Can't I just stay home and have a turkey sandwich?

[wistful sigh]

I went and saw the Twilight movie last night. By myself. Which sounds sad, but it wasn't. Really!

In fact...it was sort of awesome. And by sort of awesome, I mean FUCKING FANTASTICALLY RAD. Heh.

The reasons for this are:

1. I got to see a movie of a book that I totally got into and it was, surprise of all surprises, good. I loved it, in fact. Very true to the book, steamy, romantic, entertaining...It made me all nostalgic for teenage love. Remember when it was all encompassing, intense, passionate? When you were apart from that person you felt crazy and when you were with them it was like you were suffocating and they were the only source of oxygen? Sigh. Married, stable, old(er) people love is good too, don't get me wrong, but there's just something about those heady teenage romances that were loads of fun. And this movie brought those memories rushing back which was not entirely unpleasant, you know? I'm already looking forward to the next one.

2. I got to sit where ever I wanted and eat Milk Duds. Enough said.

3. I HAD TIME TO MYSELF. Alone. With my thoughts. I put my feet up on the seat in front of me, switched my phone to vibrate and really enjoyed myself. (Heh, not like that. Get your mind out of the gutter...although it was tempting once Edward Cullen made his appearance...)

I feel refreshed. Totally worth the $8.50.

* * * * * * * * * *

And now, suddenly, it is Thanksgiving. How did that happen? Anyone? I'm taking tomorrow afternoon off to make pies (my contribution to the gluttony) and then we are driving down into Colorado on Thursday to have dinner with the husband's family. It's always a little weird for me, having Thanksgiving there, even though its what we have been doing for the entire time we've been married (8 years and change).

You guys know what I mean: The turkey isn't quite cooked the way my mom used to do it. They have Italian stuffing instead of the southern cornbread dressing that I grew up with. They have sweet potato rolls with raisins in them (gross!)...again, not what I grew up with. I mean, its all totally fine but...you know...different.

And then, of course, there is the forced merriment, the smiling and talking to people which, c'mon, we all know I excel at THAT (uh huh)... That and the pretending to enjoy sitting around staring at each other for hours on end. At least they are not football fans, because truly, that would kill me to be stuck in a house all day listening to those awful commentators talking about the stupidest sport known to man. So it could be worse.

Anyway, I may not post again before the holiday so I'll say it now: Happy Thanksgiving...here's to hoping your travels go well for those of you traveling and for those of you staying put, let's just say I'm a little jealous. Cheers.

7:15 am

As I was drying my hair after a lovely hot shower (which followed a fabulous workout- I love getting up early to work out. Isn't that weird? It just makes me feel good. I know. WEIRDO) I overheard this coming from Otto's room down the hall:

Dad: Hrmm.....do these go together?

O: Nee nee no NO! Hahahaha!

Dad: What about this shirt and these pants?

O: Blah blah BAH no no Mama!...Book?

Dad: Ok. This is what you are wearing.

A few minutes later, Otto comes out in a blue and white striped onesie, camouflage pants, with gray and red shoes.

Mama: That is quite an outfit!

Dad: [glare]

O: Juice mooooooom?

In the cold gray tomb there was a gravestone...

At the moment, Otto's very favorite thing in the whole entire world is Books. With a capital B. Board Books, story Books, dad's Books (boring WWII non-fiction anyone?**) , mama's Books (oh Twilight series how I love thee)...if he sees a book he immediately begins a frantic signing of "more" (his go-to, catch-all sign) and saying "Eh! Eh eh eh!" with a pleading look in his eye.

Really, I swear his thought pattern must be something like: Books books books books BOOBS books books books.

So, for the sake of posterity, I am recording some of his very favorite books to read. Also, the list might give you some ideas if you have an older baby/toddler to shop for!

First, his tastes have a bit of the macabre: Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex. This is a spooky take on the classic Goodnight Moon...and Otto loves it more than the original. Like, a lot. It has mummies, werewolves, monsters, bats...and of course, a goon. I have to admit...I love it too.

Bears in the Night by Stan and Jan Berenstain. This little story about bears who sneak out of bed to find the source of the "Whoooooo" sound out their window is really simple but suprisingly fun. Again, there is the element of spooky with the bears running around in the dark and eventually climbing up "Spook Hill." Its fun and I think I've read it to him 20 times in the last 2 days.

Peek a Who? by Nina Laden. This one is so simple, yet so enjoyable. Otto loves that he can grab the pages by the hole in the middle.

Global Babies board book. This one, by the Global Fund for Children is a library find but I'll probably renew it for a while. Little O loves looking at the pictures of different babies from around the world. I have to admit that the photos are fun to look at.

Gossie by Olivier Dunrea. Oh. My. Word how Otto loves Gossie. And now, just typing the word I have the lilting script stuck in my head: "This is Gossie/ Gossie is a gosling/ A small yellow gosling who likes to wear bright red boots/ Everyday." It is a really fun book. We have also checked out from the library another of Dunrea's books, Boo Boo. While not as big a hit as Gossie has been (yet) its still lots of fun.

I know there are others that he enjoys right now, but these are the ones we keep coming back to, over and over and over and over and over...

I have to admit though... I'm, kinda proud of my little bookworm.

**Ok, so I know that WWII non-fiction is not really boring...I'm just trying to make myself feel better about reading teen vampire fiction. Heh.

Seriously, I'd rather eat dirt. It would probably taste better.

Ok, so those who know me best may be aware of one small food preference I hold. Or, maybe its a non-preference. Anyway, without putting too fine a point on it: I HATE cilantro.

With a passion.

It is disgusting.

If something has cilantro in it I GET PHYSICALLY ILL.

Turns out, though, I'm not the only one.

It's nice to find a community of like minded human beans, no? Heh.

The Haikus alone are worth clicking the link. My favorite:

Delicious taco
Befouled by green intruder
single tear falls

-zach272

LOL. Have a nice weekend :-)

In Which I am Slowly Regaining my Sanity

This weekend was a toughie. Sunday found me sicker than a dog, trying to clean the house, parent and nurse my aching head and sinuses full of rubber cement. The husband did what he could, but you know folks, when punk rock calls who are we mere mortals to resist its siren song? In all fairness, it was his band that was playing the gig and he really didn't have the option to bow out, but just allow me this tiny bit of bitter resentment. M'kay?

Today, I am finally feeling as though I am leaving the dark, dank woods of the WORST HEAD COLD EVER behind, which is extraordinarily wonderful. I can breathe again! The clarity is intoxicating...I was able to BREATHE THROUGH MY NOSE all night last night which did wonders for both my self esteem and my sad little chapped lips.

*********

In other news, I am nearly done with the second book of the Twilight series and OMG I'm hooked. Great literature they are not, but there's something to be said for super fun, entertaining escapism. And vampires.

Debating whether I want to go see the movie when it comes out next week...because I have such a clear picture in my head and I don't want the film to ruin it. But at the same time, the movie could be really fun. And there would be popcorn. I know...decisions, decisions.

*********

And, just to get it down somewhere so I don't forget, here's the latest on what little O is up to:

-Putting things in the trash ("tash") ...he throws things away and then claps for himself and says Good Job! ("goo-JAH!)

- Asking to nurse by making the sign for "more" and pointing to my boobs. When I ask "Milk?" He nods happily and says Yes ("YAY-es")

- He had his sixth tooth poke through last night and was not pleased about it. The good thing seems to be, though, that once it breaks the skin, he is fine. So he was up at 9:30 pissed beyond belief but then slept fine the rest of the night.

- He loves dogs ("DOG!"- he says this word very clearly) and trucks ("tuck!") and I got him a baby doll last week and he loves to give his baby a bottle. Its pretty much the cutest thing ever.

GIRAFFES!

A little known fact: Giraffes are my favorite animal at the zoo.

Enjoy!

One reason

There are about a bazillion reasons that I am happy about the election results, most of which I am sure you can guess. I could go into some of them...I could write again about how I desperately want the war in Iraq to end, about how women's rights now stand a fighting chance. I could list things like alternative energy, the environment, GLBT rights, education, health care...


But the main reason is much closer to me than that. So close in fact, that I woke up this morning with his milky sweet breath on my cheek, his tousled head next to mine on the pillow.

My son's future looks brighter than ever today and I'm savoring the moment.

Yay! us. Yay! U.S.

No, SERIOUSLY!

1. My state sort of SUCKS.

2. My country? Fucking RULES.

Congratulations all of us!

OMFG YOU GUYS

Its finally here. Election Day. Nov. 4th. Thank the powers that be.

I am a nervous wreck.

I didn't' wear my Obama shirt to work because at the last minute I decided it could be considered inappropriate. See what sort of wholly responsible employee I am?

Of course, when I got here (a bit late after voting! woot!) one of my co-workers was wearing a McCain/Palin shirt. Grrr. So I dug around in my bag and found an Obama button. So there.

Anyway, I'm glad that the whole thing is almost over. For better or for worse. But hopefully for better.

One More Day

Enjoy!