I think the money SHE IS MAKING OFF HER PREGNANCY should be donated to Teen Pregnancy Prevention. This is so very sad. This is also very sad that this story is so heavy in the media right now and other teenage girls might portray this situation as acceptable. FYI - her story was sold to OK! Magazine for $1 Million.
As our son's 1st birthday approaches, I ask the question, "where has this year gone?" It seems like only yesterday, my water broke at the Des Plaines Pancake House only to deliver my sweetheart 15 short hours later. For one thing, I can't imagine my life any other way. I've been somewhat house bound, a slave to flannel pj bottoms, soiled sweatshirts, and the infamous sports bras. Its been a year since I left that utterly senseless and awful job I was a slave to, and yet I feel like I am on the clock 24 hours a day. I do not regret one second. However, I am definitely not the same. My newborn has been long gone and before my eyes, a little boy with words, likes, dislikes, affection, and curiosity has emerged. So, being the learner lover I am, I've thought about qualities and abilities I did not have one year ago.
12. I can peel and quarter a grape at lightening speed - - fast enough to satisfy his demand for the sweet, juicy fruit.
11. I can change a crib sheet in record time without cursing, crying, bruising, or scraping my wrists or hands.
10. I can let my house go. If you know me personally, you know my borderline obsessive/compulsive behavior disorder. Cleaning is stress relief for me and it burns calories, but I can force myself to let it go (at least until he is asleep for the night)
9. You can never take enough pictures. If I have 8 pictures of the same pose, I can never decide which ones to delete.
8. I'm actually going to go through childhood again - - and damn it, it might be a little more bearable this time.
7. Boys are wonderful. This statement comes from a mom who always thought she'd give birth to a baby girl first.
6. Things will never go my way all the time. A disastrous welt on his cheek two days before his 1st birthday party is my most recent lesson.
5. The lugubrious cicadas of the world are insignificant. I do not hear their constant noise anymore.
4. Patience is a muscle in the heart that we continue to build - my neighbor wrote me a note with those words I will never forget.
3. Sleep is over-rated. Seriously..who needs it???
2. Life is precious.
1. In the midst of chaos, weariness, selflessness, marriage, kids, a barking dog, bills, home repairs, accidents, and a dedicated & hardworking husband who walks in from the snow in his work boots right after I finish washing the kitchen floor........there is LOVE, at the very CENTER of it all - like a giant, beating heart pumping life succinctly to everything outward. I know how cliche it is to quote the great John Lennon and the Beatles, but I can't help it when I say to myself...
"and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make."
1. Favorite Christmas Song RUDOLPH the Red Nosed Reindeer
2. Age you stopped believing in Santa 7
3. Real Tree or Fake Tree? FAKE - the mold count is too high for a real one
4. When do you open the bulk of your presents? Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? I favor Christmas morning, but with so much family, we get a little of both 5. Favorite Christmas movie or special? Peanuts - Charlie Brown Christmas
6. What is your favorite type of Christmas cookie? The peanut butter ones with the Hershey's Kiss in the middle and my aunt's sugar cookies with icing.
7. Do you know the names of all of Santa's reindeers?? (without using Google) and which one would you be if Santa asked you to guide his sleigh??? YES I DO!VIXEN - I bet she has fun!!
8. When is the last time you make a snow angel? a mere few years ago believe it or not.
9. What does your stocking look like? Its different colors of felt with Santa on it
10. If your wished could be granted for 3 things this Christmas, what would they be?? 1. War ended and troops home with their loved ones 2. Everyone in my family healthy and happy 3. One wish needs to be a secret...........
In the spirit of the holidays and other posts I've read lately, I decided to create my own. 10 simple holiday questions to answer and delight your friends and family....PLEASE POST ON YOUR BLOG, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BLOG, POST ON MY COMMENTS.
1. Favorite Christmas Song
2. Age you stopped believing in Santa
3. Real Tree or Fake Tree?
4. When do you open the bulk of your presents? Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
5. Favorite Christmas movie or special?
6. What is your favorite type of Christmas cookie?
7. Do you know the names of all of Santa's reindeers?? (without using Google) and which one would you be if Santa aske dyou to guide his sleigh???
8. When is the last time you make a snow angel?
9. What does your stocking look like?
10. If your wished could be granted for 3 things this Christmas, what would they be??
They've been playing the first single, the VERY catchy and blues-y "Gone Gone Gone" on WXRT a lot lately.
Everyone knows Robert Plant (Been a Long Lonely Lonely Lonely Lonely Time -yes it has) and Alison Krauss plays with Union Station. She is more of a folk/rock and bluegrass artist.
They sound great together. Most of the album is more mellow than "Gone Gone Gone". Most of the songs were all written 30 or more years ago.
The album was also produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett who has practically worked with everyone in Nashville and did all the music for film, Walk The Line.
I am not a huge country music fan, but I love the folk elements of the record, which are mostly the storytelling aspect of the music.
You can listen to the whole album if you click on the link.
Well, we just decided to venture out for the fun of it. Marie "rang" my cell phone once at 10 minutes to 4. "You still wanna go?" she whispered. We hadn't gotten to bed before 11 and the baby was up at least twice.
"I don't think so," I answered, and continued to have a hushed conversation for about 5 minutes. "Have fun," I said and hung up.
Screw that - if I don't fall back to sleep in ten minutes, I'm going....I think my mind was already made up. I nudged my husband, "Hey..I'm going."
"mhmmm," he mumbled.
"I'll be back by 8."
"mm..k..lvu"
I actually managed to brush my teeth, slip on my Nike's, and scoot out the door into the brisk, silvery night without waking a single soul (including the yellow-belly beast).
Marie showed up at Kohls with coffee and donuts for both of us. Kohls was packed. I have to admit, shopping at 4am, doesn't necessarily sound that desirable, but there was something about the day after thanksgiving that sparks excitement for me. I absolutely love Christmas. Most especially because of the kids and now that Massimo is almost 1, its even more exciting.
We had a few things in mind that we wanted to get - but no pressure - we took our time and cruised Kohl's for about an hour.
Then, off to Circuit City and Old Navy at 5:45. There were lines outside, people had been waiting since 6pm on Thanksgiving to get in. Old Navy was giving away free MP3 players with a purchase of $20 or more. I heard someone say they ran out in less than 10 minutes. So, you wait in line for an MP3?? It not even an Ipod. This did not make the least bit o' sense to me.
After waiting in line for almost 40 minutes to purchase a highly coveted item for DJ, my legs started to go weak, my blood sugar was low, I was daydreaming about a soy latte. Marie had Bon Jovi and Ozzy playing on her phone to liven the mood.
After we got to the front of the line she complimented the tall, lanky, young man who had put up with all the crap of the people who were waiting in the "camera-only" line and refused to leave it. He did have a lot of patience. One good samaritan, came up and asked him if he needed some food.
"No, thanks," he answered, "I have a lunch break at 12." It was 7:30!!! No wonder he was so skinny!
There is your Christmas spirit right there. Help others, serve others. Marie thought maybe it was his mom. Maybe - but I like to think that people like that still exist. I would like to try and be like that lady. If I was Terrence, I would have been like, "a venti soy latte and a lowfat blueberry muffin, please..and make it snappy, love!!"
We didn't participate in Black Friday to get super deals or trample our way over people trying to get that perfect toy, or wait in line in the cold. We just went for the curiosity, to get in the holiday mood, and just to have some good old-fashioned fun doing something we love - SHOPPING. Would I do it again??? Absolutely - you bet I would.
enjoy the Steely Dan video....I was singing the song all day long in a withering daze of very little sleep. Am I the only one who thinks Don Fagen is sexy in those sunglasses???
