Hello March!

Not that it is officially March yet, but this is to mark the last day of NaBloPoMo of 2009.


I loved every moment of it. Some days I was really lost on what to write. Other days I was pouring my heart out to you all. And your responses were overwhelming. In a good way!


Very honest, kind, and supportive and I feel overwhelmed with emotion. Right now:

"My cup runneth over"

I feel very good that I finished this blog with more than 28 posts. I never thought that I would be able to do so. But you all were so very supportive and truly the motivation to me finishing my NaBloPoMo for February 2009. Two points!


I think that I will only do this NaBloPoMO every year in February. It is the shortest month and, I tell you no lies when I say this, thirty/thirty-one days is a little overwhelming! :-P


I would personally like to thank:
Akilah
Sheri
Lucy
Ashley
Cyndi
Brenda Susan
Carma
Charles Gramlich
Maxie
Kylie
Chris
Mom (from The Mind of Mom)
Donna (of Don Mills Diva)
Stone
Speedcat Hollydale
Christine
Deutlich
Nilsa
Anne Nguyen
Lilly
Clarity
Mr. Bill
Dee =^.^=
Tina
and Sara for all of your comments.


I would also like to thank my children for being the entertainment that keeps my life busy and for not taking life so seriously.


I'd like to thank my therapist Ms. G for being their when the times got rough.


I like to thank my professor who personally influenced at least three of my post this month.


I'd also like to thank my hubby for being the man that he is. If he wasn't, then I'd have nothing to share and then laugh about it with you all. Love you hubs!


I'd like to thank my dentist for lying to me. That drilling done on my teeth DID hurt! You have to love a doc who would lie to you with a smile. A pretty sparkling, white, straight teeth smile.


I'd also like to thank the driver following too close behind me last night when I was on my way home for shining those darn 'brights' into my eyes so that I would drive faster. I was doing 70 MPH dude! But you still passed me when the coast was clear. I hope that you got to that stop sign that you so desperately wanted to get to!


I'd also like to thank the old lady who stopped me in the grocery store last night who accused me of stealing her popcorn out of her cart. While we were standing in the snack isle right next to the chips and popcorn. Right after she put her bag of popcorn back on the shelf. A full two minutes before I even thought of buying any. Thanks for making me the center of attention in the one place I should have not even gone near since starting my diet.


*Sigh* I sooo want March to come. And soon.


Love you all,
*BIBI*

I've Been Acknowledged For Being Me!

And it feels damn great!

Cyndi has awarded me two awards.

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.

WOW ! I am deeply humbled!

The rules to follow are:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

So the 15 people I am awarding this to are:

Sheri, Akilah, Mom, Chris, Tina, Cyndi (Thank you for the acknowledgment in the first place), Lucy, Nilsa, Deutlich, Lilly, Stone, Carma, Brenda, Ashley, and Maxie.

Thank you ladies for bringing such joy to my life and entertaining a mom who is in need of some adult conversations.

You totally deserve it!

Come and Get Your Slumdog On!

Okay, those of you who have seen the Oscar's last night, kudos! Wasn't it great?!?


Touching when Heath's family accepted his award last night. I cried.


Touching when Kate (my girl) won the best actress award. I cried.


Hugh Jackman (my husband innocent crush) was the man of the hour with a magnificent performance hosting the Oscar's. Some may laugh at that silly dance number that he performed with Beyonce, but I say he is still adorable. All 6' 1" of him! It's obvious that I have a big thing for Aussie men, as I am so obviously bias. Oh well!


Biggest surprise of the night, Sean Penn winnning for the portrayal of Harvey Milk. He was excellent in the movie as well. By the way, to quote Robert Deniro, 'how did he get away with playing straight men all these years?' He was very convincing. And deserved the Oscar win. Even though I was convinced that my Mickey would take it home. :(


Antyway, Slumdog Millionaire won all but one of their Oscar's that they were nominated for last night bringing their total to eight. Including the Oscar for best picture. Wonderful, and anyone interested in other people's culture beside their own should see it. It makes you appreciate being an American all the more.


Penelope Cruz looked beautiful accepting her award in her beautiful but very old gown. The gown was made by a designer whose name escapes me right now, but the gown is 60 years old! It was obviously beautifully perserved. Get this: Penelope saw it eight years ago, and said to herself that she 'has got to have it', but failed to buy it at the time. She then went back to the shop just this month and the gown was still there. Can you believe it?!? It was striking and she wore it well. Even though she stole the award from my Viola Davis. :(


Well, out of my six picks only four of my bets won.

1. Heath Ledger for Best Supporting Actor.
2. Danny Boyle for Best Director.
3. Kate Winslet for Best Actress in a leading role.
4. Slumdog Millionaire for Best Picture of the year.


I did okay in my predictions, but hopefully I'll do better next year!

The Key to Longevity

Have we really found the fountain of youth? The secret to living longer? It’s no myth according to some analysts, and it’s called “The Blue Zone”. These are the areas in which scientist say the people who live here, live longer.

The segment featured Costa Rica, but also mentioned Okinawa Japan, a small unrecognizable town in California, and two other cities which I missed the name to. I watched the segment this morning on the Today show.

Studies done have indicated that those in “The Blue Zone” have lived longer due to:

a) Genetics. (Mine are not too bad. We could eliminate some of the ‘fat’ genes though.)

b) No smoking. (Okay I sneak a little ciggy here and there now and again.)

c) Diet. (Working on it!)

d) Zest for life. (My motto is: smile while you’re making it, laugh while you’re taking it, even though you’re faking it, nobody’s gonna know!)

e) Religion. (Since I think about religion as much as getting a tooth pulled I rarely go into long discussions about it. But I believe that having faith in something bigger than you (e.g. a higher power) can have some health benefits. It’s called faith. Some do prayer. I just thank God that when he sees me on the caller ID he doesn’t hang up because he does answer some of my prayers.)

Okay genetics is a biggie. We totally don’t know what is in store for us if you have no idea about your families’ history. Family-wise my gene pool has high-blood pressure, bad breath (not that I have any), diabetes, sarcasm, cussing, cancer, yakking too much about nothing syndrome, incontinence, heart disease, ADHD, and too much girth in the middle that just stays with you. Hmmm… according to this I should be keeling over at any minute, or at least in the hospital with a diaper on and a constant supply of breath mints.

Smoking. To smoke or not to smoke? It is ever debatable in my family since 1 out of every 3^rd person in my family does smoke. I only smoke occasionally (two ciggy’s a week) but according to this research you shouldn’t have none. Okay, *inhaling ciggy* let me know when you are finished *exhaling* reading this *blowing smoke circles* story.

Diet. Okay they emphasize that fresh is best. Fresh veggies, and fresh fruit. Living virtually as vegetarians/vegans. Shucks. That counts me out. I love a turkey ham sandwich with some mayo, mustard, on double fiber bread. Health nut? Not really. But I try to watch what I eat. (Trying is only half the battle)

Zest for life. Okay, some say that laughter is the best medicine. One thing remarkable about the people interviewed in Costa Rica, was the fact that they have never been to a hospital, never been sick and that they had genuine laughter behind that twinkle in their eye. That twinkle in their eye was put there with some help. They are not THAT happy with life. Perhaps they like what is happening between those sheets at night with their significant other. According to Akilah they are still enjoying the humping, even though it is somewhat dry now, well past the age when many think it is inconceivable to do such. Woohoo grandma, get your groove on!

Religion. Okay this is a tough one, but virtually whoever you are praying to is obviously looking out for you because you are doing alright so far. I hope.

This research is purely based on the fact that they kept records of these individuals and realized that a fifty year old man has a greater chance of making 90 than a man residing in the U.S.

So if you and the significant other want to keep the longevity in your life, you might want to consider moving to one of these ‘Blue Zones’ and keep the zesty, happy, free of bad genetics, fresh diet, with lots of prayer life that you are used to. If you don’t keel over when having sex at 120 and your partner is two months shy of 125.

And the Oscar Goes to...

Heath Ledger, was a remarkable actor. Just recently (two weeks ago) I saw 'Dark Knight.' He was superb, and I hope he does win.

It wasn't until I saw Heath in '10 Things I hate About You' that I really began to dig Aussie guys. (See my label on 'Hugh Jackman') Of course, I never had the chance to meet or date one, but a girl can dream can't she?!? :^)

If he does win, his daughter Matilda, with whom he had with Michelle Williams is only three and will bring home the trophy for her dad. If only she can sign a contract. Read the complete article.

Now, I believe that a three year old can sign their name because kids are being taught earlier in life these days, but to put such a stipulation on such a child who has just lost her father is downright sad.

I hope the Academy's President comes up with a better solution for any 2 year old ready to pick up his/her trophy in the coming future.

Why People LOVE Kids!

I laughed my head off when my sister-in-law sent it to me. Children are so unpredictable and are such a joy. They really take the dullness out of life one innocent act at a time! Enjoy everyone! I thoroughly did! :D

Sisters......

I’ve had this ‘memo on life’ note for a long time from a good friend of mine. I thought it only proper to share this note today with all the women who read my blog to celebrate the momentous occasion of our President signing the first Bill today in the White House on equal pay for women. Its called the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and I feel that such a joyous affair should be celebrated with a letter praising all of us fine women what a great species we are when we DO stick together. Even if the men in our life don’t agree.

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

“Don’t forget your Sisters,” she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. “They’ll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them; keep in touch by mail. And remember that “Sisters” also means your girlfriends, your daughters, and other women relatives too. You’ll need other women. Women always do.”

“What a funny piece of advice!” the young woman thought. Haven’t I just gotten married? Haven’t I just joined the couple-world? I’m now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup. Surely, my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!

Nevertheless, she listened to her mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life. Almost 60 years of living in this world, here is what I’ve learned:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates. Children grow up.

Love waxes and wanes.

Hearts break.

Cheers end.

Jobs come and go.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Men don’t call when they say they will?

BUT Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A Sister is never farther away than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley, and you have to walk it for yourself, you Sisters will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley’s end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk besides you. Or come in and carry you out.

My mother, mother-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, aunts, grandmothers, and “girlfriends” do bless my life! The world wouldn’t be the same without them, and neither would I.

When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Everyday we need each other still. Pass this on to the women who help make your life work.

I just did.

And the Award goes to...

Again, I’ve been blessed to receive two awards from Sheri. Sheri is the best. She has a heart of gold. She is beautiful inside and out, and very gracious. I feel blessed to have such a friend as her.

And it couldn’t have come at such a better time. I just started class again this Monday (well yesterday) and I was feeling so rushed and unappreciated that I just couldn’t get motivated to do what I needed to do. So this morning I woke up, drank my cup of green tea, and checked my email. And there she was, bright as day, right on the top of all my inbox email with another heartwarming comment.

I feel so elated and tranquil now that I have to pass this one on to all the beautiful ladies out there. Here are the rules:

This award of course comes with a few rules!

Find the 7 most beautiful ladies that you follow.
Give them this award.
Hopefully it'll truly mean something to each and every one of them.
Don't be shy to give it to the same person!
Don't forget to tell them!

And here are the nominees:

1. Akilah at http://akilahsakai.blogspot.com
2. Christine at http://cmlk79.blogspot.com
3. Heather at http://greigbery.blogspot.com
4. Cyndi at http://everydaybitch.com

5. Chris at http://athomeatlast.blogspot.com

6.Mom at http://meonlydifferent.blogspot.com

7.Brenda Susan at http://brendasusan.blogspot.com

Of course I know that the rules say only seven people, and it is sooo hard to choose. So if I did leave any of you women out then please help yourself to this award. Because you are beautiful as well!

Yes, I’ve been tagging people like crazy so please forgive me if you get a tag and don’t like it. It’s just that I like you.

To the guys, you’re not forgotten. You’re beautiful as well. Well, you know…in a masculine kinda way!