Taking Care of Business

Because Lora just had to know, and I've been a bad friend for not answering! Plus all of my mental capacity is being shunted to my uterus, so filling out lists seems easier than coming up with a nice, original idea. So here we go!

6 Things I Value

1. Cliche, I know, but my family. God I love all three of these buggers. Even when Lucy cries for six hours because she's cutting 42 teeth and no amount of tylenol/ice pops/M&Ms can quell the screaming. Just as an example, you know.

2. My bed. Not just for sleeping, (Get your mind out of the gutter!) (No wait, don't. You were right.) it's one of my favorite places in the house. We have eight pillows and a big, warm comforter. Any time I'm feeling a little unglued, we all snuggle up and watch some Berenstain Bears or Flight of the Concords, depending on my company, and all is right with the world.

3. Trader Joe's. Between all of the yummy things and the balloons, everybody wins when we shop there.

4. Skype. My kids recognize their grandparents and great-grandparents even though they only see them a few times a year. Technology is awesome.

5. Books. Of any variety. Magazine, too, occasionally.

6. My friends. I have friends from childhood, work friends, school friends, mommy friends, and I've even reconnected with some old high school friends recently via facebook. Some have even evolved to bridge multiple categories! Each one is unique and having them in my life has enriched it more than I can ever express. 

6 Things I Support

1. The Barnes Foundation. You can read all about it here. 

2. Being as green as possible. Each person/family can have a different level of involvement based on their own set of priorities. No one is perfect, and no one can live a completely green life, but my opinion is that any involvement is a step in the right direction. 

3. Education. For anyone, for everyone, at any type of institution or apprenticeship. Any person who chooses to enhance their life by increasing the size of their knowledge or skill set gets a big pat on the back (and maybe a home cooked meal) in my book. 

4. Marriage. Again, for anyone, for everyone. People who love each other should be allowed to make it legal. Period.

5. The YMCA. I love this place, really. I've been a member since I was 7 or 8. I was a volunteer during middle school and high school, worked there through the rest of high school and college, and am still a member today. It's a great place for kids and communities. 

6. The president. Someone has got to pull us out of this mess, and I think he might just be the man to do it.

6 Things I Do Not Support

1. People who are intolerant jerks. I am totally intolerant of the intolerant. 

2. Organized religion. I can't stand the whole 'love the sinner, hate the sin' thing that the catholics seem so fond of. Also I just can't abide by anyone thinking they have all the answers. Guess what? Until you can give me empirical proof, you don't.

3. The Pennsylvania Turnpike. It knows why.

4. Overindulgent birthday parties for young children. This is probably on my mind because Sam's birthday is Friday! (FRIDAY!) Needless to say we're keeping things low key.

5. The unabashed commercialization of childhood and marketing to children. I would get into this more but it makes my blood boil, and I need my blood to feed my fetus. This is the main reason we keep the kids away from TV as much as possible.

6. I'm sure there is something else, but I'm feeling rather positive, so I'll let it slide. 

Now I'm supposed to tag six people, but I'm not much for tagging. I'm going to gently suggest that Rissabear take a stab at this, because she only has two entries on her new blog Puffy the Opossum and she's far too amusing to stay silent. As for everyone else, consider yourself tagged if it suits you!

In the Bag

I am a lucky woman. I have a lovely collection of designer purses that have been purchased for me, in large part, by my mother-in-law. The remaining few have come from my husband. I've bought myself a little sack here and there, but usually I pick mine up at TJ Maxx or Ross. Except for that one time, with that awesome sale. But that was four or five years ago, and I still hear about it from time to time, so I generally let others but for me. 

Every Christmas, all of the girls in my husband's family salivate over the big Coach boxes tucked under the tree, all tied in neat trimmings. I can't think of one time that I have been disappointed with what was in my box. Here's this year's offering, which is what I'm slinging around right now: 

Pretty nice, no? I wish I could say exactly how much it cost, as per the rules below, but since it was a gift I can't be sure. I would guess somewhere between $200-$300. It has two good pockets inside and a bigger zippered compartment, which is perfect for all my junk. It's a nice robin's egg blue inside, by the way, which is nice to gaze upon on these dreary winter days. 

Here are Beth's rules:

1) Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you cannot go up to your closet and pull out that cute little purse you used back before you had kids. I want to know what you carried today.
2) I want to know how much it cost:) And this is not to judge. This is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I’d love to hear it.
3) Tag some chicks. And link back to her post so people know why the heck you’re showing everyone your diaper bag/non-diaper bag.

So here's who I'm tagging:

High Heeled Mama. An old ATL friend who was always very smartly dressed. Even when we were at stroller strides! 

The New Girl. I hope she plays along, 'cause I kind of have an internet crush on her. 

Mrs. Chicken. She lived in NY and now she interviews celebrities, so you know she's cool!

And anyone else who wants to show off what's on their shoulder! Impress me ladies!

Kiss Me I'm Bloggish

Last week I was bestowed, by the fabulous des, this wonderful award:


I failed to acknowledge this in a timely manner because, as a recipient, I am supposed to send the love onto ten other bloggers! Ack! Are you kidding? Have you seen my google reader? I subscribe to at least 50 blogs, and I read all of the 'friends shards items' AND I am a prodigious reader of several hundred other blogish sites (Stroller Derby, TWOP, PBN, Philadelphia Weekly, ad nauseum). So cropping the list down to ten was keeping me up at night!

First, I would love to return this love to des. I feel a burning desire (no pun intended) to see her tattoos up close and in person. Plus, it's fun to live vicariously through her. She just up and moved from NYC to Detroit (home of the Stanley Cup Champions, boo.) FOR LOVE! How cool is that?

Secondly, I want to call out my Philly homegirl Lora. She's one of those ladies who is going to be a big famous blogger one day, I'm sure. Funny? Yes! Adorable spawn? Check! Read her, so I can be cool when I said I knew her when...

Amy from Chicken and Cheese. Quite possibly the front runner for 'blogger I want to meet in person the most' award. Seriously. When she announced she was pregnant and not coming to BlogHer '08, I was happy for her and then totally devastated that she wasn't going to be there. P.S. I'm totally not stalking you!

Suzanne from C.U.S.S. Any blog with the word 'snatch' in the title is a winner in my book.

(Sidebar: did I ever mention that 'Snatch' was my dad's nickname in high school? I don't care to speculate on the origins of that nickname AT ALL.)

Janet from every samurai needs a mommy. Here's to rekindling old college friendships! And cute as hell babies!

The High Heeled Mama, because ATL represents. I miss you guys! Plus it's her one year blog anniversary (I loathe the term blogiversary and refuse to use it in a sentence unless it referencing how much I hate it) so go over and wish her some happy more to come!

Catherine, because her and her lady parts need all the love they can get. Plus: new baby happiness!

Susan, over at Stuff and Nonsense. Write more, damn it. Our thursday phone dates aren't cutting it! I need the written word of Susan!

The New Girl. If you don't finish that birth story in the next few days, I will find you and force you to tell it to me in person. And I mean that in a totally fun, non-threatening way!

And finally, Miss Zoot and her whole brood. Again with the new baby deliciousness! All these bloggers having babies are really out to make me ovulate, I just know it. Plus she was the originator of the lovely pink and green template I used to use before I broke it.

So there it is. My ten. There are ten more, and ten more beyond that, but I am tired. Thanks again Miss d for your continued love and adoration of my cute-as-buttons offspring!

A:

Janet asks: who was your first pre-teen celebrity crush? Kirk Cameron, hands down.

Mrs. Chicken wants to know: why "Cheese Party" and what's with the obsession with putting your head in a hole and taking pictures? First, the title. It was, honestly, a random association of two things I love. Initially this blog had a horrible name, so after my second or third post I decided to change things up. 'Cheese' and 'Party' seemed to fit my odd-ball personality and my penchant for soirées.

And the head holes? Are a riot. Sam and Lucy will be forced into these types of photographs for their entire minor-hood.

Chrissie queries: My question is ... when is the next hot hands tournament? Tell your husband to BRING IT ON! I'm not playing, though. Can't risk injuring my delicate hands. I'll just document!

Lora inquires: (I'm going to take this one point by point since she's asked several)

-My question is-Do you feel older? Not really. I feel fatter, but I'm working on that.
-How old do you feel? Maybe a little younger than I am. But then I remind myself that I'm a member of the Woman's Club and then I feel older.
-How old do you think you look? I'm not sure. You tell me! I won't be offended. I swear!

I'm the one in the middle, holding the adorable baby

-How old do you think other people think you look? See my answer to the last question. And click on the picture to make it big so you can really see all the details.
-Did you think you'd have kids by now? Yes. My mom was 19, so before I really knew any better, I thought that's when I'd have my first kid, too.
-Did you want to have kids by now? Yes. I knew I was getting hitched to SOB at 17, and we started talking about babies before we were 20. We knew we were too young and too poor to actually have any, but the idea was in the pipeline.
-What did you want to have accomplished by 29 that you did? My main goal as a youth was to move far away from home. I only made it 300 miles, but they're a long 300. Pittsburgh and Philly are about as different as they come, so I feel much farther away. Oh, and being happily married to someone I love more than pizza. Lots of other things, too, but I'm too tired to catalog them.
-That you didn't? I always had very lofty (and somewhat strange) goals as a young woman. I wanted to save the leopard population through a series of genetically specific mate parings. I wanted to win a Tony award. Just to name a few.
-Does 30 freak you out? Not at all. I've never been an ageist. As long as I can keep up with my kids I'll be forced feel young. Although I did get an AARP card in the mail last week.
-What do you consider "old"? 78. Really. Up until then it's dependent upon the individual. My two grandmothers are almost the same age, but one seems 20 years younger than the other. Once you're late in the septuagenarian years, though, you're old.
-Has it changed in the last few years? Nope.

HBM questions: what's your view on birthdays in general? Do they get better or worse? I've always loved my birthday, and hopefully always will. The presents get worse for a little while and then they get better again. Between those odd teen years where no one knows what to get you and then the early adult years where no one can afford to get you anything they kind of suck. Not that I'm materialistic or anything. I just like presents. And you don't?

Susan ponders: What is the one thing that you do that you would lie, lie, lie about if anyone ever caught you doing it? Picking my nose. We all do it, but none of us (including me) want to admit it! Incidentally, what do you think would happen if you never picked your nose? Would you get a giant booger obstructing your nasal passages?

And finally, Anonymous wonders: How do you see you life, your family, all around you, in 5 years? Perhaps we'll be in the same neighborhood, but maybe in a bigger house (maybe because we'll have another baby, but don't tell SOB I said that!) Sam will be in 2nd grade and Lucy in 1st, so we'll be busy, I'm sure. Hopefully I'll be at least a little thinner. Lucy and her new BFF Liliana will make each other friendship bracelets. SOB and I will go on vacation for our 10th anniversary, sans children. Sam will win the class spelling bee. All will be right with the world, just like it is now.

You Had To Ask, Didn't You?

Following in the footsteps of The New Girl (and many others) I want to know what it is that you want to know. That is, about me. Ask your questions, get your answers. Comment here with all queries and then come back on Monday for the scandalous truth about me! C'mon! It'll be fun.

Get Your Masks On! It's a Halloween Meme!

I lifted this meme from Miss Zoot in honor of Halloween. SOB and I are big scary movie fans, so I was surprised to realize that there are some real classics on this list that I haven't seen. I guess I'll be updating my netflix queue soon!

Bold those you’ve seen.
Italicize movies you have started but couldn’t finish.
Add an asterisk* to those you have watched more than once.
Underline those on your ‘To Watch’ list.

* The Shining* - REDRUM! REDRUM! Made me terrified of having twins.
* The Exorcist* - One of our all time favorite movies, not just of the scary variety. SOB bought me a new special edition for Halloween this year.
* The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Need to see this one. SOB loves it.
* The Silence of the Lambs* - Interesting fun fact: parts of this movie were shot in southwestern PA, near where I grew up. My little brother actually dated a girl who lived in the house with the well in the basement. You know, where he kept the girl who put the fucking lotion in the basket. Creepy city.
* JAWS* - I've always been afraid of the ocean. Despite the obviously mechanical shark, this movie only reinforced my fears.
* Halloween - One of the more famous scary movies that I haven't seen yet. Maybe tonight...
* Psycho* - Hitchcock is a genius. Period.
* Seven - Kevin Spacey's voice makes me shiver all over (and not in a sexy way) because of this film.
* Rosemary’s Baby* - You might recall that we watched this movie in the hospital when I was laboring with Sam. 'Cause we're sick that way. The nursing staff didn't really think we were funny.
* Poltergeist* - The first scary movie I ever saw, when I was, like, 5 or something. What were my parents thinking?
* A Nightmare on Elm Street - Another movie I watched as a child. I don't remember much of it, though, so it merits another viewing.
* Friday the 13th - Isn't this the one with Jamie Lee Curtis' amazing boobs it in?
* The Thing - Eh.
* The Evil Dead - Another one of SOB favorites that I've never seen.
* Carrie* - One of the first horror novels I ever read. The book scared the crap right outta me. But I also love the movie. Also, any time we see someone showing too much boob in public, we say 'I can see your dirty pillows.'
* Night of the Living Dead - Old, but sure to freak me out. Zombie movies make me want to crawl under my chair and weep.
* The Omen* - Creepy solely because the child in the movie bears more than a passing resemblance to a young SOB. One of the reasons I don't want him to cut his hair is because I'm afraid there's going to be a 666 birthmark under his mane.
* An American Werewolf in London - Werewolf movies never did much for me.
* Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer - Mildly interested in seeing this one.
* The Hitcher - Never heard of it.
* Lost Highway - Ditto.
* The Blair Witch Project* - One of the worst ideas I ever had was to walk home from the movie theater after this one. In the dark. Through a heavily wooded neighborhood.
* Pet Cemetery - Ah Steve King. So many good books, so few good movies.
* Saw - I feel like I should see this one because everyone else has. Maybe.
* The Ring - While this movie was pretty scary on its own, what made it even scarier was seeing it in an ancient movie house and being the only person in the audience.
* Scream – Whatev.
* 28 Days Later - I consider this to be one of the scariest movies I've ever seen, but I already mentioned my aversion to zombies. I have yet to see the sequel, and I don't know if I ever will.

Have fun, play along! And throw in some new one if you can think of them!