50% off at Payless

50% off purchases at Payless – today only.  If you can’t/don’t/won’t shop at Payless, you probably still know someone who does - pass it on!

I’m going to (hopefully) stock up on socks and maybe a pair of tennis for the kid!

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20091016-tows-payless

Boo!

No silly, not “boo as in I’m trying to scare you because it’s Halloween.”  Boo as in two thumbs down.

Boo to my ex-boss sending me a friend request on FB.  Which ex-boss?  Yep, that one.  The crazy heifer from downstairs who since I left has been so damn nice I’m almost sorry I quit.  Almost.  Crazy thing about it?  I’m seriously thinking about friending her.  What’s really going on?

In honor of the holiday I don’t celebrate – much to Lovegirl’s chagrin – here’s some music to get your head nodding (NSFW – duh!):

Have a great – and safe – weekend!

 

It’s Thursday, I’m Random

• My hospital is having an H1N1 blitz.  Y’all can miss me with that.  Not this year, not the kid.  I don’t care how many email alerts you send or that I’ll have a chance to win an iPod – no swine flu shot for moi.
• Pserendipity thinks I’m a gym snob.  She might be right.  But I’mma go back to her little box of a gym a few more times – it does have a certain charm about it.
• I just spent 15 minutes on the phone trying to help a former coworker.  She’s trying to breastfeed her baby without actually nursing the baby.  Ummm, why?  And you call me asking why you’re not producing enough milk.  Don’t you think your body knows the difference between a pump and a baby?!?  Geesh.  I’m gonna have to go check on that baby.  Where was I….
• My kid told me yesterday that I needed to help her like school again.  Wow.  I had nothing.
• I’m about to try these Qhmet Biologics hair products on Lovegirl and myself.  I’m hoping that these will allow me to stop putting such heavy stuff ( Liv) on her hair to keep it moisturized.  I basically just use olive oil on mine, but am going to try their oil serum and see if it absorbs better.
• I can’t believe that November is just days away.  Where did 2009 go?  Time for me to start buying a present a week so I can knock out my Christmas shopping. 
• Drake?  Yeah, I totally don’t get his appeal.  Is this futher proof that I’m getting old?
• I fell asleep before 9 last night.  While I am well-rested today, I am also pissed that I missed Top Chef!
• I’m going to spend 1/2 my day today working and 1/2 my day on school work.  I should have my presentation done by 4:30 – wish me luck!

Oh AR Gal & Jameil….

This is the dress.  I would have a tendency to wear it just like it looks in the picture – dark tights, dark shoes.  And I realize that’s a bit blah.

http://www.calvinklein.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3721879&sku=6445554&cid=fds_pricegrabber_cse_rom

I am now the proud owner of this dress AND a black skirt.  I know that’s not saying a lot, but really, for someone who spends spent 100% of her time in pants, this is major!  Smoochy made such a production out of seeing me in the skirt that I am motivated – kinda – to add at least one more dress or skirt to my wardrobe.

So….help a sister out.  Thanks in advance!

Why?

….do I get dressed in a semi-dark room on a semi-regular basis and still act surprised when my look is a bit off once I see it in full light?

….was I personally offended when “Team Mission” lost Restaurant Wars on Top Chef even though I could tell early on that they weren’t going to be able to pull it off?

….did I just spend 10 minutes coloring in the little white fuzzies on my black tights w/a Sharpie? (Um, I’m not the only person who’s ever done this, right?  Right???  Refer to first bullet if you’re wondering why I needed to do this!)

….did I think that Kim calling NeNe a moose on RHOA last night was one of the funniest things I’ve heard in a long time?

….is my child trying her best to celebrate Halloween even though I’ve told her repeatedly that we do not?

….am I having difficulty accessorizing a basic, gray sweater dress that I bought recently?  Any ideas?

….is my right hand so stankin’ dry?  My left hand looks good – my right hand looks like I am a day laborer in a flour factory.  Aargh!

….did I forget to go to a meeting yesterday?  My boss swung by at 10:30 and asked me to go to a noon meeting.  I didn’t remember until almost 3:00.

….did I have to call one of my white friends yesterday and tell her that her FB posting a video of a black baby dancing is cool – but that writing “looks just like a little monkey with rhythm” is not?

….have I missed so many episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm that I didn’t know Larry was dating?  What happened to his wife??

….cannot I wear a belt to save my life?  Yeah, yeah, I can wear one with pants in the proper loops, but I cannot belt a sweater/cardigan/shirt and look right to save my life!  Mrs. Obama (and S23) has the look down pat – I look slightly “special” every time I try it!

….don’t you share some of your recent ponderings with us?

Mi Familia Loca

A pic of all of us at my cousin’s wedding last weekend:

 

L-R:  Hermano #1, Yo, Mamacita, Padre, Lovegirl, Hermano #2′s novia, Hermano #2, Hermano#3, Hermano #3′s esposa

Speaking of crazy family – somebody save me!  My child is the proud new owner of a harmonica.  Need I say more?  I now live with the world’s shortest blues musician.  Ay dios mio!

Today I….

• am feeling pretty random.
• got up at 4 a.m. to work on a paper that’s due today.  I’m still not finished.
• deleted a friend from FB.  I’m cool with her having differing political views, but not cool with the volume and spirit of anti-Obama stuff she posts.
• am actually putting in a decent day’s work.  A statement I totally realize is not supported by my mid-day blogging.
• think I’m going to call my instructor.  Joker gave me 100 points on a paper and then took 50 of them away because I missed a class session.  Aargh!
• happened to be perusing the L.A. Times webpage and ran across an article in which my cousin is mentioned.  If you’ve been reading for a while you may remember my mentioning a cousin who’s been in jail for quite a while - for murder.  Yeah.  If you’re interested in reading go here:  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-witness20-2009oct20,0,7565367.story.
• am listening to my “blue eyed soul” station on P.andora.  I love Hall & Oates!  And Phil Collins.  And Michael McDonald.
• am asking for prayer for my cousin who is undergoing surgery for two different types of cancers today.  I don’t believe that her prognosis is good.
• need to hide Lovegirl’s harmonica.  She cashed in her arcade tickets to get the thing, and between her using the Spanish pronunciation of “ar-moan-ica” and her incessant desire to practice, I’m going slightly batty.
• am contemplating buying a pair of boots.  I waited too long on some I’d previously spotted and missed out.  I need to make a move before every single pair of 12N boots disappears!  I think there are only like what 10 or 11 made each year.
• might slap my co-worker.  She’s upset because the doctor may put her short, round, BMI index of 34, son on a diet.  I’m upset that he’s not already on one.

What’re you up to today?

Soups On!

Oh snap!  We had a cold one come through the ‘Sip this weekend.  I knew cooler weather was coming, but I wasn’t prepared for how cold it actually was.  Let’s just say I’m surprised that Child Protective Services didn’t pick me up at the fair this weekend – Lovegirl was definitely not properly dressed.  She needed a hat, a heavier jacket, gloves….I’ll stop before I further incriminate myself!

Anyhoo, one of my favorite things about cooler weather is cooking and eating soups and stews.  I love the way a pot of soup simmering on the stove makes the house smell and I feel all domestic and thangs.   I bought a soup cookbook about two years ago with the intention of cooking my way through the book.  Well, I’ve only made one recipe so far – I like it so much that I have yet to venture into any other recipes.  I first tried it when I was fasting from meat – ate this stuff almost every day for nearly a month.  Without any further ado…

Borlotti Bean and Pasta Soup (my adjustments in blue)

Serves 4 (I think it serves way more!)

1 onion, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

5 T olive oil

1 bay leaf

1 glass white wine (I haven’t tried it w/wine yet)

4 C vegetable stock

14 oz can diced tomatoes

1 1/4 cups passata (never been able to find this, I just use a can of stewed tomatoes)

1 1/2 cups pasta (I’ve used mini-bowtie and mini-penne)

14 oz can of borlotti beans (can’t find these either – I use cannellini or great northern)

9 0z fresh spinach (I use a whole bag of baby spinach leaves)

2/3 C Parmesan cheese

* Place the onion, celery and carrots in a large pan w/the olive oil.  Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until the vegetables soften.  Stir occasionally.

* Add the bay leaf, wine, stock, tomatoes and passata, and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes until the vegetables are just tender.

* Add the pasta and beans and bring the soup back to a boil.  (I usually just add the beans and let the soup simmer for a while to develop the flavors and then add the pasta) Simmer for 8 minutes until the pasta is al dente.  Stir frequently.

* Season to taste w/salt and pepper.  Add spinach.  Cook for another 2 minutes.  Garnish w/Parmesan.

So easy and so good!

I’ve never added meat, but the recipe book suggests adding cooked spicy sausage or bacon for variety.

Color Him Father

This morning Smoochy called me while I was driving in to work.  Somehow the conversation turned to Lovegirl and the fair.  I told him that I was planning to take Lovegirl to the fair tomorrow since it has finally stopped raining and this is the last weekend the fair will be in town.  I asked what time he’d be home Saturday and did he want us to wait for him so he could go with us.  He was like “nope, I don’t want to go, y’all go ahead.” 

So, I got mad.  Not screaming, cursing mad – ’cause really, that’s not my style – but straight silent treatment mad. (And yes, I realize this may be a little passive-aggressive)

I told Smoochy that I thought it important that he and Lovegirl do more during their time together – remember, he drives trucks and is home for about 1.5 days a week – than sit on the couch and watch Noggin.  That he needs to do things with her, take her places, etc.  His reply?  “But I don’t like the fair.”  Dude, really?  I’m not a big fan of the MS State Fair (no offense) but I take Lovegirl because she likes it - not out of any desire I have to smell deep fried dough and ride rides operated by less-than-savory-looking folks. 

Anyhoo, I got to thinking about my father and the time he spent with us.  And I’ve got to say – it wasn’t much.  My parents have been married for 38 years.  My dad has always worked hard and is and was an excellent provider.  Even in what I now recognize as lean years financially, we were good – my father worked two jobs for a number of years to ensure this.  However when I think about fun family times I primarily think about my mom and my brothers.  Vacations?  With my mom and brothers.  Weekends?  Mom and brothers.  Sitting up late at night tripping out?  Well, you get my drift.  My father has always been present in our lives, but he wasn’t really involved.  And now that we are all adults it is very obvious.  When we all get together and start tripping out – he’s kind of an outsider.  We’re all very close to my mom.  We love our father, but the relationship just isn’t the same.  And I want more for Lovegirl and Smoochy.

Lovegirl is very much a daddy’s girl – she would kick me to the curb in a heartbeat to spend time with him.  And I guess for her whether they are out and about or at home on the couch watching Noggin doesn’t matter.  I’m just wondering if it will always be this way.

I don’t want to project my issues on to Lovegirl and Smoochy’s relationship, but I also don’t want Smoochy to be sitting around looking crazy in 15, 20 years wondering why he and Lovegirl don’t have more of a relationship.  I’m not sure I’m articulating this the way I want to, but does that make sense? 

What, if anything, would you do in this situation?  Should I just leave Smoochy alone and let the chips fall where they may?  Am I trippin’ and projecting too much?  Whaddya think? 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts – have a great weekend – we’re off to the fair! 

Ho Hum

• So, I’m diagnosing myself with SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder.  I haven’t seen any sunshine since I left CA a week ago.  And I am pissy.  In my mind the two are connected.  Seriously, I don’t know how people handle going months without sunshine.  Just gimme the light!
• Last night I went to see Eric Benet at the fair. The little dude puts on a pretty good show and has a nice voice – however, I don’t know a thing he sings outside of Chocolate Legs and Georgie Porgie.  Thankfully he sang them both – otherwise I’da been totally lost.  Pserendipity on the other hand is a stan for Eric and knew every word of every song.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen her as animated as she was last night.  She rushed the stage and errythang!  Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera to capture the moment, but trust – it happened.  I spent most of my time marveling at the hot messes fashions that were on display.   Until you’ve seen a joker leaning back in the cut in a brown suit whilst sporting a  sequined fedora you haven’t lived!
• Why do people insist on running across the street to get to work?  Man, the light will change again – it is not that serious.  Please believe me when I say you will never ever catch Nerd Girl sprinting across State Street to get to work.  Nope – aint happening.  Tall chick with the dreads strolling across the street in rain, sleet, sunshine or snow?  Yep – that’d be me.
• Don’t tell anyone…I haven’t done any work since I got back to MS.  None.  I’ve spent my days surfing the web, checking folks FB statuses and giving myself a full out manicure – one fingernail at a time.  Even I am ashamed at how little I have done to earn my $$$ $ this month.
• Speaking of trifling.  Remember my little giveaways a few months ago?  Yeah, so I still owe AR Gal her prize.  And Kelly’s book came back in the mail.  So I need to get to the post office ASAP and get these packages off and stop tripping.  No later than Monday ladies – pinky swear.

And finally, a question four questions and a poll.  Do you/your children celebrate Halloween?  Why?  Why not?  If you celebrate an alternative – Fall Festival, etc. do you allow your children to dress in costume for that celebration?