Um - So I guess this makes Ken CatWoman?

I'm seeing a "You're Batman" theme here... (check previous post)

Halloween Horoscope for Libra

You only like halloween if you have a special someone to share it with. You like a romantic scary evening together - no big parties or events for you. Costume suggestions: Romeo and Juliet or Batman and Catwoman Signature Halloween candy: Nerds

What's Your Halloween Horoscope?

Filler 'til I can post about Las Vegas ...

You Are Batman

Billionaire playboy by day. Saving the world by night. And you're not even a true superhero. Just someone with a lot of expensive toys!

What Superhero Are You?

Cooking & Shopping in Las Vegas

No Fear and Loathing here. No, Siree! We are
1. Cooking
2. Shopping, lotsa shopping.
3. Eating
4. Cooking
5. Going to multi-million dollar Parade of Homes, walking a Boston Terrier (with the heart and soul of a Much Bigger Dog) in Perfect Weather, down manicured meandering paths bursting with mountains of flowering rosemary; going to Cirque shows, entertaining friends, cooking old favorites like Roasted Tomatoes (Kim) and Rope Vecchia or Granny Pants (Joke); and eating, oh the EATING!
6. Loving the completely different flora in this heavily irrigated, desert landscape.
7. Finding a new brand of shoes that actually feel good on my feet - Taryn Rose.
8. Missing my husband and sons, terribly.

Life Is Beautiful.

Patchy blogging ahead

I am going on vacation.
See you later, Aligator.

Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Stuff ::


2. Block ::


3. Ingredient ::


4. Flagrant ::


5. Dandruff ::


6. Betty ::


7. Tide ::


8. Judges ::


9. Take it easy ::


10. Chef ::

My mumblings:

1. Stuff :: and Junque

2. Block :: Party

3. Ingredient :: Recipe

4. Flagrant :: Disregard

5. Dandruff :: Itchy

6. Betty :: Boop

7. Tide :: Pool

8. Judges :: Votes

9. Take it easy :: Alcoholic

10. Chef :: Knife

From the Peanut Gallery

Scene: Living room in our house, 7-ish tonight
Ryan, shaking some pom-poms eagerly, a special gift from school for doing all his tasks that day: "Mommy, looky dese!"
Mommy: "Yes, they are lovely. And look at how sad your brother is that he doesn't have one to shake. Could you share?"
Ryan: "NO!"
Parker: Running upstairs, sobbing his eyes out. He's in his Melodramatic, Sulking, Sobbing 6 Year Old Stage. God help me.
Ryan: "See, dis says 'No Touching, Parker.' "
Mommy: "Let me see that pom-pom. I don't see any "P's" for Parker - but I do see a "D"..."
Ryan, interrupting "Oh! Well...NO TOUCHING DAT!" and shaking both of them in my face "And No Touching DESE!"
I run upstairs, laughing, and fall over Parker, who is hiding on the landing, in the dark. Who sobs "He C-c-c-can't SPELL, Mommy!"

So, I guess Parker now believes Ryan can read the labels on toys. Heh heh heh.

Scene: Field trip to an operating farm's Pumpkin Patch today. Windy, cold and MUDDY. The class is a mixed-aged group of 11 pre-school children. 6 special needs children, and 5 typically developing peers ages 3-5; and Parker, who is attending as a 'student assistant' being the ripe old age of Kindergartener.
Young adult tour guide, daughter of farm property's owner. Obviously knows her way around and works the farm.
Showing children farm equipment, then moving on to the animals. First up, the COW. Yearlings, happily munching away in a feed trough.
Girl, small speech about the kinds of cows they are (Black Angus and some kind of fancy dairy cow) "Who knows what we get from cows?"
Parker: "MEAT! I LOVE MEAT!"
Stunned silence.
Vegetarian preschool Director quickly yelps "DAIRY PRODUCTS! Like MILK! ICE CREAM!"
10 other children go "YUMMY ICE CREAM!" and we move on to good, old, safe sheep.
Farm Girl, after small speech about sheep, asks "Who knows what we get from Sheep?"
and I yell "LAMB CHOPS!"

What kind of flower are you?

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

Stolen from Another Nutter

Viva, Las Vegas!

I am going to Las Vegas the week of Oct 23. I'll be there quite a few days. If anyone else is thinking of going there, I'd love to meet for brunch or afternoon tea (You feel free to drink, I don't do dat anymore).
No boys this trip. Just me. I smell a devine massage and some Cirque du Soleil shows in my future. Also, some Really Good Dining.
Yahoo!
But the funnest thing, besides being with my seester? COOKING FOR ADULT TASTES! You know I will be perusing your blogs, asking for your favorites.

Unconscious Mutterings:

I say, you think:

1. Opinion ::


2. Tardy ::


3. Peer pressure ::


4. Grownup ::


5. ! ::


6. Beer ::


7. Sit ::


8. Shower ::


9. Consummate ::


10. Wasting ::

My Answers:

1. Opinion :: Poll
2. Tardy :: Late
3. Peer pressure :: Has Started
4. Grownup :: Tastes
5. ! :: Favorite punctuation
6. Beer :: Ale
7. Sit :: Down
8. Shower :: Bridal
9. Consummate :: the Deal
10. Wasting :: Away



Please remember to use http://subliminal.lunanina.com

Friday Musings:

1. I am maintaining steadfast in my refusal to get roped into Show-The-Love with PTO. One of the first lessons in negotiating is the Guy Who Talks First, Loses. I remain unusually quiet. Then happily chirp "Oh! I will be out of town that week!" Which, luckily? Is TRUE! I am going to see my seester in Lost Wages, Nevada, end of October. But will be home in p.l.e.n.t.y of time for Hallowe'en. Of course.

2. The packratIlivewith has added Found Items to the pile in the garage. I wondered why the light fixture in my side (the 2-car side, need you ask) of the garage had been completely removed. Now I know; it's to keep me from seeing the crap that is slowly sifting its way back into our lives! Well, we'll see about that, Mister.

3. My Jewish Husband is sittting shivvvva (explanation for crazy spelling below) with our deceased projector in the media room. It gave up the ghost last week, in the middle of showing the boys the 3rd Star Wars movie - the one with the wookies or whatever they're called. I made the mistake of saying 'Dark Vader must've shot the thing' and now both of them are scared to death of the media room. OY.

4. Replacing this behemoth is going to be painful; to get the picture quality we've become used to is going to cost. Alot. But the technology must have gotten friendlier in the past 25 years (yes; this projector was an 80's model, I'm sure) and lord knows, lighter. I swear this beast must weigh 250 pounds. Or more. And pushing 15 buttons to get picture, sound, computer running etc., is way beyond my patience level. I am praying that we now have to push maybe 3 buttons and PRESTO! We're in business.

5. We had our first freeze last night - late for this time of year. We've gotten to enjoy a nice, long autumn. And it's supposedly going to be a cold winter. I hope so. It will kill off some of the bugs we've been plagued with. Deer Flies? In COLORADO?! The midwest's got nuttin' on us. Mosquitoes carrying the much coveted West Nile virus, fleas, ticks and termites? They LUUUUUURVE living here now.

6. I'm typing this and storing it in draft mode. Maybe 2nd or 3rd time I've done that, in fact. With blogger misbehaving, I'm thinking this may be a good feature to utilize.

7. Seems blogging is going a bit 'out of fashion' these days. Figures. I'm getting my second wind. I've also heard rumors that there is a Spanish search engine (?) or something that ignores 'no robot searching' commands. If I find that my blog has been pilfered and cached for posterity after I've gone to pains to keep it off the web, I'll find the fuckers and cap them. In fact, I should go up there and mispell sittttting shivvvvva so that doesn't cue a search. CRAPPE!

Can I PLEASE go to bed now?

My morning routine is quick and easy. Shower if it's a Shower Day, using facial creams and scrubs in the shower, foot care scrubs, body washes and polishes. If it's a bath day (night), then I use Costco Borghese facial products. Every day there are 2 meds, bioidentical hormone creams applied in varying amounts daily. Teeth care. No BFD either way.

I don't know about you, but the older I get, the longer my nighttime routine has become.
Used to be a 3 minute max routine. Now? It's a Ritualistic Event of mammoth proportions.
First, I get out All The Potions. For a woman who is reputed to be low maintenance, I have contents in my bathroom vanity drawers that refute that claim.
Three cream facial cleansers.
Two facial 'wipe' cleansers.
Two special exfoliants.
Four different kinds of facial creams.
Three Serum treatments.
One whitener/brightener.
Two eye creams.
I try to stick within the same line nightly (Costco Borghese, Bobbi Brown EXTRA or Prescriptives/Lauder).

Some of these products are also used on my neck/throat/chest area and also on the tops of my hands.

Then there's the tooth care drawer.
Three kinds of toothpaste.
Three toothbrushes.
Numerous choices for floss.
Anti-bac rinses.

Then, there's the foot care! Mustn't forget the feet...
Three foot scrubs
Two planes
Two files
Four different salves/lotions each with their own socks.

I have probably a dozen different body washes/sugar or salt scrubs and bath bubbles or salts. The boys have different bath products, too. (And I use special oils when I massage them. I am going to miss doing that when they get self conscious.)

I never thought this was any big deal. I rotate using the products, depending on the condition of my skin. If I don't tend to my feet, they crack and hurt.

Living in a desert is a bitch. You really have to mitigate the damage.

But one of my girlfriends saw the contents of the vanity cabinets today and her eyes bugged out. "What in the heck do you DO with all this stuff?"

"I Rotate products. Just wait 'til YOU'RE my age; this won't be luxury stuff - it will be necessary!"

Who knows if it has made a difference. I know I believe in it, so I do it.

As you were.

PS - I don't usually wear any cosmetics except for Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers or lip cream just about constantly. And I don't do anything with my hair.

Loot! (Edited)

The shoes are Earth shoes - heel is lower than the toe. Bag is Oocci Gucci (knockoff). The laptop was already in residence (but was a useful prop)

Please notice the thyroidectomy and basal cell carcinoma removal scars abounding on my throat/chest. But isn't the necklace a Thing Of Beauty?! It's from the Elements collection at John Atencio. And Parker and Ryan each gave my an earring to match! I was astonished!

It seems to really pay off when your husband is out of town for a week prior to the day of your birthday. I would highly recommend it!

48 Things You Could Care Less About

1. FIRST NAME? We're not speaking of it on this PRIVATE BLOG.

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Last night, while grocery shopping. I started thinking about my niece who isn't doing too well.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? It depends on the writing instrument. Sometimes, it's pure crap. Other times, it bearable.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? I have a weakness for mortadella.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Absolutely. But I've have to be a very tolerant person.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? No, just the blog.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Before I had kids? Yes. Now? No.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Oatmeal, cooked all morning in Ireland. Served with thick cream and a slab of butter.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes. Emotionally and physically.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? I love me some Vanilla Bean. Also, Ben and Jerry's almost anything.

14.SHOE SIZE? 7 and a half. With a narrow heel, but not narrow ball.

5. RED OR PINK? Pink. But onl blue-y pinks, not orange-y pinks.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My impatience.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My maternal grandparents.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I want everyone who wants to do this to do it. How's that?

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I'm wearing Gap black low-rise pants, a J Jill double shirt, and knitted mukluks

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Generous slice of birthcake cake (choc/choc)

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? LeapFrog Word Caper, a crackling fire and road paving.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Periwinkle

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Desserts baking in the oven

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My friend Tina

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Face

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Yes, very much.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Water.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Hockey

29. EYE COLOR? Cold, hard cash.

30. HAT SIZE? 7 and something. I have a big head.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No

32. FAVORITE FOOD? That's like asking Imelda Marcos to pick out a favorite pair of shoes. Come on now.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Fall.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Depends on who is giving them out.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? See question 32.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Dunno.

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? See question 38.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Stegner collection, Because I Said So (collection of essays from Marin County mothers) and dozens of childrens' books.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? Laptop.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Casanova on PBS.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Children roaring with laughter.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Been around the world, but I guess the furthest would be somewhere in Asia.

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Making speeches with no prep or notes.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Texas.

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I swiped it from Carolyn

Take an IQ TEST (with an annoying finish)

You scored 133 on Tickle's IQ test. This means that based on your answers, your IQ score is between document.write((iqscore-10)+' and '+iqscore+'. ');123 and 133. Most people's IQs are between 70 and 130. In fact, 95% of all people have IQs within that range. 68% of people score between 80 and 120. The following chart to your right, shows these percentages and where your IQ score is on that scale. Print your Certificate of Intellectual Achievement. There's more to intelligence than a single number, a single score or a single label. Tickle uses four distinguishable Intelligence Scales in the Ultimate IQ Test. By analyzing your individual scores on those four scales, we are able to look beyond the raw IQ score into how you process information and thereby determine your Intellectual Type. How do you relate to other IQ test takers? Your Intellectual Type Is: You have a strong ability to process visual-spatial and mathematical information. These skills combined with your strengths in logic are what make you a Visual Mathematician. You're able to understand patterns visually and in numbers. That means your mind can create a mental picture for any problem. In addition to that skill, you possess an intelligence that allows you to apply math to that picture, too. That helps you manipulate multiple parts of the picture (or problem) to come up with a solution. You have many skills that are critical to success and problem-solving. Your talents help you understand the "big picture," which is partly why people may turn to you for direction — especially in the workplace. You flourish in environments where tasks are clearly defined, and you are a whiz at improving processes and making things more efficient. Your ability to detect patterns and your skills in math and logic, make it natural for you to come up with ideas and theories that simplify processes for everyone. Outside of work, Visual Mathematicians tend to do well at strategic activities like chess. It must be that ability to recognize patterns — both as they are and how they develop. Regardless of how you put your mind to use, you've got a great set of talents. You will be able to envision a clear path and calculate the risks, and more importantly, the rewards, of anything you take on. Great Jobs For You Because of the way you process information, these are just some of the many careers in which you could excel: Physicists Chess player City planner Astronomer Physicists Mathematician Researcher Some of Your Greatest Talents You've got tons of strengths. It wouldn't surprise us if you: Can give practical application to abstract thought Can predict patterns Are resourceful & practical Envision the "big picture"

Here's a link to take the test.
I will warn you that you have to click on a bunch of "No Thanks" at the end to get your test. I also didn't answer the last grouping of questions after I submitted my email, and still got the results just fine.
http://web.tickle.com/tests/uiq/index_main.jsp

How can I Love You If You Never Leave?!

Blackbird and Miz S have posts today (sort of) about kids leaving the nest. It seems so far away for us to even think about, but it's definitely a goal to aspire towards. (I know that sentence has funky structure. I am in too much of a hurry to fix it)

So many of my friends have children who have left for college already. Some of the parents are dancing in delight, some are dealing with empty-nest depression. I expected to hear these stories.

But the stories that are astonishing me are the more and more often told tales of children who return home after college and finding suitable employment; they simply cannot afford themselves! The ruse is "It's just for a coupla months until I pay off some bills... " But the bills remain unpaid, the spending continues and the return to Take Care Of Me behavior escalates.

I was slack-jawed in amazement when one of my friends confided to me that she is cooking, cleaning, running errands and doing laundry FOR her son again. HUH?! What do you mean - like he's a pre-teen?! And he bought a sports car! I asked her what she is going to do. Her reply? "What CAN I do?"

You can kick his butt out the door, Mom. You can give him a 2-week deadline and tell him you're changing the locks! Believe me, he'll figure it out. Fast.

Most of my contemporaries could not have fathomed going back to live with their parents. Some had to - abusive marriages, illness, etc. But for those of us with any other option, living again with the parents was tantamount to DEATH! You. Just. Did. Not. Consider. It. Tattoo "LOSER!" on your forehead and move back in? No Way, Never. You'd borrow money from a loan shark before you approached your parents house, suitcase in hand.

But today? It's common. No big deal. My friends figure "Hey, what the heck! We have this big house; we travel alot so it's great to have the house occupied in our absence; it won't be forever' etc etc. But once in, I've yet to see many of those kids ever leave. Oh wait; some leave - if the parents set them up in a house!

I was talking to a neighbor with teenagers about this today. We live in an affuent area. For homecoming this weekend, the 'normal' date was dinner at a high-end place like Benihana's or a steakhouse, then the party, then an after-party fee venue that was pretty expensive. These kids drive BMW's, $40k Mustangs, expensive SUVs and wear designer labels. They vacation in Europe, on cruises, and villas in Mexico. They live in houses with gourmet kitchens, media rooms, luxurious private baths and plenty of hired help. There are visiting pilates coaches, massage therapists, psychotherapists and tutors. I don't know if the children avail themselves of all the services, but there is a lifestyle expectation created by such a high level of personal service. Our local Starbucks has lines out the door of mostly high schoolers.

The children think this is 'normal' life. That everyone lives this way. Always. There is no 'working one's way up'.

So, what's the secret to raising children who can be successful leaving the nest? Living with little, being happy with the struggle? I truly believe our neighborhood is full of parents who are raising children with completely unrealistic expectations of Life. Who've never known the joy of working for something, earning something. And it's not just this 'hood. It's rife among my friends around the US -- everyone wants their kid to have every advantage. And no 'suffering' or hard times.

This is scary. The US is heading for Big Trouble if this is who's going to be at the reins one day.

Birthdate

Your Birthdate: October 7

You are an island. You don't need anyone else to make you happy. And though you see yourself as a loner, people are drawn to you. Deep and sensitive, you tend to impress others with your insights. You also tend to be psychic - so listen to that inner voice! Your strength: Your self sufficiency Your weakness: You despise authority Your power color: Maroon Your power symbol: Hammer Your power month: July

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

1/4 Brazilian. A Play in One Scene

Scene: Tonight, in the Guest Room, doing a 'Family Read'
Players: The Mom, Parker and Ryan

Much trotting back and forth of two little boys, anxious to get 'just the right books' for their nightly read. Usually it's Daddy who does the 'family read', but dear old Daddy is out of town. So, they settle for Mom, who doesn't read nearly as many books; and who boots everyout OUT of the guest room to their own rooms, with barely a five-minute rocking session apiece. Daddy falls asleep in the guest room with the boys, and they occasionally end up sleeping 3-in-a-bed-Irish all night.

Did I mention I love this Daddy all the more for this very thing? This falling asleep with his sons? It is so sweet and dear.

But back to tonight.

Ryan trots back to his room One. More. Time. Comes bursting back into the guest room with his baby quilt and lovey. He flops back on the bed, and with much fussing and adjusting, tries to get his blankie just right. Mom jiggles around a bit, trying to make room for him. Parker starts to flop around a bit, rooting around for a more comfy spot. His book flops back to the headboard, and the mom reaches up to bring it back down. At the same moment, Ryan reaches down with a Large Paw and gives his blankie a Mighty Jerk to cover himself, for once and for all. Except Ryan didn't grab his blankie. He grabbed mommy's nightie and an excrutiating handful of pubic hair!

Mom lets out a blood curdling howl. Tears spring to her eyes. The boys start to shriek in terror and concern.

Parker yells "Ryan! You HURT Mommy! What DID YOU DO?! Oh Mommy! Should I get Mr. Chilly?" (The iced gel pack)

The Mom is grabbing her crotch, and sitting up, quite sick to her stomach and afraid to look.

Ryan says "I think I hurt Mommy's Penis."

With that, the Mom and Parker roar with laughter. The Mom says "I'm Fine! Let's read!"

and Wise Old Parker says, very quietly "I know you don't have a penis, Mom. You have angina. You better tell Ryan pretty soon..."

Fade to black with the mom laughing herself into a coughing fit.

This Past Weekend in Photos:

We have a Purple Belt in residence. Doesn't this give a glimpse into the boy as an Older Person?! He's barely six. He looks like a sweet old Chinese man!

The testing group. All colors of belts. The black belts have the black neck bands. Parker is in the bottom row, 2nd from left. Master Kim, his instructor, is kneeling in the bottom row, far right. He is an incredible teacher.

Ryan showing off the favorite cookie he decorated. They made the dough, too. The cookies are a bit - ah - tough!

Parker is the Star of the Week. He gets to put up photos and non-toy memorabilia on the board. He chose alot of Korean items. He also wanted to put up a photo of his Foster mother, but I told him the photo was too precious (The true reason is I don't want him inundated with adoption questions that he hasn't asked yet.) Note the BunSter up there. He also wanted to put up a photo of the dead dog. I said "Oh, I didn't know you liked that old dog." Parker said "I didn't like him. At all." So I said "How about a photo of your costume instead?" That was Most Acceptable.

Parker with his favorite cookie. They spent an hour decorating these things! They had such a great time. I get a bit pissy with them during the process, but then tell myself "Oh for gosh sake! Get a Grip!" and settle down. I need to remember to get out ingredients FIRST, then invite the children over. They keep running over my toes with their chairs, playing in the dry ingredients, cracking eggs too soon, etc. You know, being Children!