I've been a naughty girl

I've been a bad blogger. I know this. I sent myself to the naughty chair as punishment and I've learned my lesson. Life got a wee bit crazy this past month or so and I shortchanged myself some "me" time, which resulted in total negligence on the part of my blog. I hope most of you have stuck around and don't punish me. I promise to be a better girl, cross my heart!

While I was away at the beach, without internet, I started some posts, so I promise if you forgive me I will start posting regularly again this week!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

We Want to Know Wedesnday 7.13.11

Soooo apparently today is Thursday.  I somehow missed the memo yesterday that it was Wednesday, which means I missed out on my favorite bit of Wednesday blogging with Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi and Seriously Shawn at We Want to Know Wednesday.  I am hanging my head in shame for not knowing my days of the week and for being a very bad blogger who needs to spend time on the naughty stool.  Although if we're being honest if I could be left alone with no one who wants/needs anything from me on the naughty stool it might really be more of a reward than a punishment.  But I digress...I'm sneaking this one in after the buzzer and taking part in some Wednesday fun.

1. Which activities make you lose track of time?

Reading a good book.  There is nothing like getting lost in a good story to find yourself in bed at 4:00 am saying "Oh Shit, I have to get up in 2 hours!"  Pavlov is often quick to note when I'm in the midst of an engrossing book because he "feels neglected" and then will spend the evening doing everything short of cutting off his finger to try to get my attention.

2. Is there such a thing as perfect?

There is such a thing as fleeting perfection, but I don't think there is anything that is perfect all the time.  For instance, when I was in Hawaii there were moments on the beach when the air was warm, the sky was just the right blue, the water was crystal clear, and I was floating along with a sea turtle next to me that was about as perfect as you can get...then two snot-nosed skrieking brats came over and scared the turtle away, eradicating my perfection.  However, much like Mary Poppins I am in fact "practically perfect"

3. When do you feel most like yourself?

This is a hard one!  I guess that when I'm in the midst of an evaluation with a difficult client and I am spot-on my game I feel 100% like myself professionally.  In my home life though, I honestly think that when I'm wearing something comfy with my hair up curled up on the couch with Pavlov laughing my head off at sometime ridiculous and sarcastic on TV is when I feel most like me. 

4. Describe your life in a 6 word sentence.

Organized chaos filled with laughter & psychotics.

5. Share one of your most beloved childhood memories.

When I was a kid we used to have a house on an island in North Carolina.  You had to take a ferry to get there and leave your car on the mainland, then you drove golf carts all around the island for transportation, unless you walked or rode a bike.  Pretty much every summer from 8 to 22 I spent several weeks at the beach in the summer and all of those memories are amazing.  One of my favorites was when I was about 11 and we went on a conservation walk at night on the beach to see sea turtles nesting or to see hatching nests.  That night a nest hatched and there was nearly no moon to guide the hatchlings to the ocean, so the biologist leading the walk gave me a lantern and asked me to go stand in the shallow water holding the light so I could be the "moon" to guide the baby turtles to the ocean.  They all swam right at me and I can remember the amazing feeling of seeing those wee little turtles rush down the beach towards me and then swimming all around me as they made their way into the ocean. 

We Want to Know Wednesday 7.6.11

So I'm back to the grindstone and home from our Nash-Vegas trip (details to follow in a seperate post), but my blog withdrawal has forced me to come seeking out my favorite bit of Wednesday because there's a certain group of ladies who want to know things!  So  link up with Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi and Seriously Shawn and anwer the questions...because they WANT to know!

This week's questions are from Janette:

{1}Name five of your favorite new blogs that you're reading.

Some of my most recent additions that I read regularly are:

http://www.mommywantsvodka.com/ - Mommy wants vodka is hilarious

http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/ - Jenn Lancaster - she of "Bitter is the New Black"

http://www.theredneckmommy.com/ - The Red Neck Mommy is fabulous

http://2setsoftwins-helene.blogspot.com/ - I'm Living Proof God Has a Sense of Humor

http://peopleanddamnpeanuts.wordpress.com/ - this is my cousin Michele who works as a flight attendant

{2} When you were a young child or teenager, did you have an idea of how many children you wanted and what their names would be? Did you follow through on your ideas?

Yes, I knew I wanted 2 and I had ideas of names, I still want 2 when we have kids and I still like some of the names I liked as a teen - I'm just going to keep them quiet so no one takes the good ones in case I want them.  Yes, I AM a selfish cow.  :)

{3} "What is the silliest thing you fight with someone about? Could be your spouse, sibling, parents, co-worker etc."

My fights are never silly.  I am always justified in my anger, hurt feelings, or irrational thinking. 

{4} What is your favorite scent that other's may not find very nice? ie: gasoline, sweat from your sweetie, etc.

I don't think I have an answer to this one...maybe Bengay?
{5} Thoughts on Plastic Surgery? (had it? want it? regrets?)
 
Never had it, don't want it.  I've seen too many horror stories of plastic surgery gone bad!

We Want to Know Wednesday 6.29.11

So thanks to my general confusion about what day of the week it is I almost missed out on We Want to Know Wednesday.  But thankfully I caught on to my days of the week and linked up with the fabulous ladies who host it....Mamarazzi, Janette, Impulsive Addict, and Seriously Shawn!

This week's questions are from Impulsive Addict:


{1} What was the last thing you searched for online?

I was doing searches on Nashville since Pavlov and I will be road tripping down there this weekend to visit my mother.  She's been deployed down there since April, so we thought we'd take advantage of a free place to stay to check out Nash-Vegas.  Pavlov is obsessed with visiting the Jack Daniels distillery, so I was looking up info about visiting JD!

{2} If we visit your home state, what is one MUST we should do before leaving?

Have yourself some Jersey produce!  And if it's in the summer, make sure you get some of our famous Silver Queen sweet corn...it honestly will be the best produce you've ever had!

{3} What do you think pharmaceutical companies should invent a pill for that isn't on the market yet?

Patience!  Honest to goodness I could do with some patience and if we're honest the only way I'm going to get it is if some chemical is ingested into my body!  Pavlov tells me I'm like a dirty mouthed toddler most of them time when I have to wait for stuff!

{4} When was your first kiss? Was it good or bad?

My first any kind of kiss was when I was 12 and I guess it was okay, considering it was two 12 year olds! My first big girl kiss was when I was 13 at a cast party for a play I was in...and I'll give you one word that sums it up...RETAINER. 

{5} What is your guilty pleasure tv show that you can not miss?

I'm kind of enamoured with the Deadliest Catch.  I'm really quite in love with it to the point of an obsession. 

So now that I've answered the questions why don't you link up and do the same!

Friday Confessional 6.24.11

It's Friday, so you know what to do!  Link up with Mamarazzi and confess your sins for the week.

I confess... The Jimmy Buffett concert last night was awesome, despite the man next to me stepping all over my feet.  My sharp little elbows in his kidneys seemed to help him understand that he needed to move the hell over.

I confess... that as much as I love Jimmy's music and the fact that he played several of my favorite songs, I really loved his tribute to Clarence Clemmons in his encore.  Jimmy did a shout out to Bruce and the band, threw up the Greetings from Asbury Park image, and then played Glory Days while showing images of Bruce & Clarence through the years.  I thought it was a fitting tribute, particularly when playing in Jersey!



I confess... that despite being a perfect WWer this week, I am 99% certain that I've gained, and it pisses me off!  But that just means my giant ass and I will be dating the elliptical machine at the gym this weekend.

I confess... my plan for the weekend is to clean my house.  The level of clutter has become overwhelming...and the fact that the laundry pile is almost as tall as me needs to be addressed.

I confess... the only reason I'm all that concerned about the laundry is we are going away next weekend and there are clothes somewhere in that pile I want to pack.  Otherwise I'd be good because I've got enough skivies to last me at least another week or 2 even if I don't do laundry.

I confess... I've left work early 3 times this week...including once to get my hair done.  C'est la vie!  And really it was in everyone's best interest that my hair situation was addressed.

Car Accident Etiquette...What NOT to do

Last week I was rear ended during my commute to work and I have to say the hassle of dealing with the aftermath of an accident is ALMOST made up for by the wonder of the experience.  Allow me to set the scene...

It is 8:00 am and I'm rocking out in my car driving to work, thinking about stopping at Dunkin Donuts for a cup of tea to perk me up for the day ahead.  I turn off my lovely back country road onto a "main" highway and travel about 500 feet before I encounter a red light.  I stop my car behind a line of 5 or 6 other cars who are also stopped thanks to the RED traffic light.  I'm stopped for about a minute or so, enjoying my quiet time, singing along to the radio when I am suddenly SLAMMED from behind.  My foot slips off the brake and clutch so my car stalls and starts rolling forward so I throw on the emergency brake.  I then look all around to determine what.in.the.sam.hell.just.happened and I see a big ass pick up truck tucked delightfully up against the ass end of my car.  I scream loudly several expletives, as I have just realized I've been rear-ended at a traffic light.  FML!

I turn on the car and move out of the flow of traffic so that everyone traveling along 206 isn't late to work today, just me and the dumbass who just hit me.  Once I move over to the edge of a turning lane I dial 911 to report the accident, as I know it's going to take forever and a year to get a cop out to the scene.  As I'm talking to the dispatcher someone is knocking on my window.  I hold up my finger in the "one minute" gesture and talk to the 911 operator, confirming my location and that no ambulance is needed.  After I finish the call I get out of my car to see how much damage has been done.

I get out of my car and see that my bumper is all scratched and cracked and that there is a big nasty dent in my trunk where all the paint has been chipped off.  I am angry.  I turn to look at the offending vehicle, a Ford F150 with metal caging over the bumpers.  There is not a scratch on the truck save for a big old ding on the bumper.  At this point the driver of the vehicle totters over to me...and so begins the most bizarre car accident experience of my life.

The driver is a woman I'd guestimate to be in her 30s, she is VERY tanned to the point that she has an orangish tinge.  Her hair is unnaturally blond, with dark roots, and it is teased.  She is wearing giant buggish sun-glasses, black flipflops, black leggings, a black tank top, and some sort of black sweatery thing, despite the fact that it is clearly approaching 90 degrees.  She also has a motley assortment of terrible tattoos showing...on her feet, on her wrists, and there is one peaking out on her neck.  I immediately dub her "White Trash Barbie" (WTB) in my head.

She comes waddling over with a cigarette in her hand while snapping her gum to ask if I am okay.  I say yes and inform her I've called 911 so that an accident report can be filled out.  WTB then begins to explain to me that she'd like to avoid a police report because she was just arrested 2 days prior for a DUI and for domestic violence because "my boyfriend was beating on me."  She then tells me all about how the ding on her bumper is from when she and her boyfriend hit each other with their trucks during said DUI and domestic violence festival.  She explains that she can't really afford to get into "another one of these accidents" or she'll lose her insurance.  She also tells me that she was fired from her last job because "my boyfriend was beating on me" in the parking lot of her last job and that "today is my first day at a new job, but I know I'm gonna lose it when they find out about my DUI." 

In the 10 minutes it takes for the cop to show up she continues this line of discussion while I'm sure my facial expression ranged from "are you fucking kidding me" to "am I on Candid Camera" and "why do the crazies always find me."  The cop shows up, looks at the cars and says "You girls don't really need to go through insurance for this and don't need an accident report, you can just work it out yourselves."  I insist we need an accident report.  She agrees with the cop that we can "just like work it out and I can like pay you back."  I again insist that we get an accident report.  The cop tries to talk to me like I'm an idiot and explain deductibles.  At this point I pipe up with "I'm an attorney, you know how we need everything documented."  The cop is obviously pissed and demands our license, registrations, and insurance cards and stalks off to his car to fill out the paperwork.

At this point, WTB perks up and asks me what kind of law I practice and how much I would charge to defend her on the DUI charges.  Yup, she just asked the person she ass-ended to defend her for a DUI.  FML.  I explain that I don't do that kind of law, my practice is forensic psychology.  She then asks if I can do an evaluation for her since she is court ordered to get a violence risk assessment from the LAST time she was arrested with her boyfriend.  I tell her we don't do that.  She asks for my business card.  I tell her I don't have any with me.  She then launches into a long and detailed story about her boyfriend, how he's a drunk and abusive, and that he keeps calling the cops on her and the cops tell her to breakup with him and then finishes off with "but I love him, ya know, so how could I live without him." 

I'm considering walking out into traffic to get away from this insane person when the cop comes stalking back to give me back my documents.  As soon as I can get away from there I do...until I realize I exchanged information with this crazy person and I pray she doesn't call me.  She does.  I ignored it.  I'm optimistic she doesn't hit me again....but I suspect she's looking for me so she can hit me again and tell me all about her crazy.

We Want to Know Wednesday 6.22.11

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesday Q&A hosted by Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi and Seriously Shawn!  So link up and get to answering these question!  This week's questions are from Seriously Shawn.

{1} What is the best or worst pick up line you have ever been given?

I work with prisoners, so I hear lots of really awful lines all the time.  Two of my favorites have been "You look kinda young and my therapist said I should try to find girls who are legal to date, how old are you?" from a convicted pedophile and "I'm getting out in a few weeks, maybe we can get together for dinner or something" from a convicted drug dealer.  Yup ladies, if you want to get hit on all the time all you need to do is work in a jail/prison setting.
{2} What is your most and least favorite day of the week?

I tend to hate Mondays because they are usually a shitstorm of ridiculous, especially if it is following a good weekend.  I usually like Sundays best because I do all my running around on Saturdays and try to leave Sunday for something I want to do.

{3} How many hours of sleep do you require each night?

I require at least 8-10, I usually get 6-7 though. 
{4} Is there a song that takes you back in time? What song is it & what's the memory attached?

Oh goodness there are SO many songs that take me back to so many times and places!  Everytime I hear "Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin I think about the summer I got my driver's license and riding around with my besties singing that song at the top of our lungs.  Or when I hear Sublime I think about the summer I lived at the beach in NC...I really could go on and on and on. 
{5} What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
 
The 80s station on the XM.  Some of the music that I actually will sing along to loudly on that station is a bit mortifying...but I love it.  Other than that I'm going with my daily cup of tea...it's a guilty pleasure because I'm not supposed to have caffeine thanks to the ticker issues and I'm not supposed to have tea thanks to the kidney stones.

Friday Confessional 6.17.11

It's Friday again, so you know that means it's time to link up with Mamarazzi to confess you sins.  I know you've got something to get off your chest...so get going and do it!

I confess...I've been a bad blogger this week.  I got rear-ended on my way to work on Wednesday and that just turned my week sideways...mainly because it made me cranky and therefore unable to be fun and/or interesting in a blog!

I confess...I've got two posts in the works which talk about (1) my accident because the circumstances are ridiculous, and (2) a How to Train Your Husband Post about dishes.  Yup, a battle of wills is waging in my house and come hell or high water my husband is going to learn!

I confess...I am working hard on being a kickass Weight Watcher this week and all summer long because I've got a little competition going with a friend.  Whoever loses the highest percentage of weight by Labor Day gets to hijack the other's Facebook profile pic for 24 hours and declare herself Queen.  I very much need to win that, I have a collection of tiaras that are just itching to be put on display!

I confess...I am THRILLED that Pavlov and I have no real plans for the weekend...that is to say we have no obligations.  Instead we are going out to the Grounds for Sculpture tomorrow, having an *amazing* lunch at one of my favorite restaurants in New Jersey, Rats, and then maybe catching a movie.  This is going to be perfect!  I deserve it after my week!

My Happy List 6.12.11

It's the weekend, so it's time to link up with Mamarazzi to tell the world what's making me happy this week.

I'm happy that the freaking garden is FINALLY planted!  Between the heat, humidity, and heat index I didn't think I'd ever finish, but we got it all done on Friday.  Now it's just a waiting game for things to grow.

I'm happy my summer intern is eager, helpful, and has a brain!  She's making my workload easier and helping me get stuff done. 

I'm happy the forecast for this week is for the 80s with some rain...my garden needs it!

I'm THRILLED that I got to have dinner with a few of my favorite ladies last night in NYC.  Not only was the company fantastic, but the dinner was ah-mazing!  For real!  I had the most perfect rissotto with spinach and fava beans with a nice pinot grigio.  I'm not Hanibal Lector, so no Chianti for me.  :)

Friday Confessional 6.10.11

Bless me Mamarazzi for I have sinned...that's right folks it's Friday, so get yourself in order for some Friday Confessional!

I confess...that I've done more Friday Confessionals with you all than I've done honest to goodness Catholic Confessions.  If we're counting I've gone to confession a sum total of ONE time since completing the RCIA program at our church more than a year ago. 

I confess...the one time I did go to Catholic Confession the priest was old and did not speak English well.  I told him it was my first time at confession and for some reason he thought I was a teenager.  He explained to me that "most of the childrens your age confessing for things like not cleaning their rooms, getting the bad grades, breaking the curfews, or not listening to they mothers."  I swear this is a true story and I so enjoyed him thinking that my 31 year old self was a teenager that I didn't correct him.  I admitted that my room WAS dirty (b/c that was true) and that I don't always listen to my mother (b/c I was 31 and a grown up).  The priest liked me so much that he only gave me one Our Father as penance and when I related this story to Pavlov he was very upset and not amused, as he always got lots of Hail Marys and Our Fathers because I guess he was a bad kid.  As you can see I take organized religion very seriously and did really go through the RCIA program to get married in the Catholic Church because it is the prettiest and I wanted nice wedding photos. 

I confess...that I am over this heat wave in NJ.  This hot and humid is not working for me and it is screwing up my workout plans, so I'm ready for it to ease back into late spring, then transition into early summer before it gets hot as the firey sun around here.

I confess...I really wanted red velvet cake the other night and that for a hot second I actually contemplated going and getting our wedding cake topper, which is red velvet to defrost it so I could have some red velvet cake.  The ONLY reason I did not do this is it was about 10 pm and the cake is in the freezer at my parents house and I didn't feel like going over there and I realized that it would take too long for the cake to defrost for me to eat it that night. 

I confess...I am really excited for dinner tomorrow night.  I'm meeting up with some awesome ladies for dinner in NYC.  I haven't seen one since October and the other since July, so it makes it even more awesome.

I confess...I should be working but I am writing this blog entry at work...it appears that I am actively engaged in writing an evaluation report because I am typing away, but I'm typing confessions, not psychological observations.

I confess...I did my first speaking engagement for the American Heart Association last night and I liked it.  It felt good to share my story and inspire people.  The audience seemed engaged and I'm excited about being this year's Survivor Ambassador for the Heart Walk.


I confess...I'm super pissed at XM Radio this week.  The other morning I noticed that a lot of my stations are now actual radio stations and I am NOT pleased.  Why in the hell am I paying money to have an XM membership if they are just going to play radio stations that I can get for free?  I got XM so I could avoid commercials, idiotic morning DJs and their stupid opinions, call ins from equally stupid listeners, and traffic reports...yet here I am getting commercials, idiots, and traffic from all over the country, which makes me even madder, because I don't give a rat's ass about where traffic is backed up in Nashville!

Now, I want to know, what should you be confessing this week?

Flip Flop Swap

Janna told me I HAVE to do this, as apparently she's done it before, soooooo you should do it too!

          
As posted by Texas Darlings:
W
ho's ready for the Third Annual Bloggy Flip Flop Exchange (BFFE)?? We tried the past 2 summers and it has been a great success. AND I have had SO many people asking me when the next one is...so here it is!!!
What's a BFFE?? Would you like a new pair of flip flops to arrive on your doorstep within weeks? Would you like to get to know a new bloggy friend? Maybe you'd like to send someone something cool from your state? And with summer already starting, we are going to do this QUICK. Like next week. Here's how it will work:

Bloggy Flip Flop Exchange
One. If you would like to participate, send me (Texas Darling) an email that includes your full mailing address, blog address, and flip flop size by Sunday, June 12, 2011.

Click here to send me an email

Two. On Monday, June 14, you will receive an email with your BFFE partner's information. Please take the time to visit their blog and learn more about them.

Three. By Friday, June 17, mail your flip flops to your BFFE partner along with mementos from your home state (so they can learn more about you as well). Some ideas include a postcard, local delicacy (someone got homemade fudge sauce last year- jealous!), key chain, etc. Don't spend more than $20 total for your package.

Four. Blog about the flips you have received - show us some pictures!! For example, I loved this pic from JennyKate a few years. Bonus points for the most creative shot of you in your flip flops!!!

We Want to Know Wednesday...6 8 11

It's hump day again and our wonderful hosts,  Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi and Seriously Shawn, want to know!  This weeks questions are provided by Janette, so link up and play along!

{1}Everyone seems to have a quirky family situation-- what is something unique about your family dynamic?

I guess it depends on whether we're talking about my "new" family from my marriage or my family of origin.  If it's my family of origin, I think we're quirky in that we yell and scream and cuss at each other and most of the time it's no harm no foul.  Plus I had a fairly unconventional childhood in a lot of ways because my parents got married young, had us young, and treated us like little adults with brains from the time we could talk.

If it's Pavlov & I, well I guess our unique aspect is that I'm SO not the typical wife.  I don't do all the house work, I'm way more educated, and in time I will certainly make more money.  Once we have kids if the decision is made that someone is staying home it's going to be him, not me.

{2}What is the most stressful aspect to blogging (aside from the network going down)?

Trying to make things interesting so that people come back and read me!  I like attention so I want you all to love me.  :)

{3}We all end up on a blog at some point in our day, but name your top 3 favorite websites you flock to daily (non blog)!

AOL to read my email, Weight Watchers, and Facebook.  My name is Bex and I have an internet addiction.

{4}What’s your sign? Believe in it or not, does any part ring true to you?

I am the prototypical Taurus.  I'm stubborn and pigheaded to a fault...I'm pretty much a checklist of typical Taurus characteristics but with NO patience.

{5}IceCream!! ICECREAM!! We all scream for icecream! Name your favorite flavor/brand!

My ice cream of choice is Halo Farms, a local brand that is a-mazing.  If we are talking a national brand then I like Turkey Hill best.  I like Moose Tracks ice cream....yummmmmmm!  I'm also fond of mint chocolate chip and strawberry with chocolate pieces.

It's Kind of Like Asking a Sex Offender Home for Dinner

So here's the thing.  I get it parents.  You are proud of your kids.  You totally should be, but quite frankly some of you are just asking a sex offender to come to your house after they spot you at the local Wally-world.  Now I know that most of you are gasping in disgust and calling me all sorts of nasty names under your breath...and yeah, I am a bitch, but for once my bitchiness could be construed as more of a PSA and less of a blindly lashing out at others (as I am sometimes wont to do).

Now, I hear your question "What on EARTH could I, a good parent, be doing that would warrant such an accusation?"  Well I'm going to tell you...you are advertising on the back of your minivan, SUV, family friendly car that you live in a certain school district combined with a family schematic you put there too....with names...and your dog.  Basically you are letting all the pedophiles, perverts, and other unsavory folks who see you and your cute kiddies at the store WHERE your kids go to school, what their names are, what sports teams they play on, and what the dog's name is.  So basically, you're asking the sex offender to come to your house...it's easy for them to find it, because your car lists everything they might need to know. 

Or in picture form:



                                  +


                                 +


                                   =

Grant Hudson
FBI Most Wanted List
Child Molester

Happiness is a Spring Weekend!

It's Saturday, so Mamarazzi wants to know what's making you happy this week?

I'm happy that the weather has left it's manic phase and we are back to appropriate temperatures for early June in NJ.  The 5-day stretch of 90+ temperatures plus humidty yeilding a heat index over 100 was not appreciated in any way shape or form.  This meant that we could grill out for dinner Friday AND eat outside comfortably!

I'm happy we got a new grill after we discovered the one we bought last year took a big old dump and wouldn't light.  I'm less happy that we had a grill that only lasted one summer, but our new grill is in fact, quite awesome.  It has a rotisserie setting and a BBQ setting, and I'm kind of excited about the possibilities.  PLUS it has a pretty good sized cooking surface, so Pavlov can't bitch about me wanting to grill some veggies to go with my dinner (like he did all last year) and them "taking up too much room." 

Pavlov Grilling it up!

I'm happy that the AC unit has gone into the window in the guest room, so I can escape from Pavlov's snoring and not be called an "evil bitch" when I am driven to homicidal rage from exhaustion, as detailed  here. 

I'm happy we mulched the flower beds last weekend and they are now done for the season other than some watering now and again.  I'm also thrilled that my peony finally bloomed! 

I'm happy I will finally get all the stuff planted in the veggie garden this weekend...and that means I am just a few short weeks away from my very own, home grown, organic, Jersey fresh produce.  I'm also happy that we are headed into sweet corn season!  YUMMMM!

Friday Confessional 6.3.11

Ahhh the joy of a short work-week is that it's already Friday!  I can't say I was happy about the crazy high heat and humidity this week, but I'm super pleased that today is GORGEOUS here in NJ - blue skies, slight breeze, the smell of hay being made in the air.  So it's time to link up with Mamarazzi to confess whatever naughty things you did this week.  It's good for your soul!

I confess...I had the best weekend last week, mainly because we didn't DO much of anything.  I'm happy we didn't go away.  Perhaps it makes me antisocial that I'm glad we didn't spend a weekend stuffed in a crowded house tripping all over each other, but I'm glad for the things we DID do....like catch an 11 am movie on Sunday to see The Hangover: 2.

I confess...I ate more than half a tomato pie last Friday night.  That's right, I consumed at least five slices of Trenton Tomato Pie goodness at DeLorenzos.  It is the best "pizza" I've ever had...except it's not pizza, it's tomato pie, and the crust is so light and crispy that it is akin to eating like 2 or 3 pieces of regular normal pizza...and I get mine with "extra sauce"...mmmmmmmm!



I confess...I LOVE having a summer intern.  It is so wonderful to have someone do the less glamorous stuff for me so I can focus on writing reports and the like.  It is quite excellent to have someone to do the copying and filing for me...and to be SO eager to do it!  YAY for the intern.

I confess...however, that sometimes my intern makes me feel old.  Not intentionally, just by the fact that she is 23, and when she talks about high school, I am reminded that it has been 15(!) years since I graduated.  I do not feel that old.

I confess...I feel good when the young intern compliments me on my clothes though.  She asked me where I shop, and that make me feel pretty good, she's a pretty fashionable young lady, so at least I'm not dressed like an old lady!

I confess...I did some retail therapy this week and got some super cute little outfits for summer that are work appropriate when worn with something like a cardigan, and regular life adorable when worn with flip flops.  I am quite in love with the Ann Taylor Outlet if we're being honest.  Pavlov suspects that I have "a problem" but I personally don't see a problem with wearing clothing that is 1. cute, 2. comfortable, and 3. a little forgiving with weight changes.

I confess...I honest to goodness had to use every ounce of restraint NOT to punch Pavlov in the face the other night.  Allow me to set the scene to prove I am not completely psychotic (or the evil bitch he proclaimed me to be when I told him about it)...I was exhausted. 

The heat index for the day was 105 degrees with something like 70% humidity.  Our house is old and doesn't have central AC, so we have window units.  I turned the unit on in our bedroom early enough to cool down the room for when I went to bed.  I was soooooo tired from a really long day and had to get up super early the next day for blood work (which I HATE) and decided to go to bed early to read a little and then go to sleep.  He decides to come to bed too, turns the AC down (making it warmer), directs the fan onto himself, and promptly begins to snore...loudly...in my ear.  I toss and turn.  I turn the AC back to a cooler setting...but I am sweating my ass off in bed, wide awake at 3:30 am, at which point he says in his sleep "I'm COLD" and then rolls over on top of me, with his leg thrown over my leg and his arm across my upper body, his head is thisclosetomyfuckingear and he was snoring like a goddamn lumberjack.  I kept trying to roll him off me and he got me in a bear hug.  It took everything I had not to punch him in his big, fat, snoring head.  I escaped from out from under him and went to splash my face in the bathroom with cold water to resist my inner-beasts bloodlust.  I then contemplated sleeping in the ungodly hot guest room for a hot second...I eventually fell mostly asleep (after elbowing him in the side until he rolled back onto HIS side of the bed), but probably got a combined 2 hours of shut eye.  The next morning the alarm went off, he bounded out of bed all happy and WELL rested, he then looked at me and told me "you look like shit."  Asshat.   He's lucky I didn't hit him for that one either.

So there, I admitted to having homicidal rage directed at my husband...what do YOU need to confess?  Link up and let the world know!

We Want to Know Wednesday 6.1.11

Isn't a holiday long weekend great?  It's only two days into the work-week and it's already time for We Want to Know Wednesday hosted by Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi, and Seriously Shawn!  This week Impulsive Addict supplied the questions...so link up and answer the questions...inquiring minds want to know!

1.} If the blogging world had a talent show, what would your act be?
Does avoiding housework count as a talent?  If so I would SO win that talent show.  Assuming that isn't a talent for this question and that making murderers cry also doesn't count as a talent (although I'm awesome at that too), I'd have to say either some sort of stand-up comedy shtick based on my work experiences.  Otherwise I'm going all Susan Boyle on you...minus the crying and dire need for a makeover...and I'm going to belt out some Adele, or maybe a little Bobby McGee a la Janis Joplin.

2.} What's the most likely reason you might become famous?
Well fame does sometimes happen in the Court TV circuit in my line of work, so that is a possibility.  But the fact of the matter is I'm going to be super famous when I write my awesome book(s)...the first will be a "how to" about training husbands, but after that I have a series planned out in my head featuring a forensic psychologist...basically I'm going to be the Kay Scarpetta of the psychology set.

3.} What question are you repeatedly asked that you are tired of hearing?
"How do you do psychology on dead people?"  Followed closely by "Are you like CSI?"  For the answers to those questions, please see my page Forensic Psychology 101.

4.} What's the last thing you broke?
Ummm this is a hard one, I can't remember the last thing I broke, but Pavlov seems to be on a mission to break all of our dishes for some reason.  Our grill doesn't work, but I didn't do anything to it that led to it not working.  I'm going to guess that the last thing that I personally actually broke was the soap dispenser in our bathroom, but that was like 3 months ago and then I fixed it, so it isn't really broken anymore.

5.} Finish this sentence. I can't believe I used to...
...tease my bangs when I was a kid.  (shudder) The photos from my junior high years are tragic in their late 80s/early 90s fashion sensibilities.

Musically Inclined Monday...Memorial Day Edition

My other post for today talks about Memorial Day, the history, the reasons, and part of why it moves me.  But if I'm quite honest the music that is inspired by losses during war often choke me up.  In honor of Memorial Day, I've posted Taps, which just gives me chills when I hear it done, especially for a military funeral.  I remember when I was younger and they played it at my grandfather's funeral service and it honestly brought me to tears and still does to this day.



In addition to the work I do with the Red Cross doing disaster relief, I also do work with the Service to the Armed Forces, especially supporting folks stationed overseas in combat zones.  The first time I heard the song Arlington by Trace Adkins was not long after we learned about the death of a Marine in one of the units we supported and the family's plan to have him buried at Arlington National Cemetery...and the song brought me to tears.  Even though I didn't personally know the young man, it still moved me.



Finally, I think back to when the decision to invade Iraq was made.  A person who was then a very dear friend of mine was with the first wave of Marines sent in country.  I exchanged letters with him the entire time he was deployed, in addition to care packages.  I can remember getting letters talking about friends he lost and what he saw, which always makes me think of this song.

In Memorial...A Day to Remember Our Fallen Heros

So it's Memorial Day and for many people that means that today is the "official" start of summer, the start of beach weekends and good times that will last until Labor Day, which signals the end of summer for so many.  But today I'm going to take a moment to think about what Memorial Day really means...and I hope you do too.

Inscription at the WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C.

The history of Memorial Day begins during the Civil War and continues to this day.  I'm sure that each and every one of us has seen folks from the American Legion out selling the artificial poppies, reminding us all of Flanders Fields, and supporting veterans.  When I was a little girl I can remember not understanding the significance of such a pretty red flower and the concept behind Memorial Day.  In our little town there was always a Memorial Day Parade and the Legion always had a "poppy girl," usually the daughter or grand-daughter of a vet who rode in a convertible and waved at people.  I was that girl...and I hated it...mainly because it rained and I was cold and wet in that convertible and I was probably 4 at the time.  I hadn't read In Flanders Fields (reprinted below), I didn't know that the poppies were the symbol of the holiday because of all those men who died and were buried in fields flowing with poppies, but I know that now. 

WWI Memorial Washington, D.C.

Korean War Memorial

My grandfather was a vet, he lied about his age, dropped out of high school and served in the Navy during WWII.  Then during the Korean War he served again, spending time in combat situations both times.  I am blessed that he came back from both alive, or I would not be here today.  I celebrate him on Veterans Day, but today, Memorial Day, we celebrate the memories of those we lost to war.  It always strikes me as odd when people talk about how today is about celebrating those who served, it's a day to honor the dead, not a day for all Vets.  It's also weird to me when we wish people a "Happy Memorial Day," since for me the day is tinged with the loss.

Korean War Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Last year I was in Washington, D.C. for the holiday, and I must admit that as beautiful as the memorials for vets of the wars are any day of the year, on Memorial Day weekend they will break your heart.  You will see tough men break down and weep along "the wall," there will be grandfathers standing amongst the statues at the Korean Memorial choking up as they talk about waging war there, and the really old timers standing along the pool at the WWII Memorial thinking back 60+ years to when they were boys fighting around the world.  Then you can go to Arlington, seeing those simple white stones, each with a single flag, often surrounded by the people who love those buried in those honored grounds. 

WWII Memorial - Washington, D.C.

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Pearl Harbor Memorial

Every year I watch the Memorial Day Celebration with the D.C. Pops held at the Capital Building.  It always moves me, the stories they tell of brave men (and now women) who serve this country and do remarkable things in the face of danger.  So today, on Memorial Day, I hope that you observe a moment of silence to thank the men and women who fight for our freedoms, our way of life, our American Dreams, and didn't come home to their families.  Today is not a day about politics, it is taking one day a year to say THANK YOU to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, observe a moment of silence, and be inspired to make the world a better place, just like they all aspired to do.
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In Flanders Fields John McCrae, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields

My Happy List...5.28.11

It's Saturday and a long weekend, so it's time to link up with Mamarazzi to tell the world what's making you happy this week!

I'm happy that I got to see one of my besties, Ms. Cory, who was in from Austin for a few days.  Yesterday we had an awesome lunch along the canal at Lily's...and I'm happy I was able to resist their ever so tempting dessert list!  Then we hung out for a few hours and decided that she should celebrate the ability to have REAL pizza with a trip for tomato pies at DeLorenzos.  Oh how their tomato pies with extra tomato make my happy happen!

I'm happy I survived my barium test - we got there early, started early, and therefore finished early.  My doctor should already have the report as of end of day yesterday, so here's hoping we get some answers soon!  I'm less than thrilled about the blood work I have to have done, since needles make me VERY unhappy, but I'm glad this will be all done this week.

I'm happy we bought mulch today, so I can mulch my flower beds and be done for summer playing around with that!

I'm extra happy it's a long weekend...and that thanks to Memorial Day I got an adorable dress at Ann Taylor on super sale! 

I'm happy to be able to attend Miss Kelsey's 2nd birthday party tomorrow!  I got her the cutest little preppy outfits, just like Aunt Becky would wear (hello adorable plaid shorts), plus a stinking cute little pink tutu skirt, which I LOVE! 

So what's making YOU happy this week?  Link up and let us know!



Friday Confessional 5.27.11

Since none of us were met with the Rapture last weekend, it is once again time to confess our sins with a Friday Confessional, hosted by Glamazon & Mamarazzi! 

I confess... I wrote this blog on Thursday night so I could play along...because I have to be at the hospital in Philly by 7:30 am today (Friday) for testing and I don't know when I would've had time to write my post, so I figured better to write it early than not at all.  Yes, I clearly have issues.

I confess... that while my eating has been really well the last few weeks, I haven't exercised nearly enough.  I need to change that or my ass will remain giant, fat, and dimply, as opposed to smaller, still full, and perky, which is the goal.

I confess... I'm thinking of signing up to run a 5k.  I think I'm going to try the Couch to 5k training program to see how that goes and then make that determination.  It IS on my bucketlist, so I should cross that one off sooner rather than later...but the idea of running seems so unfortunate.

I confess... that I'm less than thrilled about today's bit of radiology testing.  I do not want to drink gallons of barium, it has the consistency of glue and makes me gag.  I also don't think that the idea of a test that lasts "one to four hours" and involves being tilted about on a table of some sort sounds like fun.  It sounds like a recipe for vomiting up glue and then having to drink more of it while still gagging...especially since a noted (and previously experienced) side effect of drinking said barium is vomiting.  Also, the "nothing to eat or drink past 9 pm Thursday" is a little rough.  I get thirsty!

They want to light up my insides
like Christmas!

Mmmm a big glass of glue!

I confess... that I'm not ready for it to be hot and humid.  It is May in the Northeast, it should be sunny and in the 70s with low humidity, not 90 with 80% humidity.  I need to get used to this again and I prefer to ease slowly into the hot bath, not jump in all at once.

I confess... that I need to have my roots done.  I probably should have had them done a few weeks ago, but they weren't that bad, then I spent time in the sun this weekend, which means that my highlights are REALLY light and my roots therefore look really dark.  Oooopsie!  This is especially bad as I have a photo shoot for a magazine article as an American Heart Association Ambassador scheduled for next week (it just came up Wednesday so not like I'm an idiot)...and I can't get a hair appointment until the following week.  I need to come up to a creative solution to THAT problem!

I'm not QUITE this bad,
 but still I can see them!

I confess... I wasn't so impressed with the final Glee episode of the year.  I *did* enjoy the mockery they made of a cliche NYC date, but the songs weren't great and the whole episode was kind of EH for me.  Glee and I might have to break up if it can't find a way to be snarky and funny again. 

I confess... I'm kind of bitter that the idea of a family vacation spot at the beach fell through since my mom got deployed by FEMA.  Yes, that makes me a selfish cow that I'm grumpy my mom is out helping disaster affected folks instead of being able to close on the beach house, but still...I could be beach bound this weekend!

I confess... my house is somewhat cleaner, but still not clean enough for my liking, and I'm just not motivated enough to do a good enough clean to satisfy my OCD, so I'm just waiting for my motivation to catch up so I can properly clean.  Perhaps this weekend?

I confess... I'm dreading the switching of the seasonal clothes.  Not because I have some great love of my winter wardrobe, but because I just don't feel motivated to do it, since it will require me to put a bunch of clothes away...and spend time in the attic to get out the boxes, and I don't like the attic.  It creeps me out.

Our attic looks KIND of like this...but with
WAY more shit...and no chili peppers.

I confess... I don't believe in eugenics, but there are days that I genuinely believe that people should need permits to have children.  We do a lot of DYFS evaluations in our office, mostly for termination of parental rights, and I have to be honest that there have been a few of late where I've looked at my boss and said "I wouldn't give that person a plant, let alone a small person."  You need a permit to have a dog, to get a gun, to go fishing, but any moron can have a kid, and then fuck that kid up to high hell, so that the fucked up kid then has kids, and fucks them up...and the cycle goes on, and on, and on...although it realy is job stability for me, so that's the only plus.  As such, when I'm campaigning for Queen of the Universe I can assure you that parent permits shall be required for reproduction. 

So what do YOU need to confess this week?  Link up and 'fess up!