RTT Say you Know Me

Hey hey hey it's Random Tuesday...

We have a new microwave. It's in a box on the kitchen counter. The old one finally fizzled and flipped out. The little half pint microwave lasted twenty years. For the last three years (since the cancer debacle) I wouldn't even be in the same room as it when it was on. I'm just saying.

I'm trying (not to successfully) to catch up on my blog reading. Work and life have me running in circles.

Mango Girl gifted me with the Honest Scrap award. Her blog is a somewhat recent discovery for me. I have her featured under the sunset in the sidebar. She has a series going on over at her place about a period in her life where she took a job bartending on a remote private island in the Bahamas. I caught up with the posts this weekend and am convinced I was meant to be her work buddy and not the prissy girl who did not last a week. Anywhos check Mango Girl out - it is an amazing story.

Somewhere in my archives I have a post that goes with the Honest Scrap award. Or if you are new here, click on a favorite post in the sidebar, especially the survivor or teaching posts. That's about as honest as I get...

Amy over at Keeping Up with the Schultz Family passed on this Splash award. You all know how much I love anything ocean related so of course I think this is as pretty as they come. Amy is about the sweetest blogger out there so go check her out too.

I'd like to invite anyone who stops by and leaves a comment to help themselves to either or both of these awards. Stop by Mango Girl's or Amy's for the particulars.

For more Randomness, hop on over to Keely at the Unmom's.

I leave you with a random music video.

Wouldn't You Like to be a Panda Too, be a Panda...

I did a post last week showing off the cool stuff I won from a contest in the comment thread over at Oz Girl's. In my excitement, I posted as soon as I could after the box arrived. But Oz Girl had sent me TWO boxes. How generous is that? The second box arrived the other day and contained beautiful note cards made with Oz Girl's own design. She also included this gorgeous pitcher.

Thank-you again Oz Girl! Now, everyone please go pay her a visit. She just got her blog uplifted with a new layout and design.
Amy over at Keeping up with the Schultz Family has bestowed upon me some bloggee bling. This is a different kind of award as it is honoring commenting. Amy is a sweet and regular commenter on my blog, so I can see why she received the award herself.

The award features a Panda Bear. I love Pandas and am not quite sure how this fine animal came to be associated with comment love, but I love this image...

Thank-you Amy! Great timing on the award as several of the blogs I read have posted on commenting and commenting protocol lately. There's Smart Mouthed Broad, Braja, and IB. All great posts as well as comment threads to get an idea of what other bloggers like/don't like going on in their comment threads.

I would love to pass this on to everyone who reads my posts and leaves a comment. Amy's instructions were to pick five bloggers so I have tried to pick bloggers whose comments I enjoy regularly and to bloggers who I did not pass on the last award that came this way. But any and all commenters who love the Panda, go on and take it back to your place.

Braja at Lost and Found in India.

Casey at Half as Good as You

Blue Violet at A Nut in a Nutshell

Jane at Gaston Studios

Lori at My Life Interrupted

Thank-you to all who stop by and read the posts here at PseudoLand. I wish I could say I am able to keep a discussion going in my comment thread, but my timing on the computer is rarely conducive to that. I love reading your comments and appreciate each and every one of them. I especially like those who leave their email in the reply so I can get back to you personally.

If you are a reader and do not always, or even rarely/never comment, I'm OK with that too. I like to write and feel very grateful if people like to read what I write, even if they do not want to comment.

Weekend Stuff

I won a contest over at Oz Girl’s blog. She sent me a box with cool stuff. Look how pretty.
And I learned something. Oz girl made these stamps from her own photography at zazzle! Now there is something else on the internet I want to go fiddle with. You can go to this site and use one of your own photgraphs and make your own postage stamp.

The juice book should really help with my healthy intentions too. If any of you readers haven’t visited, go and check her out. Her full blog title is City Gal Moves to Oz Land. Her blog is down to earth, a lot of fun, and Oz Girl also has a photo blog with beautiful pictures.

Thank-you Oz Girl!

On another note…

Jane at Gaston Studio’s has passed on an award to little ol’ me. Jane is one of the best story tellers out there, and my goodness she does she have some stories to tell. From Savannah to Bahrain to Egypt, Jane has led quite an interesting life.

Here’s what Jane had to say about the award:

The Renee Award, I’m told, is one of the most meaningful awards in blogland because it honors someone who is incredibly inspirational in his or her intelligent and witty writing.This award further celebrates a person’s smart, strong and inspirational spirit and it honors those who spread joy and love like an acorn, a small package growing into a tall and sturdy oak tree which spawns more acorns.

Thank-you Jane! This is such an honor coming from you with the stories that you tell.

I’d like to pass this award on to these blogs whose stories I come back for time and time again.

Irish Gumbo

Jan at Jan’s Sushi Bar

Mo “mad Dog” Stoneskin

Only a Movie

Sprite’s Keeper

Words of Wisdom From a Smart Mouthed Broad

All these bloggers are wonderful storytellers and inspirational as well. Grab yourself a weekend beverage and check them out. I think Mo Mad Dog is on vacation. He forgot to tell me where he was going. Despite this slight, I'm passing it to him, but he better pop up soon. I'm just saying.

Me? I need to go back to organizing the office and filing six months worth of crap. Apparently, it is a three day summer project. The computer being in the same room as a big chore can be a little distracting.

Weekend Wrap Up

If I could straight up trade jobs with someone and had to pull a specific name out of my ass, in say like two seconds, I hope I'd have the where with all to spout out Anthony Bourdain. I love his show and thought I had seen them all, but today he went to Hawaii. So, OF COURSE I dropped everything I was doing and sat down and watched the show.

His production assistants that research the locations really know what they are doing. He did a tour that made me proud. Hawaiian food at a place my husband has gone to since he was a boy, a local bar known for its great local pupus (appetizers). He even hung out on the North Shore with the old guys and went to a local barbecue in Kalihi. If you are a foodie and want to see a couple of the great places the locals go to eat, watch this segment.



Remember how last week I was wondering how each of these blog awards get started? The zombie chicken one to be exact. Well, ask and you shall know. My good friend Jan from Jan's Sushi Bar has created an award. If you are not a regular reader of Jan's blog I highly recommend it. She has wonderful recipes, including delicious cocktails, and she has got dry wit down to a science. She carries her dry wit and fun sense of humor with her as she makes her way around the Internet. Her comments are always favorites of mine. One day I went blog reading and I just happened to come about 15 minutes behind her on almost every blog I went to. She was a hard act to follow in the comments section.

Thank-you so much Jan!

A Sushi Grade Blog is a cut above other blogs that are canned and turned into salad or casseroles. A Sushi Grade Blog is fresh, lively and of superior quality. It is rare, has character and is of good taste.

Oh, and it’s packed full of heart healthy Omega 3 oils.

And since it seems there must be rules for awards, here they are:
1. Grab this nifty little graphic and display it proudly on your site.
2. Choose 5 blogs of superior quality and list them, along with why they are A Sushi Grade Blog.
3. Link to them, announcing their award.
4. Leave them a comment letting them know they’ve been given an award.
5. Link back to the blog that awarded you.

I'd like to pass this award on to some humor bloggers who tickle my funny bone on a regular basis. They are lively indeed and very deserving of the sushi award.

Serving some sushi to:

Ann's Rants

Bern This

Life Just Keeps Getting Weirder

Motherhood in NYC

Vodka Mom (so happy you're back)

A new friend of mine passed a Friendship award on over. Jane over at Gaston Studio. She's led a very exciting life and has the most wonderful stories to tell. I love the fact that it did not seem to come with any rules or restrictions. I read on some blog somewhere that the awards are kind of like a game of telephone, with every passing the rules and such change a bit.

I'd like to pass this one on to some bloggers I met when I first started out who have become a network of friends to me. Not only through our blogs, but also through emails. Nine months ago, these people were the bulk of my readers. Their comments and encouragement made this blogging thing something I wanted to keep doing.

I'd like to pass the friendship award on to

Don't Worry it's Only a Movie

Kristen Hoffman

My Life Interrupted

of thistles and maple leaves

Twenty-Four at Heart

Words of Wisdom From a Smart Mouthed Broad


Borrowing some words from Mad Dog, you may choose to not post the award that is fine by me, but your friendship means a lot to me.

Spin Cycle: Mistakes

So, it seems the post where I have the most to say is the hardest to write. I am barely getting my mistakes post in under the wire for the Spin Cycle over at Sprite's Keeper.

To set the mood:


Top reasons I took so long to start spinning:

1. I started a new unit at work and have been busy lesson planning.

2. Progress reports go out next week, and since it is the last quarter I have to call each and every parent whose child is failing or may fail my class (anyone want to be me this week?).

3. Oh, trying (unsuccessfully) to keep up with the reading in my reader.

4. My husband’s hotel is slow and he has been off more, or working shorter shifts. He seems to think me being on the computer when he’s home is rude and neglectful.

5. I was a child in the 60’s and a teenager in the 70’s. I made more mistakes than could fill a book.

6. I’m a parent. Enough said there. I’m sure the mistakes I made in this arena I should let my children write about when they get their own blogs.

So, instead of a story (or a million anecdotes), I will impart my philosophy on mistakes. Wait. Don’t go. Ah. Well. For those still here….

Number One. Mistakes are a part of the learning curve. One of the biggest, and for some people (like my son) hardest lessons is to learn to own your mistakes.

Number Two. If there is an area for growth that is meant to happen and you avoid it or try to live in denial, the mistakes will escalate until the universe makes sure you get the lesson. WHAPAH!!

Number Three. People who feel the need to rub other people’s noses in their mistakes and go overboard with the negative consequences usually are the very ones who never admit their own mistakes. I suppose they figure everyone will be as hard on them as they are on others. These kinds of people are very hard to live with as their shaming and blaming just gets tiresome.

Number Four. Remember to say sorry and mean it. Sometimes presents help.

Number Five. Some mistakes are life altering or life ending. So be careful. I always think of the scene in Vanilla Sky when Tom Cruise gets into the car with Cameron Dias against his better judgment. So, listen to your instincts.



Yeah, yeah, I know. I am on record for not being a fan of Cruise. But I did see this movie and always remember the scene where he made the fatal mistake of getting in that car.

For more spins, head on over to The Spin Cycle at Sprite's Keeper.

I also want to thank Midlife Jobhunter for honoring me with the Honest Scrap award. Thank-you Jobhunter!!

It comes with rules, but I have been pretty good about following rules of late and feel the need to break the trend. So for a copy of the rules, I'd like you to head on over to this post at Jobhunter's.

I'd like to pass it on to all the spinners over at Jen's (Sprite's Keeper).

Money in the Bank Meets Earth Day Leftovers

Words of Wisdom from a Smart Mouthed Broad hosts a very cool blog theme, Money in the Bank. I’ve written a couple of posts for MIB, but truth be told, I am not creative with money saving ideas because we never have much after paying bills. We stopped going out to eat except for rare occasions years ago, I hardly shop, and we rarely travel. The smartest thing we did was to buy a house. Then we never did anything else except make mortgage payments, raise children, and go to the beach. Which is mostly free except for the gas...

However.

My friend P is hosting a potluck clothes swapping party next week. This idea/event is one I’d forgotten about and is a worthy enough to make mention. P is hosting this one in the name of Earth Day, but we have been doing this for years. Most of my circle of friends come from my days of working in restaurants. Most of us have been friends for over 25 years. Some, like me, have gone into professions that provide a living but where one will never be wealthy in material things. A few others have done quite well financially. There is a definite advantage at the event for those of us less wealthy, but my more affluent friends are happy to leave with less than they came with and have room in their closets once again. They enjoy passing their clothes on to their friends much more than getting the tax break for donating them.

So, once every couple of years, we have a clean out your closets party. Everyone cleans out her closet and brings the unwanted items. Each of us brings a dish for the potluck and there are several bottles of wine. We throw all the clothes into a huge pile and then go through it after eating, but of course while still drinking. Redistribution.

It is a great money saving idea. Loads of fun with friends. Have a fashion show. Walk about half nekkid. It’s just the girls, you know?

And, speaking of Earth Day, I came upon some really good reads lately for those of you who are interested. Salon has these articles:

Can we afford to eat ethically?

Big agriculture’s big lie.

We are what we eat.

I also have been following a blog, Reduce Footprints: Easy ways for each of us to reduce our footprints on the earth. I found the series on the Rainforests really interesting and well written. There are parts one, two, three, and four.

And while we are on the subject of green, let’s go full circle back to Smart Mouth. She gave me something green for the blog.

Smart Mouth passed on the Zombie Chicken Award to moi.

I love you Smart Mouth. But, seriously. I really would like to have the time and tenacity to find the blogger that created this one. What was he or she drinking? The award definitely stands out in the crowd. And in the theme of things, the zombie chickens probably represent what we have to look forward to if we don’t take better care of the earth.




It comes with this description:

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

Well then. That snazes it up – quite a wonderful write up. Thank-you again Smart Mouth for such kind words in my direction.

While there are many blogs out there I’d crush a zombie chicken’s skull to get to, I’ll pass it on to these must read bloggers.

Bern This

Captian Dumbass at Us and Them

Braja at Lost and Found in India

Mo "Mad Dog" Stoneskin

Suburb Sanity

Noblesse Oblige

The little award that packs a big punch.

The gracious and creative blogger Kate, from What Kate Did Next, has passed on the Noblesse Oblige Award to Pseudo Land. It is a meaningful award and I couldn’t be more humbled. If you haven’t been to Kate’s you should treat yourself to a visit. Especially if you love to write. Her blog is inspiring and full of ideas for helping writers. One of my first visits there was this post, and I was hooked. I've gone back and read this post several times when I need help to slow down and not be anxious. Whenever the blogosphere gets frenetic for me, I hop on over to Kate’s to remind myself that I started this blog to connect with my creative side. Kate helps me to become centered.

Check out what Kate is doing to celebrate her 200th post.

The recipient of this award is recognized for the following:

1) The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.
2) The Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage, and offers solutions.
3) There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Culture, Sciences, and Beliefs.
4) The Blog is refreshing and creative.
5) The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps:

1) Create a Post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.
2) The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post.
3) Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or more older posts to support.
4) The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions.
5) Blogger must display the Award at any location at the Blog.

Thank-you Kate.

I’m a big fan and follower of Kate’s blog. In fact, her blog has shaped a lot of what I have done. Although my blog is not like hers in that I don’t write for writers and help them in their writing processes, many of my favorite posts have been written after a visit to her blog to center myself and to tap into my creative side.

When I started this blog I wasn’t really sure where I was headed. The first few months I only posted a couple of times and I knew nothing about creating a community. I had read blogs, but mostly education or news related ones, and had never commented. I liked the way the posts had links and would surf around, using the links to lead me to interesting reads.

The main reason I started a blog was that I felt like I needed something of my own. After many years of raising my children, running a home, working full time, and furthering my education; I felt sucked dry. My teens were doing more and more on their own. I had recently recovered from breast cancer and the breast cancer treatments… That experience reminded me to live my life more fully and to make time for me.

When I first got started, I thought my blog and my posts would be more centered around education.

But since it was mine to do with as I liked, it became a vehicle to rediscover my love for writing. I also learned to reach out and enter the blog world and make connections.

This post, a letter to the blog world, shows my sense of blogging discovery.

This post, the first one I really put some writing muscle into, helped me to feel like a writer with stories to tell that might reach out and touch some people.

This post got me started on my memoir writing, a genre to which I keep coming back.

My blog is helping me to carve a path into a future I did not know how to step into, taking me to place I was only dreaming of, and helping me to join communities I did not know existed.

I’d like to pass the award on to these bloggers:

Cristin at Tiptoeing Through the Tulips. How can someone be snarky, funny, dead-on honest, and absolutely fearless in her writing all at the same time? Check out Cristin and then you will know.

Don’t Worry It’s Only a Movie. Movie was one of the first bloggers I met. She is an educator who works with emotionally challenged children. Her wit and humor and her even mindedness resonate from every post. She is one of the most sincere bloggers out there.

Pam at McEwen’s. Pam volunteers as a giggle therapist in a hospital. That is her main gig but she also feeds the homeless, volunteers at a women’s shelter, and has even been to Africa in her service to help make the world a better place. She’s funny and a lot of fun as well.

Sprite’s Keeper. Jen created and hosts the Spin Cycle. I look forward to it and all the bloggers I have met through the Spin Cycle every week. She makes each of us feel like a personal friend.

True Blue Texan. This is the blog I thought I would have. But True Blue Texan does it so well I just read hers. Her posts are timely and she links to current events.

Words of Wisdom from a Smart Mouthed Broad. I am so fortunate to consider Smart Mouth my friend. Her blog makes you feel at home, takes you on road trips via a Harley, has great recipes, and of course, many words of wisdom. All told with wit and humor.

There are many other deserving blogs, but I’ll stop here and leave these folks some bloggers.

Bella? Did someone say Bella?

So pretty...

OK. Reading all four books of the Twilight series has me wired that way.

But, seriously...

Jess over at This Life is Mine passed this pretty award on to me. Thank-you Jess!

Here are the rules:

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

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Well, 15 huh?

I’ve been fortunate to have newly discovered a lot of great blogs and bloggers the last couple of months. The list could be quite long. But it will spread like wildfire so here’s 15 great blogs that I have discovered lately – some a couple months ago and some just this week. Have fun with the links.

And here we go…

1. Rikki at Cowgirls Like Me



2. Casey at Half as Good as You



3. Julie at Midlife Job Hunter



4. Fragrant Liar



5. Heather at Riding the Short Bus



6. Melissa at The Scholastic Scribe



7. Amy at Keeping Up with the Schultz Family



8. Lisa at Transcript of a Significant Life



9. Mrs. Bear at Outnumbered Two to One



10. Jane at Gastion Studio



11. Darsden at Rambling about Why



12. Midlife Mama at Midlife Musings



13. Janie at Midlife Slices



14. Michelle at Michelle’s Blog



15. Mary at Holy Mackerel

When Life Hands you Lemons... You Turn to Your Girlfriends

For me, these things sometimes come in twos, which is very nice indeed. A couple of bloggie awards are making the rounds and two unique ones have come my way.

The first award is this special cutie. When life hands you lemons you make…… This award with a great attitude was passed to me by two very special blog friends. Words of Wisdom from a Smart Mouthed Broad and The Claw. Thank-you SMB and Sherri.

Like any award, this one comes with rules and they are as follows:

1. 
   Post the logo on your blog.
2. 
   Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
3. 
   Link to the nominees within your blog post.
4. 
   Notify the recipients of the award by commenting on their blog.
5. 
   Share the love and link back to the person from whom you received your award.

Borrowing my blog bud’s Movie’s words. Here are some blogs that make me smile and embrace the spirit of making the best out of everything. Go read 'em:

Bern This

I Need a Martini Mom

Joanie’s Random Ramblings

Lucky Thirteen Plus One

Lemon Drop Pie

Mo Stoneskin

Motherhood in NYC

Naked Opinions

Suburb Sanity

What I Should Have Said

The second one was awarded to me by one of the sweetest bloggers out there, Joanie at Joanie’s Random Ramblings. Thank-you Joanie.



If you have been reading my blog for any time, you know what a high value I place on my women friends.

True story. When I came to in the recovery room after my lumpectomy, my surgeon came by and gently gave me the bad news, that my lump had been malignant. As he walked away, the recovery room nurse stepped up bedside and handed me a tissue for my weeping eyes. She held my hand and asked me if I had a close circle of women friends, which I told her I did.

Then she said

Your family will be there for you, but you will be worried about worrying them. Gather your women friends around you like you are circling the wagons. They will get you through this. They will understand and provide you the support you need.

And they did.

Here are the rules

First, share memories or thoughts of childhood or adulthood sister-friends. Funny, sad, whatever.

I just did. But I would also like to mention that I also am very close with my two sisters, one who visited me last year and I wrote this post for.

Second, pass the award on to however many bloggers you'd like to share this with- but make sure you share this award specifically with bloggers that you feel a kinship with. Bloggers you learn from or feel you've connected with in a really familiar and friendly way.

I’d like to pass it on to these blog sisters. There are more I would like to pass it to, but thought I should leave some stones unturned for these women. Go check them out…

Don’t Worry It’s Only a Movie

Jan's Sushi Bar

Lost and Found in India

Mile 17

My Life Interrupted

My Space, My Blog, My Life

The Claw

Two Dogs Running

Of thistles and maple leaves

Words of Wisdom from a Smart Mouthed Broad

Two cups of coffee and twenty some odd links later, I really need to start getting ready for work people. I'm going to start making my rounds, but some of you may find your award before I get to leaving you a comment about it.

Fa, fa, fa faaabulous daarling!

Bobby McGee’s circa mid ’80’s. I’ve had many jobs and have probably worked with thousands of people over the course of my 51 years. But I sometimes wonder how my life would be different if I had landed a different job upon my arrival in the islands… Five of the women in my close circle of friends come from this slice of my life. I met my husband there. The place and time and events from this hub at the early center of my life are a gold mine for writing that I have yet to chisel and hone.

But the reason my mind is wandering down the hallowed hallways of my own ‘80s movie, complete with a wait staff in costume, a nightclub where cigarette smoke was still the norm, and bouncers (door hosts) in suits, is because Laura over at Under the Sheets passed on an award to little ol’ me.

Isn’t it fabulous? It reminds me of Holly Golightly. I’m not feeling very fabulous right now. I’m behind on everything that has to do with work and life. My blog writing and reading is taking a back seat and I have more half written posts than I care to think about. My non-blog writing projects are on the back burner until I finish some lesson planning for a novel that I am teaching for the first time. My reader has at least two posts from every blog I follow that I haven’t read yet.

Getting back to McGee’s (see, I don’t even have time to edit this and get the back story all together). There was a door host (bouncer) who decided he liked the word fabulous. He was this huge guy, like 6’4” and, as my mother used to say, big as a brick shit house. But he would say “Faabulous” and “Maarvelous” with a bad British accent all the time.

Hey big guy, I’ve got a table on the dance floor open for those VIP’s.

Faabulous, darling. I’ll bring that party right away.

Hey, big guy, there’s a jerk in my station giving me a hard time.

Well, that’s not faaabulous; we’ll just get him out of there.

I never saw him irked, even when he had to kick out obnoxious drunks who acted up.

Thank-you very much Laura. Very unexpected and with me being a shorts, jeans, T-shirts, and slippers (flip-flops Mainlanders) kind of gal, fabulous is not something I have personally ever thought of myself as being. Awarding the fab button to my blog is so cool. I humbly accept. I love the graphic and the thought behind it.

My preference is to say here that if you are in my blog roll or I follow you, then you’re pretty effing fabulous because life is busier than all fucking hell and if I read (or suggest to others to read) your blog, than you are so awesome that you beat out the books waiting on my nightstand. That also goes for newly discovered blogs that I read but have not yet updated onto my own site (this is on my to do list).

But I figure most of you wouldn’t bother taking the absolutely fabulous award under those circumstances. And it’s so pretty. So here are the ten blogs I’d like to pass it on to. I figure with the exponential factor, all my fabulous blogger friends who don’t have this will yet will get caught in the web eventually.

What Kate Did Next

The Claw

Goodfather

Jan’s Sushi Bar

Life Keeps Getting Weirder

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit…

The McEwen’s

Mile 17

Of thistle and maple leaves

My Space...My blog...My life...

So, there are a few things you need to do after accepting this award:
1) Post the logo on your blog.
2) Pass it on to 10 of your blogger friends.
3) Please link the person who awarded your blog in your post.
4) Link the awardees as well.
5) Let your awardees know you have passed this on to them by going to their blog and leaving a comment.

To all of you who commented on yesterday’s post, thank-you. I really enjoyed reading that comment thread. It’s given me a lot to think about during this chaotic week.

Some Things Happen That Surprise Me

This is a whirling dervish of a week. Work has been kicking my ass. Lots of stuff going on in the homestead that needs to get done. My daughter is in Hawaii Opera, and tonight I am going, despite my lack of time. My blog addiction is a bit on the back burner. Even with my insomniac habits - waking up at 3 or 4 AM and unable to sleep - I still cannot keep up with the blog world.

Wasn't I surprised and delighted that two bloggers shined some blogging love on me by way of bloggy awards. I humbly accept the lovely awards and I'd like to pass them on to everyone I read, but they come with rules that I will adhere to (I try but sometimes I am not a rule follower).

The first one came a few days ago from The Scholastic Scribe. She is a high school journalism teacher in D.C.

I'd like to pass this on to:

Don't Worry it's Only a Movie
Mile 17
Of thistles and maple leaves
Two Dogs Running
What Kate Did Next

The Scribble Award has rules you can find here.

The Butterfly Award came from Joanie over at Joanie's Random Ramblings. Thank-you Joanie!


I'd like to pass this award on to:

Lost and Found in India
McEwens
My Life Interrupted
What I Should Have Said
Words of Wisdom From a Smart Mouthed Broad

The Coolest Blog Butterfly only came with the directions to pass it on to five other bloggers. Easy enough for me to write myself.

Now, I need to go get ready to get my ass kicked by work again. Then, lucky me, I'm off to the opera.

I Just Want to be a MACHO MAN. Macho, macho man. Come on, put a little wiggle in it before you start reading....

I’m not big on housework. I love the fact that my daughter does the dishes and the dusting. That my kids trade off vacuuming the house and that my son usually will clean the bathrooms. My husband details my car. So I don’t mind doing the laundry (I am also known to cook when it suits me). Throwing the loads in while I straighten up and do my weekend grading. Yeah, I don’t mind it. If I have the time I really don’t mind folding it all either. I try and time it with my Netflix queue. However, the highlight of being a laundry goddess is the perk of making tip money out of the dryer. I probably pull in anywhere from pocket change to a few dollars – occasionally even a fiver. Once some dumb ass left a twenty in his or her pocket. Their loss, my gain. There’s a bit of a thrill each and every time I am pulling clothes out of the dryer and see a nicely washed and dried bit of currency.

Wasn’t I surprised the other day when I noticed what at first looked like paper, but soon became something immediately recognizable. As NOT money. Square foil packet. Serrated edges. When I reached in and grabbed it, there was the familiarity of the circular edge lurking beneath the packaging.

My kids, daughter 19, son, 16 were sitting at the kitchen counter eating. I came out of the laundry room and waved the singular condom package in the air.

Lookie what I just found in the dryer. Which one of you does this belong to?

Daughter raises an eyebrow at son while addressing me.

Yeah. I’ve never had a boyfriend, I haven’t been on a date yet. But I am having sex. With random guys. I meant to tell you.

At least her sarcasm is up to par.

As far as I know, my son hadn’t started dating yet either.

Son, are you seeing girls and we don’t know about it? Did your dad have a talk with you about waiting and not have sex with hoochie girls that give it up to boys they hardly know?

That’s not mine. It’s dad’s.

At the risk of damaging you permanently by talking about your parents’ sex lives, I need to tell you that your dad doesn’t need condoms as chemotherapy rendered me post menopausal.

I’m not sure, but I think there was a smirk tugging at the edge of my daughter’s mouth as she tried not to show how much pleasure she was getting from her brother’s predicament.

It’s dad’s. It has to be. It's not mine.

I tilt my head to the side and narrow my eyes at him.

He looks me dead in the eye and says, that’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

OK. But tonight, when your dad gets home. And I have to ask him who he is having sex that is not his wife, I’ll be sure to tell him it was you that said it HAD to be his.

As I move the next load of laundry from the washer to the dryer, I hear heated whispering.

Upstairs, while I am folding laundry, son walks in.

You know, I left some of my clothes over at X’s house and he was wearing them. He must have left that in the pocket of one of my shorts. I threw everything he's been wearing straight into the laundry. DON’T SAY ANTHING TO HIM NEXT TIME YOU SEE HIM.

My kids think because I work with 150 teenagers for a living I am prone to bossing around and nosing around any old teen that comes my way. That’s not ALWAYS true.

Later, when husband gets home, I tell him the whole story. I thought he’d be a little more upset about son throwing him under the bus, but instead he was laughing his ass off. He calls son in the room.

That your hopeful condom?

Your field of dreams?

Be careful, those things have an expiration date you know.

Did you make sure you got the kiddie start up set?

And I thought I was the one that damaged our kids.

The preceding man story was inspired by two magnificent, manly awards that have come this way from two terrific dads who blog. Goodfather and Captain Dumbass. They have awesome blogs and have appropriately been awarded with many prestigious bloggie bling. It came to their attention that most of these awards tended to be on the girly side. With savvy technie skills, they designed and launched these wonderful badges:

Goodfather's Award

It comes with rules that I did not follow so please forgive me Godfather, oops, I mean Goodfather. Please get the rules from this post of Goodfather's.

Captain Dumbass

His did not have rules, so it's his fault that I was inspired to make up my own rules for them both. Which was to tell the condom in the dryer story.

I'd like to pass these awards on to anyone who reads this post, everyone I follow (I stalk a lot of you), absolutely all of you that have your blogs fixed so that my follower thingy cannot pick up your feed, and to those in my blogroll. Which is in sorry need of updating and I probably cannot get to that until Christmas break since work is kicking my ass right now.

Spreading Some Happy

This blogging stuff is turning out to be one good turn after another. When I started a blog I thought it would just be a public space to put down my thoughts and stories in writing. I had heard about building a community, but wasn’t sure how I felt about a virtual community. I already had communities of friends, family, and colleagues; plus I often felt neglectful of these communities. And what if people on the internet freaked me out? HAH! Well, that hasn’t happened yet; moreover, I’ve “met” some really cool people, some awesome and amazing writers and artists, and some great blog buds. The wonderful thing is in virtual time, we all get on the computers when we can, and “meet” on our own time. I can wear pj’s and be as ugly as I want.


A blog I found about a month ago, Two Dogs Running, is the site for Mama Dawg. I have to admit, when I first wandered in, Mama Dawg’s video of her adorable daughter LOML (Light of My Life) had me hooked from the start. LOML is awesome. On top of that, she and her Mama have these incredible southern accents and I am a total sucker for a southern accent. I love ‘em. AND, on top of that, Mama and her girl have infectious giggles and a zest for life that is contagious.

Wasn’t I surprised when Mama Dawg was so sweet and passed on two cool bloggie awards. Aren’t they pretty? Bling diddy bling bling. Thank-you Mama Dawg.

I’m gonna pass the virtual love on down the line and have tried to pass the awards on to bloggers who haven’t had the fun and pleasure of whichever one I’m passing.

These are the guidelines:

• 
  List six things that make you happy. I think this task originally was with one or the other, but since I feel we could all use a little reminder of happy, I say it goes with them both. I’ll just keep my eye peeled for the blog police if I’ve broken some kind of rule here.
• 
  Pass the award on to 5 (hooked) or 6 (kreativ) more bloggers.
• 
  Link back to the person who gave you the award.
• 
  Link to the people you are passing it on to and leave them a comment to let them know.
  
  I’d like to pass the Hooked on Your Blog to:
  Don’t Worry it’s Only a Movie
• Five String Guitar
  I Need a Martini Mom
  Of thistles and maple leaves

Words of Wisom From a Smart Mouthed Broad

I’d like to pass the Kreativ Bloggers Award to:

A Bird in th Hand
Goodfather

It's Crazy Isn't It?
Jan’s Sushi Bar
Rebellious Thoughts of a Woman
What Kate did Next

Let’s see, six things that make me happy….. in random order of course.
1)Body boarding and snorkling
2)Walks on the beach
3)Brief (or sometimes longer) periods of quiet
4)My family and friends
5)Metaphoric light bulbs turning on over my students heads
6)Border collie