Ari's movie: from EPT to birthday

Rebellion or just plain 'ol self expression?

I've had a nose ring for, I believe, about 8 or so years now.  It was a random act of best friend adventure.  He got an eyebrow ring.  I opted for the nose. Very much like the time we got a tattoo together when he came to visit me my senior year of college. I've had my nose peirced for so long that I forget it's there. Even though it's smack in the middle of my face, I don't see it or feel it. It's like a freckle. A tiny silver ball of a freckle. 

Pretty harmless I 'd say.

So when I come across someone who judges me for the 3rd hole in my nose or the tat on my back (which is a tiny little butterfly on my left shoulder blade. I know, SATANIC.) I get that stabby feeling...Y'know, the whole -I really want to be accepting and cool and mature about this but you're saying to my face that face peircings and tattoos especially on women are trashy -that they come across as unprofessional -that people only get these things because they want to be thought of as "different" or "antisocial."  It couldn't possibly be in the ballpark of when people wear  rings/bracelets/necklaces/earrings.   GASP! Hoops in the ears are offensive!!

(Oh, yeah, btw, this was coming from a psychiatric nurse. Nice)

It's called cultural competence.  And as a person who works with not only a diverse population, but with a population who are mentally ill, I expect you to have the ability to accept, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures. Who have different world views.  Not bad, not wrong, just different.

Please to check your bias at the door. Mmkthx.

Please to become interested in others world views. It's part of being an effective worker in the mental health field. It's part of winning friends and influencing people.

And then there was some words regarding peircing baby girl ears and how just awful that is and how could you...blahblahblah...

And at the time I was so dumbfounded that someone I liked and respected was telling me all this.  And all I could say was,

"Wow...okay."

And they were all, "Well, at least I'm telling you to your face."

Yeah, at least you're being rude and ignorant RIGHT OUT LOUD.

That's great.

I went home that night feeling so in a funk.  I was actually questioning my decision to maintain my nose ring.  The tat I can easily cover up.  But, damn, I'm 32. A mother.  Should I be wearing this? What image am I sending? Is this good for my son?  Will people still take me seriously in the work place and socially?! As a mother??

Yeah, self doubt SUCKS. Especially when you are overtired and it's one in the morning.

So I came home, kicked off my shoes, grabbed a slice of leftover pizza and turned on the tv.

And saw this commercial:




And, BAM.  I got my mojo back.

Yup, from a 36 second Holiday Inn commercial.

And I didn't even have to cut a bitch...

ps. On a side note, the UK version of this commercial (seen above) has the chick with the pink hair. The US version does not...interesting, huh?

on "transitioning" from the crib

Dear Mom,

I know you've been checking this blog out, like, every day x3, just to see the same post over and over because I haven't posted the latest and greatest of your grandson in about a week or so.

And, OH MY YES have things changed.  Like, one, he now sleeps on the floor.  If you follow me on FB (and I know you're stalking me there, too) we have broken down his crib.  The one that was recalled a year ago (that I never did anything about).

OMG I let your grandson sleep in a RECALLED CRIB!!  For a YEAR!

Where was I?

So the crib is/was a convertible crib.  Which, when I bought the thing, I thought was a, like the Brit Brits say, BRILLIANT idea.  Because it's supposed to last an American Lifetime.  So, aside from the whole recall bullshit, when you convert the damn bed to a "toddler" bed, it's still HIGH UP OFF THE FLOOR.  So, yeah, either buy a crib tent (which, By the FREAKIN' way) is not easy to find one that fits a CONVERTIBLE bed or buy one of those side railing things, WHICH, By the FREAKIN' way, unless you are a FOWARD thinking kind of parent (nice job and gold star if you are) and already have these assessories in your home or happen to live right next store to a babys R (rippin' us off) us...

Where was I?

So persons like MOI have to make due and QUICK because YOUR GRANDSON is slippin' himself out of the crib like a FREAKIN' NINJA.  NO Joke.  Seriously...So, he's in his crib, sleeping, orzo I THOUGHT.  I'm down the short hall folding laundry (not joking, I really am folding laundry) and I hear a door moan open.  I think it's a cat going into Milo's room.  So, imagine my surprise when I see Milo in his doorway.  Like a mirror image we both jump in surprise at seeing the other. His lips suck in, his eyes avert in a sheepish way and I, half in surprise, half in WTF is going on! turn him around and lift him back to his crib.

So we do this about 5 or 20 so times until he finally gives in and falls asleep in his crib.

In and out of the crib
In and out of the crib
In and out of the crib.

Not even ONE NOISE was made.

Again, the little sucker is a NINJA.  At 21 months.

So the husb comes home and  I tell him about how his little seedling can swoop himself out of the crib without so much as a Thump-a-Thud.

So we the husb  takes off the front end of the crib.  And this is what transpires the next day when putting him down for a nap:

Think he did this accidentally?  Nope! 

p.s. All those pillows and blankets are on the floor  to *protect* him from falling.  His room isn't usually in this ungodly disarray. Trust.

This is what I think about you taking apart my bed: DESTROY!

Over and Over.  We are having so much fun now.

And then?

Let's take the mattress off!!

2 hours later...

Finally, he naps...

And for your viewing enjoyment, here's a little video of which has amused me for hours...

So now?

We've had to bid adieu to the crib. And Milo is left with this:

kinda sad, really.  but, hey, safety first...

Also? I've done away with ALL the bottles.  No more BOTTLES.  Too much for one week?

So, mom...I'm really looking foward to seeing you tomorrow! You'll be here at 1:00?  Just in time to put him down for a nap!!

The husb and I wish you ALL THE BEST!

xox,

MME

I can haz more snow?

Fact: we've been getting snow.  Lots and Lots of snow. Pro: Lots of family bonding! Con: LOTS of family bonding!  I kid, I kid.  We didn't venture outside today due to the Blizzard conditions i.e. lots of wind, lots of snow, lots of cold.  You don't need the INCESSANT weather coverage to look around and see the weather!  So while my baby daddy was cooking some delish Indian hamburger kabobs (we have a thing for Indian food, just in case you missed that segment) (and ps, We had to use ground beef because the grocery stores (yes we went to several) were ALL OUT of ground lamb. Just ob-surd!), Milo and I went to a couple of windows and did some picture taking.  We get wild like that sometimes.

Look out Ansel Adams!!

That's my door handle -on the inside and the outside.  You see how I captured the snow?  ON THE HANDLE?! This cabin fever gives me the artistics chills...

I can haz MORE snow!?

ps: you can barely see it, but Milo is playing with an empty egg carton.  My imagination knows no bounds...that and the fact that our recycle bin is hibernating-so, figured in the meantime, let them play with trash!

he is just sew kewt!

lone toy rider thing. And that tree again. (boundless AGAIN!)

Nostalgic for BBQs and umbrella drinks. And, while I'm at it, sleeping in and road trips to NYC.

The trash won't be picked up this week. So we're stock piling dirty diapers.  At least all that poo is frozen...(what? you didn't think I'd go a whole post without talking about poo, did you?)

And finally, a video of my darlings.  Teaching an 18 month old how to play Indian poker is a sure fire way to laugh the winter blizzard blues away...

why I'll NEVER forget my ipod when going to the gym...

Here are 2 convos I had today with 2 different ladies at the gym that made me feel unusually Republican and Consertive. Like Massachusettes' new Senator. (DISAPPOINTED in YOUS)

scene: Myself and said lady on the Cybex machines.


lady: (turns towards me) You're here early!

(it's 11am)

me: (looking over at this stranger whom I've NEVER seen before, gives a polite smile) I'm usually here earlier... (thinking: What the HELL..WHO the HELL...???)


lady: You must not work. Do you work?

me: (slightly annoyed because I could be someone who works 2nd or 3rd shift and uses the morning to work out. In Solitude.) I don't work outside the home.

(because WE ALL know that being a SAHM is STILL WORK! LOTS and LOTS of WORK)

lady: Are you a REAL ESTATE AGENT?!?

me: (thinking: Huh. That's weird she mentions that. Does she read my blog?) No, I stay at home with my son.

lady: HOW do you AFFORD THAT?!? IN THIS ECONOMY!

me: (smiles a polite and TIGHT smile, dying to say: MIND YO BIZNASS WOMAN!! Do you seriously think I'm going to tell you about my finances?! But if you MUST KNOW I've become independently wealthy since I patented my VAGINA. It's been a few years now, and WOW! We got a place in Aspen, Tahiti and we're looking at some property in Bora Bora. Y'know, it's just fantastic to have your own 747. We go to Paris every tuesday for crepes and cappuccino...)

lady: Well...daycare is pretty expensive these days...

me: (smile, raise eyebrows, nods head) mmmhmmm...

I continue my workout engrossed in a magazine for the next *cough*45 minutes *cough*... OK FINE..25 minutes...)

END SCENE

An hour later I'm all set to pick up little man from the "kids club." As I'm putting on his jacket and signing him out one of the girls that works there says:

girl: Milo looks like Blues Clues today.

me: I'm not familiar with that.

girl: It's a cartoon character. He wears blue stripes like the sweater Milo has on today.

me: (absentmindedly) oh...okay...

Stage left another mom who is picking up her child and overheard our convo says: I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN BLUES CLUES.

me: (ignoring other mom...because I didn't appreciate her tone...which is easy to do when you're busy putting on a toddler's jacket)

other mom: He must be your first child...(continuing her condenscending tone)

me: (continues to ignore mom...again easy to do because I'm chasing Milo around the room STILL trying to put on his jacket)

other mom exits stage right

END SCENE

okay, so first of all...what does "he must be your first child" have ANYTHING to do with the fact that my son does not watch this "Blues Clues?" I know several 1st time moms whose child is at, or near, Milo's age who watch PLENTY of cartoons. GODAMMIT.

The fact that Milo doesn't watch Blues Clues, or any other cartoons for that matter, is not due to me being Anti-TV or for lack of trying...TRUST ME: I have put on cartoons TRYING to zone out that kid occupy him...to no avail...Milo, at this time, truly enjoys his toys and/or hanging on, or with, his mama. He's a people person -he'd much rather be hangin' with his homies than bondin' with cartoons. That's just the reality. So BACK OFF CARTOON PUSHIN' LADY.

So anyhoo, I was in NO mood to explain JACK to any of these women who, I felt, were getting in my face about things like staying home with my son or the fact that he doesn't watch TV.

WOW I'M SO WEIRD, I KNOW!!

Of course, I may be a little sensitive due to the lack of sleep from the night before (another story alltogether) and the fact that I suffer from premenstrual syndrome aka "GET THE HELL UP OFF OF MY SHIT"

So that was the beginning of my day...here is a snippet of the end of my day...

so, yeah, I'm all good now...

Milo so far...

Happy Anniversary!

Here's to our Bachelor Degree in Marriage! Here's a little video tribute to our 4th Anniversary...enjoy!

"WhooPs"

So, these shots were taken a month or so ago...but I just figured out how to upload video. Yes, people, I have discovered a whole new world! Milo in 4D...can you handle it? I find the cutest and most memorable times are in a high chair...

Your zen moment...