Things That Make Me Smile

In this ever bustling, busy, always in a rush world, I sometimes find a quite moment to reflect on my good fortune and how wonderful life can be. It is then that I find the little, simple things that make me smile.

My children. All seven of them.

Next Wednesday is their first day back to school. It will be wonderful that they will finally end their summer vacation lounging in my house all day, and I can now sit for a quite moment to read, scratch, burp, blog, doodle, and watch TV without being disturbed. By day two I’ll be so bored and hoping upon hope that the bus driver will make a u-turn and bring my children back.

Its when they are at home and fighting, and picking with each other, or just being their own usual rambunctious selves I then grit my teeth and say:

“ONE DAY LORD, JUST ONE DAY TO MYSELF!”

Then again, I haven’t been talking to the lord lately, so when HE sees me on the caller ID, I think he hangs up.

Either that or he just smiles as if to say, ‘You can handle it.’

I’ll go for the latter.

My eldest son, as stated in earlier posts can tickle my funny bone and make me laugh.

The diva shines in her own special way.

Then there is diva #2 who has now come into her own and has surprised me with holding down a job this summer, and she has really blossomed into a beautiful young lady.

Then that leaves Tisha who is twelve, Taj who is nine, Tamara who will be seven soon, and baby Trinity who is three.

Out of those four, it is Tamara who gives me the most reflection on my days when I need a smile.

LAST SUMMER

TAMARA falling off of the steps in her haste to help with the final touches in the flower garden in the front yard: “OWWW! Waaaaah, I cut my knee!!”

ME running to aid my poor clumsy child: “What happened? How’d you fall? Are you okay?”

TAMARA clearly the drama queen as her little ‘scrape’ has now become a very big deal: “Aaaaaaaah! I’m gonna die!”

ME clearly used to the dramatics: “Shhh now. You’ll be okay. Look it’s just a scratch, not even a cut. Why don’t you go inside and get a band-aid? There’s a good girl. You can stand. I’ll help you up the stairs. I got the door. Okay. Now go in your bathroom and look under the sink cabinet

and there is a green and white box full of band-aids. Find one or two and put them on your cut.”

TAMARA pouting: “I want a big band-aid.”

ME clearly tired of the dramatics by now but trying not to sound too impatient: “You can have a big band-aid. Just pick whichever one you want.”

TAMARA clearly all better now that the words ‘band-aid’ and ‘whichever one you want’ was mentioned: “Aren’t you coming in with me? Can you wipe it for me?”

ME: “You’ll be okay girl. Just go in there and find a band-aid. You can use a piece of tissue to wipe off the little bit of blood. Go ahead now. You’ll be okay.”

TAMARA walking away without a limp.

***** FIVE FULL MINUTES LATER *****

ME happily engaged in planting some lavender bushes in my psychedelic array of flowers, shrubs, and herbs. I turn around to the sound of “I FOUND IT.”

TAMARA standing on the bottom step of the front staircase proudly showing off her big band-aid.

A band-aid the same size and shape of a Kotex maxi pad without wings.

EARLY SPRING THIS YEAR:

TAMARA engaged in a conversation with her older brother at the kitchen table one morning: “You know what Taj, one day you and I will be married and have houses of our own.”

TAJ clearly not in the mood to talk about the long off future with his little sister: “I’m not marrying anyone.”

TAMARA: “Well some woman will catch your fancy and make your heart tingle. She’s the one that you’ll marry. And then soon you’ll be engaged in talks about how many children you want, and what college they’ll go to.”

ME clearly intrigued at this little six year old munchkin and her tendency to sound just like her momma.

TAJ clearly annoyed now because he wants to be done with this talk so that he can play the Wii: “Yeah, yeah. Look I’ll have kids. Lots of kids and I’ll bring them all to your house when I’m tired of them.”

TAMARA intrigued as well: “Oh yeah, how many?

TAJ: “Uh, about 10 or twelve.

TAMARA sucks in her breath sharply, eyes nearing bulging out of her head as she stares at her brother while holding her spoonful of cheerios precariously over the edge of her bowl. “Huh?!?”

ME nearly choking on the piece of toast that I almost sucked down my throat at Tajs’ response.

TAJ happy that he finally got Tamara to shut up for once since they began eating: “Yup about ten or twelve will do. I gotta get a big house though.”

TAMARA: Silence

ME: Stunned silence

TAJ drinking the last of his milk and burping in response to our stares. “What about you, how many children are you gonna have?”

TAMARA recovering from the shock of being told that she will one day be the aunt to ten or twelve nieces or nephews from one brother: “I don’t know Taj. I guess I’ll just borrow some of yours.”

LAST WEEK

TIA searching for some tool to finish a necklace that she was repairing: “Help me find it Tamara. I seen you with it last. I told you again and again not to touch my things.”

TAMARA sitting on the couch engrossed in another mindless episode of Spongebob Square Pants: “I didn’t have it I told you! Why you always blame me for things?!?”

TIA clearly losing patience: “Cause you always LOSE MY STUFF!”

ME trying to diffuse the situation: “Alright, calm down Tia. It has to be somewhere. Did you check the garbage? You know that is a favorite hiding place of Trinitys’.”

TIANA coming into the kitchen; our family meeting place, clearly looking for something as well: “Anyone see the tweezers? I think I got a splinter in my hand.”

TAMARA not looking from the TV screen to address Tiana: “I think I saw those in the room somewhere.”

TIANA: “Where?”

TAMARA shrugging her shoulders: “I don’t know.”

TIANA: “Well could you go get ‘em?”

TIA: “First she has to help me find my wire cutters so that I can finish this necklace. I have to have this done by tonight.”

ME sensing that things are going to heat up real soon: Okay, okay girls. Take a breather and calm down. Tamara turn off the TV and find the wire cutters. Tiana come with me. I think I know where some tweezers are.”

***** SOME TWENTY-SOMETHING MINUTES LATER *****

ME: “Tia did you find the wire cutters?”

TIA sounding like she is ready to explode: “NO!”

ME: “Well, join the club. I haven’t found any tweezers either. Tiana you alright?”

TIANA: “Yeah. It’s no biggie. It’ll eventually come out if I can’t find the tweezers.”

ME: “Don’t be silly. It can get infected!”

TIANA shrugging in response.

***** MINUTES LATER *****

TAMARA: “I found it.”

ME: “Found what?”

TAMARA: “The tweezers.”

ME: “I thought you were looking for the wire cutters?”

TAMARA: “Can’t find ‘em.”

ME: “Alright, bring what you got. I’m in the kitchen.”

ME turning to reach for the tweezers that Tamara has found as she walks in the kitchen, only to discover that she has found these gigantic pair of pliers with yellow handles and a scary doodad on the side.

ME, TIANA, and TIA can’t stop laughing at Tamara’s frown as she doesn’t understand what did she do that was so darn funny.

It’s these little moments that makes me smile. And grateful that I have a tribe of seven kids to keep me entertained.

So Real, I Must Be Dreaming!

My little "ladies"

Ever had one of those moments in life that felt so real, looked so real, that you just had to be dreaming?!? I did.

The hubby and I like to go for walks. And since we like to walk but not on the country roads, we usually take a ride into town, walk the track at the University and then perhaps do some shopping afterwards before going home.

Well we did that this particular day, and decided to leave Tia home with the children. No biggie right?!? She always does some baby-sitting on the side to earn a few bucks.

So, the hubby and I are walking and enjoying our little time together. Usually I have my cell phone on and with me as I walk, but this particular day I decide ‘nahhh, the kids never call me so I’ll leave it in the truck’.

An hour has passed and the hubs and I are still walking. Little did I know my cell phone is ringing off the hook with Tia trying to reach me.

The hubby and I decide that we don’t need to go to the store, and take the scenic route home. I never once looked at my phone to see if the children had called or anything, I am just enjoying life and just peachy.

I get home and my front door is wide open, and Tamara is in the doorway crying. My momma sense kicks in and I immediately begin to open my door as the car is still rolling up the driveway. I would have jumped out as well if the hubby hadn’t grabbed me.

I storm into the house, ready to take on the world when I notice that all of the kids are gathered in the living room and crying. I immediately see that Trinity is not there.

“Where’s my baby?” I ask, looking at all of them and they immediately begin sobbing like they feel guilty.

I panic and look at Tia, who is by the way crying silently and looks the guiltiest of all.

“Mom, Trinity is gone.”

My mind takes a moment to register as I try to process the word ‘gone’.

“Like gone to heaven gone or just decided to walk off into the forest as if trying to runaway. And remember answer correctly because she IS only two years old”.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t know who he was. He said that he came from the American Beauty contest and that he was to pick her up and take her to the station in Richmond and that …”

I put up my hand to silence her. Strangely quiet and calm I don’t realize that I am shaking. The hubby is still outside twinkling with his truck and has not come in yet. I know this because I hear this low rumble that reaches a pitch in tone, then levels out, then reaches a pitch, then levels out. Strange sound to take notice of when your child has been potentially kidnapped but hey that’s me, taking it all in.

By this time I am stuttering to make sense of my words; “Wwwhat, wwhen, and how did this happen?”

I look up and notice that my eldest son is gone and that Tamara is gone as well. I shrug guessing that they couldn’t handle it and went into their room for privacy.

Tia by this point is crying uncontrollably and I can’t console her. I can’t move. The hubs is still outside and I look out the still open front door and wonder where in the heck is my truck?

Tia comes up behind me, and has miraculously stopped crying and says; “He also took your truck.”

I slump to the floor as I have been hit with a six-pack. MY TRUCK! Who on God’s green earth would want to steal my truck? It never did anything to anybody, let alone break down and cause anyone any harm. MY TRUCK?

The hubs shows up in the doorway by now and has my cell phone in his hand.

“You missed your calls.”

“My truck is missing along with Trinity.”

“What?!?”

“I said, that our reliable daughter here let some creep into our home, let him take Trinity on the pretense that he was from some ‘Reliable Baking Company’, and he must have stole my spare key from the bureau in the vestibule when no one was looking and decided to take my truck instead on his way out. Which by the way is weird because his car is nowhere to be seen.”

“Oh.” He looked like he was in shock. Couldn’t tell because he decided to pick up some fruit and bite into it at this point.

I then realize the magnitude of the situation and realize that my baby, my little girl is missing! Missing.

I then scream, and fall out flat on the floor. I come to and realize that Tamara is laughing. She is watching a home video tape of Trinity and laughing at the dance that she is doing. I look at the TV screen and immediately start to cry.

Meanwhile, I am crying and wanting to move but can’t and wondering all at the same time, ‘Where in the heck is the Police? The hubby should have called them by now.'

Nope he hasn’t. And that sound came back. The low rumble that goes up and down in pitch like someone is grumbling in the back of their throat.

I go outside for some fresh air, and then decide to hop in the truck to go look for Trinity. I call out to her: “Don’t worry baby, momma is gonna find you!”

I look all over the small town, crying and looking, looking and crying, picturing my daughter crying and holding and out her hands in some strangers arms waiting for me to come rescue her.

I start to drive back home as the sun sets and pull up into my driveway. There is a limo parked in our driveway and the children are surrounded around it. This guy comes out of the limo and begins to pat my son on the head. He looks strangely familiar but I can’t place him.

I park the hubby’s truck and realize that Trinity is standing with the children. I am so happy I forget to put the truck in ‘park’, I felt like a small kick in my back, and I then hop out of the truck to go see who this person is as well as figure out how my daughter came back home.

I walk up to the limo asking myself ‘who is this person?’ ‘Is he the one who stole my baby?’ ‘He is very, very familiar whoever he is’.

I get a closer look as I come upon the limo and see that the person standing in front of me is Edward. Edward as in ‘Twilight’s’ Edward.

He turns to look at me and says “Hey how’s it going?”

I had no time to reply before the rest of the Cullen family popped out of the limo all dressed in their baseball gear as if ready to play a game. And they have Jacob with them as well.

I soon forget all about Trinity missing, my truck is gone, and that the hubby for some strange reason is now making me upset because he won’t stop snoring.

“You can come on in Edward, but the rest of you have to stay outside.” They don’t look so surprised that I have said that and just go into the neighboring field and start to play ball. Without any thunder or rain clouds. They don’t need it, their lousy ball players and don’t strike not one ball.

Edward is standing in my doorway and telling me: “Come on let’s watch a movie.” I look at him and want to say ‘You know what, lets invite Emmet in and see if he wants to see the movie as well.’ But I don’t say it because I don’t want to hurt his feelings and let it be known that I think Emmet is cuter than Edward, but ah well!

Okay, I admit it I am not the brightest light bulb in the ceiling light fixture, but when I awoke from this dream I just knew that it was real. So real that I had to pinch the hubby and get Trinity’s foot out of my back as I quietly got out of bed and on the computer to jot this all down before I forgot.

Now, do you think I am weird because I dream so vividly? You decide!

Tuesday Smile: Life Lesson

You don’t have to be mom to enjoy this one.

Brian invited his mother over for dinner. During the course of the meal Brian's mother couldn't help but notice how beautiful Brian's roommate, Jennifer, was. Brian's Mom had long been suspicious of the platonic relationship between Brian and Jennifer, and this had only made her more curious.


Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Brian and Jennifer than met the eye.


Reading his mom's thoughts, Brian volunteered, 'I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you Jennifer and I are just roommates.'


About a week later, Jennifer came to Brian saying, 'Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy Ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you?'


Brian said, 'Well, I doubt it, but I'll send her an e-mail just to be sure.'


So he sat down and wrote:

Dear Mom,

I'm not saying that you 'did' take the gravy ladle from the house, I'm not saying that you 'did not' take the gravy ladle. But the fact remains that One has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.

Love, Brian


Several days later, Brian received an email back from his mother that read:


Dear Son,

I'm not saying that you 'do' sleep with Jennifer, I'm not saying that you 'do not' sleep with Jennifer. But the fact remains that if Jennifer is sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now.

Love, Mom


LESSON OF THE DAY - NEVER LIE TO YOUR MOTHER!

Thanks Sparkle1978 @ Sparkpeople.com

Friday Favorites #1

Okay, I am new to this Friday Favorites by Janna Bee. You are to list the things that got you through the week.


For me lots of things can go wrong but I am grateful for when things go right! The things that do go wrong can go suck!


I'm not know to be very subtle.


Antyways, things that pulled me through this week:


Monday
Had a interview with the Division of Child Support Services for the EX to pay for his children's rather expensive taste in life. Thanks for looking like a fool in front of Mrs. H (the interviewer), who saw how very dedicated you really are to seeing that your children are taken care of. Thanks for not having all of your paperwork done, no ID, and no compassion. This makes my job so much easier.


Tuesday
Thanks Jillian Michaels' for giving me a good workout on the Wii. Thanks treadmill for the 2 hour walk. I burned 804 calories and my thighs STILL hurt from the workout. Also Jillian, thanks for kicking butt Tuesday night on 'The Biggest Loser'. Women like you so totally rock!



Wednesday
Thanks clerk at the local 'Game Stop' for selling me the Wii fit program. It's the best thing to happen to my children. They've stop watching so much TV and are now exercising, watching TV and having fun! Yeah Baby!!

Thanks to Ashley for giving me a 'Sisterhood Award'. I am so excited I could jump up and down, yet I have to settle for blinking my eyelashes. They are the only things not hurting on me from my workout today.


Thursday
Thanks Dr. D for not telling me that my daughter who runs track, has a fatal disease when we visited your office Thursday morning. A couple of ice packs did just the trick for her sore knee. Yet, a sore knee is no laughing matter to a teenager who takes running very seriously. Now if only I can tell my knees to stop aching whenever I mention 'Treadmill'.





Friday
Thanks headache for keeping me in the bed. I sooo needed the rest!







Join Jannabee and grab the graphic to post your Friday Favorites!

Sharing

Can we talk?

I am a hypocrite.

I always admonish my children for not sharing with each other. I am always reminded of the word ‘sharing’ as one of the first big words that I learned while watching Sesame Street on PBS as a child.

Yet sharing is the word today that eludes me as I sit here trying to write this post to you all.

I think I share a great deal of what goes on in the BIBI household. There is literally never a dull moment, which I am about to prove to you all right now.

About two weeks ago my daughter Tisha, had a seizure. I panicked and took her to the hospital the next day. It was a small seizure mind you, but it was a seizure nonetheless. Three days later I took her to St. Mary’s hospital for an EEG. The results were negative, and I was told to just watch her for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I am still watching out for any signs of a seizure, but none have manifest. While I am doing this I also had a little exchange of words with my SIL. She is not the brightest bulb in the pack, as her manner speaks for itself, but when she approached me about the children (my son and her two sons) fighting, I had to let her know in no kind terms to leave me the f*$# alone with such nonsense.

And the children weren’t fighting with fists or sticks, but just fooling around and pushing each other around and exchanging heated words. As much as an eight, six, and three year old could muster up from their imagination. Have any of you ever called another kid ‘Butt-naked’ and thought it was a bad word? That’s as far as their extensive vocabulary would let them be imaginative. *SIGH* to be a kid again.

Next, the daring rides that I bi-weekly undertake to Richmond with the hubby when he is sleepy and insists on driving. Yes, we are still going to counseling, but our therapist said that we are making good progress and she now just needs to see us every other week, instead of every week as like in the beginning. I tend to disagree, but it’s her call. I hope she realizes the sacrifice that I make just to come see her.

Let me tell you, that one hour and thirty minute ride is not for the weak stomached. He literally nods off behind the wheel and says that he is okay. I won’t dare ask him to let me drive, I’m too busy crumbled up into a ball in my seat so as not to watch the beautiful world pass me by before my premature and imminent death, praying to God which whom I haven’t had a conversation with all week.

All of this on top of having a snow storm that knocked out our power for a full 24 hours, leaving us cold, hungry and without telephone service. The only comfort was that I could call my friend on my cell phone in Florida and ask her “how is the weather down there?!”

My children were out of school for the whole week while my poor little town shut down for the eight inches of snow that we received, only to go back to school on Friday. The school board has now decided to extend the school year until May 22^nd. That is something to look forward to. Another whole week of silence so that I can relax with a good book and do more laundry.

But despite all of the exciting things that have happened in the last three weeks I did get a new stove and decided to redecorate the kitchen. The local diner at the truck stop is going to love seeing us all come into their joint everyday for dinner for the next three to four days. All eight of us, who have only managed to get a bowl of cereal and one of those microwaves snacks until dinnertime. Now I know how those people feel on ‘Spice Up My Kitchen’ on HGTV.

Well, now that I am done sharing my exciting past weeks, I’ve got to finish my assignments for school and prepare for finals coming up in the weeks ahead. I think I’ve done my fair share of sharing. No pun intended.

Diva In The House

“A Diva is a female version of a hustler…”

Excuse me Mrs. Jay-Z, but I think a Diva is much more than a person who will sell or get anything by questionable or aggressive means. (Thanks Webster)

Some may say a Diva is a spoiled biatch who wants to get her way and only her way by either manipulating or ordering people around solely because she thinks she is God’s greatest gift to man and the only one in existence.

Sounds like something my son would say about his sis Tia.

She is a princess, and her heart is in the right place. She is very helpful around the house. Baby sits whenever I ask, as long as she gets paid her free time.

Around that time of the month, Tia makes it known that she wants to be left alone. She pulls the covers over her head and announces to me in particular everyone that she is not getting out of bed for anyone. She speaks her mind so articulately.

At dinner time Tia will argue with her siblings about who will set the table, wash and dry the dishes and mop the floor every night because she doesn’t want to cares so much. Even though I have set up a schedule for who is to do what every night, she does have a break every other night. She knows just how to get a job done.

When the clothes need to be separated and folded after I do all the laundry Tia will bribe persuade Tamara (who is just six), to put away her big sis's clothes for a bag of gummy worms. Tamara does it and Tia now owes her 7 bags of gummy worms, 2 lollipops and 1 bag of Hershey kisses. Any day now Tamara is waiting for her reward for being such a good little sucker sister. She just has to stop asking Tia so many questions, and maybe she’ll find it all miraculously appear on her bed one day.

If sickness befalls the BIBI household and Tia happens to get the sniffles catch the bug, then everyone has to attend to Tia. I anyone not sick in the house will bring her hot tea with a freshly squeezed lemon with 1 tablespoon of honey. I they plump up her pillows, and massage her feet, and make sure that her room is not too hot or too cold. She is made comfortable even if it means getting out of bed at 2 AM to pass her the glass of water on her nightstand table. She was too weak to reach that far.

So, I think that Mrs. Jay-Z should rewrite her song to say that a Diva articulates what she wants, how she wants it, when she wants it, without any questions asked.

I am a proud momma of a Diva. My daughter's behavior is just a product of someone else's imagination.

A Mother's Pride and Joy

My daughter and son. He of course does not want to take the picture.


I have a fifteen yer old son. Actually I have three teenagers. But that is for another post. Like I said before there is never a dull moment in the BIBI household.


Especially with my oldest son. Two years ago he began to experience the "puberty" thing at thirteen. Last summer he began to "smell" himself and began to be get very cocky. It's all good. I got him straight, and brought him back to earth with one of my 'if the momma ain't happy, nobody is' discussions. He got the message.


Or so I thought he did.


My talk was essentially about taking care not to smell when you become of a certain age. and as you become older you have to take essential care not to offend anyone.


He wanted to argue. I told him that if he didn't clean his 'pits' that we were going to have a problem. He sulkily went to take a shower. I was happy that I won the battle with the 'child' until I went into his room and discovered a letter that he wrote to himself.


FYI: I snoop on my children in my house all the time. It's my full-time occupation. Antyway...


The letter read:

Reasons Not To Wash

1. I was forced to as a child.
2. People who make soap are only after your money.
3. I wash on special occasions like Christmas and Easter.
4. People who wash are hypocrites--they think they are cleaner than everyone else.
5. There are so many different kinds of soap, I can't decide which one is best.
6. I used to wash, but it got boring so I stopped.
7. None of my friends wash.
8. The bathroom is never warm enough in the winter or cool enough in the summer.
9. I'll start washing when I get older and dirtier.
10. I can't spare the time.

I don't know where he got his writing skills from, but I'm betting the comics that he reads has a lot to do with it.


I let that infraction go. He was soon not to disappoint me again.


Now don't get me wrong, my son is good in school and he loves his teachers. But someone said something to him (an adult of course) and asked him why was he passing notes in class?


It wasn't nothing that serious, just a harmless drawing, but the teacher felt the need to address my son, in front of the whole class!


He (the assistant teacher) then preceded to tell him "That if you do this again I will send you back where you came from, as you will be banished from my class."


My eloquent son told the assistant teacher:


"No you can't, my momma ain't here!"


Why oh why did I ever encourage him as baby to talk?!?

We Are All Creatures of Habit

I habitually watch television, blog, daydream about being a famous writer, drink a gallon of water a day, and dream about being 60 pounds thinner. I am also a creature of stranger habits, but this blog page is way too short to list all of the *ahem* details.


However, I do know I have a habit of doing other things as well. I:


-Tell the hubby that we have less in our joint account after I deposit HIS checks so that I can buy something that I really want, but not necessarily need.


-Tell the children that if they don't eat all of their okra at dinner, that they'll have nightmares.


-Always tell my loving but habitually curious Grandmother that everything is okay, when it's sometimes not. (It's for her own good, she doesn't need to worry!)


-Convince myself that writing in my journal every night can be cathartic (Oprah's definition) and can possibly be a good story when that journal is finished. (I have yet to fill up one journal since 2003.)


-Tell myself that one day the hubby will figure out that the laundry hampers are colored coded for a reason and that he will stop sticking to be bleached clothes and not-to-be-bleached clothes in the same basket. He is definitely a work in progress.


-Tell the children that if they don't do their chores that they will lose their TV privileges. (LOL, that one even sounds funny to my ears!)


-Tell myself that one day I'll just answer the 'unknown' numbers that keep showing up on my caller ID with: "Hello, welcome to Wendy's."


-Constantly tell myself that reading a book into the wee hours of the morning and then getting up at 6 AM to get the kids ready for school is really something not good for the irrational and impatient. (Until then I'll cuss and mumble into I get my 'fix' of my daily must read blogs.)


-Tell myself that not everyone is perfect and that I need to stop being so hard on myself.


Some say that honesty is the best policy ya know!


But until then, honesty can stay the hell under the bed until I am ready to face her!

In Need of a Bailout from Daily Life?

Lately the news has been addressing the economic slump that we are all experiencing. These are the times when I tune out from the real world and tune in my must have TV shows.

You know, Grey’s Anatomy, LOST, Hero’s, House, and my all time fave Tom & Jerry.

*SIGH* Tom & Jerry. My favorite cartoon from my childhood. I do have to say that I did escape to Tom & Jerry’s world every Saturday morning. The plots of each cartoon short usually centers on Tom (the cat) who despite numerous attempts tries to capture Jerry (the mouse) and the mayhem and destruction that ensues. Since Tom rarely attempts to eat Jerry and because the pair actually seems to get along in some cartoons, it was somewhat confusing to my little brain at the time why Tom chases Jerry so much.

Never mind Looney Tunes, and Woody Woodpecker, I only wanted to watch Tom & Jerry! (I had very little friends as a child).

I have now carried on this quirky habit well into my adulthood and now my children are forced to watch Tom & Jerry at 12 noon on Cartoon Network (when they are not in school), and then at 7:30 PM on Boomerang. But they don’t mind, it’s the silly hijinks that Tom & Jerry commit that keeps them laughing. Its great family time for a well deserved get together at the end of the day.

Since I don’t have TIVO (not in the budget) I have to make due with putting it on timer with my satellite network. But I faithfully watch them everyday religiously. I’ve been known to have stranger habits.

On that note I’d like to announce that today is the 69^th anniversary of Tom & Jerry making their first appearance on the screen. You go boys for entertaining the world since 1940!

Some trivial trivia…

• When the cartoon first aired Tom (the cat) was actually called Jasper in the first cartoon short titled ‘Puss Gets the Boot’.
• Tom & Jerry won a total of seven Academy Awards for Best Short Subject (cartoons) tying with the infamous Walt Disney back in the day.
• In 1986 Tom & Jerry were bought by Turner Entertainment. Hanna Barbera owned them from 1940-1958. Gene Deitch then owned them from 1960-1962. Then Chuck Jones from 1963-1967.
• Tom & Jerry are well-known all over the world, especially in Saudia Arabia (big surprise), China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Mongolia, and South Korea.

So what was your favorite cartoon as a child?

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

30-Something Momma With Still a Lot to Learn.

I've learned lots but I still need to learn and understand more. I am always on a quest to learn from my fellow man. The theme for NaBloPoMo this month is WANT. And I want to change. A change for the better person that I can be and will be. It's a ever daunting task but I have to start somewhere. I will start today. Anyone up for the challenge? Tell me what have you learned.

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.
I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.
I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.
I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I've learned.... That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?
I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned.... That there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.
I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned.... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Dad that I love him one more time before he passed away.
I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned.... That I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.
I've learned.... That when your newly born child holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.
I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
I've learned ... That it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life threatening situation.
I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.
To all of you.... Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.

So fellow bloggers, what about you? What have you learned in life so far?

These words were written by Andy Rooney, a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words.

Spreading the Love of Blogging One Tag at a Time

This Q & A came to me by Speedcat Hollydale courtesy of Mimi Queen of Memes who had the first blogosphere – wide Tag out for 2009.

MIMI DECREED: I took the liberty of shortening it a bit. And since it's my first meme of the New Year I've decided to TAG the entire universe. You knew that was coming sooner or later didn't you......and let's not, shall we, forget about the dreaded dungeon, my little peeps. (What is a peep anyway?) It's still there. I'm still Queen. And most of you are still in it. To tell you the truth, I'm gettin' a little tired of your endless whining about the food and service. You KNEW when you signed up for this gig (are you listening single guys?) that I can't cook, can't clean (are you listening??!) and can't keep a housekeeper. Let's get on with it, okay? Time's a wastin'!

Okay I know it is January 12, 2009, and I am a little late in getting this out, but what the heck! It’s fun to do and it also keeps me occupied.

However; I did embellish it and added a few different questions. I know this is a LOT of questions so whoever does do this blog, award yourself. ( See the sidebar for the award!)

• When was the last time you splurged on a gift for yourself? Dec 24, 2008. I bought myself a new stereo. With hubby’s money of course.
• Have you ever bought yourself a gift for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, a birthday or any other occasion and then wrapped it up and pretended it was from someone else? Nah. If I didn’t like it one of my kids would snatch it up for themselves. There are plenty of them to go around so no one is ever without.
• Have you ever sent yourself flowers, chocolates or anything else to your place of employment so it seemed as if someone else were sending you a gift? Nope! Such a waste of time! No one would believe it’s from the hubby anyway. He does cards.
• How often do you text message? Never, don’t know how.
• Is there someone you’d like to fix things with? My hubby. I still don’t know what’s got his underwear in such a twad.
• Are there any previous relationships you wish could have lasted longer? Yep, with the EX. Only long enough to drop kick his butt and park him, wrapped in duct tape in front of the nearest loony bin.
• When do you blow out the candles? On my next b-day. October 10, 2009.
• Do you give out second chances too easily? When dealing with the kiddies, I sometimes get real upset and count to ten before I even say anything to them. By the time I get to eight I’m pooped and wave them away for another chance to deal with them later.
• What’s the next big decision you will have to make? To get up and walk the ¼ mile to the mailbox.
• If you could cuddle with anyone right now, who would you pick, and why? Anyone or anything? If it it’s anything it would be my koala bear Lola. She’s stuffed! Anyone, would be hands down Trinity. She is the cuddliest two year old I know.
• Who is probably talking a load of crap about you right now? My relatives. Distant relatives.
• Who was the last person to REALLY piss you off? The ‘HUBSTER’!
• Would you ever want to be a supermodel? Nope. Don’t like makeup, skimpy clothes that show off the ‘jiggles’, and hot lights. I’ll feel like a blimp in melted makeup.
• Do you know what you will wear tomorrow? Yep. I’m very predictable. Grey sweats, grey T-shirt, and slippers and socks. Yep. And very mommafied.
• Your motivation for tomorrow? Counting down the days until LOST comes on ABC. 9 days and counting.
• What is the last thing you put your lips against? A hot cup of green tea.
• Have you ever gone two or more days without changing your underwear? Yep. Weren’t you a child once?
• Have you ever accidentally eaten an insect? Plenty. The biggest one was in some fresh lettuce that I got out of my garden.
• What serial killer do you find most disturbing? Jack the Ripper. If Sweeney Todd was real, he’d be on my list as well.
• Are you ever purposely irritating? Yup to the hubby. Just to get my own way. *slapping the back of hand* Bad Girl! Bad!
• What was the last thing you used you debit card for? To buy some cough drops. *Ahem* I have a tickle in my throat.
• Are you cheating on your significant other right now? If fantasying with being with a hot hunk like *ahem*… Dr. McDreamy then yes I am dreaming …er uh cheating.
• Are you contemplating cheating on your significant other right now? Nah. Too much lying and hiding. And I am not good at either.
• When was the last time you sat down and watched kiddie cartoons? ‘Tom and Jerry’ today at 12:00 P.M. on Cartoon Network. I’m a big kid deep inside!
• Do you sleep with one leg out from under the covers? Nope. I am a pure cocoon when I sleep. Yep wrapped up just like a butterfly ready to emerge for a new day. *snort* AS IF!
• Do you have any text messages that you would be embarrassed to let your mom read? Nope. Don’t text. Mom wouldn’t know how to find them anyway.
• How old would you be when you finally have kids/ or next kids? What are you kidding?!? My momma factory is closed!
• Have you ever thought about converting to a new religion? Nope. Wait now… to be a Jedi Knight would be totally awesome. At least that’s what the Brits say!
• Do you know anyone with the same first name as you? Yes, plenty. Don’t like them much however.
• When was the last time you went to church? Winter 2006. It was very, very cold that day.
• What song plays on your Myspace profile page? Myspace? What the heck is Myspace? I’m just getting used to this goggle thing.
• What were you doing the last time you were in the bathroom? Reading a magazine and ignoring the insistent banging on the door from a munchkin to “LET ME IN!”
• Have you ever had a Razr as a phone? Nope. Want one though.
• Which energy drink is better; Amp or Rockstar? Amp or Rockstar? Who the hell knows?!? I drink neither.
• Would you rather eat a Milky Way or eat a Twix? Both and hide in the bathroom with a magazine.
• Do you like that new shoe smell? What ?!? No. smells like dead leather. Wait, leather is dead.
• Do you like the taste of licorice? Yes!! I LOVE licorice.
• Would you ever walk around with a free hugs sign like the dude on YouTube? Just for kicks. I would do it if I was in NYC. No one would probably give me a hug though.
• Did you ever flip out on a teacher and walk out of a class? Nah. I flipped a teacher once behind my textbook though. I guess that doesn’t count.
• Do you/did you ever have dreams of being a rock star? Nope. An actress once. That’s because I can’t sing. I sound like a prepubescent boy with a cold.
• If vegetarians think it’s wrong to eat living things, why do they eat plants? Tie me up and paint my ass green ‘cause I have no idea.
• If you were to compare your real family to a TV family, which one would they closely resemble? ‘The Proud Family’ on Disney.
• What advice would you give to a new blogger? Hold on and hang in there. People will soon find out who you are and what you are all about.
• What imaginary pet would you love to own? A unicorn.
• What was your favorite book as a child? ‘There’s a Nightmare in my Closet’, by Mercer Mayer. I was a spooky child.
• Out of all the cars you owned which one was your favorite? My current one, my Expedition.
• What is the coldest place/state that you ever visited? Michigan
• As a child did you ever walk to school or carry your lunch? Huh?!? I’m confused. I did neither.
• Did you ever have such a busy day that you didn’t know whether to scratch your watch or wind your behind? Yup. Like today. I am suppose to be doing an assignment for class and can’t seem to focus on my studies.
• Ever rode in a hot air balloon? Nope. Scared of heights. Soooo scared of heights!!!
• Have you ever fainted? Yes once. Right after I had baby number one.
• What is your favorite quote? “The choices you make in life, dictate the life you live. To thine ownself be true”.

Okay, now for the fun part. For this task I will tag everyone. Everyone that I have ever read, commented on their blog or just simply visited. This way I won’t leave anyone out. Those interested, accept this tag and pass it on to anyone I’ve missed on my list.

I want to thank everyone who has visited me, has commented on my boring and crazy life stories, and even those who were brave enough to include me on their blog rolls. I am honored and humbled by your attention. You have my permission to copy and paste the pic located on my sidebar to place on your blog if you wish to put it on your blog, (once you finish the task of asking the fifty and eleven hundred questions). Take it and go for it! Have fun!

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*BIBI*