Photo Hunt #24 - Water

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I like this water park walkway near my house. The only problem I have with is the lack of fence. I took my kids walking there and it took just about all my attention and energy to make sure no one goes into the water. I had to fishing pole so fishing's out of the question.

Thursday Thirteen #21- Potty Training

I decided to scavenged stuff about potty training this week. I have a 33 months old child and he's almost done with potty training; one more to go after him.

I have noticed that my sister's children in the Philippines tend to be potty trained early. Her older two children were potty trained by 14 months. My older three children finished potty training at almost 4! Where's the catch?

If you have heard of a good tip or have one of your own, please feel free to share it with me.

1. HouseDad has a good tip about taking off the night diapers first thing in the morning and putting on regular undies with an instruction to ask you when they need to take their undies off for potty.

2. A lot of people agree that it's better not to push it.

3. I am all for buying books to read about potty training.

4. I also buy all kinds of potty chairs.

5. Chairs which never get good use because my children seem to think they are toys and only stuff toys should use it.

6. Dr. Greene has load of information about it.

7. I can vouch for the needing lots patience and a nose of steel.

8. I have a child who fell asleep on top of the toilet while he was potty training. DS2 was about 20 months when he decided he can potty trained.

9. That scared me to find him asleep in the toilet like that.

10. Familydoctor.org urge to not start at all until one has time to devote to it. In that case, my children should never be potty trained as it is impossible to get that much devoted time for anything.

11. Here you can find preparation index to get an idea when to start.

12. My favorite is this 13 tips to know before starting to potty trained.

13. In my opinion, the most important measure of when to potty train is when you and your child are ready. There's really no way to tell, and I believe that it will happen when it happens. And that my friend is probably the main reason why I don't have a potty train child earlier than 2.5 and up. I'm cool with that...if only the stink is not so bad!

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Wordless Wednesday #14 - All in the Family

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All About Kids and a Movie

I am really proud of my children. The older kids can walk 4-6 miles without much effort. I think that's quite awesome.

My DS1 thought he couldn't memorize his Sonatina Piece in time for the recital in 8 weeks. This week, he had all the notes down pat. He's working on the artistic version of the piece now. Give it a few more months, and my baby will play much better piano music than I could.

I just had to brag about my darling daughter, the hero from last Saturday, who aced her TAKS test too. I couldn't be more proud of my little darling. We're going out on a date, just us girls one day this week soon. We're sorely outnumbered in this male-dominated household of ours.

Okay, DH and I are off to see a movie. We had a date last Thursday and we're dating again today. It's fun!


****After the Movie****
DH and I went to see Shooter with Mark Wahlberg on it. Usually, mark does nothing for me. I enjoyed this movie. I think I have seen all his movies since 1999 except for The Rock Star...but I think I might have seen that too, I just don't remember.

I think he's been working out. He's bulky, and there are moments when he's really sexy. Of course, he's got nothing on Gerard Butler. Let's have a quiet moment here and ogle a perfect specimen of a man. These Bitches here have a much better collection of pictures to enjoy. I am not being rude. That's what they are, The Book Bitches. They got so much eye-candy on that site you could go blind happily looking.

Sexy or not, Wahlberg did well on this movie. On the back of my mind, I was so grateful it wasn't like that movie The Marine which DH and I saw last year because we always go out to see a movie and there was nothing on except that one. It was like watching day-time soap. It is very Days-of-Our-Lives like.

That's Just The Way Things Are

Remember when I said I was all done a few days ago? I really meant it. I was going to try.

Yesterday, we went walking in the mall. We're already done and on the way out when we saw the mall security talking to a worried-looking woman. She's Hispanic and she has two daughters with her. We stopped by and see what was the matter because DH heard snippets of "this is what he looks like.." and we thought a lost child.

This woman, I never got her name, lost her 4 year old son near the bathrooms. This mall has a 1-mile circular aisle, kind of like a race-tract. We had just put it our 6 miles. DH and I didn't even hesitate; we offered to help them look for their child. We decided to put in another mile while looking for this woman's child.

His name is Wyatt, he's wearing blue shirt, brown pants, cowboy boots, and have a sandy blond hair. So we walked, all the while feeling for this mother. I had misplaced DS3 once in this mall. I looked away, and he had walked .3 miles to the nearest kiddy playground. There is no horror as deep as discovering your child can't be found.

About a 3rd of a mile, the woman and her two girls turn back the way they came from. We keep going anyway just in case. We kept on walking and looking for little boys with blue shirt, cowboy boots, brown pants and sandy blond hair. About 3/4 of a mile through, my daughter stopped and said, "Mommy, I just saw a boy in blue shirt and cowboy boots running past me." DH and I never saw him.

We stopped and let our Darling Daughter find out if it's the right child. I looked over while watching my little ones and saw a child which fit the description. He also looked like he belongs to a family looking at a stuffed toy kiosk. DH said, "Are you Wyatt?" When this little boy looked with recognition, DD said, "Are you lost?" Wyatt replied, "I can't find my mother."

The weird thing is, he doesn't look upset at all. We told him to stay put because his mother was looking for him and we had to call security to get him. I forgot to ask his Mom's phone number. When we finally have the mother picked up his little boy, she looks so relieved, you can feel it. Then she gave my DD a huge hug and thanked her profusely for finding her little boy.

We offered to help find this little boy after our discussion of only minding our own business and let others worry about theirs. This one happened to have a happy ending. We're glad to help, and glad to find the boy. I guess it is in our nature to want to help.

The thing to do now is pick a situation where it won't be so stressful to me or my family. I just have to recognize if my help will be enough or is it time to just say, "I am sorry, but this is bigger than I can handle."

It's in our nature, I and my family, are glad to help.

Photo Hunt #23 - Empty

When DS4 was through investigating my bag, I got today's theme in my purse.

To see my other photo hunt post, click on the label below.

Happy Birthday DS4!

Time Well Spent

See tiny fingers and tiny toes,
Bright baby eyes, cute baby nose;
Hear baby gurgles and baby sighs,
As Mom and Dad sing lullabies.

Life is changed, but that's okay;
It's fun to spend glad hours each day,
Taking time for all the good
That comes along with parenthood.

By Joanna Fuchs

This is my five days old DS4.

I can hardly believe it but DS4 is now one year old. It seems so long ago when I was trying to talk my doctor into having my baby already. I came in for a flu check-up two weeks before he was due, and I stayed to give birth to DS4. My liver's fine now. After I had my baby, I had a liver equivalent to those of a drunkards. Bummer. I haven't even gotten to a gallon's worth alcohol in my lifetime. I closed shop on baby making business.

Here he is at 18 days old.

DS4 loves to laugh. His favorite food is carrots, and he prefers to have it steamed or cooked with meatballs. You can hear him relishing his food! About 6 weeks ago, he stopped eating jarred food. I think it might have been the burnt green beans that did it. Whatever the reason, he doesn't like bottled food anymore. He's still breastfeeding.

Driving at age 6 months?

I am almost dreading the time when he's weaned himself. Five children and I have yet to wean a child. I ran out of milk right around now. I am hoping this time, breastfeeding will last longer because I haven't gone to the gym yet. I believe, and doctors may think it's nuts, that when I exercise via running/jogging my milk will just stop.

Yoash is now more independent. Today, he ventured on his own to a slide and stayed out of my hugging distance for almost half an hour. I missed the tiny baby who sleeps so peacefully in my arms. Now, he's got a repertoire of grunting vocabularies. I find it amazing that he could communicate what he needs all without words. We're teaching him sign language and I think he's signing for "more," "eat," and "give me."

In another twelve hours he'll be one year old. Where have all the time gone? He's our last baby, and we're enjoying every second of it.

Happy birthday little boy, may you have a long and wonderful life.

Where's the Picture?

I have realized that I had gone quite camera crazy, click-insane or whatever these people are called. Today, I had taken no picture. Not even with my handy-dandy camera phone. Btw, talking about camera phone, I washed my husbands. It was in his pants pocket, and I was up-to-date on the laundry to his misfortune. Will a camera work again if it's been in a washing machine cycle? It didn't make it to the dryer like my husband's old phone. What is it with my and phone and washing machine? I swear, I am not mad at my husband. He's the best.

We're practically done with our front yard project. I am happy to say that it's turning out quite great. I think I am going to do my backyard next and then my walkways. I was dreading working with my dear neighbor. I thought all old people (she's nearly 80 and so active!) will be crotchety and "your-way-or-the-highway" type. She's not. We got along so well on our shopping trip. She helped schlep my two little babies from home improvement store to the next.

I got my lava stones in red, my blush walkways, the plants I like and it's so satisfying to have it all come together like that. I have discovered that top soil really just mean animal shit. They are what's good for the plants. I am so glad to colored mulch because they look absolutely pretty and covered the stinky top soil. Yuck. I touch it. I had to wash my hands for half-an-hour after because as healthy as top soil is, it's still shit.

I was in my happy place today. Not so last night. I felt to hemmed in. I almost went to sleep in my bathroom to get a private space that's unreachable by invaders. I am glad to say that I think that exciting is almost over I think. I really hope so. I didn't know I am such a Republican* when it comes to change.

*Aren't they the grand old party and all that? Unless I have mistaken the concept...then please feel free to elucidate.

Thursday Thirteen #20 - Lemon

Lemons are really neat, aside from their beautiful yellow color that is. I stumbled across a pamphlet proclaiming lemon to be such a miraculous thing as to cure cancer. I don't know about that, but here's 13 things about lemon.

1. The lemon contains the highest percentage of citric acid of any fruit. It also contains some vitamin A. Vitamin P (bioflavonoids) in lemon strengthens the blood vessels and prevents internal haemorrhage. It is, therefore, extremely useful in high blood pressure, in which cerebro-vascular accidents commonly occur.

2. Rubbing lemon on your teeth helps make them whiter!

Beware:
One should not take concentrated lemon-juice. It should be diluted with water before taking it. Pure lemon­juice contains acid which is injurious to the enamel of teeth.

3. Lemons takes the stink out of your fridge. Put a slice on a plate and place it in the back of your fridge. If it really bad, you can always buy a new fridge.

4. Lemons clean microwave splatters. Slice lemon and microwave for 5 minutes and the splatter should wipe off easily. Make your own spray cleaner by mixing two tablespoons lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap, 1/2 teaspoon washing soda, and one teaspoon Borax into two cups hot water. Mix until dissolved.

5. Lemon has been used for many years in gout and rheumatism. Lemon-juice is a diuretic. It, therefore, gives relief in kidney and bladder disorders. It has been used in destroying intestinal worms. It prevents vomiting and helps to cure hepatitis and other innumerable diseases.

6. Use lemon slices, along with a wet rag, to clean your fingers when eating messy finger foods such as ribs or fried chicken. Lemon cuts away the grease. Plus your hands smells nice and lemony afterwards.

7. Keep a small spray bottle filled with lemon juice in the refrigerator. You can then quickly spray fruits in salads, seafood, and vegetables that call for it.

8. If you have lemons that need to be used before they go bad, simply squeeze the juice and freeze it in ice cube trays to use in future recipes.

9. Clean brass with a lemon half that has been sprinkled with a generous layer of salt.

10. Lemons also stimulate the appetite, aids digestion, strengthens body defense system, relieves cramps and also dilates the blood vessels in the skin. {Didn't I say it's a miracle fruit?}

11. Stop a nosebleed : Dribble a small amount of diluted lemon juice on a cotton ball and dab it repeatedly onto the nasal mucous membrane. The lemon's astringent effect draws the body tissues together.

12. Though lemon is acidic to the taste, it leaves off alkaline residues in the body. This is why it is useful in all symptoms of acidosis.

13. A very course exterior may indicate a thick skin, which may mean less juicy flesh. Large lemons tend to be thick skinned. Size doesn't mean more juice. A lemon that feels heavy for its smaller size usually means more juice.

Related posts:
♥ Check out my scavenged useful remedies too.
♥ Here's my other home remedies
♥ There's always lavender.

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Wordless Wednesday #13 - Make Up Your Mind

The Happy Shopper

I took these two to Target today. I had a list of cleaning supplies, and about half an hour inside the store, we have bagged three kinds of play dough, a car-washing brush, a pair of pants, a TV stand, a shelf, and a four-drawer chest. I have no idea about that brush. I am under no illusion of my wanting to wash my car. I just drive it to the nearest car-wash. This brush was so soft and cuddly, I had picked it up without even thinking about it.

We're examining the merits of another big bouncy ball when a worker drops a few things on the floor. As she bent down to start picking it up, my DS3 breaks into a song at the top of his lungs...

Clean up, clean up
Every body, every where
Clean up, clean up
Every body do your share

He broke into 2-3 refrains. I thought it was so cute; I had to write about it. Then my husband called me because I was almost half and hour late for my landscaping appointment. I forgot about my plans with my dear neighbor about re-doing our front yard together. So, most of my day was spent telling someone where to put what and pretending to sound like I know what I want. Ha ha ha.

I will have to post a before and after picture later. Right, to the carpool!

All Done!*

This is a rant. I am angry. I do not want to be. I resent having to be angry. I know someone said that I can control my emotions. Well, my emotions are too angry to care, dammit!

Good Lord! When can one stop helping anyone if every time you help, it cost you? Seriously! I am so tired of always being considerate and giving people a choice, always taking care to make sure that my decisions that might affect other people is never at their expense.

What the fuck did I do to end up dealing with people who made snap decisions and NEVER giving me choices? I hate not having a choice. It's why I always give people a choice. I hate/loathe/detest not being given any notice. What do I get but workers who absolutely love giving "effective immediately" notices?

Guess what? I am done playing nice. I don't want to be nice anymore. Nice doesn't get me shit. Not even a teeny-tiny consideration about my feelings. I care about other people's feelings, but these other people's feeling which I so take care to nourish never give a shit about mine.

They say it doesn't cost anyone to be nice. They are absolutely wrong. It cost me a lot when people stomp all over my feelings. I would just really like to know when I can quit. I want to take a break helping other people. I just want to live for a while only thinking happy thoughts about my kids and my husband.

I have enough other people's drama dripping/oozing into my life. Enough already! I am tired of it.

*Not talking about my husband either. He's great. He cares about my feeling. He's not even related to me.

Photo Hunt #22 - Drink

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This is my baby's drink. It's not for every mother/baby, but it is the way things are for some of us.

It's sad how we're making a backward step for mankind. In Denmark, some places are banning breastfeeding. How would you feel if you're not allowed in restaurants because you swallow? I am just wondering if they're going to ban people from drinking in a sip-top bottle, too. I mean some of these bottle makers are making these spouts so much like nipples! Hey, what about taking out the bathrooms altogether?

Those are natural, yet truly "disgusting" things that could happen in an eating establishment. These sound so familiar-- you know, in the sixties involving segregation and color. Right!

Breastfeeding is natural. In fact, what is the objection? Is it the showing of breast? You can see more of these near swimming pools. Is it the babies sucking for their food? I don't understand what is so objectionable about it. I know it offends some people to see mothers' breastfeeding their babies. Then WTF are they doing staring long enough to get uncomfortable? Stop breathing why don't you if breastfeeding offends you so much!

Same Old Song

One thing I love and hate about Spring Break - no school. It's been a good week so far. Last Monday, we took the kids walking. We finished our 5.5 miles walk. Tuesday was unfortunate for my babies. I had the need to clean and fold my linen/towel closet. That took all day because in between, I had to play backgammon and read book, and watch the last DVD of Gilmore Girls season 5. I can't believe my local library hasn't bought the season 6 DVD. I know I've paid enough fines to pay for two seasons of DVD. There's Netflix, but waiting is not as much fun as stalking the library and growling at any unfortunate soul coming near my DVDs. Okay, the library owns it, but I had marked the area as my territory.

Wednesday was cleaning up, and a plan to go shopping for food. We have food, but DS1 ran out of his food. His food is different and separate. He's gotten so allergic to wheat, we had to use his rescue medicine because of my boiling pasta. I have decided to start a list of things I need to tell his wife someday. It starts with food and what she could cook/bake when DS1 is around. I get really antsy when he's coughing and wheezing. His attack is not as often now that I have been careful when to cook and bake wheat products.

I still cry when I think about the time he asked me why G-d made him so allergic to a whole lot of things. What did he do that was wrong to be punished this way? What can I tell him? If I were an Agnostic Atheist, I could start an argument with him about the existence of G-d. I feel so helpless otherwise. Even the bribery of money and books gets old with the overwhelming amount of pizza and cake and bread and cheese. What can I really say?

He's not completely without fun because he could still eat Boston Market's roasted chicken. Only that! We went out last Wednesday and he ate the chicken and I get his "sides". We went to the library and got load of books and video tapes. I figure, if they couldn't watch TV on vacations, when can they? School season means a land free of TV.

We shopped at Toys R Us. I have this Toys R Us visa card which I used for business. Even 1% can accumulate enough gift cards to buy tons of diapers, Pokemon Cards, train tracks, and tent. My daughter proudly announced to all other shoppers how we have over 200$ total and we didn't have to pay a single penny! I happen to have enough gift cards for the bill. I guess I need to check my notes and pencil in money talk along with Birds and Bees.

Thursday...that's for another day. I think I need to sleep now.

I Know It's the Millennium

It's ages since the Andy Griffith Show and Leave it to Beaver. I know it's the age of Beavis and Butthead, but really! Parents of driving teens ought to take notice on how their teens are driving.

A lady somewhere else was almost run over by these new crop of teens. You know the ones. They are the on honking you to dive into an oncoming traffic because their red cool car couldn't possibly stand the wait.

I will have driving teenagers of my own in about 7 years. I hope they do not drive like that murdering moron up north. I also know this is the age of cool cars. I just wish parents of already rude children are not so fast to whip out those wallets and buy their little turds cars they don't deserve.

Manners are still in style. Teaching and learning them will always be good. Parents who must park their kids in front of the TV, please don't let them watch shows which turn kids into mini-monster.

Thursday Thirteen #19 - Lavender

Thirteen things about Lavender.

1. I have to put this #1. It's the best de-stinker around. Trust me. With 5 little butts I have to diaper since 1997, nothing does it better than lavender. Nothing!

2. I have a very good nose, and little oddities like poopy smell gets to me. You can really see why #1 is important.

3. Lavender is from a same family as mints.

4. On the first of my 3 weddings*, we got a lavender lotion. I didn't like lavender until we got as a gift.

5. I almost stopped using this scent while reading OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon. My friend end up with a rabid dislike to this book, which I think is really good. So what if he spanked his wife? It's historical. One cannot change history, but we certainly can make corrections to our behavior today.

6. Lavender can be used as an herb. I've never tried this. I think lavender, I picture diapers and immediately conclude "deskunking" agent.

7. Essential oil of lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

8. An infusion of lavender is claimed to soothe and heal insect bites.

9. There is scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of some of these remedies, especially the anti-inflammatory effects, but they should be used with caution since lavender oil can also be a powerful allergen.

10. If applied to the temples, lavender oil is said to soothe headaches.

11. Lavender is soporific, and added to bath water or sprinkled on pillows aids relaxation and sleep.

12. "A preliminary finding presented at the Endocrine Society's conference last month ... suggests that shampoos, soaps and body lotions containing ... lavender may cause hormonal imbalances and breast growth in young boys".

13. Gasp! I did not know about #12. Does that mean I now have to find something else to use? I have 4 boys, I am not sure I want them to have hormonal imbalances.

*My DH is so wonderful, I had to marry him 3 times!
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Wordless Wednesday #12

Show Me The Finger!

I believe I am a pretty good driver. I am extra careful when I drive with all of us in the car. Not neurotic-jumpy-careful, but I don't take chances on busy intersection. I sing inside my head a song I learned in first grade about crossing a street, or in my case, making a right or left turn.

Peep, peep, a small Jeep is coming down the street.
Stop, look and listen
Stop, look and listen
Peep, peep, a small Jeep is coming down the street.

Lunch time last Friday was certainly very busy and there were tons of cars. It gets annoying when you're in front of the line and the car behind you starts honking their horn as if they have suddenly gone blind and cannot see the same traffic I am seeing.

Last Friday, I was in that unfortunate situation. It was just awful that the car behind me was filled with teenagers in a red sports convertible, and they were impatient to go. Not even on my best day of impersonating a race-car driver would I have been able to find and opening big enough for me to jump in and go. I was stuck.

This car behind me just kept on honking their horn, waking up DS4's nap, and scaring the hell out of my DS3. I was getting very upset, so was DH. My foot was twitching on my pedals...I was so close to backing up my car to their cute car.

I thought about getting out of my car and breaking their window, then their necks, however, the thought of going to jail for assault, and the fact that they probably wouldn't let me breastfeed in there stopped me. I would have shot them the finger, but it doesn't seem satisfying enough. I wanted to knock their heads.

My windows weren't that dark that you couldn't see two little babies sleeping in my car. These scums were just too much. I was just thinking that it is really alright that some parents raise their kids to a sense of entitlement, that everything they want and wish can be theirs if they are loud enough. I am fine with that.

However, when I start meeting them on the street and they start bugging me, I wanted to punish their parents too. I mean, if they had only raised their children correctly, then maybe they'll save their honking to situations which warrants it. Not forcing some van filled with kids to go into impossible traffic and take their chances.

I was proud that I didn't do what I wanted to do in the moment of passion. It would have been ugly. I stayed out of it. SERENITY NOW!

Recipe Rally! Chicken

Welcome to the second week of Recipe Rally! Thank you so much for participating.

Today's theme is chicken! Have you noticed that everything is supposed to taste like chicken? I probably shouldn't mention this, but wasn't frog and snake supposed to taste like chicken too? I don't really know because I haven't tried it. Why should I when I can just eat the chicken?

So, without further ado, let us bring out our chicken recipe. Be is easy and fast, or fancy and slow, let's get creative with chicken!

Duck Sauce Chicken (perfect for chicken thighs)
2-3 lbs chicken thighs (skinless or not)
Baking pan
1 16 oz jar Duck sauce (mild or spicy)
Seasoned salt to taste

Turn oven on at 375F or 190C. Arrange chicken in a baking pan, disposable aluminum foil is perfect, unless you're avoiding aluminum because of the Alzheimer scare. I am not sure what the latest verdict is, but last time I checked, it was inconclusive. Pour duck sauce over chicken until fully covered. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Cover and put in over for 40 minutes. Bake uncovered for another 15 minutes.

This can also be prepared ahead of time and bake the following day. You may also bake potato and other vegetables while chicken is baking, that way you get two things done in one go.

Next weeks theme is: fish

Fabulous, Darling!

It seems anti-climactic for me to proclaim right off that I had an outstanding evening. I did. My husband took me out to dinner and then a movie. I had a beautiful morning and afternoon too. I get such a kick watching my 11 months successfully whisking off his diapers. DS4 was so happy go be allowed to go nekkid for a whole 2 hours. He peed twice on my floor, and went right on walking with whatever business he's got going. I can't believe he's going to be one year old in less than two weeks!

DS3 kept complaining to me that DS4 was nekkid. Ha! As if he had never done it when he was a whole lot younger! I played online Backgammon too. I am so ashamed to admit that a day hasn't passed by in which I didn't sneak in a game or two or twenty. What's to become of me now that I am thoroughly corrupt?

I used to be vice-free except for my infernal obsession with books. However, the almost-death experience with the last L&D glued me to the tubes. I used to pretend to sit with my husband while he watches TV. I would read my books or knit or crochet. Now, I am well-versed in shows such as House, M.D., Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, CSI, CSI Miami, Gilmore Girls…and I should really stop listing. All those times I spent watching TV when I could have been catching up on all those wonderful books I've yet to read and re-read!

Then at 10PM, we shanghaied my Mama and lit out of the house so fast, I think I skipped in my 3-inch heels. I will have to think of something nice for my mother. I have such a wonderful mother that my own daughter made me promise that I'll be the kind of Lola that my mother is to her. DH and I haven't been out to a movie in days! The last movie we saw was a fantastic contrast for Music and Lyrics. That was a love-story-musical while Frank Miller's 300 is blood-bath-epic full of luscious naked men. I am sorry if I don't get the history of it all. That is just too much to ask when...didn't I just mention naked men? Yeah, yeah, they're wearing leather undies...but really, they're naked and caped! OMG, what's with caped-underwear-clod men? Superman Return for example.


Let me just say that this movie? Ripped and nippled (is there such a word?)! I kid you not. For a second there, I thought they might be wearing a nipple extender. The oracle did a wonderful, seductive, demon-possession dance. My skin crawled when that gross-looking old man put his lips on her skin. Yikes. I sure hope he's lovely underneath those fugly make-ups.

Is it just me was Xerxes gay? I mean, I know they can switch back and forth, silahis, we call it in my dialect, in that time period. Wasn't that why it was so hilarious in Saturday Night Live when they made that joke about the "sea men entering the rear" skit?. I just have a feeling that Xerxes might be far from effete. If he'd won that many battle and commanded that many men. What's with Alexander the movie played by Colin Farrel guy? They're all slightly build, very womanish-man. I'd have thought someone that powerful would be manly and strong. No offense to my gay readers ok? We're just talking build here of some of most powerful men in the army.

Frank Miller's Sin City was one of its kind, and this was too. I thought that it wasn't well-done of him to shroud the whole film dark like that because it gets it the way of my ogling. Honestly, I cannot see a pot-bellied man in there. Surreal!

I think this one is NOT to be missed if only to ogle Gerard Butler. What else can I say, except that man is beautiful naked!
OK, I have to go to Netflix now and rent all other Gerard Butler movies. I mean, seriously, no one can expect me to do anything less.

Not Stranger than Fiction

Why is it that when there's so much to do, there is not enough time to do it? When there's tons of stuff I had to do, that's when I get an infernal addiction which makes my chores very hard to accomplish.

For example, I had a lot of business tasks I must do right when I got addicted to Gilmore Girls. It's an addiction that won't quit. First, I handled it by watching only on weekends, but my local library happened to have all the six seasons in their stacks. I had to rent it. I cannot resist.

I was happily getting involved with Lorelai, and Rory, and Sookie and Luke. I got excited when Rory finally have a boyfriend, empathized when a bad boy came along and suddenly the good boy she has seems really boring. Clucked my tongue when Rory threw a good thing away, winced when that same bad boy treats her horribly.

I was horrified when Rory lost her virginity to Dean, a married guy by now. Oh. My. God. What was that? Keep in mind these are fictional character. I still think Lorelai is rude to her parents. After five seasons under my belt, I can now conclude that Lorelai treats her parents unfairly.

It's true her parents are snob, and rude to people not like them, but it still does not justify Lorelai treatment to them. Her parents always came through for her. She is way too bitchy for her parents. I rejoiced when Luke and Lorelai finally get together; shake my head in wonderment when Rory rejected another boring good guy like Marty and picked a rich playboy like Logan.

Whew. Underneath it all, I was feeling guilty that I spent so much time watching TV. I have neglected my reading. I only finished 2 books in 3 weeks! It is a very fortunate event that my children do their homework with least amount of proding because Mommy's on vacation!

Hopefully, there will be no more shows to get hook to after Gilmore Girls. I mean, are there any other show out there that's just as good? Really?

Photo Hunt #21 - Architecture

Theme: Architecture Become a Photo Hunter View Blogroll


Right now, this is the only architecture I care about. I want to pack up some really good books, a nanny for my kids, and stay anywhere near an architecture like this one. The naked back's not bad, but I'd rather have me sunning myself with a good book, even a lousy one will do, as long as I'm near a beach! DH and I took this picture...this was actually just a background of a picture we took, and I am too lazy to open my storage file to get my architecture photos.

Where would you rather be right now?

Thursday Thirteen #18 - Gaylord Texan

Thirteen things about Gaylord Texan.







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Wordless Wednesday #11 - Caption This

Play here.

Recipe Rally!

At CHBM, we've started a Tuesday thing called Recipe Rally!. The theme this week is soup. I have posted my favorite soup, a Minestrone. Please visit CHBM and post your soup recipe too.

Also, totally nothing to do with soup...my child said something cute the other day. I was going to post it for my memory, except I waited long enough so I forgot what it was. I feel terrible when this happens. I mean, wasn't I supposed to remember what my child did? I used to have really good memory. Now, I can't even remember what my DS3 said two days ago. Does this ever happen to you?

This is my second favorite recipe. I had to stop making it though because I noticed that my DS1 have violent reactions to the split pea steam. This is relatively easy. Just make sure to turn the fire low enough so the soup won't bubble over while you're reading your book.

Split Pea Soup

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, or Olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 1/2 cup chopped peeled carrots
2 teaspoons dried leaf rosemary
1 1/2 cups green split peas, washed
8 cups water
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in heavy large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery and carrots. Saute until vegetables begin to soften, approximately 8 minutes. Add rosemary; stir 1 minute. Add peas, then water, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Partially cover pot; simmer soup vegetables are tender peas are falling apart, stirring often, about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Serves 6

Photo Hunt #20 - Salty

Theme: Salty Become a Photo Hunter View Blogroll

This was from a trip DH and I and DS2 took back in April of 2002. I can still recall the cool salty wind on my face.



These are taken somewhere between Miami Beach and Palm Beach.

How to Get Into Trouble

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's pure luck (and my mother's iron will) that I am addicted to relatively good things. Great things like books, and books and books. It's a big part of my life, and will continue to be. I love all kinds of books. Except maybe science fiction, yet I've enjoyed Matt Reiley's books. Someone told me he's sci fi writer. That's shocking! I thought I would only read romance.

I have tried to quit books. Twice I have discarded over 750 books out of the misguided sense of starting over. I was mistakenly under the illusion that I could just quit and not have to waste real estate on my books. I have so many; I need a different street number to house them. I guess I don't to say how successful I was when you can see this picture. This is just a very tiny part of my collection.


I have also thought that I'd only be addicted to books. Imagine my surprised when I started watching all of Grey's Anatomy on TV. I was 2 seasons late when I got into it. Unfortunately for me, I was 7 seasons late when I discovered Gilmore Girls. I've watched all 3 seasons and working my way through 4th. Surely, it can't be so bad. TV and books have sucked up my time which isn't already booked by my kids and husband.

Then I saw my husband playing backgammon online. I used to play this game through yahoo ages ago. It was too much trouble having to log in and then waiting around for someone to play with, then having to chat while playing or they leave. I would have been better off if I hadn't investigated and found that I don't have to talk to anyone, and that playing is as easy as clicking on the link.

I started playing six days ago and have officially wasted over 10 hours of my reading time playing backgammon. I forgot to strap on my audio book. I could have finished a book while winning all those games. However, addiction to backgammon is quite sinister.


It creeps rather slowly until you're well and truly trapped within its jaws. I will just have to stubborn my way out of this. Look at these pictures above. These are the reasons while it gets so addicting. On the first picture, you can see how I'm so behind and then on the last frame, I won by the skin of my teeth.

Or what about this one? It feels really great when I see this. I also get mad when I can see that my "men" are being knocked off board out of pure spitefulness. Where's the gamesmanship if the other guy is being vindictive? Then I end up investing more time to find a better player and best them as nicely as possible. I don't like dirty playing. It's too uncomfortable.

This has made me realized that gambling places are not for me. I get into the spirit of things and would refuse to let go, thinking I could just do it one more time. Isn't that the very nature of man which casinos the world over are banking on? This bulldogedness* which spells disaster. I have that in spades. No Las Vegas gambling for me. Not unless I can stop at one bucket of quarters and can resist mortgaging my older Aunt.

I wonder how many out there have some addiction of sorts. Does it get you into trouble too?

*I made that up, it might be a word, but I am not sure.