Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, or whatever winter holiday you celebrate!

I guess I'll go...

boldly or otherwise. I'm a a sci-fi nerd...I'm not even going to lie. I really enjoyed the TV show as a kid...wasn't really wanting to see this, but I love J.J. Abrahms and I love Simon Pegg as Scotty! I guess I'll give it a shot.

Hoodoo Voodoo?

So, since I last blogged…

o August 1 - I left on a month long vacation / road trip to Georgia and Texas and attended my 15 year high school reunion!
o August 18 - Drove back from above mentioned vacation. :(
o August 23- When we arrived home - remember we JUST bought a house - at 12am, after a 12 hour drive from Georgia, we found that our house was underwater! Our water heater exploded while we were on vacation and created a mold sanctuary! (Sidenote – Chris is allergic to penicillin i.e. MOLD!)
o August 24 – Began the lost month of living in two different hotels. :(
o August 25 – I started pre-serv9ice for my new position as media specialist at a new school with another equally new co-media specialist! STRESSFUL! still living in a hotelo August 31 – I attended the most deserved wonderful wedding ever! Congrats to my favorite newlyweds Dusty and Claudia! still living in a hotel
o September 2 – Gabe starts high school, the little ones go back to school, and I start school in my new position. still living in a hotelo September 15 - Celebrated my 29th birthday…again! (*wink*) still living in a hotelo September 20 – FINALLY able to move back into my new NEW house! (New floors, carpet, walls, paint, baseboards, tile, insulation, etc.)
o September 21 – began to unpack…again.
o September 25 – Celebrated 10 years of marriage! Wow!
o October 3 – Involved in a car accident. Thought it was a fender bender, but my NEW car had a little more then a bended fender. :(

I’ve had some up and downs these last few months, but overall…we are all still living and healthy! With the stress I’ve been under…well, let’s just say that is a miracle! I mean I’m not blaming all the bad luck on the voodoo like the Olympic relay teams, but I did entertain a fleeting thought of maybe doing a cleansing with an egg. <--- South Texas joke




So that is the update. I hope everyone else had a STUPENDOUS summer!

Stay tuned for pictures of all my great adventures!

Do you Men-u-do?

Hampton Roads, Virginia is known for many things...The world's largest naval base, Virginia Ham, peanuts, Jamestown, Williamsburg, etc. It is not known for it's Mexican food. :(

I really miss the authentic Tex-Mex food I used to get on a daily basis in Corpus. There is a Mexican restaurant that we frequent here in Norfolk, that is pretty good, but they only do lunch and dinner. No tortas, menudo, carne guisada, or caldo de res. :(

So I was driving the other day, and saw a sign for breakfast tacos at a little hole in the wall Mexican restaurant. HMMMM? Breakfast "Mexican" tacos? Like chorizo, carne quisada, and other stuff? Or would it be a disappointment like so many others? I filed it away, and told Chris that it might need an audition for our restaurant rotation. OMG! When we walked in, I knew it was my place. I asked, "Tiene menudo?", and of course they did!!!! We've been going Sunday mornings to drink coffee and have authentic Mexican breakfast! I've had the menudo, and this week I had the caldo de res. Y-U-M-M-Y!!!
Now when I get to Texas I won't be such a raving lunatic for the Mexican food...no....wait...I probably will be. Because even though I found a great place here in Virginia, everything is BIGGER and better in Texas! I miss my Lone Star State...I'm so excited to be visiting in just a few short weeks!



Can you tell I'm really enjoying my caldo?

Farmhouse Blues

My kids' project for today was to write a story about life on a farm...this is what they came up with! OMG, they are so awesome! How did I get so lucky?

*Don't forget to pause the music on the left so you can hear the audio

Because my kids know...

which one is MY favorite! The Cracker Barrel gift shop is way too much fun!

I can thank the Soviets

It got too late to run outside, so I tried jumping rope on the patio. WOW, jumping, rope, is, no, joke! Thanks to The Killers for providing the musical inspiration for me to continue for 30 minutes. And thank you, thank you, Ivan Drago, for pushing Rocky to train in a heatless cabin in the Siberian mountains. Without Ivan Drago, and the ire he caused Philly's own, I never would have had this scene to inspire me.



I’m not even kidding. This Rocky IV scene is really the scene I kept playing over and over in my head as my feet pounded the concrete and my heart pounded in my ribcage.

Rise Up With Fists

I've been obssesed with aging lately, and not just aging but time passage in general. I wish I could pick a time that I could go back to... and just stop. The perfect time when the kids were still little, I was a size 7, I had all my teeth, etc. But going back to that time would make me miss so many of my accomplishments. So though I am sad that my babies are growing up, and that I have to work VERY hard to get into a size 12, and Oil of Olay and Avon Regenerist are my best friends, I know that under it all I'm still what I was, and that is all mine, no one elses. So, like Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins show, though the lyrics are sad, and seem hopeless at times, there is a laugh track to life's struggles, and that makes it easier.

Vivid and Bizarre

I dream. I dream a lot. And when I dream, it sometimes goes like this.

Cross your fingers!

House Hunt is OVA!



Hopefully all goes well!

Writing on the Wall

I noticed today during my time at the Old Dominion Library that the graffitti on the bathroom wall was very inspirational! "Be yourself", "Be strong"," Your dreams can't come true unless you try", etc, etc. It was refreshing, well as refreshing as writing on the wall can be, compared to the horrible stuff 8th grade girls write on the bathroom walls at my school. It really gives me hope for girls who write on walls in general!

The American Dream

So...we are going to buy a house!!! Who knew it would be so draining though! As excited as I am, it really has been time consuming and...well..just hard. Making decisions about what we want, what we can and can't live with or without, what part of town, what schools, etc, etc is so difficult! I don't want to get it wrong with something this big. So wish me luck...and if you have any advice, let me know!

Pink Bathroom?

Could you live with it?




I kind of like it!

My Claim to Fame

So I was a pretty decent athlete when I was a kid. I ran summer track and did really well in the 4x4 relay, 400, and 800. I went to the regionals many times and even to state one year. I swam too. I was a junior Olympian! I swam on a relay team that was part of the Junior Olympics.

Amy Acuff, Olympic high jumper, went to a nearby school and attended every track meet I did. She has had incredible longevity in her sport, and has even graced the cover of Playboy.


She is tall, blonde, and famous! WOW!

All I can say is that during one of those summers, 1988 maybe, I ran the 200 meters against her...and though I didn't win, I BEAT AMY ACUFF in a foot race! I beat an Olympian 20 years ago! Petty yes, but TRUE!

Check out the blog about her below:

Amy Acuff is a SLOW RUNNER!


Monica :)

Coinky-Dink

So, my friend has a blog that I like to visit. He has a post up about some cool graphics on this quirky t-shirt site. I like t-shirts! (I have aspirations of being a t-shirt artist!) So I go, and the two that I notice first off are spookily reminiscent of a painting I did for my brother a few years back! It even has the same green coloring! Coincidence? I think not! My theory? Creative thoughts are being pilfered through microwaves, and I have been a victim! I'm fashioning a tin foil hat as we speak!!!

No, but really the first two are from the t-shirt site and the last two are my painting. See the resemblance?!

Why I'm afraid of clowns

I don't even have words for the evilness of these clowns...

I used to love me some Bobby Brown in the 80's! I just caught the end of this reality show, Gone Country, and freaked out that Bobby, Dee Snyder, and Sisquo (The thong, ththong, thong thong song) were going to put out a country song! Bobby was my favorite, but the other two were right there with him! They were awesome! I have links to Bobby singing as well as all the performances...just in case you want to enjoy them all. The winner, Julio Iglesias Jr., was a dud, I think it was a set up! The winner should have been Bobby!


Bobby Brown has Gone Country!


Gone Country's final performances

Economics lesson

According to these TV comercials, it's important to know what your credit report looks like. It may bring me down when I find out, but at least freecreditreport.com has cute comercials that make me smile! Here are three in order from my favorite to least favorite!

Rockin in the Free World!

Rockin in the Free World ~ Rock Band Party Pics!

Elaine Benes Tribute

Yes...that is me reenacting ONE of my favorite scenes from Seinfeld. The only difference is...well... there wasn't a dog on the original dance floor! Sorry it's sideways. I made this a million years ago on a webcam, and I don't know how to edit the video. I am a complete idiot, I know, but when I found this on my computer this morning it made me laugh so hard I had to share it.

Elaine Dancing
Elaine Dancing


The Original Elaine Benes Dance-

After a rough week and a bad dream...

...Chris can be so sweet. I needed that. Thank you baby.

10 Things You Can Do Instead of Watching TV

So the chick over at Ten on Tuesday asks bloggers to make a list of ten things every Tuesday.

Here is the list prompt for today:
10 Things I should be doing instead of watching the Boob Tube!

1. Hang out with the family - I heard somewhere that parents only spend 10 percent of their time with their kids. That is sad.
2. Read a book - as an English teacher and an aspiring librarian I can totally get behind that one.
3. CLEAN! Maybe some of you have immaculate houses, but I would rather do anything else than clean. There have been many nights I watch a movie instead!
4. Exercise - I need to start running again.
5. Catch up on school/work - I should be doing that right now.
6. Work a second job - Extra money to pay for cable and DVDs!
7. Cook a homemade meal or dessert - yum!
8. Paint/Create/Write - Wow...I should be doing all of this instead of watching American Idol.
9. Listen to music - But you can get that on TV now too. I so don't mean MTV, either. They stopped playing music videos in the late 80s.
10. Play Video Games???? - Yeah...even though you are technically watching the TV you are getting in some hand and eye coordination!

One Million On Me!

So the chick over at Ten on Tuesday asks bloggers to make a list of ten things every Tuesday.

Here is the list prompt for today:

10 Things You’d Buy If You Had a Million Dollars

There’s no getting by easy on this one like saying “giving it to charity” or “saving it for my kids’ college”. You’ve got a million dollars, and you’ve got to spend it on yourself. Your list can add up to a million dollars, or each of the items on your list could be huge million dollar splurges. Your choice! Be greedy, spoil yourself!

Hmmmm...just for me? Alright this is my spoiled, selfish, Veruca Salt list!

1. Two houses (both big enough to house me, Chris, and the
chiren’) – The main house should be in Texas, Florida, or
Georgia. It will be by water. It will have: one bedroom for each of the
children, a music room for the kids, a Gators/man room for Chris, a
library and a dressing/shoe//walk in closet for me. The second house will be the “ranch”, and it will definitely have to be on 10 acres in Rivera, Texas. Right Chris?

2. Plastic Surgery/ Cosmetic Dental Surgery – Tummy tuck, lipo,
teeth implants, dermabrasion (no face lifts or boob jobs….yet)

3. Start up business - Jewelry boutique, t-shirt boutique, art
gallery, Moe’s, Subway… whatever! I want to be a business woman
because I know I would be fabulous!

4. A personal trainer - I'd get ready for a marathon. No measly half marathon 13.1 miles for me anymore!

5. Vacations somewhere wonderful - Australia, Souda Bay, Paris, Italy, Amsterdam, etc! I could travel for months!

6. Art lessons - My personal art teacher has left me, but with a mil I guess I could hire another to teach me the art of the paint brush.

7. Two cars - A Range Rover to tote the kids to and fro, and a silver Crossfire for times when I need speed and don't need any more than two seats!

8. A New wardrobe to fit my new size 6/8 body - This after the plastic surgery and the marathon training.

9. Expensive jewelry - Rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets! Something to match with all the new clothes!

10. A trustworthy personal accountant - So I can use the money to make more money and never have to worry about money again!

Who knew it was so much fun being selfish and spoiled! (even if only in blogosphere theory) Watch one of my favorite spoiled brats of all time below. Watching this makes me feel a little less guilty about my list!

Clown's tools

Baloons are the tools of EVIL! Thanks Deb for introducing me to Don Hertzfeldt's genius.


Though no clowns were shown in this short, we all know that where there are clowns there are baloons! Check out my poem about the evil that lurks in the hearts of clowns! Wow! I posted that poem for the first time in 2005, but I wrote it many years before that. I've been carrying this fear and belief about clowns around since I was a child.

The Evil That Lurks in the Hearts of Clowns

Beergee had this fear you see
not of spiders or of bees
she was scared of evil clowns
who wore pale makeup and visceral frowns
she says they hide behind that grimace
behind the grease paint you cannot miss it
that twinkle of torture waiting in the wings
for small children and other happy things
They wait to corrupt and grind them down
those poor innocents that mistake these clowns
for vessels of happiness and doers of good
when in fact they seethe with all that is lewd
Beergee you see discovered the truth
these lies these screens that the evil produce
So even ones who don't wear a jester's face
how can the look in their eyes be mistaked
keep yourself protected, keep yourself abreast
because these evil clowns walk among the rest
and you may have never thought, but Beergee always did
that clowns are evil and from this world must be rid

Fashion Crimes...

...for the under 14 set. Though this is done in tongue and cheek, it is funny because it is so close to the truth. Thanks Christian for putting this link on your blog!

Don't dress your daughter like a....

How She Move? How I Cringe!

Now I love a good disadvantaged- kids- who- have- to- fight- to- reach- a- goal movie. Some of my favorites are Stand and Deliver, Lean on Me, and Freedom Writers. Sometimes I watch these movies for inspiration after a very hard day of teaching middle school English. These movies always make me feel better. They make me feel like there is worth in my profession, and somehow I am making a difference. They also show me that students have the desire to succeed. They just need a push from someone to realize it. These movies are often realistic (as realistic as Hollywood can make them) snapshots of poor, uneducated, and struggling families and students. The goal is usually some sort of academic test to be passed or scholarship to be won. The students are trying for a better life through the avenue of a good education. Makes sense right? Well... tell me then why a movie that has the potential to have a good influence on disadvantaged kids to work hard for a decent education starts out with a GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT title! How She Move doesn't make me want to watch how a girl tries to pass a scholarship test for a prep school that will give her the advantages that others don't have. It is obvious by the title that she doesn't know how to make subjects and verbs agree, and with that she will probably fail that test! One little S makes all the difference! Maybe I am so incensed because I am an English teacher. Maybe I am incensed because I teach in a urban area where I fight the hard fight everyday to improve the everyday bad grammar that they have embraced as correct. Glamorizing bad grammar is stupid. Rappers and singers do it everyday. (Remember "Wheres my girls At?") Using bad grammar as a title for a movie that is supposed to be about reaching an academic goal is just irresponsible. Shame on you Hollywood! If your interested, here is New York Post review about the movie that sums it up neatly.
How She Move review

conspiracy theory

I really am not a numbers person. I really don't get IT. I got through high school math ok, but college algebra kicked my butt. I'm not a dumb person, but when number get involved my brain makes weird turns and angles. It doesn't make linear lines (Did I just make some math jokes?) So..today I'm thinking about food...which is normal on any given day, and I start to think... How does anyone really know how many calories are in anything? Then I really start to think, maybe it is all a commercial ploy. No one used to count calories. Now you have food, diets, all kinds of things that focus on calories. I mean really can someone explain to me how you calculate one slice of lasagna equaling 1 million calories? <-----This is an example of a hyperbole - extreme exaggeration to make a point. I mean I imagine they have a calorie institute somewhere where people are eating and then getting on treadmills and then the input is divided by the output and written up about in The Science Of Calories tri monthly journal or something. Wow....sorry this has gotten way out of hand. Anyway, my point is that I think it is all in our heads. I think if we believe that slice of cheesecake is going to make us fat it will. If we don't think it maybe it won't. The mind is a powerful thing!!! Wow...I sound like Pollyanna again. So what do you think....have we been brainwashed about calories?

Australian or English?

Ok... I think it's been assumed that the Geico Gecko is of Australian decent, but I heard a radio commercial today (the mechanic one - the least funny of all) that had him sounding very English. So I posted my favorite below....and you tell me...do you hear a hint of English accent in him? ( I know that Australian accent is just a "southern drawl" of a British accent, but there is a difference I think) Either way he's right. Who doesn't love free PIE and CHIPS!!

Pollyanna and Sociopaths

What is our world coming to? I really want to believe that there are good honest people out there who have a conscious and don’t prey on others, but everyday it gets harder and harder. If you didn’t know already our Visa credit card number was stolen and was being used to make NUMEROUS transactions in the Golden State (California!) To say the least I am still traumatized by the incident. So far it looks like that was the only thing that they used; no social security number or open lines of credit at Macy’s…..yet. We have to keep a vigilant eye on the credit report to make sure that doesn’t happen though. I really was upset about the whole ordeal. I couldn’t go into work the day I actually saw the 20 posted transactions totaling $1700! What a nice New Years Eve surprise! So am I just one of those clueless Pollyannas? I can’t believe that someone would actually steal someone else’s hard earned money and create so much pain and anxiety. I will never feel safe buying birthday or Christmas presents online again. I will continue to obsessively check my account online to see if there are any mysterious charges from distant states. And what’s worse, almost everyone I tell my tale to says, “Yup it happened to me.” Are you kidding? This happens to EVERYONE?! I have heard that every thirty seconds another person is a victim of identity theft. I guess that’s true… and very very sad.