American Idol Weekly Rundown-The Top 12

So I really wasnt excited about the Beatles. I'm not a fan and I think opening up their song book was a bit 'anti-climactic' since neither Lennon or McCartney had a great voice and therefore their songs are not that vocally challenging. The real trick here was making the songs 'new', so to speak. There is only so much you can do with 'She Loves You (yeah yeah yeah)' or 'Ticket To Ride'. But I will admit that if one were willing to try and conquer some of the less well-known songs, like 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' for example, good stuff could ensue. As it stands, most of the selections were predictable. Here's how I call it:



THE BEST:

1.CHIKEZIE- I knew this guy had something to prove! This was great. The arrangement he attached to 'She's A Woman' was nothing short of perfect for his 'comeback' performance. It reminded me of the great Robert Randolph (and the Family Band) whose music combines American Delta Folk with Funk to come up w/ a truly unique sound. Chikezie borrowed from this vibe and produced the 'moment' of the night. Plus, he was having a blast and carrying the audience along with every note. I'm surprised that no one mentioned the absurdity of the sweater vest, however.


THE GOOD:(in no particular order)

2.Carly- I hate 'Come Together'. It's one of those songs that gets all kind of credit for being a phenomenal piece of rock history when it is ludicrously obvious that the ditty was written in a drug induced haze and contains on the 'skillful' song-writing of a 3 yr old. Stupid stupid lyrics. I know...I'm mostly alone on this. I don't care. If you're going to use drugs as the impetus, at least give us some better imagery. Anyway, Carly sang a great rendition of it either way. The gal has pipes.

3.Jason- I think he and his mellow guitar may eventually bore America. But I really liked 'If I Fell' as he performed it. He changed up the melody a little to make it interesting and actually hit the majority of his falsetto notes this week. And the teeth...have I mentioned the teeth?

4.David C.-The resident 'rocker' performed Eleanor Rigby within an inch of its life. It wasnt bad, actually, albeit extremely predictable. I was telling my husband, "Now watch, he's gonna sing it straight until 'I look at all the lonely people' comes around and then he's gonna go all Linkin Park on us...' which is exactly what happend. However, some credit should be given for the arrangment (if it is indeed his own) and the 'sellability' of the cover. I'm surprised, however, that Simon didnt have anything to say about how 'indulgent' this performance was.

5.Brooke-Aside from 'Let it Be' being a very predictable song choice for her and -even with the piano- a very drowsy performance, it was still nice. I enjoyed it. I was washing dishes while she sang and I didnt look up from my pot-scrubbing or anything. But it was pleasant. I think she might be a bit of a 'one-note'. I'll have to see. I'm not sure she could stake a viable claim in the ranks of female singer/songwriters out there nowadays.

6.Michael-I was a bit surprised he didnt really blow me away w/ 'Across the Universe' since it is one of the only songs from this catalogue that I truly love. I adore Fiona Apple's version. But Michael didnt really bring much originality to the arrangement. He sang it well though, and it is a good enough song to give him an easy pass to next week, I think.

7. Amanda-Though she has a pretty face and a meek persona, Amanda's performances are really the antithesis of all that's sexy. It's almost off-putting, even for a true rock and roll lover. That said, she sang the heck out of 'You Can't Do That', rendering it almost unrecognizable. Which is just fine by me.

THE BAD:

8. Syesha Macado-Once again, song choice may prove to be the downfall for her. It was a bold pick, 'Got To Get You Into My Life', but she had problems w/ the pitch at the beginning and though it picked up a bit toward the end; it was probably too little too late. A better song choice? 'Get Back' would have given her more options.

9. Ramiele Mubalay-'In My Life' is a lovely song. And she has a lovely voice. The two together were...lovely. And really really dull. A better choice? 'Something' would have allowed for more range.

10.David H.- 'I Saw Her Standing There' was a dumb song. And Tiffany covered it in the eighties. Those two things should make any AI contestant run Forrest run. But instead, David embraced the cheesiness. In my old high school, there was a group of kids (hated by almost everyone) called Show Choir. At every school event, they were there en masse...dressed in sordid color coordinated duds and crooning medleys of insipid pop tunes that would cause the most tolerant ears to bleed. This performance could have been yanked from any one of those shows. A better choice? I can see him really giving an r & b vibe to 'Sgt Pepper' and making it work.

THE UGLY:

11. David A.- Poor kid. I read in a recent article that David Archuleta 'is Reality Tv's equivelent of a newly hatched chick' and I laughed because it's such a perfect description of his white-bread shininess. But the judges' golden boy really dropped the ball this week. First, he admits on camera that he's nervous and that he doesnt really know any Beatles songs. Sure David...I'm sure you're just being modest and going to blow everybody away as always. Wrong. He really DIDNT know any Lennon/McCartney tunes apparently. He chose 'We Can Work It Out' and forgot the lyrics...twice. He also started late and stumbled through the parts he remembered. Why oh why didnt he do 'Yesterday' like everyone was sure he would?

12. Kristy- Hilarious. The arrangment she chose for 'Eight Days a Week' was manic and beyond comprehension. Those strings will haunt me, I swear. The tempo was so fast that even she couldnt keep up, though she did try valiantly. Her vocals seemed to be recovered somewhat but the song choice and performance were not salvageable. A better choice? For her 'country' fans, an intelligently constructed cover of 'Helter Skelter' could have been really memorable. Maybe next time.

Though David A. screwed up royally, his previous performances and huge fanbase will save him. I believe Kristy and David H. will be the bottom two this week and either of them could go. Ramiele may also be in danger since she's so small. heh heh.

Make-up Can Be Fun

I found this little tutorial on youtube and tried it on Saturday. I'm really pleased with how it came out...and much easier than I would have thought. I cut the false eylashes in half because the full 'curtain' over my eyes annoyed me. But I think it still works.

It was oodles of fun! Oh, and by the way...excuse the extreme close up on the photos. Unlike the lil gal in the video, I was without an adorable head ribbon when I took them. If you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of the sponge rollers...hah.





Oh, but I did also try a retro bandana trick after taking out said rollers. And it worked out well too...

Music Clip of the Week-Queen/ Who Wants To Live Forever

I thought I'd post this quintessential eighties classic as a tribute to American Idol contestant Kady Malloy who tried her darndest to win over America w/ her rendition of it. I guess it didnt pay off-heh heh.

But hey, let's enjoy the hokey fun of 'Highlander' anyway.

The American Idol Weekly Rundown-'Ze Girlz'

Everybody is stepping it up, it seems.

THE BEST:
1. Carly Smithson-I LOVE THAT SONG! I think I actually let out a little 'hoot' when I realized she was going to sing Roy Orbison's 'I Drove All Night', one of my very favorite songs of that decade. Yes, I know Cyndi Lauper and Celine Dion have covered it but it will always be an a Roy classic, to me. And even though Carly belted it in a style similar to Celine Dion, she also retained the tempo and sound of the original...which was NOT a dance song, like Celine's version. She is now the clear winner, in my book.

THE GOOD:

2. Brooke White-sat on the stage (again) and did a mellowed out version of 'Love is a Battlefield' which conveniently left out any of the truly challenging vocal segments of the original. The cool thing is that she did succeed in 'modernizing' one of the cheesier songs of the eighties, and make it her own. It was really kind of great. But I would have loved to see her tackle the dance moves of the video...heh heh.

3. Amanda Overmeyer-whew! Nice comeback. Joan Jett's 'I Hate Myself For Loving You' sounded even raunchier coming from her. I didnt like it as much as Simon did (the chorus was a little bland) but it was definitely a far cry from last week. Plus, the hair was tame and the face looked pretty. She seemed...incongruously sweet.

4. Kady Malloy-another huge surprise. She was in my bottom two last week. I know she hit some flat notes in her interpretation of Queen's 'Who Wants To Live Forever' but there were parts of it that gave me chills. And she really showed courage tackling that song. Even Katherine McPhee of two seasons ago wasnt able to do it without choking. It is a HARD song.

5. Syesha Macado-did 'Saving All My Love For You' and the only thing more predictable than the song choice was her delivery of it. But she did a good job nevertheless.

THE BAD:

6. Ramiele Malubay-Okay, it wasnt bad. She sang 'Against All Odds' well, even. But it was sooooo boring! She really needs to step up that performance level.

7. Asia-h Epperson-I thought the whole thing seemed very 'Disney-esque'....kinda like a 'High School Musical' performance of Whitney's 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'. I also just think it's DUMB to sing Whitney Houston songs and I wish everyone would STOP DOING IT. Asia is gone this week, I think.

THE UGLY:

8. Kristi Lee Cook- I still can't stand this girl. I am tired of the judges giving her all kinds of praise for these strangled performances. And to butcher Jorney's 'Faithfully' like that too! The final note was terrible...awful...ech. And did anyone else notice the red tongue? I have noticed a few blue tongues this season as well. I'm guessing these kids are sucking on cough drops before they perform. Someone should tell them to try the CLEAR ones. heh heh.

So my guess is that Kristi and Asiah will be gone this week. But since the judges didnt really 'pan' anyone, we could have a surprise.

The American Idol Weekly Rundown-'Ze Boyz'

The boys are coming into their own.

THE BEST:

1.Jason Castro (pictured above)-stole the show in all his 'Pretty Travolta' glory as he tackled (gasp!) Leonard Cohen. It was probably the most surprising song choice I've seen since Fantasia Barino knocked 'You Were Always On My Mind' outta the park back in season three. I loved the quiet way he sang the song with his guitar, almost as if he were serenading a congregation instead of competing on a talent show.

THE GOOD:

2.David Cook-sang Lionel Ritchie's 'Hello' and did a great job with the arrangement. He made it a bluesy, rock ballad that was pretty good and definitely would be a radio hit, were it allowed to air. His vocals were 'on' as well. I don't like him any more than I liked Daughtry but he is equally 'sellable'.

3. Chikezie- I like him. I think his vocals are great and the fact that he attempted a Whitney Houston song was admirable. I thought it was a success.

4.David Archuleta- snoozy Phil Collins song aside, I thought he sang it well. But Simon was right, he shouldnt have gotten up. When he was at the piano, it seemed less contrived. Still no mention of Star Search...I'm wondering if there are infringement issues.

5.David Johns-started off the show well. I really liked his cover of one of my favorite eighties songs, 'Don't You Forget About Me'. The opening notes were the best. However, I wish they'd changed the arrangment a little more and made it less 'electronic'.

6. David Hernandez-though the song choice, 'It's all Coming Back To Me Now', was too big-I admired the attempt. His voice is good and he's a good performer. He'll definitely be in the top 12.

No 'bads' this week, just two 'uglies'.

THE UGLY:

7.Danny Noriega-Hahahahahahahahahaha. 'Tainted Love'? Really? If he had been wearing a dress and frolicking on a Vegas Stage, it would have been perfect. As it was, it was terrible. But the kid has so much personality! I adored his reaction to Ryan's taking notice of the purple hair: "Mmmmmmhmmmmm'

8.Luke Menard- Oh dear. Again, this was a mistake. I'm a fan of musical theater but even in a production of Starlight Express, this guy would manage to make me cringe. And he performed George Michael! LOL

Product Plugging

I am such a product fiend. I don't know what it is but there is just something oddly exciting about shopping for and trying new ones. I've always been this way too. When I was a kid, my mom could be just as certain of making me happy w/ a new shampoo purchase as she could w/ something tangible, like a toy.

Below are a list of products I'm currently using and my opinion of them. Also included are the names of the products I would use were money no option. I'm hoping some of my readers will feel so inclined to recommend some of their favorites to me as well...


For Face : POND'S COLD CREAM (facial cleanser, works great)
MARY KAY F1 HYDRATING FRESHENER (dry skin toner...ahhhh)
CETAPHIL SKIN CREAM (just the best facial moisturizer around)
MARY KAY CREME FOUNDATION with SPF8 (a great foundation for dry skin)
COVER GIRL (for almost all color cosmetics.)
BESAME' (for red lipstick)

*I prefer Mary Kay's Cleaning Cream for dry skin to Pond's. The smell is milder and the cream slightly less greasy. If I could use any cosmetic line, it would be SHISEIDO but one look at the prices will tell you why I stick to CG. Mary Kay also has good color cosmetics but no better than CG, if you ask me...and for almost double the price. Besame' lipstick is phenomenal. It does dry the lips a little but if you like red lips, they have the best colors and the strongest pigments. They come in a shiny bullet-shaped gold case and are very expensive.
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Hair Care: JOHN FRIEDA'S BRILLIANT RED (Shampoo and Conditioner for red hair)
AUSSIE HI HOLD + HI SHINE HAIRSPRAY (the best I've found)
TRE SEMME' HEAT TAMER SPRAY (protects hair from heated styling)

*When my hair isnt colored, I use Aussie Shampoos. They're my favorite in or out of the Salon. But when I've got red hair, I gotta use a color kicking shampoo. John Frieda's works better than Redken or any other brand I've tried. Styling products are really difficult for me to find though because my hair is so fine and most of them weigh it down.
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SkinCare: BODY ESSENCE OLIVE & HONEY BODY WASH (cheap stuff from Wal Mart also contains a Macadamia Nut scrub and smells nice and 'earthy'. Plus, it leaves skin very soft. Who woulda thought?
JOHNSON'S 24 HOUR LOTION (doesnt work 24 hours, but still does a good job)

* My favorite bath products are Bath N Body Works products. I've yet to find anything that smells as potent or works as well. But until money is truly no object...
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For Baby: BURT'S BABY BEE HAIR AND BODY WASH (smells like honey and doesnt burn eyes)
BURT'S BABY BEE APRICOT BABY OIL (smells HEAVENLY and makes babies softer than ever!)
A+D OINTMENT (for diaper rash -mediciney smell but still works great)
JOHNSON'S MEDICATED BABY POWDER (for diaper rash prevention)
WHITE CLOUD DIAPERS (cheap and dependable)
PARENT'S CHOICE BABY WIPES


*I've never found baby wash or lotion I like as much as Burt's wash and oil. For really stubborn diaper rash, I like FLANDER'S BUTTOCKS OINTMENT. But the A+D works great on mild redness. Pampers Diapers and Wipes are my favorites but too expensive for me and the cheaper versions work just fine.
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For Cleaning: PINE SOL-for floors and countertops
SCRUBBING BUBBLES BATHROOM CLEANER-for toilets and bathtubs
WINDEX -for glass, sinks, and fixtures
SWIFFER WETJET ANTIBACTERIAL SOLUTION-for touch up cleaning in kitchen
PLEDGE HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANER-for deep cleaning hardwoods.

*I just love the smell of Pine Sol so I will never try anything else. Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles are likewise old standbys of mine. The Swiffer is relatively a new discovery but one I swear by for touch up cleaning during the week. It also works for occasional hardwood floor clean-up but I use the pledge for my deep cleaning since I still don't count on the Swiffer fluid being that 'safe' for the finish. If money were no object, I'm sure I'd order more organic products online and essential oils. They're difficult to find out here in the boonies. And I'd surely get those Swiffer Dusters more often...those things are great!

Ten Things I Love that Begin With 'F'...

I'm stealing this from my friend bookyeti's blog:

Ten things I love that begin with 'F'

1.fondue
2.Frank Capra Films
3.Felix Unger
4.fiction
5.food network
6.family, my
7.Fallon, Neil (of Clutch)
8.fetal heartbeats
9.fizzy drinks
10.fair weather

Comment and you'll receive your own letter. Then place your own 'ten things' list in the comments, using the letter you're given.

American Idol Weekly Rundown-Part Deux

Here's my take on that god-awful display of girl-talent known as last night:

The Best:

1.Carly Smithson- Irish tattooed-lady sang "Crazy On You" by Heart and belted it well. Unfortunately, the rest of the pack was so mediocre that it didnt take much from her to lead them all. It wasnt her best performance but it was better than the rest.

The Good:

2.Brooke White-This squeaky clean blonde strapped on a guitar and sang "You're So Vain' really well. It was a bit boring and I surely didnt 'love it' like Simon did, but the delivery was impressive.


3. Syesha Macado-I admire her attempt to cover songs that haven't been tried on the show before and songs made popular by men. It's interesting but not always successfull. Last night she performed 'Me and Mrs(Mr)Jones' and though she tried very hard and hit the notes nicely, it wasnt the right song. Nice try, though.

The Bad:

4.Alaina Whitaker-It started off very pretty, the way she sang 'Hopelessly Devoted'. But it got sharp really quick. All the big notes suffered. Plus, she looks too similar to Carrie Underwood to make it very far, I think.

5.Ramiele Malubay-was a front-runner last week. She has a nice voice and the song started off pretty but this disco hit(not sure of the title but I've heard it all my life) was absolutely the wrong one for her. She spent the last 3/4 of the song in the same key, the same note almost, shouting along and not really acting as if she felt it. It was tedious, to say the least.

6.Kristi Lee Cook-Why do people attempt to sing a song when they can't reach all the notes? When she got to the bridge of "Your'e No Good", she didnt even make an attempt at the actual key, substituting it for a montone section that did her no favors. I expected the judges to really tear her to pieces but surprisingly, they liked it. I'm suspecting a pay-off.

7.Alexandrea Lushington-I like her personality. But she just gave up on this song, it seems like. It wasnt a 'singer's' song, first of all, and then after she finished limping her way thru 'If You Need Me Now'-she looked absolutely defeated. It was wierd. I also didnt get the outfit.

8. Asia Epperson-I like the 'hoarseness' of her voice but she didnt use it here, really. Her version of "All By Myself' was half-hearted and weak. I agree with Simon, the song was way too big for her.

The Ugly:

9.Kady Malloy- As she stumbled down the stairs singing "Magic Man", I was baffled. Is this really the girl that just showed us in her 'bio' that she can sing opera (and do it well)? Hard to believe. Because this sucked. She never found the key at all. THis gal needs to take her 'impersonation' skills to Vegas. And was it not wierd that Simon had never heard this song? Maybe he just didnt recognize the way she sang it...heh heh.

10.Amanda Overmeyer- Yikes. What was she thinking? I mean the WHOLE thing was a mistake. The look, the vocals, the 'dancing'. "Carry On My Wayward Son" is not a song meant for a vocal competition.

The American Idol Weekly Rundown

So here we are in the umpteenth season of American Idol. Has the show played out? Probably. But here I am again, sitting every Tuesday and Wenesday night in front my tv, gawking in horror at the 'best in America' as they limp thru the classics and prove to us, yet again, that for the most part- there is a reason they haven't been discovered yet.

So here is my take on last night's show. FOr those of you not in the AI 'know', there are currently twenty contestants. Last week, four left and tomorrow night, four more will leave. Until there is an even 12 to 'wow' the world w/ live performances that are far too extravagant for their own good. Big Name 'guests' will assist in the judging and every show is 'themed' so that the players aren't able to stick to one comfy genre.

Last Night's Theme: The Seventies (and of course, there were very few surprises in the song choices.)

THE BEST:

1.Chikezie-After a heavy handed lounge performance (complete w/ tangerine colored leisure suit) last week, Chikezie came back with a great one. I don't know the Donnie Hathaway song he sang...so sue me. But he did a great job of delivering it and also throwing some levity around, as he teased Simon for not remembering how to pronounce his name. It was great.

THE GOOD:

2.David Archuleta- He was the judge's favorite last night. He sang John Lennon's Imagine and did not butcher it. It was lovely. However I can't help but wonder WHEN is something going to be said about this kid having already WON Star Search when he was 12? We're supposed to believe that he's this seasoned a performer by chance? At least acknowledge the facts here! David Archuleta won Star Search JR at the age of 12 and looked very much like a tiny politician. Youtube it.

3.Jason Castro- I like him. He did a Bee Gees song that wasnt quite right with the guitar accompaniament he offered, but I still like watching/hearing him. Does anybody else think he looks like a young John Travolta with dreads? I can't help but see Vinnie Barbarino when I look at him...only prettier. With perfect teeth.

4.Danny Noriega- The sweetest thing outside of Project Runway, Danny croons into the camera and makes bedroom eyes at the tv audience like a pro. I like his voice and his performance of The Carpenters was pretty good. But it's his skinny jeans and diva attitude that will take him to the top 12.

5.David Hernandez- was really good both weeks, for me. I liked his version of 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone' quite a lot. He's definitely comfortable onstage and has no problem stretching his vocals to swing a few votes.

6.David Cook-The other resident 'rocker' did 'Allright Now' and accompanied himself with his guitar. He sang it well and played adequately. While I liked the fact that he mugged his way around the stage like he owned it, and gave props to the band for their help, his confidence (and lack of charisma) will hurt him unless he pulls in the reigns a bit. People do listen to Simon.

THE BAD:

7.Michael Johns- Austrailian Import has a nice rock vocal but keeps choosing the wrong song. Last night he did "You Can Go Your Own Way", by Fleetwood Mac and it was very yawny.

8.Luke Menard- Steeped in musical theater obviously. His version of Killer Queen sounded like it came straight from the live production of High School Musical. On key? Sure. But this ain't Jesus Christ Superstar.


THE UGLY:

10.Robbie Carrico- So boring. 'Hot Blooded' by Foreigner is a catchy track but it is cheesy...so singing it on AI is inevitably going to sound like karaoke. I'm ready to see the back of him...heh heh.

11.Jason Yaegar-You just can't sing 'Without Love' unless you're fortunaate enough to have the doobies backing you up. It was so bad I cringed. The dancing, the cocky smiles at the camera, it was all so...eeeewww.

Tomorow: The girls!

Music Clip of the Week-Bruce Springsteen/ Girls In Their Summer Clothes

I cannot get enough of this song. Love it. Love...it.

New Ebay Shop...Shop-Boom-Boom

I love discovering new shops on Ebay! This one makes me crazy-happy. I bought the sweet dress above yesterday and though I haven't received it yet, I'm confident it will fit due to the meticulous measurements the shop-owner supplies with each pictured item. The dress above reminds me of something from The Sound of Music or something.

Anyway, I love almost all the dresses and seperates the shop has to offer. The prices are also about HALF what other vintage-reproduction sites would charge and the store's feedback is extremely positive. There was a little black playsuit that I wanted to wear to the Viva Las Vegas car show but I lost out on the bid. So when I emailed Melissa to ask about it, my order was held until she had one in my size to send me...and combined shipping. Yay!

http://stores.ebay.com/shop-boom-boom

Music Clip of the Week-Gene Kelly in It's Always Fair Weather

An often overlooked piece of Kelly's work...and sincerely one of his best!

Not sure what the deal is with the french subtitles but the song is called 'I Like Myself'.

"Vacation, All I Ever Wanted..."

Yes, we have decided to blow our tax refund on two vacations this year. One to Disneyworld in October and this one, to Vegas, in April. The ROckabilly Weekender last year was such a blast, we've decided to make the trip again. The Orleans hotel will be our destination again; we loved it there. We're going to take Victor this time as well, since he'll only be seven months old and not weaned yet. The other boys would love it too but unfortunately, we can't afford the airfare for everyone. I'm so excited to witness the car show again, the jive contest, the pool party, the music...it will be just as great as last year, I'm sure, except this time I won't be sporting a pregnant belly and morning sickness.

The other reason we're definitely making the trip is that we are actually in the planning stages of moving to the area. Boulder City Nevada is the place we are going to check out and we have been checking rental property prices for the past two weeks. IT's a nice area, for sure, but not exactly where we wanted to be-what with the proximity to Las Vegas. We wanted to be a bit farther from there. But because of the great job opportunities in Henderson and Las Vegas, it's a good starting point. We could rent there for a year, during which we could scout around in Arizona and Utah for a more ideal location (St. George Utah seems perfect but the job market is bad). Or, after a year is up, we could decide it just isnt for us and come back to Tennessee. I'm really set on trying it though, because I think it will be a great experience for the kids and a chance to see natural wonders we might otherwise not take the time to visit.

Speaking of travel, I was really torn about the idea of Victor riding in my lap on the plane. I know infants under two don't technically NEED a seat but most websites concerning infant airline safety will tell you that buying an extra seat is preferable due to turbulence. It's no big secret that an infant car seat wouldnt be effective in a crash, but the possibility of injury during the flight would make most parents go ahead and spring for the extra seat. Enter the Baby B'air! (
http://www.babybair.com/). It's a vest that the infant wears which allows you, during flight, to thread your own seatbelt to the back of the infant, thus holding him secure during your trip. According to FAA guidelines, the Baby B'Air is still not approved for use during takeoff and landing, but it has been cleared for use while in flight. So I feel so much better about everything and excited to be taking Victor along on our journey.


We're also really excited to have concrete plans for Disney in October. We had originally decided to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, since the kids would be sure to love it, but since we'll have a stroller and lugging it onto the busses isnt that appealing a thought, we have opted instead for the Beach Club Villas which are attatched to EPCOT and withing walking distance of that park, as well as just a short boat ride from the MGM studios. It is a gorgeous resort, w/ the greatest pool I've ever seen, and though it will probably be a bit more crowded than the AK Lodge, it will definitely be more convenient.

Music Clip of the Week-Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Up Above My Head

Yes, I'm ashamed I discovered her in the movie, Amelie. But hey, a late discovery is better than no discovery at all. She just makes me so happy!

Recipe: Pot Roast New Orleans (aka The Best Pot Roast Ever!)

I've made a few changes to this recipe so I honestly can't say where I originally got it. I view it as 'mine' now...heh heh. If you like Pot Roast, I'll venture to say it doesnt get much better than this...mmmmmmmm.


Ingredients:

One 3 to 4 pound chuck roast (chuck roasts are more fatty but more flavorful)
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp allspice
1 Tablespoon kosher salt
one large onion, chopped
one clove garlic, chopped
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
flour
2c. Canned Tomatoes (whole or diced)
1 and 1/2 cup water
2 beef boullion cubes
4 peeled carrots
a few red potatoes, cut in half if extra large
2 or 3 bay leaves.
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Mix spices and salt together. Rub into roast. Combine oinion, garlic, lemon juice, 1/4 cup oil, and vinegar in a dish. Place roast on top, turn to coat, and marinate for about five hours in the refrigerator, turning occasionally. Remove roast from marinade; save marinade. Sprinkle meat w/ flour and brown in remaining 1/4 cup oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. After searing roast, add remaining marinade, tomatoes, water, boullion cubes, and bay leaves. Cover and simmer about 2 and 1/2 hours. Add veggies, continue cooking over low heat about 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Serve w/ crusty bread and salad.

Makes about 8 servings
Calorie count: 555 per serving (gasp! But hey, you can eat healthy the rest of the day)

Music Clip of the Week: The Old Crow Medicine Show

A couple of great video clips from my heroes, The Old Crow Medicine Show:

But I Really Wanted to Be Myrna Loy...Sigh.

Your Score: Katharine Hepburn

You scored 19% grit, 28% wit, 38% flair, and 26% class!

You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the Classic Leading Man Test.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test View My Profile(gidgetgoes)

Let's Get Together, Yeah Yeah Yeah

Even though it's a little bit of money up front, I've decided to go ahead and renew my membership on Dietwatch.com. Though, at first glance, the 77.00 per year fee might seem to be a bit high, that really only comes to about 1.50 per week-a small price to pay for all you get. Unlike ediets or weighwatchers, Dietwatch does not only cater to those who want to lose weight. It also helps you organize your activities and menu on one easy-to-use page that is ideal for maintaining your weight or keeping track of your progress and fitness goals. Since I thrive on organization and writing things down, this is a perfect set-up for me. Not only does the planner help prevent me from over-indulging, it also motivates me to eat MORE whenever a busy schedule makes it tempting to skip meals. I used this site for a year with good results and without ever taking advantage of their diet plans. And I did maintain my weight somewhat. Right now, I'm on a 'no-restrictions' plan but the cool thing is, if I feel like I want to take advantage of one of their customized diets-I can do so at no additional charge.

There are lots of people using dietwatch. And if you join, you can 'add friends' to find more support and motivation along the way. So what are ya wating for?

'Jine me, friends...Jine Me.'

New Review: Disturbia (2007)

www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

Music Clip of the Week: Brandi Carlile , The Story

I am an unashamed fan of this woman's incredible voice! Actually made it a point to buy her cd last weekend which was a worthy purchase indeed. She just moves me, I guess. My favorite pop discovery since The Killers...

New Reviews: Hairspray and POTC: At World's End

www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

Victor is Sweet

The last time I dedicated a post to my new son Victor, he was only a few weeks old and had gone from being a perfect newborn to quite a fussy one. Luckily, that stage lasted only a week or so because since then, he has been the PERFECT baby in every way.

At three months, little VW is almost 16 lbs and cuddlier than the smooshiest teddy bear. He LOVES to be held and snuzzled so I do it all the time. I never feel like I'm spoiling him because even when he's not being held, he is perfectly calm and quiet, gazing about him in that little cross-eyed-trying-to-focus way so endearing in babies his age. He still seems to be an old soul with so much wisdom in his eyes and triple chins. The little strawberry-blonde fuzz on top of his head has multiplied and now lays in a little feathery toupee across his scalp. The perfect peaches and cream complexion he was born with is still very evident and his eyes have remained a lovely steel blue. I can't gush about him enough.

During the day, he sits in his swing or car seat cooing and smiling contentedly until he happens to drift off into a brief nap. He doesnt sleep for long periods during the day and even at night, he seems to be very wakeful. But I guess he's getting enough sleep because even then, he doesnt fuss. Still not close to sleeping through the night though. His eating routine is worked out so that when he eats around 9pm, he doesnt eat again until around 1am...and then again at 5. So I just feed him once during the night, while he's in bed with me. He used to drift of comfortably while he was eating but lately, he's been very fidgety when he's laying beside me so I end up putting him back in his carseat by the bed when he's done. I still haven't been able to get him to sleep for any length of time in his crib. But I keep trying. He just seems to really like being somewhat upright when he's sleeping.

The hand-chewing has started. It will be interesting to see if he begins to suck his thumb or his two fingers, like Nathan. None of my kids would take a pacifier which can be a negative or a positive, depending on how you look at it. A pacifier can be taken away eventually; fingers cannot. Nathan, at 3 1/2 yrs, still sucks his two fingers all the time.

Victor has a great love already for his older brothers and his daddy as well. He watches them closely whenever they're in the room and smiles congenially whenever they attempt to entertain him. He does startle easily though, and that will bring on the most pitiful little curled lip and bout of tears that it just breaks the heart! We've noticed over the past week or so that whenever my husband sniffs or coughs, it scares him into a fit! His whole body jumps and he opens his mouth into a little 'o' until his vocals catch up to it and howls ensue. We really don't know what to do about it...Jonathan has attemped to 'mute' his coughs and sniffs somewhat but that doesnt seem to help as the baby even reacts when his daddy is in another room! Ah well.

I took him shopping Sunday and discovered, a little uneasily, that the child is wearing 6-9 month clothing! Looks like I've got a little viking on my hands.

Music Clip of the Week: Scott H. Biram-Hit The Road

I tried doing a monthly feature last year and kept up w/ it somewhat but I figure w/ all these great videos I've been seeing lately, a weekly feature would be more in order this year. We'll see how long I can keep it up.

Scott H Biram was featured in that documentary I mentioned on my last entry, 'Seven Signs' by Col JD Wilkes (of the Legendary Shack Shakers). The performance was the best part of the film, for me, and made me realize again how great he really is. I've been listening to him like crazy lately. Enjoy the Dirty Ol' One Man Band...Oh! and incidentally, the auto accident footage in the video is Scott's own. He was in bad shape for a while and performed some of his shows from a wheelchair...

Out With the Old, In With the Apes

You know you're getting old when you sleep straight thru New Years.

Last night, after a picnic-style meal of Mexican Take-out on the living room rug, the whole family curled up on the couch to await the ball-drop. Jew dropped off by 9:15. Littlun became obnoxious by 9:30 and was banished to bed. My oldest was determined to stay awake but even a Planet of the Apes Marathon on AMC was'nt enough to keep him alert. He was gone by 11pm. And me? I was comfortably settled in my recliner, cuddling the baby, enjoying the misadventures of Taylor and Dr Zaius, when suddenly I woke up! A quick glance at the tv brought me the realization that Taylor had already damned us all to hell and 'Beneath the Planet of the Apes' was in full swing. 12:31am. Yep, I missed the countdown to 2008 entirely. Ah well. From what I understand, things went just fine without me. And I ended up staying awake until 3am, watching the Apes.

I blame it all on a late Sunday night. My husband and I accompanied another couple to Nashville and enjoyed our first real date in months. We ate sushi in Hillsboro Village and saw the premiere of J.D. Wilkes' documentary 'Seven Signs' (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=97701277) which was disturbing and interesting. Then we went to a nice restaurant for dessert and a 'caucasian' (Dude!) before attempting to head home. I say 'attempting' because after leaving the Sunset Grill, I discovered I'd lost my keys...of COURSE I'd lost my keys! We looked at the theater, the restaurant, and were GOING to search the sushi place, only to find that it was closed. Our only course of action was to have our good friends drive us ALL the way home (over an hour away!) and see if I could find my spare set of keys. I didnt find them so they went on home and left me to stew all night, cursing myself and not getting much sleep. As it turns out, my husband was able to go back to Nashville the next day and lo and behold, there were the keys at the sushi place. Upon further examination, it also happens that I left ALL of my spare keys in the glove compartment of the car...aren't I smart?

Anyway, today was a good day. We went into 'town' as a family and ate lunch and then we got one of those new Hot Lattes from Sonic (since Lebanon/Carthage are still without a Starbucks). By the time we got home, it was snowing heavily and my big beautiful Bernice was running around in circles, being hilarious. The snow has since stopped but ball-drop or not, it was a highly satisfactory start to the year.

For Sarah's Little Surprise...

I am posting this very moving little video montage for my friend Sarah who just found out this morning that she is expecting! Here's to unexpected little gifts!

I know you've got dial-up Sarah, but trust me...it's worth it to wait on this one. Dare you not to cry!

For Moose n Muffin...

This video has been circulating the internet like crazy so most of you have probably seen it but I still think it's so funny and cute! And in light of certain karaoke events from the not so distant past, I felt it was fitting.

Holiday in Memphis-The Highlights

Memphis ain't all bad. There are definitely nice things about a visit there. Some of my own highlights about last weekend's visit are listed below:

1. Discovering a New 'Shortcut': We had to leave on Saturday morning instead of Friday night, as originally intended, and since we knew holiday traffic would be horrid, we made it a point to drive thru Gallatin and catch 65 instead of driving I40 the whole way. It knocked a good 45 minutes off the drive and that was a big plus. Also, Victor slept almost the entire time. Easy Peasy.

2. Victor in all his 'fatness' meeting friends and family: Mom hasnt seen Victor since he was born so it was fun to watch her face when she saw him again, in all his fifteen pound splendor! I knew she wouldnt want to put him down...so cuddly and smooshy is he!

3.'Tear It Up' and White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha: On a quick little outting Saturday, my husband and I ran accross a great little clothing/accessory store on Cooper beside the Celtic Crossing. It's called Tear It Up and even though the store is the size of a small bedroom, there are some GREAT items in there. I couldnt resist a super-soft T-Rex (the band) Tee for 19.00. Also, lots of nice retro reproduction shoes and dresses in there, ladies! Afterwards, we treated ourselves to the novelty of Starbucks (we don't have any of those around here, guys) and their seasonal White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha which was AMAZING. Starbucks is the one thing that makes me wish I lived in the city...ha!

4.Seeing the new Assembly Hall: No, we didnt get to actually attend the assembly like we planned...sigh. We had to drive in on Sat instead of Friday so that day was gone anyway. And then on Sunday morning we were ten minutes late to the program and there were NO seats! Crazy! And since there was some work being done in the Cafeteria, we couldnt go in there. But we got to see the place anyway, and it is indeed beautiful!

5.Good Food: We have our 'regular' places we like to eat in Memphis but this time, we made two more yummy discoveries. Sunday we ate at the Dixie Cafe for the first time (which we loved...go figure how it's possible I havent' eaten there before) and Sunday night we tried the Blue Fin on Main st. Awesome place...loved the atmosphere, loved the beer, loved the sushi, but most of all loved the...

6.Good Company: So nice to visit w/ old friends...Moose, Monkey, Muffin, all of you guys were a blast! Big brother is always a plus too. I'm so glad we found out about the Karaoke at Alfred's and that practically no one was around to witness our foolishness! You know we have to sing our 'signature song' every time now, don't ya Moose? Oh, and here's the link to the RED lipstick: http://www.besamecosmetics.com/home/?page=home


7.Family : Time spent w/ my parents, niece and nephew, and spiritual family will always be the best part of any little trip. And I enjoyed seeing my brother's new house and forseeing the good times to be had there as well.

We had an easy drive home with almost no traffice, due to the Holiday. It was companionable and smooth. All in all, a lovely little Holiday.

Goodbye Dan...

I was just informed that Dan Fogelberg passed away Sunday. I know I should probably have known he was sick, my childhood having been wrapped up in his music the way it was, but I didnt. This video clip reminds me that I need to get out all of his albums and play them back to back...such an extraordinary talent. He was my first concert ever as well.

An Acute Case of Nostalgia

For those of you who grew up with The ELectric Company, a couple of Tom Lehrer's finest!

Hospitals Make Me Sick

Ok, this has to be some kind of record for one family when it comes to hospital visits within the calendar year! Not only has my family been sick on and off throughout the whole year (seriously, I kept a written tab of sickness in our house and only July and August were illness-free), but we have made so many trips to the hospital, I swear we're keeping the place in business.

In April, my husband woke up w/ severe chest/abdominal pain and rather than risk the possibility of appendicitis or, worse yet, heart attack-we opted to take him to the ER (something we would normally never do since ER visits are so dang expensive). After a pretty inept analysis by the ER doctor, he was diagnosed w/ severe 'gastritis'. Since this diagnosis is not considered an Emergency, my insurance declined to pay the bill and I'm STILL haggling w/ them over it. That's one.

In August, my oldest boy jumped off a pile of dirt at his uncle's house and hit his head on a sharp rock, causing a pretty nasty gash about 2 inches long on his forehead. The local ER is actually pretty good w/ these types of injuries (where diagnoses aren't necessary) and they fixed him up pretty good. That's two.

In September, my 3 yr old swallowed a magnet (as most of you remember) and I had to take him to the hospital for an x-ray so it could be determined that he would be passing it. Since we were never able to find the thing (even after fun examination of his doodie), we had to take him back to the hospital for yet another x-ray-just to make sure. Three and Four.

On Oct 1st, I had a baby. That's five.

And then this morning, I woke up around 1am to find that Victor (who has been suffering from congestion since Thursday), was running a temperature of 101-a very high degree for such a young baby. I called the doctor and because of his age and other symptoms, they advised me to take him to the ER and have him tested for potentially serious viruses, like RSV. Which I did. So I was there until 5am and happily he doesnt have RSV, just an Upper Respiratory Tract infection which is not even that severe. But still, that's six.

SIX hospital visits in one year, people! How normal can that be? And top all that off with the fun fact that when I returned home this morning at six-thirty, my three year old was vomiting and having diarrhea and still is. I should be stressed beyond belief but actually, I'm strangely calm. It's almost funny for some reason.

Song For A Winter's Night...

The lamp is burnin' low upon my table top
The snow is softly falling
The air is still within the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly calling
If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter's night with you

The smoke is rising in the shadows overhead
My glass is almost empty
I read again between the lines upon each page
The words of love you sent me

If I could know within my heart
That you were lonely too
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter's night with you

The fire is dying now, my lamp is growing dim
The shades of night are lifting
The morning light steals across my windowpane
Where webs of snow are drifting

If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter's night with you
And to be once again with you


-Words and music by Gordon Lightfoot

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...to DISNEY I shall go!

It occurred to me a few months ago that it has been over three years since I've seen Walt Disney World in all it's surrealistic madness. I was actually pregnant w/ Nathan and it was January of 2004 so I guess you could say I am seriously jonesing for my Magic Kingdom fix! So we are planning a trip for Oct of next year and I am already just giddy with excitement. Most of you are aware of my semi-unhealthy love for Walt and all his kin (http://learnthebigapple.blogspot.com/2006/04/walt-and-me.html). The place is just necessary for my happiness, I think (that's a little exageration there people, don't worry).

Planning a vacation is always half the fun for me. Especially a Disneyworld vacation. So even though some people might find it a bit disturbing that I am already in midst of doing so, 300 days in advance, there it is. We are planning to take all three of our children who will then be ages 8, 4, and 1 yr. I would normally never encourage someone to take a baby to Disney, but I feel like somewhat of a veteran by now and am certain I can handle it just fine. The way I see it, the two older boys will keep each other busy and entertained and since we're going to stay on Disney Property (as always), taking the little one back to the hotel will not be a problem. Also, this will be our last chance to stay in a normal hotel room (one that sleeps four) because after the baby turns two, we won't qualify for those rooms anymore.

Disney Hotels are monstrous works of art, themed to their toes and full of every bit of the charm that resides in the parks. So picking one is also an adventure. Thus far I've been a guest at the Port Orleans French Quarter Hotel (our honeymoon choice in 1995), the Disney Institute Villa Treehouses (in 1996 and these are no longer in existence), The Port Orleans RIverside Resort (2003-a Dixie themed hotel adjoining the French Quarter w/ lush landscaping and rustic furnishings), The Villas at the Wilderness Lodge (2004-mountain themed resort w/ a fabulous lobby and a cozy log-cabin feel to the rooms), and The Boardwalk Villas (2001-New England style resort w/ a real boardwalk and within walking distance to EPCOT). I loved all of them but I wanted to try something different this time. So we're going to try the Animal Kingdom Villas since my sweet sister in law is letting us use her Disney Vacation Club points at a great rate.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas are one of Disney's greatest themed hotels, styled after a rustic retreat on the African Savannah and surrounded by a 'real' wilderness and wild animals. The Lobby is absolutely stunning
as can be seen here, and you can book rooms that overlook the surrounding 'savannah' so that you get to see giraffes and zebras feeding right outside your window. From what I hear, they also have night vision goggles available so that the wildlife can be seen at night when they're at their most active. The pool is designed to look a bit wild, like a natural hot spring of sorts, and the affect is really nice.

I'm looking forward to visiting all my favorite haunts: The World Showcase at EPCOT (especially the Canada and Mexican pavilions), The Harambe Village at The Animal Kindom, Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom, The Tower of Terror at MGM. And also, I'm looking forward to seeing some of the new things that have been added since my last visit: Soarin' at EPCOT, Expedition Everest at the Animal Kingdom, The stunt show at MGM, and Jack Sparrow's likeness in The Pirates of the Carribean. I'll be starting my itinerary soon so that when it's completed, I can send it to my friends who'll be joining us. Then we can figure out what stuff we want to do as a group and what we want to do alone.

Anyhoo, that's enough rambling for now. Barring any unforseen problems, we'll be booking our trip in January. My brother and his kids are probably going to come, as are some dear friends of ours in Louisiana. But hey, why stop there? ALL of you guys should come along!

HUP two, three, four...

ON CATHE FRIEDRICH'S BOOT CAMP:

So I'm back in the saddle again w/ my exercise routine and today I did this workout again for the first time since I've had the baby. DEAR LORD! I'd forgotten how much it kills! So much so that I felt I should devote a whole entry to it and recommend it to all my friends...ha ha.

I first discovered Cathe Friedrich on FitTv a few years ago and would use her workouts (they air on FitTv every day) to supplement my days at the gym. However, when I moved out to the boonies, I had no gym nearby so I've been doing video workouts only for the past two years. I alternate All Star Workouts on FitTv, Cathe Friedrich's show, and various Pilates dvd's that I have at my disposal. Cathe's are by far the hardest workouts I've ever done and there are so many of them (even more if you go by her dvd catalogue) that I never get bored.

The Boot Camp workout is worth buying on dvd if you are so inclined or if not, you can always catch it on FitTv since it airs quite often. It is an hour long workout (or 45 minutes if you do the tv version, to allow for commercials) that consists of 8cycles of intensive cardio and weight-training segments. The cycle-segments are each one minute in length and go in the following order: one minute cardio, one minute upper body, one minute lower body, and one minute abs. Since there is no 'downtime' between the segments, they will most assuredly wear you out and could possibly make you cry...heh heh.

Cathe is a tiny person w/ a hard, muscular body and she uses really heavy weights much of the time. However, since my goal is to look more like this:






and not like this:

I usually stick w/ my light weights.

Anyway, it's a great, challenging workout for those who are so inclined to get moving and see results.

In Good Company...

So my house isnt quite as small as once I thought. After five days playing host to lots of company, I feel like I am finally in my element and ready to start planning more parties at home. I've never felt like much of a success in that arena before but things went really well so maybe I'll reconsider. I've already made plans w/ two couples to come have dinner in December...yay me!

Wednesday night, my good friend Barbie came and stayed w/ me since hubby was spending the night away (enjoying that show I already mentioned on a previous entry and making me very jealous). We had a nice quiet night of Project Runway, the game of LIFE, and Miller Chill. It was really fun staying up until 2am again, talking. Thanks, cinnamongirl!

Thursday, I did a quick cleaning job and prepared for my next set of company. Craig and Sarah (with their little beauty, Violet) had originally planned to stay in a hotel but since we're so far from the nearest one, I made room for them in Victor's room and they were able to stay here..and I'm so glad they did! Sarah is one of my favorite people, so easy to talk to. We made a quick trip to Wal Mart for some games and last minute items so when Toby and the kids came later that evening, we had JUST ENOUGH food for everyone (but no surplus).

It must be noted that I love to cook for my family but I've always shied away from cooking for guests. This time though, I made myself do it and I just loved every minute of it. Thursday night I made Chicken Parmesan, baked potatoes (brush some sesame oil on the skins prior to baking...so yummy), salad, and garlic bread. Friday morning I got up and made semi-homemade Cinnamon Latte rolls (courtesy Sandra Lee of the Food Network) and for lunch I prepared another Paula Deen recipe, Taco Soup. It was all very successful, I think. Josh and Mo came for dinner that evening (and brought food with them) so we provided a few extra store-bought side dishes and I made a double layer pumpkin pie, which is quick and easy. Thanks again for the ham, Mo, it was AWESOME! I wanted to gnaw on the bone like a dog...ha.

All six of the kids were surprisingly good, especially since they were kind of confined to the house due to the cold, wet weather. We put them to bed at a decent hour still, and were able to enjoy grownup talk and cards until relatively late. Very nice.

Saturday morning, Craig and Sarah said their goodbyes and I was able to make it to the bookstudy...late, of course. Afterwards, Toby and I took all our kids to McDonalds to eat lunch and then we went to the (gasp) Outlet Mall in Lebanon. My van fit everybody just BARELY and the kids were all very well behaved. We even took them to Wal Mart to buy some necessaries and got away with only minimal 'kid' purchases. This was the first time my brother and I have ever been anywhere w/ just us and the kids. It was so great to spend time together like that. When I come to Memphis, I usually end up spending the little time I have w/ my parents at their respective homes so we don't really get the chance to do that. I'm hoping he can make it up here more often now.

Saturday night was the now-famous hayride that Barbie's parents put on every November. It comes complete w/ bonfire, chili, marshmallows, homemade wine, and lots of nice people. The actual hayride was even more of a hoot than usual because Barbie and I sat side by side singing Janis Joplin at the top of our lungs, heedless to the annoyed glances of our fellow passengers...except for Chad who sang along...good for you, man! We rock! My Nathan was so happy to be on the hayride he sat in stunned silence. It was so sweet. We liked it so much, John took us all on a second hayride later (an oh-so-memorable one, wasnt it Barbie?)...hee hee. And I finally tried elderberry wine (but w/out the arsenic)!

Sunday morning, we made it late to the meeting (really really late) and enjoyed good conversation w/ friends at the local Mexican restaurant before heading home so Toby could pack up youngn's and clothes. He left by late afternoon along w/ our other houseguest Michael (who is a regular in this establishment) and we were finally on our own again, as a family. It was so wierd.

But I can't wait to do it all again.

Minivans Anonymous

And so against my wishes, I am back in the ranks of minivan mom. My 1998 Honda Odyssey wagon (which had four hinged doors, drove like a car, and got AMAZING gas mileage) was declared totalled two weeks ago and I was kind of forced into finding something quickly. The insurance company treated me right and gave me even more than I spent on my Honda, which is nice, but 6000 doesnt buy all that much and unfortunately, there are a severe lack of 1998 Honda Odysseys around. I have owned two minivans in the past, a Nissan Quest and a Mercury Villager (which are incidentally the same vehicle), neither of which I liked and both of which got mediocre gas mileage. I told myself I would never have one again but with three children, we are sadly limited. Our only other options were those giant SUV's w/ a third row seat, most of which were out of our price range or rediculously inefficient fuel-wise.

I looked on every internet site, including ebay, and finally settled on this 1998 Toyota Sienna which was in Knoxville. It's fully loaded, obscenely heavy, and drives like a dream but I miss my Honda. We drove to Knoxville last night to pick it up and for once I had no buyers remorse since I had called and tied them down to a price over the phone before I made the trip. I haggle much better over the phone...heh heh.

In other news, we have all been down w/ the 'crud' lately and are very slow about recovering. Even Victor has a stuffy nose which makes it difficult for him to eat and he sounds like a little snuffling piglet most of the time. It's cute, but sad.

We have tons of company scheduled to arrive Thursday, in rotation, so I'm sure another entry will be in order by next week. We aren't used to having company so it's a big deal for us.

Toodeloo!

Tiny Loss

Sadly, Mrs. Roper's tiny puppy did not survive.

Last week we had some frigid nights but oddly enough, Mrs Roper succeeded in keeping the puppy nice and warm so he seemed to be fine. However Sunday my husband noticed Mrs Roper carrying something in her mouth and upon further examination, it turned out to be a dead puppy. We were sad until we realized that it wasnt the one we had seen. I guess there had originally been more than one puppy in her litter and she was simply putting it to rest. We looked at her 'nest', and saw that the other puppy was still there, whimpering and crying loudly. I was so relieved!

But two days ago I noticed that the living puppy was not gaining well. He was obviously very weak and no bigger than when I had first seem him a week and a half before. Mrs Roper was still steadily caring for him and loving him so I left them alone, hoping for the best. I even called the vet to ask if I should take the puppy and try raising it myself but she advised against that since the mother had not abandoned it. She said if it was naturally a sickly puppy, the mother could take better care of it than I ever could. Since the rest of the litter had died, it was evidently just a 'weak litter', which is supposedly kind of common with a dog's first pregnancy. Sigh.

Yesterday morning I went out to give Mrs Roper her food and noticed that the puppy was gone. My dog was happily covorting around the yard, seemingly very happy to be 'free', which depressed me. I don't know what she did w/ his tiny little body but I'm kind of glad I didnt see it dead. It was such a precious little thing. One of its ears was permananty flipped inside out which was a birth defect but also very endearing. After a good cry, I soothed myself with the thought that at least now I didnt need to keep Bernice tied up for fear she'd eat the puppy or worry that racoons would find it. But it's still very sad.

My Neck of the Woods

My husband found a very cool website last night that had some pictures of our itty bitty town, Pleasant Shade, from the air. This photo was taken in the late eighties so there are a few more buildings since then. Our house was, of course, not built yet but it would be to the far right, just out of the shot. I know we have a beautiful view but this one surely takes the cake. Makes me think of the 'old country' overseas.

It also was really interesting to discover that originally, Pleasant Shade was a pretty happening spot. A diagram he found shows that there used to be a furniture/cabinet shop, barber, market, several restaurants, a pool hall, garages of various types, and a dance hall. Now, there is nothing to speak of in the area except a tiny post office and a tiny country store. Even the school has been closed. It's a shame too because wouldnt it be great to have a dancehall close by? Ha.

Mrs. Roper Multiplies

Mrs Roper, my 3 year old beagle, has had a puppy. That's right. One puppy. She was pregnant and we knew she was ready to go any time but when she kind of 'disappeared' over the last day or two, we knew she'd gone off to have her litter. My husband found her this morning under an old boat we have and noticed that there was only one puppy. I guess if she had any others, they didnt survive for some reason. (In the picture above, you can just barely see the puppy's back legs and tail peeking out.) Anyway, she stays with the puppy like a good little mommy and only leaves it alone to eat a few bites. It's cold outside but since the puppy survived last night okay, we figure the nest Mrs Roper made for it is doing it's job. She dug out a hollow under the boat and is well protected from the wind. We're going to get some hay to put under there too and keep Bernice tied up for a while.

There's something strangely comforting about watching her take care of her one baby while I'm taking care of mine. We're bonding, I think.

Stupid Bambi!

Yes, deer can be very pretty. Right now, there are scads of them all over the county. Frolicking on the frosted hills in the morning, standing and gazing with soulful eyes when they're disturbed, dancing into roadside bushes at dusk w/ a flash of their perky white tails. I sit on my window seat daily with my two older sons and stare at them as they forage our hillside for food and brazenly ignore my huge puppy's ominous barking. They walk by the kitchen window in droves every morning as I get my boys their breakfast and we have shared a few magical moments watching them. Sweet li'l Bambi.

Stupid Bambi. Friday night, I was on my way home from Carthage w/ my tiny son in tow and a sackful of Sonic by my side. It was already dark, though barely 7pm, and I had my brights on since the highway was mostly deserted at the moment. POW! From out of nowhere a huge buck ran into the road and I slammed into him at a full 60 mph! I saw him fly into the air, bend in half, and come down flopping in the yard to my right-his long legs flailing helplessly. Fortunately for Victor and I, no one was hurt and I was surprisingly self-possessed as I brought my smoking car to a halt on the shoulder and got out to assess the damage. As you can see, I hit him absolutely DEAD CENTER and not only is my hood and fender horribly messed up but I think my radiator is shot. Part of the headlight assembly has disappeared also and who knows what else was causing all the smoke and leaking fluids. My poor Honda! (As most of you know, I just got this car in May and I love it dearly!)

After checking on Victor, who was frowning but fine, I flagged down a passing motorist for help. You can't get a cellphone signal on this particular highway but luckily, this guy was a fireman and able to radio in to the police. He also had a special cellphone w/ a stronger signal so he called my husband for me. No one was able to find the deer, which I find very unsettling. All that and no deer carcass to show for it? How is this possible?

So now I'm without a vehicle. I know that since my car was older and had alot of miles, the damage may ammount to more than the vehicle is worth and the insurance company may total it out. This would make me very sad since I searched so hard to find this car and it will be difficult to replace. But it would also be a blessing in that I wouldnt have to pay that stupid 250.00 deductible.

On the way home, my husband said 'Now, do you see why they need to be hunted?' I laughed and said 'Yes, I do. It's just a shame this one had to die without my getting to claim even one steak.'

Comme Ci, Comme Sa

And so the fall days fly by in a whirl of tiny diapers, coke zero, data entry, and television. I will not say that I'm stuck in a rut but I will admit to being comfortably stagnant right now, due to my routined existence. My weekdays are very similar. Get up, exercise, see Johnson off to school, breakfast, work, lunch, work, straighten house, dinner, tv, and bed. Insert breastfeeding every two hours and bible reading at the dinner table and you've pretty much got my day at a glance. I know it sounds horribly dull but like I said, I'm comfortable with a routined life. The idea of NOT having a scheduled time to do things stresses me out so basically, I'm back to being myself. I just had to insert another person into the mix.

Victor is doing great. He's very fat. I laughed last night when I was watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents and realized that my baby resembles the outlined drawing of the director that heralds the beginning of each episode. He sleeps very well at night and I rarely have to get up with him except to change a diaper every now and then. During the day, he stays in his swing, lies on his boppy pillow, or sleeps in his carseat by my desk so he's at easy reach to be rocked. So the fussy situation from a recent entry has somewhat abated.

The other boys have adjusted well. I still have behavior issues w/ my oldest son but as it turns out, he is perfect for everyone but me so I guess I should at least be thankful for that. My Nathan is very loving w/ the baby but other than stopping by to look at him once or twice , he goes about his day exactly as he did before Victor was born. Playhouse Disney in the morning, Star Wars toys and running around outside in the afternoon,and playing w/ Johnson in the evening. Bernice is getting HUGE and eating us out of house and home but luckily she seems to keep a good eye on the boys when they're outside so I don't have to worry too much. She barks if they go off too far and it always alerts me.

I am starting to feel like this house may not be the place we 'end up' after all. So much construction is going on around us and I am becoming such a BABY in cold weather. I have arthritis in my knees from a car accident and as I get older, the cold damp weather really gets to me (switch complaint-free bracelet to other wrist). So I am steadily but non-naggingly tossing 'Go-West-Young-Man' comments to my husband whenever I get a chance. Plus, I will be the first to admit that we spent too much money on this house and it is starting to annoy me. When you build, unfortunately, unexpected costs arise that will inevitably affect the final mortgage payment so collecting on the equity is starting to really look warm and friendly. I guess we'll see what happens.

I need a date with my neglected husband. We are planning to go see The Reverend Horton Heat on the day before Thanksgiving if we can:

I'm going to check around for a baby sitter as soon as I can. Lord knows, I could use some time away since I spend basically ninety percent of my time here at home. I've been a huge fan of the good Reverend and his psychobilly band for a long ol' time and it would be an awesome release to see them live again.

So that's how things are going...'Comme ci, comme sa'.

A Complaint Free World

I heard about this book on the radio and though I haven't read it (nor do I necessarily plan to), I was really attracted to the general premise of it and plan to try to put the ideas into practice myself. The writer, Will Bowen, has some pretty inspired things to say about the subject of complaining.

I've noticed over the past year that my seven year old has developed the worst habit of complaining and no matter how much we tell him 'don't complain', the problem only seems to be getting worse. He's a whiner. I know he hears me gripe a bit and therefore is probably only developing a trait he has learned from me. Sigh.

The idea presented in this book is therefore a good one for our family, I feel. The concept is that anyone can become 'complaint free' by conscientiously trying NOT to focus on the negative for 21 days. According to Mr Bowen, complaining is like 'bad breath'. You notice it when it comes out of someone else's mouth but not your own. Once a person becomes in tuned with their own problem of complaining, it can be overcome. He encourages wearing a bracelet and switching it to the other wrist when you catch yourself whining, griping, or complaining. The object is to keep it on the same wrist for 21 days since this is how long experts say it takes to start a new habit. Cool idea, huh?

One thing he made sure to stress on the radio interview this morning, however, is NOT to confuse complaining w/ getting what you deserve. In other words, getting the wrong item at a restaurant, a hair in your soup, or talking to a doctor about an ailment is NOT complaining-at least not in his program. Also, avoiding gossip is a good idea but not if it qualifies as something you would say directly to the person concerned or if the gossip is positive in nature (sounds like a Watchtower article I once read). The point is to avoid focusing on negative things to the point that you have to talk about them. Because really, 'what good do it do?' Hee hee.

Victor-Two Week Update

Well, I must say we had a very calm first two weeks w/ Victor. He was the perfect baby...never cried, always happy, calm and peaceful. He slept at night and during the day too. Very laid back and sweet.

He's still sweet but unfortunately, he is becoming quite fussy. He eats well and has gained a whopping 2 lbs and 3 oz since birth! Yesterday at the doctor we discovered this. He also has grown one inch in length so he's 22 inches long now. However, I think over the last few days my let-down reflex has strengthened or something because when it happens, Victor gasps and chokes. He sometimes spits up in projectile-fashion, a problem which plagued Johnson from the beginning. I think he's getting alot of air which prevents him from falling asleep while he's eating and stresses him out alot. He can't seem to settle himself down to sleep afterwards (day or night) so I have to take the time to rock him until he can relax himself somewhat. This, of course, prevents me from getting ANYTHING else done so my house is a wreck, my boys are freaking out from the lack of attention, and I can't cook a meal to save my life! I'm also supposed to be working now but I know I will be 'dealt with' if my efficiency doesnt pick up since I'm currently having to work while holding a fussy baby which means I have to type with one hand. Heh heh. Poor little thing, he really just wants to go to sleep I know. It's pitiful to see.

Anyway, on a positive note. He's very healthy and round. And hopefully this stage will pass quickly. Quickly enough to prevent my strangling my other children, losing my job, or pulling my hair out.

HUM

I heard this song on a Cadillac commercial today and was reminded how off-my-butt-crazy I was inlove with it when it came out. I bought most of their albums and still love the band alot. Sometimes you just need reminders.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=legOdkkUzP0

Marvelous Motivation!

So after a nine-month hiatus, I've finally started visiting all my old internet haunts to see what is new. Though I haven't been cleared to exercise yet, what other motivation could I need to recapture my pre-pregnancy size than dresses like the one above? I am inlove with Trashy Diva, I must say. Pinupgirl has a whole bunch of new stuff that I adore and did I mention the shoes? My lord, the shoes! You guys have GOT to see them:

http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/streetshoesc.html

And don't forget to go back and check out the 'streetwear', 'hollywood' swimsuits ( I'm all OVER that black Marilyn one!), and the purses. Since Pinupgirl carries several designer brands, there are some items that are very pricey. But their own brand is extremely reasonable as are most of the shoe selections.

I'm off to eat some nonfat yogurt, myself. heh heh

Me and My Moby

Okay the 'baby posts' are probably getting out of hand here...heh heh. But my son took a picture of me in my moby-wrap right after the maiden voyage to the mailbox (hey, our mailbox is really far away!) I loved it! It felt like I was just wearing an outer-shirt or jacket and the feeling of the baby in front isnt very different from being pregnant so it made both of us feel right at home. I'm going to try it tomorrow again when I take the kids to the park and Sunday when I go to the grocery store for the first time.

It says it's good for us to 35 lbs so I should get alot of use out of it.

Victor

Yes, he's here. Thus follows the 'birth story' of Victor James Westmoreland, born at 5:25am Oct 1st, 2007.

First a little 'background' on the day in question. Most of you are aware that my due date was originally September 30th but was revised to Sept 28th after an ultrasound conducted in April. The 28th was actually Friday, as you know, but instead of waking up in labor on that fateful day, I actually woke up with the world's WORST stomach virus. It was horrifying indeed. The mere idea of trying to cope with labor pains while also dealing with congestion, vomiting, and diarrhea was unthinkable to say the least. I was terrified that I would suddenly find myself faced with such an obstacle and so the sickness was even more intensified by just thinking of those things and became and all out panic attack! I sobbingly called my husband, my mother in law, and a sister in our hall begging for help because Johnson was home from school and he and his little brother were blissfully unaware of the severity of it all and wreaking havoc. Jonathan came home, Linda (his mom) came over to take care of the boys, and the aforementioned sister stopped her busy service day to bring me gatorade. After finally getting to the point where I could take some Phenergan, the virus seemed to loosen its hold a little and by evening I was able to eat a little plain rice. No labor yet. Whew!

Saturday I woke up weak and tired but the day was uneventful and I was able to eat a sandwich by that night.

Sunday, I felt great. I ate a small normal breakfast, went to the meeting, cleaned my whole house, and went grocery shopping by myself (which was pretty stupid but turned out okay). Sunday night, I began to feel a few contractions but nothing out of the ordinary. I stayed on the couch until they subsided which was about 1:30am. Then I went to bed. Sleeping was difficult and I kept having crazy nightmares and night terrors, which is really wierd for me. Around 3:30am, I woke with a strange cramping in my lower abdomen that was not similar to any contractions I had ever felt. I got up and started getting ready to leave because I had that 'feeling', you know? The cramp persisted and I was worried so we went ahead and planned to go the hospital, calling a neighbor couple to come stay w/ the boys while we went. I also called my sweet coach, Barbie, and told her to meet us there.

As the babysitters arrived ( less than 10 minutes later), I began to worry because the cramp was getting worse and I told them to tell my husband to hurry, as I was outside waiting by the car. But suddenly, my water broke! I ran inside to change and even though I was a little freaked out (the cramp I felt was obviously my waters pushing against my pelvis), I was glad that I now KNEW this was IT. By the time we got to Carthage (4:08am), there were strong steady contractions present. Strong enough to have to breath through. They were about 4-6 minutes apart. We got to UMC in Lebanon at 4:35. After trying several locked doors, we remembered that only the ER was open at this hour and when my husband dropped me off at the door, I was to the point that I was panicked. The contractions were RIGHT on top of each other. I walked into the completeley empty waiting room and made this known from the center of the floor since I didnt know which desk to approach. A harried man w/ a wheelchair appeared out of nowhere and took me to the maternity ward where Barbie and Granny Linda were both waiting.

There was NO ONE in the maternity ward but 3 nurses, two of which were not really attending nurses, but nursery personell. A young nurse named Tambra w/ short stri-pedy hair got my gown and began grilling me about the facts. By now the contractions were excruciating and I could NOT talk through them so I did my best and waited for her to get my iv in and check me. When she did, I was dismayed to find that I was only 5 cm dilated! It seemed I had a long while to go. And I was almost to the point that I didnt think I'd make it because, since my waters had ruptured, I wasnt 'allowed' to move around the room but had to stay attatched to machines in the bed. This was almost intolerable, let me tell you.

When the time came where I felt like I couldnt take any more, I asked the nurse to check me again. It was now to the point where it felt like one long contraction, with no break to speak of. When she checked me, I saw her eyes go wide and she said 'Oh wow. You're complete. I'm calling the doctor now.' So I went from 5 to 10 cm in less than 20 minutes.

Barbie was trying to help but by this point I was severely blinded by pain and I hate to say, I wasnt being very nice to her (sorry, Barbie). But she did a GREAT job with what she was given. The nurses were scurrying about like so many scattered hens, trying to get the room ready for the birth and all the while telling me 'don't push!' in unison. I saw Tambra say that the doctor was still at home and then I really began to get frantic because I knew I wasnt going to be able to wait. I told her 'I have to push NOW!' and with every ounce of coherence I could muster, told Barbie that I was now going to inhale and begin pushing and that I needed her to count to seven. She did and Tambra resigned herself to the fact that this was going to happen, whether she liked it or not. With one very violent and very intense push, I felt the baby's head emerge and with one more push, the body rushed out. You have not experienced relief until you feel this feeling! It is indescribably wonderful.

Anyway, I had been at the hospital for 45 minutes total when Victor was born. He was perfectly pink and very wrinkly. He doesnt possess the same newborn 'prettiness' of the other two boys, but he is full of Nichols character in his little face. We all think he looks alot like his uncle Josh and his Papa Nick.
His vitals were all perfect and he weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and was 21 inches long. Unfortunately, due to the intensity of the birth and inexperience of the nurses, there was no time to immediately bond with him. They took him off to the empty nursery immediately and Tambra proceeded to try and extract the placenta, which was being mighty stubborn. At this moment, the very ticked off Doctor arrived, and griped at poor little Tambra for not having called him sooner. We were all pretty annoyed with him. Basically, he came to get the placenta out and do a little 'stitching up', which I'm sure is kind of a pain for a highly paid obstetrician at 5:30am.

Yesterday I spent the whole day in my bed, bonding w/ my little wrinkled son and getting him aquainted w/ the phenom of nursing, which he has taken to wonderfully (and yes, my nipples are screaming). Unfortunately, I woke up this morning at around 3:30am with another bout of that nasty stomach virus and was unable to enjoy my last hours at the hospital. I was given a phenergan shot and some Immodium which left me feeling more exhausted than I should and made me all too anxious to get back home. Which I did. Which I am. Which I love.