What's your Poison of choice?

I've been Cranky this week and I suspect it is due to Los Hormones. It pisses me off because this has actually been a nice week except for the low-hanging Cloud of Funk. I mean logically I know everything is Hunky Dory. Try telling that to my Mood. Also, I never understood the PMS/Chocolate connection. I like to eat chocolate when I am happy. When I am sad? Bring on the Carbs! Fried? EVEN BETTER. So, yesterday, I chowed down on a cheeseburger/potatoes extravaganza at Red Robin with my friend A and her neighbor M. Then, later for dinner, I chowed down on super yummy Mexican food with Bethiclaus. I was sick to my stomach by the time I got home from all that food. Literally. The "hanging over the toilet" kind. I am not a health nut by any means, but even that day of greasy carbs was too much for my system. Bleh..

To add to all this Crankiness, I am still a little bummed that I couldn't invite all MY friends to Arun's little Halloween shindig. Yeah, maybe I am overthinking this, but I had really hope to get a bigger space so that I wouldn't have to leave anyone out. I HATE leaving people out so I will try to do a better job of planning next year. I mean, I did try - I have been calling for a space for several weeks now, but the guy never called back and NOW, it's too late. Bah. Or Boo. Whatever.

So, we went to the gym this morning and it went pretty well. I got through some weights and some cardio before I went to get Arun who, as usual, was crying. But at least it wasn't so bad that they had to come and get me, per usual. And yeah, I felt better, so SEE? I AM trying. Feel sorry for me now? No? What if I told you that I totally boo-hoo'd my way through Terri Irwin's interview with Barbra Walters last night? And I didn't even really LIKE the Crocodile Hunter. Feel sorry for me NOW? No?

Anyway, enough Moping........Here's your public service announcement for the week: Ugly Betty is airing AGAIN on Saturday, at 11:00am on the Soap Network. If your DVR, like mine, has been smoking in the firestorm that is currently Thursday's Trifecta of Inconvenient TV Programming, you know that Survivor vs. The Office/My Name is Earl vs. Ugly Betty was getting seriously Out Of Control. Thanks goes to Throwing Things for pointing this out. This is probably a good time to point out that Throwing Things, hands down, has some of the best commentary going each morning after the episodes of Survivor and The Amazing Race air.

Shaggy Do

The Heir and his Hair. We are going to Lawrence today for a haircut. Will update later with the new coiffure.


UPDATED:

Haircut #7 - Prince of Wails

Don't mock. I know another Prince who has big ears. Ahem.


What's the big idea?

We were having issues getting the Heir to sit still so we could get a photographic gander at the Hair. My mom had a "great" idea that she would cover herself with a sheet as a backdrop and would hold Arun simultaneously. As you can see, it wasn't quite the snap she expected, but I was more than happy with the results. It was hard to hold the camara straight because I was laughing so hard.

Isn't Halloween the Best Holiday EVER??

Seriously! No commitment to Festive Decor, unless you really WANT it AND no Familial Responsiblities AND no gifts AND no Church AND no Mall Trolling AND no Dry, Bland Turkey AND best? NO GUILT. In the realm of Holidays That Are American, it doesn't get much better than that, folks. Take it or leave it. Which, um, I'll TAKE, thankyouverymuch ..... Ahem.

When I first found out that I was having a baby "on or around" October 15th, I could barely contain my excitement about having a HALLOWEEN baby. I anxiously picked out his first costume, wondering if he would arrive in time that we could attend Boo at the Zoo (which he didn't and then was way too "Newbornesque" to face the zoo. Little Stinker). However, he arrived in time that at least I was comfortable enough even HAVING a baby, so that I could dress him up and hand out candy all evening while holding him. Sweet.

I love Halloween and it has a long history. Such a long history, that I don't even remember it. I have pictures of faithful costumes put together by either my parents or my grandmother. I have memories of my dad dressing up with us to take us Trick 'r Treating - and my favorite was the Three Ghosts. Literally, my dad threw sheets over my baby sister, myself and himself. Sometimes, having a Hippie Parent is totally, completely, and utterly under-rated because that is still one of my most precious Halloween Memories EVER. Also, I have DISTINCT memories of him dressing up for my younger sister to the point it frightened her and he was banned from wearing the gorilla mask for several years. Furthermore, when I was a kid, we lived in the small Kansan town of Oskaloosa and folks, in the 70s, you Trick 'r Treated the WHOLE FUCKING TOWN. Seriously. Of course, even back then we heard the old Razor Blade in the Apple/Popcorn Ball story, but hello! That wasn't happening in Oskaloosa. Anyway, it makes me feel Warm n' Fuzzy to know that if we still live here when Arun is old enough, we can definitely Trick 'r Treat in our own neighborhood at least.

So, where am I going with this? I just sent out the Evite for Arun's 1st Halloween Party. I had decided WAY last year while Arun was still in utero that I probably would take advantage of the October birthday. My goal for this, is that it will always be a Halloween party and never, ever a Blow-Out Birthday party. Meaning, because it IS his birthday, Arun GETS to throw a party FOR his friends. My hope is that he will see this as a PRIVILEGE, this whole opportunity to do something nice for his friends. And of course, as he grows older, he will help in the planning and such. If he doesn't appreciate this? Then, obviously X and I went wrong somewhere and it probably started with that little red fuck, TMX Elmo. As you KNOW, Toys with Batteries? SPOIL the child, nevermind the rod.

Anyway, the only sad part of this whole Halloween Party is that it made me face the Stark Divide between MY friends and ARUN'S friends. My normal inclination would be to invite every single friend of MINE who has procreated in the past few years. However, we are having this Halloween party at our house and we have limited space, so I have to keep it to the actual people that Arun AND I hang out with. A very weird realization for me, but in a good way. It's always nice to have friends, isn't it? Even TOO many, if the case may be.

Oh, and The Official Halloween Costume for Arun? I've had it planned since MAY. I wish I was kidding.


No Bones About It

Hopefully, he holds up better THIS Halloween.

Puts new meaning to X marks the Spot, eh?

There has been a lot of Negativity going around lately and frankly, it has dragged me down. The World, Blogosphere, and damn, even the books I have been reading (My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult, Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, and an anthology called the Mommy Wars). After this spate of reading, I will need some sort of chick lit, straight up. With an olive.

Today was a nice day - if I can avoid the World and sorry, even Blogs, life is pretty damned good when viewed through the hazel-ish eyes of an 11 month old. We went to the library for Rhyme Time at 10:15am. I arrived 30 minutes early to do some research on something, but the library didn't open until 10am. So, I was there at 9:45am and I swear on the Heir and his Hair, Mommies with Progeny in tow were WAITING IN LINE for the doors to open. Good God. Anyway, we did get in and it was worth it. Arun LOVED all the other kids, the rhyming crapola and even the librarian lady doing it. He crawled right up to her and watched, mesmerized. So, I will probably fight the Masses next week. Although, they do offer an 11am session as well, so I don't see myself lining up at the door. After the library, we went home and played for awhile, the newest thing is his shapes puzzle. Sometimes, I feel really clueless as a mother. I didn't know he was ready for puzzles now, I just happened to get it out to make room for something else and he started playing with it. It makes me wonder what else I am missing. sigh. After Afternoon Nap (actually, these days it is THE Nap), we went to visit Great-Aunt P, which he always enjoys. Great-Aunt P has lots of fun toys - oxygen tank, walker, wheelchair, LL Bean catalogs, actual NEWSPAPERS (remember those, folks?). Then, we went to Target, then we went to the Park, then we came home and played some more. The End. A nice day, overall. I will say one thing - there has been much Toy Hate going on lately - like people posting about Hating Toys THIS or Hating Toys THAT. As a SAHM, I am dependent on the toys. Does Arun have too many? Yeah, probably. I have many, many kind friends who have lent me toys and I probably should give them back or store them away. BUT, he doesn't really watch TV, other than 5 minutes of Sesame Street if Elmo or Big Bird happen to have some screen time. The boy must be entertained someWAY, right? So what's wrong with toys? As today suggested, we do get out and about - plenty. And he plays with all the Basics - Blocks, Balls, and Books. But it still leaves a good 6 hours daily that we are home and Arun needs something to play with. End of Rant.


Anyway, Crazy Aunt Purl has asked people to email her their "knitting spots". I have been knitting a storm lately - still working on Arun's baby blanket. ahem Also, a hat for him that is actually halfway finished. I finished seaming my backpack and lo! I have seamed an entire ARM on The Sweater. No lie! I have Witnesses. Yeah, I knit the Sweater Pieces over a YEAR ago. Shut up. I was pregnant, fighting carpal tunnel AND couldn't wear a sweater last winter while breastefeeding anyway. Those are my excuses and I am sticking to them. So, here is my Knitting Spot. Puts new meaning to Happy Hour.

Although, an olive would still be nice.

I love sitting here, working on a piece, maybe watching TV or discussing things with X. I also like READING here, so this chair serves double duty.

What's your brain on TV?

Probably something fried. Potatoes, perhaps?

Hmmm... Not feeling the need to post about the kid today - not unless you want to hear about the Smackdown going on in the Shape Sorter: Circle vs. Square (Bring it ON!) or listen to an introspective discourse of the subtleties surrounding transportion: Walking vs. Crawling (Advantage: Crawling, for speed) or Alternative Solutions for Shape Puzzles (Answer: not many). No?

I will say this, when we are playing, I still snicker internally every time I say to Arun, “Look! BLUE ball!”. Also, I am ashamed to admit that I had NO clue as to the actual lyrics for the diddy “Do your ears hang low?”. Seriously, this is a REAL song? And a clean one, no less? I was shocked when I first heard the strains of that song come from one of Arun’s toys because I’d always heard the naughty version. Next, I’ll probably discover that the Diarrhea Song also has clean lyrics. Egads.

So, I finally caught up with my DVR over the weekend. The lovely thing about a dual-tuner DVR is that you can record everything but the downside is obvious. However, even with a dual-tuner I am still having a 7:00pm Thursday Dilemma - Survivor vs. Ugly Betty vs. The Office/My Name is Earl. I think Ugly Betty is probably going to get watched live on our bedroom TV, which YES, wil be hard to do because then I will have to PAY ATTENTION since dialogue spoken is Lost Forever when going DVR Commando..... sniff...... Spoiled much?

Okay, here is my recap of the first few weeks of 2006-2007 Fall Season TV. I am ashamed to admit I watched all of these shows and even more ashamed to admit that this list doesn’t even include other shows I watch such as the likes of the Daily Show, the Colbert Report, Bill Maher and various HGTV shows I am addicted to such as Househunter’s International or What You Get for the Money. Although, am I the only who can't just sit and WATCH? I have to be doing something - knitting, flipping through a magazine, something. Anyway........

SUNDAY
The Wire: Why are people not watching what is repeatedly referred to as “the Best Show on TV. Period”. Because IT IS the best show on TV. This season has blown me away so far. Amazing stuff. Which leads me to...........

The Amazing Race: I really like this season! There are lots of interesting teams this time around and last night, I was a little stressed because the stragglers were all ones that I was rooting for. The team that got eliminated wasn’t one of them, so whew! I have been in the mood for a good season of TAR, because DAMN, the last few were such collassal disappointments. And I’ll say it right now - I really like the Beauty Queens.

Brothers and Sisters: This is a show that was a no-brainer for me to decide on recording because they had me at “Rachel Griffiths”. She could be in an infomercial and I would be spellbound. Ron Rifkin, Sally Field, and Calista Flockhart? Double bonus. The basic premise of the show is that Calista Flockhart is a conservative talk show host thingie and is coming back home to LA. Sally Field is the mother and there is some tension between them. There are several other siblings (including Rachel Griffiths) and the interplay between them feels pretty real, not cheesy, nor contrived. Another storyline is that something fishy is going on in the family company that involves Ron Rifkin. All of this is coming to a head because apparently the father, Tom Skeritt is going to die/did die after a heart attack in last night’s pilot episode. Bonus Question: In which movie did Sally Field and Tom Skeritt also play a couple?


MONDAY
The Class : I really want to like this show but holy CRAP, they made it hard - the characters seemed forced, the jokes obvious and the romantic pairings contrived. I love Jason Ritter and think he has some potential, but perhaps he needs to rethink his agency for this choice. I will give it the usual 4 Episode Minimum, but a lot is going to have to happen for it to not get axed from the DVR.

How I Met Your Mother : Yeehaw! The gang is back! I like how things are going and it should be entertaining to watch Single Marshall pal around with Barney.

Old Christine : I laughed so hard that I was afraid of waking Arun. And there might have been some snorting. Maybe. Anyway, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss was made for this part - if you aren't watching one of the funniest sitcoms in years, WHY NOT? Oh, and her son’s HOT teacher? Great casting. And the 2 snotty mothers? More great casting. I just hope that New Christine isn’t out of the picture for good, because she was a great foil for both Old Christine and Richard.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip : This show is so delicious I want to eat it for dinner. I am new to the genius that is Aaron Sorkin so I was totally blown away by how awesome, compelling and interesting this show is. Rapid fire, witty dialogue? I’m there, baby! This may even qualify for Live Viewing Whilst Recording, the greatest honor that can be bestowed upon a show in this DVR Era that we live in now.


TUESDAY
Smith : I had a hard time getting into this and stopped/started the episode several times. However, the payoff was worth it. I thought it was going to be a formulaic series with a One Caper per Episode format but I was wrong (shocking, but true!) It appears this one caper is going to have reverberating effects over at least the next few episodes if not the entire season, so um, yeah - now I am HOOKED.


WEDNESDAY
Jericho: I liked this show, although it is a bit depressing due to its realistic touch. I am definitely hooked, though and need to know "how, why and where" to all the mysteries presented.


THURSDAY
My Name is Earl: This show is so awesome that even a weak episode like last week’s is STILL worth watching.

The Office: Jim must come back. That’s all I have to say about that.

Survivor: I am half-way through my 4 episode minimum and things better pick up quickly. I haven’t really found anyone to root for, although I do like Yul and I do hate Ozzy. Can they provide enough reason to keep watching?

CSI: Original Recipe: Not really caring for the Grissom/Sarah romance. It just seems wrong. Perhaps, because it IS. Also, Catherine getting attacked last week really bothered me. To the extent that I couldn’t even concentrate on the new case that Grissom was investigating. A new case which is super-creepy.


FRIDAY
Men In Trees: This show hits an odd spot for me. Like, I am hoping it actually gets canceled because then I won’t have to watch it anymore. It’s not a great show, but now I care about the characters and can’t stop watching because I will wonder what I am missing.

Can I confess?

That when I knit something, I have a hard time giving it away if it was something meant for me and similarly, I can’t keep something that was meant for someone else? It’s as if the memories and thoughts and experiences that happened while creating the piece are part of it. For example, one of my very first projects was a backpack, it wasn’t complicated, but it was a very difficult project for a beginner and very frustrating at the time. I finally finished the backpack (3.5 years later. ahem.) and was going to give it to my younger sister because she is also a knitter and will really appreciate it. However. That backpack evokes many, many memories (and tears) for me. And excitement. I was thrilled to finally be KNITTING. Something I had wanted to learn for years and had tried to teach myself without much success. So, I realized that I can’t give the backpack away. Similarly, if I knit something for someone, I can’t keep it or give it somone else. When I knit an object for someone, I think a lot about that person while doing so - it’s not purposeful, it just happens. So to NOT give the piece to that person would almost seem sacriligious.

That I totally got sucked into the Bridezilla marathon a few weeks back AND picked up quite a few episodes of Platinum Weddings as well? Very odd for someone who didn’t really care that much for planning her own wedding. I finally finished the last episode on the DVR last week, then as part of the Weaning Process let myself watch a few others that came up. I finally deleted both shows from the Recording List earlier this week. Whew! That was a close one, folks. Also, I’d like to point out that in Bridezilla, you usually sort of question why the FUCK are these people getting married as the bride is screeching for everyone to get licking on those goddamed envelopes now, now, NOW.......whereas in Platinum Weddings you find yourself sighing “Ahhh, how sweet.” as the bride presents her MOTHER with a necklace from Tiffany as a “thank you” for her over-top, overpriced wedding. The message apparently is that money WILL buy you Love and Everlasting Happiness. Bah.

That I like to listen to Dr. Laura? Yes, she is a raging homophobe and a bit (much??) of a Bitch, but her central message is right on track. Families SHOULD be first. We’d have far less problems in this country if more people would consider their CHILDREN first.

That I am glad that Arun doesn’t watch TV? Yeah, it would be convenient to sit him in front of the Boob Tube (actually, plasma. what's that? Jackass Juice?), but the fact that he only pays attention when Elmo, Big Bird, Barney (kill me NOW!), the CNN Newscrawl and Football are gracing our household with their presence means that I can hunker down with MY shows. While I somewhat pay attention to MY show, he sits in front of me, facing ME and we play with toys or read books. Or, he will be so busy pushing around cars, my shoe, zucchini that he won’t notice. Score for me, right? Bring it ON, Pretty Boy Probst.

That I am becoming more and more anti-Organized Religion? I signed up for the Catholic Church in my late 20s, well before I met X. And yes, it was convenient that we were both Catholic. But it’s not even the Catholic Church - ALL churches are starting to draw my ire. The latest? My sister’s MoPs group was going to do a little lecture on YOGA and the Baptist Church where they hold the meetings refused to let them do so. WHAT THE FUCK? If anyone could use a little stress relief, it would be the MOTHER of a PRE-SCHOOLER, don’t you think? Bonus Confession: Can I also confess that I was disappointed in my sister when she DEFENDED the church by saying that “yeah, yoga can get a little iffy with that meditation stuff.” SOB. It frightens me when I see people closing windows to their World.

That I feel guilty for the fact that we won’t be doing the CSA again. Every Wednesday when I pick up our veggies, I feel guilty. I just LOVE Rebecca and Tom, the farmers. They are SO cool. However, the CSA just doesn’t work for us right now and I don’t think we will be able to wedge it into our Financial Situation next year, anyway. To make things worse, I am beginning to suspect that Arun and I are going to appear in the Kansas City Star article coming up about the CSA. The reporter has been emailing me A LOT of questions the past few days. Furthermore, I had already noticed that the photographer seemed pretty enamoured of Arun when she was out snapping photos a few weeks back.

That I am completely and utterly flummoxed by the sizing of baby clothes? 9 month pants are too short for Arun. 12 months are the right length, but he literally CRAWLS OUT OF THEM. Or worse, only PARTIALLY crawls out of them, then pulls up, starts to walk and of course, immediately takes a Header. Why don’t they sell baby suspenders?

That I bought the TMX Elmo? Yes, recently I'd seen the Light and it was Red. Actually, it was odd how it happened. I saw it on Scamazon and pre-ordered it thinking “Oh, that’ll be a nice Christmas present for Arun.” I didn’t realize it would show up on my doorstep on TUESDAY. Of course, X and I are like “We HAVE to see what this is all about.” so we opened it. We could barely even HEAR the Little Red Fuck over Arun’s screams of delight. The toy is actually very cute, my only complaint would be that I think it was a $30 Toy, NOT a $40 Toy. I guess I paid an extra 10 bucks in the name of Pop Culture (this would be an apt time for ya’ll to refer to the Tagline for this blog. Ahem.) Bonus Confession: Can I confess that I HID the TMX Elmo when the Parents as Teachers lady came this morning because I didn't want her to think that we were Those Parents who rush out to buy their kids the newest toys, even though apparently we are Those Parents? Gulp.

That I realize NOW that I was starting to get a little depressed because of the Nap Situation? Now that I am waving Bye-Bye to the Morning Nap in the rear view mirror, I can see that. I was starting to feel very restless and agitated that I never had a Moment’s Peace. 2-3 naps per day at 45 minutes a pop wasn’t cutting it, folks. We have a nice schedule now and my Mental Health is better for it. I get a few hours in the morning BEFORE he wakes up. I get a few hours after lunch during the Afternoon Nap (Hi, Afternoon Nap! Nice to meet ya! WELCOME TO MY HOME! Get comfortable. Stay awhile. Mi casa es su casa, Amigo Mejor.) and then....DRUMROLL....... I put Arun in his crib at 8:00pm ish and he sleeps there for several hours. I think I just fell in Love all over again. Sweet Surrender!


Funky Monkey, No Longer Chunky

He was able to also wear this outfit LAST SPRING.


Escape Artist

New fashion trend, no?