I Can't Take Anymore GOOD NEWS!!

If you've been watching the morning shows this week, they've been covering all sorts of "feel good" stories. The Today Show has been doing a Good News segment. I guess it is in keeping with the holiday spirit. Yesterday they featured a family that had I think it was 9 kids, many of them adopted; The mother and her husband had even planned to adopt more, but sadly he passed away last year at the age of 48 from complications from diabetes - The family had hit on hard times....Enter Walmart to make the Christmas special for the kids...The family walked outside to find their lawn had been decorated with lots of coats, laptops, etc....choked back tears and hugs ensued.

Today the featured story was of a guy who was in peak shape, completing marathons and competing in the Iron Man challenge. Then in 2007 he had a horrific bicycle accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors didn't think he would walk, but he defied them and is not only "walking" but also climbed many flights of stairs at a fundraiser for the rehabilitation center. All this while maintaining a sunny outlook.

Yes, this is all fantastic news!!! The problem is that I watch the show while working out and in order to keep from sobbing all over my elliptical, I have to keep running to get tissues!! I've been literally bursting out in tears....

Tomorrow I'll keep the tissue box on the mat next to the elliptical. Although, with all of this pre-planning it will probably be a "bad news" segment.

Over at Good Morning America, the message boards have been buzzing over the change in hosts: Diane Sawyer moving to anchor World News Tonight and Chris Cuomo moving to 20/20. Diane will be replaced by George "Yawn" Stephanopoulus - big mistake!! and the affable Chris will be replaced by the more serious JuJu Chang. I suspect their ratings will be taking a bit of a plunge. I think that Chris is really the biggest loss. I loved his corny humor and easygoing nature...What are your thoughts??

Have a great weekend everbody!

Belly Dance Smackdown - It's Off!

Would everybody puh-leeeeze stop asking me how my dance class is going ;-)


Well, as long as you've asked: I have BIG news! I've actually had this news for over a month but so many more pertinent blog posts presented themselves that I had to put this one on the back burner.

Here's the story. Belly Dance Diva has dropped out!!! Suspiciously, her departure seems to have coincided with my taking over the lead position. Was it my lack of coordination that did the trick and scared her away- never to grace us with her Arabic twistback or Egyptian shimmy ever again??? She lasted a mere two weeks with me in the lead. I'll admit I did screw up a bit (a lot) when first learning the move that I would be leading: i.e. The Choo Choo (yes, that really is the name) - was this destiny?? (Remember not too long ago MB compared me to a steam locomotive!)

There is more dance news to come but it is still developing so I'll be putting it in a separate post. Oh, the anticipation!!

It's SITS-mas Time!

Today I am participating in the celebration over at SITS...

Wishing all you lovely SITStas a happy holiday season. I don't have any specific hopes for the coming year, so I made the mistake of asking "the boys":

One (Michael Jackson) said: "To worry less" - the other (The Grand Huzzah*) said "To complain less" - they don't paint such a pretty picture! In the future, I'm not asking their opinions...

Yet, their comments do tie in to the wish I've had for over three decades: To one day be at peace with myself...warts and all (no, I don't have warts, but I do have plenty of "and all")

To anyone else who is feeling conflicted, I wish the same for you :-) Now go forth and party on!

- Your SITSta in dance :D

(which reminds me- it's about time for the next Belly Dance Smackdown Update. Here's a little foreshadowing: You will not be hearing about any further smackdowns...)

[*My son was awarded the title of Grand Huzzah at the finale of the Renaissance Festival. It is a huge honor! (not to brag ;-) ]

P.S. If you are cringing at the template I picked for the card - in that it doesn't go with the photo, this was the only template available that the non-standard sized photo would fit in without cutting off our heads. But now that I think about it, how funky a card would that have been!! Next year!

Return to Sender

My shopping mall avoidance is not going as well as I had planned. Thus far I have ordered online from Sephora - and we all know what a brilliant success that was! And then last week I placed an online order for 2 new diabolos (Chinese yo-yo's) for VC.

Since he is now beyond the "Santa years" - I put him to work shopping online for his own gifts and doing price comparisons. Some may call it lazy - I call it resourceful!

The big box came yesterday and I opened it with him - since I promised he could use a set of the new diabolo sticks ahead of time (yeah, I'm um a softie)

Only to discover inside the box were two of these:

instead of two of this:

Can you spot the subtle difference?

Not a big deal, except this is the exact same mix-up that happened three months ago when we ordered from the same company!

I contacted a rep and they said I could simply mark the box RETURN TO SENDER. I was very skeptical because THE BOX HAD BEEN OPENED. Yet, as I heard the mail truck making the rounds in the neighborhood, I decided to see if I could quickly patch the box back together (it was one of those jimmyrigged boxes) --

Only one snafu:


THE PACKING TAPE.

Two rolls and neither had an obvious start to the tape. Sweat was beading down my face as I ran my hand round and round the rolls and could not find where to peel it off. Ended up having to use the heavy duty army tape.

Then I quickly slipped on my clogs. The mail truck was already at our neighbor's house. I ran up the street in my slippery clogs, over hazardous wet leave piles, around the corner, and was finally able to get the attention of the mail lady, who told me she would mark it REFUSED but that there was a good chance I would be seeing it again. ON MONDAY. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......

Curious what VC has been working on with his juggling/diabolo:



added bonus: You will get to see our pathetic "natural area" on the front lawn ;-)

Does This Tote Make Me Look Chic???

I am usually not one to fall for gimmicks - srsly! But, when I got the email from Sephora advertising a free tote designed by tattoo artist Kat Von D with $25 purchase, I started getting all antsy. I HAD TO HAVE THAT TOTE TO MAKE ME LOOK CHIC YET ALSO EDGY. It was only available in limited quantities so I had to move quickly.

Since it was too hectic to venture anywhere within a 30 mile radius of the mall last weekend, I had a great idea! I would order my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer online and get the free tote. Only I needed $8 more to qualify for free shipping. Toss in some Clinique Black Honey Lip Stain. There, I met the quota. Sat back eagerly awaiting the tote that would transform me from dorky to edgy.

My purchase arrived within days. I was so excited to see my "free" tote that cost me $62.00. You can imagine my disappointment:
Does this make me look chic yet edgy????

Big Books and Other Tidbits

First, let me congratulate the winner of Oh!Nuts Giveaway = entry #18 Christina! Christina will win one pound of bulk candy! Congratulations!

[Extra special thanks to my bloggy buddy Joy, who tweeted her heart out; Alas, the fickle Random.org had other plans...please stop by Joy's blog and show her some love so I don't feel like crap ;-)]

Here's a little cost-saving tidbit that you may want to use once your kids get to middle school and you are expected to purchase novels for their Language Arts classes. Again, I like to remind everyone that VC attends public school, not some fancy schmancy academy (although after recent events I may be rethinking this in the future ;-)

Typically the middle schoolers read 4 novels a year, in addition to their textbooks.

As soon as VC finds out he needs to purchase a novel, he tells me and I immediately drop everything, step away from the blog and put a "hold" on the book at the library. (The school bookstore inflates the prices by up to $5.00 a book) Even when there is a waiting list at the library - 9 times out of 10 it arrives in time. This saves around $50 a year figuring the books are around $10 each. Let's just say that fifty bucks can buy a lot of Smart Balance margarine.

Oh, here's a soundbite for today:

VC hops in the car after picking up the most recent book I ordered from the library (The Book Thief).

Me: "That's a huge book; are the words big?"
VC: "Looks that way"
Both breathe sigh of relief

Don't we sound like Ivy League scholars???

In other book news, would you believe what I saw on the table at the Book Fair at VC's school? .........None other than this "gem"
Lastly, thanks to all of you who have recently awarded me some generous blog awards.

Special Thanks to the lovely Lea from Snapping Panda, who graced my blog with the Best Blog Award!
If you get a chance to visit Lea's blog, you will enjoy her photography and insightful blog posts. If you are a regular commenter to my blog and don't yet have this one in your arsenal, please grab it!

My friend Dale, who blogs at Stroke of Living, awarded me this snazzy award. Dale is running a bit of a competition on Wednesdays with her Wordle Wednesday posts. I encourage you to check it out, as well as Dale's posts, which she approaches from her own unique perspective.




Thanks Dale and Lea!

[Kathie and Allison I still have blog posts in the works for your awards/tags...sorry for the delay.]

Blog Filler (aka The Carma Suri post)

This time of year, people are out and about and not sitting home reading blogs....halllloooooo....*echo bounces back* Kidding! Actually I've been thrilled that so many sweet bloggers have visited lately.

But, I figured it was a good time to post something that I had on one of my original blog posts over a year and a half ago, figuring no one could possibly remember it. It is one of those "new to you" posts.

When Suri Cruise was born and I started seeing her baby pics, I thought that they looked very similar to some of my baby pics.

(That's me on the bottom)

Of course, it may have to do most with our Moe (from the Three Stooges - or as VC liked to call them when he was a toddler "The Three Students") hairstyles :D


Here's a pic of me at about the same age Suri is now...she's way cuter...

Aren't you relieved I made you aware of this??

Probably not as relieved as Tiger's wife was after he made his official statement, though ;-) I'm figuring she won't be picking up a golf club any time soon*....

Hey, would that be the same as me running out after MB with his leaf vacuum???

He'd better not cross my path!!

*Of course, I realize that this is all "alleged"