Homeowork Oh! Homework

Homework! Oh, Homework!
I hate you! You stink!
I wish I could wash you away in the sink,
if only a bomb
would explode you to bits.
Homework! Oh, homework!
You're giving me fits.

I'd rather take baths
with a man-eating shark,
or wrestle a lion
alone in the dark,
eat spinach and liver,
pet ten porcupines,
than tackle the homework,
my teacher assigns.

Homework! Oh, homework!
you're last on my list,
I simple can't see
why you even exist,
if you just disappeared
it would tickle me pink.
Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you! You stink!

By: Shel Silverstein

By far one of my all time favorite poems growing up!  And you might be asking why?  Clearly it should be obvious, I hated the fact that here you went to school ALL day and then low and behold you had to go home and do more school work.  So I took a different approach to my studies - I would finish my homework any other time other than at home.  On the bus, before 1st period at the end of another class when I was finished with class work.  Although this wasn't until the high school years.  I don't really remember there being homework in elementary school.  But here I sit every night with  my 1st grader and the homework doesn't stop flowing.  Kindergarten was not much better.  So how do I get my sweet angel to enjoy or at least not complain so much about having to put a little pen to paper?  When more than likely she received a fair amount of my genes and I'm thinking I don't ever remember her dad being that thrilled with the idea of after school studies.  So I'm going to start a small series that explores the different tactics the experts and other parents implore to trick - I mean encourage their children to crack the books.

If you have any suggestions please feel free to let me know.  I really want after school learning time to be enjoyable so she continues it for as long as possible!!

I Kissed It!!

I saw this in a little shop in Old Town Spring, Texas.  If you haven't been there yet or in awhile I suggest you go well unless your a single guy, then again you could possibly catch some women when they feel at their absolute bliss.  And she just may be susceptible to your charm while her defenses are down.  Like I said you will find bliss here, full of antique and unique stores, this place is a hidden treasure.  My daughter and I enjoy grabbing a coffee, hot cocoa for her and strolling from shop to shop.

I put this picture on my facebook page a couple weeks back and stated "It's easy to paint, harder to live"  Well looky here I was absolutely correct in that notion.  I was reminded from a friend yesterday that maybe tarnishing the name of somebody online is probably not the greatest of options.  No matter how good it made me feel writing about it, just kidding, kind of.  So I'm going to take my little sign to heart and apologize when I should.  See 2012 is bringing all new things, I'm actually apologizing, haha! 

So what else does this little sign say that resonates with me?  Hmmmm....Let go of things you can't change, this one I must say is supper hard only because I think I have this sick sick gene in my make-up that requires me to want to fix things.  See when God made us he gave a lot of individuals this trait. In men this gene makes them the quintessential handymen we so dearly love for doing our honey do's.  But in me this fix it gene has geared me to want to fix people even when they don't ask for my help, I just know that when they get with me all things will change and they will want to be a better person because of me.  I'm here to say phooey, people no matter who they are will not change unless they want to and they want to do it to be better for themselves, not me.  Same holds true for me I will not change unless I'm ready or really have an aversion to my own personality quirk!!

All in all I think the very last part of this really speaks to me "LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE ANYTHING BUT HAPPY"  I think this one is the one I've squandered the most.  This life is short we don't know how long we get so why in the world would I want to be anything but be happy?  Precisely why I started taking my meds again!! Hahaha!!  Seriously everyday you have to look at the positive and if it isn't doing you justice and you can or do have the ability to change it then by all means DO IT!! 

Kiss This 2011...

Well this new year is slowly but surely making headway, let's see how long this lasts.  I read that by the end of January most people who made their resolutions will have already derailed any real efforts in their goals.  Whether it be exercise, eating better or quit smoking.  So let's knock as many as I can now before I run out of steam!!

Well besides the apparent lingering trauma headache that now is encompassing my head I'm doing GREAT!!  I say trauma because my body feels victimized by my actions of not insulating my blood with carbs.  Today was a mass protein day but I'm still only at around 850 calories.  Not too shabby but shell shock for the rest of my being!!  I also got a heavy dose of vitamin D as I walked a mile outside while on my lunch break.  If only everyday could carry with it the pure joy of this crisp air and blinding sun, then life would be grand!

I also took some very necessary steps today to further free myself from an otherwise very unhealthy relationship.  There's a blogger I've been reading here of late and it's amazing I believe she may have dated my soon to be ex, oh but wait she's in the UK.  So isn't it interesting that there are certain personality quirks (let's call them that for the sake of being nice) that hold true across the board across oceans & worlds apart, yet their common actions are almost identical!!  So I'm reclaiming my sanity and jumping off the merry go round, roller coaster.  Wait a minute those things are fun, the self induced torture we kept putting ourselves through is not fun.  So I wish him luck in all his future tasks but for now he can kiss my ...

OK enough of the update on all that is Sam, even though I know you can't get enough.

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.

To begin this year of 2012 I feel I must really put my resolutions in writing.  Of course we'll go with the all too familiar of get healthy, exercise and those alike blah, blah, blah.  They say if you don't plan for success then you're planning for failure.  So let's not plan to fail, well within these first couple months anyway.

So starting with the all too obvious since I went to into carb overload over the holidays I'm going to get back on track with yummy healthy foods.  I so wish somebody would make it so I didn't want the chocolate, the salty, the fried or any of those other wonderful concoctions that just bring me joy when I consume them!!

Since I've been paying on a consistent basis for over a year maybe I should also put my gym membership to good use.  I shall start the lunch break gym regimen tomorrow.  Must remember to pack gym bag tonight as this most surely is my best excuse for not going.  OK note to self pack that stuff up as soon as I get home, don't forget the socks, another classic reason I can not go today excuse, used time and time again.  I'll let you know if the socks won out!

I know I should have quit smoking on here but for goodness sakes I don't want to completely set myself up for failure.  I can't change too many things at once or I may just not be me, I'd be some carb-nicotine craving monster you may not wish to meet even on the best of days.  BABY STEPS!!  So I'm giving myself till August that's my birthday.  Honestly the month of July is my best bet I don't want to be a raging mommy to Lauren so that month when she's with her dad she won't feel my wrath so to speak.  See I've got a plan!!  Maybe sooner depending how I feel at the gym, ha ha ha!!

So what else can I add to my repertoire of resolutions to make me into a better person, hey this may be the last year we're here, I should definitely make the most of it!  So I just took a look at my bucket list and my resolution this year will be to complete at least 15 but more like 20 from that little list!!  There's a few I can do easily and some that will require a bit more effort and follow through.  Some of my favorites include being more organized, continue building up my good law of attraction skills, ha ha quit smoking, Go on a zip-line, drive an Aston Martin, learn to cook better, find the love of my life (this may be a bit harder, lol), maybe I can color my hair pink for Halloween next year any ideas who I can be to have pink hair?  So I think getting 15 things knocked off my list will be a great accomplishment for me.  So let's see how this goes!!

And my last and final resolution to add to this little list will be to continue with this blog consistently. I've been a slacking the last month!!!

2012 is the Year!!!

Santa's Secret...

So I'm completely in an odd frame of mind today, maybe the fact that I couldn't fall asleep last night so in turn I woke up late. And the weather is not all that grand either but it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, you know except for that glorious powder that makes everything shine, even if only for a couple hours before it becomes brown muddy sludge.  Yes it's true I have lived in a land far far away that received a pretty good dose of the good stuff.  I'll never forget I was 19 and the first good snow we received I called in to work to let them know I wasn't going to be in on account of the snow.  See in Houston a couple flurries and everything goes haywire.  Anyhow the gal kind of snickered at me, so I asked "well who all is there?"  Much to my surprise the whole office diligently made their way into the office.  Needless to say I had to go out and practice my snow driving skills that day!

I have done things a bit differently this year with the whole Christmas shopping gig, I decided to shop online.  Two days before Thanksgiving I was shouting from the rooftops that I was practically done with all my gift giving.  Yesterday I began to sort through the packages that have already been delivered, and I must say I am more confused this year than in years past.  See when you go to those crazy hectic stores at least you have the item in hand right then and there.  I'm so worried I'm going to actually overspend this year because I feel like there is so much more to get.  I even got this wonderful gift giving app for my phone but there's one catch you have to type in the information in order for it to be accurate, when oh when will the day come when these lovely apps' will read my mind?  I really don't think that's too much to ask.  Hey maybe that will be my million dollar idea!  Now I just have to learn crazy amounts of technology, figure out the whole process of the mind and how that data can be transported, hey it could happen, in the far far far far far off future!

Then there's the whole nonsense of my secret Santa gift for one of my coworkers.  In my online shopping adventures I saw this great art piece that was the low low price of $150, uh wow a little more that our cap of $25.  But I loved the piece and I got the brilliant idea of creating a replica of the art work for my friend.  I love how I think I'm so incredibly talented that I can make an exact replica of, oh let's say a Van Gogh.  Not really but let's just say my eyes were a little big and my bargain basement piece may just go over budget considerably.  Of course technically I can't claim a lot of the expense in the actual gift as they are supplies that I should be able to use again on my future endeavors.  I worked on it for the better part of yesterday and still have more to go, with our Christmas luncheon on Wednesday I'm a bit worried.  Tell me what you think here is the original and then my replica thus far.

OK and well now here's the kicker as I'm pulling up the original picture to show y'all I see a piece that I may absolutely adore much much more than the one I'm working on.  So do I scratch the one and paint over and start fresh tonight, or continue on my downward spiral into to abyss of something I'm just not that crazy about or bust out a new original Sam piece?

I LOVE this so much more because it has much more of the Chicago flair and maybe the fact that the other one has LSD in huge letters across it which is totally throwing me off.

I have a Secret....

Aha!! I have my next fun to do, I read this book awhile back and I've been slowly but surely trying to work the principles into my everyday life.  I however have been back sliding as I do with so many of my projects I start on.  After receiving a simple email I began to ponder the bigger picture with what is was asking me "Did I want a Makeover?"  Why yes yes I do!  So here I have included your chance to get a makeover too... You can enter this contest everyday...

And here's to another makeover contest that may interest you but this one ends by the end of this month so hurry, hurry!!

So now hopefully somebody special wins one of these little contest (me, me , me) was that too forward?  Who couldn't use a little good fortune.

So back to the principle's of getting your good fortune.  The book I read was The Secret.  There was also a movie associated with the book but I have yet to watch it, i will be getting it and watching it here soon.  The basic ideal is the Law of Attraction, this basic law much like the Law of Gravity, is very apparent once you begin to look for it and work it.  Basically everything that happens in your life you create based upon your own thoughts.  Imagine that, you can control what happens to you just by your thoughts and attitude. 

So this is the first step to the makeover revamp your thoughts don't obsess on the negative or you will just get more of it.  Instead focus on the good the joy and guess what you'll get more of it.  Trust me the glimpses I've seen tells me that yes this is a law just like any other law out there.  So instead of saying when it rains it pours, focus on the good things and more will follow rather than more rain.

I want you to get the book and start working on your good karma too.  I want all my friends blessed and to experience all the wonderful things this beautiful world has to offer!!

Thankful Thursday!

Over the past couple weeks I have noticed that friends on my facebook are using the medium to count their blessings.  I guess since I made my bucket list I should follow up with the things I am so happy about and blessed with.

Of course I'm going to start with my wonderful little miss!  She teaches me so many things the first being love with patience being a close second.  I still can't believe I'm somebodies mom, haha!  But in all seriousness everyday I have with her brings me too many laughs, too many hugs, too many smooches with a couple tears thrown in for good measure.  I was scared to death before her arrival but I was given some sage advice from my mother and she told me "Not to worry my new bundle would not know I didn't know what I was doing"  Thank God for those words I still have to remind myself, I definitely have more practice, but luckily Lauren doesn't know I don't know it all - please don't tell her either she'll figure out soon enough - of course at that point she'll think I don't know anything!

Speaking of my mom I can not believe how lucky I am to have mine she sure has received her fair share of learning the great art of patience with me.  Even with all I have put her through and I'm probably the main contributing factor to her having to color her hair on a more frequent basis, she still does so much for me and Lauren.  I'm so happy I have her in my life. 

While we're discussing parents I have been blessed with 2 wonderful dads!  I have learned so much from them and can't believe the support I get from them.  Count my lucky stars for these two fantastic strong men!

Ok I feel I may be getting a bit too mushy and want to take this to the fun parts of my life I'm thankful for, I have the best set of friends ever!  Thank God they put up with me!  I'd hate to have to try and find new ones.

I'm thankful I didn't kill Laurens dad when we divorced - Oh wait I think I just delved into his thankful list.  Maybe he should be thanking me, hmmmm.  Because I honestly make a great ex wife, just ask them, haha.  No seriously I'm thankful Lauren still has both of us fully involved in her life, even though we are not together.  Maybe we have learned from our parents what didn't work after all.

I guess most of all I'm thankful for everyday I'm given to experience and enjoy my life with these stupendous people that I surround myself with everyday!  Thank You God!

Comfort Cuisine!!

On days such as today when everything seems to be a downward spiral from the minute you step through the office doors you have to figure out will reset your mood.  So on these days I lean on comfort foods during lunch - I know I know not the best thing to do but it is a tried and true coping mechanism.  Or crutch however you want to look at it.  Anyhow back to the mission at hand, I was turned onto this wonderful little wrap about two years ago and can not kick the habit!  The Chicken Shawarma is by far one of my favorite dishes, mind you the garlic after essence will not make you date ready for quite some time, so be prepared to not smooch until oh...probably the next day.

I have included an at home recipe I found on YouTube and can't wait to try this version out at home, but more than likely I will retreat to my alternative cooking style and just pick it up from my local Mediterranean eatery.

Suds in a Bucket...

I've always wanted to sit down and figure out what is it exactly I don't want to miss the opportunity to do.  In essence create my bucket list, by definition this is a list of all the things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Thanks Urban Dictionary for that one. Of course it's best to have items on your list that you will be able to accomplish but go ahead be bold with yours throw a couple things on there that may be on the realm of impossibility for you as well.

I was lucky enough this past summer to knock one item off my list even though I had no set in stone list. I took the opportunity and flew out to L.A. to see a band I've been dying to see for some time now, and it was everything I had hoped and better. Only had the slight drawback of possible eardrum damage but I'll worry about that later right? Anybody got a whisper 2000?

So now I'm ready to expand on my list and I feel like now is as good as time as any to really map this out. So here we go hopefully I'll be able to share with you when I cross a couple of these off.

1. Learn another language - preferably French (I know I know that should come in handy here in Texas) but I hope to take Lauren there someday as she has a healthy curiosity for the most romantic city, Paris.
2. Learn how to ski - even if it is the bunny slope
3. Travel to Bora Bora and spend 2 weeks on my lagoon hut and diving for black pearls in Tahiti.
4. Learn to scuba dive, so I can find those pretty pearls.
5. Australia would be nice to see.
6. And to see Ireland, Denmark & Italy to see where exactly I came from.
7. Finish learning how to fly a helicopter.
8. See all of the United States.
9. Color my hair pink (just once not sure about permanent either)
10. See Rage Against the Machine (this one is technically off the list now as I was able to see them this past summer, I just needed to see some progress on this ever growing list, hahaha)
11. Try canoeing or rafting
12. Learn how to play guitar (and not just strumming on my steering wheel as I cruise down the road.)
13. Sing Karaoke (finally did this one last year, definitely needed a strong dose of liquid courage)
14. Ride in a hot air balloon.
15. Ride a mechanical bull (may need some of that liquid courage for this one too.)
16. Chop a board in half with my hand (did this one a couple years back and might I say I felt like She-Ra!!)
17. Go on a zip line
18. Stay at an all-inclusive resort
19. Watch a space shuttle launch (hopefully the program will be resurrected)
20. See the Grand Canyon
21. Stand on the state line on Hoover Dam
22. See the Northern Lights
23. Go to a real rain forest
24. Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans
25. Visit Mount Rushmore
26. Spend day at Sea World in Orlando and go behind the scenes with trainers
27. Go to Jimmy Bondurant School in Florida
28. Watch a race at Texas Motor Speedway
29. Visit Disneyland
30. See the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
31. Go to the Pike Place Market in Seattle
32. See the Eiffel Tower
33. Learn to play chess
34. Learn how to weld metal artistically
35. Learn how to cook really well (And not just hamburger helper)
36. Restore a classic car
37. Learn how to sew  (more than buttons and pillows)
38. Quit smoking
39. Write a children's book
40. Earn a living doing something I love not just something I'm good at.
41. Spend a week at Lake Austin Spa and Resort
42. Drive an Aston Martin
43. Own my own business
44. Own my own home
45. Learn more about finances
46. Invest in stocks
47. Find the love of my life
48. Make sure kids go to college
49. Have more kids
50. Make kids happy and healthy
51. Visit San Diego zoo
52. Own a house on the lake
53. Learn inner peace
54. Learn how to meditate
55. See an Opera
56. Watch a ballet
57. Go to a Broadway play
58. Go to a professional football game
59. See Gwen Stefani in concert
60. See the Beastie Boys again
61. Go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
62. Do New Years Eve on Times Square
63. Successfully totally adopt the law of attraction
64. Be able to stay home and raise my kids but still make an income from home.
65. Learn to be organized
66. Have a maid
67. Have a pool in my backyard
68. Win the lottery
69. Spoil my grand children
70. Have a hammock in my backyard

I think this is a nice start to my little list I'm happy to say there were quite a few more things I would have gladly included on here, only to realize I've already done them so maybe I'll fill you in on those later on.  I hope this serves as inspiration and you too will think about what you would most like to have done before you KICK THE BUCKET...

To McRib or Not to McRib?

I can't help it I truly love the ghastly McRib sandwich from McDonalds, the only time of the year I purposely go to this less than 5 star establishment.  Today was my annual trip to grab me this BBQ delight.  Coming back to the office my co-worker was mesmerized by the intoxicating smell and made a trip to McD's herself.  Then the reality of what we had just ingested sank upon us as she started doing a bit of research, and I must say sadly I do believe this may be the last time I devour this sandwich.

Maybe it's the perpetually wanting something I can't have that draws me to it.  Or knowing that it's bad for me, a decision that really has done me no favors in my past.  And should you know me you'll agree.  For some reason I can't help but like this sandwich, I have even gone as far as signing a petition to keep it - clearly a marketing ploy to peak our interests as consumers and I took the bait.

I myself can't bring myself to talk about the gross news I have learned but let's just say I was very surprised to learn that ingredients that are banned in other countries are found in the McRib!  Here was some of the research I found open if you dare!!

http://theweek.com/article/index/220866/whats-the-mcrib-made-of-anyway

http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/27/why-lovin-the-mcrib-isnt-a-heart-smart-idea/

Next I'm on the hunt for a healthy alternative that I can enjoy whenever the mood strikes so I was able to find this hopefully delicious concoction, I shall let you know my findings.

Photo from Morningstar.com

2 teaspoons butter, margarine or Earth Balance Vegan Spread, softened

1 clove garlic, minced

4 (1/2-inch-thick) sliced sourdough bread

1 package (10 oz.) MorningStar Farms® Hickory BBQ Riblets

2 slices pepper jack cheese or Vegan alternative, halved diagonally

2 lettuce leaves

2 thin slices red onion, separated into rings

DIRECTIONS
1. In small bowl stir together butter and garlic. Brush 1 side of each bread slice with butter mixture. Place, buttered side up, on baking sheet. Set aside.

2. Cook MORNINGSTAR FARMS HICKORY BBQ RIBLETS according to package directions. Top each riblet portion with two half slices of cheese. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese melts.

3. Meanwhile, broil bread slices 4- to 5-inches from the heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly toasted, turning once. Top buttered sides of two bread slices with lettuce, riblet portions and onion. Top with remaining slices of bread, buttered sides down. Cut into halves. Serve immediately.

I hope we like it as much as the real fake deal!