A Mom on a Mission

Why we love Tim McGraw

This is probably one of the most blogged about videos right now, especially with the female blogosphere, but I'm going to do it anyway...Props to momlogic for posting it...

If you haven't seen it yet, apparently at a recent concert, Tim McGraw saw an overly aggressive male fan attacked a female fan in the audience near the stage. He calls for security, but then he and his stage hands reach down into the audience to pluck the dude out of the audience. He was handed over to the police shortly thereafter. Nicely done, Tim. Can I get a yeehaaaww! Oh, and he's pretty cute, too.

George Carlin on Language

I'm going to miss you, George.  You were one of a kind!

My Updates from Twitter

Twitter Updates

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Out of sorts

I'm looking for a little writing therapy and so of course, to my blog I return...

Life is strange right now. So many things are effecting my psyche; some large, some small but all of them telling me that I am in a huge period of change in my life. Change that isn't gong to stop any time soon. In fact, I think that the next 3-4 years are going to be challenging, fabulous, sad, scary and when all is said and done, will shape who I become.

Without going through a specific laundry list of all of the things on my mind (I need to save something to blog about next), let's just say that I've got things on my mind like serious family illnesses, 2 teen aged boys on a daily bases, a career that is more demanding than I've ever experienced, feeling disconnected from most family members and best friends due to geography and time challenges and all of the joy that the years before menopause bring.

I know...so what makes me different than any of the rest of you?

Nothing!

So I'm hoping that you share your stories and your wisdom me and I look forward to learning about how all of you are fairing in this journey we call life.

I'm also sensing that a blog re-branding is in order...change of name and look and focus.

'Cause I don't have enough to do :0)

I sadi it then, I'll say it now...

My Next President

Where Oh Where Has My Summertime Gone?

Oh where, oh where can it be?

Last weekend I had to slather on the sunblock, order an iced latte, and sleep with the fan on. This weekend I need a sweatshirt, an extra hot latte and my down comforter.

WTF?

This weekend we have baseball up the wazzoo. Darren has a tournament which means 5:00 Friday (we won), 4:30 and 7:00 Sat, 7:00 Sun. and if we do well, more games on Monday. Payton had a 5:30 on Friday (we won) and an 11:00 on Sunday. He was also supposed to have a 1:30 on Sunday but mercifully, that was canceled. With all of this time spent outside, I was hoping for at least 70 and some sunshine. But no.

OK, so get over it, wimp. I am more comfortable in wintertime clothes anyway, so at least there is that. And I would rather be here dealing with this weather (cloudy and 55) than in Oklahoma and Kansas (and Colorado for that matter) dealing with twisters. I had enough of that as a kid growing up in Illinois. Been there, done that. Thank you very much.

So I'll OD on 'bucks and don my fave hoodie and have fun with it anyway. I do love my baseball and my boys and so what am I bitching about?

Obama on BlogHer

Sen. Obama sat down with Erin of BlogHer for an interview (I am a BlogHer member, have attended conferences and run BlogHer ads on my sidebar). He's the only one who accepted the invitation (Clinton and McCain declined). This really confirms for me that he has a good feeling for real issues facing Americans today. I really like his idea for making medical and mental health screening for all vets returning from Iraq available.

On My Mind

I got a not so gentle nudge from TwitterFriend Britney Mason today to blog more. (and I'm really bummed that we didn't find each other at Clooney's last Friday, by the way!) I won't wait until I have something "cool" to blog about, I'll just go for it. Hope you're happy Britney :0)

Here are some things that are on my mind these days, in no particular order or form:

What the hell is the government thinking in Myanmar? Why in the world would you not let relief efforts/people/supplies help your country? Lame. And very sad.

I'm so glad I planted so many bright pink flowers last year that have come back so nicely this year. They look FAB in my garden.

What the hell am I going to feed these boys tonight?

Why won't Darren stop whistling and tormenting the dogs?

I'm wishing I could be on an airplane up to Gig Harbor, WA to help care for my father-in-law and his family.

I wonder if Santa will bring me an iPhone for Christmas?

I wish that Rob & Big hadn't been canceled.

Looking forward to Home Town Days this weekend, if I get a chance to go...

I'm really getting frustrated with all of the violence in the world. Really, people. Chill out.

Why haven't I used my spa gift certificate that I got for Christmas from my kick ass Mom?

This and so much more (I haven't even touched on the work related stuff) just swirling through my brain and keeping me up at night. I need sleeping pills. Or at least a couple of melatonin pills.

Person Rob & Big

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MC Hammer and Me on Twitter

Loving the integration of cool tools. I've been Twittering for quite a while now and have recently discovered Skitch. Skitch is a tool that allows you to take screen shots from your computer, do fun things with them, and share them in many ways. To test it out I recently took the screen shot below of an email I got notifying me of my newest follower on Twitter:

Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!

Who knows if this is the real flat-top sporting, baggy pant wearing 80's icon that I know and love. But even if it is not, I love the screen shot!

Reality is funnier than fiction

Andy Carvin pointed me to this story about Hilary Clinton's Kentucky Derby favorite.

Folks, it just doesn't get any funnier than this. Please don't think I want HC euthanized. It's just a very funny story.

That's it.

Gas Prices. WTF?

  Gas Prices. WTF? 
  Originally uploaded by kristiewells

I had to share this when I saw it on Kristie Wells' flickr stream. It made me laugh through the tears.

Now, I don't want to hear any comments from Twinga, my German friend who reminds me how much they are paying for gas there whenever I get to belly aching about US gas prices.

Just let us wallow in our pain. Everything is relative, my dear, and these prices are relatively GINORMOUS.

When I bought my Jetta 7 years ago, I could pretty much fill it up with $20. The last time I filled up it was $53! Premium gas is going for about $4.50 at my local gas station.

I think I'll start taking the train when my son's school year is over and I don't have to drive him to school in the morning.

Sheesh.

Prom Night

Alex and Payton
Originally uploaded by KRob2005

Prom #2 is in full swing. We went to Woodside to meet up with some of Payton's friends and then drove them to South City to the prom. They looked so gorgeous. Payton actually pulled of the white tux quite well. He's a good looking kid. If I do say so myself.

Prom Season

  Payton and Alex 
  Originally uploaded by KRob2005

Tonight is prom #2 for son, Payton. This photo is of prom #1 a couple of weeks ago. Prom #1 was at St. Francis high school where Payton's (ex) girlfriend goes. Tonight is his prom (Serra High School) and he and Alex are still going together even though they are "on a break." All of you Friends fans out there are laughing, but seriously, they are on a break. Whatever that means. They have been together for 7 months which is an eternity at 17.

Tonight Alex will (we think) be wearing a yellow dress and Payton will be in an all white tux. Alex was supposed to wear the yellow dress to her prom, but changed her mind at the last minute and wore a beautiful black gown. The corsage had yellow ribbon in it. That's what happens when you change your mind so late in the game. This time we went with an all white corsage. Just in case.

We will be going to Woodside for a pre-prom get together with Payton's best friend Zack and his date, Haley. Then off to the prom in South San Francisco after which the 4 of them will be joined by 5 other couples for a limo ride around San Francisco. Then the 4 of them (or some sub-set of the 4 of them) will come back to our house around 3am and spend the night.

There is a baseball meeting at noon Sunday. If they are lucky they will get a few hours of sleep before hand.

I'll post pictures tonight.

Testing out Blog IT

Being able to do blog posts via Facebook using Blog IT will hopefully help me to blog on a more regular basis. I'm doing so for the first time just now and hope that it works like a charm. I'm wondering if anyone else has used it, and if so, what do you think?

Doing well, thank you very much

Me and my honey!
Originally uploaded by KRob2005

We attended a surprise 50th birthday party on Friday night for one of our very dear friends. There was belly dancing, and disco dancing and homemade pineapple vodka and fabulous food. But most of all there were fab friends, and lots of them.

As you can see from the photo, hubby and I had a great time. This photo was taken on the dance floor which was pitch black except for the glow from the laptop that was powering the tunes via iTunes. As the evening wore on some of the kids showed up (we all have kids that are 17+ so they are all driving themselves around these days) which is always great. I love that the boys (most of us have boys) often see us all getting together and dancing and enjoying each others company. It is a good demonstration that just because you're 40 or 50 or 60, doesn't mean that you are home every night, in bed by 10. OK, sometimes that's true. But our friends really enjoy being social and there are numerous parties and dinners and such going on almost every weekend.

At one point it was just Dan and I on the dance floor with one other couple. She is battling breast cancer and has had one helluva year. Freebird was playing and us two old couples were back in time just loving being present in the moment with each other.

I highly recommend a good slow dance with your significant other on a regular basis.

My favorite time of year

  Payton at bat 
  Originally uploaded by KRob2005

It's that time of year again. My favorite time. Filled with ball game after ball game (that's what happens when you have 2 boys who also love the game). I've been through a whole 6 oz bag of ranch flavored sunflower seeds in less than 3 games. They are a must have for me as I watch my boys play.

Although Payton has grass allergies, he still loves the smell of the grass in spring just like I do. Combined with the smell of a freshly oiled mitt and we're in heaven.

Dan is coaching Darren's team again this year. We will spend many evenings and Saturdays dashing between ball fields. A little easier this year than in the past because Payton can drive himself to and from games now. Still, we find our lives revolving around a little leather-wrapped ball with red stitches. Some games will be cold and windy, others hot and sunny. Either way, we will love it.

All is right with the world again.

Twitterific

Staying connected to the people you care about and/or are interested in. That is a main reason why people blog, email, use Facebook, etc. Many of you already know this, but some of you don't, so I would like to share with you this cute little video about Twitter. I have been Twittering for, gosh, I don't know about a year now, and I find it so accessible. Partly because it is in such little bits, you don't have to commit to a long period of time posting or reading about something that is interesting or informative. I must say that since I have been Twittering (or Tweeting, depending on who you talk to) my blogging frequency has declined. For good, or bad, it is what it is.

Check it out and see what you think (if you haven't already): Props to Ryan in Willow Glen for this:

Getting Ready for Oscar

I find myself with a lot time on my hands this weekend.

Husband is in Washington this week visiting his family and going to a conference, so I'm single-mom'in it. There is a big storm headed our way, so I ran out to Blockbuster this morning and rented Michael Clayton, American Gangster and Hairspray. Earlier this week I took the boys to see Juno and a I watched The Hours last night (for about the 4th time). I could hibernate and watch movies for days.

I loved Juno by the way. Cute, quirky, insightful. Ellen Page ROCKS! I'd love to hang out with her. And boy did Jason Bateman grow up nicely. I remember him when he was a young heart throb, although I never thought he was very cute then.

I think I'll do some scrapbooking this weekend also. Maybe I'll post some photos of my pages.

I know you'll be anxiously awaiting those!

Swimsuit edition ill-timed

Lord knows I have many other things to think about that are of more importance, but this one stumps me every year.

Maybe it's just me, but has anyone else ever questioned the timing of the release of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition each year? It always comes out right before Valentine's Day. This may be unintentional, I'll admit. I have to think that the guys (and gals) at SI think that in the dead of winter is the best time to bless millions of men all over the world with the beauties it features in warm, exotic locations wearing cute little swimsuits (or parts of swimsuits). I get that.

What I don't get is why you would do that right at the time where millions of American women are hoping beyond hope that their significant others might express their love and passion for them on Valentine's Day. Now I know, V day is really a Hallmark creation, completely commercial and bonanza for the flower and candy industries.

But the reality is that for MANY women it is the one day each year when their man (or woman, I guess) makes a little effort to find a way to say "I love you" in a way that he wouldn't at any other time of the year. It is a day to celebrate love and focus on the person with whom we are in a romantic relationship. A day where women, especially, revel in the attention and hope to be showered with gestures of appreciation, romance, passion, and the like.

And then along comes the dreaded SI swimsuit edition.

Nothing like a media blitz of young, gorgeous, apparently perfect women wearing very little, rolling around in the sand and surf on an exotic beach somewhere to pull the attention of a man away from the woman he would otherwise be paying attention to.

That's what gets me.

My great-grandmother once told me that it doesn't matter where a man gets his appetite as long as he comes home for dinner (seriously, my great-grandmother told me that!), but couldn't SI wait until the week AFTER Valentine's Day?

Just a thought.

Damon doing McConaughey

This is really good work by Matt Damon....no they are not getting all "brokeback" on us...it's just a good impression...