draw the line at insects, though. And anything made of blood.

How 'bout you?

Happy Harry's and a Meme

Okay, first the meme. This is an easy one, and a copout 'cause I don't really have a lot of inspiration right now. The assignment is to show everyone your workspace, i.e. where you blog. Here's mine:

You'll notice the empty cereal bowl and the extra-comfy chocolate leather chair. And my "pile system" of organization.

To the left of this organized mess is JeepMan's desk. Here's a pic of it:

Much cleaner than mine, but the chair's not as comfy. Frequently I find he has annexed my chair and I have to reclaim it.

What's that you say? There's a monkey in that chair? Sleeping?

Why, my word! The chair must be comfy after all. I'll have to tell JeepMan that. Lulu likes to get up after she goes to bed and come snuggle me. Usually I'm in my bed, but this night I was up late working. She didn't even ask to get up in my lap, just crawled into JM's chair and fell asleep. What a darn cutie.

So on to the first part of my title.

I'm having problems with my phone. I keep getting voicemails, and the freakin' thing never rings. Not good since it's my business phone and it's sort of important to be available to my accounts. I'll be having a chat with Verizon soon to see if we can work something out.

In the meantime I'm on voicemail patrol. Today I got a weird one. It was an automated message, and as is often the case, only the tail-end gets recorded. This one was a robot woman saying, "....and as always, we thank you for choosing Happy Harry's for all your pharmacy needs."

Uhm. Meh? What the heck was that? My first thought was, "ok, who's stolen my credit card number and buying male enhancement pills?" So I quickly checked my credit card websites, and no pharmaceutical purchases. Then I got to thinking, what kind of voicemail spam is this? I tentatively googled "Happy Harry's" on my (work) computer, dreading the onslaught of questionable sites that were sure to pop up (ha!). To my surprise, the first page of hits were an actual pharmacy in Delaware (the ph# matched and everything), which has been absorbed by the giant Walgreen's. Check it out: Happy Harry's.

Extra Credit

I'm doing a Meme that I wasn't tagged for.

What's that, you say? Why? Well, because it seemed like easy and fun material, and I have blogger's-block right now. Here are the rules:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

A Meme about Various Things

What were you doing ten years ago?
Working nights at a small hospital in the ICCU (Intensive and Coronary Care Unit), enjoying the ups and downs of newlyweddedness (it'll be 12 years this summer!), living across the street from my lovely sister, eating without guilt, drinking without remorse, just being 25 - ah, those were awesome times, man...

What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
-Get my butt out of bed (a seriously monumental task - I LOVE sleeping)
-Take the family to an amusement park and hope it isn't too crowded this early in the season.
-Stuff the kids with expensive, greasy, sugary amusement park food.
-Pray they don't throw up.
-Ride the crazy rides with Plato until he's so exhausted he can hardly walk...aww, who am I kidding? I'll poop out before he does!

What are some snacks you enjoy?
I'm not a big snacker. Maybe I should be. We don't keep much snack-y food in the house. If my house were a grocery store, I would have to go with almonds, cheese, and/or chocolate (good quality DARK).

What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Probably drop dead on the spot.
If not, and after my stint in the ICU for heart arrythmia, amnesia, and delusions of grandeur...well, I'd quit my job, buy several "Vacation" homes in various appealing places (Colorado, Montana, Georgia, California, Florida and Washington), upgrade my home here in CollegeVille, hire the best two nannies I could find (one for each kid), a fleet of housekeepers, a personal chef and a personal ass-kicker trainer, and a chauffeur. I'd build a ginormous, self-contained outbuilding and fill it a variety of offroad toys for JeepMan, along with lessons for him from an offroad pro. I'd become a master gardener and sommelier, get back in touch with my artistic/creative roots and probably find some time to actually attempt to write a book. I would also find myself an apprenticeship with a cake decorating guru and in my spare time pursue a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Finally, I would put as much money as I could spare into passing legislation against Big Oil and Big Drug Companies.
Uh,Dude? I think I'm gonna need another billion...

What are three of your bad habits?
Only Three? Mmmkay:
1. I frequently start tasks and forget to finish them. Seriously. Like I'm folding clothes in the bedroom, go to put the towels away, see that one of the kids left a fork in the bathroom (ponder fleetingly why there might be a fork in the bathroom), walk into the kitchen, open the pantry by involuntary habit, spy my Guittard Dark Chocolate Chips, decide some chocolate-chip cookies sound yummy.......... and hours later when it's time to go to bed realize that a half-folded pile of laundry is still in the middle of the bed. ADD or early Alzheimer's? Who knows, but it drives JeepMan crazy.
2. I talk with my hands. A lot. While driving. Or eating. It has led to many a spilled item in a restaurant, and many a JeepMan admonishment: "Will you keep at least one hand on the wheel for God's sake? Sheesh!"
3. I pick my nails. Finger- and Toe-. Uck, I know. Hey, at least I don't chew them.

What are five places where you have lived?
I have lived in 3 cities in one state. Do the dorms count?

What are five jobs you have had?
-Professional Education Specialist for 3D intracardiac navigational system and related products.
-RN, Electrophyisiology Lab, Cardiac Cath Lab, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Intensive and Coronary Care Unit (in order of recent to past)
-Waitress, local pub and pizza joint (if it had benefits, I'd still be there...)
-Grocery Store Cashier
-Detasseling Crew Leader (as in corn, y'all)

What were the last five books you read?
Right Now: Absolute Fear by Lisa Jackson - my first read by her (I'm still, meh)
The Ruins by Scott Smith (v. good)
A Simple Plan by Scott Smith (v. v. good)
Bite by Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, Angela Knight, Vickie Taylor (anthology) (good)
More Twisted by Jeffrey Deaver (short stories) (good)
...up next is Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton; hopefully her Anita Blake series is on the upswing - that's the rumor, anyhow.

For grins, and because I'm feeling wild n' crazy, I'll add another question:

What's your favorite guilty-secret junk food?
It's a toss-up for me: between Totino's Pizza Rolls (supreme), Ichiban Ramen Noodles (Miso), and Lipton Noodles and Sauce (stroganoff). I know, I'm weird. I'm a total closet carb-salt-fat junkie!!

Not gonna tag anyone....if anyone wants to do it, I'll link you here - just let me know!

7th Random Thing - An Amendment

Random thing #7: strange enough to warrant an amendment to my list!




-I'm a Splendakleptomaniac. I hoard Splenda packets. I can't seem to help myself. It's so much better than Equal or that Sweet N Low crap. And no calories, and tastes as good as sugar!! What more can you ask for? The kicker? A lot of places don't have it. So I started taking the packets whenever they were available, and now I can't stop!!


Oh well; my sister's MIL hoards sugar packets. At least this is a step above that.


I think.

Six Random/Unimportant Things Meme

My best-friend-since-7th-grade Monnik has tagged me with a meme. This should be much more fun than re-hashing the Worst Day Ever (see below).

Anyway, here are the rules for the meme:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you. (check)

2. Post these rules on your blog. (check)

3. Share six unimportant things about yourself. (uh, comin'up - check)

4. Tag six random people at the end of your entry. (will do, checkity-check)



* * * Six Unimportant Things about Mom In Scrubs * * *

Thing1: I have a strange fascination with anything paranormal. I just finished an audio-book called "Don't Kiss Them Goodbye" by Allison DuBois, whose life is the inspiration for the TV show "Medium." While the reading of the book is fair (Allison doesn't have a great flair for dramatic reading) the book is great, and her messages, information, and advice are inspiring. While I am a lapsed-catholic at baseline, I have a strong sense of spirituality, a belief in God, and a ferverent hope in the afterlife. My favorite show is "Ghost Hunters," as it mixes my two favorite subjects: science and paranormal. Maybe I should have been a parapsychologist or a cryptozoologist. Not much opportunity for those professions here in Collegeville, Midwest, I'm afraid!!

Thing 2: My first date was, uhm...unusual. The night before my Sophomore Homecoming Dance I was asked to go. The guy was hohhhhhhttttt. I was already crushing on him hard. I accepted without hesitation.
Then I had to negotiate a lot of obstacles.
Travis was my cousin's recent break-up. Recent as in the day before. My cousin (by marriage, not blood) was my age, went to my school, and was a previous good friend of mine, though we had grown apart over the years. She had been giving Travis mixed signals for about a month, and he had been coming to me to ask advice. I had even gone shopping with him to buy her a tennis bracelet as a desperation gift, telling him all the while that he shouldn't spend his hard-earned $$ on it as it wouldn't get him anywhere with her. He did it anyway.
Two nights before homecoming, they got into a fight and broke up. He called me for consolation, and we talked for quite a while, mostly me saying she wasn't worth it, that she obviously hadn't been into him, blah blah blah.
It didn't occur to me that he was now dateless but homecoming-ready until the next day when he called and asked me if I would go with him. I was so excited!! I hung up the phone and it all came crashing down: my cousin was now dateless. I was going with her date. And I had no dress. I called my (our) aunt, who is only 12 years older than us and still, to this day, has the body of a teenager. I explained the situation and asked if she had a dress I could borrow. Oh, she did all right. But it was over at my cousin's house. It was the dress my cousin was going to wear.
Teen hormones make you do strange things. I called my cousin, explained the situation, talked with her a little about how she hadn't really cared for Travis, and then got her to lend me our aunt's dress. My mom drove me over to her house, and I was met at the door by her mom and the dress. I felt strange but euphoric.
The night was wonderful, as first dates go. I got my first kiss that night too.
And so it was that I took my cousin's boyfriend to Homecoming wearing her dress. Wow.

Thing 3: Ok, thing 2 was long, so thing 3 will be short. I hate hangers. Oh, I understand their importance and the fact that we would be handicapped without them. I just hate them. I hate how they always get tangled (even the plastic ones) and I hate having to find them, sort them, and use them. Maybe I'd be better off with fancy wooden hangers but I'm way too cheap. Bizarre but true. Hanger hang-up.

Thing 4: I met my best friend for life at the age of 12. We were going into 7th grade and she showed up at my catechism class. She was like nothing I'd ever seen. She was from a larger town, and dressed in these wacky bright colors and prints. She accessorized with a vengence. She had a ready goofy grin, dimples, and I could see her personality shining through like an inner sun. I liked her before we ever spoke. That first day, we had exchanged glances and giggles, and she saw me looking at one of her accessories: a tiny plastic orange clothespin. Did she wear them on her collar? The memory is a bit fuzzy. What I remember for sure is that she took it off, leaned over, and clipped it onto me. With that gesture, we were instant fast friends. 23 years later, though we don't see each other near enough, the bond is still strong, and when we do meet, it's as if we pick right up where we left off. I feel so blessed to have a forever friend. Not everyone is so lucky. Right Monnik?

Thing 5: I think I am part slug. I can sleep like no other. I am a night-owl, so part of it might be my natural circadian rhythm. But even if I go to bed at a reasonable hour, I can sleep easily till 10am. While I love playing with my children, I am a homebody at heart, and my favorite place to be is in bed reading a book. It is totally against my nature to exert myself to the point of sweating, so exercise is a nearly superhuman effort for me. Probably why I prefer yoga and pilates to anything....(shudder)....CARDIO.

Thing 6: I cherish my alone-time. As a married mother, it's a rarity for me to have any of this anymore. This is probably part of why my job is working out for me despite the travel and the overnights. Don't get me wrong, I miss my husband and kids terribly after a night away from home. But the silence! And the freedom to do what I want (see thing 5)! It's a brief slice of heaven for me...but one I am usually ready to give up readily as the motherly/wifely instincts kick back in.

Ok, that's my 6 things. Now to tag some people:

Don't feel like you have to do it, but if you want to, it's kinda fun.

1. Jess at The SUV Driving Bitch Your Mother Warned You About
2. Debbielou at One Day Closer Until...
3. EE at Backboards and Bandaids
4. Heck, EE's hubby too...Future PA
5. Hey you two...can I tag the baby too? ;) (Newlyweds, and They're pregnant! Give them a congrats!)
6. Travis at One Word, One Rung, One Day

See ya-

Rip Roarin awards

I'm off in another city for the week. I flew out of "colder than an Eskimo fart, midwest" and landed in "colder than a snotcicle, midwest.." where the weather is comparatively balmy. In this post, I will finally address my lovely purple lion award, bestowed upon me about a month ago (maybe longer?) by my separated-at-birth blogfriend: SUV Mama.

The award was given to me for my ability to write, and in doing so to crack people up. Humor is the writing I do best, because it takes little effort and I naturally put a funny spin on things that happen in my everyday life. It's just part of my personality. I like to see the positive in life, and for me many of the positives are extracted from situations by looking at it from a different angle, hopefully a humorous one.

I do write other stuff. I like sensory writing: trying to help the audience see/hear/taste/touch/smell what I am describing. I like to do descriptive pieces about people I know - for example, I wrote the eulogy for my grandmother's funeral a few years ago. I like to write dialogue; it lends so much to most stories, and if used well, can really convey a lot about the speaker(s) without using glaring descriptors.

I don't know where this is going or if it's making much sense to anyone but me....I'll do the assignment now: Three Writing Tips and Five Bloggers.

1). Make Time To Write. (subtitle: practice what you preach). I know I haven't been the best at this what with my wacky schedule lately and my, uh, sabbatical in the Fall. Ok, just because I don't always follow it doesn't mean it isn't good advice. We SHOULD make time to write. Those of us who write for enjoyment should make time for said enjoyment. If you don't like writing, or find it a chore, you probably shouldn't be doing it! You all may think I'm nuts (or CrayZee =p), but I'm just going to throw this factoid out there: If I haven't written for a while, I start THINKING in prose. Example: I'm watching the kids play and start thinking, "Lulu crept quietly behind Plato, eased his precious toy bunny out of his arms with typical 3-year-old stealth, then took off at full toddler speed, shrieking and cackling like a maniac as Plato, protesting loudly, gave chase." Ok, maybe that's not "normal," but it's what starts happening if I don't actually write!! And no, I don't hear voices. At least, not many. Writing simply purges my brain and makes room for more.

2). Keep Your Voice. You know how you write. It flows from your brain into your fingertips and out into or onto your medium of choice. Let it flow. Don't second guess your writing style (unless your goal is to get published, then you might have to bend a little...). Your style is you. It's what makes your writing yours and no one else's. If you want to do writing exercises, try on new styles, or stretch your skills, by all means, do so. It may even shed light on a new style element that you'd like to adopt! Your style is dynamic and ever-evolving, but it's still yours. Claim it, own it.

3). Don't hate me for this one. If you're just keeping a journal for you and you alone, you can ignore this. But if you write for any kind of audience, please oh please PROOFREAD. Even just once. Perfect spelling and/or punctuation are not the issue here. Your writing should make sense and have some sort of flow. In my humble opinion, it's a polite courtesy; it says you care about what you write and that you care about your audience. You may disagree. You're allowed!

So that's my three cents. And now my five awards:



1). My BFF and the funniest chick I know: Monnik at Frazzled But Loving It. I've known her forever (almost) and she's always been able to effortlessly crack me up. She's an excellent writer and storyteller, and manages to organize her random thoughts very, very well. Read "The Tenacious Turd" and "The Secret Potty" for some mom-of-small-children ROTFLMAO moments.

2). I gotta give a "rightbackatcha" to Jess at SUV Mama. No, she doesn't have to do the tasks. But I LOVE her blog. She's this wonderful mix of fiery, ass-kickin', name-takin' She-Ra and warm-hearted, sentimental, die-for-my-children mother. She writes about her life, and lets us see her vulnerable side, all the while she making sure we know she doesn't really care what we think about it. She is who she is, take it or leave it. I'm taking it. My favorite recent post addresses the power of words.

3). Just a short hop across the internet (and the big pond) is Debbielou at One Day Closer Until...blogging from the UK. Even if this woman didn't write well I would have to stop by just to get my fill if british-isms. Fortunately she writes very well, and is a real pleasure to read. Her story about her Valentine's Day adventure is sure to have you cringing and snorting at the same time!

4). I am sure he has received numerous awards, but I have to give a nod to my favorite tall Texan, Travis, at One Word, One Rung, One Day. This guy is actually working on a BOOK, and I guar-uhn-tee he will be published one day! In the meantime he blogs about writing, family, and life - usually with a humorous spin. Now he's been writing a long time, and I certainly haven't read all his posts, but one sticks out clearly in my mind - the one that originally hooked me: The Art of Regifting. Travis, if you've already done this assignment, you get a pass. But you DO deserve the award!

5). Finally, my latest hero: MonkeyGirl at Musings of a Highly Trained Monkey. This hard-as-nails ER nurse isn't afraid to tell it like it is, in a HIPPA-compliant fashion of course. She touches something real in anyone who has ever worked in healthcare. She might be too much for the thin-skinned, or the eternal optimist. Healthcare has a dark side, and MonkeyGirl isn't afraid of it. Ever wonder how healthcare professionals take so much crap, and just keep coming back for more? This blog is an anthology of rants, with some real humanity thrown in for good measure. Check out her Sumdood Sightings post. MonkeyGirl, you can just take the award. You've earned it...love the tin foil hat!!

So there! My task is done! Thanks for the award, Jess. And keep on writing, everyone!


Remember: Three Writing Tips and Five Nominations!

MomInScrubs is back...

Last published...August 23. So pathetic! I have no excuse other than my own laziness and lack of time. Mostly the laziness part. But I've been INSPIRED!! Thanks to my friend Monnik and her inspiration Travis, I have decided to publish my version of the classic: "My Favorite Things."

Best Day of the Week

Saturday morning and I get to sleep in
Snuggle my hubby and keep on a-dreamin'
I hear soft footsteps so I sneak a peek;
Saturday morning, best day of the week.

Sleep-touseled toddlers in warm footie PJ's
Lift up the covers to invade my bed space,
Nudging me over with grunts and a squeek;
Saturday morning, best day of the week.

Curling their fingers around in my hair,
Whispering, giggling without a care,
Cuddled beside me, warm breath on my cheek;
Saturday morning, best day of the week!

When it's Monday
Such a Glum Day
Wanna stay in bed...
I know Saturday is just six days away,
And then I don't feel
So DEAD!