mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

Stoplight.

I was on my way to pick up N from preschool this afternoon when I got caught at a stoplight I never get caught at.  I was casually enjoying a tune on K-LOVE and noticed my music was being drowned out by some loud, seemingly obnoxious music.  I looked over to my right and saw two cute teen girls so properly poised in their little blue Mazda convertible with the top down. 

I of course turned my music down in an attempt to figure out what they were jammin' to.  After all, I love hip-hop just as much as the next hip mom.  No dice.  I didn't recognize the song.  The gals looked over at me with a look that said, "yeah, whatever, lady - you don't like our loud music?  Like get over it!"  I'm sure they presumed I was irritated at their loud music and would have never mistaken me for being cool like them since I was in my mom clothes and driving a very suburban-mom-like SUV.  I can't blame them for passing judgement on me.

It's funny, but as I sat at that light my entire teenage years flashed before me.  Where had the time gone?  I remember being on the THAT side of the road before, peering over at some mom sitting in her car listening to her (probably) very boring music and thinking I would NEVER let myself become uncool when I became a mom.  Everything my life was consumed with at that time in my life was SO insignificant compared to what is important in my life now.  I sat at the stoplight and felt for a moment like I could've rolled down my window and shouted out, "no, girls, really - I'm NOT like just an ordinary mom!  I AM cool, I DO still listen to hip-hop and care about fashion and trends!  I GET IT!  Don't sit there in your cute little convertible with your cute little brunette ponytails and think you won't be here too one day!"

As I sat thinking back to being about their age, I could have never imagined my life then as it is now.  Happily married to a wonderful man, the mother of two insanely smart and handsome sons, and joyously expecting my third child.  It was so surreal to me to sit at that stoplight and wonder how this all happened.  I know that I've evolved into the person I am today but it's so natural, how has it NOT always been this way?  I can hardly remember my life outside of what it is now.  It's funny how you grow and change as a person but don't ever see it happening. 

I chuckled at the thoughts I had while sitting at that light because it was such a metaphor for all the thoughts going through my head.  It's like you sit at this stoplight of life waiting for the next phase in your life and when the light turns green and you proceed, you can't even remember what life was like while you were waiting at that light or what it was before you got there.  ♥

I just have to say this about politics.

This is my blog.  It's a no-brainer that I can say what I want on here regardless of what anyone else reads into it or thinks.  With that said, I don't expect anyone to necessarily agree or disagree with my point of view.  Take it or leave it.  It makes no difference to me. I am just posting this as more of a vent than anything else.  Ok, here goes.

I am so sick of the "E" word.  Experience.  Now, let me preface this with the fact that I am not a big fan of either McCain or Obama.  But no matter who the candidates are, I think using experience as a way to discredit your opponent is flat out dumb.  Experience means nothing. 

Look at the joke of a president we have now, good 'ol G Dubya.  He was plenty experienced.  Fat lotta good that did us.  He had been the governor of the absolutely best state in the nation and had loads of experience.  Where did that really get us in the long run?  Experience means nothing. 

Potential.  Now there's the word we should be focusing more on.  Many people have experience.  Does it really mean anything?  Does it mean that anyone who has experience would make a better public servant.  Nah.  It just means you've been at it longer; not that you'd do it better.

It's the same with anything else.  If I set out to start a business or a career that I have absolutely NO experience with, does it mean I won't be successful?  Absolutely not.  I just have to be good at it.  And passionate about it.  Plenty of people who do things for the first time do it quite well even though they lack experience.

Bottom line?  If the notion of experience is all you have to stand on, that's just not going to cut it this time around.  Experience won the last time around and the past 8 years have been hell to pay.

Either way, this year's election will be history making.  I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

What one word is the most important to you when you consider the upcoming election?

Declining industry.

I had an appearance this morning on KCTV 5 news, a station I actually had not been to before today, and I totally learned about something I never thought would actually happen.

You know how when you watch the news and you see the anchors there, looking into the camera lens rattling off reports? Well, don't you often think that there's a camera crew of some sort behind that camera, making sure everything goes off without a hitch?  Nuh-uh!

I was scheduled to arrive for my live interview today at 9:15 a.m. even though I wouldn't be on until 9:50 a.m., so they had me all prepped, mic attached, and just hanging out in the studio.  I was literally just a few feet from the anchors' desk where they filmed.  The whole time I kept thinking how that would annoy me - having to do the news while someone sat there, facing me, while I stared into the camera. 

Well anyway, back to the camera thing....what surprised me the most about the whole station experience was that there were literally no camera men [or women] to be found.  Anywhere.  The cameras were all robotic-like moving around on their own at various times during commerical breaks or while one anchor was talking, another one would move to a different desk and the R2D2-like camera would glide on over and get into position. 

Other than myself, the weather guy and the two anchors, there was literally no one else in the studio. I found that so ODD!  I remember back in the day when our school took us on a field trip to visit the local news station.  I remember seeing camera men maneuvering the cameras and setting up to get the shots just right.  I guess this is a field that probably isn't all that great to get into now, seeing as how they are being replaced by robotic cameras!  The whole experience was a trip for me.  But, it was cool being on TV again!

I guess it IS hip to be square!

Today while taking a leisurely stroll through Target for some basic grocery items (plus a few extras), I noticed they now have square bagels in the refrigerated case.  I fall for new stuff all the time, so naturally I picked up a package.  I guess I just wonder what in the heck took someone so long to actually design and mass produce a square bagel?  I've often thought "why don't they make bagels square instead of round?"  when enjoying one at breakfast time, and now, finally someone has shared my same sentiment.  I must say that they do look like they're less dough-ey than their round counterparts so hopefully they're still just as satisfying.  Only time will tell.

Five things.

Here are five random (but wonderfully satisfying) things I did today:

• Vacuumed and clean the floors (I have to tell ya', I absolutely LOVE that feeling!)  I even moved the couches and such around and was amazed - and appalled - at what I discovered.  Apparently, someone was trying to stash some Halloween candy (thank goodness still in the package) and some of their favorite Hot Wheels cars under the couch. 
• Made a fresh batch of sweet iced tea.  YUM-O!
• Received my new shoes today! (Thanks, sis, for blogging about yours....they are SO cute and they absolutely will indeed go with everything!)
• Made some great contacts for upcoming events in the city (stay tuned for details!)
• Did my part to green-ify the T home by making these great magazine holders out of empty cereal boxes we've been collecting:

I'll either be covering them with fabric and/or paper then painting or using decorative stamps so they'll coordinate with the areas of the house I put them in.

Summertime tunes.

What is it about the warm weather and the sunroofs open that just makes us want to listen to those fun, nostalgic summertime tunes? Today when I was out 'n about, within the span of like twenty minutes, I heard three of those old school beats that I remember from way back in the day. The first didn't really surprise me. It was good ol' Young MC with Bust A Move. Then a few minutes later I hear rough ol' Bobby Brown talking about Don't Be Cruel .....

"Girrrl, the only thang that matters in my life {dum, dum, du, du, dum} is that I'm down for you and treat you riiiight....."

And lastly, a more recent tune made its way back onto the airwaves. Notorious B.I.G. was rapping his Hypnotize tune. So, why is it that all the music you can really move to comes out mostly when the sun does? Well, at any rate, I'm not complaining. I could care less if Barry Manilow was playing on the radio - as long as I gets my sun, dang it!

Landscaping. Or, lack thereof.

I am sitting here in my kitchen looking our our back window and am noticing that our bushes are in desperate need of a trim. I somehow fear that David nor I will actually get to it till Spring. Sad, right?

Landscaping is just not a priority for me. I have no idea why. I'd much rather do something more cathartic like clean out my Tupperware drawer, iron, clean a bathroom, or organize my coupons. I feel bad for our neighbors behind us that have to look at our yard but it's still not enough to get me off my bum and get clipping. Maybe if I let them grow tall enough, they'll cover our floor-to-ceiling kitchen windows then I can leave the blinds open and no one will be able to see inside. Yeah, I am sure that will get the homeowner association nazis on my front doorstep, pronto!

I know, I’m just being moody.

Why do people ask dumb questions just for the sake of conversation? Someone recently wrote me in an email "So, did you survive the weekend?". Of course, it's NO ONE that is reading my blog, which is why I feel totally safe to complain about such dumb things to ask. I mean, if I hadn't survived it, I wouldn't even be reading the message in the first place so it's totally pointless to ask me that. I would hope that if I hadn't survived the weekend that even my acquaintances would have found out about it somehow.

I know, this sounds so b&*chy but it gets on my nerves. I guess it just reminds me of the kind of dorky phraseology you hear, like on the movie Office Space.

"Looks like someone's got a case of the MONDAYS!"

Puh-leez!!

Gift card madness.

Okay, is it just me or is it driving everyone else crazy seeing that every freaking place now has a gift card you can buy? I was listening to the radio the other day (which is an odd occurence since usually it's Kindermusik or more recently, Christmas cds that we're listening to) when I heard a commercial for a Goodwill gift card. Yes, that's right people. Goodwill now has a gift card you can buy to give people.

Now, I am not trying to sound uppity or rude in any way because I love a deal just like the rest of you but c'mon now... a Goodwill gift card? Who would really gift that? I mean why not just buy the person an item from Goodwill and give that to them? Or, why not a Half Priced Books gift card? Even that sounds better than a gift card from Goodwill!

Anyway, I am sick of seeing these damn gift card ads everywhere I turn.

Yes I am doing it again.

Why am I procrastinating putting the laundry to wash right now?? I am sitting here on my computer staring at the bag of laundry I brought downstairs and know FULL well that I need to get going on it. I just keep saying to myself "five more minutes of me time" I guess.