Writer's Workshop--How I see Myself

This week's prompts:

1.) ….and then I realized it was all a dream.

(inspired by Denise from Musings of Mommyland)
2.) 3. The biggest Halloween trick (or prank) you ever pulled.
(inspired by June Freaking Cleaver from The Ratio of Failures)
3.) Why I’m not inviting my mother to read my blog…
(inspired by Just Mom from All The Other Kids Are Doing It)
4.) Share a photo that represents how you see yourself.

5.) A memorable babysitting job.

I'm choosing prompt #4.

This is me.  Not all chic and put together, but casual, a bit messy, relaxed and mommy.  I've done the get all fancied up but have found that jeans and t-shirts are much more me. 

I'm really glad that my job is casual and jeans and T-shirts are OK. 

I have yet to get the "Mom could you look nicer" from my sons.  Turbo will compliment me when I do dress up, but does not seem concerned yet with how I look around other people--I know it's coming, but I'm hoping not for a couple of more years.  The casual me is much more comfortable. 

I have made sure my clothes fit, and I limit the sweats to the house. I've learned that much from watching What Not to Wear. 

Now go link at Mama Kat's for other Writer's Workshop posts.

Random Dozen--Almost.

Linda's random dozen this week--with the odd exception of #4.  She is not sure where #4 went but it's gone now.
1. Is there a word which you initially mispronounced? Were the circumstances in which you made the faux pas embarrassing? By the way, that's not "foax pass." (I know you know that. Just jokin' with ya.)  The firat time I read a Bobbsey Twins book myself--I was maybe nine--htere was a name in it.  The name was spelled Deborah.  I pronounced it De-bore-a, not De-bra.  My mom corrected me.  I still remember mis-pronouncing the name.
2. How do you feel about the use of texting shortcuts and trends? (ex: "I've got ur notes. Get them 2 u 2morow.") I'm not a big fan of them--mostly because I don't know many of them.  If you can't write out what you mean, don't bother because I can't really decipher what they mean most of the time.  I do get the LOL and ROFLMAO but those are the only ones I understand.
3. Tell me about your high school senior picture. Please feel free to post.  My high school senior picture was really nice, I'd spent the summer life guarding at the out door pool and was all tan and sun bleached.  Of course it was 1991 and big hair was still the norm in my small town, so I look a bit 80's.  If I can find one I'll post it later.
5. Share a high school or college homecoming memory.  I don't really have great memories of high school homecoming.  My first college homecoming was interesting--I tried Fuzzy Navels for the first time and went to the game decidedly buzzed.  It was much more fun watching football buzzed than sober--I'm not the biggest football fan.
6. Linda at Mocha with Linda wants to know: "Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?"  Sunsets if I have the choice.  I've seen to many sunrises with the help of cranky babies and toddlers.  Sunsets are more calm at our house--everyone can relax at the end of the day.
7. Lea at Cici's Corner asks, "What is something you have not done that you desire to do?"  Learn how to swing dance.  Cowboy swing mostly but jitterbugging looks fun too.
8. Carol at Wanderings of an Elusive Mind ponders, "If you could come back [in another life] as an animal, which would it be?"  A cat.  They are independent and get to sleep all day and someone else cleans up after you and you're not expected to fetch, just be cuddly every now and then.
9. Joyce from The Other Side of the Pond is curious: "Where were you 10 years ago?" Please feel free to elaborate more than just your physical location.  Ten years ago my husband had just started back to college for his second bachelors in Geology.  I was working full time and then some at a chiropractors office here in town and it was just the two of us.  We knew we wanted kids but wanted to wait until Nick was done with school and had a good job--with insurance.  We had been married for two years and together for seven.  Money was tight but we were together and working toward something better than where we were.
10. When you are proven to be correct in any contentious discussion, do you gloat?  Not to much.  Gloating is bad form.  I might rub it in a bit, but I don't gloat.
11. What is your favorite food which includes the ingredient "caramel?"  Dark Chocolate Turtles.  Oh so good.
12. From my 17 year-old daughter to you: "If you could be part of any fictional family, which family would you choose and why?" (She's so cute. And clever.)  I'd have to choose... hmm this is harder than it sounds.  Ummmm, maybe the Addams Family--being odd there is required. 

RTT: Weekends and hunting widows

So it's Tuesday again.  Some how it always comes around to Tuesday--like it's a pattern or something.  Well let's random up and get with it.

• We had our first cold weekend.  It was cloudy and gray and rainy.  It just screamed for snuggling on the couch and watching movies.  And soup.  Sunday called for soup and bread.  So I made ravioli soup and focaccia bread. It was delish!
• I will be a hunting widow for the next week.  Nick is heading across the state to hunt with friends for the wily wapiti (elk) and the fleet footed deer.  We are hoping he gets one of each--he's going up early. The guys at Elk Camp have decided that since Nick has yetto knock over his own elk(he's helped on like two or three now) Nick get the first shot this year.  Bring back a big one, Baby! 
• What is it about fall that makes me want to cook?  All summer I had no motivation to cook.  Now it gets cold and look out kitchen, here I come.  It's crazy.
• Laundry defeated me this weekend.  I still have towels and sheets to do.  The clothes are all done, folded and put away--that counts right?  Shut up towels--stop mocking me from the basket you sit in.
• Is it just me or are the Allstate auto insurance commercials with the guy who is 'mayhem' kind of really annoying?  I particularly dislike the one where he is a teenaged girl in a pink SUV.  There is something just creepy about it.(I had to go look up which company these were for--great marketing if you can't remember who they are for.)
• Turbo is counting the days to How to Train Your Dragon comes on DVD.  We are going to rent it Friday(if we can) so he can watch it then.  He is very excited.  I'm sort of looking forward to it too.  It looks cute.
• Bruiser love chips ahoy cookies.  He will 'talk' and yell and try to get one every trip into the kitchen.  It's cute but frustrating.
• Turbo has decided he makes a great window.  He loves to stop right in front of the TV when it catches his attention.  Unfortunately we are often watching those shows too.  He has not developed the talent to be transparent yet, so he makes a lousy window.  Move it, Turbo!
• Great news on the work front for me--I have been part time--19 hours--and I'm going to be going full time with benefits.  Woo hoo!
• Any one got any bright ideas on how to stop the love affair Bruiser has for his pacifier.  He going on 21 months now and they really need to go away but the yelling and the crying--oh, man they wear me down.  And there is no reasoning with him.  Help!

And on that note I'm out of random for this week.  Have a great Tuesday all!  Oh, and go see Keely for more random--everyone's doing it.

Monday Minute Leading, Following, and Undies

Monday Minute time with Christy again.  Man, Monday roles around fast. 

(1) What color undies/ boxers do you have on right now?  Black ones with turquoise trim and PEACE written in metallic rainbow paint across the butt.  Don't you wish you had cool undies like me?


(2) What song have you been playing on repeat lately?  I don't tend to listen to the MP3 player all that often but I love to hear Trailorhood by Toby Keith.

(3) What's your best personality trait?  It's boring but I am dependable.  I'm not outgoing but I am loyal and dependable--kind of like man's best friend.

(4) Are you a leader or a follower?  I'm most definitely a follower.  I'm just not comfortable leading.  Given the choice to lead, follow or get out of the way--I'll follow or get out of the way.

(5) What's your least favorite household chore?  Cleaning toilets hand down.  I live with guys--the toilet gets disgusting.  But Turbo is getting old enough to clean the toilet with supervision--the outside at least.

Friday Something

After last night's crazy thunderstorm here, things are a bit gray here.  We almost had a very nervous scared little boy in bed with us after one particularly close boomer.  Things did settle down weatherwise but we had to talk Turbo down off the ledge and convince him that a tree was not going to hit our house last night.

Then this morning I woke up from a dream where the house across the street got demolished when a tree hit it.  Thanks for the suggestion kid.

And for some fun here are some pics from when we went up to see Nick while he was archery hunting.

Turbo got hot, thus the 'cape'.

All in a row.

Want to keep up with the Jones?

Relaxing at camp

One serious Bruiser.

Dear Someone

Dear Turbo,
Thank you for giving me so many reasons to smile.  Your enthusiasm is contagious.  The laughs you inspire make my days easier to get through.  It makes me happy when you play with Bruiser.  The giggles I hear make all the work worth while.
And the other night when you told me to turn off the TV because it was distracting you from your reading?  The most surprising moment I've ever had with you.  That coming from my TV loving boy was great.  Keep up the reading--it's so good for you.
Loving Mommy

Dear Bruiser
Please start talking more.  Intelligible words would be nice. Grunting and point and screaming only go so far.  You are picking up words, just not fast enough.  And I know that there will come a time when I wish you would shut up, but I want you to start talking soon.
Confused Mommy

Dear Migraine,
I would not be hurt if you skipped your monthly visit.  I know that it is coming into your season to visit more frequently but really I can do without you altogether.
So Over You

Dear Nick,
Have fun at hunting camp.
BRING HOME MEAT!! 
The freezer, she's a looking pretty bare.
Hungry Wife

RD-Birthday edition

So let's answer the birthday girl's questions.  Happy birthday Linda!
1. From "Men Are Dumb ....": If you had a theme song that played whenever you walked into a room full of people, what would it be?  A theme song?  Well I guess...hmmm...it would have to be the Queen song Princes of the Universe--played here.  At least that is what Nick thinks and I kind of agree.  It's an awesome theme song.

2. From Pam of "Alert And Oriented x 4": Which of your shoes are your absolute favorite, and which are of the object of your most painful shoe-buyer's remorse?  I don't spend a lot on shoes.  I love my Keens because they are sooo comfortable.  As for buyer's remorse--it would probably the Doc Martins I bought years ago.  Not nearly as comfortable as I thought they would be.

3. From Susanne of "Living to Tell the Story": Tell about your favorite birthday celebration that you've personally experienced.  The surprise party for my 35 birthday.  Nick set it up so lots of friends showed up and I was only expecting a couple of people.  It was a great evening.

4. From Lori of "Just me and My Life": If you were a flavor of ice cream, which would you be?  Butter Pecan--It's comforting with out being vanilla.

5. Cindy Swanson of "Notes in the Key of Life" asks: Have you ever had a crush on a movie star? Who was it, and are you still crushing?  I had a teenage crush on Tom Cruise.  So over that now.

6. Jill from "Jill Boyd's Place" inquires: Glasses or braces--if you had to wear one, which would it be?  Well, I wear contacts but spent years in glasses and years in braces.  Braces are better--you will eventually get them off.  Glasses are with you forever--as contacts or reading glasses even if you do the lasek.  I have weird eyes so the lasek is not really an option for me.

7. Nel from "Fasteneau Facts" asks: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?  New Zealand.  The geology there is awesome.

8. Thena from "Patiently Waiting" wants to know: If money were no obstacle, what would be the perfect birthday gift to receive?  A remodeled kitchen and Alton Brown's new cook books--The Early Years and The Middle Years.  I so want them and the ideal kitchen to cook in.

9. From "Life Through Bifocals," LynnMarie asks: What is your favorite birthday meal?  Anything seafood.  I love seafood.

10. Debby at "Just Breathe" checks in with: Do you still send hand-written thank you notes?  For things that require thank yous, yes I do.

11. Linda from "Mocha with Linda" poses this question: What is something you've done that you never thought you'd do?  Rock climbing when I was younger.

12. Jewel, my homegirl from Indiana who writes at "Musings from the World of Jewel," is very insistent that we answer this: Mount Rushmore honors four US Presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. If you could add any person to Mount Rushmore, who would you add and why?  This one is a hard one.  If I limit it to presidents, I'm not sure who I think is worthy of the honor.  Maybe FDR, he did lead us through WWII.  And held office four times.  And lead the country out of the depression.  He may not have been great but he was effective. And being effective is better than being great.

Go link at Linda's and share your own answers.

Random Tuesday

And it's Tuesday.  Comes once a week, you'd think I'd be used to it by now.  Some how it always kinda surprises me though.  Anyponder throw up (on second thought don't, I had to clean up after the cats and the dog this morning, I've had enough throw up, thanks) your random thoughts and link with Keely--everyone's doing it.

• Eighteen months olds are impossible to reason with.  You can't explain anything to them.  Bruiser has wants, and can indicate them, but does not understand when I tell him he already has a snack and does not need another one that is just like what he has.  The screaming get to be a bit much after a while.
• Last night I tooted and had the presence pf mind to blame the cat that was sitting on my lap at the time.  I haven't lived with all these guys for nothing.  Blame it on someone or something else--always.
• I'm trying hard to find my scrapbooking mojo.  It's not going well.  The desire is there, the get to it is not. Maybe once hunting season is over and Nick can spend some time watching the boys--especially Bruiser--I will be able to get going on Bruiser's baby book.  I so don't want him to be the clssic second kid who has nothing in the book while his older brother has two--one baby, one for the first year.  Yeah, I have really been procrastinating, and finding excuses for not doing any scrapbooking.  
• Got the car washed yesterday.  It sprinkled last night.  Just enough to leave spots all over the car.
• Has anyone seen the commercial with the moon rover and the hip hop song Jump?  It's here if you want to see it.  Nick loves this commercial--it makes him laugh and now Bruiser will dance when it comes on TV.    It's so cute.

Well that's my random, go check out Keely's for more random thoughts.

Monday Minute

Time for the Monday Minute with Christy.  Answer and link up!  Here we go:

1. What's your biggest pet peeve?  Slow drivers, the ones who go 20 mph everywhere and think they are safer because they are going slow.  No, you are not safer, you are a hazard to those of us going the speed limit!
2. Describe your first kiss. (Ian's suggestion, thank you Ian!)  I was sixteen before I had my first kiss, and it was nothing spectacular.  My first kiss with my now husband was much more fun.
3. Describe the drunkest night of your life (or at least, the drunkest night you can remember).  I've had lots of nights where the alcohol flowed a bit too freely, but the night I had the most fun was when I went out with my friend Stacy and it was graduation night here in my fair city and the bar was crowded and the band was awesome and we got serenaded by the sax player.  Great time!
4. What's the last movie you saw and what did you think of it?  In the theater?  Ice Age 2--it was pretty good, we took Turbo for his first movie theater experience.  We don't get to the theater very often, it's way too expensive.
5. Do you prefer taking a bath or a shower?  I like a shower in the morning to get going, but love a long soaking bath with a glass of wine and a good book to relax and warm up. 

Spin Cycle--Make me laugh!

The SpinCycle this week is all about what makes you laugh.  We laugh often at our house.  Turbo and Bruiser are great sources of laugh inducing moments--tickling and the resulting giggles are sometime irresistible. 
But I think the best laugh I've had recently came from a post on Suzicate's blog back in May.  May was rough on us and the night I noticed this post on her blog I really needed a laugh.  I laughed so hard I had to share it with Nick.  By the time I was done reading it to him he was laughing so hard he almost fell off the couch.  So I thought I'd share it with you all.  You must read to the end, it's so worth it.

LIZARD BIRTH
Overview: I had to take my son's lizard to the vet.


Here's what happened: Just after dinner one night, my son came up to tell me there was "something wrong" with one of the two lizards he holds prisoner in his room.
"He's just lying there looking sick," he told me. "I'm serious dad, can you help?"
I put my best lizard-healer statement on my face and followed him into his bedroom.
One of the little lizards was indeed lying on his back, looking stressed. I immediately knew what to do.
"Honey," I called, "come look at the lizard!"
"Oh my! gosh," my wife diagnosed after a minute. "She's having babies."
"What?" my son demanded. "But their names are Bert and Ernie, Mom!"
I was equally outraged.
"Hey, how can that be? I thought we said we didn't want them to reproduce," I accused my wife.
"Well, what do you want me to do, post a sign in their cage?" she inquired. (I actually think she said this sarcastically!)
"No, but you were supposed to get two boys!" I reminded her, (in my most loving, calm, sweet voice, while gritting my teeth together).
"Yeah, Bert and Ernie!" my son agreed.
"Well, it's just a little hard to tell on some guys, you know," she informed me. (again with the sarcasm, you think?)
By now the rest of the family had gathered to see what was going on. I shrugged, deciding to make the best of it.
"Kids, this is going to be a wondrous experience", I announced. "We're about to witness the miracle of birth."
"Oh, gross!" they shrieked.
"Well, isn't THAT just great! What are we going to do with a litter of tiny little lizard babies?" my wife wanted to know. (I really do think she was being snotty here, too. Don't you?)
We peered at the patient. After much struggling, what looked like a tiny foot would appear briefly, vanishing a scant second later.
"We don't appear to be making much progress," I noted.
"It's breech," my wife whispered, horrified.
"Do something, Dad!" my son urged.
"Okay, okay." Squeamishly , I reached in and grabbed the foot when it next appeared, giving it a gentle tug. It disappeared.
I tried several more times with the same results.
"Should I call 911," my eldest daughter wanted to know. "Maybe they could talk us through the trauma." (You see a pattern here with the females in my house?)
"Let's get Ernie to the vet," I said grimly.
We drove to the vet with my son holding the cage in his lap. "Breathe, Ernie, breathe," he urged.
"I don't think lizards do Lamaze," his mother noted to him. (Women can be so cruel to their own young. I mean, what she does to me is one thing, but this boy is of her womb, for God's sake.)
The Vet took Ernie back to the examining room and peered at the little animal through a magnifying glass.
"What do you think, Doc, a C-section?" I suggested scientifically.
"Oh, very interesting," he murmured. "Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, may I speak to you privately for a moment?"
I gulped, nodding for my son to step outside.
"Is Ernie going to be okay?" my wife asked.
"Oh, perfectly," the Vet assured us. "This lizard is not in labor. In fact, that isn't EVER going to happen... Ernie is a boy. You see, Ernie is a young male. And occasionally, as they come into maturity, like most male species, they um.... um....masturbate. Just the way he did, lying on his back."
He blushed, glancing at my wife. "Well, you know what I'm saying, Mr. Cameron."
We were silent, absorbing this.
"So Ernie's just...just... excited," my wife offered.
"Exactly," the vet replied, relieved that we understood.
More silence. Then my viscous, cruel wife started to giggle. And giggle. And then even laugh loudly.
"What's so funny?" I demanded, knowing, but not believing that the woman I married would commit the upcoming affront to my flawless manliness.
Tears were now running down her face. Laughing "It's just...that...I'm picturing you pulling on its... its...teeny little..." she gasped for more air to bellow in laughter once more.
"That's enough," I warned. We thanked the Vet and hurriedly bundled the lizards and our son back into the car.  He was glad everything was going to be okay.
"I know Ernie's really thankful for what you've done, Dad," he told me.
"Oh, you have NO idea,"  my wife agreed, collapsing with laughter.
====
2 - Lizards - $140...
1 - Cage - $50...
Trip to the Vet - $30...
Memory of your husband pulling on a lizard's winkie...Priceless

Moral of the story: Pay attention in biology class.
LIZARDS LAY EGGS!

Now go see Sprite's Keeper for more funny spins.