Writer's Workshop: 10 things I believe in

Mama Kat's done it again! I think I talk about her more often than I talk about myself on this blog. She is Just That Wonderful! For the rest of her prompts and to join in on this week's assignment click here. Well this week prompt that I took from her workshop is:

10 things I believe in

1. God - my biggest belief

2. The power of prayer - Honestly, I never knew the power was so strong until my dad's brain surgery back in February. That's when I became a true believer.

3. My children - I believe in them and the things that they can accomplish. I believe in giving them the ability to be kids and dream big dreams. I believe in giving them all of the necessities in life to be what ever they choose to be in the future.

4. My Husband - I believe that he will always do his very best to take care of us. I believe that he will always do what's best for his family. I believe he loves me because nobody else could put up with my mess!

5. Family - When times are hard and no one else can be there for you, your family will be there, with open arms.

6. Discipline - Children have to have a structured lifestyle. I believe that without a certain amount of discipline, a certain amount of strictness (is that a word?) from their parents, it will be hard to succeed in life.

7. Spanking (agree with Mrs. D) - I'm sorry to those that don't agree, but a spanking, not a beating (there is a difference), is a much needed attitude adjuster when the little ones are out of control or have done something they know that shouldn't have done. A smack on the behind is not child abuse.

8. Miracles - I believe anything can happen. Anything is possible.

9. Ghosts - Hubs and I disagree on this one. I believe that there are ghosts or spirits out there that watch us. I believe in Sylvia Brown! She says it so it has to be true!

10. Pawning my children off on someone else every now and then just to get a little SANITY!

Shallow Competitive Democrat, Yes that's ME!

Okay, so I spent the morning blog-hopping checking out a few new blogs from other people's pages. I saw a few that I found pretty interesting. But there was one in particular that I remember stopping at that I was going to add to my blog role, but went against it. Do you wanna know what my very shallow reason was?

There was a McCain/Palin button on her page!

Yeah okay, I'm not saying that everyone who I read has to think the way that I do. NOT AT ALL! I know plenty of the bloggers that I currently support and love have different political views than I do. I know that some of Diva Ma's Most FABULOUS may not support the same folks that I support in this election. THAT'S FINE! But I suddenly got this competitive rave flow through my blood when I saw that button and COULD NOT ADD HER!

So after the election, fellow-blogger-with -the-republican-button, I will surely add you. It's nothing against you personally, but I think that it's just that my heart is so set on the DEM's winning this thing! And this IS a competition! Like the Hoover Vacuum Giveaway, Winning is EVERYTHING!

Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Giveaway!

Not me of course. I can't give it away. I'm not ballin' like that!

But if you go over to

Mama Kat's page,

you could be a proud owner of a brand new vacuum cleaner provided by Hoover themselves.

Only one lucky winner is going to win and sorry guys! That's going to be me, but go on over there anyway and enter to win. Give me a little competition. But don't get too excited! That baby is MINE!!!

Got my Motivation!

Okay, so I think I found my motivation for this whole weight loss thing. I'm fat. Yep I said it. I have the giggles everywhere imaginable. As I sit here at the computer sometimes, I tend to shake my leg. Well, while I'm shaking, it feels like I'm sitting in one of those vibrating massage chairs you see in the mall where you put in $1.50 in quarters for a 3 minute ride. Yep, that's what it feels like. And when I stop shaking my leg, it takes a few seconds for the giggling to go away!

Okay, so that's not my motivation. Obviously that was not enough. And Miss Missy's comment about me looking like I had a baby in my stomach when I was laying on the bed one night, nope that wasn't enough either.

AND the fact that NONE of my jeans seem to fit anymore and after squeezing into them anyway, I find myself having to either suffer a stomach ache or keep that top button undone, especially if I decide to eat so much as a saltine, yeah, that wasn't enough motivation either!

And it wasn't enough that I now have to actually move my stomach out of the way so that I can see when I'm trying to shave my bikini line. Uh uuhh!

Well, my motivation is that all my friends seem to be motivated enough to workout. They stick to some kind of SOMETHING where they are finding themselves become smaller and smaller. They are getting into their old clothes again and having to go shopping for new ones. They are shedding pounds and talking about how they are cutting back on eating and how great it is to have lost 3 or 4 pounds this week and BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!

Yeah I get to hear about how many sizes they've lost and oh, the agony of having to buy new clothes. How they are now able to zip up a fabulous size (lower than what I wear, of course) and how they are so close to they're target weight!

Skinny BITCHES!

So, I'm sitting here, with my pleasantly plump self, enjoying yet another brownie,

telling each and every one of them that what they are doing is great and that they need do stay motivated and KEEP IT UP! And (while it is so true) that I am happy for them and excited that they are all doing so well (And that I'm officially that fat girl outta all my friends)...... And oh yeah, I'll start tomorrow!

Yesterday, TOMORROW finally came. Yesterday I had my epiphany that the only way to lose anything was to put down those extra delicious chocolate goodness brown squares and pick up a workout DVD. Not just for one or two days like my committed days before. Oh NO! I mean I really REALLY want this now because all those dedicated chicks are leaving me and my brownies in their dust!

So why am I still sitting here talking to you guys??? My treadmill is calling me!

Tell It Like It T.I.S. Tuesday

I decided to use one day out of the week, just one, to voice my opinion. This is the day where I'm just going to tell it like it is, ya'll. Now I don't know what I will have to talk about every Tuesday or what subjects I will be approaching. But you can best be sure that I will put in my two since and let all my readers know just the way that I see it. I may talk about anything from politics to celebrity gossip to something fellow blogger had to say. You may not like or agree some of the things that say, but hopefully it won't keep you from coming back. I love my y'all and I value your opinion, so feel free to leave comments. I love them!

Costume time again!

Halloween is just around the corner. Can you believe that? I mean it seems we just put the kids on the bus and sent them off on their first day of school, just had our last summer barbecue, and now, costumes and terrifying decorations are all over our favorite shopping centers.


In case you don't know Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. For me, it trumps Christmas big time! Watching the terrified little kiddies run and scream when Dracula or Jason comes out of nowhere while their trying to get a few pieces of candy, sending them running back to the streets, candy flying everywhere... HA!

Now that's entertainment!

Even with my own kids terrified of my neighbors dressed as the guy from the Chain Saw Massacre and chasing kids with the chain saw blaring, I was outside bubbling over in laughter as my own children cowered inside the house probably under their beds in tears.



About a month ago I sent my kids to the computer to surf the net and let me know what they want to be. Miss Missy has her little heart set on being a witch this year. But not just any witch. No, no, no. A nice witch. No scary ugly-faced witch for Miss Missy. She chose something along these lines. Last year she was a fairy princess, complete with wings and a sparkling tiara. It was some time last year that she lost all of her tom-boy tendencies and became all princess, all the time.



Haven't decided whether to buy it this year, or make one. I think either way the price is going to be about the same as I found that sewing really isn't all that much cheaper than the store made stuff.



Now the boys are both looking to be Star Wars characters again this year. Last year they were Obi Won and Darth Vader. I think Sir Talks-A-Lot is hoping to be Yoda and Runnin' Man is still kinda undecided. I'm thinking that perhaps I can talk him into being a zombie football player since he already has the pads and helmet from football season.



I absolutely can't wait for this day to come. I might even dress up this year and bring out my kiddie side (not that it's ever hidden too deep).

Bad Mommy

I spent part of the day cleaning today and much of it on the phone catching up with family members that I haven't talked to in a while. Miss Missy is so great. She pretty much occupied herself today playing dress up and giving her babies a bath in the sink. Whatever makes her happy!

Miss Missy has been hinting around A LOT about:

Oh how I wishes that I had a sister to play with.

and

Oh Mommy, I don't have anybody to play with.

and

Oh Mommy, I don't have anybody to sleep with me. Runnin' Man and Sir Talks-A-Lot sleep together and you and daddy sleep together, but I don't have nobody to sleep with.


Now that last one usually comes in right at bed time when Mr. Sandman should be sprinkling his sleepy dust and angels should be singing her to sleep, but instead tears are welling in her eyes while she's longing for a sleeping companion........ and a few more minutes of awake time.

Now everyone collectively say AWWWWWW!

Meanwhile, I'm tossing her one of the thousands of teddy bears from her pet net and saying, "Not gonna happen sweetie!"

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SO, we're folding some laundry in the boys' room this morning and she's so happy to be helping mom.

Oh, isn't it just great when they're young and doing household chores brings a smile to their faces and they'll do anything to please you? Yeah, that goes away at about 7.

Well, she is bantering on and on about how she is doing such a great job helping with the boys clothes and how they never keep they're room clean, and us girls always do things so much better. Then I hear:

"Right, mom?" Not really listening to what she is saying because she has talked non-stop for 30 minutes.

"Right," I say.

"Girls are awesome, right mom?"

Right, Girls are SO awesome,"

"And Boys SUCK!"

I know I shouldn't have, but I couldn't help laughing uncontrollably at the horrible thing that came out of her mouth. It is undoubtedly a word that she has heard me use a many times before.

BAD MOMMY.

Just another shining example of why I need to censor my language more.






Oh and for those wondering, As of Tuesday, I was able to vacuum my floor again Whoo, Thanks Hubs! ;-)

Finger lickin' chicken and vacuum fights

Oh Gosh! I just had some of the bestest, most awesome-est Fried Chicken I think I have ever had!

Shut up! I said I was cutting back, not giving it up.

And Guess who made it. ME! Yep. I fried 'em. And I'm not just saying that it was De-friggin'-lish because it came outta my kitchen. Nope! It really was. Wish you coulda tasted it. I took some frozen wings outta my freezer that I had marinated weeks ago, intending to broil them, but all that talk about fried chicken on yesterday's blog had me craving a little bit. So, I fried these bad boys. And if that wine didn't have those wings more slammin' than I had ever made them! Whoo whoo WHOO! I was full before I finished cookin'!

mmmmm!

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Okay, So Hubs and I got into a little spat yesterday over the vacuum cleaner. Something really really dumb. Because the vacuum was clogged and I asked him to fix it, he took the opportunity to give me a class on how to keep this from happening again.

My thoughts: I don't need a friggin' tutorial on Vacuum Filters 101. Just fix it!

So anyway, this is how it ended:

So YOU fix it then!

Vacuum left in the middle of the floor, right in front of the door.

So am I suppose to pick this up? I think not! Yes, I don't mind taking care of the repairs. I did it all the time while he was in Korea for a year. But I'm not about to let him disrespect me by treating me like I'm some kind of maid or trained dog. Uhh uhhhh! So, I have a feeling that I'll be posting about this, with this same picture, for the rest of the week. We'll see.

By the way, my digital camera is one megabite away from the grave. I couldn't be more sad. There's all this noise going on with it and the lens only comes out sometimes. If any of you wonderful readers have an extra camera just lying around somewhere or even if you'd like to donate a camera to the cause LET ME KNOW!

Lions and Tigers and Gas Prices! OH MY!

Okay, so I haven't left the house today yet, but gas is undoubtedly over $5.00 a gallon this morning. I came home last night with 19 miles to empty. This means that I won't be going anywhere until there is some relief at the pump. I watched as the price of gas went up a whole $.50 at one time around lunch time yesterday. I could cry. But what's the point?

With both boys in football, on different teams and practicing at different places, what a mom to do whilst driving a high gas mileage SUV?

Any suggestion?

I can't dance!

Good Morning! You know, exercise really does make your day go better. I did it. I got my butt up and worked out (if only for about 20 minutes) to The Firm Dance, given to me by my neighbor after a few complaints of being lazy. Well, this morning, the skinny b*itch looked extra skinny and I have to commend her because she stays faithful to working out as many times a week as she can.

Well she gives me this Dance DVD. Well, mind you, I have no rhythm. Nope can't dance. I don't care what color my skin is. All black people do not have rhythm!

So, I'm sitting here cracking up, trying to keep up with what so considers "the easy video". She was gonna give me another one, but she thought I should start with the once that was easy. HA!

The whole time I'm laughing my butt off, and if you could lose weight by laughing at yourself then I'd would lost at least ten pounds. I started off real good. I think by the time the chick on the video added the 5th step into her aerobics routine, I was all off beat and couldn't keep up. I'm all over the place. She kept switching right from one move to another, making a repetative routine as she went, just adding a new move in everytime.

Did I tell you that my memory is bad as well?

So she's going left, I'm going right.

She's going up. I'm going down.

She's doing some back curls and I'm still sliding to the left.



NOTE TO FRIENDS:
Don't ever ask me to join a dance group.

So when the chick decided to switch to the Latin routine, I fell on the floor. Always wanted to learn to salsa, but no rhythm, remember? Yeah, that was a sight. You kinda have to be able to keep a beat to dance.

Maybe I should try one of those walking workout videos. I can walk.


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Okay, I hung out with some friends yesterday for a birthday party. So I get the the place where the surprise party is supposed to be held and I, of course, am late. So I'm rushing. Apparently the building is having two events at the same time.

Well I get to the door and the ushers there are telling me "Go ahead downstairs. Don't rush. It's okay." Well, as I'm about to start walking down, there's a group of black folk walking up.


So I turn back to the receptionist and and say "Is this where the birthday party is?"

She looks a little confused for a sec then says, "Sure sweety, go on down."

Another black couple comes up.

"Turn to her again." "The Dawson party?"

"You mean the surprise party?"

"Yes."

"Ohhh!" She says and directs me down another hallway.

Walking into the room full of people I was partying with, I was tickled by this event at the door. Why you ask? The room was filled with Caucasians, of course. The group down stairs was full of black people. I just thought is was hilarious that they all assumed that I'd be attending the event with the folks downstairs.

Don't know why. Hmmmmmmm. LOL!


So here are a few of stereotypes I wanna clarify:

* All Black people can dance. -- Uhhh NO! I prove that one wrong all the time. Those white chicks last night really showed me up when that DJ played the CHA CHA SLIDE!

* All Black people eat fried chicken. -- Personally I haven't met one yet who doesn't. I'm cutting back, though........ kinda. I got to the buffet last night and said "What! No Chicken???" Just Kidding.

* All Black people throw our kids out at 18. - - That one came from my neighbor, who asked me if that was true. Heck NO! My uncles are 45 and 50 something and still live with my grandma!

* All black men, well you know..... Okay, I know this to surely not be true from my younger years! So don't believe the hype!