A Perfect Ending

The holiday went very nice. We saw Harry Potter, ate lots of pumpkin pie and Little Man came up with the perfect ending to a perfect week last night. He fell off of his bunk bed ladder and broke his arm. Now I have the cutest seven year old in the world with his arm in a cast and sling talking about how cool it is to have cement on your arm.

Flashback Friday: 1974

Hello all. I cannot believe I did not blog all week. I was home, just not feeling very well. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I will be returning emails very soon.

Today's picture was snapped by my mother when I was four. She was looking for me when she woke up but I was nowhere to be found. Children are often one with nature (I was no exception) and loved playing outside from the moment I got out of bed. My mom came looking for me and found my messy hair and dirty face just having fun. I did notice she had one of those ID anklets for me that were so popular in the 70's. I had one for my son (a bracelet) but it was when he had seizures. So my blogging buddies where did your four year old self like to disappear to?

A Date & The Man in Black

Mr. Daphnewood and I went to see a movie together this weekend. It was very nice going out with just him and having his undivided attention. He even left the pager in "off" mode. Whoohoo! I am still not feeling well but we still managed to have a decent time. We saw the movie "Walk the Line". Mr. Daphnewood is a huge fan of Johnny Cash. The movie was fantastic and more about the relationship between Cash and June Carter. Very awesome. My husband said "well that was a good movie. Enough of the love story to keep chicks happy and enough rowdy boy mischief to keep the guys happy. Yes, there was something for everyone and awesome music." Okay so maybe he isn't Roger Ebert but I couldn't have said it better myself. Have a great week everyone.

Flashback Friday: Best Class Picture Ever

Little Man has picture day today at his school. That inspired me to share M-Boy's very first class picture. It is a classic:



M-Boy had just been diagnosed with autism and put into a early intervention class with other children who have disabilities too. All of these children have special needs of some type. This photo was so hilarious but I just really felt bad for his teachers who look traumatized by the whole ordeal. M-Boy is sitting in a little blue chair on the right (front row). The only child "looking" at the photographer was the little girl on the left who happened to be blind. Oh I laughed for days over this one. I have a sick sense of humor, don't I? The children were crying because the photographer INSISTED they interrupt the children's breakfast to take this photo. Everyone share their nightmare school picture stories now! You know you have one.

Winter Colds

Well, I got sick. Is it any wonder? Yesterday I couldn't even blog because I was so feverish and lethargic. I feel better today but I am still sneezing and coughing. We have been lighting a fire every night but last night I made my husband turn on the heater for an hour. We all claim that we get "stuffy" when a heater is used but damn, I wanted a little bit of stuffiness since my nose was like a faucet. Yes, Daphnewood was a walking commercial for Nyquil. But enough of this silly whiney post. Time to read y'all's blogs!

It Has Started

I know I am probably behind the rest of you on this but it snowed today in Kansas City. Yes, it was the first snow of "the season". I was born and raised in Southern California. I lived in Houston, Texas the last 8 years. I don't like the snow. My mom was very happy and excited but I just pulled my coat tighter and ate my soup. It is going to be a long winter. At least the fireplace isn't just for show anymore.

I Used to be Cool

This weekend Mr. Daphnewood and I were browsing through one of those dollar stores that are independently owned. It was a very clean place (SHOCKING) but empty. I think we were the only customers in the store. The music was playing overhead and a song came on that I like. Mr. Daphnewood and I have very different tastes when it comes to music so I was sort of being sarcastic (but not in a mean way) when I said "I bet you don't know who sings this song" He just laughed at me and said "I bet you're right. Knowing you, it is probably some weird guy." I told him with authority that the group that sang the song was called Better Than Ezra. That is when the clerk broke out in applause. He was clapping and said "wow! I am impressed! You knew who sang that song." I was thinking, not only do I know who sings it but I know the name of the song (Good) and like others by them such as Rosealia and Desperately Wanting (one of the best songs of all time btw). I mean, gosh, why was the guy so impressed that I knew? Maybe I couldn't pick the band members out of a crowd but I like the music. I might not look it anymore, but I used to be cool.

Flashback Friday: Galveston Island 2003

I know I have been posting a lot of pictures of my kids but I had to share this one. This picture is one of my all time favorites because it is proof of a fantastic day. The picture is Little Man taken within 30 seconds of him getting his shoes off. It was the very first time he ever saw the ocean. He had been to a beach a few years before when he was a baby but this was the first time he could process it all. We went to NASA that day and I decided to drive the extra 45 minutes south so I could show the kids the water. I will always remember how excited and happy he was at that moment. Growing up in CA makes one spoiled for dark blue water and soft sand so Galveston looked dirty to me. But after one look at that water, he threw up his arms in the air and laughed and squealed with joy. At that moment, Galveston became my favorite beach. He was soaked within five minutes but I didn't care. I don't know if he will remember that day but I know I will NEVER forget it.

Oh Yeah, I'm Smart (ass)

The lovely Rowan had this link to a stupidity quiz. So now I think I am all that and a bag of chips because I scored totally smart. I am going to change my screen name to Braniac too. I am just joking y'all! The quiz is entertaining but it is a farce. Be warned, they are trick questions (most of them) but try it out for some fun anyway. Be sure to stop by Rowan's blog and wish her a very Happy Birthday thursday.

Solin's Observation

One morning sitting around our table, Solin and her brother brought up the topic of putting cheese and chocolate on food. They had decided that every type of food there is can have either cheese or chocolate added to make it taste better. Now some of us do not like cheese or chocolate (or maybe they are just allergic) but I really had a hard time thinking of something that people do not add cheese or chocolate. It doesn't mean you prefer broccoli smothered in cheese, only that it can be done and wouldn't be unheard of. Drinks don't count. Lets just name a few.

popcorn- lots of cheese on cheddar corn isn't there?
rice- cheesy rice and broccoli casserole
steak- yes some people would add cheese to that and I think virtually any meat has been combined with cheese at some point
rice crispies- cocoa crispies are on the market
green beans- some will add cheese
mexican flan- drizzle it with chocolate syrup

the only thing I could think of were some Asian dishes but even those could have some hard cheese put into them to test it out. So can you think of anything? Think about what you ate today. Maybe some oatmeal (add chocolate chips once in a while) for breakfast or scrambled egg (American cheese blended in). Maybe lunch was a salad (sprinkled with parmesan cheese). Snack time was an apple (cheese and chocolate both go with this). It is mind boggling. So I challenge you all to fill my comment box with suggestions. I am not creative enough and my head hurts ;)

Songs That Take You Back

Spencer posted on his blog the 5 top songs that take him back to his glory days and asked his readers to make their own list. After much thought, I came up with a list that evokes very distinct memories that aren't necessarily "good". Music has always been a big part of my life in good times and bad. So here is my list of songs that take me back to some point in my life.

In no particular order

Red Rain by Peter Gabriel- this song I can feel in my bones. I can smell the ugly shag carpet in my teenage bedroom and taste diet pepsi. This song also makes me want to sketch since I did that alot in my youth listening to Peter Gabriel.

I'm Not the Man I Used to Be by FYC (Fine Young Cannibals)- this song was playing when I had my first sexual encounter. Not really a good memory but not really bad either. 'nuff said on that one *blush*

Boys of Summer by Don Henley- I can see the faces of my friends as we drove home from a day at the beach. It was our last trip down there before school started and we were a little sad. We had the windows rolled down and this song was playing.
Nobody on the road
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summer's out of reach

I'd Be Better Off (In A Pine Box) by Doug Stone- Mr. Daphnewood is an excellent singer. He would sing this song to me before we were married. This takes me back to my first summer in Texas with the katydids chirping in the trees and bright stars against a black sky. I knew I was in love.

Down On Me by Aslan- Not many of you will know this song. It is by an Irish group that I watched live in an outdoor plaze in Dublin. I was 18 and the city was celebrating its millenium birthday. When this song plays, I remember a singer shaking my hand from the stage, I can smell strawberry ice cream and beer. It was a very happy time. This song makes me feel hopeful for some strange reason.

There are so many songs that evoke emotions, memories and even smells. These are just five that I can think of right now. Anyone have any songs that do that to you?

Flashback Friday: Doing Dares

How many of you have ever been dared to do something? As a young child I loved to spin and roll and bounce. At age 18 I felt like I was too mature for that until my friend dared me to roll down this hill in a park with the whole world watching. I did it and I must admit, it hurt more than before but it was still loads of fun! What kind of dares have you done?

Daphnewood the Jellyfish

I can never tell my family exactly what is on my mind. I don't like to start conflict and I often go extra lengths to be a peacemaker. I feel so spineless. Just once I would like to be brave enough to speak freely. Just once.

Rescue Needed

I am usually a "roll with it" type of girl. Lately, I have been letting stress get the better of me. I figure people handle stress in many ways but stress itself effects you two ways only: mentally and physically. I am so good at not letting stress distort my thinking. I push it down and push it down but my body starts getting a fever here or an ache there. If it is prolonged stress my mono will show up again. I know how the cycle works. But this past week I have let stress mess with my mind. I get mad at stupid things and just have this general negative attitude. Does anyone have a spare "jaws of life" machine so I can pull my head out of my rear-end? Tomorrow is an eat day. I will immerse myself with chocolate to save the day and my attitude. Hey desperate times call for desperate measures.

Also, go check out this cute quiz on Etchen's blog. I was Sally.

And go look at Kimananda's jack-o-lantern Danish style!