Morbid 3.333333/Century-Day Ramblings

I've always said I wanted to have a modest memorial/burial once my time on Earth has come to an end. After all, it isn't like I'm going to know what type of coffin I'm buried in or what my spray looked like.
But after some careful consideration, I've decided otherwise.
Here's the updated version:

If a 1985 Chevy complete with ginormous headshot is good enough for Kim Jong, I figure it's good enough for me.

[Massive Procession Optional]

Disclaimer for crudely satirizing upon another human's death: According to a 2004 Human Rights Watch report, the North Korean government under Kim was "among the world's most repressive governments", having up to 200,000 political prisoners according to U.S. and South Korean officials,[51] and no freedom of the press or religion, political opposition or equal education:[52] "Virtually every aspect of political, social, and economic life is controlled by the government."

Rounding third...sans the mistletoe

If there is any better way to round out the long weekend than with Buble on the iPod, a glass of pinot grigio and pecan delight at ur side while lying in a hot bubble bath jet tub, someone please tell me where I may find it. Right now I feel heavenly (although have no fear-I will certainly pay for mine (and others') playtime tomorrow.) :)

Ahhh, what a wonderful weekend...

I hope you each were equally as blessed.
(++)

Christmas Came Early for Us

A bit of good...nay, GREAT news this week:

Jana's tests have come back and she is currently CANCER FREE!
[happy, happy, joy, joy]

Thanks to her 2nd stem cell transplant, she is showing no signs of cancer whatsoever.
Of course, there is no cure for MM (yet!) so it will inevitably show its ugly face again (there are some cancer cells in her body, but they are so few that the tests aren't even reading them), but-overall-the transplant was a success. This is especially wonderful news, considering the first transplant was not successful.

So: What's next...
Well, Jana's going to continue with a less aggressive chemo and she'll be tested every few months (more bone marrow biopsies, such fun) for the return. In the meantime, her hair is growing back and I assured her she'll be flipping it over her shoulders (and having it blow in the wind) in no time. :)

I can't tell you how excited Kiera and I are for this blessing. We are beyond ourselves in joy and thanks...for now, please join us as we continue to support the powerful thinking that advances the cure!

Celebrating Jana's wonderful news today (oh, and that little thing known as Christmas)

As this will be my last post before Christmas, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope the holidays bring you peace and joy. In the hustle and bustle of the season, remember to take the time to enjoy the people you love and the blessings in your life.

"Tis the Season...to Judge. Judge. Judge.

I woke up to about a dozen FB posts similar to these:

and, quite frankly, it's a rantful day. This only encourages my madness.

We get it. It's Christmas.
But guess what, people: It's also Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. And, even if you are a "Christian," Happy Holidays does NOT mean people are taking the "Christ" out of Christmas. What it does mean is that you're being wished Happy Holidays. This includes Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Hence the use of the word "holidays" to encompass all the holidays. It's so absurd to assume saying anything less than "Merry Christmas" is offensive.

It makes me think of the prayer in public schools issue. To talk to a proponent of prayer in schools, you would think that Christians are no longer allowed to pray in school. Not True. What you are not allowed to do is force the children to pray in school. You are the one trying to press your religious expectations on someone else, NOT the other way around. Likewise, expecting someone to say "Merry Christmas" makes you the aggressor. In my thirty-three years, I have never ONCE had someone tell me not to say Merry Christmas. Where does this idea even come from? Am I in my own little world and others are being scorned for it on a daily basis? No. It's a bandwagon issue that has never really even been an issue. Ask yourself the same thing: Has someone asked you not to say Merry Christmas? My guess is no. In fact, I'm certain the answer is no. So then: what is the issue? That someone else would chose to say something other that what you prefer? You tell me who is stifling the other's freedom.

You'll often hear saying you shouldn't be celebrating if you aren't celebrating Jesus's birth. But guess what, folks--you don't get to determine what everyone in the world celebrates, whether they subscribe to your beliefs or not. I've never heard of the pagan religion campaign against the celebrations of "Fall Festivals" and "Trunk or Treats" for those "opposed" to the Pagan Halloween holiday. In a parallel world, they would require you to subscribe to the "true purpose" of Halloween, otherwise you would be excluded from participating. And, of course, this isn't the case. Each and every holiday is what you make of it. Period. No matter how many Merry Christmases you proclaim, if you are not religious (or don't celebrate the "meaning" of Christmas in true form), you are simply a subject of a very expensive marketing campaign. And I venture to say that is the case for most.

[Don't agree with me? Try Walmart on Black Friday and PLEASE show me the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.]

As for me:
Well, I fully support your right to say Merry Christmas. Or Happy Hanukkah. Or Happy Kwanzaa. Or whatever it is you may be celebrating. I believe that the purpose of the season is to bring peace and joy and love to those you hold dear (and to others whom you may have never even met). I believe that whatever religion you subscribe to, accomplishing this is a wonderful and amazing thing.

And, if you pass me on the street and wish me Happy Holiday, I will smile, thank you for the well-wishes and return the favor.

On a side note, I googled the subject after composing this post and came to realize this is a much hotter topic than I'd realized. Here is a related story from USA Today.

[smh]...Ah GWB, you never cease to disappoint me.

Is there anyone left in the country who is still unconvinced that the "W" in George W stands for Worst? As in worst. president. ever? Ahhh...yes.

For a moment I forgot how ignorant a good majority of people are.

Check this.

I followed this sometime during the immigration reform talks, but I have to admit--once the deals were done, I didn't follow it anymore. I let it fall by the wayside (this happens more frequently than I'd like to admit), but now I am shocked at how the "fence" project has unfolded and am, admittedly, more than a little sympathetic to those in the "limbo" zone.

Didn't see that one coming...

No, I don't plan on it's being placed in The Louvre, but I still found it interesting and quirky.

And here's the article.

Hello...

Smith & Nephew!
So good to see you.
Again.
& Again.
& Again.

Yowza.

Want to see the Prince Mongo of San Juan? Enjoy!

T.Mae Turns One

No, it isn't awe-inspiring, but I am excited.
Taylor celebrated her first birthday on Saturday (her actual bday) at my home. Rather than bore you with the details, here are some pics to satisfy your curiosity:

Best expression ever!
Taylor opening her first gift from me (the bday girl shirt and crown shown in below pics).



Party!




The La la la la song is stuck in my head.



Adorable Elmo (cup)cake(s)



Party Guests



Wearing Tina's beads and lovin' it.



Gifts galore!



Taylor's first baby (was creepy); She loved her.

Unlike most 1 yr olds, Taylor could open her own gifts!

T.Mae was very lady like about "digging into" her cake. There was no digging.



She was exhausted after the party.
My mom made the blanket; there is a plush Elmo sewn on and it's precious.



Doing her best Flava Flav impersonation
(She stayed the night with Kiera and me and we had a blast!)

Hail to the Chief (of inconsistency)

It really puts a damper on my day when the first story I open my Internet browser to is one like this.
If you don't understand why, revisit my November blog here.

You, Mr. President, have finally lost me.
I sat by while you made fiscal decisions that I found appalling.
I didn't moan when you stumbled on keeping your promises.
I've defended you, citing that you had come into an economy (and war) that you did not create and were destined for perceived failure from the start.

But now, you've done it.
I vote with my conscious over my pocket book, which generally leans me towards the democratic party (personal rights being more important to me than fiscal policy) and now my conscious is telling me to walk away.

Don't get me wrong: I don't want my daughter to be put in a position where she would find herself at Walmart buying Plan B (although let's be honest: Walmart is the right-wing's mecca--and they would never carry this OTC anyway*), BUT I would much prefer that over her having a child she isn't ready for.

Supposedly the ban is intended to prevent 10 and 11 year old girls from harming themselves with an OTC drug they cannot understand, but having a child is much more life-threatening for an 11 year old than taking a Plan B pill. And truly, even an 11 year old could master taking the pill--it's ONE pill. How difficult could that be? What they want to say (but never would) is that an 11 year old isn't ready to master her sexual choices (and rightfully so), but at the point the same child is buying Plan B, she has already made that decision, right or wrong. Implying that Plan B could encourage girls to become sexually active is as absurd as saying the HPV vaccine will do the same. It's absolutely ridiculous. Good planning and smart decision-making begin at home with real, honest conversations and involved parenting, not through legislation that attempts to punish girls (and let's be honest, it only affects girls) for those decisions.

So I suppose it is time to begin following the candidates and determining where my support may go. I may follow Obama for another 4, although he certainly isn't getting that vote for free. Especially after this move.


*On a side note, I went into Walmart for chex seasoning mix last week and they had none. But on my way back from the photo dept, I couldn't help but notice they had no fewer than twenty different bibles available, which struck me as ironic because, after all, don't they say the same thing?

Looking for a Little Positive Mojo.

Got a couple of big things going on my way, but I'm posting this one in hopes of well-wishes, good vibes, prayers, voodoo powers, finger crossing--whatever you bring to the table.

My best friend Tina and her family have gone through quite an ordeal over the past several years. In Dec 2009, Tina's cousin Michael was killed by his wife. She claims it was in perceived self-defense, but the prosecution tells of a different story:

A story that involves Michael's wife, Pamela--a controlling and "evil" woman who was premeditated in the murder of her husband. The day before his death, Michael went to his HR department to have Pamela removed as his life insurance beneficiary and spoke with his mom about moving some of his things into her house and staying with her for a while; Michael's mom told him, at that time, that she was afraid Pamela would kill him. On the same day, Pamela went and bought a gun (having pawned several pieces of jewelry) and called 911, citing an altercation with Micheal. The 911 dispatcher has testified that the phone call was very strange as the only sound she heard from the home was that of Pam's voice, despite Pam's claim that Michael was there in a rage. The police who have arrived on the scene testified that the mess in the home looked staged, and there was no indication of any alteration (including anything broken in the house or any marks on Pam). A police report was not filed.
The next day, Michael went to the dentist for a routine check up; his dentist testified that he was in a good mood, typical for him. Michael returned home and less then ten minutes later was shot both in the chest and behind the ear by Pam, who is a nurse. Pam claims she had the gun hidden in the arm of her sweatshirt and when Michael began dragging her by her hair to the bathroom (in a steroid induced rage), the gun accidentally went off. Again: In the chest and behind the ear. (As an aside, I don't understand how it could "accidentally" hit him in two separate places). Although Michael was known to have used steroids in the past, the coroner's report states that Michael's levels were all within normal range. On the day of Michael's funeral, Pam called his HR dept to ask about his final check and his life insurance policy. Numerous witnesses, including Michael's ex wife (the mother of two of his daughters) have testified that Michael has never been a violent or abusive man and that he would always avoid confrontation at all costs.
While I wasn't there and therefore can only speculate, it seems to me that Pamela was very strategic in her murdering of Michael. She had means, motive and opportunity. All the previous day's efforts were meant to put her in a position of justifying her killing of him, and the entire thing was premeditated.

The trial is now over and the family is waiting on a verdict from the jury. The charge is 1st degree murder and the jury has been deliberating since yesterday. Understandably, Tina and her family are anxiety-ridden. They have each spent much of that last few weeks in the court room, hopeful that justice will be served.

I hope that it will for them, but I am also a little worried.
So please begin with the well-wishes, good vibes, prayers, voodoo powers and finger crossing . This is a very difficult time for them and I fear they may not have the closure they have long sought, even if she is found guilty.

I'll update with results as soon as they're known.
[For anyone wishing to read more, you may search the names "Michael Taylor" or "Pamela Taylor" on the Commercial Appeal site or any of the local news media sites.]
------------------------------------

Thursday: 11:18am
Tina is headed to the courthouse for the verdict. PLEASE let justice be served.
-----------------------------------

Second degree murder!
15 to 25 year with no parole.
Sentencing to be done on Jan 19th...hopefully the judge will agree with us that it should have been 1st degree murder and sentence her to the maximum of 25 years.
Tina said she and her family are VERY happy and that this was "the best Christmas gift" they could have received. This makes my heart smile.
Click here to read the Commercial Appeal's article.

Oh good...

Now we're slutifying Christmas too.

The Joy of Sharing

Well, our Thanksgiving dinner went well. Beyond well, actually--it was great. Thankfully, Ben (Dad2.0) volunteered to handle the turkey and dressing and that just left me with...well, everything else. The food turned out great and I wasn't a bit overwhelmed, although it was a far cry from the quiet/relaxing evening I had planned.
Amy was still too sick to come on Thursday, but Tommy and the boys and the rest of the family were all there (sans Timmy, who is working in CT and Nicole (+ family), who had dinner at their home). It was sooo great to have everyone sitting together at one table, enjoying one another's company, sharing good conversation, laughter, food, and...

Germs.

Fast forward about 12 hours and you'll find a virtually useless Bonnie sleeping for literally 40 of the following 48 hours (on this particular Thanksgiving, I was most thankful for the invention of promethazen).

Both Friday and Sat are a blur (I did manage to get some *very* early Black Friday shopping in, beginning at 10pm on Thursday, before the onset, but I missed my (larger) family Thanksgiving feast on Sat afternoon), and Sunday was spent cleaning up the house and putting up Christmas decor. Part of the Christmas decor. I ran out of steam very early on in that process. But, as I have an extremely busy week/weekend coming up, I have got to get finished tonight and tomorrow night.

Searching
...
For
...
Motivation

Also, for those of you not in the tri-state area, We got our first snow yesterday! My house looks beautiful covered in snow. Absolutely stunning. I thought the kids would be out of school today (and let the kiddo stay up late, thinking such), but surprisingly, they didn't cancel it. Hmmm.

Though most of the snow had begun melting by this morning, I was more than a bit thankful for the garage/remote start/heated seat combination on my way into work. I feel like royalty. Or a rockstar.

Either way, it's good stuff.
Warm, cozy, good stuff.

Enjoy your eve folks...plenty more to say but (as always) not nearly enough time to say it as thoroughly or articulately as I'd like.
Maybe some day...
(++)

Christmas in Dixie

...or at least from the window of the local Fox & Hound at the Southaven Mall. :)

PS It got a lot thicker than this as the night progressed!

...And Then There Was One

Great News!

Both Mom and Amy are sick. Not run-of-the-mill sick, but vomiting on a regular basis sick.
And Melissa works tonight.
Which means...

I have to cook Thanksgiving dinner. For everyone. All by myself.
A turkey and a ham.
All the sides.
All the aps.
All the desserts.

Oh.My.Goodness.

I
, sire O cpi;dm
t

[I guess my elbows did the above while my co-workers were giving turkey-cooking advice...you would be surprised at the amount of turkey-cooking advice one can muster up if soliciting.]

As I was saying...I could handle the turkey. Or the ham. Or probably even both. But for it to be handed to me less than a day beforehand (and all the ingredients have not even been bought and the ones that have are displaced at both my Mom's and Amy's), well, that is a challenge. Yes, my laid back disposition (hey, my house is clean and dinner for tonight is already in the crock pot!) has turned into a frantic how-am-I-going-to-get-this-done.

Inhale. Exhale.

Raw poultry. Gross.

Inhale. Exhale.

Kiera's boyfriend is about to be put to use.

Inhale. Exhale.

[heavy sigh]

I will let ya know how it goes. Although I'm fairly certain, stressed as I am, it is going to be just fine. It may not be my preference to handle it all, but it certainly isn't beyond my capabilities.

Exhale.

The Anti-Christmas (Pre 11/25) Effort...all in Vain

Although I am keeping with my promise to not exploit the Christmas season prior to Thanksgiving's being celebrated, there are certain elements to the upcoming season that cannot be avoided. For example, I cannot help but enjoy the decorations the city of Southaven (and some of the families in our neighborhood) have already put up; I cannot help but begin contemplating Christmas lists and shopping and black Friday because I have to get a plan together mere hours after the consumption of turkey; I cannot help but enjoy Christmas music already because the station we listen to at work is playing it. All day. Every day. 24/7.

And on that last note, the following:

5 Worst Holiday Songs Ever

• Hippopotamus Christmas Song
• Dominique the Donkey
• Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Miley Cirus version)
• Dogs Barking to Jingle Bells
• A Soldier's Silent Night

5 Best Holiday Songs

• Silent Night (Temptations Version)
• All I Want for Christmas (Mariah Carey)
• Carol of the Bells
• Christmas in Killarney
• My Favorite Things (Julie Andrews)

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the blogspot community nor those of the population at large.

Clarification of the last two blogs

Not that anyone affected by my prior two posts deserves an explanation, but for the record those two blogs ("Warm & Fuzzy" and "Entrepreneurial Spirit") were archived a while back and were inadvertently posted as new blogs yesterday.

My taking them down does should not be seen an indication that they are no longer applicable, only that I have no desire to wake a sleeping monster.

That is all.
You may now return to your regularly scheduled life.

Getting in the Thanksgiving spirit

Yesterday I had a moment of slight panic when I realized that

Thanksgiving is only one week away!

Normally I just show up with rolls and sodas (not because I can't cook but because I have so little free time to prepare anything of substance), but this year's Thanksgiving dinner is going to be at my new home, which means there is much planning, preparing and (yes) cooking expected on my part.

So I shot my mom an email (informal, I know, but again: it was a moment of panic) laying out the plans for next Thursday. And last night I cleaned my house pretty thoroughly. In theory, we'll keep it clean into next week and all we'll need to focus on is the cooking. Yes, I know that won't actually happen, hence the "in theory."

Here's a little something to put you in the spirit of Thanksgiving if you, like me until yesterday, aren't quite there yet:



It'd be better if they could have dressed real turkeys up as MC Hammer (and crew) and taught them to dance like that, but what can I say: I'm ambitious!

Lawdy, son

Have I mentioned my recent obsession with Luke Bryan?
I think I may have touched on it here:
http://southavensupermom.blogspot.com/2011/08/cmt-ramblings.html

Well, I suppose it's as close as I get to an obsession with a celebrity, which is both mild and rare.

Here's the short list:

• Jordan Knight
• Kevin Costner
• John Cusack (this one lasted the longest)
• John Krasinski
• Luke Bryan

Anyhoo, there is at least a mild case of celebrity infatuation there.

Moving on to some sort of point...
At the thank-you dinner I did for everyone who helped me move (at a restaurant called Big League), there were table tents with information about the Luke Bryan concert. My sisters and I were there discussing the beauty that is Luke Bryan and Tommy, true to form, wasn't the least concerned about the conversation (I know some girls think jealousy equates to love, but I am not one of them and absolutely adore that Tommy is so completely laid back about those things). I will admit I was pushing the bar just to see if I could get at least a raised brow, but nothing!

Sooo at his birthday dinner, when it should have been all about him, Tommy tells me he got me a surprise: three tickets to see Luke Bryan! (One for me and one for each of my sisters; Kiera has absolutely no desire to go to any country music concert other than Garth and probably Lady A.) What an amazing boyfriend, right?

The concert is tomorrow night and since Melissa is working (now working nights at Fed Ex in addition to days at Wendy's), I'm taking my darling friend, Stephanie, in her place.
I am hoping that Stephanie will give Lea a ride home from the show as I fully plan on eloping with Luke!

Mmmkay, well maybe not, but a girl can dream. :)

Hump Day Vent

Here is the actual "support" chat between me and an AT&T CSR a few minutes ago:

Bonnie: There isn't another link. I will have to try a different browser, I suppose (I have already tried logging out). Thanks, anyway.

Dolores: Did you want me to stand by? If I can give you a number to order by phone.

Bonnie: No I need to be able to look at the phones and compare. I'll either have to get it figured out online or go into a store.

Bonnie: It wont even give me an option to see other phone options at this point.

Dolores: What about ordering by phone?

Bonnie: No, I'd have to be able to see the phones and their features in order to be able to pick a phone out to order it by phone.

Dolores: To purchase over the phone, please call the AT&T Sales department at 1-888-333-6651. I'd hate to see you frustrated even more.

Bonnie: Ok, thanks

Bonnie: but I'm not purchasing by phone since I won't be able to pick a phone out over the phone.

Dolores: You're most welcome! Enjoy the new phones.

This is comical to me. At one point I thought: is she even reading what I'm typing?" I considered typing something random like, "Baby elephants make me happy" to see when and if she would even mention it.

On another note, what is up with the Kim Kardashian petition going around on FB? This further solidifies my contempt for people due to the general level of stupidity they exhibit. If you don't want to watch Kim Kardashian, then don't. I have managed to go my entire life without watching a single episode of "Keeping Up." I didn't need a petition to do so. It amazes me that we can't get people to sign petitions on things like world-wide genocide (Hey-if it doesn't affect Americans, who cares, right?), but they will happily seek out and sign the anti-Kardashian petition.

Also, while I'm a rant:
Could the occupiers please go home already?
I'm tired of hearing about them.
Aside from that, they don't even have a goal. At least the Korean War protesters (whom I've heard them compared to) had a goal: bring the troops home. These people are just causing mayhem and making themselves look ridiculous. I'm sure the initial group had good intentions (although still no clear goal other than (I suppose) awareness), but they should have begun screening the nut jobs that hopped on the bandwagon and started causing all the problems. Now they all look like a bunch of loons.
98% of Americans want more than they have?
Nay, 100% of Americans want more than they have.
And guess what: You aren't going to get it by camping out in a city park.
Pack your shit up, go home and get a job.
[Yes, I realize as a liberal I am supposed to follow the herd of mindless sheep and occupy something myself, but I am very much fiscally conservative, hence the opposition.]

:) No, I'm not upset. Just venting a little. (:
Enjoy your eve!

Memphis Miles is a Success

As everyone knows from my shamelessly plugging it for the last several months, Memphis Miles for Myeloma walk/run was successfully carried out on Saturday.

I had been asking Jana for weeks what I could do to help with the last minute preparations, but she seemed to have it under control. I was a bit worried. Jana is an expert at these types of fundraisers, but with her going back to work, planning my house warming party, being under the weather AND the Memphis Miles walk, I just didn't know where she would find the time.

Evidently Jana doesn't sleep.

Because every aspect of the event was marvelously carried out.
There were danishes, fresh fruit and coffee upon arrival. One would visit the registration table to confirm their presence (or sign up for those who hadn't done so online) and pay their registration fee + any other donations they had collected. There were also several tables set up by the sponsors of the event, offering all kinds of goodies from stress balls (definitely needed that) to portable radios, popcorn to potholders (Mom loves these freebie tables) and our exclusive Memphis Miles bag (reusable!) with plenty of goodies and a beautiful note from Jana to her fanclub! :)

After the mingling and registration (Kiera and I were supposed to do the welcoming and directing, but it was so cold that everyone in my group, consisting of me, Kiera, my mom, Lea, Theresia and Tina, took turns), Jana did a small speech, welcomed Mark Lutrell (the Shelby County mayor) and had the Father from her church lead us in prayer. Then it was 2.75 mile walk (easy peasy) and back to the welcome center for music (DJ!) and more mingling. After everyone left and we cleaned up, Kiera and I joined Jana and a few friends for a picnic. The food was wonderful, but the weather was completely unagreeable and we ended up spending more time wrestling with our food than eating it (think: windy Chicago autumn). Next year, Jana said, we're going to McAlister's!

While we didn't reach Jana's $25K goal, we did raise quite a bit of money for the MMRF. And, perhaps more importantly, we were able to raise awareness to MM and reach out to others in the community whose lives have been affected by MM. Leading up to the walk, Jana was able to use a variety of media outlets to spread word of the event. On Thursday, she was on with ABC 24 news and, at the event, she met a mother and teenage son who had seen Jana and her promo for Memphis Miles on television. The mother said she had lost her husband to MM last year and the walk made her feel like she had a place of belonging and a way to memorialize her late husband.

[As an aside, let me say that Jana was a natural both on the television and the radio. She didn't appear to be the least bit nervous and was articulate and charming--I think she missed her calling!]

I've already begun brainstorming for next year's event (as has Jana). With a little experience under our belts, word out on the street and a good bit of the work already done for future years (logo created; signs made; vendors, volunteers and sponsor lists created), next year should be even bigger and better!

Thanks to everyone who showed up (on my end) and those who donated online. It's great to have such a wonderful, supportive and kind-hearted group of friends in this little 2.75 we call life.

No need to wait for the next Memphis Miles; we can continue to spread the word throughout the year.
Just remember:
Powerful thinking advances the cure.

Jana and me after the walk

One of the many signs leading the way

Even Taylor Mae came out in support of MMRF

Maroon is the color for MM support, hence the scarves
Kiera, Theresia and me

The best friends a girl could ask for!

The fine folks at El Patio on Austin Peay were nice enough to turn
this on and up so I wouldn't miss Jana's TV debut!

Attention World:

Yes, I know this is stereotypical "southern" behavior, but I promise it's not the norm.
There are so many things wrong with this scenario, I don't even know where to begin!
Police: Woman Stabs Cousin During Fight Over 'Booty Call'

House-warming = Break...

or, at least, that is what I told everyone I worked to their wit's ends before Sunday's house-warming party. There were just a very few things I absolutely had to get done beforehand and, while I'm not normally a demanding kind of person (in fact, I usually shy away from asking for anything from anyone), I was definitely an out of character drill sergeant on the days leading up to Sunday.

Did we get it all done? Yes, we did!

Just hours before the party began, I had Tommy moving  light fixtures around and Ben installing the new hardware on my sink. Timmy was painting trim work and I was still cleaning. BUT by the time 2:00 rolled around, we were in great shape. In fact, I wasn't stressed at all!

Jana and Jay were hosting the party, and they did an amazing job with the food and layout. I got some wonderful gifts and got to spend some time with my friends and family, which was the most important thing. It was literally perfect. No exaggeration: perfect.

Since a picture's worth a thousand words, I'll let them speak for the party and also finally show my house to the world-at-large. Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a memorable day.

On second thought--I'm going to put pics of the house in a separate post, otherwise this post will have a million photos in it. :)

Bedazzling Sedaris

While the rest of Memphis was buzzing about Zac Brown Band at the Forum, fellow English lit-geek Vanessa and I were buzzing about our evening with David Sedaris at the GPAC. Sedaris brought the same level of wit and humor to the stage that he brings to each of his books, and it was a great night.

We arrived in plenty of time to catch a (very giddy) sneak peak of the book-signing session. And, while I'm not normally a star-stuck kind of girl, Sedaris's presence made me feel like 12 year old at a Bieber concert. We had wonderful seats, which offered a completely unobstructed view of Sedaris (this is normally an issue for me as the tallest person in the room is almost always, without falter, sitting directly in front of me). I could have done without the mumbler beside me (you know, one of those that answers every rhetorical question the speaker asks under his/her breath) and Vanessa probably could have done without the larger than her seat (and therefore spilling into Vanessa's) girl beside her, but otherwise: perfect.

After the show, we stood in line for the book signing and were further impressed by Sedaris. First off, he wasn't a diva at all. He was there signing books immediately after the performance and didn't keep us waiting. He ate his dinner at the book-signing table, which was a little rude, but hey--a man's gotta eat! Also, he spent time talking to everyone who came for a signature. This meant the line moved rather slowly, but after an hour and a half, we were at the front. Face-to-face with Sedaris and discussing what we would do with the extra .50 from our $3 abortion. Yes, you had to be there. Quirky? Oh, I can totally do quirky. Van too. And I've gotta say, we cracked the man up. Not a chuckle, but an all out laughing-still-as-we-made-our-way-to-the-door, woulda-made-Santa-Claus-himself-proud kinda laugh. We figure we might even make tomorrow's "diary" portion of the show.

He wishes Vanessa were his teacher and I bedazzled him.
Or at least that's what he wrote in our books.
I bedazzled Sedaris.
I bedazzled Sedaris
I bedazzled Sedaris
I bedazzled Sedaris.
Any way you put it, it's nothing less than awesome.
Not bad for a Thursday evening. :)

Kiddo's Headed to State!

So you have an opinion on Roe v. Wade. Now what about everything else?

     In high school, we never sat through one single class of sex education because it would "encourage the behavior" and therefore wasn't allowed. So it was not surprising that, at the tender age of 18, I got pregnant with my daughter. I asked my Dr. to tie my tubes once I had her, certain that she was the only child I wanted, and I was told that I had to be at least 24 or have at least 3 children before it would even be considered. And I remember an uneasy feeling at having someone tell me when I could decide not to have more children. Fourteen years later and I am still a mother of one, but it has taken much effort and many forms of contraception to stay in tune with the plan I had for my family.
     Now funding for the clinics that support this type of planning (PP) is being cut because the clinics support a woman's right to choice. So at least once a year I have to visit my PCP and pay upwards of $200 to have a myriad of tests run (only one, a pregnancy test, at all applicable) in order to obtain a Rx for birth control. Birth control which is, by the way, largely available over-the-counter in other developed countries (after all, there is no risk or benefit to "abusing" birth control). I pay for my Rx out of pocket monthly (because many insurance plans are no longer covering their costs), endure its side-effects and hope that (1) I remember to take it at the exact same time each night and (2) I don't accidentally take it with another medication that may render it ineffective. Amazing that we put a man on the moon some fifty years ago and still cannot develop effective birth control. IUD, the morning after-pill and other forms of contraception on are on the verge of being outlawed in states like my own (Mississippi), further restricting my access to quality reproductive healthcare.
    So when the system (above) fails a woman and she has an unintended pregnancy, she resorts to her last available measure: an abortion. There, she is met with a group of protesters who call her a whore and a murderer; she endures a costly, painful and time-consuming process and is, at times, left with the guilt and grief of having to make such a decision.
   If you took notice only to that last paragraph (whether appalled or pleased), then you are part of the problem. It seems to me that the debate on reproductive healthcare these days focuses on one lone issue: Roe v. Wade. But what about our broken system? Why not focus on other means of birth control so that fewer woman are left in a position to make to make a choice? Why require women to jump through hoops to be responsible for their reproductive health and also be angry when the hoops YOU helped to create result in an unintended pregnancies?
     The old "abstinence" lectures are not working. In fact, they never have. Furthermore, why restrict access to available measures to control a situation simply because a person doesn't abstain? I've never heard of a doctor refusing a patient Lipitor because (s)he isn't abstaining from fast food. It's irrelevant.
     Far too often I hear things like, "Do the crime, pay the time" or "I did it and now I have to be responsible for my actions" or "I know these consequence could happen and now I have to take it on." But is this really the mentality that we want families to begin with? One of obligation and consequence rather than love and desire to parent? How ready do you think these parents are? We have failed to protect them from the pregnancy and we've failed to prepare them for the ramifications. Yet we judge them. We place a stigma on teen moms that they will carry throughout their lives. We applaud their pro-life mentality and shun them for asking for government assistance because they were not financially prepared. We do not prepare our young men to protect themselves (often leaving it up to the woman) nor do we explain the difficulties of being a young father. We continue to fail them daily.
     I encourage you to think about the many flaws in our broken system and how we might ensure more women are not forced to consider that final measure when all else has failed them. I encourage you, rather than spending your time trying to outlaw abortion, to focus on measures that open the door to more wide spread reproductive healthcare availability. I encourage you to talk to your child(ren), explaining that bringing a child into this world and raising it is a tremendous responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. I encourage you to focus on filling all the gaps in so women may plan their families without the burdens currently in place. Until we do this, women will always resort to the last measure as a final desperate means to plan her family--whether it be in your state or another, a doctor's office or an alleyway. Focus on fixing the system rather than blaming one who cannot navigate her way through it. Then, and only then, will women have fair and adequate reproductive healthcare.

We're making progress... :)

Random Memory

Last night I (rather randomly) remembered watching Mommy Dearest with my Mom several times over as a young child.

I wonder if she was trying to tell me: See, you don't have it so bad!

[Note to self: Must watch Mommy Dearest with Kiera next time she's being a melodramatic teen.]

It's Getting Hot in Here...

With Election Day right around the corner and an election year right around the corner from that, things are getting pretty politically charged.

I was reading the blog of an activist I follow when I read the following quote, which I think is profound:

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
~Desmond Tutu

I have always thought this to be the case, although I doubt I've ever expressed it as articulately.

I hope you will take a moment to reflect upon Tutu's words as we approach election day and vote with your conscious rather than taking an apathetic or (cliche) they-are-all-crooks-anyway approach to the political movement(s) in your area.

Voting is both your right and your duty.

...And...she's at it again!

Oh, Ann Coulter, will you ever learn?

Did you really tweet

Kim Kardashian inspires slogan for 2012 presidential campaign, [Once] you go half-black, you CAN go back. [???]

And, on the same day, follow that up with an appearance on Fox (the only station worthy of such a poor showing), telling Hannity, "Our blacks are so much better than their blacks." [???]

I mean, come on. Seriously?
Have you been eating paint chips again?

Someone please put a muzzle on that girl.
(You'd think the Republican party would have already thought of this, seeing as how (1) she can't be good for the party's image and (2) they are sooo in favor of intruding on individuals' rights on a daily basis. They must be too busy denying minorities' rights to focus on it at this time.)

Someday...

I asked Subtitle what it would take to make my house look like this and he said $10k, which really means $2,500 in Bonnie terms since I only shop the 75% off after-holiday clearance. Maybe someday...

*wince*

This commercial...


just bothers the beegezus outta me.
I don't know why--can't quite put my finger on it, but every time I see it, which has only been a couple of times, fortunately, I wince. It's tacky, but I still don't think that's quite it.

It wasn't until I went to youtube to grab the embedding code this morning that I realized: Wow, there are a LOT of opinions out there on this commercial!

Here's the youtube link if you want to check the comments out for yourself.

My favorite from the bunch:

that basically amounted to: Men have battled over your taint for centuries, shouldn't you keep that shit fresh? Summer's Eve: 'cause let's face it--your funky junk won't change the world.

But the one that probably most accurately summed up my thoughts was the following:

Um, it's not really about a "strong, empowered woman" who's in complete control. It's boiling a woman down to just being a crotch. Basically it's saying "guys want to have sex with you, which totally gives you power. So, wash your crotch." Not to mention, douching is actually not recommended by medical professionals in most situations. The vagina is largely self-cleaning.

This is the sort of commercial that only "empowers" women who have no idea that their value doesn't lie between their legs.

And now I've already spent more time on that commercial than it ever deserved.
Carry on.

House-Warming gift from Mom and Ben :)

It's Pumpkin Carving Time

Not to brag, but it's a widely known fact that I have mad pumpkin carving skills.

Well, 'cept for that one time I tried to carve "Happy Halloween" into the pumpkin and ended up with "Happy." Yup, just "Happy." Suffice to say, I was not.

Anyhoo, kiddo and I will be carving pumpkins tonight. Not sure if we'll go to my Mom's or handle it solo (for the first time since moving back), but we're already later than usual and will most definitely be carving tonight. Sometimes we free-hand the pumpkins but other times we use templates. Since I refuse to pay for anything I can get for free, you can usually find me (this time of year) on the free pumpkin carving template websites. Sites like these are well-known, but the efficient way(s) to search these templates is lesser known.

I usually search "free pumpkin templates" or "free pumpkin carving" or "free pumpkin patters" (or some combination thereof) and click the Google images search. This way, you can see pics of hundreds of templates without having to click on individual designs or search through pages upon pages before finding those print-worthy ones. Make sure you search with "free" in google, otherwise you'll end up with a massive number of templates that you will (invariably) fall in love with, only to realize you have to add them to a cart in order to download.


These simply tips should make finding the right pattern a cinch.
 
I'll try to post some pics of our own finished jack o'lanterns if time permits.
Until next time...

(L to R) Melissa, Lea, Chase, Timmy and Kiera's Pumpkins 2009

Rounding Third...

Saturday in October 2010:

• Get up
• Read/Watch TV
• Lounge
• Lounge
• Nap
• Lounge
• Clean house

Saturday in October 2011:

• Get up
• Schedule appointment to look at washers & dryers
• Drive to Farrell Calhoun for paints
• Strike up lengthy conversation with FC employee to secure contractor discount on this and subsequent visits (yup, it worked)
• Trip to Home Depot for 1/2" drywall and new faucet
• Trim hedges
• Clean
• Pick out (and up) washer & dryer* [wipes brow]
• Center light fixture in kiddo's bath* (what a task!)
• Sand and re-mud wall mentioned above
• Complete door project*
• Hang new chandelier in breakfast nook*
• Unpack master bath boxes and arrange in closet
• Wish for more hours in the day

*Denotes projects in which Tommy led or assisted

Suffice to say: This was a very productive weekend.
And, with a Halloween party scheduled in six days, this week will be no different.
(Please enter your name and contact info below for information on how to volunteer.) ;)

Looks sooo much better than the brass

No one in the history of mankind has happier about an appliance purchase than I with this one

My daughter better never try her arm at breaking and entering again