Addict

So, my newest hobby is buying music online. I am ADDICTED! It's soooo much cheaper to buy music online than in the stores. I think. I actually haven't compared lately, because that would require having the time to get out of the house and do something fun, just for me. My favorite is Barnes and Noble, because I have a membership, and with free shipping, I can get real CD's for almost as cheap as the downloads from iTunes. And I usually buy the whole album at once because I am just not creative enough to make my own awesome playlist. I have a love-hate relationship with iTunes. Love because they always have the new stuff, and most of the old stuff. Love because for the most part, they offer real reviews, not the lame, cliche snapshots you find elsewhere. Love because it's really easy to navigate, find what you're looking for. Hate because I do not have an iPod. Only because I would want the good one, with the touch screen, etc., not the Shuffle like Shawn and Em have. And the good one is just a wee bit beyond my price range. And by wee I mean several hundred dollars. Hate also because iTunes does not maintain an account database for you of all the music you have purchased. For example, a few months ago, my computer had some serious issues, and we had to completely wipe out the hard drive and reload all of the software. Upon reloading iTunes, my music was GONE! Now, of course I had backed everything up to CD's, but when you import homemade CD's into iTunes, the artist/song names do not appear. I have searched my iTunes account for a way to re-load all of my old music onto my "new" computer, but have completely failed. By the way, if anyone knows how to do this, or has a computer-geek for a husband (affectionately speaking), please help!
Yes, I have been buying music online just today! Two from Muse, and the new Blue October. Hope it's good! I was very tempted to get the Grease soundtrack, but someday when my kids understand what those lyrics mean, I want them to have forgotten that they could sing them verbatim when they were very young. :)

Overwhelmed

So.....feeling the need to verbally purge some of my frustration today. I am having one of THOSE weeks. Except that I've been having one of those weeks for a while now. I realized just now, while doing my dishes, while listening to Kole sqwawk, knowing that the girls are sitting there with him in the SAME ROOM and just totally ignoring him, that I had ONE good day this week. It was Tuesday. I am finding that there just aren't enough hours in the day, and not enough of ME to go around. Certainly feeling that I don't have room in my life for ME right now, and resenting that a bit. I was just telling my mom that, even as being a wife and mom soak up the better part of my energy right now, I still haven't lost myself. HAH! Don't proud words always come around to bite you in the behind? Part of my frustration can be attributed to the fact that I hold myself to certain standards, and when they don't get met, regularly, I kind of come apart. What I mean by regularly is that I think I am pretty go-with-the-flow when things in my home/personal life head south for a day or so, but I catch up. Lately, I am ALWAYS catching up. Doing laundry, dishes, etc., well into the wee hours. Crashing in bed without having time to relax, knowing in just a few hours it will start all over again. Living on diet coke. This is not okay. But is it something I have to just get used to? Isn't there some way to find balance without sacraficing time with our kids or order in our homes? How is this done?
Now, all you beautiful, wonderful ladies who read this - I know you have been here, too. And I am just beligerent enough to say this tonight, but I do NOT want to hear that this time will pass. I do NOT want to hear that kids are only young once, and that the dishes can wait until tomorrow. Because the fact is, the dishes can only wait until you want to eat again. What I want is a massage. And Happy Hour. And I'm not going to get either. So I'm just going to be grouchy.

My little celebrity

Click on the link to watch BELLA on the news!

Kindergarten Class Celebrates Dr. Suess's Birthday

Jilted

I have decided: I HATE THE BACHELOR. Up until this season, I had serious doubts about whether one could really find love on TV. Jason Messnick changed my mind. Here was a DAD, someone who knew all that was at stake, and would never take something such as finding a future wife lightly. He was full of integrity, hope, and love for his son. I was SURE that, as things progressed with Melissa, she was the one! (I actually did a little cheer when he sent Molly on her way. Nothing against Molly.) THEN....After the final rose. Just kidding, Melissa, sorry, I meant MOLLY. Molly's really the one for me. I just don't think we're right for each other. WHAT!? I'm afraid I have to agree with Melissa on this one, Jason Messnick is a bastard.



So, here are several reasons why I think that the Bachelor is a flawed experiment (I'm being generous with flawed, I actually believe it is a failed experiment. Except for Trista and Ryan. 99% failed.)

1. The Bachelor/Bachelorette always looks for the contestants to be real, to let their guard down and express their true feelings. I'm sorry, but I call BS on this one. They don't really want the date to be real, because the minute something real happens, they send 'em home. I think they want people to be on their best behavior, they want the fairy tale. REAL LIFE IS NOT A FAIRY TALE, JASON. OF COURSE THE CHEMISTRY IS GOING TO CHANGE WHEN YOU'RE NOT ON A FANTASY VACATION IN FREAKIN' NEW ZEALAND!

2. I believe it is possible to love 2 people at one time. Monogamy is a choice. That's why people who aren't on TV can't get away with behaving the way the Bachelors and Bachelorettes do. (Um, even if you could stomach most of it, how about the FANTASY SUITE?)

3. Putting that many good looking people together at one time in one place is a recipe for disaster. Honestly, I think this thing with Jason was just him needing to try out all the flavors at Cold Stone before he ordered his ice cream. But, come on, even my 6-year-old can eventually make up her mind.



Whew, I feel better now.

Grease

Grease - one of my all-time favorite movies - was on ABC Family the other day. (Don't get me started on the list of very inappropriate movies/TV shows they play on ABC Family). Anyway, the girls recorded it to the DVR, and we have been watching it constantly. We sing all the songs, and even do some of the dance moves, like the HAND JIVE! The girls' favorite song is Stranded at the Drive In. Not sure if that's the official name of the song, but you get the idea. It's the one that Danny sings after he gets fresh with Sandy, and she stomps off saying, "You think I'm going to stay here with you in this, this SIN WAGON?!" It's so hilarious, all of them can sing the song perfectly, even Jagger. I love the way he says "Whyeeeyyyy oh why..." And then Bella, quoting Danny as he sulks on the swing, "Sandy, my darlin', you hurt me real bad." Verbatim. I kid you not. I was ROLLING the first time I heard her say that!

Jagger loves Sandy. He points her out in the movie and starts talking about her anytime he hears the music or one of the girls sings the songs, etc. The funny thing is, I have an Aunt Sandy who totally loves and dotes on my kids. Jagger LOVES her. I think he thinks Olivia Newton-John is his Aunt Sandy!

By the way, has anyone ever noticed that Grease is a DIRTY movie? I have been keeping track of the not-so-subtle inuendos (that I never picked up on before). My favorite one is when Rizzo says to Kenickie, "What's up, Kenick?" and he replies (with his best come hither look), "One guess." Hah!!!

Old friends and new

I am soooo happy! Thanks to Facebook, I am back in touch with one of my dear old friends from high school/college days. And, lucky for me, she happened to be in town this weekend with her little boy. What a treat - it's so great to catch up on the past 6 years, reminisce about crazy times past, and still have lots in common today. Friends like this make me feel young again!

Jagger was in a bit of a mood today, but the one of him and my friend's little boy in the hoola-hoop was a brief reprieve from the grouching. They are really close in age, and now have no choice but to be great friends!

Words of Wisdom

I just couldn't resist posting one more quote - my kids keep saying funny things today! This one's from Emma:

"I hope I don't grow up to be one of those people who knows almost EVERYTHING... (long thoughtful pause). But I know I will."

Me, (now amused and curious): "Why?"

Emma: "Because I already know math, and geography... and reading."