Mom to the Screaming Masses

All Fruit, All the Time - Except for the Lollipops

Please to go over to DietsInReview - I have a kickin' article up on breakfast cereal (discussing how my mom was RIGHT all those years ago!)  childhood health, and there is a great wonderful giveaway for a grocery list makeover going on. Go on, click - I'll wait!

HoneyCrisp apples are available. Do you hear me, people - should I send you a text - HoneyCrisp apples are in stores now. I love, love love these apples - they are a hybrid and the best apples out there, I think. Every year I scour the stores, hunting for the precious fruits and hoarding them from the kids.

Yes, yes I hoard them from my kids. I'm a terrible person. I don't mind admitting it - at just shy of $3 a pound,I'm not giving up an apple that someone will eat a ring of flesh from the middle and toss on the floor. Yes, I rescue said apples and slice them up, and then they get eaten, but I find my kids to be happy with Pink Lady, McIntosh, Empire or Braeburn at half the price. Oddly enough, no one in my family likes the Red or Golden Delicious variety - the texture is too mealy and the flavor off. 

Vanity, Thy Name is Carmen

I needed a lip wax.

In the interest of full disclosure, I will share two things - I often need a lip wax, being a hairy, hairy beast of a woman, and I hate to get a lip wax, simply because I am a whiny, cryie baby and it hurts so freaking bad. SO I wait until it's much too late and then it hurts worse. I have discovered, however, that if I go to the uber cushy spa in my area I don't break out after the fact - an unfortunate side effect of going to a less expensive salon type area, namely the nail salons that serve as multi purpose locations. There's really nothing worse than getting said lip wax and spending the next week with a very visible reminder that you are a hairy freak of nature.

It Sucks to Be An Adult

So I realized again.

Remember when you were a kid, and you were all, "I can't WAIT to be a grown up!  I'm gonna do what I WANT, WHEN I want it, and NOTHIN'S gonna stop me?" Yeah, reality, thanks for the sucker punch.

I am a student of capoeira. That right there is a link to my grupo - although it's not in my state, it's the one that my area belongs to, and the grupo that we test with. Part of the structure of the art is the fact that you test for a new belt level. I trained for a year before I was able to test, and you can only test in a special ceremony called a Batizado, and you must be tested by a maestre - and they come over from Brazil. So you can't just test whenever you want, or when you have enough time under your belt. It might be as long as two or more years before another opportunity comes up, although my group tries to have a Batizado at least once a year.

I received my first cord almost two years ago - I moved from white to white/yellow. Last year the batizado was canceled, I think due to Visa trouble. So I didn't test. This year I was told that I could skip a rank and move up two (from white/yellow to orange) - I have enough classes and my skill level has improved enough. I was really happy to hear that. But I can't go.

This being responsible thing sucks. Sucks BIG TIME.

We just can't afford for me to go. I'd have to leave my kids for two days, my husband can't take time off work, and my mom (rightfully!) has her own plans. Plus, leaving my kids is slam out hard. It's hard on the little ones, and it takes me a day or six to get things back in the rhythm that we need to succeed as a family. I'd miss soccer games - although, hello, I've seen enough of those that I could flat out tell you what happens each and every day - but my kids really like it when I'm there. And they need me.

But the real hard stop to the idea of going away is the non existent funding situation that we have going on right now. I'd have to drive, which is about a 4-5 hour drive, and I'd have to take THE VAN, which means about 3 tanks of gas - even with falling gas prices, still over $200. A hotel room for a night - at least $100. Food for myself - and even if I brought from home I'd still have to pay - maybe $50 or more. And then the fees for said instruction and Batizado - at least $100. So, total for a weekend away for me, for a sport - around $500. And right now, that just isn't going to fly.

I recently had a sharp internal SMACK upside the head that Christmas is coming, and I have exactly 3 paydays before said holiday. Eeek. There's no way that I can in good conscience take a weekend and go off, as my husband says, and "Get another belt - what purpose does that serve you in life? It's not like it's a money maker." True, that. It's not fair to the family to spend the money - which we don't have anyway, so that's really a non existent argument - when we've got bills/schooling costs/kids want to go to the movies/buy shoes/need new winter coats/hubby needs new shoes/van needs tires and some kind of belt (probably not even a flattering one).

So, go me. I'm being RESPONSIBLE.

Want to know a deep, dark secret? The worst part is that there is a really obnoxious person in my class - a young person - who hasn't belted and will belt at this event - and will now be my equal. And I flat out HATE that - and hate that I hate that. I want to think I'm all "Go everyone! I'm so happy you are all advancing!" and I'm really not.

And now you know.

Reading Surrounds Us, Labels us, Defines Us

quote attributed to Rich Gold

I bought the newest Diana Gabaldon (An Echo in the Bone) right before my trip to New York. I was delighted to grab it, and even more delighted that I had saved a gift certificate and had a return credit and that, coupled with the discount my mother allows me with her membership - I was able to buy the book with no money out of pocket.If I hadn't had that, I'd have skipped paying just about any bill in order to buy the book - I love this series so, so much.I've passed it on to several people and, with only a few exceptions, everyone loves the series as much as I do.

It puzzles me, though, those people who don't like the series. I can't understand how people don't like it - it grabs me and hooks me like no other. But there have been books that I don't like that other people have loved. The Shack, for one. I read it, and reread it, each time feeling as if I was missing something. There was one segment where I "got it", understood what was being said - but the next segment was a deeply theological piece and I lost it again.

A Prayer for Owen Meany has been recommended to me again and again. I was never able to get into it. Never understood the hype.

What books have been recommended to you that you didn't get into? What books have you never understood the hype?

She's Really a Nobody

In Feb, when I tore my calf muscle and wore DAS BOOT for 14+weeks, I decided, after drowning my sorrows in cupcakes and coffee for a week, to send out 75 query letters for my manuscript. (It's a diet/exercise/weight loss type memoir thing.) Of those 75 letters, I received about 70000 rejections (I kid, it only felt that way) and one request to see my proposal. I sent it off on pins and needles.

And heard that the proposal wasn't well done and didn't express the spirit of my manuscript. And I spoke on the phone to the agent, who told me what to do and how to do it, and encouraged me to resubmit. I took the summer to think about it and determine if I really wanted to do this. And I decided that I did want to do this. So I gathered up my courage, took her suggestions in hand, and revamped the proposal. I changed the title and did all of the changes that she suggested. And I emailed her, telling her that I'd be in NYC this week and asking if she'd be available to meet.

I'm Very Nervous

This week is Autism Awareness Week at DietsInReview - how exercise and nutrition can help manage the disease. There will be fresh posts each day from parents and professionals alike. I'd also be pleased if you could click over and read what I have to say on necessary supplements - there's a bonus for which writer has the most traffic and I'd so love to win this month!

Wednesday morning I'm flying to New York City.

We all know I have lousy travel karma. My last flight involved a security issue, a safety issue, a canceled flight, a plane that died while taxing, and an arrival in NYC 8 hours late. But I got there, damnit!

I'm traveling to participate in an event that shall not be named on this here site due to ad network restrictions, but I'll be tweeting it (follow me on twitter at mttsm) and you can follow my adventures with the hashtag that rhymes with LingaSmitchen. Or you can go here and read all about the details. It looks really, really interesting.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of my bestest blogging friends and bringing down the city.  I LOVE NYC.

Did I already mention that?

I'm not so nervous about flying, and can't wait for the trip - but I am uber nervous about one very special element of the trip. I'm meeting with my potential book agent to present my newly revamped book proposal. When I first sent her my proposal, she indicated that it was rambling and didn't crystallize the concept of my book very well, and encouraged me to redo said proposal, concentrating on several key areas. I think I've done that. I hope. If you are so inclined, I could really use the positive vibes/good juju/fervent prayers on my behalf. 

Oh, and I still need to um, actually finish said proposal. I'm almost done. But I'm not sure it's enough.

Seriously, I need the prayers.

It Takes All Kinds Of People

I had the DISTINCT pleasure today of being the taxi driver for one of my kids. To a location 45 minutes away, to meet up with a potential main squeeze and to be introduced to his family. Said child was nervous, and as we drove she alternated with texting, staring out the window and asking questions.  At one point, we stopped at a stop light, and I pulled my BlackBerry out from the holster (btw, is there a waistband holster offered for the iPhone? My contract is up next month and I really want to trade, but I love the belt clip holster and don't want to lose that functionality with the iPhone.) I was sitting still at a red light. I wasn't texting - illegal in this state while driving - I clicked one button to confirm my directions - this trip was taking WAY longer than I'd anticipated.

And The Answer Is...

Not painting. I don't paint. I don't like to paint. I like it when it's done, but I don't do it. So anyone who guessed painting was wrong.    

The entire saga began Wednesday morning. My daughter couldn't find some piece of clothing - I don't remember which it was - but I went up to her bureau to look for it. My first clue that something was not exactly right was the inability to open any of her bureau drawers. Hmm, I thought to myself. What's up with the dresser?

Guess What I Did?

Tell me what this picture signifies. Tell me what I did with six hours of my life that I will NEVER EVER get back.

Pessimism and the Family

New post up at Zwaggle - this one with a Starbucks card giveaway - and my opinion on the new Smart Choices grocery  program.

I come from a family that has a fair amount of pessimism. I married into a family that has a fair amount of pessimism. I have a tendency to lean towards the "glass is half full of poison" philosophy, and I work really hard to overcome that. I spend lots of time saying things like, "Well, you could have cancer" - until I was diagnosed with melanoma - THAT stopped that refrain in a hurry.  Regardless, I think you get what I'm saying. I have a propensity towards the negative and try as hard as I can to stay both aware and away from this in my life.

But, you know, when you wake up and stumble downstairs for your beloved iced coffee and discover that your ice maker has broken, you realize that the day isn't starting off 100%. And then you throw a load of wash in and go about your morning routine, trying to cajole your own personal Eyeore's - those beloved children who seem to have inherited your propensity towards negativity and gloom and doom - towards school uniforms and the breakfast that no one in the house likes (cold cereal) - and no one seems to take the black look off.  And the washing machine is making a really REALLY weird noise and you hope and pray that IT is not deciding to die, for the thought of being washer-less is more than you can stand to contemplate. And the bus that was so late for the last two weeks comes 20 minutes early and your daughter misses it - and then you decide to be very organized with your time and toss the load of wash into the dryer to dry before you leave for school - and you discover the source of the washing machine noise - your sunglasses were in with the clothes and are now in 6 pieces.

Being positive is an honestly difficult thing for me. I tend to look for the negative and have to physically turn my mental status around with a constantly retrained focus. It's tiring - whoops! there I go again! - to have to remind myself to "think positive! Find the bright side! Be happy!" but I know that a few of my kids have this same tendency and so I try to model the happier side. My husband is blessed with the annoying capacity for always being positive and uplifted and one of my kids is like that, so it's a constant work in progress.

However - it's hard to do that when your Tuesday begins like a Monday.