30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 4

"Bullet Your Whole Day"

• Wake Up. Check to see if Mini is still asleep or awake doing bad things.
• Potty (Yup, I'm human!)
• Breakfast. Today was Cheerios and milk. No bananas :(
• Check phone. Answer emails, texts and voicemails.
• Wake Mini up. It may be summer but I'm tired of late nights.
• Argue with Mini about whether she should have breakfast or not.
• Give into Mini's request to skip breakfast. The fighting is giving me a headache anyways and it's almost lunch time at this point.
• Turn on Nick Jr.
• Lunch time! Peanut butter and jelly. Yum!
• Conversate with Mini at the lunch table. 
• Demand she eat her crust and stop wasting bread. 
• Continue eating as Mini pouts, but reluctantly finishes upon promise of a cupcake.
• Give Mini a cupcake.
• Clean frosting off Mini's thighs. Yup that happened.
• Head upstairs so I can possibly get some work done. 
• Turn on tv to a music station.
• Put together some toys so Mini can play with them. One is a Polly Pocket car with a hot tub in the back. 
• Turn on computer.
• Dust as computer loads.
• Sign onto computer.
• Break up fight between the two dogs over a piece of dust (seriously!)
• Dump water on myself as I try to fix car door on the toy I just assembled for Mini.
• Ask Mini what happened. "It's a tub Mommy. I filled it with water."
• Dump the rest of the water on Mini. Not my finest hour of parenting, but we both got a laugh out of it at least.
• Set up fan to blow into the room. It's hot in the den!
• Break up second tiff between the dogs over a toy that's not even theirs. 
• Send dogs to different couches to lay down.
• Potty time again. (TMI I know, but this is funny..)
• Discover Mini used toilet water.
• Realize I threw toilet water onto my child earlier. 
• Ask Mini "You used toilet water?" "Yes. It was just sitting there." Well played, child.
• Discuss a snack with Mini. She wants Twizzlers. Fine whatever. Have them.
• Check Twitter. Apparently, Jason Kidd is coming to the NY Knicks. 
• Call husband and spoil his sports radio commute home by telling him the breaking news. (HA!)
• Tell Mini to put her markers back in the bin. There is no need to hide them all over the den. 
• Read Mini a story. 
• Take call from husband who is on his way home. Dinner is pizza. Everything else is frozen.
• Discuss Mini using foot bath later. 
• Discuss Mini actually taking a shower. No, she wants to go to sleep dirty. *SHUDDER* I guess tomorrow I throw her in the tub first thing and change her sheets. 
• Dinner time. Pizza is here.
• Go through mail and daily paper.
• Take rabbit out of cage and brush him. 
• Choke on rabbit hair.
• Make two new rabbits with all the hair I just brushed off the rabbit. Seriously, he's shedding like crazy!
• VERY carefully remove clothes covered in hair.
• Shower time.
• Sit down at computer.
• Check Facebook.
• Check other social networks.
• Clean out Mini's ears.
• Go to Blogger site.
• Turn on music. 
• Attempt to do daily blog post.
• Discuss Mini using my foot spa.
• Tell husband to set her up in her chair.
• Check Twitter. METS WIN!!! YAY!!! 
• Tweet about the Mets win over Philly.
• Text pics of Mini's room painted to sister and friends.
• Attempt #2 to do daily blog post.
• Shake my head as nightly tests are flooding in. Everyone checking in and seeing what's up for the weekend. Wait, what day is it?? Answer all texts.
• Attempt #3 to do post. 
• Type title and what the post is about. 
• Say good night to Mini and make sure dogs are downstairs.
• Start typing out post.
• Drink root beer float husband has brought as a peace offering (it's ALWAYS a peace offering!)
• Finally finish blog post.
• I will be heading to bed soon, hopefully uneventfully. I will brush my teeth, swipe my face with witch hazel, lotion up my feet, check the humidifier, check on Mini, then hopefully fall asleep before I start to think about the weekend.

Guess it was a slow day today :)

SO. How was YOUR day?

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 3

"A Book You Love"

I love to read! I really do. I have read so many good books, it's hard to pick just one. I have more of a "favorites list" than only one. One book that stands out in my mind (and prominently on my shelf as a matter of fact) is Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree".
Yes, I am well aware it is technically a kid's book, but the message is for everyone;
LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDS!
There is nothing the tree would not do for the boy. She gave and gave until she thought she had nothing left. When she was but a stump, she offered herself as a chair. When I first read the book, I got a little agitated with the boy. Every single time I read the book, I would think "What a selfish ass! He just uses the tree and doesn't even bother to visit or anything when he doesn't need anything."
The older I got, the more I identified with the tree. The boy's happiness was always temporary and he always returned to the tree, whom he knew he could trust. Sometimes, we give and give and receive nothing in return. It's in my nature to help people. Sometimes, it comes at a price (whether monetary or a bit of sanity at the moment) but I am always willing to give helping out a shot. At times, I feel like a tree full of apples and there is plenty for everyone. Other times, I feel like a stump. I re-read this story all the time and realize that some people are like the boy and some are like the tree: the givers of this world and the takers.
I prefer being a tree, thank you very much :)

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 2

"Something You Feel Strongly About"

Wow. There are a lot of topics I can discuss forever, but I have to pick one. Since it came up in conversation today, I'm going to pick "Motorcycles".
No I don't want to discuss the specs and logistics. I want to discuss motorcycle riders. Now don't get me wrong. I love motorcycles. I think people who ride them are fascinating. One thing stands out in my mind though.. Death. It seems to be happening more and more that motorcyclists are dying on the roads. A lot of articles pin the blame on whoever was driving the car that hit the motorcycle.
But is it always the car-driver's fault?
A few weeks ago, I was on my way to a chiropractor appointment. I saw a motorcycle behind me, riding my tail. I was all the way over in the left lane on the expressway. Since he was traveling so close, I became nervous. If I had to stop short for any reason, he would face plant against my back window. There was a car to the right of me so I was going to pull ahead of that car then into the right lane so the motorcycle guy could pass me. I started to do just that. At the same time, the guy sped up and was coming up in between the two cars, mine and the one to the right. I screamed and jerked my truck back into the left lane.
My heart was pounding. I could have killed him!
He flipped me off as he drove past and I got mad. How dare he! I was going to let him pass, but instead he goes and does something stupid, then flips ME off? Yup.
This was not the first and not even the last time I have witnessed this type of behavior with motorcyclists. Yes, we should be looking in our mirrors to check for motorcycles, but in turn, the people riding them need to be responsible enough to stop doing anything stupid.
Responsible driving is EVERY driver's concern, no matter what vehicle they are operating!

Happy 90th, Nanny!

Here is my extra post for this month. Tomorrow I resume the 30 Day Challenge..
Everyone has someone who has influenced and/or inspired them in some way. I have a few and one of them is my Grandmother. She turns 90 today, July 2nd, 2012. "Nanny" (as we've always called her) still drives and still works. She is a Senior Companion. Go figure! Ask her what she does and she will tell you "I take little old ladies shopping". The kicker is these women are 10-20 years YOUNGER than Nan.
Last Saturday was her official party. It was amazing having four generations in one place. Nanny, My Father, Me and Mini (my 5yo daughter). The last major birthday party we had for Nanny was her 85th. In one picture, she was holding my then 3-week-old daughter. It is truly incredible watching them together now. Mini is almost 4 feet tall and Nanny has shrunk down to 4'11".
Since Mini will never meet her one Grandma, it thrills me to no end that these two have bonded. They have some pretty interesting conversations. They usually involve a lot of "what?" and "huh?" but are always entertaining.
Nanny and I both have arthritis. On particularly humid or even rainy days, we call each other and discuss what joint hurts and what we have or haven't taken for it. She says, "You know you're old when you start discussing arthritis with your GRANDchildren!" She might be onto something there :)
When you start having kids and growing up, the birthday cards become few and far between. Nanny never misses. I get a card from her every year. I have requested she stop putting money in them, but if she insists, I take her out to dinner and slip it back into her purse. I'm sure she knows I do this, but she doesn't say anything. On my first wedding anniversary, Nanny was in the hospital after having a heart attack. The woman actually apologized because my card would be late. I cracked up! "Nan you can't be serious! Oh goodness. I don't need a card. Just knowing you're going to be okay is enough for me." I did get my card. It was a week late with "Sorry" written all over the back of the envelope. Yup that's my Nanny!
The fact that Nanny can do what she does and get around like she does is truly an inspiration! She has stated that when she passes, she is donating her body to science. Science will be lucky to have her :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANNY!! I know you don't read anything like this, but you already know you inspire me. I just wanted to share that. LOVE YOU MUCHLY!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 1

"Five Ways To Win Your Heart"

1. BE HONEST!
As I have previously posted, nothing is more annoying than dishonesty. Even if the truth hurts, I will respect you for telling it. If you promise to be honest, I promise to go easy on the "loaded" questions.

2. UNDERSTAND MY FAMILY IS COMPLICATED.
My family is complicated. I'm adopted so there is the adopteds and the biologicals. I need a piece of paper and a flowchart to explain it all. Some of my friends have known me over a decade and still have to ask "Which sibling is that?" You have to win over both my families to score big points with me.

3. DON'T TRY TO FIX MY PROBLEMS!
I hold stress in all the time. I don't like to burden people with my problems so when I vent, it's just that. I'm spilling what's on my mind. I don't want your solutions, unless I ask, which is highly unlikely. In turn, I will let you vent about whatever you need to and will not give 'helpful hints' unless asked.

4. PAY ATTENTION.
If you can make a mental note every time the words "I love that" or "I hate that" come out of my mouth, we'll be just fine. Don't assume I am like every other person you've known. I would rather you ask me what flowers I like (blue carnations please!) than waste your money on red roses (I prefer peach anyways). Actually, if you really got to know me, you would know I kill plants (I don't know how it happens but they just die in my care) and  I would rather you get me something else. Pay attention to subtle hints.

5. TALK TO ME!
This is huge. Communication is a two-way street. It's very important for both people to share their likes, dislikes, life stories, funny anecdotes or other things that make you laugh. It makes me feel like you are opening up your world to me, wanting me to be a part of it.

There you have it. Five ways to win me over. I could go on but the challenge said 5 :)

30 Day Blog Challenge: Here I Go!

I have decided to go for it and try out a blog challenge. This will get me back into the swing of writing every day and with a purpose. Yes, I realize July has 31 days, but July 2nd is my Grandmother's 90th birthday so I am dedicating that post to her.
I googled '30 Day Blog Challenge' and there are many different challenges out there. Everyone has a different version and I really wished I had bookmarked where I found the one I decided to use. Sorry to the original poster. That's a fail on my part :(
Happy Reading!

Tell Me The Truth Already!

Lying. Is there anything worse? I hate being lied to. Nothing boils my blood more than when someone says they will do something and they don't...or if they start telling me a story that I know is total nonsense.
Some lies are just exaggerations. Ex: "I lost 50 lbs." Oh really? Is that why you're still the same size? 15 lbs, maybe 20, but 50? Nope. I'm happy for you that you are losing weight but really there is no need to lie.
Some lies are unbelievable. Ex: "This isn't what it looks like." Oh really? So you hang out in bed naked with all your friends? Why is there an empty condom wrapper on the floor? Were you blowing it up to celebrate being naked?
It's shameful people actually think you're so stupid as to believe lines like that!
Some lies are a last resort when they feel backed up against a wall. They lie to get out of a situation. Then they lie to get out of the lie. As anyone knows, it's the "snowball effect". We all know what giant snowballs do, right? They crush things in their path.
I get into the debate about lying with my female and male friends alike. The guys always insist that women get mad when you tell them the truth. My first question: If you love your significant other, why are you doing something so stupid you have to lie about it? Women don't get mad when you tell them the truth. True, the truth might be really hurtful but at least she can respect you for not lying. Honestly, your actions might warrant some anger. Why not take some blame before calling your woman 'crazy'?
Again, the boys take issue. So for those that believe women are emotional and crazy, riddle me this: When your woman FOUND OUT something then you lied about it to her face, how mad was she? When you lied again to cover your tracks, what happened?
A mature person in a relationship will take the truth as it comes. The worst thing you can do is lie. If your SO has the evidence right in your face, it's time to fess up immediately. If it really is a misunderstanding, CALMLY explain so. However, let's watch the amount of times there is a 'misunderstanding' as well. Shady behavior will most likely not be tolerated. Even in a relationship where trust has never come into question, shady behavior will cause cracks in the foundation.
The best solution would be to stop doing things that would need a lie or cover-up. If your relationship survives, please understand what it takes to give someone a second chance and don't blow it again. Once trust is broken, it takes a lot to gain it back. Some people never get back to what their relationship used to be.
Ask yourself this: How much does this person mean to me? If a person means anything to you, they deserve the truth. Lying will get you nowhere. Honesty and communication will take you far.