HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

THIS PHOTO IS A REPRESENTATION OF HOW I FEEL POST-BON JOVI!

Rock on Mom and Dad!

Brad scored us a couple of sweet seats for the Bon Jovi concert at the Prudential Arena tonight! We are very excited.

I have to admit that the experience is a little different from my younger days. Twenty years ago I lived in Philadelphia and going to a concert meant jumping in a cab or on the subway and cruising to the Philadelphia Spectrum. There was usually a large group of us and there was always lots of drinking and carousing involved. After the concert we would hit a few bars on South Street and stumble home at about 3 am.

Fast Forward. Brad gets the tickets from someone at work and calls me to ask if I'm interested. Am I? YES!!! Next step, snagging a babysitter who can watch my kids until midnight on a school night. Once that task is completed it's just a matter of having emergency contact numbers written down, dinner ready for the babysitter to serve and pjs laid out. Do I have something cool to wear? Not really, but a black tunic sweater and jeans should carry me through. (With funky earrings from Forever 21!)

Then I'll hop in my minivan and drive the speed limit up the Garden State Parkway to meet my husband. (Listening to talk radio the entire trip.)

We'll probably hit a Portuguese restaurant in the Iron Bound for some Paella and a little Sangria (but not too much-I have to drive home after all!)

Then we'll hit the stadium - and once Jon and the boys take the stage-watch out-this old lady is going to jam!!!! (Sort of.)

Goin' Ghosting!

The children are filled with excitement and anticipation. The candy bags are all labeled and loaded in the mini-van. Mom needs a drink, but can't because she is driving. The stage is set... Tonight-WE GHOST!

For those of you not familiar with this ritual, it's a Halloween variation on "Ring and Run" only instead of a flaming bag of dog shit-we leave a nice little bag of candy on the doorstep.

Hopefully we will complete our assignment without any major injuries. Friends have reported casualties during their ghosting missions, most resulting from falls down stairs and tripping over pumpkins. Wish us luck as we spread Halloween cheer throughout our community.

When the sun sets-we fly!!!!

"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin."

— Linus Van Pelt in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

PMS and Nutrition: A Case Study

This post is divided into two sections. PMS and Nutrition.

I'll start with PMS:

Those of you who have followed my blog for the past couple of months may be familiar with my general testiness and depression for a couple of days every four weeks. Well...It's that time of the month again (just in time for all the craziness Halloween brings) and according to my calendar-this little spell of emotional instability will fall right around Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. A little word of advice to any family members reading this. Please keep an industrial size bottle of Midol handy for my holiday visit this year!!! Anyway, this month I knew exactly what was going on when I started to feel extra sensitive and depressed-and I spared those in my path any of my venom by talking myself through it and realizing that my sanity would return within a day or so. Even though I know the cause, it still sucks feeling tired and bummed out for 48-72 hours every month!

Now onto the next topic: Nutrition.

My husband is convinced that my lack of energy and general nastiness once a month is associated with my lousy diet and massive intake of Diet Coke. He might be onto something. I good friend of mine who appears to be in great shape felt exhausted and short tempered by one o'clock every afternoon. She decided to see a nutritionist. Well, she tells me, the results have been nothing short of miraculous. she feels much more positive, has tons of energy and her body fat level has dropped dramatically. I don't know all the details-but she has cut out sugar and wheat, eats piles of leafy vegetables and drinks a special protein shake every morning. She says her nutritionist is expensive, but worth every penny. It really is FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

So, now in addition to cutting down on my spending, I need to work on eating healthier and cutting down on one of my favorite vices-THE BIG GULP! The quest for self improvement never ceases!!

How about you ladies and gent? Are you healthy eaters-or are you like me? Subsisting on a diet of Slimfast, pasta, McDonald's snack wraps and Swedish Fish?

If I can follow through with my goal I might need to change the title of my blog to:
"Carrot Court" The veggie, wheat germ and protein shake fueled existence of a tennis loving mom who hates to shop!

"Nutrition makes me puke."

-Jimmy Piersall

Halloween "Action!"

My scar would look really hot in this ensemble <<<<<<<

President of the Omega House >>>>

Okay-so last night I made yet another trip to THE FRICKIN' MALL to accessorize my girls' Halloween costumes. I found myself back in the hellacious "Spirits" Halloween store. It must have been Greek night. All the sorority sisters and frat boys from the local university were trying on costumes for the big Halloween mixer Saturday night. Their goal was quite obvious, to get laid.

The girls were all squeezing into slutty nurse and french maid outfits. The boys were showing off their muscles in gladiator and cowboy costumes. Frat parties are wild enough under normal circumstances, throw in some sexy costumes with the shooters and jello shots and watch out!!

I can only imagine the walks of shame home on Sunday morning. There is no way to disguise the previous night's debauchery when you're strutting cross campus in a Catwoman outfit Sunday morning at 9 am. (Trust me, I know)

Those days were tons of fun-but I prefer my own version of "Animal House," my frat boy husband, two very loud and wild daughters, two destructive dogs, and the amazing incontinent cat!

"Is sex dirty? Only if it's done right."

- Woody Allen

A pound of flesh...

As usual-this is not me-just another fool who skipped the sunblock.










Okay people-since Halloween is almost here I thought I'd gross you out and scare you at the same time.

This is the ghost of sunburns past-stopping by to haunt you! "WEAR YOUR SUNBLOCK-STAY OUT OF THE SUN! GO SEE YOUR DERMATOLOGIST FOR A BODY CHECK!!!!"

I'm one of those Irish-German people who sunburns. For many years I roasted in the sun with my darker skinned cronies. Now I'm paying the price. My dermatologist biopsied a dysplastic nevi on my rib area and it had some abnormal cells soooo, I had to get sliced and diced yesterday. He took a big chunk of skin and now I have 17 nasty looking stitches! Everything looks to be fine-but it's ugly and it hurts! Good news is I have to rest-and my husband has been helping out. Bad news-no tennis for a week!

Trust me-a savage tan is NOT worth it.

(A little flashback: We were not allowed to read Merchant of Venice in High School because our Board of Education thought it was Anti-Semitic)

Pound of flesh

Meaning
Something which is owed that is ruthlessly required to be paid back.

Origin
This of course derives from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, 1596. The insistence by Shylock of the payment of Antonio's flesh is the central plot device of the play:

SHYLOCK:
The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is deerely bought, 'tis mine, and I will haue it.

The figurative use of the phrase to refer to any lawful but nevertheless unreasonable recompense dates to the late 18th century.

Things that make you go hmmm....

Apparently I'm behind the times on this one, this story has been out for a few days.
Whaddya think? Seems a bit fishy. That other woman's book is awfully similar!

Jessica Seinfeld's recipes stir up plagiarism accusations

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Friday, October 19th 2007, 4:00 AM

Rush & Molloy: Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook publisher is steamed at accusations that her recipes are another writer's leftovers."

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Jessica Seinfeld

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Jessica Seinfeld 's cookbook publisher is steamed at accusations that her recipes are another writer's leftovers.

Seinfeld's new "Deceptively Delicious," about hiding healthy ingredients in foods children will eat, is already the best-selling book in the country, with print runs of 2.5 million through January.

But chef and baby-products mogul Missy Chase Lapine came out in April with a book, "The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals." Lapine baked her spinach brownies with Al Roker on the "Today" show; Seinfeld shared her spinach brownies with Oprah on that show last week.

Mothers on Oprah.com and parenting sites have noted similarities after perusing the puree-spattered pages of both. Some wondered whether the wealthy Seinfeld didn't have cooks who helped cook up her recipes.

Seinfeld writes about having an epiphany that, "While I was cooking dinner, pureeing butternut squash for the baby and making mac and cheese for the rest of us, I had the crazy idea of stirring a little of the puree into the macaroni. ... The colors matched -you couldn't really see the squash in there -and the texture was perfect."

Lapine, who founded the Baby Spa natural products line, writes: "If you want to hide something in macaroni and cheese, you have to match the color of the dish. You could easily introduce white bean puree in the mac and cheese."

Seinfeld and Lapine both have recipes for mashed potatoes with hidden cauliflower, grilled cheese with secret sweet potatoes, green eggs made with pureed baby spinach, and carrot-laced tacos.

Lapine stayed hidden herself when we called, but Craig Herman, an executive at her publisher, Running Press, said ominously: "I won't be able to comment until next week."

But Seinfeld's publisher, Steve Ross, was buoyant as he noted that Collins U.S. had six printing presses going full time to keep up with demand and told us: "Jessica Seinfeld's work is completely and entirely original and stems from her own personal experience cooking for her own three children and husband. We all know children will see healthy food and run in the other direction. We have full confidence in the originality of Jessica's recipes. We have been involved in creating the content of this book for almost two years."

Ross did admit that Lapine's agent had submitted her book to them "in May of 2006, but it was rejected." The parent HarperCollins imprint had yet another book in the genre, "Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children," Ross explained.

As for whether Seinfeld actually toils over a hot stove, Ross said: "Well, I can tell you that she cooked [mac and cheese and meatballs] for us, and it was delicious. And we've heard from Jerry that he's been a guinea pig."

A spokesman for Seinfeld said, "She admits she didn't invent pureeing. But she never saw the [Lapine] book. And she worked really hard on hers."

Now check this out!

You can find this book at Amazon.com.

You can read all about Missy Chase Lapine at The Sneaky Chef.com.










THIS IS TRULY AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE!

Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are!!!

Psst. Hey, you-the one checking out my blog.

I know you're out there! I have Sitemeter!!! I see you've paid me a visit from places like Palatine, Illinois, Cheshire, Connecticut and College Grove, Tennessee.

Why do you visit without saying hello? I know I seem a bit rough around the edges, but if you get to know me I'm a very nice person! Don't be shy..leave a comment!

Hello! Hello!! Are you still there?

Shit! I think I scared her away!!!!

Women with guts!!!!

Female Journalists to Be Awarded

Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho arrives to the airport in Cancun, Mexico, Wed...

By MORGAN LEE, AP
11 hours ago

MEXICO CITY —

She set out to expose a pedophile ring in Cancun, naming the rich and powerful she says were involved, and became a journalism sensation after she was abducted by police, allegedly at the behest of a state governor.

Lydia Cacho peered into Cancun's underworld and came up with a stinging indictment not only of the alleged abusers, but of powerful friends and politicians she says did little or nothing to stop a prominent businessman accused of luring poor girls in the Caribbean resort to his home so that he and his friends could have sex with them.

Two years after the publication of her book "The Demons of Eden" in Mexico, Cacho's fight against those who would silence her is now before Mexico's Supreme Court.

On Tuesday, she collects a Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women's Media Foundation in New York _ a tribute to her bravery in reporting on women's and children's rights.

Courage in Journalism Awards are also going to Serkalem Fasil, of Ethiopia, and six Iraqi women journalists of McClatchy's Baghdad bureau: Huda Ahmed, Shatha al Awsy, Sahar Issa, Alaa Majeed, Zaineb Obeid and Ban Adil Sarhan.

Fasil was jailed for her work at a newspaper that published articles critical of the Ethiopian government during May 2005 elections and gave birth to a child before her release in April. The McClatchy winners work in the most dangerous country in the world for journalists, where they and their families have been targeted for their work.

Cacho, 44, who also writes for a women's news service and Dia Siete magazine, says her profession is under assault across much of Mexico, where the media face intimidation and violence from organized crime and pressure from political kingpins.

In "The Demons of Eden," Cacho chronicled the exploits of Cancun businessman Jean Succar Kuri, who awaits trial on charges of child pornography and child sexual abuse after being extradited from the U.S. after his arrest during a traffic stop in Arizona in 2004. Succar Kuri has denied the charges.

The case became a sensation with the release of audio tapes featuring Puebla state Gov. Mario Marin and a businessman plotting the jailing of Cacho, who was whisked away from Cancun in December 2005 by a caravan of out-of-state police without explanation and verbally abused as she was driven to a prison 900 miles away. She later was charged with libel and released on bail the day after her arrest.

Mexicans were outraged by the secretive, backslapping conversations between the governor and Puebla businessman about silencing a whistle blower.

Since then, libel charges have been dismissed, and the Supreme Court has intervened to investigate Cacho's accusations against Marin and other top state officials for abuse of power, influence peddling and violating her human rights.

Cacho hopes the Supreme Court will open the door for Congress to strip Marin of the legal immunity he enjoys as governor.

The Inter American Press Association says Mexico has become one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists. At least seven journalists have been killed across the country in the last year.

"It's having an arctic chilling effect on small papers in drug infested areas," said George Grayson, a Mexico expert at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.

Analysts say Cacho's case played a role in the decision to wipe criminal penalties for defamation from the books and make it a civil offense only.

Cacho says her book became a gut-wrenching trade-off.

"It's a paradox," she said. "It's a book that nearly cost me my life and suddenly it's allowed me to also put certain subjects on the table and the doors have opened for me."

“A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done.”

-Marge Piercy (American novelist, essayist, and poet)

The times they are a changin'!

This is not my niece, it's just an example of what I saw a lot of this weekend!

I returned last night from an activity filled weekend at my sister's house. My 14 year old niece had a "Scavenger Hunt" birthday party at the Annapolis Mall Saturday night and I chaperoned a group of four girls. I know we were a little wild when I was in eighth grade, but things are definitely different 28 years later. First of all, we didn't have picture phones and digital cameras. We also didn't have computers with video conferencing. Another modern innovation that we didn't have is Facebook and My Space. Thanks to all these wonderful inventions, a requirement of being a teenage girl is the ability to pose at the drop of a hat. There are a few different poses they have all perfected. There's the coquette pose, mouth open head turned to the side hand up to mouth as if to say "oooh naughty!" The other one is the sideways peace sign with pursed lips, and finally there is the head tilted tongue out to the side pose. Since I served as photographer as well as chaperon for my group, I think I saw the entire repertoire of pouts and poses at least 200 times in the span of one hour.

All in all the party was a success. My group won the scavenger hunt, no thanks to me! I thought I was in pretty good shape until I tried to keep up with a group of hyped up teenage girls. They had to keep doubling back and waiting for me. I was definitely feeling my age.

On Sunday I asked my niece what she would like to do. Her answer, what else? Go to the mall!!! This time I took my 8 year old daughter and my 10 year old niece along for the ride. I won't get into all the gory details, but I have to comment on Hollister. Until yesterday I was a "Hollister Virgin." I've walked by the store many times, but never actually ventured in. Well, when I walked past those gray shuttered doors I half expected to see cocktail waitresses and a dance floor. It was very dark and the music was blaring. I felt like I was on Spring Break! It was so crowded and loud, however, that I started to feel claustrophobic and had to get the hell out of there! Perhaps they should serve the over-40 crowd cocktails to help make the whole experience a little more tolerable! There's a great New York Times article about the current trend in stores targeted towards teens, it's very interesting. (I'll paste a link at the end of this posting!) ***


I got my reward at the end of our mall journey when the girls threw me a bone and let me cruise around Williams Sonoma for awhile. I left with a fabulous Nespresso Aeroccino Automatic Milk Frother which I gave to my sister for her birthday!

I finally managed to get my kids loaded in the car by five to make the trek back to Jersey. It took us 6 1/2 hours to get home. Nothing tops off a weekend at the mall better than sitting in bumper to bumper traffic with two kids screaming, 'I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!!!"

How was your weekend?

Are We Shopping? Is This a Store?; Newest Mall Chains Forgo Displays for Townhouse Look and Shack Chic (November 1, 2006)

The young always have the same problem - how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another.

~Quentin Crisp

I am out of the office...

I will be out of the office until Monday, October 22nd. I'm off on yet another Southern Living at HOME business trip. Wish me well as I travel to my sister's home in Maryland to sell housewares to her friends and neighbors!

I didn't list it in my profile, but I am a "Professional Partier." It's not easy to calculate tax and shipping after four glasses of wine, but somehow I manage to persevere.

Time to hit the Jersey Turnpike. Have a great weekend!

Brain Poison

Why, oh why do I feel compelled to spend my family's hard earned money, money that could be invested in my children's education, or retirement, or more tennis lessons, why do I squander it on magazines whose covers read "Celebrity Cellulite", "Plastic Surgery Nightmares" or "Hollywood's Best and Biggest Bellies and Butts!"? (How's that for a run-on sentence?) But I digress.

Please be gentle when you explain to me why I need to see a microscopic spot of cellulite on Courtney Cox's thigh, or Demi Moore's wrinkly knees. I'm a sick woman. The good news is, I recognize my problem and that, my friend, is the first step to recovery. In front of god and my audience in blogland, I take this solemn vow. From now until the end of the year 2007 I will not purchase any tabloid publication, including but not limited to, The Star, The National Enquirer, The National Examiner, Life & Style, and The Globe. If you see me at the checkout counter, reaching for one of these toxic rags, give me a pinch. Believe me, I'll thank you for it.


Writer's clarification: My solemn vow does not include People Magazine, US Weekly or Entertainment Weekly. I'm not that strong.

"The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw."

-Havelock Ellis

A wonderful trip to Chuck E. Cheese (A true story)

Catherine and I were running errands the yesterday. As we pulled into the parking lot of a local strip mall she spotted the Chuck E. Cheese (as she always does) and begged to go in. As usual, I refused. She would not let up. Sucker that I am, I started to feel bad, so I glanced in the front window and to my delight, the place was empty. If there was any time to go to Chuck E. Cheese, this was it. I drew the line in the sand. We would play a few games and then continue with our scheduled tasks. She agreed.

Normally I consider an outing with the Chuckster a complete nightmare. It's so loud, the music is blaring, the games are clanging, the kids are shrieking. Invariably some overweight 10 year old plows one of my kids over while charging around in a pizza and soda induced frenzy.

And the cost? Fugetaboutit! You can't get out of there without dropping $50. Not this time. For $4 we played sixteen games. I got to shoot baskets, Catherine played Wac-a-Mole, the Bee Game, Skee-Ball. She went in the car with Chuck E. It was actually fun. When it was time to go we took her 50 tickets and got a squishy pink and green caterpillar. We both left happy. Wow.

My suggestion. If you have to to to Chuck E. Cheese, hit it on a Friday at two in the afternoon with one child. It's the only way to keep your sanity and avoid a three day Chuck E. Cheese migraine.


Here's the educational party of my post: If you are interested in the evolution of Chuck E. Cheese hit the link. He was a rat, but has evolved into a mouse. It's a fascinating journey, you don't want to miss.

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

- Dr. Seuss

Halloween DUMMIES...

The following article relates to my posting on October 10th entitiled"HalloWEENIES." I believe in freedom of expression, but enough is enough. Use some discretion people! I love the comment from the woman who decorates her house with dead people. She basically states, "So your ancestors were lynched, you have to get over it!!!" Unreal. And check out the look on her face in the photo. She looks like a reasonable person. NOT!

Family, under pressure, removes its hanged dummy

Display brought two days of turmoil to Madison

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

BY MELISSA CASTRO

Star-Ledger Staff

Chesla Flood couldn't believe her eyes. A hangman's noose circled the neck of a black-hooded, jeans-clad dummy suspended from the chimney of a house in Madison.

Flood called her mother, Millie Hazlewood, who reported the Halloween display to police. She wasn't the only one. Police went to the property at least three times starting Sunday, and even the mayor asked the homeowners to take down the figure.

At 8 last night, the family relented, saying they feared for their safety.

"It's no more like freedom of speech anymore," Cheryl Maines said. "My son had to take this down because these people have blown this thing out of proportion."

Before the figure was removed yesterday, Madison Mayor Ellwood "Woody" Kerkeslager said "the appearance and the suggestion (of racism) is there, and it's inappropriate."

At least four recent noose displays -- one each in Jena, La., and Philadelphia and two in New York City -- are drawing renewed attention to a potent symbol of racism, lynchings and the era of Jim Crow segregation.

Unlike those incidents, the Madison figure was part of a Halloween display, and for two days, homeowners Cheryl and David Maines, the borough's superintendent of public works, refused to budge. They said they had done nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People denounced the display as offensive, racist and insensitive.

"I think there are many people who understand the significance of a noose as it relates to the history of African-Americans," said James Harris, president of the NAACP's state chapter. "We thought we lived beyond the era when people felt it was okay to have that type of display."

Last night, the Maines family said they would be replacing their Halloween display and erecting a sign reading: "Thanks to the assistance of Millie Hazlewood and her friends, Halloween and Christmas decorations will no longer be celebrated here."

BLURRED LINES

The incident revived the persistent question of what is entertaining and what is offensive.

"The lines have all been blurred, and people push the limits just to see how far we can go" to shock each other, said James Farrelly, a Halloween expert and professor of Irish studies at the University of Dayton. But Farrelly, a Newark native, said, "I don't know if we have a blank check to celebrate this by putting out our own sense of what we think is evil or might scare people."

D.J. Maines, the 27-year-old son of Cheryl and David Maines, has bedecked the house for seven Halloweens using $5,000 worth of decorations he has collected. He has used the hanging dummy each year, but usually it is partially hidden by other decorations.

George Martin, a deacon at the First Baptist Church, which Hazlewood attends, said the noose evoked personal memories of terror and loss growing up in the South in the 1950s and 1960s. He said he lost his great-uncle to a lynching in South Carolina. His father watched his uncle and a friend die in a lynching, he said.

"It's the same imagery we saw as young people -- black faces, dungarees and ropes around the body and neck," said Martin, who is also a member of the district board of education.

Cheryl Maines said she was not swayed by Martin's personal history.

"Don't bring your ancestors into this -- it's something that happened; you've got to get beyond it or you're going to make yourself sick," she said.

Madison police checked with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether the noose display was illegal or could be ordered down, according to police records. Two assistant prosecutors and a detective reviewed the matter and answered no to both questions.

In New York, politicians, community leaders and activists are calling for a law that would make it a felony to use a noose to harass or play a prank. State Sen. Eric Adams and New York City leaders gathered Sunday on the steps of Columbia Teachers College to call for the stiffer penalty on noose incidents.

10 Questions

Candace from Not that I don't love my kids tagged me. I love this one!

Benard Pivot's questionnaire made famous by Inside the Actor's Studio's James Lipton...

What is your favorite word? transcendence
What is your least favorite word? should
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally] honesty, humor, flexibility
What turns you off? complaining
What is your favorite curse word? fuck, followed by asshole and douchebag
What sound or noise do you love? Catherine laughing
What sound or noise do you hate? whining
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Talk radio host
What profession would you not like to do? Port-O-Potty Cleaner
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "Let me show you our tennis courts."

I tag...who else?

Tickled Pink & Green
Counting to 3
Peyton Place

I can't wait to see what you have to say!

A funny little meme:

A friend of mine sent me this one: If you're reading this I tag YOU!

1. Your rock star name: (first pet, current car) Poppy Sienna. I think I'm going to make that official.

2. Your gangster name: (favorite ice cream, favorite cookie) Rocky Road Pizzelle. "Don't f-with the Rock!"

3. Your fly guy/girl name: (first initial first name, first 3 letters last name) - JJill You. (JJill is in da house!)

4. Your detective name: (favorite color, favorite animal) Blue Dog.
(Kind of a cool name for a bakery or restaurant)

5. Your soap opera name: (middle name, birth city) Patricia Jersey City. (Is that the janitor on General Hospital?)

6. Your Star Wars name (first three letter last name, first 2 letter of first name): You Ji. The famous intergalactic karate instructor.

7. Superhero Name: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink and add "the") The Pink Mojito.
I can picture it now, clad from head to toe in tight pink leather, fighting crime and mixing drinks.


If you'd like to try a Pink Mojito, here is the recipe:

1 ½ oz. light rum
1 tsp. white sugar
1 lime
1 sprig mint
lemon-lime soda

Put the sprig of mint in a tumbler, add sugar, and juice lime. Throw in lime rind. Then, muddle everything. If a wooden muddler is available, use that. Otherwise, use the back of a bar spoon. Then, fill with ice. Pour rum over ice and fill glass with Sprite. Give it one stir with a short straw. Garnish with lime.

For a pink mojito, add a splash of cranberry juice after adding the rum but before pouring the Sprite. The ladies (well just one lady) love this. The taste of the cranberry juice will be practically nonexistent. It's just for color.

8. Nascar name (first names of your grandfathers): Eddy George. (Sponsored by who else? Target and Diet Coke!)

9. Stripper Name: (favorite perfume, favorite candy): Calyx Skor. (Who works at Scores!)

10. Witness Protection Name: (mother's and father's middle name): Jane Francis (HO HUM)

I've been MAN tagged!

Clemson Girl and the Coach tagged me.

Check the bottom-you might be next!

1. Who is your man?
The dude I'm married to and father of my children-BSY.
<< Here he is on vacation, relaxed and far, far away from my messy closet!

2. How long have you been married?
Since July 18th, 1998 at approximately 5:48 pm.

3. How long dated? Dated Dated 2 1/2 years, engaged 7 months.

4. How old is your man? 41 and 2 months

5. Who eats more? More what? Meat-him Candy-Me

6. Who said "I love you" first? We said it at the same time. (I guess.)

7. Who is taller? My man

8. Who sings better? I'd say me-he's tell you he is.

9. Who is smarter? His brand of smarts are much more marketable than mine. (How's that for an answer?)

10. Whose temper is worse? Let's just say, if I buy any more Webkinz I'll be out on my ass! :)

11. Who does the laundry? I do the full cycle. Wash, dry fold, put away. He throws colors and whites in together-puts sweaters in the dryer and then throws it all on the bed. (Does that count?)

12. Who takes out the garbage? I am the garbage woman in my house.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
He did until about 2 days ago when he told me he wants to switch. It feels weird-but it keeps our marriage lively!!! ; )

14. Who pays the bills? He brings home the bacon and I distribute it.

15. Who is better with the computer? Him definitely, he's a computer whiz, but I do just fine for myself.

16. Who mows the lawn? He used to - until I decided to surprise him and do it myself. I realized I love it-so now we both do it.

17. Who cooks dinner? Boston Market. (kidding) He's an awesome cook, but most of the time I do it.

18. Who drives when you are together? We both want to but he usually does. (But I'm almost always the designated driver when we go to parties.)

19. Who pays when you go out? We pay from our joint marriage account. We're equal partners, remember?!

20. Who is most stubborn? My husband. Now that I'm into the Tao-I bend like a Palm Tree in a storm. (yeah right!)

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Neither.

22. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine. Unfortunately his both his parents are deceased.

23. Who kissed who first? He tackled me and laid a wet one on me. (kidding) He kissed me first-and I jumped right in.


24. Who asked who out? He did-even though his best friend was hitting on me. He stepped right in front of him and went for it.

25. Who proposed? He did-with a diamond ring on the Christmas Tree.

26. Who is more sensitive? My husband is more sensitive to getting his feelings hurt. (But he's also much more subtle and tactful-he is very aware of other people's feelings.)

27. Who has more friends? I'd have to say me. I make friends while he's working to pay the bills. Sometimes I fix him up with my friend's husbands.

28. Who has more siblings? It's a tie. We both have 2.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? I'm trying to let him think he is.


I tag:

Rhonda from Counting to 3
Tickled Pink & Green
Candace from It's not that I don't love my kids
Peyton Place

As Martha would say..."It's a Good Thing!"

Have you stumbled upon Stumble Upon? If you haven't you should! It's really neat. Sign up for a free account, choose your interests, download the toolbar and click away. When you click on the "Stumble!" icon a random website will appear-each one is so interesting!


Try it and tell me what you think!

Mea Culpa

I made a mistake last night. I found something really gross on the web and posted it on my blog.

I just looked again and I was appalled-so I deleted it. I hope I didn't offend or freak out any of you lovely people. Thanks for your understanding.




"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."

-Elbert Hubbard

My grandchildren

I already know the names of my grandchildren-(who will all be girls!) They are as follows:
Angel, Stella, Sally, and Flower. Just wanted you to know.

MRS. Clean and Green

This is for all you Happy Housewives out there. I'm still working getting on my rug. (You might recall my cat pee situation.) Anyway, I'm always looking for ways to clean my carpets and I came across this website. There are some great suggestions in here and they are all natural which is a bonus.

I like this one. I'll never do it, but I like it:
Spin-Fresh Bathroom Deodorizer
Add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil to the inside of the cardboard toilet tissue roll. With each turn, fragrance is released into the room.

How about this classic suggestion: Simply light a match for a few moments or burn a candle (scented or unscented). The flame from either will "eat-up" bad smelling gases in the air.

I remember in college everyone I know had a pack of matches on the back of their toilet. Yeah, yeah, you don't have to say it...too much information!

After you read this you'll want to go to Costco and buy white vinegar and baking soda in bulk. Not as much fun as going to Nordstrom, but think of how proud you'll be to have sparkling clean floors and a garbage disposal that smells like lemon and eucalyptus!

I know what you're thinking and yes, housework is my life.

We're in good company-SORT OF!

I came upon this while surfing the net: Some of them are pretty much commercials for whatever that particular celeb is selling: i.e. Mary-Kate and Ashley and some (Zach Braff, Julia Sweeney, Rosie O'Donnell) are really interesting!

66 Celebrities that Blog

1. Wil Wheaton
2. Bill Maher
3. David Beckham
4. Alec Baldwin
5. Zach Braff
6. Mark Cuban
7. No Doubt
8. Moby
9. Meredith Viera
10. Fred Durst
11. Barbra Striesand
12. Jeff Bridges
13. Lily Allen
14. John Mayer
15. Rosie O’Donnell
16. Margaret Cho
17. Dave Barry
18. Jamie Oliver
19. William Shatner
20. Ant
21. Alyssa Milano
22. Alyssa Milano’s baseball blog
23. Dave Navarro
24. Julia Sweeney
25. Lisa Whelchel
26. Donald Trump
27. Tom Green
28. Kevin Smith
29. Mariska Hargitay
30. Adam Curry
31. David Byrne
32. Kasim Sultan
33. Susan Powter
34. Curt Schilling
35. Anna Kournikova
36. Bob Mould
37. Roseanne
38. Kanye West
39. Billy Morrison
40. Jason Mraz
41. Elisha Cuthbert’s Hockey Blog
42. Tori Amos
43. Kathy Griffin
44. MC Hammer
45. Flea
46. Pamela Anderson
47. Bobby Rivers
48. John Cusack
49. Elyse Sewell
50. Adrienne Curry
51. Al Roker
52. Brian Williams
53. The Dixie Chicks
54. Anderson Cooper
55. Thomas Dolby
56. Dane Cook
57. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen
58. Victoria Beckham
59. Tori Spelling
60. Bare Naked Ladies
61. Neil Young
62. Deepak Chopra
63. Jenna Elfman
64. Jamie Lee Curtis
65. Michael Moore
66. Tommy LaSorda

I've gone Pink!

I've gone pink to remind you that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are many things you can do to help support this very worthy cause. Please check out this link:

Pinkforoctober.org

The most important thing you can do is to give yourself a breast exam. (Or if you want to make it fun have your husband do it!) If you are over 40 have a mammogram every year. I do it. Last year I had a little scare when they discovered microcalcifications in my left breast. (These can indicate abnormal cell activity.) I've gone back for follow ups and everything looks good. If this had been a problem I would have caught it early and the treatment would have been very quick and easy. (Sheryl Crow is an example of someone who had microcalcifications and caught her cancer before it caused any problems.)

A friend of mine just raised $7,000 in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. She discovered she had Stage II breast cancer last year. The following year was hell for her, double mastectomy, radiation, chemo. The good news is, she is in remission! If she hadn't gone in for her mammogram she would be dead now, no doubt.

Please join me in educating yourself about the multiple issues related to Breast Cancer, then take that newfound knowledge and tell someone else what you’ve learned. It could save a life!

Do you remember these? If you're anywhere near forty I'm sure you do! They're called Klackers but also go by: Clackers, Klick-Klacks, Whackers, Ker-Knockers, Whack'os, Bangers, Poppers, Bonkers, Clack Clacks, K-Nokkers, Mini Poppers, Rockers, Super Clackers, Whak Kos, Quick Klacks, Quick Clacks, Quick Wacks, Zonkers, Popper Knockers, Crackers, Wackers, Knockers and various other names. (Like I'm going to let my kid play with a Knocker, Banger or Whacker!!!) If the perverted names aren't enough, how about giving your child two GLASS balls attached to nylon strings that you are supposed to bang together at a high rate of speed?!

Growing up in the seventies, my friends and I all had them Luckily the worst thing that happened to me was getting hit in the tooth HARD. I still remember the pain.

I didn't have brothers, but apparently there is a strong similarity between this toy and a South American hunting weapon called a bolo. Used in this capacity the Klacker was extremely effective as a weapon and many a young child was rushed to the emergency room after getting clocked by a flying Klacker.

The most common injury, however, were the eye injuries caused by the exploding shrapnel when these babies shattered.

So toss out those Klackers and get your kids some lead covered Polly Pockets...YAY!!!

A whole new world...

I didn't mention this in my last post, but between dinner and the movie on "date night" Brad and I hit our local Barnes & Noble for a chai latte and so I could get a book on my favorite new hobby, blogging!

There wasn't much of a selection so I had to choose between "Blogging for Dummies" and "THE ROUGH GUIDE to Blogging." THE ROUGH GUIDE won by a landslide!

I started my blog is August and was pretty much clueless about the ins and outs of blogging. I've been learning as I go and with "a little help from my friends." This guide has helped me to understand aspects of blogging I never knew existed. There are sections on RSS tools as well as getting on blog review sights such as The Weblog Review and Blog of the Day.

(If you've had your blog reviewed you are braver than me!)

There is also a really helpful section on Blog search engines and portals such as Technorati and Feedster.

Another section that I love is the author's blogroll of his favorite blogs. These are the gold standard of blogs. Check out these two blogs by moms: Greek Tragedy and Dooce. There is an entire list of food blogs, art blogs, knitting blogs, you name it!

THE ROUGH GUIDE to Blogging is only $12.99. This blogger gives it two thumbs way up.

“Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.”

- Sarah Caldwell

Raw fish and raw humor...

Brad and I had our long awaited date night last night. We went out to one of our favorite sushi restaurants and then we saw "The Heartbreak Kid" with Ben Stiller. The movie got terrible reviews, but we decided to go anyway because the Farrelly Brothers always make us laugh. (Their other films include, There's Something About Mary; Dumb and Dumber; Kingpin; Me, Myself and Irene; and Shallow Hal).

As you probably know, this film is a remake of the 1972 movie directed by Elaine May. The Farrelly Brother's take on the story is nowhere near as good as the original, but it is funny. (If you like frat boy humor.) Jerry Stiller (Ben's real life Dad) plays his 77 year old horny, foul mouthed father in the movie. He alone is worth the price of admission. Some of his lines had me chuckling to myself later that night as I went to sleep.

If you haven't seen the original Heartbreak Kid with Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd, rent it. Here's a snippet from Amazon.com:

It's still one of the most accomplished--but least recognized--comedies of the 1970s. Charles Grodin landed one of his best roles as Lenny, a newlywed husband who meets a gorgeous blonde (Cybill Shepherd) while on his honeymoon, and finds his new bride, Lila (played by May's daughter, Jeannie Berlin), unappealing by comparison. When Lila is forced to rest with a severe case of sunburn, Lenny's free to pursue his new interest, oblivious to the manipulative games that he'll soon be subjected to. May and screenwriter Simon draw plenty of pain, awkwardness, and embarrassment from hilarious situations, giving this comedy a perceptive awareness of human foibles and unchecked desires. It's a newlywed's worst nightmare come true, made enjoyable because we're watching it happen to someone else. Grodin's a prime choice of casting for expressing the movie's lusty anxiety--he's a schmuck, but you can still sympathize with the anguish he's brought on himself.

If you and your husband are up for a night of brainless, immature humor, this is the flick for you!

You've gotta LOVE it!

I played my first World Team Tennis match today, it was so much fun! The matches are played like regular tennis, only you can substitute players if someone is "off."

If you don't play tennis I won't bore you with the details. What I will do is try to convince you to take up the sport. It really is an awesome game. I see people in their eighties and nineties who still play. I've met some of my best friends through my leagues and teams and it keeps me in shape. (I should mix it up a little with running or swimming, but there are only so many hours in a day!) Your assignment for the week. Call your local tennis club and sign up for lessons or a beginners league. Trust me...you'll thank me. The outfits are so cute and so are the teaching pros!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

A friend of mine told me about this web-site. Check it out it's hilarious. (To those who haven't been scammed by any of these guys.) We had a good time searching towns and people we know.) (My friend is a working mom-so don't accuse me of being a SAHM with too much time on my hands!! :)

Anyway-one of my neighbors is on it, a guy we used to hang out with in our twenties who is now 46 and living the single life is on it...but the BEST is a guy we went to high school with. He was quite a conniver back then and it seems now he's making a living at it!
Bachelorette #1 says:

Fit and Trim, dark haired charmer, Metro-sexual, seductive, very attractive, sweet talking, dude.

This guy will lie about anything and everything. He lies about his age, his work status, his history, his whole entire life. He has a 17 year old daughter and will fail to tell you that until you are hooked. He scams women out of money by seducing them and then telling a story that he has had identity theft and needs to be on your credit cards and borrow money. Currently he owes one ex girlfriend over 100k and the other over 30k. He literally lies about everything under the sun for no reason. Do not get sucked in by this very attractive guy's charm and good looks. He is very, very, very ill and needs psychological treatment for his pathological lieing, drug use and alcoholism.

Do not get involved.

Bacherlorette #2 had this to say:

--- will tell you he is about 4 years younger than he is. We were in a relationship for 3 years and I didn't know his real age until a year after we broke up and his ex-fiance and I met and she told me about it. He is a very ill with the disorder of pathological lieing. He knows this is an illness of his and I believe he is finally getting help for his disorder and his alcohol and drug problem. He claims to have gone to rehab recently. He has a teenage daughter and he will tell you her mother is a nightmare and the truth is that ---- is such a partier, man about town throughout his daughter's life that he has never really been there for her. He owes at least 3 women a total of about 125k (yes you read that right.) He is deeply in debt, is jobless right now and borrows money from all the women he seduces by making up elaborate stories about things that make you feel sorry for him. Because he is physically attractive and so good at lieing women literally end up giving him money and helping him. He will never pay it back as he is addicted to debt and sabotages his own life by running up credit cards and shopping and dining out when he has no money and owes money to people everywhere. He was recently fired for dishonesty at work and also evicted from his apartment building and owes the rental company over 20k. He will tell you that his parents are terrible people that he doesn't get along with when really they have been frustrated for years with his lieing and have a life full of drama from which they always have to bail him out. He is 44 years old, a drug addict, a guy who can't get out of bed before 10AM everyday, lies 24/7 and needs serious psychological and psychiatric help. He is a good man deep down somewhere in there but he is very sick. He continues to attach to women and sucking them dry rather than facing his own problems and getting clean, sober, together and owning up to his responsibilities in life. I hope he gets the help he needs and maybe by the time he is 50 he can have a decent life for himself. Do not get sucked into this guy....you will regret it.


And finally, the not-so-merry widow:

I too had the experience of being taken by -----. I am a widow who had the misfortune of befriending him. Once he learned of what my husband had left me in life insurance he started sucking me dry. He was a charmer who first talked me into buying stock and building my portfolio. To this date I have not seen the certificates. He talked me into getting him a cell phone...lease a car and to getting him credit cards. He told me he would pay me each month for the cell and he would pay for the car and he wanted the credit card bills sent to his residence so that he could handle himself. The car was repossessed and he had numerous parking tickets into the thousands that I paid because the car was in my name. He told me when I leased it for him it would only be for a couple of months. The cell phone bills were well over 20k while he had it. He did not give me money each month for the bill. He actually took the car to California when he worked there for a year. I paid to have the car returned when he moved back and to have the car inspected. His girlfriend in California actually called me and asked me what my relationship was with him because she found my name I'm guessing on the registration for the car. After speaking to me she said that she was going to throw him out that he was living with her. I actually gave him the heads up...which was a big mistake because he told me he wasn't living with her and that she was crazy. It was always a promise to pay me back when he made bonus/commission at whatever new job he had. That he would have me paid off within a couple of years. Well it's been 8 years since I first met him and I have only seen a fraction of what he owes me. He is currently working and tells me that he is homeless that he stays at one girls house a couple of nights and the rest of the time it's hotels...that he does not have the money to send me at this time. It would make you sick to hear everything that he has done to me. Trips that I paid for that never materialized a Sony product to hold my digitital photos...a stereo system...(he gave me his old used one) I'm guessing he used the money to buy a new one for himself or spent it on the girl at the time. I went into a jewelry investment with him…with him selling and me making a profit. I never saw the jewelry or any money from that scam. He forged my name on his apartment lease. I actually had to file for bankruptcy because I could not keep up and was tired of being harassed with the phone calls from the creditors. I'm at the point now of just trying to keep my home and my sanity. The cash that he has borrowed 40k at a time because he was going to jail if he didn’t pay credit cards that he had gotten in his brothers name and his fathers name that they were going to have him prosecuted and I felt if I didn’t help him out and he went to jail I would never see the money that he owes me. I still get credit card applications in his sister in laws name and his name sent to my house. I have been sending them back with a message that she has never lived here and he does not live with here. I was so stupid and should have just jumped on the band wagon of having him sent to jail. Don’t get me wrong…he has attempted to pay me back but I heard from one girl that he lived with that he made enough in one year to put a big dent in what he owed me if not all of it. The whole time he was living with her he was telling me he was homeless that he slept on couches of friends. Girls please be aware…several of the girls that he has been with have similar stories…but I do believe I was the most gullible of all. He will tell you about the identity theft and any story to make you feel bad for him. In fact he is the biggest thief…he takes your heart and your money. He will I’m sure tell you if you are reading this that it is all lies. I have all the proof here at my home and plan to take legal action if he makes no attempt to start paying me back again. I know that I will be dead before his debt to me even comes close to being paid off because he thinks of himself only.

Pretty intense-I have a feeling someday we're going to read that he got whacked by some hitmen.

On a happy note...I'm hitting the town tonight with my very sweet husband, who was quite a ladies man when I met him. I checked out his name on dontdatehimgirl.com and he's fine!!

Stuff

I used this as the quote of the day a while ago:

A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff. –George Carlin

Of course I think it's funny-but I have to say that in so many cases it's sadly true. While cleaning out my closet I thought about how hard we work to accumulate and maintain our material goods. It really is a drag. On the one hand, I love nice furniture, having a home with room for company, living in a great town. On the other hand, the clothes must be ironed, or dry cleaned, rooms painted and repainted, window treatments purchased. The list goes on and on. By the time you get your to-do list done, something else is in disrepair. What is the solution? Do we all become monks and live in pristine rooms with only a mattress on the floor? It hardly seems realistic!

I don't know the answer, but I am trying to do my part in a very suburban way. No more Target trips for awhile. It's too tempting and I can't leave the store with less than $200 worth of STUFF in my cart. Absolutely no trips to the dollar store. All that comes home is CRAPPY STUFF that clutters up the playroom and gets chewed up by the dogs. I've got to break my daughter of her Webkinz obsession. They are overtaking her room and getting on my nerves!

As for clothes, I stopped reading Lucky Magazine. I love fashion and I get a kick out of trying the latest trends. The fact of the matter is I'm not in a position financially to make frivolous purchases. This magazine which touts itself as "The magazine about SHOPPING and style" prods me to do just that, SHOP...and I don't need the temptation. Besides, while cleaning out my closet I discovered lots of adorable things that I had completely forgotten about. That should hold me over through the fall!

When we renovated our house two years ago we threw out PILES of toys and clothes. It was such a relief to rid ourselves of the clutter. I come from a long line of shoppers and pack rats. I think it's in my DNA to go to Marshalls, AC Moore and Toys R Us, which makes me all the more determined to practice self-control and find a diversion (caffeine, blogging, playing with the girls) when I want to venture out for more STUFF.

I'll leave you with this:

We don't need to increase our goods nearly as much as we need to scale down our wants. Not wanting something is as good as possessing it. ~Donald Horban

There's a Nightmare in my Closet...

As you may or may not know. My walk-in closet has been a source of angst for me for quite some time now. It really is a nightmare.

Today I felt ready to conquer the clutter. I entered the closet armed with determination and trash bags. What I discovered simultaneously shocked and delighted me! Coupled with old receipts, shopping bags, sippy cups and unmatched socks was a treasure trove of items I had forgotten about! Awesome jeans that fit perfectly, tank tops that I've never worn, adorable sweaters I can wear when the temperature drops below 80 degrees. I was so happy I decided to run to my computer and write about it!

But seriously, I made some headway today. It was a big step for me, and now that I've gone in and faced the monster, I'm not so scared. It almost gives me enough courage to sort out my junk drawer!

Snap Shots (this is for you Tickled!)

The little icons next to my links are from Snap Shots.

Check out their website. It's a fun way to enhance your blog.

DEAN & DELUCA

Has anyone else received their Halloween 2007 DEAN & DELUCA Catalog? If you haven't, check out their website, it's beyond amazing. This is where I would shop if we won the lottery!

For all you shopping mavens out there, you simply must see the "Sweet Couture" cake. The detail is incredible.


The "Happy Birthday" Cake will appeal to all you ladies who favor the chocolate brown, tiffany blue combo.


If you really want to impress your guests, try serving them some Karaburun Caviar ($5,200 per lb.) from a mother-of-pearl spoon!

The selection of Halloween items is "scary good!" Don't these caramel apples look yummy!?

I'm drooling.

They also have a wonderful "Cheese Club" which offers two varieties of cheese along with the perfect accompaniment each month. I'm going to keep the catalog and buy their suggestions for my next party! (Of course I'll buy them from my local gourmet market for half of what DEAN & DELUCA charges!)

I could go on and on. The bottom line is, if you love food and absolutely beautiful things get this catalog!