Happy Independence Day!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!

ENJOY THE FIREWORKS!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

May 5, 2009 marks the 147th Cinco De Mayo.

I remember distinctly, when I was a child, some of my Spanish friends celebrating this holiday, but I vaguely remember why it was celebrated.

Personally I believe that it should be an American holiday as well, because 4,000Mexican soldiers smashed the French and Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City, New Mexico on the morning of May 5, 1862. Kind of heroic huh?!? To know more, read here.

I wondered if I am qualified to celebrate. Some of my ancestors were Portuguese. :D

Celebrate Heart Month

February is not only celebrating Black History month, Valentine's Day, and President's Day, but it is also National Heart month.


Lots of women put on their red dresses to celebrate this month. I don't own a red dress, but I do have a red dress pin. Two points!


Antyway, out of all the holidays celebrated this month I believe that National Heart month is a very noble cause to recognize. Especially for women everywhere.

I never knew that heart disease was so prevalent among the females until I began taking my nursing classes. The statistics is unbelievable, and heart rendering! (no pun intended)


With all the women folk in my house we have to keep a look out for our ticker because of our genes. Just for the record, we do support Woman's Heart Health. Now if only we can find the red dresses to go with the occasion.


I wonder if any of the women at the Oscars thought to wear one?

Happy Heart Day!

Presently, I am in the mood to watch a good movie. A good romantic comedy/romantic drama. You know a chick flick! Something that will make me laugh and do the ugly cry at the same time. With it being Valentine’s day and the hubby at work until 9PM, I think it only appropriate that I watch a good movie.

The choices are limitless. Lifetime of course has many romantic movies showing today, but they are not what I want now. You have to be in the mood to watch Lifetime, and what I really want is something on DVD.

How about?:

West Side Story

Racial tension in the streets of NYC. Romance between man and woman on different sides. Guys with tight pants that are just a wee bit high. Girls with Brooklyn/Puerto Rican Accents who can’t sing. The most touching scene is when Maria holds Tony in her arms while he lies dying. That is cinema at its best in 1961.

Ever After

Indeed the best Cinderella story ever made! Drew Barrymore and Angelica Huston were the best in the movie, and the other characters made the movie as well. Action, laughter, tears, and the very familiar story of Cinderella winning the Prince in a storytelling way that made my children believe that the story was true.

Notting Hill

Julia Roberts & Hugh Grant, what a duo! Actually the whole rich girl, poor boy –or- famous girl, successful bookstore owner made the tale of star-crossed lovers very believable and I fell in love with the movie. Not enough to list it as my favorite, but close enough. For added comic effect they put the dingy, filthy but lovable flat mate of Hugh’s whose presence the audience needed when the movie got too heavy.

Titanic

Made movie history and I went to go see it three times! This is the first performance of Kate Winslet that I had ever seen and of course I fell in love with her. Just a girl crush mind you, nothing serious. Leo was excellent and of course with the rest of the world I was bummed when he didn’t get nominated for the Oscar. However, the movie will live forever in my heart as timeless, and it was money well spent. Just the right amount of drama to make the romance believable and for years I thought that Jack and Rose were truly real passengers on the Titanic.

Atonement

Nothing that Kiera Knightley does is small. The romantic drama was a little over the top but made me appreciate the life that I do have with hubby and not to trust anyone to mess with that. Great storyline and I felt so sorry for the lovers.

Serendipity

I love John Cusack, and he was also in Say Anything, one of my faves as a teen. Kate Beckinsdale is not to bad either. I love movies with lovers wanting to be together but can’t for some reason or another. The whole fact that they reconnected after 10 years separated with a book holding the final say so, on whether they will get together made me weepy. A great one for the box of Kleenex on the coffee table.

Runaway Bride

Julia Roberts again with Richard Gere since their movie ‘Pretty Woman’. They make one of the most pleasant couples on the screen right next to Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. Lots of laughs, just the right amount of romance to make the movie enjoyable. Plus, one of my favorites as well.

Pride and Prejudice

So many remakes of the classic story by Jane Austen but the movie starring Kiera Knightley was absolutely the best. You know wealth and status was such a determining factor in a woman’s amounts of proposals in those days.

Sense and Sensibility

Another with Kate Winslet and the movie was excellent as well. This is one for under the covers with the shades pulled down and lots of candy sprinkled around you, with the box of tissues nearby. Emma Thompson is a great actress as well and pulls it off real well. Especially at the end when she begins to cry at her marriage proposal by Hugh Grant. Such a chic flick!

Much Ado about Nothing

And last but not least, one of my favorites. Lover’s quarrels, innocent girls turning into women, accusation, sex, and jilted brides set in 1640 Italy. Sounds like an episode on a soap. However; I LOVE this movie and Shakespeare is of course the greatest romantic writer known this world over. Enough said.

Well, with so many choices you would think that I had my full of movies to at least get into the holiday spirit. But NOOOO!

Had hair duty (3 heads total), bubble baths, cookie making, spaghetti and meatballs dinner’ cause of course it is a holiday, laundry (6 loads), homework, and kitchen cabinets to straighten.

The only thing that came close to anything romantic on TV today was whether Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana could make up her mind to plant a big one on the handsome admirer or tell him that she was Hannah Montana.

And how did you celebrate heart day?!?

There Are Pheromones In the Air

In retrospect, February is the LOVE month. I am not in too much of a mushy mood. Yes, to receive a valentine would be nice, but I can’t write about love. I’ve tried and failed miserably.

Not to say that my children don’t enjoy it. Heck they had valentine parties in school today and came home with so much junk. Awww well, at least they are enjoying the holiday.

Some researchers are now saying that the attraction is now societal or biological, not logical. So does that mean that logically we don’t choose our mate properly but by societal judgment? Or is the biological part the physical attraction or the way we see our future mother/father to our children.

So is the chemical attraction for real or just something to keep researchers busy with money from the government to do bogus science experiments? Read this article to find out what USA today has time to write, wasting the readers time and 75 cents.

Coming tomorrow: the Anti-Valentine article.: ^)

Should there be an end to Black History Month?

This article brought to light that many are considering that Black History Month should end. With a new African-American President should that historical event be considered an American achievement or African-American achievement? You decide.

Yours Truly,

Dear Mr. Groundhog,

Thanks for telling us that we have another six weeks of winter. Once again you have let me down. I am not a fan of winter. Except when I am codling up in my bed with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa. But your fans in Punxstawney, PA love you. They obviously like the idea of you telling them that winter will extend itself for another six weeks. They must love the tortures of ‘ol man winter.

Now we definitely have six more weeks of winter. Here’s looking at you kid.

But are you sure? You know after coming out of a hole for what seems like an entirety, might it have dulled your eyesight? The sun can cause blindness if you look at it suddenly having been in the dark for so long.

This somber news couldn’t have come at a more exciting time for us football fans. Especially us ‘Steelers’ fans!

I don’t know if you realize it being that you are holed up in that hole but, they did make history last night. They are the only NFL team to have won six (YEAH 6 baby!!!) Super Bowls.

Their coach, Martin Tomlin, is the 2^nd black coach to win the Super Bowl as well. That interception by Harrison followed by a 100 yard dash to make a touchdown will go down in NFL history books. They came back in the fourth quarter with a touchdown by Satanio Holmes in the last 35 seconds. What a game!!!

But all of these details don’t really mean anything to you do they? Just out of a courtesy to those of us who can’t stand winter, could you perhaps put a blindfold on when you go to see your shadow next Ground hog day?

Yours truly,

*BIBI*

PS. I don’t hate you, I just like spring to come as soon as possible.

Bring on the 'da noise; bring on 'da funk!

The hubby is in a funky mood. As a matter of fact, he’s been that way since we came back from PA. Maybe his blood sugar is low, who knows?!?

What I do know is that we woman are not the only ones who PMS once a month.

But seriously, maybe he is missing his home town, or mom, or sibs. Personally I think he misses his old haunts and childhood friends. I’ve tried asking him but he has his imaginary wall up. And with a wall 6 feet tall, I won’t be climbing over it anytime soon to see what’s on the other side.

So right now I’m letting him have his own way, and when he wants to ‘disagree’ to prove a point, I just let him have at it as long as he doesn’t step over the line or push any of my buttons. Plus it’s amazing to see the looks on the kid’s faces as he attempts to argue without a willingly participant. Nothing says ‘cuckoo’ than a person caught arguing with themselves and answering their own questions as they do so. I never realized how noisy he can be when he is trying to prove his point.

However, I DID have a good time getting away for a while, but there really is “no place like home”. Thanks Dorothy!

While in Philadelphia, I did discover that:

I ) The stores, malls, shopping centers or what have you were very crowded. It was every man for himself, and people didn’t mind pushing you out of the way to get what they wanted. And I thought country people were aggressive!

II ) The F.A.O. Schwartz in Macy’s is overrated. My living room is bigger and has much more toys.

III ) Yes, the taller the buildings are the more clothes people take off and stand in the window. People of all shapes and sizes. I’ve had nightmares for the last 4 nights.

IV ) City traffic is overrated. There ARE some courteous people in Philadelphia.

V ) I haven’t realized that since I started this diet how greedy I really was. The variety of restaurants to choose from is overwhelming. My eyes actually welled up with tears outside of a ‘Crown Fried Chicken’. That is how much I missed eating things that I liked. (Crown Fried Chicken is like KFC, except tastier).

VI ) You can still see the division amongst most of the city dwellers and especially in their neighborhoods. Everyone seems to stick to their own part of town. Who draws these invisible lines anyway?

VII ) I wasn’t mugged while there. However; it was the holidays and everyone kinda sorta seemed to be in a jovial mood. I did keep my fingers crossed, and kept my eyes out for seedy looking people. (Which is hard, because with my paranoia, everyone looks seedy!)

VIII ) Yes, some individuals still do talk loud enough and everyone on the street can hear them. And their not even using a cell phone!

IX ) No jaywalking! People there love their crosswalks. Only they cross and walk in front of your ‘fast and approaching to catch the yellow light car’.

X ) Everyone likes a good party. It seems that the whole city was out to watch the fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Ok, so… there wasn’t no ball to drop, but the fireworks were still nice.

XI ) I never realized that my hubby was a true live comedian. He said something so funny to me that my stomach still hurts from thinking about it. He wanted me to DRIVE in Philly to the local market. ME? DRIVE? In a city that I am so unfamiliar with? Philly with their narrow streets and double parked cars?!? Hey, I’ll drive in NYC ‘cause it is at least familiar, but Philly? No siree, not this chick! Plus I have grown so used to trees and shrubbery being my landmarks that I’ll probably get lost going around the corner. PSST… the hubby hated being the chauffeur, but I enjoyed every bit of the ride.

XIV ) “DON’T BLOCK THE BOX” I’ve seen this sign all over Philly. Of course, ‘ole naiveté me had no idea what the heck that meant until the car in front of us blocked the box and some people walked past hitting the top his car. I told you Philadelphian's love their crosswalks!

So all in all, I really enjoyed the trip. I missed home a bit and noticed the tension level in my neck dissipated. Perhaps getting away for a while did do me some good. Or maybe it was the chauffeuring, or the restaurants that I couldn’t get enough of.

What ever the case, it was good to wake up in my own bed Saturday morning.

*PEACE*

Unresolution: Keep doing the things that I like!

This is the time of year when I think that people should make their New Year's resolutions, but that's only my opinion. However; I will do something better than that this year.

If you define a resolution it is usually something that you want to change about yourself, something you've done wrong in the past that you want to start doing right.

BOO-HOO-HOO!

I personally think that I would do better if I made unresolutions. I will make a list of things that I've been doing and I'd like to keep doing. Who needs all of that negativity just after the holidays? Times are rough, why would I make them any more harder for myself? Especially on the most favorite person that I adore the most in the world? ME!

Unresolution #1
I am always on the computer. I play games, blog, search, read, download, and educate myself on the many wonders of the computer. It is the best friend of mine among the electronic gadgets (right after the TV), and doesn't mind me abusing it and keeping it running for hours on end. Now, if only I could get it to talk back to me, I could stop bugging the hubby for some more stimulating conversations.

Unresolution #2
I talk to strangers. I wave to strangers. I talk and wave to strangers and they learn more about my life than my own momma ever will. I do think that I got this trait from my momma however, who always turned a small shopping trip to the corner grocery into a family reunion of sorts. Ohh, she always talked to the store manager, the cashier, and the bagger who always wanted a tip. I grew up in a strange environment. However; it would turn every grocery trip into a little party. A party with lots of strangers, a cash register, and plenty of groceries.

Unresolution#3
I make too little food at dinner time. Or so my children say so. I think they say that 'cause they want an excuse to be in the kitchen and cook some more after eating. Awww well, at least I never have dishes at night. They can handle that. I think.

Unresolution #4
I wear flat shoes at all the time. I've been known to wear flip-flops in 30 degree weather. That's how much I LOVE flats. The only time I am rarely 1/2" off the ground is when I am wearing sneakers. And I only pop those suckers on when I'm running after Tamara.

Unresoultion #5
I love books. I love to read. I love to buy and read books. Books of all shapes, sizes, and topics. They overflow my bookshelves and my nightstand and sometimes outta nowhere they climb right into bed with me, right on the hubby's side of the bed. Of course, when he asks me I tell him I have no idea how those 2 dozen books managed to climb onto the bed and make themslves comfortable on his side of the bed. To me, having plenty of books to read is like traveling without baggage claim. There will never be any pages lost as long as you have your trusty bookmark and reading glasses. If your into that sort of thing.

Unresolution#6
I don't hug my teens often. It like their is a hidden rule with teens simply stated; "give me space and don't hug me." I want to, but they keep giving me the eye whenever I approach them with outstretch arms. So now maybe you understand why I am always at the computer.

Unresolution#7
I don't talk to my immediate family on a daily basis. I have so much to do and so little time in which to do it, that it's hard to update them on a daily basis on the small, teeny changes that do happen in my life. But hey, when they do come and visit every so often, it's like a surprise party. And who doesn't like to be surprised?

Unresolution #8
I prefer to sleep alone most nights. Hubby thinks otherwise. So then if I am really not in the mood for touchy feely all night long then I start playing games 2 hours before bedtime. Hubby HATES the 'guess what mood I'm in?' game. Believe it or not it's a real turn off and I get to sleep alone. Well at least I get to wear flannel to bed and cuddle with my grey Koala bear without any funny stares.

Unresolution#9
I don't attend any church, synagoue or mosque. I believe I am a spiritual being having a human experience instead of a human being trying to be spiritual. I have nothing against religion mind you, I just prefer to worship on my own terms.

Unresolution #10
I sleep with my TV on. I know I don't get to see much with watching the back of my eyelids for a good 6-8 hours, but dang-it if I don't feel as if I know all of what's going on in the world after a good nights sleep. This way I figure, I never miss a thing and can't no one catch me by surprise. I already heard it on TV while I was sleep.

In the end, our own personal happiness is about figuring out what makes us feel the most like ourselves, and living that way. To hell with what anybody else thinks.

So when you are making a list of resolutions, please make some unresolutions as well.

I think it will be a happier New Year if you do!

Of course, that's only my opinion.

And New Year's Is Right Around The Corner...

Hello fellow bloggers!

You thought I forgot about you didn't ya?

All's well and we snuck off to Philly for a little break from reality. Hubby's in-laws are from Philadelphia and we needed a break from Bambi, our closest neighbor. (Let me tell you, he LOVES shrubs!)

Anyskittle, I don't know what all the fuss is about the city. Personally I think it is overrated. Sorry no offense to anyone who resides in the city, but I prefer Bambi leaving me little 'treats' on my doorstep to someone drunk trying to get in my door!

But so far so good; surprisingly Philly has been good to us all. We came here Saturday night, and we are currently at my sister-in-laws house. The children are enjoying the sights, smells, and scenery that the city has to offer. But I believe, that if we stay any longer my children will want to permanently stay. To them, this is real living and they don't really want to leave. But alas, all good things MUST come to an end.

We plan to make it back home Friday which is just a six hour drive, and I will then give you all the scoop on everything that has happened thus far.

We have gone shopping to catch some of the after Christmas sales and got some really good bargains, but I grew tired after store # 16. We still had 184 more stores to go to. Franklin Mills mall has over I believe 200 stores and is one of the biggest malls in PA.

My daughters went to Macy's for the first time. They didn't buy anything as their budget won't allow it, so all they did was some window shopping and took some pics with some handsome mannequins. The real boys weren't around, so I guess they had to go for the next best thing!

Well, I gotta go and sight-see the city some more and catch up with the other half of relatives that I didn't meet. Hopefully, New Year's will be a blast!

It may not be NYC but it's close enough.

Out of the mouth of babes.

I'm back fellow bloggers and I apologize for being away so long. In between the shopping, baking, cooking, babysitting, packing, gift wrapping, and house cleaning I've been on a mission. To cure the runner of the family from running.


My six year old was diagnosed with AHD. Nothing to worry about. My daughter's doctor wanted to put her on Ritalin, which I readily agreed to, so that I could get some 'stuff' done while preparing for this busy holiday season.


Why I didn't read up on Ritalin I will never know, but let me tell you it really works.


You see my six year old is a runner. She runs to bed at night. She runs to the bathroom. She runs out of the bathroom. She runs to eat breakfast. She runs to brush her teeth. She runs to the car. She runs to the store. She runs... well you get the picture.


Anyway, on day 3 of the miracle drug called Ritalin I noticed a quiteness settle over the house as I no longer heard the 'thomp, thomp' of feet running back and forth to the bedroom and then to the bathroom. I went in search of the little runner and found her lying on her floor looking at the coloring book. Just LOOKING. Its unusal because aren't coloring books for coloring? And she loves to color. I didn't worry too much as she was quiet and I was getting 'stuff' done.


Day 4, and the runner was definitely stopped. I began to worry because she not only stopped running, but was sleeping a lot as well. If she wasn't sleeping she was laying around in the family room just not doing anything. Not looking at TV, not being a trouble-maker, not yelling, nothing. I began to feel uneasy about my quiet home. It was just too quiet!


Day 5 and I watched as the runner layed around again for another afternoon just watching her siblings going about their business. I decided to talk to her and see what was up.


"Tamara, don't you want to go out and play? It's nice and (gulp) cold out."

"... (no response)"

"Tamara, Do you want to get up and help with the butter cookies?"

" (eyes do light up at the sound of food) ... Hmmmm. Uhuh."

"Babe, what's the matter?"

"Nothing."

"Don't you want to get up and run around a bit? Come on, come into the kitchen for a snack."

"Nah, that's okay."

"Tamara, you are so quiet and I miss you getting up and being Tamara. Come on sweetie, what are you thinking about?"

Tamara turns to look at me. Her eyes widen, as I brace for her answer.

"I'm thinking about running momma!"


It's been two days since Ritalin has seen the bottom of my garbage can.

A Pocketful of Wishes.

Do you realize that after this weekend there are only 2 more weekends to shop before the big day?

Exactly 17 days until Christmas. Or Xmas. Whichever one you prefer.

I prefer the name: “family coming over talking louder than the next person and drinking too much of grandmother’s eggnog day”. In other words that would be abbreviated ‘FCOTLTNPDTMGED’.

If I said THAT out loud you’d think I was having a stroke.

But it’s true; my family is a loud and boisterous bunch. But I love them just the same. They’re from the south, but most of them migrated to the north during the sixties. That’s how I came to be raised in N.Y.C.

Why’d I come back to the south, obviously not my choice, but its home.

Anywho, this list is just in time for the holidays. I was going to send it to the ‘big guy’ in the North Pole, but I think he’s kind of busy. So I’d let you fellow bloggers read it instead.

#1. I wish to stick to my New Year’s resolution this year. I plan to eat healthy and exercise on a regular basis. Until I had children, my idea of exercise was snoring in time to the music.

#2. I wish to fulfill a wish at the ‘Make A Wish’ foundation. I’ve been donating to this charity since 2004 and it’s a wonderful idea. I think it’s cool to make a child smile.

#3. I wish to learn how to swim. I would say I’m sort of a hydrophobic but I think it’s the amount of water that’s intimidating. Of course, I’ll begin lessons in the summer when the temp is much warmer, so I have essentially six months to make up my mind if I want to learn how to drown properly.

#4. I wish that I could sign a paper to take of leave of absence from housework. That request would be put in one day before our household’s annual ‘closet cleaning day’.

#5. I wish that potty training came automatically to children. Especially since I am potty training ‘the princess’ right now. I’m tired of stumbling onto new “surprises” every time I dust a new corner of the house that I‘ve ignored for several months.

#6. I wish that when I am laying snuggly in bed in the morning, that someone would get up and use the bathroom for me. I hate a cold toilet seat on the warm buttocks in the morning.

#7. I wish I could start my Junior High years all over again. This time I would have the option to start one subject, any subject of my choice, for one WHOLE school year. That first subject would be lunch.

#8. I wish I could be a vegetarian. I think killing animals is murder. Tasty murder.

#9. I wish I could change positions with my ob-gyn when he says this will only hurt for a moment. That way he’d know how it really feels to be in my place when someone is sticking something in his little hole ‘down there’.

#10. I wish everyone who reads this blog has had a wonderful weekend. I hope the holiday spirit has kicked into full gear ‘cause we still have a full 17 days of crowded shopping malls, people pushing you, crowded subways, people stepping on your feet, kids whining that they want to go home, store clerks who sell you broken merchandise, walking 20 blocks in blistery weather, and planning that get-together for relatives that only come to your house when there is food involved.

Don’t you just love the Holidays?

Shopping malls, Black Friday, and the 27 days left until Christmas!

Hello fellow bloggers! Just a little note to say I hope that you are enjoying your holiday weekend.

I got to meet more relatives than I knew I had this holiday, I sat and ate two plates of food and felt like I gained 10 lbs. in 2 days. (I have leftovers galore).

My little ones enjoyed themselves immensely and are happy to be able to heat up their own food, without me preparing it before hand.

Anywho, did anyone celebrate Black Friday? I mean it behooves me to go shopping in all of that crowd, but a bargain is a bargain. I did one black Friday years ago and got knocked down. But before I got knocked down, a lady in a wheelchair scooted her way to the front of a pallet of DVD/VCRs (when they were new) and as soon as the employee took off the plastic she grabbed three and got up out of the wheelchair and walked to the register. Now that took guts!!

Anyway, people get too ballsy around that time for me. Another Christmas I witnessed a woman bite another woman for a 'Tickle Me Elmo'. Now you've got to be pretty desperate to BITE someone. Come on, I mean scratch, punch, or kick, but bite?! WHEW! I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

Anywho, I braved the crowds today to buy some CDs and other what nots. I couldn't buy much because I had my lovely muffins with me, but I finish shopping when they return to school next week.

So everyone enjoy your weekend and good luck shopping!