Don't forget to put the seat down...

Warning To The Grammarically Correct: If it just bothered you that I wrote "Grammarically", you may as well leave now because my grammar gets even worse.

My Photo
Name:
Location: Land of Runny Noses, Flatulence, Bugs and Plenty of Roads....d

I'm a wife and mom to three boys. I love everything 80's, anything chocolate and loathes politics. I like to run for fun (preferably NOT in the hot, hot sun)....

Friday, September 29, 2006

What Was My Boss Thinking When She Bought This..?
or
Well, At Least I Can Preview Myself Before My Extreme Makeover...









That is just SCARY!!

Thursday, September 28, 2006

I Know It's Going To Be a Good Day When...

Mason wakes up with a poopy diaper.

Today was one of those poopy-diaper mornings. It was also one of those of stinky loads where I could smell it even before I had his bedroom door halfway open. So I opened the door and there he was... My giggly, happy boy. Seriously. It's so funny that after having a bowel movement one could be so giddy. He was happily prancing around all morning long...smiling and laughing at the silliest things. That's my boy for ya.

Who would've thunk that waking up to a bunch of crap could be such a good thing?

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Elmo....Schmelmo...

I just don't get it.

I don't get all of the hype over the new Elmo TMX - or is it TMX Elmo?.... or whatever it is that they call it... All I know is that people are going nuts over this thing. I mean, people are rushing to stores and fighting for them. I even heard that someone got threatened with a gun because the guy took the last one. Am I missing something here? Ummm....hello? It's a DOLL people. A doll! Sure...it's cute at first, but that thing will get totally annoying in ten minutes flat.

What is amusing to me is that people are selling (and some are buying!) these Elmo's for $100 a pop. I hope they realize that their kids are probably going to play with it for a day. After the novelty of it wears off...all they have left is an Elmo to sit on the toy shelf for years to come...Either that or someone will enter the "Best Way To Destroy TMX Elmo" radio contest and run over it with their tractor. I don't know about you, but I think I'm going to pass on this Elmo trend and start one of my own...

Yep...My kids will be the first on our block to own The Punching Rabbi Puppet...;)

The Weigh-In on Weighing In...

Before I begin my little rant, I just want to say that I'm a adjulation junkie. I am not afraid to admit that I LOVE to get complimented, but honestly who doesn't? Hell, I'll even take a left-handed compliment. A compliment , even of the unmeaningful kind, is still a compliment... ;)

Now with that said...

So I've been - literally - working my butt off for the past couple of months. I do my elliptical practically every morning and - on days when I can - I even started running again (with Mason in the jogging stroller) . The result? My clothes are fitting me better and I even went down a pants size. Oh and my boobs now stick out more than my muffin top -- that in itself is a wonderful accomplishment.

You want to hear something funny? A co-worker asked if I wanted her size 6 pair of jeans. My first reaction was laughter and after I picked myself off of the floor it was explained to me that they were 'a way too big size 6'. Well, I couldn't believe that someone - anyone - would even think of me in a size SIX....Even of the 'too big' variety. Once upon a time - and a size 24 ago - that never would have happened. So I was flattered... (Even though there was/is no way I could get my size 10/12 arse into a size 'way too big 6'.)

Now on to my rant.....

With all of these fantastic things happening to my body, I'm still a bit baffled and somewhat miffed. Can someone - for the love of all cinnamon rolls everywhere - tell me how come the scale isn't budging? I'm even being good food-wise. I'm not overeating and - on most days - I don't stray towards 'bad foods'....

Some of you are probably thinking, "Oh, You are probably gaining muscle." Yeah...okay..but at the rate I'm going I'm aiming to look like Arnold Schwarteneggar (sp?) by Halloween. Some of you are also probably saying, "Don't pay attention to what the scale says; Pay attention to what your clothes say." Well...While I love what the clothes are saying, I also want the scale to compliment me too! It's true that actions speak louder than words, but I want words - or in my case - lower numbers. Damn it scale!...TALK TO ME! It's like the scale is my parent and while I know that the scale is proud of my accomplishment(s), it still won't sit me down and tell me it's proud of me.

*Phew* With all that said, it feels like some of the weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Wait! Maybe I should check the scale and see what it says.

Nope...Still the same.

Things According To Mason...

"DOG-AH"

"DOG-AH"

"DOG-AH"

Along the same lines of Mason's list; here is mine...

"DOG"


"DOG(S)"


"DOG"

Ehhhh...I give up. For some reason it all sounds cuter coming out of a 15-month-old. :)

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Note To My Scattered-Brained Self:

The clothes dryer works better when you run it with the actual clothes in the dryer...not when it's empty.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Looks Like Mason Is Starting Early With Liking The Old "Hair Bands"...

No...This isn't a promo picture for the new Poison tour, silly! These (annoyingly?) colored creatures with the flare for fashion *cough* are the "Doodlebops". Now if you aren't familiar with the Doodlebops show here is a rundown on them that I copied from an internet review:

"Enjoy the fantastical world of Deedee, Rooney and Moe Doodle, three young musical sensations with loads of enthusiasm, tonnes of talent, and oodles of energy. Join them as they rehearse in their concert hall home and zoom off in their tour bus to perform their catchy music in this interactive musical variety show.

The Doodlebops will get kids singing, dancing and learning with their upbeat energetic music and funny stories."

If I look on the brightside, it could be worse. Mason could like the Teletubbies instead and I don't know if I could put up with a half-an-hour of those goofy looking creatures exclaiming, "Tubby Tusard!" "Uh-Oh!" and "Again! Again!".

I'll take the Doodlebops anyday! (Even over the band Poison...which is not saying a whole lot! ;) )

Brain Fart

brain fart
n. [brain+fart. Almost certainly a pop-culture, potty-humor derivative of "brain farct" or "brain infarction", meaning a blockage of blood circulation to the brain as in a cerebral infarction or stroke.] The event when one cannot remember a simple concept, idea, or fact that one knows; usually considered to be one step below "tip of the tongue," where one has the idea but can't say it or bring it to conscious thought. Example: "I'm sorry; I'm having a brain fart. What's your name again?"

Recent Citation:

I can't do anything today, I'm having a total brain fart.

I'm having one right now.

You know, I've had the same phone number for over three years now and - for the life of me - I can't remember the darn thing at this very second. However, there is one thing I know for sure though...It's not a 900 number and it's apparently not a catchy enough number to sing to. ;)

There was a time in my life when I had never forgotten a thing. I'm not sure if it's because I'm getting older or if the kids are sucking my memory dry - or maybe it's both - , but brain farts seem to occur more and more frequently with me. Appointments start to blend in together...People's names are usually forgotten two seconds once introduced and believe it or not, but there used to be a time when I could tell you what I had for dinner three days ago. What happened to me? I don't know where I'm going with this post...Wait...Did I even want to go anywhere with this post?

*Sigh* There goes the proverbial wind blowing out of my ears again. (Hey, but I remember my phone number now!)

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

It Seems That Timmy May Be On To Something...
--------
http://in.news.yahoo.com/040411/139/2ci0w.html

Pick your nose and eat snot to stay healthy!



Washington, Apr 11(ANI): It may sound weird, but an Austrian doctor believes that picking your nose and eating what you retrieve is one of the best ways to stay healthy.

Dr. Friedrich Bischinger, an Innsbruck-based lung specialist believes that people who pick their noses with their fingers are healthy, happier and probably better in tune with their bodies.

He says society should adopt a new approach to nose-picking and encourage children to take it up.

"With the finger you can get to places you just can't reach with a handkerchief, keeping your nose far cleaner.And eating the dry remains of what you pull out is a great way of strengthening the body's immune system," Ananova quotes Dr. Bischinger, as saying.

"Medically it makes great sense and is a perfectly natural thing to do. In terms of the immune system the nose is a filter in which a great deal of bacteria are collected, and when this mixture arrives in the intestines it works just like a medicine," he added.

He pointed out that children happily pick their noses, yet by the time they have become adults they have stopped under pressure from a society that has branded it disgusting and anti-social.

"I would recommend a new approach where children are encouraged to pick their nose. It is a completely natural response and medically a good idea as well," he said. (ANI)
-----------

Hmmm....I wonder if biting your toenails is good for your health too?

There Goes That Superpower...

If you like to explore the World Wide Web during...oh...say lunch...or when the kids are mock killing each other with lightsabres and you just need to step away for a while. You may have come across this blinkie at one time or another: What does this tell you about the owner of this blinkie? Oh...I believe the owner of this blinkie is usually a breastfeeding mother - or at least a mother who can produce milk from her boobage area. (Or maybe even a strange dairy farmer, but I'm not going there....) The owner of this blinkie woman wants to show the world - or at least the group of people on her messageboard - her accomplishment with flashing graphics in a 2" x 4" (or whatever the hell size it is) box.

Before I go on, let me just say that I will never, ever, own a blinkie.

Don't get me wrong, I don't loathe them like those hideous croc shoes. ;) It's just that I am just not a blinkie kind of girl. Before last week - and if I were a blinkie enthusiaist - I would have been able to use the above blinkie. However while drying myself off after taking a shower last week, I decided to check the Weenermom Boobie Well. (READ: Squeeze my nipple to see if anything would come out.) I know what you all are thinking and the answer is "No, I don't do that all of the time." and "Yes, I know I'm weird.". Now I haven't breastfed Mason since he was a week old and that was 14 months ago, but I was always able to produce some type of liquid out of my boobs since that time.

Not anymore.

It seems that the Weenermom Well is all dried out. Never again will it be 'stocked' with a milk supply. When I think about it, it's all kind of bittersweet...I'm not talking about my breastmilk (although I never tried to taste it...ewww...)...I mean...While I am so ready to move on to the next phase of motherhood, I'm kind of sad to think that never again will my body be able to produce a substance that helps nourish another human being. Never again will I feel little flutters coming from my belly and it's not the result of me eating the whole tub of Ben and Jerrys. Never again will I hold a squirming infant that came from my womb. Never again will I be hospitalized for pregnancy related kidney stones. Never again will I have to stay up at an unGodly hour(s) to entertain/feed/comfort a newborn. While it all isn't a gaggle of fun, I'm sure gonna miss those days. However, I'm moving on to the next stage of my life and on to big and better superpowers...
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics

Yeah...Yeah...I'm not that Blinkie Kinda Girl, but that's technically not a blinkie. :)

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Well Avast Ye and Shiver Me Timbers!

Ahoy Mateys!

Arrr, you may not know this, but today is "Talk Like a Pirate Day". Aye. Aye, so grab your best puffy shirt and one o' those talkin' parrot Gar. Aye, watch your step 'cause you might be walkin' the plank if you aren't careful, shiver me timbers!

Aye, so don't forget t' drop your anchor at the nearest Hallmark store. Aye. (Hallmark has dipped their hands into this *cough* holiday, right?) Arrr, like the Hallmark slogan goes, "When you care enough t' send the 'ery best. Gar, Where can I find a bottle o'rum?"

Being in a Cast Does Have Some Advantages...
The Raiders (my dh's favorite football team) played the Ravens this past Sunday (Raiders got CRUSHED!). Rich didn't want to go to the game because and I quote, "I don't want to give the Ravens franchise any of my money...". However, he did take Christian and Timmy with him to stand outside of the stadium so they could try to get some Raiders autographs after the game. Rich managed to get a couple of Raiders to sign his football. Timmy got a few more than Rich did. The winner in the whole deal was Christian! His cast was a magnet! He had gotten so many signatures on his cast. When Christian gets his cast removed, Rich is going to make something for the cast (hopefully something sealed/smell proof. :) ) We warned Christian to not let anyone else sign his cast...All of his friends can sign his next cast that he gets in a few more weeks. The last thing Rich wants to see is the name "Jimmy" in third grade handwriting next to Lamont Jordans signature. lol

Waiting for the Raiders players to leave the stadium.














Here are some pictures of players giving out autographs. (Boy do they know how to dress!) I would tell you who they are, but I don't know any of their names. :)

Monday, September 18, 2006

2844

That is how many days I had survived as a mother of a child who never had a broken bone. Sure we had a staple or two in the head here and some stiches on the forehead there, but never did anything ever get fractured or broken. Well, the cast-free streak at the Weener-house ended this past Tuesday. Christian fractured his arm while scrimmaging with his team during football practice. At first Rich and I were in denial about the whole fracture thing and wishfully hoped that it was just a sprained wrist.

Boy were we wrong.

On Christian's 8th birthday he got a cast put on his arm. He'll probably be in it four/six weeks...Yep, it'll definitely last longer than any other birthday present we had ever gotten him. Oh and did I mention that Christian's birthday party was this past weekend? He had a putt-putt party. Poor kid had to golf one-handed. He was a sport though and never complained. He actually did pretty well!


It is definitely a birthday we'll never forget...that is unless he decides to break something else next year. Hopefully, we will never have another fractured/broken anything in the Weener-house. The odds of that, however, are not in our favor. That is...unless I buy all the Weeners a bubble that I can put them all in.

Hmmmmm....that gives me an idea.

Note-to-self: Buy kids a bubble for Christmas.

Friday, September 15, 2006

HaPpY 8th bIrThDaY cHrIsTiAn!!

Well, my first 'Weener' is celebrating a birthday today. It's hard to believe that eight years have passed since you've came into my life! You will always be my 'Stinky Butt'! I Love You!

2 Months Old

Six Months Old Nine Months Old


One Year Old

Two Years Old


Three Years Old

Fours Years Old


Five Years Old

Six Years Old

Seven Years Old

(To be continured...I'm having computer issues and I can't download anymore pics.)

Thursday, September 14, 2006

The Weather(man?) vs The Bug

Boy I sure do wish that this was my local weatherman. Just like my local weatherpeople - I'm sure he won't get the weather predictions correct - but I have a feeling that he sure would be entertaining!

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

100!

So...This is my 100th post. I wanted to do something to celebrate my 100th post and I didn't want to do the '100 Things About Me' bit (because what you all know about me is scary enough!). What am I going to do to celebrate my 100th post, you ask? Well, I thought about it and decided to type in the number '100' in the Google search engine. I came across a couple of 100-things that caught my eye and these were just some of them...

100 MOST OFTEN MISPELLED/MISSPELLED WORDS IN ENGLISH

Dr. Language has provided a one-stop cure for all your spelling ills. Here are the 100 words most often misspelled ('misspell' is one of them). Each word has a mnemonic pill with it and, if you swallow it, it will help you to remember how to spell the word. Master the orthography of the words on this page and reduce the time you spend searching dictionaries by 50%. (Use the time you save celebrating in our gameroom.)

A
acceptable
Several words made the list because of the suffix pronounced -êbl but sometimes spelled -ible, sometimes -able. Just remember to accept any table offered to you and you will spell this word OK.
accidentally
It is no accident that the test for adverbs on -ly is whether they come from an adjective on -al ("accidental" in this case). If so, the -al has to be in the spelling. No publical, then publicly.
accommodate
Remember, this word is large enough to accommodate both a double "c" AND a double "m".
acquire
Try to acquire the knowledge that this word and the next began with the prefix ad- but the [d] converts to [c] before [q].
acquit
See the previous discussion.
a lot
Two words! Hopefully, you won't have to allot a lot of time to this problem.
amateur
Amateurs need not be mature: this word ends on the French suffix -eur (the equivalent of English -er).
apparent
A parent need not be apparent but "apparent" must pay the rent, so remember this word always has the rent.
argument
Let's not argue about the loss of this verb's silent [e] before the suffix -ment.
atheist
Lord help you remember that this word comprises the prefix a- "not" + the "god" (also in the-ology) + -ist "one who believes."

B
believe
You must believe that [i] usually comes before [e] except after [c] or when it is pronounced like "a" as "neighbor" and "weigh" or "e" as in "their" and "heir." Also take a look at "foreign" below. (The "i-before-e" rule has more exceptions than words it applies to.)
bellwether
Often misspelled "bellweather." A wether is a gelded ram, chosen to lead the herd (thus his bell) due to the greater likelihood that he will remain at all times ahead of the ewes.

C
calendar
This word has an [e] between two [a]s. The last vowel is [a].
category
This word is not in a category with "catastrophe" even if it sounds like it: the middle letter is [e]. cemetery
Don't let this one bury you: it ends on -ery—nary an -ary in it. You already know it starts on [c], of course.
changeable
The verb "change" keeps its [e] here to indicate that the [g] is soft, not hard. (That is also why "judgement" is the correct spelling of this word, no matter what anyone says.)
collectible
Another -ible word. You just have to remember.
column
Silent final [e] is commonplace in English but a silent final [n] is not uncommon, especially after [m].
committed
If you are committed to correct spelling, you will remember that this word doubles its final [t] from "commit" to "committed."
conscience
Don't let misspelling this word weigh on your conscience: [ch] spelled "sc" is unusual but legitimate.
conscientious
Work on your spelling conscientiously and remember this word with [ch] spelled two different ways: "sc" and "ti". English spelling!
conscious
Try to be conscious of the "sc" [ch] sound and all the vowels in this word's ending and i-o-u a note of congratulations.
consensus
The census does not require a consensus, since they are not related.

D
daiquiri
Don't make yourself another daiquiri until you learn how to spell this funny word—the name of a Cuban village.
definite(ly)
This word definitely sounds as though it ends only on -it, but it carries a silent "e" everywhere it goes.
discipline
A little discipline, spelled with the [s] and the [c] will get you to the correct spelling of this one.
drunkenness
You would be surprised how many sober people omit one of the [n]s in this one.
dumbbell
Even smart people forget one of the [b]s in this one. (So be careful who you call one when you write.)

E
embarrass(ment)
This one won't embarrass you if you remember it is large enough for a double [r] AND a double [s].
equipment
This word is misspelled "equiptment" 22,932 times on the web right now.
exhilarate
Remembering that [h] when you spell this word will lift your spirits and if you remember both [a]s, it will be exhilarating!
exceed
Remember that this one is -ceed, not -cede. (To exceed all expectations, master the spellings of this word, "precede" and "supersede" below.)
existence
No word like this one spelled with an [a] is in existence. This word is a menage a quatre of one [i] with three [e]s.
experience
Don't experience the same problem many have with "existence" above in this word: -ence!

F
fiery
The silent "e" on "fire" is also cowardly: it retreats inside the word rather than face the suffix -y. foreign
Here is one of several words that violate the i-before-e rule. (See "believe" above.)

G
gauge
You must learn to gauge the positioning of the [a] and [u] in this word. Remember, they are in alphabetical order (though not the [e]).
grateful
You should be grateful to know that keeping "great" out of "grateful" is great.
guarantee
I guarantee you that this word is not spelled like "warranty" even though they are synonyms.

H
harass
This word is too small for two double letters but don't let it harass you, just keep the [r]s down to one.
height
English reaches the height (not heighth!) of absurdity when it spells "height" and "width" so differently.
hierarchy
The i-before-e rule works here, so what is the problem?
humorous
Humor us and spell this word "humorous": the [r] is so weak, it needs an [o] on both sides to hold it up.

I
ignorance
Don't show your ignorance by spelling this word -ence!
immediate
The immediate thing to remember is that this word has a prefix, in- "not" which becomes [m] before [m] (or [b] or [p]). "Not mediate" means direct which is why "immediately" means "directly."
independent
Please be independent but not in your spelling of this word. It ends on -ent.
indispensable
Knowing that this word ends on -able is indispensable to good writing.
inoculate
This one sounds like a shot in the eye. One [n] the eye is enough.
intelligence
Using two [l]s in this word and ending it on -ence rather than -ance are marks of . . . you guessed it.
its/it's
The apostrophe marks a contraction of "it is." Something that belongs to it is "its."

J
jewelry
Sure, sure, it is made by a jeweler but the last [e] in this case flees the scene like a jewel thief. However, if you prefer British spelling, remember to double the [l]: "jeweller," "jewellery." (See also pronunciation.)
judgement
"Judgement" is governed by one of the rare rules of English orthography, so why not enjoy it? After [c] and [g], [e] is retained to indicate the letter is "soft," i.e. pronounced like [s] or [j], respectively. Omitting it indicates it is "hard," i.e. pronounced [k] or [g], as in "fragment," "pigment". If we write "management," "arrangement," we should write "judgement," "acknowledgement," "abridgement." The presence of the [d] is of no significance to English orthography.

K
kernel (colonel)
There is more than a kernel of truth in the claim that all the vowels in this word are [e]s. So why is the military rank (colonel) pronounced identically? English spelling can be chaotic.

L
leisure

Yet another violator of the i-before-e rule. You can be sure of the spelling of the last syllable but not of the pronunciation.
liaison
Another French word throwing us an orthographical curve: a spare [i], just in case. That's an [s], too, that sounds like a [z].
library
It may be as enjoyable as a berry patch but that isn't the way it is spelled. That first [r] should be pronounced, too.
license
Where does English get the license to use both its letters for the sound [s] in one word?
lightning
Learning how to omit the [e] in this word should lighten the load of English orthography a little bit.

M
maintenance
The main tenants of this word are "main" and "tenance" even though it comes from the verb "maintain." English orthography at its most spiteful.
maneuver
Man, the price you pay for borrowing from French is high. This one goes back to French main + oeuvre "hand-work," a spelling better retained in the British spelling, "manoeuvre."
medieval
The medieval orthography of English even lays traps for you: everything about the MIDdle Ages is MEDieval or, as the British would write, mediaeval.
memento
Why would something to remind of you of a moment be spelled "memento?" Well, it is.
millennium
Here is another big word, large enough to hold two double consonants, double [l] and double [n].
miniature
Since that [a] is seldom pronounced, it is seldom included in the spelling. This one is a "mini ature;" remember that.
minuscule
Since something minuscule is smaller than a miniature, shouldn't they be spelled similarly? Less than cool, or "minus cule."
mischievous
This mischievous word holds two traps: [i] before [e] and [o] before [u]. Four of the five vowels in English reside here.
misspell
What is more embarrassing than to misspell the name of the problem? Just remember that it is mis + spell and that will spell you the worry about spelling "spell."

N
neighbor
No wonder many speaking Black English say "hood" for "neighborhood"—it avoids the i-before-e rule and the silent "gh". If you use British spelling, it will cost you another [u]: "neighbour."
noticeable
The [e] is noticeably retained in this word to indicate the [c] is "soft," pronounced like [s]. Without the [e], it would be pronounced "hard," like [k], as in "applicable."

O
occasionally
Writers occasionally tire of doubling so many consonants and omit one, usually one of the [l]s. Don't you ever do it.
occurrence
Remember not only the occurrence of double double consonants in this word, but that the suffix is -ence, not -ance. No reason, just the English language keeping us on our toes.

P
pastime
Since a pastime is something you do to pass the time, you would expect a double [s] here. Well, there is only one. The second [s] was slipped through the cracks in English orthography long ago. perseverance
All it takes is perseverance and you, too, can be a (near-)perfect speller. The suffix is -ance for no reason at all.
personnel
Funny Story (passed along by Bill Rudersdorf): The assistant Vice-President of Personnel notices that his superior, the VP himself, upon arriving at his desk in the morning opens a small, locked box, smiles, and locks it back again. Some years later when he advanced to that position (inheriting the key), he came to work early one morning to be assured of privacy. Expectantly, he opened the box. In it was a single piece of paper which said: "Two Ns, one L."
playwright
Those who play right are right-players, not playwrights. Well, since they write plays, they should be "play-writes," wright right? Rong Wrong. Remember that a play writer in Old English was called a "play worker" and "wright" is from an old form of "work" (wrought iron, etc.)
possession
Possession possesses more [s]s than a snake.
precede
What follows, succeeds, so what goes before should, what? No, no, no, you are using logic. Nothing confuses English spelling more than common sense. "Succeed" but "precede." (Wait until you see "supersede.")
principal/principle
The spelling principle to remember here is that the school principal is a prince and a pal (despite appearances)--and the same applies to anything of foremost importance, such as a principal principle. A "principle" is a rule. (Thank you, Meghan Cope, for help on this one.)
privilege
According to the pronunciation (not "pronounciation"!) of this word, that middle vowel could be anything. Remember: two [i]s + two [e]s in that order.
pronunciation
Nouns often differ from the verbs they are derived from. This is one of those. In this case, the pronunciation is different, too, an important clue.
publicly
Let me publicly declare the rule (again): if the adverb comes from an adjective ending on -al, you include that ending in the adverb; if not, as here, you don't.

Q
questionnaire
The French doing it to us again. Double up on the [n]s in this word and don't forget the silent [e]. Maybe someday we will spell it the English way.

R
receive/receipt
I hope you have received the message by now: [i] before [e] except after . . . .
recommend
I would recommend you think of this word as the equivalent of commending all over again: re+commend. That would be recommendable.
referred
Final consonants are often doubled before suffixes (remit: remitted, remitting). However, this rule applies only to accented syllables ending on [l] and [r], e.g. "rebelled," "referred" but "traveled," "buffered" and not containing a diphthong, e.g. "prevailed," "coiled."
reference
Refer to the last mentioned word and also remember to add -ence to the end for the noun.
relevant
The relevant factor here is that the word is not "revelant," "revelent," or even "relevent." [l] before [v] and the suffix -ant.
restaurant
'Ey, you! Remember, these two words when you spell "restaurant." They are in the middle of it.
rhyme
Actually, "rime" was the correct spelling until 1650. After that, egg-heads began spelling it like "rhythm." Why? No rhyme nor reason other than to make it look like "rhythm."
rhythm
This one was borrowed from Greek (and conveniently never returned) so it is spelled the way we spell words borrowed from Greek and conveniently never returned.

S
schedule
If perfecting your spelling is on your schedule, remember the [sk] is spelled as in "school." (If you use British or Canadian pronunciation, why do you pronounce this word [shedyul] but "school," [skul]? That has always puzzled me.)
separate
How do you separate the [e]s from the [a]s in this word? Simple: the [e]s surround the [a]s.
sergeant
The [a] needed in both syllables of this word has been pushed to the back of the line. Remember that, and the fact that [e] is used in both syllables, and you can write your sergeant without fear of misspelling his rank.
supersede
This word supersedes all others in perversity. As if we don't have enough to worry about, keeping words on -ceed and -cede ("succeed," "precede," etc.) straight in our minds, this one has to be different from all the rest. The good news is: this is the only English word based on this stem spelled -sede.

T
their/they're/there
They're all pronounced the same but spelled differently. Possessive is "their" and the contraction of "they are" is "they're." Everywhere else, it is "there."
threshold
This one can push you over the threshold. It looks like a compound "thresh + hold" but it isn't. Two [h]s are enough.
twelfth
Even if you omit the [f] in your pronunciation of this word (which you shouldn't do), it is retained in the spelling.
tyranny
If you are still resisting the tyranny of English orthography at this point, you must face the problem of [y] inside this word, where it shouldn't be. The guy is a "tyrant" and his problem is "tyranny." (Don't forget to double up on the [n]s, too.)

U
until
I will never stop harping on this until this word is spelled with an extra [l] for the last time!

V
vacuum
If your head is not a vacuum, remember that the silent [e] on this one married the [u] and joined him inside the word where they are living happily ever since. Well, the evidence is suggestive but not conclusive. Anyway, spell this word with two [u]s and not like "volume."

WXYZ
weather
Whether you like the weather or not, you have to write the [a] after the [e] when you spell it.
weird
It is weird having to repeat this rule so many times: [i] before [e] except after...? (It isn't [w]!)

-------------------
I also came across...
-------------------
100 Most Popular Movie Quotes

1. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
GONE WITH THE WIND 1939
2. I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.
THE GODFATHER 1972
3.You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.
ON THE WATERFRONT 1954
4. Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.
THE WIZARD OF OZ 1939
5. Here's looking at you, kid.
CASABLANCA 1942
6. Go ahead, make my day.
SUDDEN IMPACT 1983
7. All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
SUNSET BLVD. 1950
8. May the Force be with you.
STAR WARS 1977
9. Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night.
ALL ABOUT EVE 1950
10. You talking to me?
TAXI DRIVER 1976
11. What we've got here is failure to communicate.
COOL HAND LUKE1967
12. I love the smell of napalm in the morning.
APOCALYPSE NOW 1979
13. Love means never having to say you're sorry.
LOVE STORY 1970
14. The stuff that dreams are made of.
THE MALTESE FALCON1941
15. E.T. phone home.
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 1982
16. They call me Mister Tibbs!
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT 1967
17. Rosebud.
CITIZEN KANE 1941
18. Made it, Ma! Top of the world!
WHITE HEAT 1949
19. I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!
NETWORK 1976
20. Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
CASABLANCA 1942
21. A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 1991
22. Bond. James Bond.
DR. NO 1962
23. There's no place like home.
THE WIZARD OF OZ 1939
24. I am big! It's the pictures that got small.
SUNSET BLVD. 1950
25. Show me the money!
JERRY MAGUIRE 1996
26. Why don't you come up sometime and see me?
SHE DONE HIM WRONG 1933
27. I'm walking here! I'm walking here!
MIDNIGHT COWBOY 1969
28. Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By.'
CASABLANCA 1942
29. You can't handle the truth!
A FEW GOOD MEN 1992
30. I want to be alone.
GRAND HOTEL 1932
31. After all, tomorrow is another day!
GONE WITH THE WIND 1939
32. Round up the usual suspects.
CASABLANCA 1942
33. I'll have what she's having.
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY 1989
34. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow.
TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT 1944
35. You're gonna need a bigger boat.
JAWS 1975
36. Badges? We ain't got no badges! We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinking badges!
THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE 1948
37. I'll be back.
THE TERMINATOR 1984
38. Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES 1942
39. If you build it, he will come.
FIELD OF DREAMS 1989
40. Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.
FORREST GUMP 1994
41. We rob banks.
BONNIE AND CLYDE 1967
42. Plastics.
THE GRADUATE 1967
43. We'll always have Paris.
CASABLANCA 1942
44. I see dead people.
THE SIXTH SENSE 1999
45. Stella! Hey, Stella!
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE 1951
46. Oh, Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars.
NOW, VOYAGER 1942
47. Shane. Shane. Come back!
SHANE 1953
48. Well, nobody's perfect.
SOME LIKE IT HOT 1959
49. It's alive! It's alive!
FRANKENSTEIN 1931
50. Houston, we have a problem.
APOLLO 13 1995
51. You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?
DIRTY HARRY 1971
52. You had me at "hello."
JERRY MAGUIRE 1996
53. One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know.
ANIMAL CRACKERS1930
54. There's no crying in baseball!
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN 1992
55. La-dee-da, la-dee-da.
ANNIE HALL 1977
56. A boy's best friend is his mother.
PSYCHO 1960
57. Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.
WALL STREET 1987
58. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
THE GODFATHER II 1974
59. As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again.
GONE WITH THE WIND 1939
60. Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!
SONS OF THE DESERT1933
61. Say "hello" to my little friend!
SCARFACE 1983
62. What a dump.
BEYOND THE FOREST 1949
63. Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?
THE GRADUATE 1967
64. Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
DR. STRANGELOVE1964
65. Elementary, my dear Watson.
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES 1939
66. Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape.
PLANET OF THE APES 1968
67. Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.
CASABLANCA1942
68. Here's Johnny!
THE SHINING 1980
69. They're here!
POLTERGEIST 1982
70. Is it safe?
MARATHON MAN1976
71. Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain't heard nothin' yet!
THE JAZZ SINGER 1927
72. No wire hangers, ever!
MOMMIE DEAREST 1981
73. Mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico?
LITTLE CAESAR1930
74. Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown.
CHINATOWN1974
75. I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE1951
76. Hasta la vista, baby.
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY 1991
77. Soylent Green is people!
SOYLENT GREEN 1973
78.Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY1968
79. Striker: Surely you can't be serious.
Rumack: I am serious…and don't call me Shirley.
AIRPLANE! 1980
80. Yo, Adrian!
ROCKY 1976
81. Hello, gorgeous.
FUNNY GIRL 1968
82. Toga! Toga!
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE 1978
83. Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make.
DRACULA 1931
84. Oh, no, it wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast.
KING KONG 1933
85. My precious.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: TWO TOWERS 2002
86. Attica! Attica!
DOG DAY AFTERNOON 1975
87. Sawyer, you're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!
42ND STREET 1933
88. Listen to me, mister. You're my knight in shining armor. Don't you forget it. You're going to get back on that horse, and I'm going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we're gonna go, go, go!
ON GOLDEN POND 1981
89.Tell 'em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper.
KNUTE ROCKNE ALL AMERICAN 1940
90. A martini. Shaken, not stirred.
GOLDFINGER 1964
91. Who's on first.
THE NAUGHTY NINETIES 1945
92. Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac...It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!
CADDYSHACK 1980
93. Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!
AUNTIE MAME 1958
94. I feel the need - the need for speed!
TOP GUN 1986
95. Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.
DEAD POETS SOCIETY1989
96. Snap out of it!
MOONSTRUCK 1987
97. My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you.
YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 1942
98. Nobody puts Baby in a corner.
DIRTY DANCING 1987
99. I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!
WIZARD OF OZ, THE 1939
100. I'm king of the world!
TITANIC 1997

----------------
and last, but not least...
----------------

100 Ways to be a Better Asshole
by Sinister Fiend

1. Argue with everybody.
2. Touch the paintings at the museum.
3. Get hysterical.
4. Threaten law suits.
5. Insinuate, implicate and insist.
6. If you got it, flaunt it.
7. Eat produce at the grocery store and don't pay for it.
8. Gamble with the rent money.
9. Record over a borrowed vcr tape
10. Tell people that they are in your will, even if they aren't.
11. Don't get caught.
12. Stay directly in front or behine fire trucks and ambulances.
13. When giving out directions, leave out a turn or two.
14. Don't make up your mind.
15. Improve your posture by walking with your nose in the air.
16. Remind people who lose their job that they should work harder.
17. Talk with your mouth full.
18. Accuse, confuse and refuse.
19. Comment on the weight gain of others.
20. Adjust your nuts (boob) whenever you want.
21. Keep a pile of wisecracks for tense and serious situations.
22. Answer a question with a question.
23. See what it takes for the lifeguard to blow the whistle.
24. Don't give to charities unless you get something back.
25. Add the straw that breaks the camels back.
26. Clean your finger nails at the dinner table.
27. Tell people what they think they wanna hear.
28. Notice good ideas and pass them on as your own.
29. Put a title like Senator or Doctor before your name when making dinner or hotel reservations.
30. Don't volunteer for the back seat and never take the middle one.
31. Before exiting the elevator, push all the buttons.
32. Never do anything until you have been asked twice.
33. Put off until tomorrow whatever you can do the day after tomorrow.
34. Spot test "Wet Paint" signs.
35. Go up on the down escalator and vice versa.
36. Dont shower after a hard workout.
37. Lie about your age.
38. Change channels every two seconds
39. Develop at least 3 strategies for cutting if front of a
40. Underline in other peoples books.
41. Slurp your soup.
42. If you can't think of something nice, say something nasty.
43. Be judgmental.
44. Announce when your going to the bathroom.
45. Read over peoples shoulders on the bus.
46. Ignore deadlines.
47. Revenge is sweet... so get some.
48. Squeeze the toothpaste from the top, and while your at it, leave the cap off.
49. Curse the umpire at a Little League game.
50. When it says "Reserved Parking" that means you.
51. Take the labels off of unopened cans.
52. Cover up your mistakes and pass the blame.
53. Pinch all the chocolate candies until you find the one that you want.
54. Borrow handkerchiefs to blow your nose.
55. When your done with your gum, stick it under the chair.
56. If you do something nice, make sure everyone knows about it.
57. Bribe little kids... cause they're easy!
58. Put a rude message on someone elses answering machine.
59. Measure people by their money and the clothes they wear.
60. Be ambiguous, it lets you work both sides of the issue.
61. Leave your underwear in the sink.
62. Chew other peoples pencils.
63. Support the death penalty for parking tickets.
64. Get a backseat drivers license.
65. Dish it out, but don't take it.
66. Be a perfectionist in absolutely everything.
67. Apologize a lot, but don't change.
68. Change the rules to suit your needs.
69. Put your cigarette out in planters
70. Wear a shirt thats says 'Fuck You' or to that affect
.\71. Pull the covers over to your side.
72. Eat cookies or crackers in bed.
73. Let doors slam behind you ? in people's faces.
74. Repeat yourself.75. Repeat yourself.
76. Tell your kids 'How it was..' back when you were a kid.
77. Vividly describe a hysterectomy to your date before ordering dinner.
78. Scribble your signature on important documents.
79. Use the whole can of starter fluid on the charcoal.
80. Put things back where they don't belong.
81. Take a colicky baby to the movies.
82. Have belching contests in restaurants.
83. Make the same mistake twice.
84. Pee in the swimming pool.
85. Ride on the shoulder un you pass all the jammed traffic, and then cut in.
86. Wear a large hat to the movies.
87. Always have an ulterior motive.
88. Always take the biggest piece.
89. Forget the pooper scooper when walking your dog.
90. Take cheap shots.
91. Take forever to find a word in Scrabble.
92. Cause gridlock.
93. Get up on the wrong side of bed.
94. Change your mind.
95. Glue a chip on your shoulder.
96. Put salt in sugar containers.
97. Blow out other peoples birthday candles.
98. Don't refill the ice cube tray.
99. Ask people what they paid for their clothes.
100. Cut off people in the middle of their sentences.

Monday, September 11, 2006

A Saturday With The Weeners...

Christian -- The Football Player
Timmy -- The Soccer Player

Mason -- The (sometimes) Content ObserverAnd last, but not least...

Mommy --- Usually dead to the world around 7 pm.

Toy Wars

Yesterday I became a woman on a mission.

It took a run-in with dark figure in a yellow truck. (READ: I tripped over a Darth Vader sitting in a Tonka truck.) That was the staw that broke the camals back! --- Or should I say the truck that almost broke Mommy's back (and arm and leg and pelvis...) So I grabbed a box of the industrial sized garbage bags and a bottle of water - 'cause I was going to be there for a while - and to the boys' playroom I went!

If a piece/limb was missing on a toy, in the garbage bag it went. If it was a tiny piece to something, it was trash. If it was a toy that would make annoying and obnoxious noises/sounds.....trash. I had NO mercy on those toys. Okay, okay I did have mercy on some of the toys. (Darn that Toy Story movie!) If truth be told, my boys probably play with 25 percent of what is in the playroom in the first place. Enough was enough!

The toys I did manage to keep are all separated by category (action figures, cars, tools, police toys...) and put in their own bins. Even all of the playstation and gamecube games are in the correct cases!

The end result?
Yep...Even the little soccer guys are the right way! Don't worry...I know the room will not stay this way for long. I give it...oh....until 4:00pm today.

But let me have my moment...

I'll never forget....

Friday, September 08, 2006

Mothers Day 2018 At The Weeners...

I can so see Christian and Timmy doing this in 12-15 years. Where is Mason, you ask? Oh..he's probably taking a joyride to the tattoo parlor. ;)


This IS my future!

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Are You Ready For Some Football?

I'm not.

Today marks Day 1 of the start of my Football widowism. (Yeah...yeah... I know it's not a word, but it should be!) Since he will be stuck in his football-watching cave, I will not see my husband during a single football play of the season (thanks a lot Direct TV!). I will be asked every single day before a Raiders' game, if all of the jerseys are clean. (Because - as everyone knows - the whole Raiders organization will fall apart if those damn jersey are not ready for gameday.) I will be asked constantly how come I'm not wearing my nice pink and white Raiders jersey that he got me for Mother's Day (Maybe because I vomited all over due to the excitement?). Oh and how can I forget the sounds of cheers and excitement - or - yells and grumbles of curse words coming from the old football cave.

Will I complain about my status of 'football widow'? No...alright maybe a litt--- okay--- LOTS! However, this year I have vowed to be more understanding of my husbands obsession with the sport/game of football. You want to hear something funny? I joined a fantasy football league! Do I know what I'm doing? Not really. My whole rookie season of fantasy football should be very interesting, that's for sure. I have a whole lot to learn. By the way, did you know that the initials 'TE' stands for 'tight end' and not 'toe energy'?


Hey, do you know what else 'TE' stands for?


The End.

I Guess You Really Can Deep-Fry Anything....

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/3824141.html

*sigh* I can just picture it now....
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey kids! How 'bout some Deep-Fried Coca Cola for dinner?!

What's in it, you asked?

Oh....soda...some sugar...some whipped cream and a cherry for good measure.

Yes. I said sugar.

Yep and coke too.

Okay, let me get out my deep fryer and the coke cans....
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmmmm......I wonder if anyone has ever deep-fried fish tacos? Maybe it'll taste better if they did, but it sure as heck doesn't sound any better! ;)

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Confessions of a Weenermom

I'm not perfect.

I am not perfect.

I am not perfect.

I am NOT perfect.

I AM NOT PERFECT!



But I'm sure you all know that by now.

As much as I would love to be a flawless human-being, I realized a long time ago that it will never - ever- happen. I have to admit, however, that when I was pregnant with my first son -and had that 'first-time mom halo' on my head - I thought that maybe...just maybe...I could be as close to the perfect mother as I could possibly be. I was never going to yell. I was never going to use foul language. I was going to give my baby the best of everything, amongst other perfect things. Oh and the visions I had of myself - being the perfect mother - running through a field of flowers with my perfect, chunky baby. (Damn those diaper/formula commercials!)

So...How is my quest of being the perfect mother going, you ask? Yeah...well...like I said, I'm not perfect...

Here's my not-so-perfect list from this week alone:

  1. I've used the words 'shit' and 'hell' on multiple occasions this past week (and may have slipped the 'f' bomb once).
  2. Yelling seems to be the way to communicate with them...at least if I want any type of response...
  3. 'Because I said so' seems to be my favorite response.
  4. On two occasions this past week, soup and sandwiches was the dinner of choice (READ: Was the dinner of convenience).
  5. Sometimes it's so much easier to just send them to their room instead of listening to why they are causing a commotion.
  6. Like the boy who cried 'Wolf', Timmy likes to cry 'I need a bandaid!' at the smallest sight of blood. So I didn't run and get him a bandaid right away when he fell on the sidewalk because I thought it was going to just be a slight scratch with a miniscule of blood...Ummm...turns out he really needed that bandaid....
  7. I ripped up a Yu-Gi-Oh card that Christian and Timmy were fighting over. Yep, that was the end of that.
  8. I let Christian watch an R-rated movie.
I'm sure - strike that - I know that there are more 'not-so-perfect' mother-related things that I have done this week. There are many of times when I beat myself up about the bad choices I may have made as a mother, but then I have to remind myself that moms are human and they make mistakes too.

Moms are allowed to be human...Right?

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

All is Fair in Mommyhood and Raising Siblings...

As I was taking the video of Mason walking around this morning, Christian asked me if I had any video of him taking his first steps. I had to explain to him that I didn't because at the time he started walking I didn't have anything to take videos with. Christian got a little sad and I felt a little guilty because I don't want any of my children to think I love one more than the other...which I don't...usually. ;) I asked if he wanted me to take some video of his first steps right then and there. Christian's face lit up and he said 'SURE!' I knew that he would like that suggestion because, afterall, he is MY child. So now for your viewing please....Here is Christian - my big galoo - and his *cough* first steps!
(Everybody say 'Awwwww!')

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing


All I have to say is thank goodness, I never took any video of Mason's first diaper change! Now that I wouldn't have gone for...

Absolutely NOTHING Is Safe Now!

So....It has taken 13 months and some twenty-odd days, but Mason is finally walking! I don't know whether to be happy or scared as hell!

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Friday, September 01, 2006

Reason #1 Why I'm Glad Summer Is Almost Over...I know I've stated before that I am by no means a shoe diva and I'm not....far from one. With that said; I just have to say this. I've had enough of these rubber shoes! I've seen a whole lotta people - in all different ages and in all different sexes - wear these shoes in all different colors...allllll summer long. I hope no one takes offense to this, but those are one of the freaking fugliest pair shoes I've ever seen!

One of my neighbors (who owns a pair and so do her two kids and her husband...and I wouldn't be surprised if their dog has a pair too...) claims that they are the most comfortable shoes she has ever worn. Okay...yeah...but they look like surgeon shoes. I bet the scrubs surgeons wear are pretty comfortable too. Anyone want to start that fashion trend? ;)

Remember jelly shoes? Not only did they hurt your feet, but after you'd take them off you'd have indentations in your feet for the rest of the night. Now THOSE were shoes. ;)

After my father-in-law passed away, my mother-in-law was going through some of his things and found a stash of movies hidden in the back of his closet. Now when I say 'movies', I'm not talking about the family variety of movies --- heck I'm not even talking about the rated NC17 kind. The movies he had hidden away were rather of the erotic -or make you want to vomit...depending on how you feel about them - kind. Even though he wouldn't watch them if anyone else was in the house, it was no secret that my fil would on occassion watch a porno...that was a known fact. However, it was the kind of pornos that took everyone by surprise. I mean, who would've thunk that a short little old Polish man would have a thing for women of African decendage and their...ahem...backdoors? It's not that there is anything wrong with that...Hey to each his own I say. It's just surprising and kind of shocking (and somewhat funny to picture....Not that I WANT to picture that!).

Now what hidden goods/secrets would my family find out about me if I were to die today? Let me tell you what they would find.

Nadda....Zilch....Nothing...

That is what secret item my family would find if they were to go through my things. In actuality, I guess it's a good thing that I have no secrets or hidden items from my family. However I have to admit that deep DEEP down I think it would be pretty cool to have a secret something ...you know...something I, myself, would only know about. I'm not talking about anything bad, but maybe something they would come across and say 'Hey I didn't know that about her. That's pretty cool!' But alas, I have no secret stash of money hidden under my mattress. I have no stash of secret love letters from an old flame hidden in my hope chest. I have no secret stash of back-door porn under my bed. Hell, I don't even have a secret stash of Ho Hos hidden in the pantry.

Oh well. I guess it's nice that I don't have anything to hide from anyone. Afterall, my life is an open book.

Or should I say my life is an open blog? :)