These are some of my favorite photos from St Patty’s Days past.
An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
And if that doesn’t happen…
Cheers!
This Week’s I ♥ Faces couldn’t better describe our winter this season! With record lows here in the Tampa Bay area this winter, we’ve spent the past few months very bundled up, but for Floridians, that means wearing closed toes shoes on a daily basis rather than flip-flops. Although this past January, we had to dust off the Uggs on a few occasions as there were reports of snow flurries as far south as Naples, which is simply absurd for the Sunshine State.
However, my family and I have seen more than our share of snow flurries for the past two winters. Every January, we travel to North Carolina to experience a real winter complete with snow boots, snow pants, water resistant mittens, long johns and lots of performance fleece. After spending a week in 10 degree temperatures, 30 degrees feel like a heat wave.
I *heart* my TiVO. Now, it may seem a bit bizarre to proclaim my love for TiVO during a Musical Monday post, but just go with me on this. When I say TiVO, I’m not using the generic blanketed term to label my DVR. It’s the real McCoy. See, a TiVO is this genius little contraption that learns what programs you like to watch and begins recording new programs called “suggestions” that match your television viewing tastes, which is how my TiVO knows me so well. He just gets me.
If you recall a few weeks ago, I briefly mentioned Spectacle: Elvis Costello With during my Ray LaMontagne post. Since I also watch Later with Jools Holland, my TiVO noticed that I enjoy music shows and suggested a new (but really not-so-new) program.
Since becoming pregnant, I have been waking up around 3:00 a.m. and I am unable to fall back to sleep. (Old wives’ tales would tell that this will be the time I will feed the baby when he arrives.) While wide awake in the wee hours of the morning, I’ll scroll through our “Now Playing List” to see what new shows have recorded. Sometimes, I’ll even flip through the “Suggestions” folder to see what little programming presents my TiVO will leave me. And that’s when I found an old flame from the past: 120 Minutes.
Apparently, VH1 airs old episodes of 120 Minutes at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings.
Finding 120 Minutes in my Suggestions list brought back memories of my high school days. I remember setting our VCR every Sunday night to discover all the cutting edge alternative music (referred to as New Wave in those days) that would never hit the airwaves on our Tampa radio stations. Then, I remembered how I would also record on Sunday nights The Young Ones and Andy Warhol’s 15 Minutes both which also featured cutting edge music, but I’m probably really dating myself by even mentioning these beloved shows.
So here it was, 120 Minutes, a blast from the past in my present modern day world and despite being awake in the wee hours of the morning, my TiVO made me happy. As I fast forwarded through the music show, I stumbled upon a vintage video that summed up my love for my TiVO and its perfect programming present.
A Week’s Worth of the View: Week 1
If you’ve noticed the nifty little new badge that states “I’m a The View Brand Ambassador”, you may have wondered what that wee widget means. Basically, I was selected to participate in a program where I watch The View and share my thoughts about the show on my blog and in variety of social networks, such as Twitter and Mom Central.
Admittedly, it has been years since I watched The View. Organizing my moms group and attending several play dates a week leaves little time for daytime television. My most recent knowledge of The View was from satirical sketches on Saturday Night Live. But here was my opportunity “to take time to enjoy the View” and see what I’ve been missing all these years.
Unfortunately, I realized that I hadn’t missed much, but I did learn that the cast of SNL does a FANTASTIC job of impersonating the cast of The View and Kristen Wiig’s impersonation of Elisabeth Hasselbeck is spot on.
I tuned in Monday to hear all the Oscar buzz, but according The View’s panel, the award show was a bust. Joy Behar called it “boring, stiff and constipated”, but she felt that Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin really complemented each other. Although I missed the Oscars this year, it seemed that the two hosts worked well together based upon the highlights of the award show I watched on-line.
The panel also mentioned that Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) won for Best Director and noted that she was the first female director to win. I was surprised by this fact because I had sworn that Sophia Coppola won a few years ago for Lost in Translation, but later realized she won for Best Screenplay. The ladies complained about the music that accompanied Ms. Bigelow’s exit off stage (I am Woman. Hear Me Roar). They felt the music selection was inappropriate and tacky, however, I disagree. I found it funny and charming. There are few female directors in the film industry and their work is rarely recognized with only four female directors ever being nominated. So good for you, Kathryn! YOU ARE WOMAN! It’s about time the Academy orchestrated a symphony for a woman’s roaring performance!
On Monday, they also touched upon the Oscar tribute to fallen stars, but how some stars were omitted from the tribute, such as Farrah Fawcett. Since I hadn’t seen the Oscars, I didn’t understand the reference, but this Hot Topic would be discussed further later in the week.
On Wednesday, the ladies discussed the Oscars “In Memoriam” in more detail and shared their outrage with the stars that had been omitted. I have to agree that the Academy committed a huge faux pas by not recognizing such stars as Bea Arthur, Richardo Montalban and Farrah Fawcett and their bodies of work. I would much rather memorialize Kahn than the King of Pop.
The ladies briefly talked about the John Hughes tribute. Elisabeth had been quite moved by the tribute and after watching the video on-line, I have to agree with her. John Hughes films were our teenage anthem in the 80’s.
Also during the Hot Topics segment, Whoopi expressed her outrage with Shock Jock Howard Stern’s rude comments about Gabourey Sidibe, the star of Precious. Stern’s comments suggested that Ms. Sidibe would not find any further work in
Hollywood due to her looks and size. Whoopi was clearly more annoyed that Robin (Howard Stern’s sidekick) did not defend Gabourey. I also feel Howard Stern’s remarks were rude, but that’s Howard Stern’s schtick. That’s what he does and he’s been doing it for years. I don’t value his opinions any more than I value Rush Limbaugh’s opinions.
American Idol also came up during the Hot Topics piece on Wednesday’s show. Joy commented on the judges being too “wacky” this season, particularly with Kara’s tearful reaction to St. Pete (Whoop! Whoop!) resident Michael Lynch’s performance of A Woman’s Work. I thought that Joy’s comments were wacky, because the original version by Kate Bush has moved me to tears on more than one occasion. The lyrics in A Woman’s Work are so powerful, and like Kara said, when an artist connects with the words and the emotion of a song, that connection is felt by the audience. So cry on, Kara and pass the Kleenex!
Joy also brought up “Boxershorts”, better known as Crystal Bowersox, and how she had “star quality”. I definitely agree. I believe Crystal out performed Tracey Chapman this week with her own rendition of Give Me One Reason.
Jesse Ventura appeared as a guest on Wednesday’s show to promote his new book, American Conspiracies. I had previously seen Jesse Ventura on the Today Show so I was familiar with his new book and his theories. Truthfully, I don’t know if I necessarily believe all his theories, but I prefer to keep an open mind and entertain the idea of a great government conspiracy. However, if I had only seen this interview, I would have been highly annoyed with the panel. Those ladies 
wouldn’t shut up and let the man speak! And if I only saw this one interview, I would have thought Jesse Ventura was a madman! After a few short minutes, he appeared frazzled with wild flyaway hair and he soon resembled Riff Raff from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
On Thursday’s show, tabloids were a Hot Topic more than once, because publications such as the National Enquirer are now eligible for a Pulitzer Prize. From a journalist whose career spans over four decades, I sensed a sarcastic tone in Barbara’s voice. She felt “checkbook journalism” would discredit real journalists. Barry Levine, CEO of the National Enquirer, disagreed, of course. He stated that his reporters check sources and facts before running stories and although their pieces may seem like fabrications, his publication has done an excellent job of reporting real news first, such as the Jonathan Edwards affair and the Tiger Woods sex scandal.
Real news or checkbook journalism, I honestly don’t see much worth in any tabloid. Sure, I like to glance over the headlines while at the grocery line check-out, but I really don’t give those publications much more notice or credence than that. Pulitzer Prize or not. Incidentally, I use a similar method when reading USA Today through the glass panel in corner newstand.
But then, I don’t see The View as real journalism either. Maybe I should use this same method when watching The View? I’ll just pay attention to the Hot Topic headlines and nothing more. There’s not much substance beyond that.
And now for the legal mumbo jumbo…
“I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.”
“Mommy, would you like to play restaurant with me?”
“I would love to,” I replied.
“O.K., I’ll go get it ready!” Emmalynn excitedly exclaimed as she ran off to prepare for my arrival. Clanging metal pans and dishes crashed to the playroom floor which was accompanied by the banging of hollow plastic play food as Emmalynn served a symphony of sweets for her patron.
While she prepared her restaurant, I quickly checked my e-mail, which in hindsight may not have been my brightest parenting moment.
As I read through my e-mails, I heard Emmalynn scamper down the hallway into the bathroom which was followed by a faucet at full blast. Then, she ran back down the hall.
Secretly, I had hoped she didn’t fill her teapot with water. I dreaded drinking water from a dirty, grubby tea set. As I curiously peeked around the corner, I discovered Emmalynn washing the wall with a soaked washcloth.
“Emmalynn, what are you doing?”
“I wanted to make a sign for my restaurant, but I made a mistake. I ran out of room for the letters in my name and I wanted to erase it and start over.”
Then, I noticed very large purple (her favorite color) letters written on the wall and wondered what the appropriate response to this creative situation would be.
“Yes, I see that you ran out of room, because you made your letters too big, but a wet washcloth will not wash crayon off the wall. But more importantly, when you want to make a sign, you use paper. You know that. We write on paper, not walls. And the good thing about using paper for a sign is you can tape it anywhere you want, like above the table or by the door so everyone can see it when they enter your restaurant.”
“Oh yeah”, she replied as a light bulb went off in her head and then it quickly shined on a subject that mattered more to her. “My restaurant is ready, Mommy.”
With her direction, I sat down and enjoyed a delicious plateful of plastic cookies, strawberries and a cupcake.
Although Emmalynn has a reputation for doodling on walls and leaving a path of destruction everywhere she goes, it was really difficult for me to get angry with her this time. Writing on walls is a rite of passage and a phase many children go through. Unfortunately, Emmalynn has not left this stage yet, but it’s all right. We’ll simply store stockpiles of Magic Erasers in every room of the house until she’s finished with this phase.
Hopefully, some time before she starts kindergarten.
“It’s a boy,” the ultrasound technician stated so matter-of-factly. She said it so casually that the news didn’t register at first.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” I asked.
“It’s a boy. You’re having a boy and he’s hung like a horse!”
“A boy?!” I looked at Allan in disbelief. Tears flooded my eyes. I never entertained the idea of a son. I just assumed our odds favored another girl.
Once the unsuspected and strange sound “boy” sank in, I realized I need to relearn how to diaper a baby so I don’t get sprayed in the face. Long lists of all new baby items filled my head. He’ll need new bedding and onesies that aren’t pink.
As I stared in amazement at the hazy black and white screen, I counted ten tiny toes and fingers.
I spotted lovely long legs, a spine, a beautiful big brain and a heartbreaker heart.
And like a typical guy, he proudly showed off his family jewels and gave us a ticket to the gun show.
Although Allan and I are still in disbelief that we made a little boy, we are simply tickled pink blue by the news.
Proudly submitted at
This week’s I Heart Faces challenge perfectly described the emotion my family and I are feeling these days with the arrival of a new baby. I couldn’t pass up the chance to share a photo that expressed our excitement!
This photo was taken last summer at Emmalynn’s 4th birthday party.
Allan and I are heading to the OB for an ultrasound this morning and hopefully, if the baby cooperates, we will find out the gender of our baby. Allana and Emmalynn are hoping for a baby brother.
Allan can’t help to think pink. He feels he is destined to live in a house filled with estrogen girls.
I don’t have a preference. A passive and submissive child would be a nice change, but since I’ve been feeling this baby kick from about 17 weeks, I don’t see that in my future. So here’s hoping for a healthy, happy sleeping through the night future runner!
Stay tuned to find out if Run DMT Baby #3 will be a boy or girl!
It’s no new news how devastating the housing market crash has been all over the U.S., but these days it seems to be hitting closer and closer to home.
During these dark economic times, I feel blessed that my husband has a job with a decent income to afford me staying at home to raise our children and maintain a roof over our heads. But I know that my neighbors haven’t been so fortunate.
Our decision to move to this little suburb outside of Tampa almost 4 years ago seemed like a logical choice. Moving closer to Tampa would cut my husband’s commute in half and we envisioned this neighborhood as the Promise Land. For the most part, it has been for my family. We met some wonderful friends and my girls attend good schools.
However these days, the promise land has become “The Great Housing Dust Bowl”. Each day it seems another family is forced to move out and another For Sale sign pops up as our neighborhood slowly transforms into a ghost town.
This ghost town has developed as result of a combination of several things: heads of households losing jobs, increases in taxes and homeowner’s insurance, 100% mortgages coming into maturity, and quite frankly, some families living well beyond their means.
No matter the reason, we are surrounded by empty homes with foreclosure notices and For Sale or For Rent signs. My two next door neighbors are the most recent victims of unfortunate circumstances.
It is truly a sad sign of the times.
