Back To School Shopping

The light at the front-end of the line.

I don't consider shopping a sport and neither does , a calorie counting app. Yes, I checked.

It's badjavascript:void(0) enough going shopping alone, today, the whole lot of us went shoe shopping for the boys. All three of them. In fact, I didn't even get shoes.

Wait why am I here? Oh yeah it's my motherly duty.

Add to that two whining kids, who are genetically predisposed to an extreme DISLIKE of shopping. Unfortunately, they get it from both sides of the family.

Then there was the 169 other parents and their kids all crammed into a sardine can of a shoe store called the Vans Outlet Store.

Good times.

Somehow we made it out alive and with 8 pairs of shoes, for about twenty-two dollars and some change, per pair. Not too bad.

Yes, we fared pretty well, and that was before my American Apparel rampage where I thought the skinny jeans, normally $72 dollars, were all marked down to $25!

"Wow, this is a really good sale," I say to Sales Clerk Annie. "I can't believe these are all marked down to twenty-five dollars."

"They aren't," says Sales Clerk Annie.

"Oh," I say.

Apparently, I found the one pair that were marked down to $25, while the others were all $52. Which is $25 backwards right? It is, trust me, I did the math several times.

"So I guess I'm dyslexic," I say to the sales clerk.

"Maybe," replies Sales Clerk Annie.

I was all set to by the skinny jeans in every color, but I settled for purple and yellow to match my aura. I also bought two pairs of leg warmers.

Yippee!

Somehow it seems wrong to be excited about buying leg warmers in the dead of summer, but that's life in a NorCal Summer.



Anywho.

Like I said we all survived shopping and then some. But one kid almost didn't.

"Oh my gosh!" shouts Hubby. "Did you see that?!"

"You mean that kid who fell off the semi-truck jiggly ride?" I ask. "You're only supposed to sit in the seat. It's a ride. Not a jungle gym. Where's his Mom, anyways?"

"No, he didn't fall off the ride," explains Hubby. "He barely brushed against THAT lady and she shoved him really hard to the ground. He could have hit his head, and been seriously injured."

Tell me about it.

"Woah!" I say. "That's crazy. She must have a red-overlay aura."

Honestly what's wrong with people? Who does that? Crazy people with red overlays, that's who.

But I, being the creative, dedicated parent that I am, seized the moment and transformed it into a teaching opportunity.

"See kids, you need to watch where you're walking," I lecture. "Because if you accidentally bump into someone they might throw you to the ground."

Both boys had startled expressions on their faces. But they paid close attention to where they walked the rest of the day.

Getting Tubed

Well, I guess until I can truly surf again, whenever that maybe, this video will have to do.

Jack In The Box

Smart Parenting

After ten looooong years, Hubby and I are finally getting the hang of this parenting thing. Though, I doubt Vinny agrees.


Vinny's mad face.

Sponge Bob Squarepants

Summer is almost over. But there's still plenty of time to stay up past our bedtimes, rotting our brains, with Sponge Bob Squarepants.

Seawall

"Mom, the sign says, 'do not walk on the seawall,'" says Vinny. "I'm pretty sure this is a seawall."

Blatant regard for authority? He definitely does not get that from me.

Say "Cheese"

We went to dinner with family tonight. After a tasty meal we hit the beach. It was so nice!

Sugarland at Californ Mid State Fair Paso Robles

Dynamic Duo Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush.

When Hubby and I sat down in our center stage Row 17 seats for the Sugarland concert they seemed like great seats. And they were until all the drunk and tall people arrived for the Sugarland concert.

Fortunately, the drunks were confident twenty-something girls, who obnoxiously told the tall people, "sit down, so we can see."

Go drunk girls! Oh and thanks for not falling or puking on me.

Back to the concert.

Honestly, after watching Sara Bareilles perform, I was tired, cold and in need of a blankie and a nap. But then her hotness, Jennifer Nettles, looking sexy svelte in black, took to the stage and I remembered why I was there.

I love Jennifer Nettles, in a Katy Perry kind of way.

Yes, I know Sugarland is a duo, but I find Ms. Nettles deliciously inspiring, even in the company of distracting drunks, whom in most venues, would have been the main attraction. The bossy girls were all over each other, in an "I Kissed A Girl," kind of way.

"I love you!" cry the drunk girls, embracing.

If I go to another Sugarland concert, it's got to be 10th row or better, minus the drunks and their snazzy light up cocktails.

"Ugh," moans Hubby as he's reading this post. "I'm Sugarland out."

The concert set list was fun and inspiring, save for "Stay," which since she leaves I guess IS inspiring, but not fun at all.

Sugarland performed new songs such as "Stuck Like Glue," "Find The Beat Again," and others. They didn't leave out the old songs either including, "Baby Girl," "Everyday American," "All I Want To Do," and more.

I found the medley especially fun. Watch it here and you'll see why.



And I loved their 80s flashback cover of Dexys Midnight Runners "Come On Eileen," with Sara Bareilles. It was Freaking AWESOME!!!!!!



Here's some of the non-blurry pictures I managed to take of the concert. Oh by the way, does anyone have rows 1-5 tickets to see Sugarland, August 26th at Shoreline? No matter, what they say I can never get enough Sugar.

"Pour some sugar on meh!"

RIP Amy Winehouse

RIP Amy Winehouse 1983-2011.

Sad and tragic. Another blessed soul has been taken by the devil of addiction. And there was nothing anyone could do to help her. Addiction sucks.

Whether or not the autopsy shows a drug overdose, Winehouse's struggles with her demons were public and painfully obvious.

This video is a stellar performance of Winehouse's talent. May she live on, forever in our hearts, through her music.

Sara Bareilles

Sara Bareilles, the opening act for Sugarland, rocks!!!!!!

Check out this song, "King of Anything." Bareilles sang it at the concert dedicating it, "to all the douche bags."



Another popular song by Bareilles that I love could be dedicated to certain douche bags, is "Love Song." Check it out.



Oh and I guess Sara and Jennifer Nettles are friends. Check out Nettles being pajama silly in Sara's video for her song, "Uncharted."

Sugarland California Mid State Fair

Row 17!

Sugarland at California Mid State Fair, Paso Robles

We made it down the highway, two hours south, to see Sugarland tonight at the California Mid State Fair And we remembered the tickets.

"Honey, can you check one more time and make sure we have the tickets?" I ask for the fifth time since leaving the house. Woot!!!!!!!!!!

Surfing Dog

I want to be this dog. Just kidding. Maybe. What is it about bulldogs and skateboards? They must have been skaters and surfers in past lives.

The skate park scene impressed me most. The dog is pumping, switching weight back and forth from rail to rail, on the skateboard! Amazing.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Pt 2

Date Night

"Let's go see a movie," I say.

"Okay, what do you want to see?" asks Hubby.

"Midnight in Paris," I say.  "Let me check the movie times."

"Harry Potter in 3D!" I say. "Let's go see that instead."

"I wish I could go," says Vinny.

"No way," I say. "Remember how scary the last Harry Potter movie was? You wanted to leave during the preview."

"Oh yeah," says Vinny.

Internet I am so glad I didn't take my 10-year-old, though there were it at least 20 times throughout the movie I thought to myself, "I wish Vinny were here, he would know what this means."

Vinny is an avid Harry Potter fan, having read the Potter series multiple times.

But the final film is completely inappropriate for my kids, without the ability to fast forward through the violence and gore. While the last Potter movie had some blood in it, Part 2 of the Deathly Hollows has much more.

The film was full of varying shades of gloomy grey.   The lack of color, save for blood red, gave the movie an anxiety provoking feel as though evil was lurking around every corner. And actually it was.

Honestly, I felt stressed out watching the movie, and couldn't stop saying, "Poor Harry," and  reminding myself to breathe.

"Why did I think this was going to be fun? " I wondered.

That being said I'm glad I saw the last Harry Potter movie. Though the movie was like a rollercoaster ride, it tied up a lot of loose ends and the 3D was AMAZING!

Thankful

Internet, I am HAPPY to report Luna Mew Kitten is feeling better today. After posting last night's blog, she even had a few licks of kitty can food gravy.

The prayers and good thoughts began working right away. Thanks y'all.

This morning Luna Mew Kitten woke up, and ate more gravy, probably a tablespoon. A few hours later she ate more gravy, and a bit of dry kibble.

Yay! By this afternoon she added wet food back into her diet.  I'm so grateful!   Watching one kitten lay around lethargic, while the other kitten frollicked about gave me flashbacks to when Vinny was sick in December.

Yes. I'm. Still. Traumatized. But I'm working on it.

Thanks again for all the good thoughts and well wishes.  Now I'll be PRAYING for both kittens to stop eating things they shouldn't. Amen.

Carnations Cat Poison

Luna Mew Kitten

Internet, it may be hard to believe, but I'm 99.9% certain the kitten that threw up the earplug last night, isn't the kitten who is sick today. Otherwise, she would be feeling better. Right?

Luna Mew Kitten has been lethargic since 5 o'clock yesterday evening. We took her to the vet this morning, as she hadn't, and still hasn't, had any food or water.

"Has she been throwing up?" asks Vicky Veterinarian.

"No," Hubby answers.

"Is she still an indoor cat," asks Vicky Veterinarian.

"Yes," I answer.

"Wait, there were carnations on the table," says Hubby suddenly remembering. "There was a carnation bud on the table and on the floor, whose ends were chewed."

"The carnations could be the culprit," says Vicky Veterinarian. "They are mildly toxic to cats."

Vicky Veterinarian recommended giving Luna Mew Kitten fluids, which we did. $125.00 later, now we are playing a wicked game of waiting.

She did purr a little bit tonight. Right now she's sleeping.

We are HOPING and PRAYING Luna Mew Kitten is sick from the carnations. And we promise to never, ever have flowers in the house AGAIN!

I hate seeing my baby sick. Ugh.

The Missing Earplug

A week ago, the earplug pictured above, went missing. It probably fell on the floor.

Tonight, it was found.

"Somebody threw up," calls my Mom.

As I gather the Barf-Mat equipment, spoon, wipeys, Resolve, vacuum and paper towels, Gio notices something.

"There's an earplug in the throw up," says Gio. "I think someone ate it."

Someone, is definitely a kitten since it was cat-food vomit. But which kitten? Hmmmmm.

Carissa Moore 2011 ASP Women's World Surfing Champion

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Carissa Moore, 2011 ASP Women's World Surfing Champion, should inspire small children and grown ups alike, whether they surf or not. I know she inspires me.

Moore, in only her second year on the world surfing tour, and at the tender age of 18, is the youngest person to win the surfing world title. Prior to Moore's crowning, the youngest ever title winner was Kelly Slater, who won his first world title at age 20.

I'm sure Slater doesn't mind being stripped of one of his many records. Besides, he's still the youngest male to win a world title.

From Kelly Slater's Twitter Feed Yesterday:

@CarissaMoore92 congratulations. Youngest ever world champ! Great job......

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And From Carissa Moore's Twitter Feed Yesterday.

THANK U ALL SO MUCH! THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME, BEST DAY OF MY LIFE! THANK YOU! CONGRATS TO @Steph_gilmore FOR WINNING THE ROXY PRO!

I'm sure this won't be Moore's last title. Moore is the epitomy of progressive women's surfing. She has the charisma and ability to take women's surfing to the next level by inspiring past, present and future generations of women surfers around the world.

Congratulations!!!!

SVT Catheter Ablation

Internet you may remember how my Mom ended up in ER four weeks ago, for an arrhythmia in her heart. Recall, if you will, that her first option was to increase her medication to stop her heart from beating too fast.

The medicine didn't work, so she is onto step two. The last and final step, I hope and pray to Baby Jesus, in fixing the electrical issue with her heart. Today is Catheter Ablation Day, hence the reason for my being at the hospital for twelve hours.

Good times.

The procedure involved the electrocardiologist going into a vein in the groin with a catheter-thinga-ma-fixer. Internet guess what he found? An EXTRA electrical pathway that was causing the irregular, rapid heartbeats.

Like a Jedi Master, the doctor zapped the bothersome extra pathway into oblivion, just like in Star Wars.

Waaaaa Cha!

The procedure took about four hours, which according to Physician's Assistant Allen, "was short."

From the waiting room perspective it felt sooooooooooo Looooooooooooooooooong. Fortunately, I had great company, my Aunt and my Cousin, were there to distract me from my worry.

Thanks ladies!

The electrocardiologist said the procedure "was uncomplicated and went well. You can drive tomorrow."

"You are not driving tomorrow," I growl politely.

Mom's spending one night in the hospital. Tomorrow she'll be coming to our house for as many days as necessary to recover. And she'll be sleeping on the new futon!

I'm relieved everything went well, since I only have one Mom, and I'd like to keep it that way.

Though she may not always think so.


Now I'm going to sleep. Hospitals are exhausting. While Mom's procedure may have been a big deal to the docs, especially since they or their loved ones, aren't the ones getting it, the hospital environment is rather depressing.

Seeing people in the last stages of life, suffering, while their loved ones hearts break, isn't exactly uplifting. Especially knowing we are ALL heading in that direction.

Even worse is hearing a woman's still young husband being diagnosed with Stage 3 Cancer. Honestly, I don't know how people work in the hospital without diving deep into the pool of CRAZY.

I suppose it must be all the good they are able to do that gets them through life's inevitable tragedies. And I am grateful they do it.

As Mom reminded me yesterday,"They fixed Vinny. It wasn't like you could have helped him."

Tomato Jelly

A Teaching Moment
(Hubby lives for them, and we all get smarter in the process so it all works out rather nicely)

"What can you make jelly from?" Hubby asks the boys.

"Strawberries, apples, grapes," answers Vinny.

"You can make jelly from tomatoes, " says Gio. "It's called Ketchup!"

"Ketchup isn't jelly," argues Vinny. "If it were it would be called Tomato Jelly."

We weren't the first ones to ponder the question of whether or not Ketchup is jelly. Click here to see the answers.

We found recipes both for tomato jelly and tomato jam. It seems as the main difference is jam and jelly, have more sugar, while Ketchup has salt and other spices.

"I think jelly and Ketchup are both condiments," I say.

"Jelly is not a condiment," says Hubby.

Meanwhile Vinny and I were wiki-ing condiments. Hubby was right, as usual, though I'm sure the wiki is wrong. Jelly is not listed as a condiment. But fish sauce is. Because I always spread fish sauce over my gluten-free bread, right before I barf.

"Okay, jelly isn't a condiment," I say. "How about Fish Sauce? Is that a condiment?"

"Probably," says Hubby.

Hubby is condiment smart!

Cutest Kittens Ever

The Hook, Capitola, California

How I Met Your Mother

19 Years Ago, Today.

There was this really cute guy sitting across from me in traffic school. Every chance I got I would stare at him, which was every time the instructor walked in front or stood near him, so I wouldn't be obvious.

I could see him staring back at me, out of the corner of my eye. I totally thought he was going to talk to me at break, but he didn't.

Same thing for lunch. But at the end of the day, when class was over, and I was walking to my car, he finally spoke to me

"Do you think it's going to rain?" he asks.

"Not really, since there isn't a cloud in the sky," I say.

People have said stranger things to me. Besides, he was REALLY cute. We continued to chat as he walked me to my car. We asked each other important questions.

"Do you surf?" I ask.

"Yes, I'm just starting," he answers.

And like every woman I tell myself, "okay then this guy definitely has potential."

Do you have a boyfriend," he asks.

"Yes, but I'm sort of codependent," I answer.

And like every man, he tells himself, "I have a chance."

When he asks for my number, I hand him my business card, and we say goodbye.

One day passes, no phone call. Second day passes, same thing.

But when I got to work on Monday there were a dozen red roses waiting for me, with a note asking, "How co-dependent are you?"

Nineteen years later, our partnership is stronger and better than ever. We may stumble through life at times, but at least we are stumbling together.

He's patient with me. Who knows, someday his patience might even rub off on me. If he's lucky.

Sometimes, it seems like we met yesterday. At the same time it feels like we've known each other fifty life times.

Our relationship isn't always easy. But it isn't always hard either. Early on, we both learned a relationship is a work in progress. Good thing we're hard workers.

I wouldn't want to DO IT, and all "IT" entails, with anyone else.

I love you Honey ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Painting Trim

Last week, while watching Hubby paint,  I decided to join him.   And there's been a lot less complaining, from me, ever since.

Morning Glory

"Strip Me" Natasha Bedingfield

"Who sings this song?" I ask, as the film credits to "Morning Glory," roll. "I love it!"

"Natasha Redingfield," replies Hubby.

"Bedingfield," I correct.

"I think it's Redingfield," says Hubby.

"Uh, huh," I say politely.

I must have been tired, I'm usually not polite when I'm right. Or maybe these Chinese Herbs for PMS are working.

"Oh, you're right it is Bedingfield," says Hubby.

"I know," I say.

I love the movie, too! "Morning Glory," starring the spunky Rachel McAdams, has a great message, "be yourself," and still manages to be laugh out loud funny.

McAdams plays a television news producer whose childhood dream of working on The Today Show isn't panning out, when she lands a gig on a worn out, viewer-less morning show, DayBreak.

McAdams shines in her role, despite the movie's slow start, with her Lucille Ball-like comedic follies.

The film also stars Harrison Ford, as a fired, curmudgeon, has-been, top notch, television journalist, in the likes of Dan Rather. Not only is Ford surprisingly unannoying, he's actually quite good.

Diane Keaton, who looks great with blonde hair!, plays the co-anchor opposite Ford. Keaton and Ford's relationship is filled with a love-hate based tension, making for witty banter between the two.

The film naturally picks up momentum as the show DayBreak starts to improve picking up viewers with YouTube-esque stunt based feature stories. Humorous and inspiring, "Morning Glory," is my kind of movie.

Trailer for "Morning Glory"

Capitola, California

Vinny scaling the man-made wall at the Hook.


One day in Capitola.

"Hey, can we drive down to the beach and check the waves?" I ask.

Even if I can't surf, I like to keep an eye the Ocean and see how she's doing.

"Sure," says Hubby, knowing that's a statement in the form a question.

"Are you guys gonna come with me?" I ask.

"No, we're gonna stay in the car," say The Three Musketeers.

They didn't recognize my rhetorical question so I prod them with, "Uh, I think we SHOULD all go down to the beach."

"Okay," say The Three Musketeers.


Someone always gets cut out of the self-family portrait.




Look, an ankle high wave!

Haboob

"Honey, you gotta see this!" says Hubby, watching the Weather Channel.

"Holy cow!" I shriek. "That's a huge Ha-boob!"

According to Wilma Weathercaster, "The Ha-boob, a giant wave of dust, was two miles high and up to 100 miles wide in some places, blanketed the city of Phoenix."

"Can I see?" calls a voice that's supposed to be sleeping.

"Sure," says Hubby.

"I think a lot of people have learned a new word this week, if they never heard of Ha-boob, now they have," says Wilma Weathercaster.

Uh, Wilma I think we've all heard of a boob, in fact, all my friends have two of them.

"I know what a Ha-boob is," says Vinny.

"What kind of books are you reading, they seem inappropriate?" asks Hubby.

"A Ha-boob is large wall of sand," says Vinny. "It was in a book I just read, "Questors."

"Wilma Weathercaster said it was dust," I say.

"Sand, dust it's all the same," says Vinny.

And now for the rest of the night I will be hearing things like, "ha ha ha ha boob," and "I've never seen Ha boob so big!"

I'm. Not. Kidding.

Fish Sauce

Meh snorts fish sauce.


Meh drinks fish sauce.

Nutella

Behold the Nutella sandwich.

"Daddy give me some!" demands Gio.

"You had ice cream for dessert," says Hubby, hiding something delicious under the table.

"You had ice cream, too!" cries Gio.

"I'm bigger than you," replies Hubby.

"But Nutella isn't dessert," pleads Gio. "It's good for you."

"No," says Hubby.

"Did somebody say chocolate?" say my Ears.

"Are you hiding a Nutella sandwich under the table?" I ask.

"Yep," replies Hubby.

"Dad, I told you, you shouldn't have bought Nutella when we were at the store," says Vinny.

Happy Fourth of July!

Who would have thought something as simple as a water bottle mister could be so entertaining? Happy Fourth of July!

California Beach Sunset

Making Faces

Burlap To Cashmere Mansions

I love this song! Yes, I'm at it again. Well, I can't surf, but at least I can listen to music. For me, music must be inspiring, uplifting and positive. Especially considering the high degree of suckiness my life has been filled with lately.

"Mansions," by Burlap To Cashmere off their "Anybody Out There," CD is all of that and more. The album, released in the late 90s was pretty hard to find when I went searching for it several years ago.

Fortunately, I managed to get one via Amazon. Ironically, the last track on the CD, my favorite song, "Mansions," was unplayable.

Haha, Universe, joke's on me. Thankfully, I have a warrior-like sense of humor. That and the rest of the album is pretty good.

Anyways, Burlap to Cashmere is releasing a new album July 19th. I can't wait to listen to it. Hopefully, on my way to the beach to surf.....