the RastaMan gave us Hope. Then Chinatown.

It started as an innocent day of sight-seeing.  I not so expertly tourguided my MIL, BIL, and SIL into the great city of our Nations Capital. This was their first time witnessing such greats as the Washington Memorial:

and the obligatory group pose in front of the Capital building.

and then, quite unexpectedly, as we entered pergatory The Natural History Museum a Hu-mon-go Elephant comes charging at us! (cue Elepant noise)

and right behind him? A whole FLEET of horses, goats, and that fluffy thing with 4 legs (as seen on bottom right. and next to him? I think a RAM.  Which is my zodiac sign power animal.  So, totally, relevant)

"LUNCH. You will be my LUNCH. NOM NOM NOM"

We ran to the nearest cave and sought solace with a seemingly friendly family.  Until we noticed they were...burying some....GUY?! What in the Name OF ALL THAT IS HOLY!" (yes. I become religious all of sudden.  Fear can do this)

So we HIGH TAILED it like bunny rabbits out of there and found ourselves in AFRICA!.  I know! How does this happen?! Maybe when you "get God" you can end up in Africa? (shrug). We came across this lady who offered us some native vegtables..."You must regain your strength. Your journey does not end here."

Well. Then. Let's get it on with it...

These Africans sure can write...I'm glad I'm African now...

And then BAM! We are swimming in some Ocean wonderland of outrageous JELLYFISH! Which I'm totally allergic too. So, you know, ME SCARED!

And whales of UNREASONABLE sizes! (NOT allergic to whales.  File under: goodtoknow)

We paddled to the nearest shoreline.  Paddles we just happened to have. Because...yeah, like I always say: NEVER leave home without a paddle!  OR TWO!  So we found these guys.  I know. Put some PANTS on. Get a haircut.  GAWD! DAMN TREE HUGGERS! p.s. what's with the legs on that horse??

But they were nice enough to make us a fire to dry off a bit from that DUD of a canoe ride.

 I admired his abs. He said he liked my teeth. We were cool.

He told us of butterflies and how they would lead us to the next adventure...but...

This is BULLSHIT.  We all know the butterflies were out hitting up Happy Hour in Chinatown...

What were we to do??

Yup. We discovered the Rasta-man IS GOOD. That is all...ahem,yes..

and then...The Hope Diamond.  (Which, BTW, this picture, TOTALLY gives it justice!)

speaking of Happy Hour in Chinatown...

"I must have been dreaming!"

This is what I look like after half a pitcher of Sangria...what? After a day of being chased by elephants, cavemen and giant jelly fish...I think it is SO. VERY. In order....

*clink*

room for improvement or is it too late to call SuperNanny?

are you pregnant and expecting a boy? GOOD LUCK.

because there are all sorts of idiosyncracies that arise like peanut butter, cabinetry, and beer.

"but wait a minute, Mrs. Mad E, your son is only 15 months, what do you really know about raising a son? -you've got a long way to go!" "And, besides which, I'm sure girls can give out all sorts of idiosyncracies as well..."

Ah, yes, it's true.  Every door I've walked through lately be it the grocery store, another mother's home, Djibouti, I hear of stories that challenge my supposed wisdom.  And it is good.

It gives me a warm and fuzzy knowing that every baby, every mother, every family, really is unique in it's structure. No one peice of advice, no one cliche, no one quirk, no one secret little remedy is the answer to the many -oh, so many- scenes from HOW THE HELL DO I HANDLE THIS ONE??

You do what works -for you -at the moment.

Because, being Ms. Nostalgia  prone to being self-reflective, I am inclined to looking back at how I handled a moment and wonder if it was something I can be proud of.

Some times, most times, it's not. But that is the room of improvement.

And the day I don't have room for that...is no good day at all...

 "Here, son, you don't want to eat tofu and broccoli? Have a jar of peanut butter..."

"You want to grab my hair, head butt me, and then pull your weight to the floor? You need a time out in the cabinet..."

 "Son, if you wanna sleep good tonight, go get yourself a brown bottle..."

read by tens of people every month

What you been up to, ya'll? Oh, a little this, that, and the other thing..

Here's me and my boy playing in some corn

Riding a tracteur...

Petting some stinky animal...

feeding the local ducky ducks...

learning how to play Guitar Hero!

and, in general, just playing it real cool...(yeah, we're not pants people, per se)

this post brought to you by Tostitos scoops and Coke

No they are not sponsoring me.  Yet. Here are a couple of things I'd like to touch base on: