Actual Conversation

Thing 3: Mom? Can we play beauty parlor?

Me: Sure. Get a brush

(Thing 3 brushes my hair)

Me: This is fun.

Thing3: Now I'm going to give you a pedicure. (starts rubbing my feet with lotion)

Me: (moans) Oh. That feels good! Let's play Beauty Parlor every day!

Thing 3: Mom, you need a 'real' pedicure.

Me: I do? Why?

Thing 3: Because your feet are nasty!

How do you argue with that?? I did what any of you would have done... I booked a 'real' pedicure with these guys.

Wordless Wednesday

Don't forget to click over and sign the Mr. Linky if you're playing!

Growing Pains

Over the years, I have written various posts with this song as the focus. It is the perfect song; one that defines the feelings I have of being the Mother of my children.

Thing 1 left today for Trek. I have been so excited for her to go, and then when it came down to the actual event... I cried. It was rather embarrassing. I cry at everything that is new with this oldest child of mine. I make myself promise that I won't... but I do. Every single time.

I love this daughter of mine-- this person who is flesh of my flesh-- so much that sometimes it hurts. It's not a bad hurt-- its a good hurt. But, it hurts none-the-less.

The lyrics of this song are sheer brilliance, in my opinion. They capture how most of us mothers feel about our children. It seems they are constantly slipping through our fingers... we are trying desperately to capture them, but they are just out of our grasp.

This baby of mine is growing into an amazing woman. She writes like a seasoned pro and has the vocabulary of college graduate. She has dreams, and places she wants to see... things she wants to do. She is so much like me, it's frightening. We butt heads like professional wrestlers... but oh how I love to hear her laugh.

Watching her grow brings a surge of that well know sadness: She is slipping through my fingers.

I am now not the most important person in her life, and she allows me to see and know only what she tells me. Oh how I long for the days past when all she wanted to do was cuddle on the couch and watch "Cats".

Time is playing a cruel, cruel trick on me. It seems like just yesterday she was my baby toddler standing on her tippy-toes, reaching for my hand. Now she is pushing away from me, while I stand on my tippy-toes, reaching forward trying desperately to grab her hand.

This is an odd, melancholy feeling that I feel.

I miss this child of mine. My thoughts are heavy with worry about her. Trek will be amazing and wonderful. She will learn the feelings of humility, gratitude and the Spirit. But the Mommy in me worries. Always. About all of my children.

I wish I could stop time, and freeze it. I would stop them from slipping through my fingers. But, that is not the plan. I know. And it makes my heart hurt just a little more, the further away she pulls.

"School bag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning. Waving Goodbye, with and absent minded smile..."

Random randomness and then some tunes

Without music life would be a mistake.

~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Poor poor Michael Jackson.

My friend called me yesterday to tell me he had died. And you know what the first thing that popped in my head was? "He was born a poor black child, and died an ugly white woman." It is. Honest to goodness, that's the truth. You can slap my face now, if you want.

But, my heart feels a little sad because in spite of all his weirdness, his musical genius has yet to be rivaled. I love Michael, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Mock me if you must, because I hold my head high and yell with pride "I am a Michael Jackson fan. So Beat it!"

As I sat here, listening to my vast collection of MJ music, I couldn't help but travel down memory lane. Practically every song of his is punctuated with a memory from my life.

I remember seeing the Man in the Mirror music video in seminary when I was a senior.

I remember Thriller giving me nightmares when I was 12 and watching my kids learn how to do the Thriller dance is a highlight memory.

I remember dancing at JR high dances to Beat it.

I remember roller Skating at Classic skating to P.Y.T and That Girl is Mine.

I remember trying to learn how to do the moon walk, and wanting to wear 1 sparkly glove.

His music makes me move in ways I haven't moved in years and he will be missed. This weeks Random 10 music is dedicated to the passing of our Pop Icon, the King of Pop himself: Michael Jackson.

(Do you have a memory to share?)

*****
There is a pretty awesome discussion going on over on the MMB in the comment section, oddly enough about comments. You should go check it out. It is something I have been wanting to talk about, but just have never taken the time to formulate my thoughts. MomBabe did a great job.

I would just add that when you are leaving a comment on someones post, please for the love of all that's holy, make it relevant (And funny). Add to the discussion! Don't just leave a generic "look at me, I left a comment, now come and read my blog!" kind of a comment. Those are irritating and nauseating. All at the same time.

It may not be obvious to you, but a writer can tell when you haven't taken the time to read what they have written. Especially when the comment is: "♥ ur blog! Have a great week!" (and then the exact same comment is plastered in everyone else's comments) Can you say Barf-a-rama and obnoxious?

Lastly, please remember that a person's blog is like their home, and you are a guest. If you would not say to a person, in their real life home that the way they are living their life, or talking, or parenting is the worlds biggest atrocity, then never, ever say it to a person in their comments or via email.

The Internet makes people loose their manners. Unless we are very familiar, IN PERSON, with a person, you must refrain refrain refrain. Nasty comments/emails will never change a persons thought process or actions. Especially when all you have is a superficial Internet relationship.

Blog = home. Remember that.

(I can see that I have a lot to say about this. I think an etiquette post is now percolating up there amongst the cobwebs)

*****
Pop culture is an interesting study. The headlines on all the news wires are all about Pop Culture, rather than important issues. Like the soldiers in Iraq. Or the psycho's in Iran. No. Pop culture dictates what we hear and follow and its irritating.

Michael Jackson's Dead. (so sad)

Farrah is dead. (sad too)

The Governor of South Carolina took a "Don't Cry for me, Argentina" trip. (meh. who cares?)

John & Kate + 8 are getting a divorce and its going to be John + 8 or Kate + 8. Depending on who shows up for filming that day. Oh. And the media is what totally ruined their life. Riiigght! Did they forget that the 0pening line was about "their life may be crazy, but its their life?" They signed up for the show... and everything that came along with it.

I'm tired of John & Kate. I tried to watch that show, but I found it totally irritating. Kate bugs me. She's a raunchy-raunch and John is a pansy and let her. Now they have a mess, and everyone is fascinated in watching a family fall apart.

If you don't think we are close to "The Hunger Games" then I think you should re-evaluate our Reality TV. We are inching closer people. Ever closer! (fantastic book, btw!)



*****

We have been getting ready to go on a Pioneer Trek over here in Crazyland. Well. Not me, because I am morally opposed to those (not really). Thing 1 is. She is less than thrilled with the idea of traipsing around the mountainside in a pioneer dress pulling a handcart. I told her that some must push and some must pull... so buck up little camper, cause she was going. Like it or not.

I have mixed emotions. Man, I'm glad I'm not going. But, dang! I wish I were going. I would love to just follow along, and watch and see how this goes. It will be a good experience, and she will gain a great appreciation for her ancestors.

We had to find a story about our ancestors so she could tell it around the camp fire. We chose Jedidiah M. Grant. One of his wives and children died on the way to the valley. She desperately wanted to be buried in the SLC valley. So, Jedidiah buried the child, and then rode ahead of the wagon train and buried his wife. When he came back to get the child, the wolves had dug her up... Could you imagine? I couldn't.

We have no idea what these people gave for us. They were a generation that were required to give it all. We are a generation that is required to give nothing. But our time. It's hard to remember and keep things in perspective.

This will be a good, hard thing she is doing next week. And strangely? I'm a little jealous.

*****
We survived the bubonic plague (read: swine flu) over here in Crazyland. It was horrid. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. OK. Not really. I would. I was just trying to be nice.

It is a nasty, nasty bug, but we successfully navigated it. We quarantined the sickie and she had to eat in her room, sleep a lot and watch lots and lots of movies on the lap top. It sounds sort of dreamy to me. Minus the walking through the valley of the shadow of death thing.

*****

Catch ya on the flip side!

1. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
2. Rock With You - Michael Jackson
3. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
4. Beat It - Michael Jackson
5. Thriller - Michael Jackson
6. I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson
7. Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson
8. Black or White - Michael Jackson
9. P.Y.T (pretty young thing) - Michael Jackson
10. Bad - Michael Jackson

Bonus: Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson

Don't forget to sign the Mr Linky if you're playing along!

I dare you

I triple dog dare you not to laugh.





PS. don't forget to go enter that splendid giveaway over on MMB. (Photos people You could win photos!)

Wordless Wednesday

Don't forget to come and sign the Mr. Linky.