HOLY COW!!!
I finally switched to beta blogger...
And to think that I was doing so kicking and screaming!!
WOWEE!!
It is friggin' fabulous!!
I LOOOOOVVVVVEEEE IT!! (again, in my best Zach and Weezy voice!)
It is soo much easier to navigate, and to customize your templets... Well, this new version is pretty dang slick!
I am soo glad that I switched.
Just how glad??
Well, so glad that I made a new blog just so that I could see all the amazing stuff beta blogger can do!
HOLY COW!!!

And, thats all I have to say about that!

Isn't this just the cutest thing EVER??
Thing 3 made this at playgroup today.
I get to host next week.
Everyone who knows me knows that I am NOT one of THOSE moms...
So, now I feel stress.
What do we do next week when it's my turn so that we keep up with all of THOSE moms...
Any suggestions?

This is what we woke up to this morning... Fun huh??

I found this awesome kid friendly Nativity.
Thing 3 LOOOOOVVVVVEEEESSSS IT!! (said in my best Zach and Weezy voice)
It's pretty slick! It's in the size of beany babies... and feels like beanie babies! Its super cute, and adds a nice flair to my collection.
I am going to get one for Anonymous Niece, who's Mother says is a "Jesus Freak." Which I find rather hilarious, seeing how Anonymous Sister-in-law isn't really ANY religion. She said that she has every Christmas movie imaginable, but what does Anonymous Niece want to watch?? Jesus movies.
She has no Jesus movies.
So, I am going to buy her this nativity, along with a cartoon Jesus movie.

She'll LOOOOVVVVVEEEEE it!

Isn't this a great photo?
The weekend is over.
Back to the ol' grind.
Ugh.

Its that time again...
Random 10 Friday.

1. Musicology - Prince
2. Babylon II - David Gray
3. Sunday Morning(Acoustic) - Maroon 5
4. This Kiss - Faith Hill
5. Sweetest Thing - U2
6. Memphis Skyline - Rufus Wainwright
7. Love & Affection - Def Leppord
8. Bang a Gong (Get it on) - T. Rex
9. The Reason - Hoobastank
10. Dreamgirl - Dave Matthews Band

Bonus: The Thanksgiving Song - Adam Sandler

And just cause it was a good day: Virtual Insanity(remastered for 2006) - Jamiroquai

NOTE TO SELF:
When I don't speak the national language of the country that I am in
DO NOT APPLY FOR A CREDIT CARD!!!
It will not only cause me stress, but everyone around me who has to try and explain to me what the hell I just did.

I am NOT a virgin-post-turkey-day shopper anymore!
I went again this year, and I talked Jefe into coming with me.
How I accomplished that, I will never know.
But, I did.
Thing 3 stayed at Jefe's Mom's house with her favorite cousin. Thing 1 & 2 slept in and played video games while Jefe and I attempted the shopping frenzy.
We actually slept until 6:00am. Then slowly, ever so slowly, dragged our butts from bed and started our adventure.
Wal-mart was pretty dead. I was shocked frankly. We must have missed the frenzy. We weren't wall to wall people. We were able to leisurely walk around, and it was actually enjoyable.
We then went to Sams Club, and indulged ourselves on their complimentary Continnetal Breakfast.
Then we meandered over to Kohls.
THAT was where everyone was.
Kohls.
It was a bloody nightmare!
There was ZERO parking.
The lines for both registers met at the back of the store, passed each other and started looping back around the other way.
Jefe kept saying, rather loudly:
OH.
MY.
HELL.
You couldn't pay me enough to stand in that line.

People in line were laughing at him.
He just open mouthed stared at it all.
It was funny.
And yes.
I did laugh at him.
We walked around the store, and promptly walked out.
Nothing is THAT good of a deal to wait in line for that long!
I heard later, when I went into work, that the line at one point was OVER 2 hours long.
ICK ICK Double triple ICK!

We ran into some neighbors hurrying in to get in on the super savings.
We told them to turn around and leave. Man neighbor offered to stand in line for all of us, while we all did our shopping.
Jefe looked at him like he was on crack and stammered:
"UHHHH, Gee. Thanks. But, No Thanks!"

We actually had a really nice day.
We hit all the big ones.
Toys R Us.
Target.
Old Navy.
Wal-Mart.
Best Buy.
Kohls.
Game Stop.
We were going to go to the Mall.... BUT, we both came to our senses and decided that place had 5,000 too many people there!!
At one point we looked at each other and said: "Note to self. Don't do this next year!"

I still don't get the excitement of going out at 4:00am to fight people, ahh, I mean shop.
I saw these women who came into Kohls last night at about 5:30pm. They were still in their P.J's. had MATCHING robes on. And had been going since 3:00am. They said that they would go until about Midnight.
WTH???
Midnight? As if.
Some of them hadn't even been to bed yet... so they were working on ZERO sleep.
As.
If.
I love my sleep to much.

Islandmom said that you can get most of the good deals online, and most of the places are offering free shipping nowadays.
THAT, to me, sounds like a better way to shop.
At home.
Warm.
With my kids.
In my P.J.s
No one looking at me.
AND NO LINES!!!

It was fun to just hang out with Jefe.
We had been saving all year for Christmas, so it was fun to plan out what we were going to get the Things.
We actually got Thing 1 & 2 their first present...
SHHHHH!
I can't tell you.
They read this.
So, stay tuned to find out what it is!

Turkey Lurkey Lou.
Turkey Lurkey Lickle.
I wish Turkey only cost a nickel!

Its turkey day.
Yummm.
I love turkey, and all that - that intales!
Mashed Potatoes and gravy.
Stuffing-- the real deal stuffing, not that stove top crap.
Vegetables.
Sweet Potatoes.
Sweet Potato Pie.
Bread.
Pies.
Pies.
And More pies.
Ahhhhhh.
What a great day for completely stuffing yourself silly.

I've always known that I can pack away the food.
I can eat almost anyone under the table.
It's sortof embarrassing... Especially for Jefe.
I just eat.
And eat.
Then eat some more.
Get up, walk around.
Eat some more.
Its the one day that everyone is trying to pack the food away.
And Pack I did.
I ate so much, that I seriously couldn't have eaten one more thing, even if my life had depended on it.
Once our meal was done, and we were on the way back home... The need for a nap hit me like a 2 ton brick.
I got home, laid down in my bed and had the most satisfying nap EVER!!
And, I didn't eat for the rest of the night either!

Jefe's Mom had us up to her house for dinner! It was absolutely amazing! It was VERY Martha-esq! The table was set beautifully. There was a beautiful centerpiece. The Chairs all had these wonderful covers on them, with beautiful fall ribbon on them with flowers. It was outstanding! It really took my breath away.
I feel just a little intimidated about having everyone at my house next year. I am NOT a Martha-esq person.
I try.
But, I fail miserably.
The good thing is I have a year to get it together in that department!

Anyway...
The meal was amazing, and the decorations were stunning.
It was a wonderful afternoon spent eating, talking, spacing, and playing.
Thank You!
Awesome Mother-in-law!
You out did yourself, again!

I had a house full of kids.
All.
Day.
Long.
In and out.
In and out.
Out and In...
All.
Day.
Long.

Thing 2 and his friends would terrorize Thing 3... And Thing 1.
Thing 1 and her friends were trying to con me into taking them to Subway...
If they would help clean the house.
I took them to Subway.
They didn't clean the house.

Thing 3 was following me around the house, chanting:
Mom.
Mom
Maaam
MOOOOOOMM
Mom.
Mommy.
Mama.
Momma.
Mom.
Moooooooommmmmmm.
Mom.

At one point the noise volume in the house was intolerable.
Now, that being said, I LOVE having all the kids in the house. I love having the Things friends here, hanging out and just being here.
But, today it was just TOO MUCH.
I was hiding in the work room, cause the Xbox was blaring in the family room, and the radio in the kitchen was blaring.
Thing 3 was with me in the work room...
Moming me to death, when I sortof groaned, and mumbled to myself "Someone shoot me now!"
She suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs: "NO! Don't somebody shoot you now! That would mean you were dead and in the ground and you would turn into a treasure in your big box!!"
It took me a minute to process what she was saying.
A treasure?
What?
Oh. I get it.
My coffin would be the treasure chest.
I get it.
Then she proceeded to tell me everyone that would miss me.
Jefe would miss me.
Thing 1 would miss me.
Thing 2 would miss me.
Thing 3 would miss me.
Zoe would miss me.
Burley neighbors would miss me.
"All da neighbors would miss my Mom. Even da whole ward would miss my mom! So, nobody better not shoot you dead!"

Awww.
Shucks.
That's nice.

Science projects.
They end up being the Parents projects.
Thing 1 told me last night at 11pm that I just might pass the 6th grade... This time around.
Funny.
We have been working on the science fair project for a while... But come to find out, we didn't do the experiment correctly... So yesterday we re-did the whole thing!
Yes.
The Whole thing!
We... ahem!
I mean, I finished around 11pm.
Thing 1 did all the typing, and finding of the people to come and do her taste test.
I did all the cut and paste stuff.

Anyway... She did do a good job.
Thanks Jefe for helping us re-vamp the whole thing!
Thank heavens its done, and we get 1 year off before we have to start again with Thing 2.

Sigh.

"Without music, life is a journey through a desert." - Pat Conroy

Its Random 10 Friday.
Rock on!

1. For Good - Wicked Broadway Musical
2. Don't Panic - Cold Play
3. The Hardest Thing - 98 Degrees
4. Heaven Forbid (Live) - The Fray
5. Black River - Amos Lee
6. Jumper - Third Eye Blind
7. Let It Ride - Ryan Adams
8. Somewhere Only We Know - Keane
9. No Poetry (Live) - Gary Jules
10. Ding-Dong Daddy Of The D-Car Line - Cherry Poppin' Daddies

Bonus: Hell Yeah! - Montgomery Gentry

My dearest friend --Louisiana Chick-- who I have known for about 15 years (GASP! Has it been that long?), has her husband--Anonymous Sailor Boy-- serving in Iraq. He sends out these emails to all of us to let us know that he is ok and what is REALLY going on over there. I have posted a few things from him on here, with his permission, of course. Here is another one that is profound, and I felt you all should read.

Today is Veterans Day. We started the morning off with an attack that killed 2 soldiers and wounded 2 others. Latter in the afternoon we received an imminent threat message warning of a new danger that we knew was possible but didnt really think would happen; now that its been confirmed its just one more thing to worry about.

The days are getting shorter and the temperature is dropping a little more each day. Mid-day is about 65 and nights are around 50; pretty cold when you are used to 130 during the day time.

Our entire LNO team will be turning over in preparation of leaving in the coming weeks and everyone is being just a little more cautious. Weve had 3 injuries from snipers in the last month; a bullet struck a metal pole I was next to but I dont know if it was from a sniper or a celebratory round, I also had one come through the roof of my trailer. We also had 2 more of our interpreters kidnapped, tortured and executed the other day.

Its funny how this experience will change you. When I first arrived I looked around and ducked at every boom or sound of gunfire. Now I dont really notice it all that much, its like the background noise that traffic makes; you know its there but its just not important unless its real close. Some things become automatic. Every time Ive been on the road or in town I endlessly scanned the roads, windows and rooftops looking for IED and insurgents while kneeling down so I presented myself as a smaller target. Some things havent changed. I still get sick when I see the mangled bodies of children and the results of the insurgents handiwork, I still feel sad when I see the conditions in which many people live, and I still laugh every time I "zap" an unsuspecting Army vehicle with a Navy sticker.

I guess the one thing that struck me about today is that were here fighting and some people back home support us, some dont, some are proud of us, others think were war mongers, some cant wait for our return and others hope we never come home. But we are fighting for their rights and freedom, everyones regardless of what the feel or believe. Here in Iraq its the same thing, some want us gone, some are happy were here, some are proud of us, etc…. you get the idea. But again we are doing the same for them as we do for own citizens. I think a lot of countries could be thankful for U.S. veterans on this day.

I sent him an email thanking him for everything he does... every single day so that we can enjoy the freedoms we do.
Here is his response:

Motherboard,
The biggest thing Ive learned here is the true value of life and the importance of family. Ive always known the value of each but I have a whole new perspective now. Taking a life is much easier to discuss than actually doing it. Living with a decision is much harder than living with "what if". Introspection means you lived and someone didnt. The news at home about the war may be bad but it doesnt even begin to scratch the surface of the horrors that happen here everyday. Here, human life is a disposable commodity. Easily taken without any conscience; not all suicide bombers are volunteers and they arent always adults. Many of the things Ive seen are so bad I cant even talk about them. People at home have no idea how bad things will be for the U.S. if we leave Iraq too early. Iran is just waiting to take over southern Iraq when we leave and has been fighting the U.S. through surrogate organizations (insurgents) every since the war began. In my province Iran has been arming and training the insurgents, but you will never see this in the news.

Every parent in the U.S. should kiss and hug their children at every opportunity. Children are our most valuable treasure and you would be shocked at how little value people in many countries place on them, and sadly even some in our own cities. Sorry if I started to rant. I start thinking about all of this and the next thing I know Im on some type of tirade. Im just anxious to get home to Louisanna Chick and the kids. I have such a wonderful family and am very blessed to have Louisanna Chick in my life.

Take care.
Anonymous Sailor Boy

He is right.
We need to be more grateful for the sacrifices that are being made for us.
Whether we agree or not.
If you are a praying person, pray for our troops... especially Anonymous Sailor Boy. He gets to come home soon. Lets pray him home SAFE!!

Recently I heard about this program on Oprah called (RED). I thought it was pretty slick! I loved the RED razor phone, and really want one. I totally dig the RED ipod. But, I wouldn't buy an ipod just cause they don't synch with Rhaposdy... But whatever. I thought it was a clever idea to have people own/wear RED for a cause. Besides, how chic would you be if you were the only one to have the RED phone or RED ipod, or RED chuck taylors, the RED shirts... Or RED whatever?!
Besides, I totally dig RED!
Then I got this email from someone about wearing RED every Friday in support of the Troops in Iraq. At first I thought it was a tad bit cheesy. I mean, how will wearing RED support the Troops?! But, after a while, and much thought I have decided that I am going to wear RED every Friday until the Troops come home. Not as a form of protest, as some are doing, but more in the form of support.
I was against us going into Iraq. But now that we are there, I feel that it is extremely important for us to support the men and women that are there just doing their jobs. It wasn't the best thing we have ever done; however, we are there now and we need to stay the course and fix this mess that we have created. I don't think that immediate withdrawal is the answer, because Iran is just waiting in the fringes for us to leave so that they can come in and take over where we would leave off. That would be disastrous!
Anyway.
I am going to wear RED every Friday, in support of the Troops who are doing their jobs protecting us so that we can have all the freedoms that we enjoy.
Maybe I will even buy a RED shirt HERE
Care to join me??

Thing 3 came to me and said: "Mama, are my hairs here too long?" pointing to her bangs. "Yeah, they are. We need to get them cut."
I thought nothing more of the conversation until she came back and said: "Mama, are they too long now?"

GASP!

Yes she did.
She cut her hair.
She handed me this HUGE pile of hair.

Oh.
My.
Gosh!

Where did you cut your hair? She took one look at my face, and burst into tears. I had crushed her. Here she thought she was being so helpful by cutting her hair! Jeeze Mom!
I could never figure out where exactly she cut it... There isn't a huge spot missing. She must have cut it clear up to her scalp!
So, we promptly went and had Grandma cut her bangs.
She looks Fabulous!

Jefe recently pointed out to me that, to some extent, my blog is a work of fiction.
WHAT?
How could he think that? I write what is happening in my life, the Things lives...
But, then as I examined my blog more closely...
I realized he was right.
I have tried very hard to only post funny, happy things.
I mean, who wants to read about depressing things?
But by neglecting the depressing things, I have indeed created a work of fiction.

Fiction is good.
Fiction is fun.
But, I suppose its time to get "REAL"...

I had a miscarriage.
There I finally said it.
I had a miscarriage.
It 's not as scary to type those words the second time around.
I didn't actually KNOW that I was pregnant. But, I suspected I was. I hadn't cycled in well over 3 months...
But, with each pregnancy test that I took, they came back negative.
All 6 of them.
Finally I went to the Doctor and had a blood test taken.
# 7 came back negative too. I was perplexed. I just didn't understand.
My doctor said that given my history, my mothers and grandmothers history as well, I very well could be starting menopause.
WHAT??
I'm 35 for Pete's sake!
I can't be, as Jefe puts it, barren.
Barren.
That is such an ugly word.

I was heart broken. I had said all along that I was done having kids.
Done. No more. Complete. Finished.
But then when the doctor told me that I probably wouldn't be having any more, well, I was heart broken.
So was Jefe. Suddenly we realized that we both did want more children, and we were facing a reality that we probably wouldn't be having any more children.
It hurt so much to see people with their little babies.

Islandmom came down with her new baby... And I had a difficult time holding her baby. I wanted one so much, and it hurt so deeply to see that beautiful little bundle, and realize that I wouldn't get to have another.

I think that we had started coming to grips with our new reality. I went and got myself a little part-time silly job. Just to get my mind off things, and to try and pull myself out of this ugly funk that I had fallen into. The job was good for me. I was able to have just the right amount of socializing--without having to get personal.

Then I started my period!
YEAH!
We were soo excited. (that will probably be the only time I ever write that sentence! lol!) Maybe I would still be able to get pregnant.
Now, remember, this had been going on for over 3 months now.
My period was the period from hell.
I had never had such wretched cramps.
I hurt.
All over.
EVERYWHERE!!
But, in reality, it wasn't a period at all.
I was having a miscarriage.
On Halloween.
Oh joy!
I had no idea what was happening to me, seeing how I have never experienced this before.
I was really scared.
I went immediately to insta-care.

Yes, Motherboard. You indeed did have a miscarriage.
Instantly I went from being overjoyed at the fact that maybe I wasn't "barren", to having lost a child.
I was devastated.
Heartbroken.
Again.

It has been 2 weeks since I had the miscarriage.
I am amazed at how much emotion I feel. My emotions are so close to the surface, that I have to shut myself down, so that I don't spend every day crying.
I thought I was doing better. Getting myself together. I mean, I felt hostile towards people. And, for no good reason either. I suppose it was easier for me to exude the hostility rather than deal with the pain... Or just hole up inside my house. I haven't really gone anywhere since it happened. Its easier that way.

Jefe has been astounding through this. His compassion has been duly noted... And I realized through this experience that he is quite the catch. Jefe has been extremely kind and patience with me. I have been a little, well ok. A lot crazy lately. But, he has been a trooper, and I am a lucky woman to have landed such a catch.

My best friend from Illinois has called me almost every day... Sometimes a couple of times a day. I feel so grateful to her. I don't know how I would have survived this without her tears with mine. I have missed her, but feel so blessed that we at least both have Cingular. Why do I feel grateful for that? Because that means unlimited cell phone to cell phone calls. She has her own difficulties, and I just feel blessed to have a friend to share with. Don't get me wrong. Jefe is my best friend. But, sometimes a girl just needs another girl to vent with.

I dropped my basket at church on Sunday.
What do I mean by that? Well, I went from smiling and happy, to the ugly cry in nothing flat. Someone turned and said that they had heard about my miscarriage (which is another thing that causes me great angst! I HATE knowing that I have been the topic of conversation), and they wondered how I was doing.
I lost it.
I went straight to the ugly cry.
Don't stop.
Do not pass go.
Ugly cry.
And, I mean UGLY CRY!
I hate to cry, and I especially hate to cry in front of people who are not my family or friends. It leaves me feeling extremely vulnerable.
I was vulnerable.
Big time!
I was in the midst of the ugly cry. And, I couldn't stop. It was horrifying. I knew that people could see me, but I just couldn't stop.
I went to the bathroom and tried with all my might to pull myself together. It wasn't working.
Our Relief Society lesson was on Trials.
Oh Great.
Sheesh. Were they trying to kill me??
I would've gone home if Jefe hadn't beaten me to the punch. He had already gone home with Thing 3... And was coming back to get us after church was over.
I was stuck.
Stranded.
In the ugly cry.
I finally got it together enough to sit and listen to the lesson without the crying.
At the end of the lesson, someone else came up to me and said the same thing.
And it happened again.
An eruption of emotion just came pouring out of me. Once again, I was in the ugly cry.

I am usually a pretty put together person. I thought that I was dealing well with the whole thing. I thought that I had it all under control. It was over, done with. I was moving on I thought.
Apparently I was wrong.
I dropped my basket.
Big time.
And not only did I drop my basket at church, I did it in front of everyone.
So, now I am embarrassed.
I really am not as crazy as I look. But, then maybe I am just like the rest of the world. Who knows.

So, here is my work of non-fiction. This is my reality.
I am picking up my basket, and I am putting it all back together again.

It was good for me to write this.
I had a miscarriage.
And, I will survive it.

What to do...
What to do...

Do I switch over to beta or not?
Blogger has a new version out... Beta.
What is Beta?
I don't know.
Me, being the un-educated-non-21st-century-techno-savvy- person, doesn't really know what the difference would be if I did switch!

What to do...
What to do...

What if I love it?
But, then again...
What if I hate it??

Decisions.
Decisions.
I'm no good at decisions.

Thing 3 has a sinus infection. After getting her medicine, I came home and proceeded to try and open the anti-biotic so that I could give her the medicine.
For the life of me I could not get it open.

Could. Not. Open. It.
MUST.
TURN.
HARDER.

It just wouldn't open.
I tried for over 15 minutes, but to no avail. I even turned my hands red and raw... What the heck? Child proof! My foot!
Jefe was out to a dinner meeting, and wouldn't be home until late.
I called the pharmacist and sortof yelled at him... It WAS unprovoked... sortof.
I mean, who in the hell puts the lids on so tight that you can't get them off?

I called my nice neighbor and said:"Nice Neighbor, Can I borrow your big burly muscles?" He stammers for a minute and replys: "Uhh. Yeah. What do you want to do with them?"
When I told him what I needed, he says "Can't your manly man open it?" Again, I felt like total retard. I ran over to the burly neighbors house, he opened the medicine for me in one quick turn. How stupid did I feel? Pretty stupid. I told him that I had just loosened it for him...
The cap must have been idiot proof, not child proof.
Then burly neighbor says: "Would you like me to dispense the medicine for you too?"
Uhh.
No.
I think we've got it from here.
He dispensed the medicine, got Thing 3 some chocolate milk. She drank it without saying anything. Then she said in my ear: "I would like to go home now."
Yeah.
Me too.
Boy.
Do I ever feel like a giant dork!

"I've become more comfortable, knowing that I can sleep until two and hang out until ten in the morning and don't have to worry about losing my job. But I'm not a big star. I'm not even a twinkle.. I'm just a rumour." - Tom Waits

It's that time again... Random 10 Friday... Whatcha listening to?

1. Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2
2. Memphis Skyline - Rufus Wainwright
3. The Piano Has Been Drinking, (Not Me) - Tom Waits
4. I Could Not Ask For More - Edwin McCain
5. When I Come Around - Green Day
6. Today - Smashing Pumpkins
7. Everybody Wake Up - Dave Matthews Band
8. Oh My Sweet Carolina - Ryan Adams
9. All At Once (Live) - The Fray
10. This Side - Nickel Creek

Bonus: Idiot Boyfriend - Jimmy Fallon

And just Cause its Sunny out:
Hell Yeah - Montgomery Gentry