Motherofbun

Which kind are you?

Posted on January 3, 2009
Filed Under thinking | 8 Comments

A few weeks ago, hubby was watching the original version of The Manchurian Candidate.

In one scene a woman walks into the kitchen, turns on the tv and sits on her love interest’s lap. The main character says, “My dear there are two types of people in this world”. He goes on to explain those two types: People who enter the room and turn on the television. And people who enter the room and turn off the television.

So… which kind are you?

I plan to be back to regular posting next week. Lots in store for 2009, (more cool giveaways, a redesign, and lots of other stuff…) Thank you for reading in 2008! Hope your 2009 is a happy one!

(My “thank you” list will continue with the next post too!)

All you need is love… (And sometimes a little Ambien)

Posted on December 16, 2008
Filed Under everyday | 25 Comments

Dear Sleep.

You have been an elusive little minx for quite some time now. A first you started teasing me in my 20’s here and there but now in my mid 30’s, you’ve decided to really put the screws to me. Sure you’d let me catch you for a little bit but usually only for a few broken hours throughout the course of an evening.

Once I saw a sleep doctor in hopes of success. He proposed staying away from you on purpose for several nights. The theory would be that after awhile I’d be so tired, you’d come and wash over me. That didn’t happen. In fact, I got so tired that one night I accidentally slammed my hand in the car door. What’s sad is that it took a few seconds to figure out WHY I was inadvertently tethered to the car. (My hand was still stuck in the door.) It took a few more seconds to process the “OUCH!” part. Not good.

Oh sure, over the years, I’ve taken other meds in an effort to trap you but those left me feeling all groggy. I hear how you’ve been visiting lots of other people I know. I’ve felt like the only girl in the neighborhood who’s still not gotten her boobs. Completely frustrated, confused and utterly left out.

But the fact of the matter is… I need you. I can’t live without you. You not being in my life has caused me to be an overemotional crankypants from the netherworlds that has trouble stringing a sentence together. So I decided I was going to DO something about this little problem.

Thanks to Ambien, YOU ARE NOW MY BITCH. You are like a horny teen boy. Ambien is like the easy girl you are attracted to. Because within a few minutes of closing my eyes, you take hold of me. And you don’t let go for hours upon hours. (Ok. Maybe you aren’t like a teenage boy. I don’t think they can “last” 10 minutes, let alone 6 or 7 hours.)

But anyway… You’ve got to deal with me now — whether you like it or not. HAHAHAHA!

– Lisa

(Have been going over some old posts. Am amazed at how many times I complained about not sleeping and having migraines. Life is SO MUCH better when you get solid sleep on a regular basis. And although I’ve a script for the lowest dose possible, half a pill each night does the job. Hopefully 2009 will see me sleeping well and Ambien-free!)

This is where I pimp my recent finished projects: What did bloggers think of Positive Spin’s newest books? Check Parent Bloggers to find out. And if you still need a gift idea for that little car enthusiast in your life, check this out. There’s lots of new reviews (like for Nature’s Gate and Shop.com) and info about MomCentral’s Holiday Shopping Guide at Midwestern Mommy Reviews. Oh check out the giveaway too!

Birth day

Posted on December 2, 2008
Filed Under The "C" word, MMR plugs, PBN, giveaways, thinking | 29 Comments

As I embark on my 37th year of life, there’s one gift I’d love to have.

I’d love to quit the anxieties and negative thoughts that constantly ping-pong in my mind. I’d love to not feel self-conscious and awkward when I talk to people. I’d like to learn how to accept myself – faults and all.

Like most women, I am my toughest critic. When it comes to the ugly and hateful things I often say to myself, I realize I’d never say those things to someone else. In fact, if someone else were to say the same things to one of my friends or a family member? I’d give that person a verbal ass kicking.

A few days ago, my mother-in-law took me aside. She said she thinks I’m too hard on myself. That I downplay my strengths. I shouldn’t put myself down so much. I don’t know my worth.

That’s true.

So as I celebrate one more year under my belt. I hope to find inner peace. I hope I’ll learn how to gauge my strengths and accept my weaknesses. I hope to stop berating myself for mistakes everyone makes. I hope to quiet the nasty inner voice that tells me I’m not good enough, attractive enough, smart enough or just plain “enough.”

Life is too short. And I hope that next year, at this time, I can celebrate a rebirth of sorts.

Wish me luck. I’ll need it.

***

(We interrupt this post to pimp the projects I’ve been working on…) Now that the holiday season is upon us, may I recommend Wii’s Littlest Pet Shop game? Or maybe head over to Parent Bloggers Network to find out what’s being said about Hotwheels’ newest toys and three stories about a little fairy named Eve. Oh and a fellow St.L blogger (and friend) is being spotlighted on St. Louis Blogger’s Guild. Check it! And there’s a giveaway for a WordWorld bucket of blocks at my reviews site.

The support I received after this post was amazing. (Thankfully, the scary ordeal is no longer “scary” nor an “ordeal”.) But I wanted to thank everyone who took time to read the post and comment. So I’ll be thanking a group of people as a part of each post until I’ve thanked everyone.

So thanks to: Todd, Sarah and the Goon Squad, Alissa, Baltimore Girl, Veep Veep, Jen, Ruth Dynamite, Ali, Christine, Jess, Ben, Damselfly, Shandon Fowler, Toni, Chris, Josh, All Adither, Issa and Kyla.

In the hours of Twilight

Posted on November 21, 2008
Filed Under The "C" word, giveaways, humor | 22 Comments

The first of the Twilight movies makes its debut today (I say “first” because from what I hear more are planned) for the general public. And there’s many of us eager to to hit the theaters.

I never got into the Harry Potty er uh, Pottery, er uh POTTER (typos but I’m keeping them) books but I remember watching some women rave about the story line. I had no intention of reading the books and no intention of making even a feeble attempt at understanding the ”why” surrouning the hoopla.

So when the Twilight frenzy started I rolled my eyes and thought, “Oh Crap. More of this?” But this time I thought I’d read one of the books, but only so I could tell people exactly WHY I didn’t like it. Yes, I was expecting to find Twilight trite and cliched. I was expecting a headache from all of the eyerolling I’d do.

So I bought a copy and started reading. And I got a headache. But that’s only because my eyes were so strained — I couldn’t put the freakin’ book down! Sure I did do some eye rolling and mumbling at the beginning but it soon sucked me in. Course what didn’t hurt? Was finding out that Robert Pattinson is playing Edward Cullen. So having a beautiful face to put with the character kept me reading. He’s so… dreamy.

After I read the books, I thought about becoming a vampire — if this were an option. I think I’d be interested in taking that step. I mean really, look at the pros!

1.) At the time you are bitten, you no longer age. You could be 19, 25, or 30 forever. No looking old and decrepit for YOU! Think of all of the money you’d save on Botox and Oil of Olay.

2.) You don’t need sleep anymore. Think of all of the time that frees up. You could take on a second job, read lots of books, learn different languages and musical instruments.

3.) You don’t gain weight. Ever. Think of how much mental energy that would free up for so many women!

4.) You morph into a supermodel with a rockin’ bod. According to the Twilight books, the transformation gradually changes your features somewhat so you look totally hot — all the more to lure your prey.

5.) No more periods. A menstral cycle is one of constant change. Since your body will no longer change? No cycle. No PMS! No cramps or migraines! No worries about accidents!

6.) You move with grace and fluidity. That a big plus for those of us who can fall UP the stairs. Plus? You are superfast and strong. Carrying that 35 pound bag of dog food to the car is much easier.

Course there are some cons:

1.) You can’t eat real food anymore. You now have to take down people or deer and suck blood. Your beloved chocolate will now taste like dirt.

2.) Since you don’t age, you have to invent some excuse as to why you can’t see your loved ones and friends anymore. Cause when your little sister’s shrunk 4 inches, while sporting blue hair and dentures? Well, she’s gonna wonder why you still look like a 20-year-old unlined, Victoria’s Secret model. She may be the teensiest bit resentful of that.

Um yeah, that seems about it for the cons.

What do yo think? Are you planning to see the movie. (Am very eager to see it because I hear they’ve stayed true to the book and hearing that ALWAYS makes me happy.) What do YOU think of the frenzy?

Served up fresh this week: Buying presents for boys? May I recommend Hot Wheels? Don’t forget a chance to win a Disney dvd for the little ones. And while the kids are engaged, why not browse through Amazing Baby or pamper yourself with Obagi. Oh, and the St. Louis Beacon spotlighted a few of us St. Louis moms and dads. (A big, squishy, puffy pink THANK YOU goes to Kristen for making it sound like I have more than 2 brain cells and know what I’m talking about!)

So thanks to: Kimberly, Atherton Bartleby, Karen Andrews, Amanda, Gina Maria, Mike G, Karen, Maria, Rachel, MamaLiz, Antique Mommy, Kimblahg, Avalon, Kristen, Kateanon, Lisa Milton, Mp, and Suburban Turmoil.

The Star Wars obsession continues…

Posted on November 15, 2008
Filed Under contest, PBN, bunny | 15 Comments

My son and I had this conversation this past week.

Me: Hey Seth, Let’s watch Sound of Music.
Seth: Does it have robots?
Me: No. It’s about some mischievous kids and their nanny.
Seth: Does it have light sabers?
Me: No. But it’s a cute movie. Someone plays the guitar. Give it a chance.
Seth: Why doesn’t it have light sabers? Or robots?
Me: Watch it for 10 minutes. You might like it.
Seth: Can I pretend it has light sabers in it?
Me: Sigh… Sure. Why not. I just want to sit down for a minute. I’m tired and I don’t watch to watch Star Wars. Let’s just try something different. There’s a puppet show.
Seth: Are there bad guy puppets?
Me: I don’t think so…
Seth: Can I pretend one of the puppets is really a bad guy and know one knows but me?
Me: Works for me. Let’s sit down.
Seth: We’ll name the bad guy puppet Darth Vader. K?
Sigh….

So thanks to: Ibdawnk, Lisa Marie Mary, Lara, Keri, Schmee, Dana, Lisa S. Kelly of West Coast Girlie Blather, Three Under Two, Melanie, Gwendomama, Carol, Stefania, Laura from the Fringe, Kelley, Liz and Manager Mom.

Served up fresh this week: Win a gift certificate to Target and some Pledge. Enter the giveaway here! And while you’re on Midwestern Mommy Reviews, check out a little gadget that can saw through all kinds of stuff. And while we’re on the subject of new products: PBN reviewers are raving about a cool new book called “Amazing Baby.” Read what they’ve got to say. And? This week the Hot Wheels campaign launched. Check it out.

Hummingbird

Posted on November 6, 2008
Filed Under The "C" word, giveaways, Seth | 24 Comments

He flits around the room, from one activity to the next. He’s always moving and talking — as if there’s something internally and eternally propelling him noisily onward. Unfinished pages of coloring books fill his art drawer. He is impulsive, often interrupting others’ conversations. He has trouble following directions. He’s easily distracted. And he’s easily frustrated. He wears out other kids his age.

But he’s also a fast learner. He excells in math. He can hyperfocus when he immerses himself into something of great interest. He has an amazing memory. He can quickly grasp some abstract concepts like God and the soul. He has a big heart. He seeks out ways to be helpful. He is eager to please. He’s snuggly. He is kind to his friends and family. He’s charming. He has a generous nature. He has a large number of interests. He has so many wonderful qualities.

This is my son. And in May, a doctor confirmed what I’d (and a few of his teachers) suspected for awhile — he has ADHD. We had put off going the medication route but we finally agreed to try it out.

For now, it is working. He’s still the same active little person. His personality and sense of humor hasn’t changed at all. He’s definitely not one of those “over-medicated zombies” you hear about. But at least now he is able to pay attention in class. He is now able to stay on task. When he’s working in a group setting, his classmates don’t have to keep redirecting him. His teacher doesn’t need to keep going over directions and redirecting him either. She’s able to focus on the other kids who need her help.

I’m not saying medicating your child will make all of your problems go away. No way! In fact, he isn’t on the medicine during holidays, weekends or during summer vacation. But it has helped him harness that energy. When he gets older, he will determine whether or not to remain on medication. He will have to learn how to adapt his behaviors, how to channel all of that energy into constructive and positive endeavors without relying as much on medication.

Did you know that Albert Einstein, Ansel Adams, Bill Gates, Earnest Hemmingway, Steven Spielberg, Leo Tolstoy, Socrates, Bethoven, Mozart, Abraham Lincoln, Galileo, the Wright Brothers and Virginia Wolff all have (or had) ADHD? When they combined their energy with their passion for their respective fields, they became legendary.

Now as a parent, it is my job to help Seth discover his passion, nurture his strengths and to help him adapt. There’s no doubt in my mind that he has limitless potential to go with that limitless energy.

Someday he may ask me to take down this post. He may feel it an invasion of privacy. But for now it will stay. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. And I want others to see that too. He has ADHD. It is something he’ll have to learn to work around — like so many others have done before him. Having ADHD is not the end of the world.

In may aspects…. it is merely the beginning.

I wrote this post because the more I researched ADHD, the more I realized there’s a stigma there. (Some people don’t believe in ADHD and think it is a matter of crappy parenting.) If you totally disagree with my way of thinking, that’s perfectly ok. Am interested in hearing all points of view. Just please know I don’t consider medicine the “quick fix”. For now its one of the tools we’re using. (Along with teaching him organizational skills and a few other things.)

So thanks to: Anissa, Linsey, Patrick D, Wendi, Julienne, Heidi, Carolyn Bahm, Chelle, Jenny, Kelli, Moosh in Indy, Canape, Sandira, Sheri, Mistie, Califmom, Kim, and Sweetney.

Served up fresh this week: Win a little something cool to keep you warm from Lands’ End. Enter the giveaway here! And speaking of giveaways, Parent Bloggers Network is giving you a chance to win a free children’s book from Positive Spin. (I’m working on this campaign!) Check out the books and enter here. Also, don’t schedule any gyno surgical procedures before you read this.

Why hiding a dead body under a hotel bed isn’t a good idea

Posted on October 31, 2008
Filed Under scarey things, wierd stuff | 10 Comments

Once upon a time a middle-aged couple went on a little vacation. It had been years since the couple had gone away without the kids and they were very excited by the adventure that awaited them. Not only were they looking forward to sleeping in and having uninterupted conversations, they were also kind of excited about the hotel where they were to lodge. This hotel had just opened. In fact this couple would be the first people ever to stay in their particular room.

They arrived at the hotel late into the evening, exhausted. They were shown to their rooms. The room, upon entering, gave off a strange smell. They thought this odd for it being such a brand new hotel. But they shrugged it off in the first few minutes of their stay. They were too tired to care. They went to bed that evening. They awoke early, unrefreshed. The bed was just right. The pillows and blankets were comfy, but… That strange smell seemed so much stronger. They called a member of the hotel staff up to the room.

They started checking behind furniture, the tv, and curtains in an attempt to locate the source of the smell. They realized the smell seemed to be strongest near the bed. The couple was grossed out to think that perhaps a small mouse had wiggled into a box spring and died there.

By this point, the a housekeeper was called. They took the bed apart, down to the rectangular platform the bed was set upon. And there it was… A decomposing body. Police were called. (And I’m sure the couple freaked out big time.) The murder had access to the hotel as the building process was finalized. The body was wrapped in heavy plastic and placed under the bed. Someone had thought the plastic and platform would contain the body and smell. Someone thought that body would never be found.

Did the couple continue on their journey? Did they get free vouchers to stay at sister hotels? Did they ever stay in a hotel again? I don’t know. But I wish I did.

We heard this story in Napa almost eight years ago. While hiking, we started talking with a couple who were friends of the unfortunate people who stayed in this mentioned hotel. And I thought it would make a great Halloween story. Hope your Halloween is a happy one!

So thanks to: DesignHer Momma, Gnome, Tina, (my lovely cousin) Linlee, Aprylsantics, Blogversary, Kristie, Jen, Ree, Awesome Mom, Oh, The Joys, Anne, Jen, Helen, Dorene, Mama Loves, Tracy Treasure, Aimee Greeblemonkey, Kris, Amy and (my little brother) Matt.

Served up fresh this week: Here’s something for St. Louis Blogger’s Guild. And then there was the wrap-up of Once Upon a Potty for Parent Blogger’s Network as well as the launch for Amazing Baby. There’s also a post about MRSA, how to say Boo to the Flu and a giveaway on the Midwestern Mommy Reviews site. Check it out!

True or False?

Posted on October 20, 2008
Filed Under honey, parenting | 26 Comments

You get to know quite a bit about the inner-workings of other households when you host a playdate or volunteer in the school classroom. Kids have no filter when it comes to sharing. And they are happy to share all sorts of stories. Sometimes it makes you giggle: “Dad’s sick today. Mom told grandma he has ’brown bottle flu’.” Sometimes you feel a bit overloaded with TMI: “I found some wierd stick that buzzes in my mommy’s nightstand drawer.” But I always take what kids say with a truckload of salt.

I’m sure Seth is no different. He loves to share. So let me dispose of a few truths and myths while you’re reading. Just in case you happen to be a parent or teacher who’s interacted with my son in any way.

* “Mommy thinks Daddy has a whole other family in Dallas!” When Marc starts traveling alot to one particular place, I’ll joke about how he’s going out to visit his other wife and kids. I don’t really think he’s got any other spawn or wives. I don’t think he has that kind of energy.

* “I don’t know where my Daddy was last night. He didn’t come home today.” This is true YET false. No, Marc wasn’t out all night carousing. He travels for work. And when Seth asks me what city Daddy’s in, half the time, I can’t remember. The trips all start to blend together. As long as I can reach the hubs via cell phone whenever I need to, I don’t ask him much more than, “When are you coming home?”

* “Daddy likes to wear pink lacy underwear.” I’m pretty sure this is ENTIRELY FALSE. Course I’ve never asked Marc. But since I’ve never seen pink underwear in his drawer and none of my panties are stretched out, I’m guessing he’d say “no.” Seth loves to singsong that phrase and thinks the word “underwear” is funny. He also thinks a boy dressed in any sort of girl clothes is funny. So the idea of a boy wearing pink lacey underwear? Absolutely hysterical!

* “Daddy made me a margarita last night. It was awesome!” Marc gave the boy a bit of the mix, (NOT the alcohol) then told Seth he had a kid’s margarita. Seth seemed proud of this.

* “Mommy takes ALOT of pills!”This is sort of true. I take meds for allergies. Oh and I also take a daily multivitamin and calcium supplement.

* “Last night I helped Mom beat our dog.” We love our old lady Abbeydog. This used to be a joke between Marc and me. Then Seth picked up on it. When we say, “I’m going to go beat the dog,” it means we’re going to give her a few quick pats.

* “My mom spanks me all of the time.” You know the “baseball butt-pat”? When either of my men leave, I’ll kiss them goodbye. As they turn their backs to me, I’ll give them the “baseball butt-pat”. A “baseball butt-pat” means “I love you. Now go get ‘em tiger!”

What are some of the phrases you’ve heard from kids? Do tell!

So thanks to Michelle, Nannette, Mn, Shash, Lisa, Lauren, Mrs. G, Goteeman, Carla, Teresa, Wisconsin Mommy, Manic Mommy, Candace, Melissa, Violet, Christine, A Cowboy’s Wife, Fairly Odd Mother, Magpie, and Mom in the City.

We are all connected

Posted on October 15, 2008
Filed Under wierd stuff | 21 Comments

This past spring, while flying home from New Jersey, I sat next to a very nice man. For most of the flight, he had slept. But toward the end, we started chatting. When I asked him where he lived, he said “oh just a little town in Illinois. You’ve probably never heard of it. Its called Breese.”

I laughed out loud. I grew up in Breese! This may not mean much until you realize the town? Is a rural farming community with a population of maybe 4,000. I told him my maiden name. Turns out he knows my dad and bowls with one of my uncles and a cousin. I thought this was really cool. What are the odds, right?

Last weekend, the hubs and I ambled to the airport gate. He had to go to Las Vegas for a conference. I tagged along for a few days. While there, Marc immediately recognized a coworker of his who was going to be on our flight.

We said “hi” and saved her a seat in our row. (Poor woman!) We laughed about how cool that was that we’d see someone we know on our flight. We got to talking and found out she grew close to where I did. In fact, we found out her parents are good friends with a woman who’s not only a friend of mine but was my old journalism teacher. And I’m betting that if we’d talked a bit longer, we would have discovered we know even more of the same people since I once worked in her hometown.

On my packed flight home alone, I watched a vaguely familiar-looking man board the plane and search for a seat. He ended up sitting next to me. I thought I might know him. But I figured I was mistaken. What are the odds I’d sit next to another person I know — especially another person from my itty-bitty hometown. It took me about a third of the flight to get up enough courage to ask him if he grew up in Breese. When he looked at me quizzically and said, “yes”, I knew who this person was.

But you wanna know the kicker? I went to preschool with this man. Preschool! Our preschool class had about six to ten kids. We had gone to different grade and high schools so our social circles were different but we graduated the same year so we knew alot of the same people. So the flight passed quickly and I got all caught up on what’s going on with a few of the people he’d stayed in touch with.

Some people don’t believe in coincidence. They think everything happens for a reason. But some people feel a coincidence is purely that. Have you ever randomly bumped into someone only to find you know the same people? Please share your story!

So thanks to Charlotte, Nothing But Bonfires, Dee, Heather, Holly, JoAnn, Bossy, Landileigh, Andrea, Jamie, PGoodness, Marien, Painted Maypole, Average Jane, Becky, Beth, LeAnn, Izzy, Emily, Domestic Extraordinaire, Mrs. Davis, and Raquita.

Notes from Vegas

Posted on October 6, 2008
Filed Under awards, thinking | 19 Comments

I know this is late but… The Rofl awards are back, thanks to Oh the Joys and Chicky, Chicky Baby. If you haven’t seen their list yet, take a look. But don’t forget to read the one I nominated from Hola Isabel on her recent vacation at a nudist resort.

Speaking of vacays… I’ve been out of town for a few days. (Hence lateness of this ROLF mention.) Vegas to be exact. Its been awhile since I’ve been to Vegas (at least ten years) and even then it was for work. So this experience has been much different. There are things I couldn’t help but notice…

* Do women have to have boobs a certain size before they let you into this city? Seriously. The locals, tourists… almost every woman has big chi-chi’s, be them store bought or real. (If so, how did I get in?)

* Saw the “Blue Man Group”. Very clever, creative and cool. I can see why they are so popular. Throughout most of the show I thought, “Seth would think this is the coolest thing ever!” and “If Seth saw BMG, he’d want to be one of them for Halloween!” Suffice to say, its not just a show, its an experience.

*”The Blue MOM Group”. Between all of the great parentbloggers out there, we could put all kinds of funny material together. Who’s with me now?

*The hotel we’re staying in ROCKS. Newly built and purty.

*You can easily spend $100 on alcohol for two people in less than a day’s time. That sounds like alot of booze but… If you and the hubs have a drink by the pool in the afternoon, a drink at dinner, and later a few at a club? And those drinks are anywhere from $14-16 a piece not including tip? Oy.

* You know that scene in Sound of Musicwhere Maria makes the Von Trapp children play clothes out of her bedroom drapes? We went to a club where girls (in their early 20’s wearing outfits that looked as if they were made up of a few strands of shiney, black dental floss) were dancing on little round stages that looked like big tree stumps. While wearing jeans and a short-sleeve shirt, I had a “Maria Moment” where I felt strongly compelled to turn my pair of jeans into outfits for all seven of the teeny, tiny go-go girls. (Being that these girls are size 0 to 00, it really would only take one pant leg!)

*My husband and I danced next to two of these girls. I told him, “Enjoy it now. This is as close to a threesome as you’ll ever get.”

*Oh and a bouncer of the club we went to Sunday night? Used to live in a town right next to the ours. Small world. Eh?

It has been a great trip thus far. But I’m missing my little boy. He’s my home. And with him is where I belong.

So thanks to Mom 101, Jeannette, Hol, Jennifer, Lin, Mrs. Chicken, Cynematic, MMP, Maracee, Debbie, Jan, Jen, Queen of Spain, Slouching Mom, Tami, Megan, Kirsten, and Sarah.

A face from the past

Posted on September 30, 2008
Filed Under Uncategorized | 31 Comments

At first glance she seemed to be an ordinary mom shopping for candy. But something made me give her a second look. When I realized who she was, I shook with anger. I hightailed it out of Target. I had to. (Or else I’d be at the police right now being charged with battery.)

At first, she appears charming, well-spoken, and sweet. But over time, she leaves a swath of emotional destruction in her wake. No one who’s in her life for long remains unaffected. And years ago, after witnessing, and at times being a victim of her manipulating, toxic behavior, Marc and I cut her out of our lives.

She doesn’t realize I’m privy to a number of stunts she’s pulled over the years. I’ll give you a few in bullet points:

*Three weeks before my wedding, my husband was working on a project out of town. She told him that he should lie to me and tell me he couldn’t come home that weekend because he needed to stay on the project site. She told him if he paid for her plane ticket, she’d go to where he was and “f*ck his brains out all weekend long.” All this while acting as if she was my best friend and offering to help me with my wedding stuff! (And no he didn’t.) I had no idea of her duplicity at this time. And I didn’t find this out until a few years ago. She was always trying to start sh*t up between the hubs and me. She’d do it so smoothly and subtly.

*When 9/11 took place, I was working for her mom. As my coworkers and I watched the towers collapse, she watched too. And then she bitched about what it would do to her financial portfolio.

*She has a police record for beating a boyfriend with a hockey stick.

*After she got gastric bypass surgery and slimmed down, she started cheating on this same guy — a man who’d stayed with her for years through thick and thin (literally AND figuratively). She moved his stuff out of her place on a Wednesday and moved new boyfriend’s stuff two days later. New boyfriend became husband. Which brings me to my next story…

*Last I heard, she was cheating on her husband with an ex-boyfriend. In fact she loved to arrange double dates — her and her husband with ex-boyfriend and his wife.

*She has sold purses and clothes on Ebay, advertising them as high-end designer brands like Coach and Juicy Couture. When people got the items, they’d realize they purchased low-quality fakes. When Ebay took away her account due to customer complaints, she went into an Ebay account of one of her mom’s employees and set up shop there doing the same thing. She has ripped off friends and family this way too.

I could go on and on. And yes, now she has children.

I used to pity her. But at one point, I got disgusted. We changed e-mails, moved, got a new phone number, got new cell numbers. But seeing her face today, I felt anger for the countless people she’s screwed over the years. I wanted to scream at her on behalf of the people who gave her their trust only to have her stab them in the back. I wanted to let everyone in Target know what kind of person she is.

But I didn’t. I found it prudent to leave the store.

I find it interesting. Out of all of the places to live in St. Louis area, she now lives about three minutes from us.

So thank you to: (Rose) Its My Life, Senorita Mommy, T with Honey, Marie, Michelle, Desiree, Victoria, Karianna, KGirl, Feral Mom, Jodi, Liz, Days Go By, Mommy Mae, Megan, Stimey, Danielle, Mandee, and Karen Sugarpants.

Seabass, Celebrations, and Squirrels

Posted on September 24, 2008
Filed Under honey | 25 Comments

Last night the hubs and I, along with several supafun couples, spent the evening at an amazing Italian restaurant in Town and Country.

We earlybirds sat at the bar having cocktails. And when everyone arrived, we found a private room especially prepared for our group.

Marc hasn’t been at his current employer for two years yet, but the firm has expressed a great deal of enthusiasm for his ideas. They’ve been very supportive in implementing those ideas as well as showing appreciation for his hard work. He’s already won an award for client development and this summer was asked to be a stockholder. As of last night, he was promoted to a director.

So we toasted Marc. And then one of the partners of his office made a speech about how important spouses are to the company. Then we spouses were given gifts (cough, Waterford Crystal, cough) as a “thank-you” for supporting our hardworkin’ loverlies. SWEET!

And then there was much eating, imbibing, and lively conversation. And a “brown squirrel” dessert drink which tasted like a chocolate shake with Amaretto. (I am convinced these drinks could bring about world peace AND alleviate PMS.)

And then there was even more dessert and coffee. And more laughing. It was a bit of a rough morning, but damn! What a fun night. (I may not have to eat for an entire week. Also, if you ever go there, do yourself a favor and GET THE SEA BASS! See how strongly I feel about the sea bass? I used an exclamation point AND caps! It totally warrants that kind of emphasis!)

So congrats to mah hubby. I’m proud of ya babe. And happy for you too.

P.S. Yes, with the wild pattern on the dress and bangs I think I look like a reject from a 70’s porno too! I was NOT going for this look but its a long story… )

So thanks to: Glennia, Kathryn, Stephanie, Momisodes, Amy, Mollie, Tracey, Kat, Rebecca, Madge, Jenn, Mahala, Ali, MoxieMamaKC, Angela, Growing a pair, Amanda, and Metro Mama.