February 2009 Archives - hooey!critic

Still Sick

February 26, 2009 By Neena 3 Comments

I’m still in the midst of fighting this horrible, awful thing that has taken up residence in my body.

And it sucks.

I’m popping antibiotics, vitamin c, and Tylenol and washing it all down with 7 up. That has been my diet since Monday. I had a little soup yesterday, but that’s it. The irony of all this? I’ve gained a pound.

Son of a bitch!

But today, despite my ache for another day of rest and recuperation, I needed to rejoin the land of the living. Hubby, after working from home the last couple days in order to take care of me, needed to return to work and Jacob had a ‘muffins for moms’ event at his preschool that I didn’t want to miss. So, I put myself together as best i could, hoping that my makeup was in the mood to make miracles happen.

It wasn’t.

But, I went anyway and managed to look the part of a semi-conscious mother. I got to enjoy muffins and fruit with my son, and I even left with some adorable gifts he made me. I must admit, thought, that I did secretly judge the other moms for being so cute and put together with their outfits and hairstyles. But I think it was just because I sound like I’m coughing up a lung and have enough snot in my head to float a boat.

I’m less judgmental when I’m healthy.

Filed Under: daily grind

Bed Head

February 25, 2009 By Neena 5 Comments

Good Morning, Mommy! I’m awake now. Can you get me out of this crib now?

Okay, very funny, Mommy. Yes, I have baby bed head. Can you get me out, please?

Geez. I just wanna have my breakfast.

Last picture, Lady! My waffle is waiting and eventually you’ll see what happens when I lack tolerance.

Filed Under: charlotte

What I learned this week (vol 3)

February 24, 2009 By Neena 11 Comments

I’m taking a sick day today. Yesterday I made my hubby come home early from work because I developed a horrible respiratory infection and was all dizzy and feverish. I woke up this morning and realized I wasn’t any better so I asked him to work from home today. He gladly complied and has been doing his best to take care of me all day. Gotta love him! Anyway…on with the carnival!

This week I learned:

Food always tastes better when someone else cooks it. Thanks, hubby, for making me soup last night!
It is always smart to have facial hair removed by a professional and not when you’re in the midst of a low self esteem moment.
Xenon is a type of gas. I don’t know why I know this.
Lost binkies will only appear after you’ve scouted 3 different stores to find just the right replacements.
It is nearly impossible for me to stay awake long enough to watch an entire episode of Grey’s Anatomy. But, I think it’s because this season kinda sucks.
Letter writing is a lost art and should really be brought back in style.
It is never comforting, but always entertaining when your 4 year old daughter screams out at the dinner table ‘Man, I hurt my nuts!’

Filed Under: carnival

Old

February 23, 2009 By Neena 6 Comments

I woke up this morning with every intention of having a productive day. I wanted to go buy a nail polish that a friend recommended and I thought about using the rest of my birthday gift certificate to buy myself a pair of earrings that would cease to turn my ears all gross and funny. I thought I might indulge in a white chocolate mocha and even split a soft pretzel with my baby girl, seeing as the other two babies would be in school. I even planned to stop and visit a local wellness and fitness center in order to take a tour and get the necessary literature that might sway my decision to join one way or another.

But, then I woke up.

I looked in the mirror.

And, I felt old.

My eyes looked exhausted despite having slept okay the night before. My hair, which is in desperate need of a trim, looked matted and frizzy and resembled nothing that could be made livable by the use of a flat iron. I had a pimple and I realized I plucked my eyebrows funny when I tried to do that in the wrong lighting the other night.

I blew my nose thinking that forcing everything to get moving might liven up the appearance. All it accomplished was to make me aware that my head cold has officially moved into my chest and I sound like a 40 year smoker.

So, after I drop off my son at preschool I’ll be coming home and removing the mom jeans in favor of my favorite draw-string pants. I’ll make a big pot of stuffed cabbage soup, talk about the weather, and complain about the funny noise my knee makes. I’ll whine a little to my husband as I secretly resent the fact that he’s getting better with age and can only be labeled ‘sophisticated’ and not ‘old.’ And, I’ll hope for a younger day tomorrow.

After all, the nail polish isn’t going anywhere. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I feel the need to research angina.

Filed Under: age

Entertainment

February 20, 2009 By Neena 6 Comments

hrm…what should we do for fun on a cold February afternoon?

Why, scare the crap out of our children, of course!

I really shouldn’t be getting as much laughter out of this as I am.

Bad mommy! Bad Mommy!

Filed Under: photo

Reason #47 why you should always keep a camera in the car

February 18, 2009 By Neena 3 Comments

Filed Under: photo

Revolutionary Road

February 18, 2009 By Neena Leave a Comment

I think I may have found the one novel that quite possibly deserves to be called ‘perfection.’ Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates is an amazing story that explores the depth of the ‘what if’ of American life, marriage, and family.

The novel, set in the 1950′s, follows the mundane lives of Frank and April Wheeler, a young suburban couple with two children. The novel explores the emotions and struggles that exist when two people end up living a life they never imagined, a life of a boring couple.

I’ll be honest and say that there have certainly been times where I’ve asked myself how I ended up as a housewife with three children. There have been times when I’ve tried to imagine my life differently, not because I don’t love my family, but because this life is not what I imagined. What I love about this novel is that it almost forces you to answer the question ‘Are you happy?’ And, even better is the fact that the story takes the readers to a place where it won’t settle for some bullshit answer to the question. I love that!

This novel was recently made in to a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. I’m hoping to see the movie soon and do my own comparison of book vs. movie. I don’t think I could have picked two better actors for these characters and I hope this movie does the book as much justice as possible.

Revolutionary Road is available on Amazon for under $10. Click here for more information on the movie and its trailers.

Filed Under: book review

It is time to admit defeat

February 17, 2009 By Neena 8 Comments

See this?

That is growing pile of laundry on my bed that I have to fold and put away. It is not counting the load in the dryer or the load swishing around in the washer. Nope.

This is what I have to do today. I have to do this because the underwear supply is greatly dwindled and my son has no more pants in his drawer. And, I can tell you from personal knowledge that nobody wants to see us without our undies and britches! Besides, it’s cold.

I have been so busy lately with other things that my housekeeping skills have slipped by the wayside. I officially suck at laundry and cleaning lately and I don’t know why. Sure, I’ve been busy with doctor appointments, painting, writing, and generally keeping the kids alive, but I’m not quite sure when it all got to the point where it took over.

The dust around here is so bad, in fact, that I had to buy myself a painter’s mask just to maneuver around in here!

Yes, I did.

So, today I’m going to make it official and admit my defeat. I am going to hire myself a wonderful cleaning lady. She’ll be full of mad cleaning skills and embodying that wonderful ‘grandmotherly’ essence that would never in a million years make you feel guilty for needing a cleaning lady when you’re a stay at home mom. Nope. She’ll tell me to sit my butt down and she’ll even make a batch of cookies before she leaves.

It’ll be sheer bliss I tell ya!

Or, it’ll at least be a nice delusion to have while I deal with my feelings of defeat.

Oh, and Hey UPS Man:

Sorry I answered the door with that damn mask on my head. I forgot I had it on. But, thanks for little brown shorts and the cheap Tuesday thrill! Love, Mamaneena.

Filed Under: daily grind

Dinner Conversation

February 16, 2009 By Neena 6 Comments

My oldest daughter often talks like a much older version of herself. We always joke that she’s the oldest 4 year old that you’ll ever meet. Last night at dinner she asked:

So, mommy, what are your plans for tomorrow?

I told her that I would probably be spending the day doing laundry since I didn’t get to it this weekend. She shook her head as if to indicate that she understood the business of the weekend and my need to play catch up on Monday.

Then I watched my 14 month old eat 3 helpings of Mexican rice, 3 helpings of refried beans, and 2 helpings of beef enchiladas and suddenly realized my plans for Monday were about to take a very different turn.

But, what I thought would wait until today came full force Sunday night when she threw her shoes in the tub, ran naked through the house, and pooped on my living room carpet.

Yep. My child.

And, just when I hope my oldest will use that maturity for the forces of good, she just looks at me and says: Ewe, mommy. Charlotte pooped. I’m gonna go play with my dolls.