September 2008 Archives

just a gal talking politics

September 30, 2008 By Neena 10 Comments

Okay, I have tried to avoid jumping on a political soapbox, but I can’t avoid it any longer. The election is just a few short weeks away. The candidates are working overtime as they try to win the ‘mine is bigger than yours’ game. So, in an effort to join in to all the other political crap I’ve seen lately, here is my take on politics.

Suck it!

To all those folks out there bitching about paying and not paying taxes – suck it! Taxes will never, ever, ever go away so just pay your share and shut up!

To all those folks that are all upset about the war and the soldiers and what is and isn’t our place in all of it – suck it! My brother and his wife are over there doing their job and doing it well. Try saying thank you for a change rather than a bunch of political mumbo jumbo. They might appreciate it.

To all those folks that are up in arms about education and if it is working or not – suck it! Quit blaming teachers. Quit blaming schools. Quit blaming government. Quit blaming parents. Maybe, just maybe, it could be the fault of the kid. Take responsibility, do your homework, quit expecting miracles from teachers, and take an interest in your kids and their lives. And, for Pete’s sake get that damn cell phone off your kid’s ear and make the little f*#ker do his assignment!

To all those people saying ‘gimme, gimme, gimme’ – suck it! Get a job, do some hard work, and quit expecting everyone to help you all the time. If you only do what you’ve always done then you’ll only get what you’ve always gotten.

To all those folks making issues with health care, social security, and the like – suck it! I’m just tired of hearing about this one. We live on one income by choice, pay for our own health care, insurance, retirement, and whatnot. We’re doing fine. Make the right choice for the future, work hard, and quit blaming your money problems on everyone else.

Just vote for the candidate of your choice. Be confident in your choice. Realize that there will be no huge changes overnight and just be happy and feel blessed that you get to live in this wonderful country in the first place. Quit picking on the politicians so much because none of us are stepping up and giving the job a whirl.

Plus, I can guarantee that there is not a single person out there that wouldn’t have something from their past jump out if they were in politics. None of us are perfect and most of us couldn’t do the job we are asking McCain and Obama to do. So, suck it!

God Bless America!

(Thanks, Mommie Mayhem, for introducing me to the phrase ‘suck it.’ I think it works well with politics)

Tomorrow we will return to the regularly scheduled niceness of this blog.

Filed Under: politics

who needs texting when you have IM!?

September 29, 2008 By Neena 3 Comments

Hubby and I had the following conversation over IM today. Yea, I know we’re weird and odd and I’m not quite sure we make sense. Plus, we bred weird and odd little people that almost never make sense. You’re welcome.

MamaNeena: have about 100 words to go
MamaNeena: didn’t quite meet the minimum though I thought my article was lovely
Hubby: You can come up with a hundred words no problem
MamaNeena: just sent it to gmail…let me know thoughts
Hubby: checking it now
MamaNeena: do you want me to send you the email with my instructions so that you know what I was supposed to do?
Hubby: only if you want to
MamaNeena: just sent it too
MamaNeena: this way you can tell me if I did what they were asking
Hubby: okay. trying to d/l the file
Hubby: kewl
Hubby: love you
MamaNeena: breath that is baited here…
MamaNeena: okay maybe I shouldn’t value your opinion as highly as I do…but, I’m a girl and I’m an impatient girl trying to get a job in a field that I have no experience in…humor me and read faster!!!
MamaNeena: i can’t take it much longer…you’re just being cruel now
MamaNeena: oh, the torture
MamaNeena: how can I live through this
MamaNeena: it is worse than waiting for your period when you don’t want to be preganant, but that doesn’t apply here does it…
MamaNeena: hey, I just found a book on amazon on how to speed read
MamaNeena: should I pick it up for you
MamaNeena: hmm hmm hmm hmm
Hubby: wow
MamaNeena: if you are just sitting there laughing at me then I’ll kick your ass later today
Hubby: you’re funny
MamaNeena: what do you mean
Hubby: and laughing makes my head hurt
MamaNeena: ?
Hubby: let me read the instructions now
MamaNeena: oy
Hubby: its good. looks like it hits the mark. well written.
MamaNeena: yes
Hubby: good work
MamaNeena: thanks stud bunny…love you
Hubby: love you too
Hubby: how are you feeling/
Hubby: ?
MamaNeena: peachy
MamaNeena: and you
Hubby: like i got hit by a truck
Hubby: you know how bad I get when I’m sick
Hubby: I’m a wimp
MamaNeena: yea
MamaNeena: I know
MamaNeena: but you’re my wimp
MamaNeena: call me later?
Hubby: will do
Hubby: love you

Filed Under: Uncategorized

I think I’ve paid my dues, but the army of germs seems to disagree

September 28, 2008 By Neena 5 Comments

Okay, I’m sick again. I have some uber-gross cold thing that one of the children dragged home from some snot-nosed kid at school. I am all kinds of congested, coughing like a smoker would after 4o years and a bad case of emphysema, and my body aches. Isn’t there some preschool out there where every kid stays in their own plastic bubble and never mixes germs or air with other kids and their unknown hygiene routine? I’ll be waiting here for someone to pass along the number.

I’m tired of this sick crap. I don’t do well being sick. I was not given the genetics needed to sit on my fat ass all day long while someone else answers every beck and call I have. It may sound good in theory, but I look around and see chores, mommy to-do lists, projects, etc. I see wild children that don’t seem to know how to function if mommy sits down and takes a moment to rest. The concept must be so foreign to them that they just get stupid when it happens. I just did this whole sitting down thing when I had my surgery. I followed it up with a whole take a break for the stomach flu thing shortly after that. I’m done sitting. I’m done recovering. I’m done being sick. So, in a true attempt to get over my sickness well before it will get over me, I ran to the store and stocked up on the essentials. I got tissues, cold medicine, vapor rub stuff, cookies (three different varieties, thank you), and ice cream. Yes, my friends, I do know how to recover with the good stuff.

We spent the drive home hunting for gas. Hubby’s tank is empty and there is a shortage around here. He took his own car out on the hunt once we got home. At first I thought it would be cute and sweet and romantic if he had to work from home next week because the gas shortage made it impossible to drive the awful commute. Now, after being sick and dealing with his crabbiness, I think it best that he go to work. I recover best without an audience.

So, I think the plan is to eat enough cookies to mask the sickness. If that fails then I’ll just resort to using the Jedi mind trick.**

** And, for all those star wars buffs that read this: don’t send me a bunch of emails explaining that I have no idea how the Jedi mind trick works. I’m having cookie time and I don’t care.

Filed Under: cookies, family, sickness

the mind of an artist

September 26, 2008 By Neena 3 Comments

My precious daughter, Mia, is our little artist. Since an early age she has shown an interest in coloring, painting, crafts, and all the creative aspects of a kid world. Recently she has started drawing. She is creating her own pictures through her mind’s eye. As a mother I think this is just wonderful. I think it is great to have original works of art to hang on the fridge that were completely and totally made from scratch and without any real rules or direction. Today she brought home this lovely picture…

Me: Mia, this is beautiful.

Mia: Yea, I drew that at school today.

Me: Well, I think it’s fancy! But, why are the people frowning?

Mia: Because they are sad.

Me: And, why are they sad?

Mia: Because they lost their parents.

Me: What do you mean they lost their parents?

Mia: Well, their parents were fired!

Me: Like from a job?

Mia: No, mommy! They were in a fire with smoke detectors and stuff and they got fired!

Hey, I just claimed to like the drawing. I never claimed to actually understand art.

Filed Under: art, mia, photo, school

“Hello, we’re calling about your son…”

September 25, 2008 By Neena 7 Comments

I got a call from my son’s preschool around 10:30 this morning. I was surprised that the call wasn’t about his behavior (which has been wonderful lately, thank you!) They were calling to tell me that he was having green drainage just running out his nose. Nice visual, huh!?

I was surprised because I didn’t notice anything this morning when I was getting him dressed and brushing his teeth. But, I agreed to come pick him up anyway.

That is when I remember it.

What is ‘it’ you may ask?

‘It‘ would be in reference to the random popcorn kernel my son casually mention he shoved up his nose 48 hours ago. What if he actually shoved a kernel so far up his nose that I couldn’t see it? What if it was rotting up there and causing green ooze? What if it is slowly moving toward his brain and would cause him to become brain damaged and forget how to poop in the potty and I’d be spending the next five years scrubbing out Batman undies. Okay, that may be a little dramatic. Well, maybe not for me…

I immediately made an appointment for him so that if the green drainage was, in fact, the remnants of a kernel it could be taken care of. And, if it was simply a cold then at least I’ll have piece of mind.

It was just a cold.

There is no foreign object in his nose.

I am to return only if I notice a smell coming from his nostril. I don’t know about any of you other parents, but I rarely get close enough to smell any hole in my kids’ bodies. That is just asking for trouble.

Filed Under: corn, doctor visit, jacob, weird

now there’s something I never thought I’d say

September 24, 2008 By Neena 3 Comments

“Get your penis out of the freezer and go put your clothes on!”

Filed Under: fridge, kids, nudity, photo, weird

girlie anticipation

September 23, 2008 By Neena 3 Comments

Oh, I just can’t wait until the children go to bed! Sex and the City: The Movie came out today and I was at the store bright and early to rip my copy from the shelves.

Yes, I saw it in the theatre.

Yes, I know how it ends.

Yes, it is the chickiest of chick movies.

But, I don’t care! I am looking forward to the 2+ hours I will have to secretly live out my single girl fantasies. I may give myself a pedicure. I may get all gussied up just to sit in bed and eat ice cream and drink wine. I may even shave my legs for the occasion. Hubby is planning to bring me my favorite take-out and even offered to watch if with me if I really want him to do so. I’ll probably let him off the hook for no other reason than there’s going to be so much estrogen running through this house tonight that he may grow breasts or spontaneously combust. I think I’ll let him loose with The Force Unleashed instead

In summary: nobody call tonight! I’m busy!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

I win at the neuroses game

September 22, 2008 By Neena 2 Comments

See this…

and, this…

and, also this one…

I can give myself an anxiety attack from the safety of my recliner. What’s your talent!?

Filed Under: neuroses, photos

animal farm

September 22, 2008 By Neena 7 Comments

We took the children to the zoo this weekend so that we could enjoy some family fun. We saw the animals, walked around, and rode the carousel. We left with three tired children, two worn out parents, a slew of new memories, and one disturbing image no father ever wants to see of his daughter.

We put a stop to that image real quick.

Filed Under: charlotte, photos, zoo

what if

September 20, 2008 By Neena 5 Comments

I had one of those days that made me wonder what my life would be like without children. Now, before anyone goes and gets their panties in a wad let me explain: fighting, poopy pants, no naps, inability to listen, hissy fit, and throw up. All this combined and in the span of about two hours is what made me have a mental picture of my life without children.

I’m sure I would still be married to hubby because, let’s face it, we knew instantly that we would never get rid of each other. We would probably be living in some great little house that had clean carpet, a vegetable garden, and furniture from stores that only do special order. We would cook together on a regular basis in more of a gourmet fashion. We’d travel more and probably be planning our big trip to Italy via Ireland. There would be afternoon naps, full cups of coffee, and up to date electronics.

I would probably still be teaching British Literature to a bunch of hormonal teenagers, but I would be so good at it that I would never have to bring work home and I’d be able to pull lesson plans from my ass. I would also be just a dissertation away from earning my PhD., and I’d be researching the job market at several universities. I’d still be just a few weeks away from turning 20, but I’d be much further along in my career.

I thought about what my life would be like without children until about 9:00 this evening. That was when I checked on my babies to see if they were sleeping soundly. I realized that if my life didn’t include my babies I wouldn’t have the joy of seeing baby Charlotte sleeping peacefully with her chubby little butt shoved up in the air. I wouldn’t be able to drink in the picture of Jacob curled so far under the covers that he was barely visible. I wouldn’t be able to move the blankets from the floor back over Mia’s body that was sprawled as much as possible across her bed. And, I wouldn’t be feeling the beginnings of excitement and anticipation of our family trip to the zoo tomorrow.

Sure, I’d have nice furniture and a great body, but I wouldn’t have an understanding of what it means to have a cup that truly runneth over. I’m crazy and tired and in desperate need of a vacation, but I was meant to do this. I was meant to have kids.

Yea, yea…shocks me, too.

Filed Under: Uncategorized