T.G.I.F!

Source: beeka-beeka.com.

Happy Friday friends! It has been an extremely long and eventful week for me...and not in a good way. Be so, I have nothing for you today, not even my normal Six Words Friday (SWF). I know every party has a pooper - I’ll be the pooper today (raising hand). 

But hey, although I am not joining in the SWF fun, I urge you to stop by Melissa's house and check out her weekly feature and what all the other cool kids are sharing. Or, you can check out some of my older SWF posts here. Either way I’m sure you’ll be delighted.

Be safe and have a great weekend friends!

p.s. The picture above in no way relates to my week. I just finished looking through photos of our past trip to the zoo. 

Dare.

This post is a part of the Six Word Friday's weekly over at Making Things Up. #sixwordsfriday. The topic this week:  "DARE"

Over.

...the timeless debate continues. You can read more about it here and here or you can just stare in amazement at the graphic (source) above.

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*the post is part of Wordless Wednesday* 

wtf wednesday.

While partaking in my maidly duties...I came across this - wtf?

Why am I in shock you wonder? Because...

I spent a total of 45 mind boggling minutes yesterday (10 here and 20 there, etc.) 

trying to figure out where 35% of this boys toys were. I went from lazily searching around the house, to then thinking I must have overlooked the toys to later thinking to myself - "Boy, 'E' did a great job of cleaning his room!"

He did a great job alright - of fooling me!

This post is WTF Wednesday post sponsored by funny or snot

What dreams may come.

I’m a dreamer.

I dream about 6 nights a week.

Some dreams I remember clearly and some I remember small bits of .

I come from a family of dreamers (no I’m not crazy).

My grandmother did it and she interpreted dreams well.

A few of my aunts’ do it, my mother does it and…well, I do it too.

Strangely none of my other cousins do it – okay so call me crazy (if you must, I can take it).

A few years back I dreamed of the birth of my cousin – an early delivery

I was 4,000+ miles away.

I have vivid dreams of those who have passed…as if they are physically here.

I have dreams of people...that very shortly after leave us.

I have dreams of situations that always often present themselves or come to light.

I often creep myself out.

Most recently I had a dream about fish.

A dream about fish usually means someone’s pregnant (in “my” history book).

The next day I immediately began phoning and texting folk to see who it could have been…

Still searching for that answer…although not too worried…it is not me!

Others say:

*Seeing a live fish in a dream is very much good luck unless the fish was carp, in which case it is a warning against subjecting yourself by your actions to criticism. *A fish swimming in clear water is an omen that you will acquire personal wealth and power. However, to see a dead fish as in a market is an omen of disappointment. (Needless to say, I haven’t had any dreams such as these).

The other night I dreamed about a rat.

A very large disgusting fat rat. I'd never seen anything like it.
Okay, maybe I have downtown somewhere...but never in my dreams!
Just hanging out strolling pass me - ughhh.

Am I a little weary? Yep, a little.

Deception, jealousy, someone working against me...those can’t be good things.

I’m now officially sleeping with one eye open – okay not really but I have on my super specks!

I am def. creeped out.

Am I a little too into this dream thing?

Maybe

Maybe not...especially if history repeats itself.

Does anyone else dream, interpret dreams, etc.? How do you feel about people that do? 

contemplating b.w.'s*...

[*b.w. = butt wiping]

no, I'm not contemplating on wiping my butt or even if i should.
i'm a-okay with that!

it's the boys bootie to be exact
i've been contemplating which is worse:

wiping a babies/ pre-toddlers booty when changing a diaper OR wiping a toddlers butt?

i mean one does get used to it.
you're supposed to, right?
it's a necessity as a baby - who else will wipe the booty when he/she stinky's?

but, the stage where the kid is being potty trained...
well...umm you know...

you get all excited (and possibly you do a happy dance)!
the stage has been set - you're in the process of losing the diaper and the "changing of the diaper ritual."

but then
there comes that moment
you know, the poo? boo boo?  #2?
and the kid attempts to wipe...
just disgusting

and, well
you're back to contemplating and wondering - really does this ever end!

Which do you think is worse, wiping a babies/ pre-toddlers booty when changing a diaper OR wiping a toddlers butt?

What have your experiences been? I wonder if anyone has ever kept a record of how many times they've wiped their kids butt? No seriously, I know someone has!

[image via]

but i have no rest

i jump up and glare over at the clock, 2:22 AM is what it says
i close my eyes in an effort to go back to sleep

i toss and i turn
i look at the clock again, it can't still say 2:22 AM
i toss
i turn

i begin to think about life, i don't dare question it
but i wonder because that's what i do
and then i thought about pat

pat's my cousin
she passed away on tuesday morning
i got the news about 3:30 in the afternoon
i was shocked 
but i wasn't shocked
i actually thought about pat earlier that morning during my daily walk

pat had cancer
last sunday we were told the doctors were giving her 5 months to live
[i wondered if we were getting the real story- pat was always a smart cookie]

two weeks ago the family went to bermuda at the request of pat and her husband
[ i didn't go]

three weeks prior pat was doing wonderfully

a month before that pat stop taking one of her medicines
she said it was making her fat
[the result - her conditioned worsened]

a year before that pat was diagnosed with cancer
[she would be going through treatment and would have a few years]

as i layed there trying to again sleep
tossing and turning
i could only think about [pat] her path and how things seemed to take or come into place

pat was a lady with a lot of pride
a great person
i loved here

image via

i didn't cry when i found out about her passing
i dunno
i figured i needed to be strong for my mom
they were like sisters

during my restlessness - i cried
i said another prayer

i then thought about the time i woke up 2:22
i read Psalms 22:2
it reads: O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest

i eventually fell asleep

unfortunately, i still have no rest

Sayings, Situations, and An Incident

SAYINGS

“Mommy  top (stop) it, top it!”     

[as I washed my sons private area during bath time]

 ---

“Kahthee sai’ (said), no, no, no, no!” 

[Beeka looking in window at daycare during drop off – referring to his teacher, Kathy]

 ---

“Get down Rayne, Get down Rian!” 

[conversations with cousins that are NOT present based on a situation that occurred last weekend]

 ---

“Mommy, Elmo not nice.” 

[random conversation while driving home from daycare]

---

“It’s rainin’ mommy” 

[while taking an evening walk -75 degrees and the suns setting]

---

Eat mommy, sit down now, eat!

[clueless, I guess the boy wanted some company]

SITUATIONS

Beeka: Wan (want) watch Elmo mommy!

Me: no, not tonight Beeka, its sleepy time

Beeka: Noooooooooo, mommy not nice…u not nice [as he runs off down the hall with his plush Elmo]

---

Preface: I’m in the kitchen doing who knows what and I hear some babble and yelling coming from the living room. I then proceed towards the living room only to find Beeka (my son) slouching down with his index finger pointed towards Elmo and he's yelling:

"Didn't I tell you no, Elmo, no...you don't do that...you kno better!"

I just looked and said, "Hey there...so you definitely learned a lot over Shelly's house yesterday, wow!"

[I then proceeded back into the kitchen to make a special phone call to Shelly - Shelly...well, she's my cousin]

AN INCIDENT

“Lego Storm”

I am sitting on the couch, minding my business and eating a bowl of soup because I’ve caught kiddie cooties.

Suddenly, a storm of toys come flying pass the side of my head, ear, neck, or whatever! I hear a giggle!

I think to myself, should I even wonder what the heck is going on, do I look back or duck?

Crap, too late!

I just got popped upside the head, not once but twice with a Lego piece.

We two

He does it.

I do it.

He makes those weird faces.

I do too.

He does it in the mornings (or vice versa or in between).

I do it in the evening (or vice versa or in between).

What could it be?

Some sort of connection.

Cleary it puzzles me.

He says mommy I poo poo.

I say Beeka I did too.

[Now only if he would sit on the potty with his pull-up or pamper off and not on!]

#B2S/B2B: Admissions

Today I feel like I’m in a Monopoly game.

No seriously, I do and it doesn’t make any sense…well, hey that’s my life. 

So I’m participating in Kludgly Mom’s “Back to School, Back to Blogging Challenge” and this week was week #1 for the challenge. The challenge, for me, started off well.  I did all the required “get your socks wet” pre-reading assignments.  I even did the first assignment - well sort of. The first assignment actually had two parts.  Part I was to conduct an 11-Point Inspection of your blog. Thank goodness someone had the bright idea to suggest everyone partner up.  [Thank you bright idea, on your toes person]. I had a great partner, she talked a hell of a lot, sneezed and left boogers on my blog, but she was great. [Okay, seriously ‘L’ – over @ A Writer’s Den – didn’t do that, but she was awesome and provided constructive criticism].

Part II of the assignment was to find a widget or plug-in that folks weren’t familiar with. So I searched and I searched.  I Googled key words – in hopes to find some spectacular and/or saucy widget or plug-in.  Sure I wanted to impress the crowd! Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything impressive or worthwhile [in my eyes – you know I’ve got 4  6 of them].  And yes, as you can imagine, there were some show offs, fancy pants, awesome bloggers that completed BOTH assignments! But not me! No, I completed one…and when Thursday approached I felt like I was standing on the board piece in the Monopoly Game that says “GO STRAIGHT TO JAIL”.

image via

So here I am sitting at my computer writing this admission,  eating a slice of week old bread, and washing it down with my saliva [um, so that was nasty]  and hoping to pick the right card the next go around. Wish me luck!

p.s. I was offered one phone call but took the 15 minute internet usage option as I figured I could reach more people this way. Oh, and did I mention there was extra credit work too? Yeah  - that Gigi is one tough cookie…but umm soo nooo. I didn’t do the extra credit either.

#b2sb2b

Now interviewing Mars…

Okay for starters, if you didn’t know…I’m a single mother, I am human, and I have desires. So again, I’m human and I have desires. AND suddenly after some years, I remembered that I do have desires. [smack upside the head].

Thus, I am now interviewing and seeking Mars!

When I think back, I think it was Monday when the meteor hit - down under!

I wondered:

Was it the graduate assistant that just returned to the office with his fantastic delectable island tan (he’s over the age of 32, if you were thinking otherwise)?

Was it running into an old boyfriend and his extra amazing phsique?

Was it my lunatic BFF (a guy) who wanted to tell me about how mein Milchshake holt der Verein alle Jungen…wait, I meant to say, he wanted to tell me about my “man aura” after watching some shmuck undress me with his eyes (wth…if my aura was that hot would I be single)?

Was it watching Chloe and Ronin interact on Y&R (yeah I know, don’t say it)?

Seriously? I have no clue…but what I do know is it is driving me loco. It’s like the flood gates have open.

Honestly, this revelation was nice the first day! But now – it just has to stop.

I have to get back to my “mommy” mode. I should not be having these thoughts and daydreams about sex and candy!

I’m no Samantha Jones

I’m an adult with a child for goodness sake.

GOD honestly can’t be trying to tell me something!

Is he?

If so…who’s next? Will candidate #4 please turn in your application packet?

But seriously – STOP IT BODY, STOP IT!!!

[image love: man w/bag, [www.fishweb.com/blog]

Hello, is anybody home?

Nothing like a good cup of coffee to ya on track!

Well here it is!
It's only been talked about on the news and radio for the past week or so.
I guess it registered in my brain a tad bit late?
The memo - snail mail
A little late, but I got it - now!

How did I get it?

I got it as I was playing a human game of "Frogger" in traffic this morning,
I got it again as I began to look for the parking spot I'd become accustom too for the last 2 months with no luck,
I got it as I the "tortoise" steadily walked to the office and the "hares" crossed my path...
Yep, not only did school start for the kiddies...but college classes started today.

Where, have I been? I thought I had at least two more days. I guess that's what happens when your body goes to work but your mind works from home - designing.

This journey...I wonder

In the winter, my aunt passed away suddenly – a blow and shocked to my entire family. Strangely her death haunts me.

A couple of months ago my step dad pass out and hit his head while at the Home Depot; he was taken to the emergency room – the doctors didn’t find much and he is still being observed.

A few weekends ago my mom woke up not feeling well and just laid in the bed most of the morning…something that’s not normal for her. At the start of the week she called her doctor, she found out she had a stroke.

Last week a blogger that I follow confessed some things about her life. Those “things” things exhibited reality.

A day ago I found out that a dear blogger received some heartbreaking news about her son…and to flat out post the news was courageous.

I then told this same person in response to her news this:

“Life is a journey - a very long journey. How we move along that journey is our own choice. During this journey we have good days and then we have so so days. The hardest days along the journey are those days that test our faith. Test our strength. These days are reminders to dig for inner peace and understanding...to weather the storm”.

Last night (and this morning) I thought about my response to her post and I thought: how I often wonder about my journey – where I’ve been and where I’m going…is my movement progressing or declining. To make it worse, I wonder even more with being responsible for someone else besides myself, because alone the journey alone was different and now with two its extra special and a tad bit more challenging.

So as each day passes I wonder.

I read my favorite blogs and I wonder about life and its process…others possible paths taken.

Who saw what and when or how?

Often I question myself on why I wonder? I guess that’s the human part of me? I know that we cannot plan our lives or destiny’s…but I still wonder.

I let my emotions get the best of me.  I question life.

I’m great at providing advice and lending an ear. But how do I transfer that advice into a part of my life or daily experiences when needed? Should I?

I pray for continued strength and clarity.

I can’t stop wondering.

I hope I travel a path less traveled and that my wondering about my journey doesn’t get the best of me.

I hope my journey will provide insight to my sons’ journey.

I pray that my path will encourage his path in a positive manner.

Time will tell…

After all, how I move along this journey called life…is my own choice.

almost two years later ...

and still an idiot.  
The conversation:

him: Mom and Pop are getting a new laptop with a webcam. Do you have a laptop with a webcam? I know that there's also Skpe. I was thinking for beeka's birthday that a webcam would be good.

me: A webcam? Ummm. Is this the conversation that I had with you almost two years ago - about viewing/talking on webcam due to the distance?

him: [no comment...silence]

me: so are you saying that if beeka has a birthday party no one in your family is planning on attending AGAIN THIS YEAR? Besides, my laptop is dead and has been for two months now - it's not a priority in my book.

him: oh, is he going to have a party? When would it be?

me: Well his birthday is in a few months and usually people have kids parties on the weekend! I think it's far enough in advance and being on a weekend someone could make it this time.

him: oh well you will have to let us know and we will see what we can do? But if you get a laptop maybe I can pay for the webcam?

me: [sigh]

him: is there a problem

me: Thanks, good bye. Have a good day.

[i hang up the phone]

me to myself: idot!

6 things I learned or have come to realize this week

...in no particular order (of course):

1. I still haven’t purchased a new laptop;
2. Organizing a move with a new addition is hard;
3. I’ve given Etsy all of my money…which is most likely a good thing;
4. I still have a fear of heights (slightly);
5. My 20 month old will take off his pull-up and diaper when it’s wet and refuse to tell me yes when he pee-pee or poo’s…but will run to his Grand dad and say pee-pee, poo, or potty; and
6. I probably shouldn’t have a glass of wine on Thursday because I wake up on Friday thinking it’s Saturday!

what if...

What if you had a superpower?

Because you just might.

 

Finally, a book designed to connect, inspire and encourage you to reconsider those attributes that make you unique, and reframe them as characteristics of distinction -- maybe even your superpowers.

Learn and grow:

"The Beauty of Different"

and follow Karen's blog here

Raise your hand...

If you spend more money on your kids than you do yourself! Right now I am raising my hand and not with joy or glee...well maybe. As I sit here and think about it, I question myself.  Have I gone one (1) week without buying my child something?  An article of clothing, clothes, reading + learning material, a  toy of some sort? Ummm, still thinking (as I whistle to myself)! Well I'm not sure if  I can answer that question. But what I can say is that my child has more things - clothing or you name it than I do!

Where is this all coming from you may ask?

Well...like I do each day, I checked my email and there it was an e-circular for the GAP. I sometime just delete or by-pass these but today, well I didn't. So I'm checking out the e-circular and there it is - a new collection from the GAP.  What are they calling this collection? Do I dare click on to learn more information? I do! There it is, the Hamptons Collection, oh and how cute! But is it really cute? Sure it is! It's for little boys - my beeka to be exact! And as usual, there's always something of interest or that I think my little one should have! So here are my must haves this week from the GAP's new Hamptons Collection. Enjoy!

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1. Blue Plaid Drivers Cap
2. Western Polo
3. Deep Sea Graphic Ringer T
4. Plaid Flat Front Shorts
5. Chamray Anorak
6. Striped Flip Flops

Are there any must haves on your list for your kids - things you can't live without them having or honestly, that you just want for no apparent reason? 

Weekend Yeah!!!!

Happy weekend everyone. It seems like this week was the slowest week ever! Well it's here and I don't have any major plans except for lunch with two colleagues - they want to see cupcake! Cupcake is what my one friend calls 'E'...yes I know! So we'll do lunch, possibly hit the playground (weather dependent) and do what we do every weekend - laundry (crappers).  I

If anyone's doing home improvements this weekend on the exterior of their home I suggest you don't do this:

 (source)

Otherwise, if your having a lazy weekend and can't seem to get out of the house due to the weather or sheer slackerness, check out some of my favorites this week (and always):

1. TROIKA NECKLACE by Babetteworld        
2. Nautical Hand Embroidered Eco Friendly Napkins by HouseJewels...because I'm reminiscing on the island and how we used to spend time on the boat on weekends
3. Bryant Park, ummmmmmmmm because it's my favorite and I pass by the same park every morning wishing to spend time or just a few days in the park (oh - and I'm going to plan a picnic for 'E' and his cousins @ the park really soon)
4. 31,468,386 Acts of Green and counting here...because we should celebrate Earth Day everyday!
5. and cake...who doesn't like cake? Honestly, I have to crave it to eat it...but I love Charm City Cakes.
6. Fabric portraits...Word? Yep! Nothinkg really new but this one is dreamy! (Source); and lastly
7. Akward family photos because it's just weird

the makings of a genius...

OR

at least that's what a colleague and 

close friends think! 

See the resemblance? What characters!!!

…Cleanliness is next to Godliness

Okay here's a weird one for you! Soap! What about soap you ask or wonder why this topic? Well, this morning in preparation for getting ready for the day I jumped in the shower which most people do. If you don't that’s your business! 

Anyway, as I showered I began to think about my soap and how it just wasn’t lathering very well and how I was annoyed because of it! I then thought about all the soaps that I’ve used – past to present. Let’s see there was Dial and Safeguard as I was growing up (yuck), then there was Lever 2000 and Pear soap…all compliments of dear mom.  Mmmm, I’ve also used Irish Spring (which is interesting in itself – good lather though), Dove soap, and some homemade Oatmeal, White Tea Herbal concoctions’.  

These days I am using Oil of Olay because it’s supposed to be so great, blah, blah, blah.  So then I thought again about my soap and its lack of lather and wondered why, just why aren’t you lathering? Is my soap failing me?  It’s bad enough I continually test various lotions!  Are the mechanics of my body getting horrible?  I know I am getting older…I mean wiser, but what gives?  Why do things such as this annoy me?  Showers in the AM are supposed to be refreshing and rejuvenating – they are supposed to jump start ones day!

I guess I shouldn’t complain or think too hard about it. I should just move on and test out a new soap – because it’s all about change, right?  As the old saying goes, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”! Well, really? Is it?

So the real question is: Is it just me or have others experienced the lack of lather? Any recommendations for a lustful lather? (Ignore the word lustful here…I think you get my drift!)

 

 

p.s Want to know where the phrase cleanliness is next to godliness came from…well there are tons of internet searches. Here’s one of many:

[CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS - "This ancient proverb is said by some to have come from ancient Hebrew writings. However, its first appearance in English - though in slightly altered form - seems to be in the writings of Francis Bacon. In his 'Advancement of Learning' (1605) he wrote: 'Cleanness of body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God.' Near two centuries later John Wesley in one of his sermons (1791) indicated that the proverb was already well known in the form we use today. Wrote Wesley: 'Slovenliness is no part of religion.' Cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness.'" From "Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, New York, 1977, 1988). There are a couple more details in "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" (1996) by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996): ".According to the fourteenth edition of 'Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,' it is an old Hebrew proverb used in the late 2nd century by Rabbi Phinehas ben-Yair. First attested in the United States in the 'Monthly Anthology and Boston Review' (1806). The proverb is found in varying forms."]


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Image Source(s): here