Laughter is the best medicine!

I believe a good laugh can make just about anything better. Laughter has no language barriers. Laughter can penetrate the deepest sadness, if even for a moment. Okay, enough with the mushy stuff.

Stacey believes it's all about the hair. I believe it's all about ones ability to make fun of one's self. Imagine if our Commander in Chief had a sense of humor. A sense of humor that is at it's best when all hope seems lost. Granted it's probably too late to make a difference now ... but, we can still have a good time.










For some fantastic bi-partisan political satire visit The Capitol Steps.

Stella wants her groove back!

I've never like winter. I enjoy an occasional snowfall deep enough to sled and launch some snowballs. One a year is good. Sleet, freezing rain, ice ... NOT MY THING. Ugh, I have the winter blues!

It doesn't help in that my DH, who never has to travel for work, has traveled the last two weeks. I'm a strong woman. I can handle it, normally. When you throw a couple of snow days in ... A-Man and I don't do well cooped up like fightin' roosters! In case I had been contemplating doing the SAHM thing (which I know I'm not cut out for) the last to weeks have dashed any hope of that. I need adults (or at least a group of college students who think they are adults), I need sunshine, I need to not turn into a stinkin' popsicle when I walk outstide.

My routine is completely out of whack! I need to break out of captivity and do something wild and crazy! Maybe get a tat. Nah, that would hurt. Probably something crazy with my hair. Hmm, that takes time and money, something I've had neither of lately.

Maybe I need a good book. I've been wanting to read "How full is your bucket?" I feel like I'm living a Calgon commerical!

K, I'm done whining now.

What are you getting for V-Day?

I've always felt Valentine's Day created a tremendous amount of pressure on parents (toiling over the creative boxes for school) and lovers (the girls care too much and the guys don't care enough).

This year is different.

I know what I'm giving. "Dale: The Movie" 6 disc collectors edition. I pretty stinkin' sure, while we were first dating, Hubs loved Dale Earnhardt more than me. He's never really been the same man since that fatal wreck.

I know what I'm getting. I picked it out. I know, I know, it's cheating. But not this time. I found this site called From Me Tees. I really wanted a "My Husband Rocks" tee. Hubs was genuinely embarrassed, but I assured him I really felt that way about him. It was a great connecting moment for us.

The fantastic news is, we can all have a chance to treat ourselves over at Chased by Children!



So head on over there is a giveaway every day this week!

Medical Advice from a 4 year old

A-man asked me why my voice sounded funny.

I explained to him that my throat hurt really bad. Knowing that he worries a lot, I continued to share that I had been to the doctor and I have medicine to take and I would be better soon.

His response:

"Well, Mommy, if your throat hurts you should swallow some Band-aids." After a long pause. "But, Mommy, DON'T tell Daddy you swallowed Band-aids!"

Ode to Jen/Gi

Back in her wild-child days we knew her as Gigi. Technically, she'll always be a wild-child but in a good way -- not the way her old blog Girl Gone Wild would lead one to believe.

In 2008, my dear friend (and yours, too) turned a page in her book of life and started a brand new blog. Jen's very own 867-5309.

But what would we call her? Jen/Gi. A good mix of the past and the present.

So, in honor of a wonderful friend and her song inspired blog, I wrote "Ode to Jen/Gi."

Shall we all sing it together?



To the tune of 'Bingo':

There was a blogger, had a friend and JenGi is her name-o.
J-E-N-G-I
J-E-N-G-I
J-E-N-G-I
And JenGi is her name-o.

Okay, here's the deal is always said by JenGi is her name-o.
(Clap)-E-N-G-I
(Clap)-E-N-G-I
(Clap)-E-N-G-I
And JenGi is her name-o.

Foreign lands were once her home and JenGi is her name-o.
(Clap)-(Clap)-N-G-I
(Clap)-(Clap)-N-G-I
(Clap)-(Clap)-N-G-I
And JenGi is her name-o.

She has a dog who poos in her purse and JenGi is her name-o.
(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-G-I
(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-G-I
(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-G-I
And JenGi is her name-o.

Heyhoo is her favorite word and JenGi is her name-o.
(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-I
(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-I
(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-I
And JenGi is her name-o.

A crazy gal, loved by all and JenGi is her name-o.
(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)
(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)
(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)-(Clap)
And JenGi is her name-o.

Love ya JenGi!
And a shout out to Stacey for encouraging me to post this (she could tell I really wanted to)!

Look Mom! No Cavities!

It was dental week for our family, you know, just starting the year out right. A-man went yesterday and had his appliance (correcting his under bite) removed. It goes back in three weeks from now. Right now it's on the way to a lab where it will be adjusted to put pressure on different teeth. A-man told us last night he wanted it back in, because he missed it. It was a little pricey, so as far as I'm concerned wear it as long as you want!

Today was my turn. I had the office latest edition to the dental hygienist staff. Her name was Katie. She was adorable. She also had a great personality. I know this because she actually asked conversational questions rather than the standard "Did you have a good Christmas?" We watched "Ellen" (they have flat screen TV's placed on these arms -- kind of like the lights, so you can watch while lying on your back) and discussed the new season of "The Biggest Loser." She would remove the tools from my mouth when she asked me a question, so I didn't have to mutter dentist chair speak.

And, well, that was one of my clues. I suspect with all of my being that Katie graduated from dental hygienist school -- YESTERDAY!

Clue 1: Before I even sat in the chair she had me do a 360 degree mouth x-ray. She was "all-my-friends-from-sixth-grade-are-coming-over-for-a-sleepover" excited about using this technology. I'll admit it was fascinating, but still it was just an x-ray of my teeth. Only a newbie would be this excited about using new technology.

Clue 2: The reason she took the tools out of my mouth for me to speak is because she hasn't been doing this long enough to understand dentist chair speak.

Clue 3: This was the clincher. You know the hook-like thingy they scrape your teeth with? Yea, the one with the sharp point on the end. Every time she put that tool up next to my gums she would insert the sharp point INTO my gums and then pull it down across my tooth. Okay, now that you are cringing . . . note that I said EVERY time.
After the first 3 teeth, Katie says "Oh, it seems you gums are bleeding a little."
-- REALLY, I wonder why? --
After about 15 teeth, Katie says "Boy, your gums just like to bleed don't they."
-- Um, no they DON'T like to bleed! --

I never made a peep. Honestly, I felt a little sorry for her. We all have to learn somewhere, somehow, right? However, now I know why people don't like to go to the dentist -- cute, bubbly, dental hygienists named Katie!

Good news: No cavities!
Better news: I don't go back for six months! That gives Katie a while to practice!

A Christmas Wedding

18 months ago when Hubs' Mom passed away, there was no doubt in our minds that his Dad would get remarried.

Saturday was the big day. The scene was a little country church surronded by farm land. The nearest farm land was occupied by a hog farm. Anyone who has ever been around a hog farm can sympathize with the terrible smell we were greeted by as we excited the car to enter the church. Uck!

Being a Christmas wedding most of the church was already decorated, but they had added a few extra touches of red and white. This was a full-meal-deal wedding. There were attendents, a reception, cake cutting, garter tossing, and bird seed throwing.

My father-in-law even sang to his new bride in the ceremony. I think the name of the song was "Only God Could Love You More."

All of the small children were well behaved. And my father-in-law's good friend was a trooper despite threats to dress in drag and make a scene on the front pew!

The whole experience was quite odd, even though we are quite happy with their relationship. Now we can relate to some experiences of today's blended families.