Blame it on the Sun

DH and I found a new mall to walk. It's closer to our house and it's fun. It's like walking in Paris. I don't think I've seen any place here which is more crammed with designer stores than anywhere.

I have noticed that in one corner, this mall have Cartier and Tiffany, next to David Yurman. There's Cole Haan right next to Ferragamo. All these brands which I only read about in my novels are right there. I have the same thought everytime. Man, those handbags are butt ugly!

We walked about 10 rounds and that is about 6.5 miles. They said it's more, but we like to aim low, just in case those cubby-holes and corners are farther than they look. Today, DS3 was especially into walking. In fact, he had jogged for about a quarter of a mile. That's a biggie for someone who's not quite 3 years old.

As he was jogging ahead of us, DH and I noticed that he loves to swing his long hair. In fact, he was deliberate in his head-swing for maximum hair bounce. I'm thinking...hello Fabio!

Yesterday, after passing by Bath and Body ten times, and trying out Moonlight Path Limited edition lotion, I was convinced "this is the one!" So my Darling Husband bought me tons. I am now the proud owner of 8 jars of Limited edition Moonlight path. I adore the aroma!

Every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, DH and I look forward to walking in our Mall. Of course it has nothing to do with Which Wich. This sandwich shop who finally got smart and wrote all choices down on a brown paperback in which the food goes into. It's like taking a test when you buy a sandwich. Wheat bread, check! Cheeses: provolone and Mozzarella check! Lettuce, grilled onion, cucumber, bell pepper, and a whole bunch of other stuff! All are within a check-mark away. No more explaining to the clerk which way the orders swing.

So, DH and I walked 6-7 times, then sit down and have a sandwich. There's hand-holding, kids chasing, whispering, laughing, and occasional gossip. It doesn't really matter what we end up doing, what matters is, we're spending it together. I guess this is what 15.5 years feels like.

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.

Let Me Hear You Read

In honor of delurking week, I'm sporting their button.

For every comment left, I'm donating a dollar to support literacy. Up to 150 dollars only. Hey, I am on a budget here.

So, leave a comment, and know that you're helping someone somewhere read. Easiest donation you'll ever make. :)

Scrapbooking

I have a friend who's into scrapbooking. She's fabulous at it. The pages she creates...well, let's just say that if you're not in to artsy stuff, it would make you wish you were. She's that good.

I am not surprised of course. She's probably one of the few people I know who keeps a very neat notebook in all our chemistry classes. Even when the professors would blaze through the lectures at the speed of light, she still manages to keep neat notes. Unbelievable! Anyway, she got me thinking about scrapbooking.

This is "The Friend" who introduced me to the world of make-up and shopping. I would just always go into this store called "5-7-9" and pick up my size 0's on sale and wear them. I didn't know other stores existed. What fun it was to shop! We also have a lot of late nights burning candles for exams. What makes those study sessions bearable was the shopping trip we made in the midst of it. We'd shop for nail colors, or spread Victoria's Secret catalogs over our text books and order. It's probably how we end up with over a hundred pair of underwear- thongs all.

I am not even going to mention her 4.0 GPA in our Biochemistry degree. She has style and an extraordinary fashion sense. Even without all these, she's just a nice person to know. Did I mentioned she's got this lovely daughter too? She knows who she is, so we're not going to name names here.

Scrapbooking is a method for preserving a legacy of written history in the form of photographs, printed media, and memorabillia contained in decorated albums, or scrapbooks. Historically, scrapbooking was a tradition similar to storytelling, but with a visual and tactile, rather than oral, focus.

I've tried it before.

In fact, I spent a small fortune in getting rubber stamps, pens, ink, pads, pens, scissors, papers; albums...are you getting the idea yet? It's still all there. At least, what survived after my darling daughter and sons have gone through it. I would dearly love to finish that particular project, but children and family life gets in the way of scrapbooking.

It's in the back burner, right along with my more than three dozens projects in knitting and crocheting in various stages of completion.

Talking about "various degrees of completion" reminds me that it might not be the children or the family getting in the way of my project. It's probably me. Why else would I be reading at least 8 books at the same time? At one point, I was keeping up stories with 16 books! I'd finished them all together, or I'd quit reading somewhere in the middle if the story is too much work.

What do I mean by too much work? It's when I read and have to work up enthusiasm so I could flip to the next page and the next and the next...and sometimes, I just can't do it. I want the book to do it for me. When this happens, having to work up enthusiasm for a book, I'd grabbed one of my favorite oldies and re-read it. I'd better re-read an old book I've read gazillion times before, rather than get stuck in an uphill book.

What am I talking about? First I'm babling about scrapbooks, and now complaining about books?! What has yarns gotta do with either? Aside from the knitting needles being pointy things, big and tall pointy things, what has knit/crochet got to do with scrapbooking? Probably nothing. I don't know. I am just peacefully typing here, and those darn things just wanted to be mentioned. I didn't plan on it at all. Those things just wanted to be where my scrapbooking thoughts want to be.

Oh yeah. Digital Scrapbooking. I won't have to worry about scissors and glues and other sharp instruments. I might take it up someday, when I have a lot of time. I am seriously thinking about taking it up. It's a nice hobby to have, and who knows, I might find my talent right along my enthusiasm. All for someday of course. When I'm all grown up! Right?

Too Much Sleep!

I am hardly allergic to anything.

I react to eggplant and too much water on my hands. My fingertips would itch then peel. I avoid eggplants if I can help it, and I wore gloves when I wash the dishes. I have dishwasher, but I do not like to use it. Maybe if I go back to entertaining on Friday nights again and use "real" silverwares and plates I will, but probably not even then.

Allergy: we define allergy as being an altered state or response by the body to any substance.

I do not use this term lightly. I have a son that's truly allergic to a lot of things. Allergic as in ingesting some substance will kill him in less than 5 minutes, maybe even less. That allergic to it.

Anyway, I am starting to suspect that I might be allergic to more than 5 hours of sleep. Especially if it's more than 4 consecutive days. You're probably thinking 'Shoshana's gone batty!'

I might, but I have noticed, ever since I could remember that if I sleep a good 7 hours or more each day, after the 5th day, I would get dizzy. Dizzy as in the walls spin, my stomach heaves, my mouth gushes saliva, and walking is nigh impossible.

This would happen every single time I get really good sleep. I noticed it happening when I was in elementary school, right about the same time I noticed I have gray hairs. I noticed it in College, and I am noticing it now, post school days.

I wouldn't always wake up dizzy, but it would come. Today it did.

After I dropped my kids off to their schools [it's my turn to do my 1-day-a-week-carpool], I went to a Wal-Mart to pick up some pictures. While I was there, I was looking at digital cameras, and came close to buying this Pentax 6MP for less than 150. It was tiny, which is a requirement. I have this tiny purse right now which my Lil Sis gave me. It looks like this one below, except in black. That's why I want a matching camera which can fit. Let's not tell my husband about that part of it. I'm just telling him I need a camera. Not that he cares, but it sound so "girlish" to get a camera to match a bag.

I was waiting for this nice lady to give me the box, when I start to get this clammy feeling on my head. Oh boy! I had forgotten that I've been getting over 5 hours of sleep since last week, and I'm finally getting my rewards.

I hobble my way out of the store, sat in my car, leaning forward waiting for the dizziness to pass away. Of course I don't have my cell-fon because we're down to one [we keep losing them], and hoped like hell it would go away soon. I meant the dizziness. The cell phones all gone!

My dizziness eased up enough for me to drive home. I'm still dizzy, but at least I am home. I am well enough to type this, so how dizzy can I be?

Next up...optometrist appointment.

Oh, Look at that!

Lovely Airah made this awesome template for me. I love it! I can't stop admiring it. Isn't it wonderful? She's talented, and quite affordable. You can have a blog make-over without breaking your bank. Truly.

She has designed templates here, and createda new partnership here.

What's more, she's awfully nice. I intend to have make another one for me a few weeks down the line.

Come on, admire my new template with me.



And on another note...

Cingular Wireless Text Messaging

After investing a good 40 minutes of my precious time trying to find "the link" to send a text message online using cingular wireless online site, this is what I got below:


Read the text below in case you can't see it in the picture.

QUESTION:
What information do I need to send a text message online?

ANSWER:

All you need is your recipient's Cingular wireless number. The additional information you provide—your name and the contents of the message—will be sent directly to your friend's phone.

Well, that makes is perfectly clear what I need to have to send text message online.

I just have one tiny question: Where the f**k is the link to send a text message online? They actually wanted me to rate this answer if this was any help. The stupidity of it all just astounds me!

Added way later:
Here's the poll, because, why not?

There's my old template and my new one below. You get a chance to vote just for fun. :)




New Template:

Old template:

I rock!

Truly!

Let me tell you why. Our 4 year old PC has gone to pot. It's not good enough for working with the grown-ups because it's slow. In the world of PC desktop, slow and old is bad and must be gotten rid off. Unfortunately, old and useless non-relative are not as easy to get rid off, or rehabilitated. Yeah, yeah, I am angry about an old man who has nothing better to do but destroy my beautiful family. Same old man who claimed to love and care for his son, so he set out and tried his damniest to take apart said son's children. Bastard, may he rot in hell while he's alive. But I am not talking about that.

I am talking about learning something new. My old PC is now only good for kids. In a true pack rat fashion, I just couldn't get rid of it. I had to fix it a little so that my kids could use it for fun computing. So I did.

First, I had to think of a place to park it where I am still in control of it, and yet away from me so it won't annoy me. I found the perfect spot. In my dining room! Thanks to my Lil Sis contribution of a very decent computer desk in which she happily schlep from her place to mine. All without me having to beg her. What can I say, I have a lovely, lovely family. One that sticks to thick and think. You can't find a nicer family than ours. Oh, we're not perfect, far from it, but we genuinely care for each other and all that we consider ours.

The only problem is, my dining room does not have a phone jack. It's not supposed to, it's probably only used for eating and dining before. My phone jack is a room away. I can't park my PC in the kitchen because it's the kitchen. I need the space for when I cook and bake again. I plan to cook and bake again, just not now. Right now, I am enjoying my last baby. I want the experience to last, so I am cooking the least amount I can get away with. Ok, I was talking about my old PC. You'd think an old PC wouldn't warrant this much soliloquy.

soliloquy
n 1: speech you make to yourself [syn: monologue]
2: a (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give the
illusion of unspoken reflections

Second,I had to put in a wireless DSL connection. If it's not plug and play, my brain shuts down. I want easy,and I want it now. Unfortunately, we all can't get everything we want or that old bastard would have dropped dead the moment he started attacking and planning to molest my children. Nothing to it, I had to make a trip to best buy and get a wireless receiver. I am so thankful that my Lil Bro, who is very smart, and awesome happen to know a lot about computer and he's only a phone call away. I phone and whined about wireless receiver thingy. I got something about G spot...err, I think it wasn't called that, but it definitely have a G in there someplace.

A very helpful tech in Best Buy said I could bring my tower in and they would install it for me for $40. Great price, except for the bringing in the tower there part. I am all stressed out just thinking about it. With a baby, log in a tower to my car and into a store? I don't think so.

I brought my G spotter home, and called my brother again. It was easy! I got a screw...oh, did you see a pattern here? I got a G something-or-the-other and then a screw. LOL. Haha ha ha ha! That's what I did. No, I didn't get myself an orgasm, but it was close. I found that no monster lived inside my computer tower. It's a bunch of circuit boards in there, and one perfect spot for my G receiver. Like any other virgin, it had a hard time fitting in, but when it clicks, it was satisfying!

I was so damn proud of myself, I nearly pat myself on the head! I was so happy I thought I could probably build a new computer from scratch. It's like fitting a puzzle together. I had forgotten that I have a perfectly good and smart brain between my ears. How else could I have enjoyed and finished Biochemistry without it!

I probably won't build a computer from scratch, but I would definitely not get intimidated installing a hardware next time. I can always call my Lil Bro to fix it if I messed it up.

See, I told you I rock!

I am SAHM, SAHM I am.

Proud to be Stay-at-Home-Mom...rambling about it, and I am not sure where my points are.

I don't like hearing,

"So you don't have a job?"
"You're just a stay at home Mom."
"You must not have anything to do all day!" or
"It would drive me crazy to have nothing to do!"

WTF! I don't care most of the time, but other times, it gets me. It's just like having sand in your shoes. It takes a certain amount of it to really start to bother.

I admit I haven't heard many of those lately. I do get dirty looks from time to time when I go out with all 5 of my children. I am not sure how to interpret those looks. On bad days, I take it that it might be jealousy...other times, I have to ignore, I might just be tempted to wipe the smirk of the face holding the expression. Apparently, physical assault is a big no-no here in the states. Lots of lawyers around you know.

My children are well-behaved. They might horse-play a lot at home, just like puppies, but I've been really fortunate that they'd "heel" in public. I get compliments about how well-behaved they are. It just warms this heart of mine.

The biggest challenge of mothering for me is coming up with a variety of food to feed my kids daily. Between McDonalds, Chipotle, Wendys, Boston Market, and other places that make food for us, I have to come up with a healthy dish which they will eat. I know that's an impressive list of fast-foods. I don't use them all that much, only in emergencies. Except that it seems to be emergencies for the last week or so!

Meal planning for me is the hardest part of being a mother for me. I have to make a meatless dish, another one for my very allergic child besides meatballs that is, and then another dish for everyone else. It doesn't seem that hard reading that sentence now. However, standing in the kitchen and doing is a different thing. I have tried making a stew for everyone, but then there's always one person who'll go hungry because the dish didn't match their taste.

I can cook and bake just about anything. That said, some days, I don't want to lift a finger at all. It might be because the baby's cries are triggered with the switching on of the stove.

I am always amazed at mothers who seem to fix dinners effortlessly. Like Bree of Desperate Housewives for example. I'd love to be Bree in the kitchen. No, I don't want her life, just the part about whipping up meals everyday, all the time. I can't even take refuge in pasta. I heard pasta is the easiest dish to whip up. My kids haven't learned that they're supposed to love pasta.

Everything else about being SAHM I love. I like that I could just sit down anytime I want to and put my feet up and read a book... Oy. Wrong chapter.

I love being around my kids a lot. Sometimes, I am not as "around" as I'd like to be when time demands my attention to business. If I work at home, does that still make a SAHM? Or does that make me like any other Mom in the workforce, except that my office is at home, and I never get peace any stretch of time.

How does one define SAHM anyway? If I am putting in at least 30 hours doing business, does that make me a "worker" Mom even if I hadn't step outside my house in days? Or if I work in my pajamas, will I still be called SAHM?

What's in a label anyway? We shouldn't be labeled anything but a human, a mother, a wife. But if we don't use our "pronouns," how are we going to tell which from whom? This post is not about the label. It's all about me just being a tad overwhelmed because I had to work right through homework and dinner time today because of poor planning. I had to work with baby attached to my breast as work cannot wait. I have become excellent at multi-tasking. I am ambidextrous by necessity.

I admit that I have a different picture of SAHM before I was a mother. I've arrived. I am SAHM. I find myself wanting to say, yes, I choose to stay at home with my kids. But I have degree in Biochemistry. I managed a business. I am smart, intelligent, and sexy, too. It's just because saying I am SAHM makes somehow pegs me as dowdy.

A thought about the airport

LBB said that airport should be a Nu dist Colony. Since I've read that, I have decided that it should be taken one step further. We could put this sign up about half-a-mile surrounding any and all airports.

Just like getting naked on our yearly check-ups...except maybe for your he-mans who needed butt prodding to take a step inside a doctor's office, the airports will have a "No clothes beyond this point" signs near the door. Everybody must walked through the detector naked. At the end of the line, if you're lucky enough not to be prodded and probed, you get to wear this hospital gown. (go on, click it, you know you want to.) Opens in the back of course!

That would surely cracked down those terrorist intent on destroying the world through airplanes for revenge. Luggage? If you've worked at Neiman Marcus (I haven't, but I met someone the other day who did), the only thing allowed on board is a plastic see through bag, issued by the airlines of course and can only contain cash, and maybe Desitin for inevitable butt rushes.

It might also be a good idea to also make the airport employees nudist too. It will be just like walking into a Nudist bar in Brazil. Going naked into the airport is no big deal. It's just life!

Don't be so sad about going naked either. You can have a hospital issue papergown to wear for the duration of your flight. You can still have your peanuts of course. Served with Purell hand sanitizers, unless Wal-mart is having a sale that is.

One last warning. It's probably not a very good idea to fl irt. This could happen to you!