Free Fabulous Giveaways

I follow a bunch of different blogs, some that have fab giveaways from time to time. If you have a few minutes to spare, go to www.techsavvymama.com and check the latest giveaways - must enter by May 6th! I've won a bunch of different things - I like winning stuff - its my new method of shopping!!

Just my luck

I haven't posted for a while, been run down, coughing, under the weather....thought maybe I could have mono. Nope. Pneumonia. It's springbreak. Must be my luck. Then there was the craziness of trying to get tickets for the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. I tried every 5 minutes, all day long. Even got through to the very end at the checkout several times...when I clicked confirm, did I get a confirmation? No. Did I get tickets? No. What did I get? "Sorry, no tickets available". What kinda crap is that - They say I have tickets, they are checking me out and then - nothing?! What a horrible day and a waste. The White House internet service sucked. Then Holly Madison got booted off Dancing with the Stars early. Just my luck. Okay, I admit, she wasn't very good...not at all. But I still was rooting for her. Now she is gone and I've lost interest in another season. Then there is son #3 who has had strep 3 times in 8 weeks. Dr. says "it happens". Yeah right, just my luck. I think I have spent more time on the phone trying to find a sub to work my hours than anything else this winter season. I'm sure there are some other things that have made this past month less than desirable - just too tired to think of them right now. Taking my guys and nieces to Imagination Stage for the show Heidi this afternoon. Just me and them. Them and me. Them laughing and giggling about EVERYTHING - even if there isn't anything. Me - dreaming of sleeping. But it's spring break, and sitting around not doing anything just doesn't sound fun. So off we go. Even though my luck seems to be in the toilet - and flushed, when I have bursts of energy, I feel quite lucky to have my guys and nieces to spend a wonderful afternoon at the theater, enjoying a great show, eating pizza and listening to all the jokes that preschoolers can possibly makeup....and continue to laugh and giggle at them all!

Dancing with the Stars

Okay, I am not ashamed to discuss my addiction to reality shows. I think my days are so crazy hazy that watching anything other than mindless TV gets me through the day (note my comments on TV in previous post). So what kind of reality shows do I like or love....well, ones that have captivated me from time to time and on a regular basis (please, no comments and I have no reason why so don't ask) are Jon & Kate plus 8, 18 kids and counting (okay, I like ones with big families), Little People, Big World, Dog the Bounty Hunter (don't even comment!) and lets not leave out "The Girls Next Door". Okay, so now I've let you in on my shame (or enjoyment, depending on how you take it). So where is all this blah blah going....well, another favorite show of mine is Dancing with the Stars. I didn't watch last season because no one interested me. However, the season before I was cheering Marie Osmond big time!! Now the new season started tonight. I wasn't very thrilled with the original line up. BUT THEN, the unthinkable happened, someone got injured and replaced with HOLLY MADISON from "The Girls Next Door". Now I know what you are thinking. Why on earth would I even watch a show about Playboy bunnies and about a woman of 26 sleeping with a man 80???!! I asked myself many times over. First thinking I might need therapy to figure it out. I thought Holly was the biggest idiot alive. Okay, she still might be, but after you watched the show for a while, she grows on you. You may not be able to understand it, but you also start to accept her immense love for Hugh (who she has since broken up with because he wouldn't marry her and couldn't father a baby). Holly is just searching for love, happiness and fulfilment in life - like many of us do on a daily basis. So I am thrilled to say, I will be cheering Holly on this season. Get those phones out, start dialing...Holly, Holly, HOLLY!! (p.s. no I'm not drunk while writing this)

WTH (What the Heck)

What the heck is with all the depressing shows. I will be the first to admit my serious addiction to Law & Order SVU, House, Americas Most Wanted, Criminal Intent, Cold Cases, The Closer, 48 Hours, Misdiagnosis, Medical Mysteries.....do you see a theme here in my tv hours?? At first it was just fascination for me. Now that I have other worries on my mind such as the economy and whether our lives will be drastically altered because of it all, I find that now instead of fascination, I have obsession! I worry about those who haven't been caught - are they lurking in my neighborhood, will I get a disease that no dr. is smart enough to diagnose (since I doubt a real "House" exsists), what about those poor families who have missing family and can't find out where they are....the list just goes on and on. Now I don't enjoy those programs anymore because I just obsess and add to my stress. On the flip side, when not watching these shows, I'm addicted to reality shows and I think, how come my life isn't interesting enough to make money like these shows??? Guess having twins just isn't. So then I started thinking or rather reminising.....I use to LOVE watching Father knows Best, Blondie and Dagwood (in reruns that is), Happy Days, I Dream of Jeannie, My Favorite Martian, LOVE BOAT (one of my favorites)....you know the shows. You didn't have to worry whether it was rated G or PG or Y or Y7 based on your cable ratings. You didn't have to worry about the language or whether its appropriate, no one gets shot or killed, abducted or ill. So what was so WRONG with those kind of shows? Shows use to be made so that the whole family could sit and watch together, you didn't need to monitor everything. You didn't need to worry if someone wasn't going to eat because you ALWAYS knew that June Clever would be setting the table for a meal. I think during this difficult times, these are the kind of shows that should be making a reappearance. I know they made me really happy and brought many hours of entertainment. Not that I mind watching Hannah Montana or ICarly but wheres the imagination? Maybe I don't see it the same, maybe I'm actually getting old and just don't get it. But you got to admit - the days of Star Trek and Lost in Space were priceless! (yes, I was a big trekkie). So come on TV executives, bring back all these old favorites and someone start making more. There has to be someone creative enough out there where they can create new family materials without relying on someone elses reality or demise. That said....what's your favorite oldie? I'm a huge lover of shows that were in B&W - my top favs are 1. Love Boat , 2. Blondie and Dagwood, 3. Star Trek, Allen & Burns (George Burns and Gracie Allen made an amazing duo), 4. Dick Van Dyke Show, 5. Brady Bunch....and you?

And so it goes

Today I was feeling overwhelmed with saddest. I'm not sure what brought it on (actually I do). I was sitting in church when I found out a couple I've known at church will be moving back to Atlanta in a few months. But then it made me think of another couple who will be moving back to England in July. Mary and Rob, what a wonderful twosome. Mary and I have done many prayer events together and is someone you feel automatically attached too. So I was sad thinking about their move back. Then I became sad thinking about England and thinking again how I can't afford a trip back to see my dearest friend Colin who has terminal throat cancer. After that thought, it just went down hill. Even though the sermon was upbeat, I couldn't help but miss Colin so much. Then when thinking of Colin, it made me think of my friend Lori that passed from cancer in September at age 44. Do you see the progression of events. One thought automatically led to another. That kind of sadness is so hard to shake. I figured if I went grocery shopping, food would definitely take it off my mind. But then son #3 started complaining about his throat feeling scratchy again and requested a trip to the drs. Off we go.....and again another case of STREP! We have never had strep circling the family like a vulture before!! The dr. said it was probably a very strong strain of bacteria - which happens - and some of the germs lingered, then grew, then tested positive again. Do you think we could win an award for most cases of strep in a short period of time in one family?? Needless to say, that did get my mind off of sadness for awhile and focused on making son #3 feeling better. I wonder if popsicles wil make my sadness better? Worth a try! Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully a better one. I think I'll sit down and write a letter to England, just to let them know I'm thinking of them.

Born in the USA

Today is Super Bowl and Bruce Springsteen is the headliner for the half-time show. He is also coming in concert to the DC area soon. Boy that really takes me back. I remember in 1983, getting to see the Boss at RFK stadium. I had just spent a week in Jamaica. Upon returning, I brought back with me food poisoning. For 2 days I was laid up, sick as a dog. Of course, everyone at work thought I had partied too hard while on vacation and was now taking sick days. Not the case. On day 2, the phone calls started - do you need your ticket to Bruce Springsteen? Say what? No way, I was going to that concert if I had to go in an ambulance! So on day 2 of my illness, I crawled my way out of bed and along with friends, headed to the metro. Destination - RFK stadium. The metro ride was hell. I was laying in the floor for most of it - too weak to stand. We get to the stadium, luckily, people were in such a party mode and kept moving around, I was able to lay across some chairs to rest. I will say, once Bruce came out and the music started, it was like the illness was moved from my body - we sang, we danced, we loved the Boss. When the evening ended, I was lucky to still have the energy to get back to the metro. Again, laying on the floor of the metro (no seats available). Wow what a night. I can't believe how many people called me to acquire my ticket. But let me just say, as painful as it all was, it was well worth it. I chalked it up to another adventure in life. So as I heard the Boss was playing Super Bowl, I couldn't help but be shot back in time. It was the only time I got to see Bruce but it will always be a fabulous memory.

And by the way, Jamaica was a wild time too - definitely worth the food poisoning too! If it wasn't for Jamaica, I wouldn't have met my dearest and my most wonderful friends Jane and Colin who live in England. After 20 plus years, we are still friends and have shared even more memories on other great vacations together.

Strep again and again

As if once wasn't enough, now son #2 has it again. Rather, the dr said, it is possible for strep to not go away and another round of meds are required. What is with that? I have called the dr. so many times in the last 2 weeks. It will end soon - right?