Babies Everywhere

The other night, I was watching a special on Discovery Health about a woman who was getting a tummy tuck because she had given birth to SIX babies. Prior to having the SIX, she had given birth to a set of twins.

SIX! EIGHT KIDS TOTAL.

They actually showed video of her when she was pregnant - her belly extended three or four feet easily. It was amazing. They showed video of all the children - all eight of them - and it was incredible to see how loved they were by their parents.

In the world we live today, where parents leave their children in dumpsters and abuse them, it is refreshing and motivating to see a story like this one. Check out their website here. In addition to telling their story, there are the most adorable pictures of all the kids.

I think I want to have a baby. Maybe two. But I don't know about six.

Loving YouTube

Okay, I HEART YouTube. HEART. It makes my insides go nutty when I can do a search on New Kids on the Block (I loved Jordan Knight!) or Debbie Gibson (yes, sue me, I spent my adolescent years in the late 80s).

Anyway, I posted about this previously and I FOUND IT ON YouTube, which if I haven't already mentioned, totally rocks!

2007 Meme

I've received this via email from a few friends already. I figured I might as well post it here instead of replying to everyone. Here goes:

Welcome to the new edition of "getting to know your friends". OK, here's what you're supposed to do: (try not to be lame and spoil the fun!) Just copy (do not forward) this entire e-mail and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you. Some of you may get this several times that means you have lots of friends, or maybe not.

1. What is your occupation? fundraiser
2. What color are your socks right now? black trouser socks
3. What are you listening to right now? How Deep is Your Love by the Bee Gees
4. What was the last thing that you ate? a toasted bagel
5. Can you drive a stick shift? very poorly
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? red
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Mike
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? yes
9. How old are you today? 31
10. Favorite drink? diet Sunkist
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? college football - Go Gators!
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes
13. Pets? do husbands count?
14. Favorite food? pizza
15. What was the last movie you watched? The Departed
16. Favorite day of the year? Thanksgiving
17. What is your middle name? Maria
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? my Cabbage Patch Kid and numerous Barbies
19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? fall
20. Hugs or kisses? kisses
21. Cherries or Blueberries? cherries, but I don't like the pits
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? n/a
23. Who is most likely to respond? n/a
24. Who is least likely to respond? n/a
25. Living arrangements? crazy split level townhouse with Mikey
26. When was the last time you cried? yesterday
27. What is on the floor of your closet? a laundry basket, my shoes, Mike's shoes
28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? n/a
29. What did you do last night? ate dinner, watched something on the Discovery Health channel, read and went to bed
30. Favorite smells? lavendar, clean laundry
31. What inspires you? people with excellent leadership skills, the finish line
32. What are you afraid of? being stuck in a cave
33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? plain
34. Favorite dog breed? none
35. Number of keys on your key ring? 6
36. How many years at your current job? 1
37. Favorite day of the week? Sunday
38. How many states have you lived in? 2
39. Favorite holidays? Thanksgiving
40. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery? nope

I won't tag anyone, but if you want to do it, feel free. Just let me know in the comments section if you did, so I can check it out!

Yum-O? How about stupid-o?

Somehow, I don't think Rachael Ray is her upbeat self today.

The latest on RR, right here.

I wonder if she read about herself online and then ran to the bedroom to spit all over her husband.

Famous people are weird.

Tired

I'm tired. Tired of the same ole boring stuff.

I'm tired of waking up in the morning and going to work. Tired of cleaning up the messes of two adults. Tired of grocery shopping, cooking, and doing dishes. Everyday resembles the previous one: shower, shave, pay bills, go to work, get gas, get stuff in traffic, eat, don't eat, shop for things you don't need.

I need some excitement in my life. The winter can be long and dreary with nothing to look forward to.

Luckily, we have a trip planned for next month. Miami - here we come! It's just a long weekend - a visit with my parents, an old college friend's wedding, some warm weather (hopefully!) - but it might be exactly what I need to get me back to my cheery old self.

Attitude

Sent to me earlier today by my BFF, acb.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?" So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

"YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.

Dontcha Wish Your Girlfriend Was a Freak Like Me?

I will shamefully admit that I spent the last two nights watching the season premiere of American Idol. Even last night, when I got home at 7:55 pm, I excitedly skipped to the tv, turned it on to the show and while assembling storage boxes from IKEA, watched another two hours of this torture.

Open questions to fans, participants and judges of AI:

• What is the thrill of watching these awful sounding people?


• Don't the people that audition know they aren't good? At all?


• Why is Paula Abdul drunk out of her mind all the time? Or is she drugged? Which is it?

I will say, however, that on the first night, I almost peed my pants watching a young girl (she was wearing blue jeans, a white button shirt and a tie) botch up Kiss by Prince. She had this great shimy shake going on and definitely had the song in her head. It just didn't translate well when she sang it aloud. And when they told her she wasn't going to make it through to the next round, she was gracious and didn't give the judges any lip or curse at them.

To her, I say, there's always next year.

The Cold Creeps In

Last night's weather report said that it's finally going to feel like winter in my neck of the woods.

It's about freakin' time. We're talking about lows in the teens and some flurries.

This morning, as I was dressing for work, Mike reminded to wear something warm.

"Of course. Although next year at this time, we might be sitting in weather that is much more tropical. Or, better yet, you might get to experience your very first Noche Buena," I replied.

As the cold arrives in the Northeast, hellish conditions make their way toward a hospital in Havana.

Not My Words Today

I just read this and had to post it.

I am crying.

Crying because this is a perfect summary of what it's like to have a wonderful example in your life and appreciating it. And I only wish I knew how to express it to my own father. Actually, I think I will.

My best wishes and prayers go out to Val, his immediate family, and the entire Babalu family.

One Year

When I first started this blog, my intent was to keep up with family and friends by posting regularly.

But that never really happened. Not because I didn't post on a regular basis (I did. And I'm amazed that I did), but because most of my family and friends didn't read it (for those of you who do read it, I thank you very much. Well, not when you tell other family members what I write and it gets me in trouble! But that's beside the point.).

I can't complain, though, because over the last year I have read so many good blogs (see sidebar), and in turn, have had the authors of those blogs read mine.

Thank you, readers, for coming to my page - either by referral or by chance - and staying awhile. It makes a difference in my life.

Who's Out There?

As I just read on Y's page, it's Delurking Week.

Here's how it works, people: start commenting on this page! I know there are a few of you that read and comment (and I can't express how much it means to me that you do! I love it!), but there's a few more that don't leave comments.

Seriously, I want to know who you are. Leave me a comment. I won't bite.

At least, I'll try not to.

Alma Mater

First, it was basketball.

Then, Emmitt won on Dancing With the Stars.

And now, this. Or, if you want to see another article, this.

It's great to be a Florida Gator, indeed! Cheers!

Long Awaited Night

Yes, folks, the day has finally arrived: it's time! Check out this article on the Mighty Gators.

Who'll be watching? I hope I make it through the entire game - I'm still sick with a cold and have spent the last few nights allegedly coughing in Mike's face (that's his claim. whatever).

Update from Friday's post: Mike has claimed Mr. Bento. He took it this morning, leaving me to my old lunchbag. It's not the same as My Lov-ah. Not one bit.

My New Lov-ah

I am cheating on my husband.

Please, let me explain. For a few months now, I have been eyeing Mr. Bento. But I really didn't want to incur the expense of buying a new lunchbox. Plus, I was happy with my purse-like Lean Cuisine lunchbag. However, last month Mike actually ordered me to buy it. But, when it arrived, I was on vacation and unable to use it.

Yesterday, I used it for the first time. I think I'm in love.

The night before, I meticulously packed the larger container with broiled tilapia and corn on the cob. The second container was filled with steamed garlic cauliflower. I filled one of the smaller containers with carrots, celery, and radishes, and the other with a tablespoon of peanut butter for dipping and a piece of Baci candy leftover from the holidays.

Before I left for work in the morning, I heated up the fish and cauliflower, hoping it would stay warm for five or six hours.

Imagine my surprise when I opened my Mr. Bento and ate a warm, healthy lunch. I am so finished with heating up my food in a microwave. It's over!

I spent the entire afternoon raving over how wonderful this new lunch contraption is and when I got home, I continued to rave to Mike. I even told him I would lend it to him for his lunch today.

He called me earlier and told me that his lunch was still warm too. I'm thinking that he might fall in love too.

Then I'll have to go out and buy another one.

Yes, yes. I am a complete dork. I bring my lunch to work mostly everyday. I have always packed my lunches with care since I try to eat healthy. But I think I have completely crossed the line of dorkhood. I might even join the group on Flickr that actually takes pictures of their Mr. Bento lunches.

I am thinking this is going to be a great tool to lose another 20 pounds. Wish me luck!

Sick. Again?

Yep, I have a cold. This time, it's taken over the upper portion of my body. My throat is sore - I have been eating Halls cherry flavored mentho-lytus lozenges like they were M&Ms. I'm not complaining - it could be worse, like the flu that I caught last month.

Send good thoughts my way, people. Aside from this cold, there is so much going on with some of my best friends - they need all the prayers you can offer.

A New Year: Resolutions Anyone?

Happy new year!

I am not going to get into the whole 'this is what I did for Christmas and New Year's and it was swell and I got presents' cause frankly, it's just a bore and there are other things to talk about that are way more exciting. Like this!

Oh yeah, and about resolutions. I ain't making any. Why make them, not keep them, and feel like a failure? I'm just gonna try to be nice. That's it.