Mon-ster's Inc.

Garden Work

2009-04-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

A Green Thumb, is Unnecessary

A lady with a garden once said, “My thumb is not green, but I do what I can.” The lady’s hand was cracked Texas dirt; the lady’s thumb, never green, a shade of brown Mexican clay. She wasn’t industrious. Not able to produce conveyers of lush greenery. Northerner she was not. She couldn’t craft beauty with just a hazel look, or a snap of piano player’s fingers. Crumbles of sod or red Georgia clay didn’t sprout vigorous ropes of emerald arms and candy apple florets because of some inherited aptitude for photosynthetic progression. She fed her garden with what she had; her inner emotional streams, pores of sunshine, her voice of fertilizing perception. It was enough, for her, for her garden. No need for precise timed sowing, irrigation, or thinning. She cherished her garden; flowers, weeds, and rocked earth. Shrubs grew, sturdy, like children. Their sighs and whispers emanated in CO2; released on an impish toddler’s giggle. Her garden spread. Singular, stunning, hers. No need for Mendel’s gifts. She spoke a privileged tongue to the flowers, shared judiciousness with the shrubs, and scratched the backs of the blades. She poured, from a terracotta pitcher, gracious musings. She did what she could, with what she had, and without luck or benefit of a verdant appendage, it flourished.

Movies shouldn't be experiments

2009-01-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty open minded when it comes to movies...I mean really, I can see the worth in almost anything...but my god..FUNNY GAMES is the worst movie I have ever seen. So slow, So frustrating, and the one time in the whole movie I cheered, the movie did this stupid infuriating "twist" that made me want to kick in the TV screen.

I'm one of those people though...I have to watch, even a terrible movie, 'til the end. I guess I was hoping for that redeeming last scene. Something that made all the frustration worth it...but no...not this time.

So if you've seen this...I'm sorry.
If you are tempted by the trailer, the way I was, DON'T DO IT! I figured since I wasted 2 hours of my life on this movie,
15 more minutes wouldn't hurt. Hopefully it will save others from the torture.

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

2008-12-28T14:10:00.000-08:00

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

I guess I'll go...

2008-11-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-10-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-07-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-06-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

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

I can thank the Soviets

2008-06-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

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

Cross your fingers!

2008-05-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

House Hunt is OVA!

Hopefully all goes well!

Writing on the Wall

2008-04-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-04-20T14:33:00.001-07:00

Could you live with it?

I kind of like it!

My Claim to Fame

2008-03-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-02-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

Rockin in the Free World ~ Rock Band Party Pics!

Elaine Benes Tribute

2008-02-09T08:23:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-02-08T14:38:00.000-08:00

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

10 Things You Can Do Instead of Watching TV

2008-02-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-01-29T15:24:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-27T10:40:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-01-27T07:01:00.000-08:00

...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!

2008-01-26T16:12:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-09T17:46:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-01-08T16:19:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-07T17:14:00.000-08:00

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.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

From mine to yours! I hope your Christmas was wonderful, full of love and family, and sprinkled with magic!

Christmas Spirit Acapella!

2007-12-15T15:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas kisses!

2007-12-10T19:42:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas!

Belated Thanks!

2007-11-26T16:57:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving...mine was great! I spent it with family and great friends. We had yummy food, a 23lb turkey, and wine! Who could ask for more? Well I did get to play Rock Band all the holiday. It was mindless and fun. The kids even joined in! Who knew Jakob was a drum phenom?

One sour note of the holiday though....this morning I woke up to a broken car window, stolen portable DVD players, 40 missing DVDs, and a pilfered XM satellite radio. What a crummy way to start back to work. :( I'm still thankful that no one was hurt, that we all have our health, and well..... for the bonding effects of turkey and video games! Thank goodness that wasn't in the car!

Singing the Praises!

2007-11-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

Do you love your hometown? I love my hometown of Corpus Christi even in the 110 degree heat of August! I love it even when I hate it! Ellen has started this new type of online scrapbooking about hometowns all over the country. Check it out to see what interesting things your neighbors have to say about your home "tierra".

some interesting things I found under Corpus Christi, TX.

1.Most talented Corpus Christi Kid - Now I'll be singing "up down up down I go Cwazy" all day!

2. Texas is the catapult to California for beautiful women like Eva Longoria, Farrah Fawcett, and hmm, umm, Betty White!

3. We were jipped out of a Guinness World Record for the largest sno-cone! If you live in Corpus and have never had a Sno-ball sno-cone...stop what you're doing and go now! I know it's still 90 degree in the middle of November there, and a sno-cone would hit the spot!

Go check out your hometown. Maybe you will find out something new!

http://ellen.aol.com/

I was a rockstar in another life...

2007-10-29T22:07:00.000-07:00

and Guitar Hero III lets me relive the memories! I'm so addicted to this game! It is so much fun...and it has a killer playlist! I haven't been this enamoured with a video game since Ms. Pac-man!

Even though I know the truth....

2007-10-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

It still kills me that celebrities look so damn good in their pictures! I know it's all smoke and mirrors, and this website I visited today shows the magic of photography touch-ups! I spent a few minutes enjoying the before and after pics! If you roll over each picture over and over again it looks really cool (and kind of scary Nicolette Sheridan)!

When you get to the site, click on portfolio!

By the way, no photo shopping was used in the picture of me above! Even though my legs do look soooo thin! Well... maybe I did photo shop about three inches of hair for effect ( I am so lying, my hair was really that big!)

Go check out the beautiful people below!
http://www.iwanexstudio.com/

Trippy!

2007-10-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Chris and I watched this for half an hour! It goes both ways for me! Check it out!

Optical illusion! Are you left or right brained?

What worries you?

2007-10-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

10 Things that Worry You

1. The environment. I'm not a tree hugger, but I care and worry about how what we do affects how we will live.

2. Money, Money, Money. There is never enough.

3. Getting older. I look pretty good for thirty-something, but I can see my face and body changing. It's a very scary thing. If I had enough of #2 then I'd be on Christian Troy's table getting the best view AND service in plastic surgery!

4. Time, Time, Time. There is never enough. (wait...Didn't I already say that?)

5. My kids. Do they watch too much TV? Do I give them enough attention? Will they make dumb mistakes (like I did)? Do they love me like I love them?

6. Random accidents. If you know me, you know I'm not scared to die of falling, in a fire, or in a car crash. I am more afraid of dying or losing someone in a freak accident; something that no amount of careful planning could prevent.

7. Middle and High school kids mental health. As a teacher, I see some disturbed students and the signs ARE THERE. They need help before it gets to the point of black trench coats and an armory of assault rifles.

8. My brother. So idealistic. So hippy chic. So poor and aimless.

9.My eyes. I get blinder and blinder everyday. Soon I will unable to drive, have to have a guide dog, and a carry a white taped stick.

10. Diabetes. I am a sugar fiend (I have gotten better though) and it runs in my family.

10 Cities You Could Live In (for a month, for a year...if you couldn't live in your own)

2007-09-11T18:41:00.001-07:00

1. London - I love an English accent, and I think I would be endlessly entertained just people watching (and listening). I would also love the music scene!
2. San Antonio - When we went to visit this summer we were enthralled! Things I have seen a million times (The Alamo, Market Square, Space Needle, etc) seemed like the first time!
3. Cypress, Texas - To be near Brigette and Kylie for a little while.
4. Las Vegas - for a month of debauchery!
5. Atlanta- For inexpensive houses and a million things to do, not to mention being close to my in-laws ( Yes I would want to be close to them!)
6. Austin - We were not impressed with Austin when we went to visit this summer (damn non-flying bats!) but I would love to live there for a few weeks for the South by Southwest music festival.
7. Barcelona - because it just sounds beautiful.
8. Souda Bay, Crete - For the goat cheese pizza, the harbor, and the restaurant on the cliff all described to me second hand by my hubby.
9. Ft. Walton Beach, Florida - White beaches and warm water, who could ask for anything more!
10. Maui - Do I even need to explain why?

13.1

2007-09-08T06:08:00.000-07:00

Check me out!

A month later...tanned and just as busy!

2007-09-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

So... our vacation was awesome! I havent uploaded all 500 pictures to Kodak Gallery yet but I do have the South Carolinian leg pics up. Thanks to Mark, Sarah, Jack, and all the other awesome family members we met while we were there. It was a great time.

For all 103 pictures click on the link below.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=uavuwsc.c4wfrosg&x=0&y=6721x

Why must you mess up my mojo?

2007-08-09T06:28:00.000-07:00

5 miles in the heat of the Morn'. AHHHH refreshing! Some weird old guy trying to lick the sweat off of me as I run by...disturbing! I almost had to stop because I was THAT freaked out.

:(~ <----GROSS!

On a brighter note.....

This is the new website I found online! I can map any run I do. I DON"T have to drive around in my car, checking mileage, wasting precious gas! Yea!

Granby Newport 5 miler
Find more Runs in Norfolk, Virginia

The key to my sanity!

2007-08-08T06:44:00.001-07:00

Running makes me a nicer person!

If you only knew!

2007-07-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

Chris makes me laugh everyday! This picture was taken on "date" night. We had a great time just walking around taking pictures of each other. This picture was taken with the timer and that is genuine laughter from both of us. Can't you tell? Not everyday is this much fun, but these are the moments that I cherish.

Want to hear something you've never heard before?

2007-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is a great independent internet radio site that is out of Corpus Christi, Texas (my home town!). Mostly country, some other "crossover" stuff, and pop too. I love supporting local and independent music, and this is a great way to do it. Check it out...especially if you are from Texas, because these are mostly local bands that play around the state!

http://www.hosstheboss.com

Runner's High

2007-07-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

I love the way my shadow looks when I'm running with the sun at my back. The sinewy lines are fluid harmony. I look thinner, stretched like good yoga. No bumps are visible, just solid grey movement. As it pulls me forward, appearing in and out of the tree's dappled shadows, I see the gait of my father, and it makes me run a little longer. Of all his qualities, quirks, and passions, I'm glad this is one that I inherited.

Animated GIFs

Ten on Tuesday...but it's Wednesday!

2007-07-18T11:49:00.001-07:00

This is like a myspace survey...but cooler...and shorter! Ten on Tuesday is remenicent of John Cusack's lists on High Fidelity. I love lists, and when I saw this on a friends blog I thought, "I wanna do it too!" Here it goes...

Movies that I remember fondly from my youth:

1) The Neverending Story - THe first movie I recorded on VHS to watch over and over!
2) Mary Poppins - I knew all the songs
3) Superman I and II - I waited in line to see it the second one in theaters!
4) Beetlejuice - shake shake shake Senora shake yo body line!
5) Clash of the Titans - One of the greatest movies of all time!
6) Big - Tom Hanks is the best!
7) Pinocchio - My parents say I cried at the end...because it was over!
8) The Wizaed of OZ - I knew all those songs too, and the munchkin dances!
9) Star Wars - Because I was in love with Mark Hamill!

I was wrong about Paula Abdul

2007-07-16T14:34:00.001-07:00

Beacause of my hectic schedule, three jobs and graduate class, I only got two hours of sleep last night. I haven't gone on two hours of sleep since my early twenties, and I'm telling you it is a strange experience. It's like being on drugs I think. My heart was racing all day. I was jittery, and I was so tired I COULDN'T sleep. WEIRD! I seemed to get a second wind about 5 pm... Complete turn around... I cleaned (something I've been neglecting) , I ran 4 miles, I did lesson plans. It's surreal. Usually, 5 hours of sleep is what I get, and I am EXHAUSTED by the end of the night, sometimes falling asleep by 7pm. It was strange this morning though, and I can see where Paula Abdul and Uncle Jesse claimed sleep deprivation for their strange actions. I wish I had video of me this morning...but I don't. It was a little like this though....

Pickles, Popcorn, and Popsicles

2007-07-12T13:45:00.001-07:00

Do you think I could create a diet with those three things? The three Ps! I wish I could lose twenty pounds eating the three Ps! I probably could if that was all I ate....hmmmmmmmm. That might get old. Maybe this will satisfy my salty/sweet tooth for now.

More Games at arcadecabin.com | Cool Generators

Father's DAY!

2007-06-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there, and especially to my two favorite dads of all time! I love you both very much. Chris, when I watch you with our children, I count my lucky stars! Dad, though it hasn't always been perfect, we have made leaps and bound in our relationship and I'm thankful.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

2007-05-27T13:15:00.001-07:00

My son Jake is 9 today! I remember having him in the hospital 9 years ago, the most traumatic birth of all three of my children, but so worth it! He is a gift!

Waitin'

2007-05-19T19:28:00.001-07:00

So I picked up a second job waiting tables. I've waited tables off and on for about ten years , so this seemed like the easiest thing to start to do again. I really want to start saving money for a down payment for a house, and though I do have a full time job, three kids are very expensive! For those of you who have NEVER waited tables, it is not as easy as it looks. You have to put up with a lot of bull. I'm pretty good at it because I am a service pacifist. I hate confrontation, and I like to make people happy. So, I understand the term "the customer is always right".

What I have noticed in the many years of waiting tables is that it is the same story, different actors. You have the SAME archetypes working in the restaurant business. it's almost comical. here are some that I have noticed at the new restaurant, that I have known at every restaurant I have ever worked at.

1. The MegaWitch - She complains about EVERYTHING: Tips, what she is expected to do, the guests, the other servers, the weather, etc. She is a pain to work with, she's never happy, and she has been there longer than you!

2. The Greediest Server Ever - In general, servers are there to make money. In that sense I guess there is a bit of greed, but there is always the one server who is the greediest of the bunch. He, usually a guy, will do anything to make a buck. He will take on too many tables, he will sacrifice the kitchen ("the kitchen is running really slow tonight" when in fact he forgot to put your order in), he will be cheap on the tip out, he will bitch and moan if you get the party he wanted, and he will always, always brag about his tips.

3. The Crazy Kitchen Guy - He is an ass. He yells and screams at the servers. He is rude, crude, makes bad jokes, but is amazing with the homemade lobster bisque. You've seen those reality cooking shows. I guess its a prerequisite if your going to be a food genius to be an asshole.

4. The Way Too Dedicated Manager - Company guy who haunts the restaurant 80 hours a week. He is so dedicated he has a coronary when things are not going just right. This is his baby, and you have to do right by it. I can respect a hard worker, but the obsession of some these guys is just strange.

If I've forgot any let me know!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

2007-05-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I get really bored, and only a mindless AddictingGame can cure that kind of boredom! This game is my favorite because it really isn't as mindless as you may think. You have to think about negative space and that makes me think I COULD be a math genius! Not really, but the BAKER looks like Jon Lovitz and that makes me laugh!

Play Games at AddictingGames

A Mother's Gift to the World

2007-05-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a great Mother's Day! Amidst all the gifts (Click here to check out mine!)remember as a mother you have also given a gift to the world! This truth was clarified to me when I received this email from my mother~

Monica,

I wrote this mother's day poem about 25 years ago. I JUST REALIZED IT IS UNFINISHED. Please add the next stanza. Happy Mother's Day. Love your mother.

I GAVE A GIFT TO THE WORLD,
OF MY OWN MAKING AND NURTURE,
HANDCRAFTED WITH LOVE AND PASSION.
THERE STANDS MY GIFT
MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN MICHAEL ANGELO'S STONE
MORE MYSTERIOUS THAN DA VINCI'S OWN.

Wow...It's true. Our children are the true gifts. This is the poem with the stanza I added.

I GAVE A GIFT TO THE WORLD,
OF MY OWN MAKING AND NURTURE,
HANDCRAFTED WITH LOVE AND PASSION.
THERE STANDS MY GIFT
MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN MICHAEL ANGELO'S STONE
MORE MYSTERIOUS THAN DA VINCI'S OWN.

I GAVE A GIFT TO THE WORLD,
AND THAT GIFT RECIPROCATED,
MULTIPLIED AND DIVIDED INTO GLEAMING FACETS.
MY OFFERING IS ETERNAL REPRODUCTION,
AS SOPHISTICATED AS THE MAYAN SPAN OF TIME
AS INFINITE AS THE THEORIES OF EINSTEIN.

We've decided that we are going to add a stanza every year. What a wonderful "gift" my mother has given me. Thank you Mom! I love you!

In anticipation of Jake's birthday!

2007-05-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Jakob, my middle boy, has his birthday weekend all lined up! He wants to see Pirates of the Caribbean, go to a baseball game, AND have a birthday party! His birthday just happens to fall during the Memorial Day weekend this year, so we have an extra day to party. Jakob's party last year was lots of fun. So fun, in fact, I created a birthday music video for him. Just call it Jake's Apple Tree~

(be sure to silence my music mayhem on the left so you can hear the music accompaniment!)

Jake's Apple Tree

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My Muse!

2007-05-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

My friend Sarah is an amazing artist! A few years ago she "talked" me into taking a painting class with her at a time that I really needed a creative outlet. It was the best thing that could have happen to me at that time in my life. I was stifled and Miss Sarah B gave me the opportunity to express myself. After the class was over, she continued to teach me on her own time. We would meet at her apartment on Monday nights up until she went back to Chattanooga. I miss her so much! And I miss our wine drenched Monday night painting sessions. She recently sent me pictures from her art show, and I was floored. Most exciting is that she sold some pieces! Below are some of my favorite pictures from her art show. She is so awesome!

Busiest Month ever!

2007-05-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

I spoke to my dad this past week and he said, "Why haven't you called me?"
"I've been so busy Dad!" was my reply.
and he agreed, "You're the busiest person I know!"
I don't know if that's true, but I have been very busy in the last couple of weeks with life, school, and the kids.

Some of the things that happened or are happening this month (yes and we are only at the beginning!):

Gabe will be starting private viola lessons May 8th

Alyssa and Jakob's soccer season is winding down so trophies had to be ordered, money collected, and banquet planned (Chris and I are the team coaches!)

I will be beginning my graduate classes May 10th

May 4th was my mother's birthday

May 5th was Cinco de Mayo (so many people don't know what it's all about so click the link to learn)

May 5th was Sarah Sherfey's Art Show in Chattown! (She is my muse in everything artistic)

May 5th was the wildest Peruvian Party ever celebrating the graduation of Claudia and Pia!

May 6th is the wedding date of Jake Briggs and his lovely wife!

There are so many more miniscule things that had to be taken care of and organized in the last couple of weeks as well! We aren't even half way through the month yet!

Oh and how could I forget! one more entry to the list:

Spiderman 3 came out and so requires a family outing (50 dollares for tickets! No popcorn for anyone!)

So I'm off...how was your month?

Cool Music and Art!

2007-04-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

I am SERIOUS about music

2007-03-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

You are the music while the music lasts.
T. S. Eliot
I am a music lover. It may sound cliché, but I do have very eclectic taste, and I listen to almost everything. I can see the merit in so many songs, bands, and genres, and I want to absorb it all. It KILLS me that I am not an expert on ALL music. I want to be a bottomless vessel of music knowledge, filled to the brim with first hits, previous bands, and best songs. I want to be able to spout appropriate lyrics just at the right moment during intense conversations, and make interesting music analogies to support arguments. In the spirit of the above quote I will make a music commitment. For 365 days I will blog about music, songs, instruments, bands, lyrics, and anything else I think is significant to the love of the tune. I am by no means an expert, though that wish lives in my heart or hearts. Please help me by sending suggestions, music information, interesting lyrics, pictures, rants, and raves. So while the music lasts, I’ll be the music- blogger ;~ )

March Madness?

2007-03-14T17:37:00.000-07:00

This is Spar-ta! Chris took me to see 300 this weekend and I was floored! We had to wait until 10:00pm to get a ticket because all the earlier shows were sold out. I was very tired and wondered how I would stay awake through a two hour movie! HA! I couldn't have slept through that movie even if I had been up for a week prior! It is an amazing movie! It makes me want to paint pictures in vivid comic book colors! It makes me want to go back to school and major is ancient historical battles! It makes me want to be a Spartan woman (I think maybe I was in another life!) It makes me want to wash clothes on the abs of those scantily clad Grecians! Even if you haven't been to the movies in 10 years, you must go see this movie. Don't wait until it goes to video! Don't wait 10 years for ABC to put it on the Saturday night movie special. Don't wait until you can buy it for 5 bucks at the thrift store! SEE IT NOW! If you are still skeptical, check out the trailer below. I have many favorite lines and parts that I would recommend to you, the viewer, but I want you to notice the unspoken power of the Spartan queen when she gives King Leonidas the nod to do what he must to send the message to the Persians!

2007-03-05T16:34:00.000-08:00

Oompa Loompa Doompadi doo I have another story for you….I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and as a kid I was a little obsessed with the book and the movie. When Nestle created the Wonka candy line… I was first in line. I have been a fan ever since. Nerds, Runts, Fun Dip, Tart and Tinys (remember how they were little cylinders?!), and Bottle Caps were all given their fair shot as being my favorite Wonka candy. I was enamored, though, with the Everlasting Gobstopper, a jawbreaker that changed colors and seemed to last forever, hence the name. I think I liked the way it changed colors more than the actual flavor. It was FUN to eat, like the book was FUN to read, and the movie was FUN to watch. As I grew older my palate matured and I discovered the Wonka Bar. I love candy, but this is my all time favorite. The reason I reminisce about such things is because I was reminded of my fondness for the Wonka Bar by a very thoughtful gift today. At work we have the staff morale building Secret Pal program. If you don’t know about Secret Pals I’ll give you a quick run down. You choose a name from the "hat" and buy little gifts for that person during the week to brighten their days. Of course someone reciprocates your good deeds by getting you little gifts too. You usually fill out a questionnaire about your likes and dislikes, allergies, and whatever else you want your person to know about you. I was pretty thorough, but forgot to mention the ever loved Wonka Bar on the most recent list of favorites. That’s where a good secret pal does some research on you and asks around. I was lucky enough to have some coworkers remember my rabid passion for Wonka candy. Today my secret pal left me a pink polka dotted bag (very cute all by itself) full of TEN Wonka Golden Crème Eggs! I almost died with excitement because this was a new candy I had not tried. They are….incredibly delicious! Very much like my favorite Wonka Bar, but with caramel in the center. It makes me think of Veruca Salt and how she wanted it all, but couldn’t have it because she was a bad egg. I, obviously, am a very good egg.

Hemingway's library

2007-02-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

Libraries are great! Being a public school teacher, I have visited my school library on many occasions, but I haven't been to a public library in a while. I went today in search of bilingual children's books for a student who doesn't speak one word of English, and some drama duos and monologues for my forensics team. I hit pay dirt with the Spanish literature, not so good with the drama. It seems all the monologues were not "age appropriate". The librarians were helpful and knowledgeable. The library was inviting and well lit (reminding me of a Clean Well-Lighted Place). This brought back memories of when I was a kid and would trek to the library, a mile away, on boring summer days, or visiting Grandma is the summer (where my husband will contest is the HOTTEST place on Earth) and sitting in the air conditioning reading and playing board games with my cousins. AWWWWW nostalgia! I'm glad my children were as exciting about the outing as I was. Even my thirteen year old was excited about the possibility of checking out "music".

"Like CD's?" I asked.
"No, like books of sheet music!" he replied.

Duh, MOM, you know you have a little Mozart on your hands. Alyssa was winning over all the library staff, too. She helped the library's security officer clean up the children's section. She beamed the whole time and received accolades from the librarians when she finally approached the check out desk. Over all it was a nice way to spend the evening. Next outing the MUSEUM!

Presidents and Tea Parties

2007-02-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

The Boston Tea Party it was not, but nonetheless very enjoyable. In celebration of the long President's Day weekend Alyssa, Sarah, and I had a "Teddy Bear Tea Party"! We made a reservation at The Painted Lady and had a very nice time! I had a pot of Golden Tipped Deejeerling and Alyssa and Sarah had a pot of Apricot. Sarah insists I should be English because of the enthusisam of my tea drinking. I drank all of my pot and about 3/4 of Alyssa's pot. I guess being an "English" teacher sets me up for that! BAD JOKE! I hope everyone has a great long weekend!

V-Day!

2007-02-14T14:09:00.001-08:00

Hugs and kisses! Happy Valentines Day!

Smart Art!

2007-02-10T07:53:00.000-08:00

http://webexhibits.org/colorart/

Check out this site! This site allows you to create your own 'Marilyn' prints in real time on screen with an embedded flash file. Very Cool! It also has some other neat interactive pages dealing with color and art! I love it!

Running on Empty

2007-02-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

There is always so much to do and never enough time to do it! I feel like I am constantly on the go! I need a vacation, a maid, a personal assistant, a nanny, etcetera, etcetera. Any volunteers?

Humble Pie

2007-01-31T21:16:00.000-08:00

I saw this video the other morning. If anyone knows me, they know I am a huge Johnny Cash fan. Johnny Cash was an incredible musician, as well as a very organic public figure. No matter how much he had, he was humble. He gave roots to inventive music. Johnny could take something old, and make it new, make it his own. I believe that is why he is such a figure of inspiration for many artist today. I read all over the web how some people hated this video. They didn't get how a man who wore black because of his support for the poor and downtrodden could be honored by a bunch of rich celebrities, some not very humble at all. Maybe you won't get it either, but I did. If anything, enjoy the song. It's amazing.

Gabe is going to be a rockstar!

2007-01-31T17:44:00.000-08:00

My big baby is so entertaining! He's the one singing, though he is a virtuoso on the viola too! He really has some musical talent. Check him out at his school program. They left his group for last....because they always leave the best for last!

Hidee Hidee Hidee Ho

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HUH?

2006-03-26T07:47:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am going against my better judgment and starting a blog. I have dabbled with a myspace blog and have created a few other websites for work and play, but this is going to be my personal, mind on the web, blog. Even if nobody reads it, Even if nobody comments, even if it is a huge failure and I only get this one post up, it will be mine. That alone is comforting.