We Want YOU!

I heard a commercial this morning for joining the CIA. It was so very weird. It sounded very interesting. Talking about gathering intelligence, travel and working for your country...blah blah...

I thought, hey, I could be the next Jack(ie) Bauer... It sounds so cool. I don't think I could kill anyone, but they didn't advertise that so there must not be any of that in the CIA. Right? (yes, the colors ARE prettier where I live.) Although, if there's enough training...I'm pretty good with a gun. Okay, so they're paint guns and bb guns...whatever...

Who's with me?! There are travel opportunities...

Denny, Denny, Denny!! or VD recap

Whoo hoo. Okay, so Meredith might be dead...so what. She bugs me anyway. However, we get a view of Denny...Whoo Whoo. I'm sorry, I know I'm a sap, but he was just the best character. So, damned loveable. You couldn't help but love him. (D-man didn't get it, but he also didn't get Ewan McGregor in "Moulin Rouge" either...) I think the idea of Denny was what was so appealing about him. He knew what he wanted and he made sure that the woman he loved knew it. I think that's what men miss most of the time is that women want to feel wanted. At least, I know I do.

That said, on the heels of a great Valentine's day for me, I just wanted to let you know how much I love my D-man. Sometimes, often, it's the little things that count. He brought roses to my office. He could have sent them, but he brought them himself. That was the best part. He brought them himself. Then, when we get home from work that day he presents me with a charm bracelet from Jame$ Avery (that I wanted) with two charms; a bride and groom and baby shoes. It's my new favorite item in the whole world. He listened. He heard. If you listen to people and really hear them you can make them happy. If you want to, that is. It's not the fact that he bought me things (although, that WAS a nice touch), but that he listens. Did I mention he brought the roses to me himself. He took time out of his day to make mine happier.

Now, it's my turn to try to be a good listener, because I don't think I've been that good lately.

Happy Valentine's Day...

You know, we used to say, "Happy VD" in high school and it was sooooo funny. Yeah...good times!

Anyway, I hope everyone has a happy valentine's day. It's never been one way or the other for me. I don't hate it, I don't love it. I've never been a cutesie flowers, hearts and candy gal. The D-man usually takes care of me on this particular day and I try to return in kind. However, I'm not heartbroken if I don't get candy and flowers today. I got the D-man a little something useful and a giant solid chocolate Her$hey's kiss. That's about it. Oh, and a funny card. I don't do sappy...unless I'm feeling it. And well, after the past weekend, I'm just not feeling it.

My love to you all, out there. I hope your day is wonderful even if you don't give two sticks about VD.

Lost Heroes... (some spoilers, so beware)

Okay, I don't know if I'm just on a "Heroes" high, but my old favorite "Lost" seems to have lost some of it's magic. I don't know. I was slightly disappointed in last night return ep. Don't get me wrong, I'm still giddy at the sight of Sawyer without a shirt and can't wait to friggin' find out who the "Others" really are, but I was a little let down by it last night. I think I like a little closure in each of my shows, but each episode of "Lost" just create more and more questions without ever really resolving anything. I really hope they have it planned out because if someone can't explain to me why the hatch exploded b/c of some damn button, I'm going to be very upset. Or what the hell that black "smoke" is and why it killed the pilot and Echo? Or why they steal kids and babies and wanted Walt and pulled that "A Clockwork Orange" crap on Carl, or made Sawyer eat bear biscuits, or where'd that polar bear come from and why was it running around on the island, or how everyone knows someone from somewhere else and how they all ended up on the plane together.....AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!

Seriously, Bobby Ewing better not wake up in the shower on this one or I'm gonna be pissed! "Heroes" hasn't taken the #1 spot on my TiVo, yet (that's still "Lost"), but it just might.

I mean, seriously, how's Niki going to get out of that mirror??? The absolutely only thing I don't like about "Heroes" is Peter and his little stroke-victim thing he's got going on with his bottom lip, but whatever...I totally knew Nathan was Claire's daddy!! That's so cool!!

Don't even get me started on "24". You know, we have TiVo on the downstairs TV so I go old-school and tape (with the VCR) "24" upstairs so we can watch it after. This week, I accidentally taped "SuperNanny"...WHAT!!! I need my "Jack Bauer Power Hour"....I was so pissed!! PMS and no "24". Monday was NOT my best day.

Sad News...

Mr. Nunn passed away last night. Anyone reading this who either went to Chamblee High or knew someone who did, please pass on the word. He taught biology for 30 years at CHS. He was also the father of one of my good friends. I cannot even begin to express my sadness right now. My parents both went to CHS and had him 30 years ago.

I also received bad news about another friend's father who has cancer. It started in his lung, has gone into his brain and now his liver. Fortunately, they caught these early, but that's no guarantee.

Everyone take a minute and just think about someone you love. Call them, give them a hug, send them an e-mail, something. Anything.

DANG!

Okay, so I took 10 minutes and wrote some heartfelt, thoughtful prose about being a Mommy and wife and all that crap and lost it. Not my sanity...the blog entry. Dang. (The sanity went a long long time ago.)

Oh well, so here I am...it's Friday. Scenes of "Office Space" are running through my head. Can't wait to get to the weekend. It's sad. I love my job. Well, love might be a little over the top, but I do like it. However, it's been a rough week and I'm looking forward to having a frosty beverage and sitting down with my feet up, vegging out to mindless drivel on the television for an evening. We've worked out twice this week and I tell you, it's been tough. Not the workng out part, just the scheduling of events that have gone on around it. Trying to get The Boy from home to school to grandmas to home again and in to bed by a reasonable time has not been easy. We're going to go to the (indoor) pool on Saturday and then going to a friend's birthday on Sunday, so we're not lacking in events this weekend, but it will be fun things that we will enjoy on our own time.

Did anyone watch the musical '$crubs' episode last night? Funny stuff after having just had my physical and the doctor sends me home with a "fecal occult" test. Yeah, not going to happen, crazy lady. Apparently, everything comes down to poo. At least, that what they tell us. :-)

New Year's Blues

(I started this on January 5th. It's been a busy year, so far!)

Oh well. Christmas is over. We had to go ahead and take our tree down on the 26th b/c of allergies. The D-man is allergic and I've got a wicked sinus infection so we decided it would be better for everyone if we went ahead and did it. I've taken the decorations down, but haven't put the regular stuff back up so our house looks sadly empty. Except for the toys. It looks like Toys R Us had a sale in my living room. Trains, trucks, books, $piderman EVERYWHERE! Can I tell you how much those little trains hurt to step on?!! Just ask D-man who stepped on one and took a header in the kitchen. It wasn't pretty.

I actually took a header too, on Christmas eve at my folks house. They have a tiny galley kitchen and it leads into the den area via a single step. This step has been the bane of my existence since I could walk. When I was little I'd go tearing through the den into the kitchen and I would hit the step and land midway through the kitchen and it would knock the wind out of me. This time it took me out going down the step into the den. Busted my knee, bashed my elbow, crushed my wrist. Good times. Happy Holidays! I'm not drunk, I swear.

I did attend midnight mass. Yes, I'm a Christmas Catholic (or Cathoholic as we say sometimes). They even had a "brochure", if you will, about coming to church and how even if you are a "Christmas Catholic" there's still a place for you in God's yada, yada, yada. Thus, solidifying my reasonings as to why I only go to church once a year. Would you like a side of guilt with that wacky wafer and Jesus Juice? Thanks. I'm full. :-) However, I do like the tradition and the ceremony. Although, this mass was done in English and Indonesian. There was also some interpretive dance which I couldn't get into. Okay, so it wasn't "Interpretive" dance, but they looked silly. I didn't realize church was dinner AND a show, now. I miss the old Latin "productions", if you will.

At any rate, the holidays are over. Let the New Year begin!

The Holidays are Coming, the Holidays are Coming...

Hi, I'm Tara and I'm a Christmasoholic.

I fully admit it. I'm a junkie. A Christmas junkie. I'm totally digging 94.9fm's "All-Christmas-all-the-time" playlist. I get giggly when I walk into the mall-type area (although, you will not see me in a mall until absolutely necessary this time of year. I may be additicted, but I'm not stupid) and see the Christmas lights and decorations everywhere. I just ordered our Christmas cards. We got our tree this weekend. Some of the regular decorations and pictures have been carefully nestled away and in their place are winter, Christmas and general holiday themed items. My Christmas tablecloth and Santa cookie jar are on the table. I hung my Mistletoad (that's right, he's a frog!) up above the dining room door and Doug hung most of the lights on the house. It's not as obnoxious as it sounds. I promise. It's all tastefully simple. I just love Christmas. I will start shopping this weekend and have everything done to ship up North by the 15th. Christmas Eve is probably my most favorite day of the year. I love having my family over and eating tons of food (that I will bemoan later) and drinking drinks and watching 24 Hours of "A Christmas Story" and "It's a Wonderful Life". I'm always very sad December 26th.

We used to decorate cookies for ourselves and for people who would come to the house and save a few for Santa, of course. One of my most favorite Christmas memories was one year my mom was looking for a project to keep us busy, I guess. I'm not really sure the reasoning behind it. We made a miniature Christmas tree out of a phone book. (This was way back when the yellow pages were all in one ginormous book.) We folded the pages back from the top to the middle to make a triangle and then we spray-painted it green and broke out the glitter and the star stickers. It rocked! My mom was a friggin' genius! She gets embarrassed by that story. I don't know why. I love it. Perhaps it didn't turn out as glorious as I remember it, but that doesn't matter. It's the memory that counts. :-)

I also love Christmas because no matter how much (or really how little) money we had, my parents always made Christmas special. They remember it as "that Christmas everyone only got one or two gifts". We remember it as "remember those cool pop-up toys we got that year?" They are silly folks, but I love them. They sacrificed a lot to get us here. They are still married after all the crap they have been through and they are my heros. Absolutely.

Great movies come out of this time of year, too. "Scrooged", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown", "Die Hard", "A Christmas Story", "A Christmas Carol", "The Ref", "National Lampoon's: Christmas Vacation", "The Nightmare Before Christmas"....I could go on. And yes, I did say "Die Hard". That is a friggin' classic!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays in general to everyone. (chances are I won't be able to blog until after then so...) Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!!

Peace!

Halloween in the Mind of a Three Year Old.

CANDY.

That's it.

He was so excited to get his one lollipop he couldn't wait to get home. When I was a kid, my sisters and I would come home to assess the loot.

I'm sure you all (okay, the two of you who read this) can relate. You dump your bag out on the floor or table and let the trading begin. It's a good think I don't like Tootsie Rolls b/c my sister did and I got some good chocolate for those nastly little turdy-looking chews.

Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), for The Boy, he's an only child right now and gets all the candy(that his father doesn't eat) to himself. However, in a couple of years that may change. Either with neighbor kids coming over after or if a sibling comes along. (No word on if that's ever going to happen. A discussion for another day.)

Anyway, I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween. Now, Let's GET READY FOR CHRISTMAS!! I've already got my Santa Hat out and ready.

Kidding, I'll wait at least until after Thanksgiving.

Reality Strikes Back.

I've recently discovered myspace.com. I really think it's funny. I'm sure it's a great networking tool for some people, but mostly I see it as high school online. How many "friends" do you have? Are they the "cool" people? I can't believe that person thinks I want to be their "friend"? Like, OH MY GOD!

I've got 4 friends, as of yesterday, and I'm totally cool with that. Mostly, it's just a silly past time. Is is fun to talk all about myself? Sure. Post pictures of what's going on in my life? Sure, why not. Then you get the freaks who want to send you naked pictures of themselves. What's up with that? StarzB, I really don't want to look at your soapy naked butt. Thanks, anyway. I really don't care about Dave, in Tampa, 27 years old, looking for friends. If you've got to go online to find friends, perhaps you just need to get out of your mom's basement. It's one thing if I know you and you want to be a "friend". It's another if you're a complete stranger. Dude, I'm not looking for a date. I'm not looking for a dirty e-mail. I'm just here to check out what my friends from high school and college are up to.

Thanks, but I think I'll "deny".

Erin's Journey

Okay guys,
This is not a plea for money. Well, it is, sort of. It's actually for a cause, not a person. Well, it's in a person's name.

My friend, Erin, is going through her third round of chemo. First, when she was 12 then, second, two years ago. She had a baby last December and is going through chemo again. She asked that if anyone wanted to do anything, to please donate to St. Jude Children's Hospital. They saved her life when she was twelve. Check out the link (b/c I'm a dork, I still don't get all that html stuff) below and donate to a great cause. The bracelets are cool, too.

http://bwhitewoodstock.tripod.com/id11.html

The term "Erin's Journey" came from when she came back to work from her second bout of cancer, a co-worker was talking with Erin and found out about the first round, when she was a child. The co-worked expressed sorrow that Erin had gone through that and that it came back, and Erin said, "don't be, it's just my journey in life".

We are selling the bracelets for $5 and 100% of the proceeds (minus shipping, if it has to be shipped) goes to St. Judes. 100%!! We're on our way to reaching our goal of $2, 200 and you can help!!

Erin has an AMAZING spirit. If you do go to the link above and you can click on a couple of other cool pages. "Erin's Medical Blog" is maintained by her husband and gives great insight as to what they are going through. Also, you can check out her little boy, Tanner on "The Baby's Page". He's the cutest thing you've ever seen. A picture of Erin is also there, she's sporting her recently purchased, new "'do". The top picture is her husband and he's wearing one of the bracelets.

http://bwhitewoodstock.tripod.com/id11.html

Ever Wonder...

Ever wonder how someone who's not even 3 feet tall can rule your world? Maybe not. But I do. I'm the mother of an amazing (almost) 3 year old. He's funny. He's silly. He's completely all "Boy". Yesterday, as I lovingly picked him up from pre-school (how guilty working mothers refer to daycare) he proceeded to kick and scream and tell me he didn't want to go home. Meanwhile, he's got a full (and I mean FULL) load in his pull-up. (read: Ewwww!) He's thrown himself on the blacktop parking lot and yelling at me that he doesn't want to go home. (yes, I'm LOVING being a parent right now.)

Then, I get him in the car and he does that straight-back thing that gets him out of his car seat and sliiiiiiides down onto the Cheerio-covered floorboard of my Ford Escape and wails at the top of his voice that I was indeed NOT his friend. (38 hours of labor and all I get is this stinking .....well, you know)

Okay, so I wrangle him into the car. He then yells, at the TOP of his lungs, completely incoherent thoughts about his elephant and "Where the Wild Things Are" until I finally just tell him to keep yelling, ..."c'mon, a little louder. Not everyone in Dunwoody can hear you, yet." For whatever reason, that stopped the tantrum. About a minute later he was asleep. He slept from 4:20pm until 6:00am (the next morning). I got home and I changed his pull-up and put him in bed. He didn't stir until about 9:00pm, I went in and said to him "Goodnight, I will see you in the morning" and he went right back to sleep until 6am the next morning.

It was awesome and at the same time a little scary. D-man and I didn't know what to do with ourselves. So, we finished watching the last 30 minutes of "Walk the Line" and did laundry. Then, I folded clothes and watched our newly purchase, "The Little Mermaid", and then watched "Nip/Tuck". I haven't watched that much TV in one night in a long time.

The Boy woke up at 6am and was a whole new kid. Apparently, he hasn't been napping at school much and it's caught up to him. I also think he's a little anxious about potty-training. He's a little bit high-strung (which I have no idea where it comes from....okay, it's me...) about certain things.

That's my life. My, how things change in just 3 short years!!

Two Days of Meetings and All I Get is This Turkey Wrap and some Baklava.

The title says it all.

17 hours of meetings
1% of said 17 hours actually pertains to me.

Jason's Deli Baklava: Priceless

Where'd my blog go???

Okay, so I typed out what was probably the next "Great American Novel" and blogger decided it wasn't good enough for it's site and it has disappeared. Does that happend a lot to you guys. Oh well. Perhaps it doesn't think my content is blogger-worthy. If I could just figure out those stupid links.....

Anyway, good day, All!

A Flower for You All.

I just felt like sharing a flower grown by my bro-in-law. Isn't it pretty!!

I'm Feeling Better Today. Thank you Tom Cruise!

I feel so much better today. Exercise is a wonderul thing. I feel much more clear-headed today. I did 35 minutes on the elliptical and a full circuit on the weights with 2 sets each (totaling 8,840 lbs. Fitlinxx at the Y is awesome!). I'm sore, but in a "I did something good" kind of way.

Tom Cruise was right. Vitamins and exercise are all a person needs to feel better. YEAH, right!

I still need chocolate and vodka. In that order. I do feel better after exercising and once we have gotten fully back into the habit, it will be better. As for right now I need my CV and I will be happy. Until then, all beware.

The military should really learn to harness the power of the PMS-ing female. We could seriously win some wars. Just send 1,000 PMS troops in and BLAM... Buh-bye O$ama!

PMS...SUCKS!

That's right. You guessed it. Today's the day. I made my son cry and my husband hates me. I suck as a person and I really hate it. Hormones are something that NO man can ever understand and I don't think that in the 13 years that D-man and I have been together that this has changed. I am fully aware of the fact that I seriously need some PMS drugs. I just don't have any right now. We're going to work out this afternoon and I need it. BAD.

On one hand, I feel like the worst mother and wife of all time. On the other...why don't they just F&(#@ing understand????? Do not piss me off right now.

Duh na na na na na...You say it's your birthday....

Holy Oldness Batman!


No, I really don't feel older. Saying 32 or 33 feels no different. I'm having a great birthday (week). Saturday, my WONDERFUL friends surprised me at our annual cookout with a party. My friend, (we'll call him) Super Greg, even decorated a cake for me. It was a volcano and all of the teddy wahinis were sacrificing themselves to the volcano gods instead of turning 33. It was pretty cool. There was MUCH in the way of good food and presents.

Tonight D-man is taking me out to the KT Tunstall concert at Center Stage and my son (with some help from Daddy) gave me a necklace and earring set from www.twotreesbeads.com. Friday, my bestest friend, Sara, is taking me out to dinner and a movie, my office buddies are taking me to lunch on Monday and my old boss is taking me out to lunch on Wednesday. (get thee to a gymnasium!)

So far I have totally raked it in. I've gotten 2 gift certificates, flowers, a pair of shoes, two books, a DVD set, two necklace and earring sets, 3 bottles of wine, a volcano cake, concert tickets, two kinds of pound cake, a handmade scarf and a decorated desk. This birthday is ROCKIN'! I have awesome friends. I love you all!

Happy Day Everyone!!

Queenfrog Swims with the Fishes...

(Okay, yes, I know, they're not fishes!)

Holy Cow! I figured something out! I can now post pictures!

This is one of me and Pegasu (I'm on the left) when D-man and I went to swim with the dolphins in Mexico in 2001. About 2 weeks after 9/11 we went to Playa-del-Carmen. We figured it was probably the safest time to fly. We had an awesome time. It was extemely intimidating to swin with the dolphins. They are such beautiful and powerful animals. I don't think I'll do it again b/c I don't agree with animals for human entertainment. (Don't even get me started on the circus elephants...), but I do have to say, it was the most amazing thing to be in the water with a creature that breath-taking. They were well taken care of and seemingly not over-worked, but I still have my issues with it. I didn't until I went through it. I would be content just sitting on the dock feeding them fish.

Just a note out of nowhere...
Watched Dane Cook's "Vicious Circle" last night. Very funny. Especially the part about how men fight versus how women fight. Dead on!

Take Off, eh!

We just got back from a visit to the Great White North. (I mean that figuratively and literally.) We had a visit with the in-laws. They live in western New York state. VERY western New Nork. Lots of trees and water (and toxic waste). Good times. It's absolutely beautiful up there. My in-laws live right on Lake Ontario. You can see Toronto from their backyard. We actually boated across to Toronto once.

My brother-in-law (we'll call him K-dog) docks his boat at a marina just above "The Falls". That's right, Niagara Freakin' Falls. Normally, when we've gone out, we've gone to the river below the Falls. Nice and safe. No fear of plummeting to our death should the motor poop out. Now, there's a whole new fear factor to boating with K-dog.

My little guy got to spend some quality time with his grandparents and cousins. We got to see our 4 nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. The D-man and I even got to spend an entire day sans child. We don't get to do that often. It was wonderful. We went to a little town called Niagara-on-the-lake. Beautiful, quaint little town. Had some lunch and some wine and a prailine the size of my head. It was amazing. We did a quick drive-by of the Falls (I make the D-man take me there every time we're there.), did a little shopping (duty free = cheap beer), did a little outlet shopping (alas, no new Liz Claiborne purse this year) and just hung out. Got to talk and hold hands and be goofy kids again. It was great. Got the boy a shirt that read "Moosely Canadian". Appropriate b/c D-man was born Canadian. Get it?!

My sister-in-law (D-man's sister) even cooked a "Thanksgiving" dinner the day before we left. It's good to see them. D-man's sister's husband (we'll call him Ranger)is going through a particularly rough time. He's a teacher and having to deal with some dirty politics from the power-hungry school board and a psychotic board member who stalks them. It's ugly. Ranger is a good and honest man. Hopefully, this will all work out. They are considering moving, which I find upsetting b/c they are being forced out, it's not their own choice. It sucks. Bad school board. Bad!

All in all it was a good trip, but I'm glad to be back in my own bed. We'll be see my mother and father-in-law in January when they come to stay for a visit. I'd better get my list ready. They like to fix things when they come down. I just wish they would come in May...we have lots of outdoor projects to do. New fence, new porch, pressure washing...the list goes on and on.