Mom to the Screaming Masses

Yes, Virginia, We Really DID Have Snow

Lots of it, in fact.

I can only remember three occasions when we had a measurable amount of snow. 1980, 1988 or so - it was before I was married, as I remember walking from my apartment up to the grocery, and then right after we moved into our house - which was about 6 years ago. Emma doesn't remember snow and Riley has never seen it. Except on tv, of course.

But they saw it today! Depending upon the area, we had between 5 and 10 inches, and best of all, it will still be here tomorrow.

 

Way, way more below the fold...

The Most Important Man

I met him more than twenty years ago, but I can honestly say that the the time has flown. We've had some incredible highs, and some lows that I would never wish to repeat. We've had times of feast, times of what we were sure was famine - but we've always come through.

He's the best dad I know - he does all of the cool stuff that I don't like to do... 

 

The carnival rides, the bowling, the baseball throwing in the backyard, the Wii games - all of it. He enjoys his family and spends every moment that he's not at work doing things with and for his family. He does little things like bring me my iced coffee in the morning, stop and get a newspaper and an egg souffle from Panera after church on Sunday, and uses his Prize Points from his job to buy the things that all of us want - iPods, cameras, Kindles - instead of buying for himself.

Gabriel packed a Lego man in our suitcase when we went to Mexico, and instead of ignoring it - the way  I would - the man spent the entire week taking pictures of that little Lego guy all over - in the pool, with various other guests, on horseback - it was a hit.

He works harder than any man I've ever seen, and even though his pay has taken a tremendous cut over the past two years, he's still placed high enough in national standings to make the top 50 in his field for some amazing trips. We've been to Jamaica, Mexico three times, Vegas, the Caribbean - and it's all thanks to his hard work, for I will never get us there.

He does all kind of amazing and thoughtful stuff, like weedwhacking "I (heart) Carmen" onto the fence, or having a banner made for our tenth wedding anniversary - it still hangs in the garage. He listens to me whine and complain, and even though he is often the reason (!!) - he still listens.

He's a great guy, and today is his birthday. He has to work, and he's pretty bummed about it. I want to make him feel special. Would you please leave him a happy birthday message? I'd so appreciate it - for he never asks for anything and I'm not in a position to get him really any gift that he deserves. I'd like to gift him with some specialness - exactly what he deserves.

Just Another Manic Thursday

I have a new review up at Scrutiny, news on my selection to be one of the Frigidaire Test Drive Moms (what do you think of the appliance selection I've been assigned??) and a post on DietsInReview discussing those often ridiculed Kegel muscles. You just have this weekend to enter to win one of two free tickets to FitBloggin' (I'm speaking! Come hear me!) Go check - you might be the winner of the Flirty Apron or the Knock-Knock prize! Did you enter for the $100 and $200 Visa Gift Cards? There's a new topic over at My Savvy Source group - check down below and to the right to see that link.

Whew. I'm tired. Today I did doctor visits.

I had my check up with the gynecologist after the surgery, and she pronounced me completely healed and now it's a waiting game to see what happens when I cycle again. I was officially released to go back to exercise.

Whoops. I, uh, already did that.

AND.

I went to the dermatologist and had my every 6 months "get naked and look over my flabby body for melanoma" scan, where I was found to have another spot that has all the ABCD's and is very suspicious. It's Asymmetrical, has Irregular Borders, has three Colors and is larger in diameter than a pencil eraser. The one that I had removed that resembled from my arm was exactly like this one, and it was a stage two melanoma. I had two others removed that were stage one on my booby and my back.

I'm over this. 

Make sure you wear sunblock. Sure, you put it on your kids, but do you wear it yourself? And don't even tell me you go to tanning beds.

I'll come over and make a mess in your kitchen. Right now, that's the worst punishment I can come up with.

A Not So Anonymous Note to the Inhabitants of My Domicile

Henceforth, the following shall be rules, mandated by the Upper Most Level of Management:

• Anyone - I'm looking at the oldest man in the house for this one in particular - who wakes up cheerful and happy? You'd better keep that to yourself. I do not appreciate a rousing version of ANY church hymns at 5:15, while you shower, run the bathroom fan, and allow your cell phone alarm to blare.
• The excuse "Well, you need to get up anyway! An hour early just gives you an extra hour to get ready!" may end up getting you shot. And I'm a good shot.
• Those of you who would prefer a particular breakfast - say, no milk in your cereal? You'd better indicate that BEFORE I pour the milk and not demonstrate your displeasure by throwing a bowl of milk and cereal at me. I don't appreciate that.
• We have SHELVES in the garage - individual shelves, even - for your shoes. If I fall over those boats in the slam middle of the hallway again - you'll be shoeless.
• Want and Need are two different concepts. Learn to differentiate between the two.
• I am not psychic.
• Check to be sure you take YOUR lunch and not someone else's.
• By the same token - if you don't like what I pack - remember that you are SUPPOSED TO BE PACKING YOUR OWN. And get to it, already.
• My one abiding joy in life is not washing your nasty clothes. You know where the washer is, and how to use it. Your floor is not the repository for your clothes, and I do not need to spend my days sniffing your clothes to see if they are clean or dirty.
• I like to sleep. Get over it, already. It's not a character flaw.
• Be it also known that I like to work out. A lot. It doesn't mean I don't like YOU, don't want to be WITH you - I like to work out.
• Just because it's your bathroom doesn't give you the right to trash it. Clean it once a week. Or more. But at least once a week.
• It doesn't take breasts and a vagina to unload the dishwasher.
• These rules are subject to change as my mood and mind see fit.

Do any of these rules speak to you? What rules would you add?

Things on My Mind

• I need a couple of new dresses for a trip that I'm taking in April to a nice, warm location. I'm thinking something like this - but it seems spendy to me, although not for a handmade dress. Have you seen anything similar in a mass retailer?
• Do you live in Va Beach, Norfolk or the surrounding areas? Are you free at 9 a.m. 1-3 mornings a week for just 30 minutes? Want an EXCELLENT workout to get into shape? (Remember, bathing suit season comes early here!) One of my Muay Thai instructors is offering a boot camp - and I've been doing it for two week and I'm here to tell you it ROCKS. It is DIRT cheap and an amazing workout.
• Regarding the previous, I'm back in my skinny jeans. Whoot! But I probably won't be tomorrow. I, uh, made cupcakes for my Suave New Year, New 'Do party (details soon, I promise!) and I ate WELL more than my fair share. They were so, so good - AND I promised to make them this weekend for the bake sale at spaghetti dinner. Sigh.
• I've pretty much been successful at giving up diet soda - and noticed - knock on some SERIOUS wood - less headaches. I'm wondering if that is what it was? Anyway, I have gone from 4-5 a day (I know, I know, don't lecture me!) to maybe one a week. The dependency curve on the caffeine lead to some serious sleepiness every afternoon, but I'm (mostly) over that. I think. Zzzzzz...
• Do you have a background in Special Ed? I have some questions that I need to find answers, and I'm running into a brick wall. Can you help a girl out?
• I know that last week I sent you over to Scrutiny by The Masses to check out three giveaways - an Flirty Apron, a gift from Knock/Knock, and a $100 Visa gift card. Wells, guess what? IN ADDITION to those three, which are still going STRONG, there is a NEW giveaway going for a TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR gift card. I'd really, REALLY love to give it away to one of you guys that reads me all the time, rather than some random Twitter follower who can't even tell me the location of the next tattoo I'm getting.
• If I ever figure out what it's going to be. :)

Why I Cook

I was reading a brilliant post the other day on All & Sundry - really, she's insanely talented, and if you aren't reading her - well, hop to it, already - and she brought up the subject of cooking. It's one that's near and dear to my heart, and one that I've been asked about quite a bit as of late, so I thought this would be a great time to expound.

See also: have insane writer's block.(And uber dry contact lenses, but that's beside the point.)

Random Bits of Not Much

I have lots of little stuff that separately wouldn't make a post, but together, well - it won't make one either, but I'll pretend. Play along with me, if you don't mind.

Anyone live near a Saks Fifth Avenue and want to do some investigating for me the next time you are in? I'm in major need of my favorite fragrance - it's a Bond No. 9, called Saks Fifth Avenue for Her - and I always buy it online on Ebay. I typically spend about $10 for ten or so of the little sample bottles and fill my atomizer. I can't find it on Ebay at all, unless I want to buy the $250 bottle - which I most emphatically do NOT. So what I'm looking to do is buy another pure size spray, but it's not online at Saks. Is there any reader that can help a girl out?

Want to win a ticket to FitBloggin'? DietsInReview is giving TWO away - check out the link and leave a comment - I'm speaking and I'd love to meet you! 

I am speaking on Stress and trying to do too much and not having a nervous breakdown at Blissdom next month. If you have anything that you think would be interesting, vital,or have a story to share - I'd be most interested.

I had a post picked up for syndication at Blogher - a fact that I am extremely happy about - if you'd like to see it, click here. If you give a blogger an empty screen.

What are your plans for the weekend?

One Week Later

It's been one week from the surgery, and I'm totally fine.

It's weird.

The only trouble that I had with the surgery was being tired from the anesthesia - and I know it's not possible, but I still feel easily wiped and think it might be from that. But physically? I feel exactly the same. I took four days off from exercise, lifted weights on Sunday, walked Monday and Tuesday, and went back to martial arts Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I also started a women's boot camp class Wednesday morning. I don't have the endurance I feel like I had before - but I have absolutely zero pain and no cramping. In fact, I only had cramping one day.

Now, I still need to wait a few months to see how everything falls into place - but I have only good to report thus far. 

If you were wondering...:)

Funniest Email EVAH

Check out Scrutiny, where I have THREE awesome giveaways going on right this minute!

I receive upwards of 30 email pitches a day. About 95% of them are deleted immediately, for they involve my least favorite form of PR ever - a request for me to upload a press release because we just KNOW your readers are eager for this information! Please email us for Hi Res Images! And, by the way, each and every person who emails me is a HUGE fan of my blog. Just in case I didn't know that. But don't forget - email for those Hi Res Images!

Um, no. PR pitch FAIL. This here is MY blog, and I don't just slap something up because a random PR person - who often never even addresses me by name, but calls me Ms., Blog Writer, Mom of Masses,Masses Mom, Mom of Many,  Elff,or my personal favorite - when I was sent an email addressed to Amalah, with the name of Busy Mom's blog.

Yup. That's SO a sign that you know who I am.

But this email I received tonight killed me. See if you can figure out why.

 

We'd love to invite  you and your editorial team to an upcoming screening of our film name redacted for privacy - would you please let me know who I can touch base with?  Below is info. on our upcoming LA screening however we have screenings is various cities should your staff be based elsewhere.

What Do You Post When Your Life is Un-postable?

A word to the young, to those who have little ones at home, to those pregnant or contemplating pregnancy, to those despairing of successful potty training, wracked with guilt over disposable diapers, fed up with jars of baby food, annoyed at addition or frustrated with training wheels...

Eventually, you will get to the teenage time frame. And you will regret every minute that you wasted on being upset about those issues, for many enormous, life changing events will happen. Events that will color the very fabric of the next several years of the family, will conspire to keep you up at night, frustrated and maybe even in some tears.

And unable to blog. Unable to use your outlet as you have in the past - mind full of blog constipation due to privacy issues. I WISH I could have all of that time back. I wasted worrying about cloth vs. paper diapers, co sleeping vs. crib, public vs. private, Graco car seat vs. Britax. I could use some of that focus now.

That's where I've been. Full of Unbloggable drama - the unbearable lightness of being the Mom to the Screaming Masses.

SO. in order to deal with that, let's move to a very girly topic - one near and dear to my heart - one that I saw on Blogher this week and it brought me slam up next to the fact that I clearly need to do it.