Ranting & Raging

Ok, so I wrote my pleasant little post about Gene Wilder, thinking it would calm me down from the stressful week, but here I am, back a few hours later because I cannot control my rage.

I HATE BANKS! I LOATHE & DETEST THEM WITH A PASSIONATE UNKNOWN TO MOST OF MANKIND!!!

I'll spare you the sordid details, but let's just say, don't believe anything you're told, don't think that just because they've always done something one way, they will continue to do so, and most of all, when they say "it's all taken care of" run in fear because it's NEVER true. OH, and just because something is THEIR mistake, don't expect them to own up to it or fix it...instead they'll just keep charging you fees while THEY figure out their computer problems.

My other rant of the day is money related in that I just want what I ordered, is that so much to ask? Freakin' fast food, it isn't difficult, you didn't slave over rare & expensive ingredients to make me meat on a bun, so why can't you ever seem to get it right? McDonald's boasts it helps its employees go to school, could you start already by teaching them how to put the correct salad or burger in a bag, with fries, and more than ONE sauce packet? And when I order a beef & cheddar, I want more than the essence of cheese on it ok? Likewise when I order something without an ingredient, could you please make sure I get it that way?

Why, oh why are we continually at the mercy of idiots? I'll blame the government, perhaps they are only following their leader. ugh.

Because the Candy Man Can

I just finished reading a poinently truthful & delightfully funny book by actor Gene Wilder. His autobiography tells the tale of someone truly grateful for everything that he's been given in life, including life itself.

Born & raised in Milwaukee, he has a natural talent that lead him to the opportunities to study with some of the most amazing people, and perform with some greats, as well. His personal life was bumpy but he was always in pursuit of joy & love, something I think most of us can relate to.

I don't write review here very often for the endless books I read, but this one touched me in the fact that he laid himself out in such a way that could open the door to criticism and instead you get a real understanding of who he is as a man, an actor, a writer, and a husband who isn't always successful, but certainly always strives to do what's best. I recommend this read to anyone who enjoys his work. He really IS Willy Wonka...a sweet, somewhat manic man who what's goodness & love.

Sunny Days Sweepin' the Clouds Away...apparently Not

Has anyone else heard about the new DVD release of the original "Sesame Street" shows? Apparently those of us who watched the show back when we were wee ones in 1969 when it started, were horribly scarred for life by such things as Cookie Monster's lack of dietary balance, Oscar's grouchiness, and Big Bird delusional friend Mr. Snuffaluppagus. I had no idea that if I showed these episodes to my children they would end up in therapy or something!

You see, the new DVDs come with a warning that they are adults ONLY: "These early 'Sesame Street' episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today's preschool chid". Are you kidding me?! Clearly today's children don't need to be learning their ABC or 123s and instead should be learning how to get the best crack deal or what to do when mommy gets beat up by her pimp before school. Seriously though, their claim is that Oscar is TOO grumpy (uh, that's why he's called Oscar THE GROUCH, people!) Cookie Monster eats nothing BUT cookies. Uh, again, COOKIE monster. He isn't Cauliflower Monster, or Balanced Diet Monster. Did anyone ever say "Hey, that blue fuzzy guy gets to eat nothing but cookies, I think I'll do the same for my kid!"

Clearly today's child can better relate to Prozac-hopped up Elmo and that wierd new character who thinks she's a fairy or something otherwise inane. I happened to put the show on for a few minutes the other day thinking my 9-month-old son might like the music. In the 14 minutes or so I was able to tolerate the PBS show I did not see a single thing about learning letters or numbers. Just endless amounts of screeching Elmo trying to sing opera, rap & other music that all sounded the same in his 3rd person wail.

We are out of control with attempting to be politically correct these days. Kids need to stop playing video games from the moment they pop out of the womb & they NEED some healthy doses of imagination, good songs, and books...real books with turning pages & everything. And as for children's programming, I may not be "normal" but I'm not a drug addict for having watched "Scooby Doo" or "Lidsville" or even "Bugs Bunny", and those were far more "adult only" than any episode of "Sesame Street".

C is for cookie, that's good enough for me.

The In-between

Here we are in the in-between, that lull time between Thanksgiving & Christmas/Hannukah/Ramadan/Solstace/Kwanzaa...that time that is either filled with stress, anticipation, or both. 'Tis the Season....

Personally, I have a decent start to my gift shopping, with most of them already wrapped as well. Hopefully this week's payday will help me get a further dent in what is yet to be purchased. Since kidlet's birthday is 3 days before Christmas, that is always the extra pressure of finding the "right" gifts.

Baby Boy has been sick all week...runny nose, drool because of 2 more teeth coming in, and eye AND ear infections to boot. Yeah, he has not been a happy boy. Actually, I can't say that. Despite being obviously unwell, he remains pretty happy & playful & just a bit cuddlier more than usual. He just hates when mama wipes his runny nose.

Hubby has been busy...haven't spent much time together at all. We did get to watch 2 episodes of the 3rd season of Dr. Who last night though, which was nice...and hilarious. I've done nothing but work. I had Thanksgiving day off, but otherwise, it's been work, work, work both at home and at the paid jobs. Blah. And now I've been informed I probably won't be given any days off during the christmas holidays. Grr.

Happy Turkey Day!

I, personally, find it to be a silly holiday…people traveling from all corners of the country to do what? EAT! Sure, I love the turkey & stuffing & cranberries, don’t get me wrong, but that’s all the holiday really is. I hate football passionately, so forget that part of the day…it’s just an annoyance to me to have the TV on. I do enjoy the parades, though the coverage isn’t as good as it used to be. All in all, I find it a misrepresented holiday. And don’t even get me started on “Black Friday”. Shudder You couldn’t pay me to get anywhere near a mall this weekend.
That said, I AM thankful for many things...my friends, my family, anyone who actually reads this blog, my home, heat, food, etc.

But…because I always enjoy knowing the “real” story, here are a few myths about Thanksgiving in the United States.

1. The Pilgrims Held the First Thanksgiving
Uh…technically no. That claims actually goes to San Elizario, Texas, who had their own little celebration in 1598…23 years before the pilgrims…by a Spanish explorer after leading a group of settlers 350 miles. But if you really want to go with that whole east coast Virginia Thanksgiving, it was really the Berkeley Plantation on Dec. 4, 1619…2 years before the pilgrims. The Margaret, not the Mayflower, had brought 38 English settlers to the plantation and had been ordered by the London company that sponsored them to give thanks every year. It was officially recognized by President Kennedy in 1963.

2. Pilgrims ate turkey
Well, no one technically know for sure, we do know they had venison. But no apples, pears or cranberries though. Our idea of Thanksgiving dinner comes from the Victorians, actually. They made it a national holiday in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln issued two Thanksgiving proclamations that we were to have two…one in August, one in November.

3. The First Thanksgiving was because of the great harvest
Actually, the harvest of 1621, wasn't great at all. The barley, wheat, and peas the Pilgrims brought with them from England had failed. Fortunately, the corn did well enough that they were able to double their weekly food rations. The Pilgrims were happy to be alive: The previous winter had wiped out 47 people--almost half their community.

4. The USA invented Thanksgiving
No country does gluttony quite like the United States. The Calorie Control Council, an industry group, says that Americans consume as much as 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving,. That said, humans have been holding harvest festivals for ages. We may wish we invented Thanksgiving, but we didn't. In ancient times, Middle Eastern peoples offered wheat to "The Great Mother" or "Mother of the Wheat." In medieval times, central Europeans celebrated their harvests at Feast of Saint Martin on November 11th. And we can all be thankful our celebrations aren't like those of the Aztecs, who each year would behead a young girl representing Xilonen, the corn goddess.

Well…please enjoy your pumpkin pie & be thankful there will not be any beheadings at your Thanksgiving (hopefully!)

Captain Jack...Kookaburra?

"Kookaburra drinks rum in the old red tree, Marry Marry me says he, Laugh Kookaburra, laugh Kookaburra or else you'll turn out gay..."
"What are you singing to the baby?"
"That Kookaburra song."
"You do know those aren't the lyrics right?"
"uh...no...?"

Yeah, my husband isn't the most musically inclined.

2 years

Yesterday was Paul & my 2 year wedding anniversary.

We celebrated in a sort of round about way.

Saturday we went to Abby & Aaron's wedding. This was lovely, and since they actually met at OUR wedding, it was particularly special.

Sunday we went to the Festival of Trees here in town, which was nice, and then out to dinner at Little Europe (mmm...Saurbraten & spaetzel & dumplings).

The actual day of our anniversary I made Shrimp Scampi Newport & we watched the final 2 episodes of Doctor Who (season 2). Yeah...not romantic. Not exciting. I'm a little sad about that, but at least we were together & that's what counts.

I still love him.

A Little Nip

It's cold. Freakin' cold. And now I think I'm getting a cold.

This does not make for Happy Kimba.

However...I have been plannning our Girl's Getaway with the other fabulous chickas & that's really exciting! Let's just say we are going to have one hell of a good time! If only it weren't 6 months away.

And there is hot apple cider. With a bit of spiced rum & a cinnamon stick to punch it up a notch.

Mmmm.

Riddle Me This, Batman...

Ok, so I have a few questions I'd REALLY like answered:

1. What happened to Thanksgiving? I mean, I realize that the holiday serves little purpose other than to gorge oneself on turkey & then let me "menfolk" lie around and watch football for hours on end, but it IS supposedly this big family holiday in American, people. So how come the moment the kids came in from trick-or-treating did I instantly start hearing carols on the radio (24-7, I might add...on 2 different stations) and the mad rush for Christmas began?

2. Someone please explain to me why so many "Christians" call themselves only that, as if it's a badge of honour only they get to wear? Yes, you're Christian, but what are you? Presbyterian? Catholic? Baptist? Lutheran? WHAT? Choose already! I've heard many people say "No, I'm Christian!" Uh...yeah. Let's break that down, shall we? By virtue of the word it means you aren't Jewish or Pagan. You believe in Jesus Christ. So do all of those other religions I just mentioned. So which one are you, already? (And don't even get me started on the pagans who use that word in exactly the same way! ugh...why must I know more about your so-called religious beliefs than you do?)

3. And why do these sort of Christians not allow their children to celebrate Halloween or Santa Claus traditions with the rest of the world? Do they really think that dressing up like a frog for candy or getting a stocking full of toys is really going to lead to their damnation?

4. Why aren't there any Hannukah carols?

5. And since so many people will be getting them as gifts (mostly to themselves) this holiday season, does anyone REALLY need a giant, larger than your couch television?

Eliminated or still in the game?

I feel a mixed bag of emotions right now. Part of me is proud. I felt like a Top Chef contestant last night as I prepared an entire dinner that I'd never made before. Roast duckling with 'ala Orange sauce, a duck reduction gravy, potatoes and a cranberry-orange salad. It was lovely, if I do say so.

However, I feel entirely unappreciated, respected or supported. I never get help anymore with the baby, and thus I'm tired ALL.THE.TIME. I'm working 2 parttime jobs, plus a full time mama job. And still everyone seems to think I'm not doing enough. I just feel like "why do I have to keep proving myself?"

The Me in the Meme

So Kassi indirectly tagged me since I have nothing better to write about, so here are 7 things about me you may not know.

1. I have only broken two things...my right ankle & my left foot. Yet it is my left knee that gives me trouble.

2. I have a few wierd obsessive compulsive manners about me. One of them is that I can't lie on my left side in bed if I have any less than 2 hours until I'm supposed to wake up for the day.

3. I once contemplated running away & never contacting anyone I knew ever again. I got over it in about a week.

4. I can't stand dust. I can stand piles of books & things, but dust, forget it.

5. I wish people didn't have hairs from their neck down.

6. I have no desire to see the western portion of the USA (other than, perhaps, the coastline)

7. When I was litte I wanted to be either Darla (from the Little Rascals) or Cher when I grew up.

Consider yourself tagged, but let me know if you play along so I can learn all about you!

The Halloween Kiss

This just cracked me up. I had to share.

A cabbie picks up a Nun. She gets into the cab, and notices that the VERY handsome cab driver won't stop staring at her. She asks him why he is staring.
He replies: "I have a question to ask, but I don't want to offend you"
She answers, " My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that Iwould find offensive."
"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."
She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that -1) you have to be single and2) you must be Catholic."
The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I'm single and Catholic!"
"OK" the nun says. "Pull into the next alley."
The nun fulfils his fantasy with a kiss that would make a hooker blush.
But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying.
"My dear child," said the nun, why are you crying?"
"Forgive me but I've sinned. I lied and I must confess, I'm married and I'm Jewish."
The nun says, "That's OK. My name is Kevin and I'm going to a Halloween party!"