Yes Oscar. It is very important to be Earnest.

There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written.

Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891, preface

I have always claimed to be uniquely dualistic. I suppose I am not as unique as I once thought. This quote describes my exact feelings toward my own morality in relation to the literature I read and love. If a book, poem, short story, etc. is well written and moves me, I will cherish it. But it can in no way sway me from the very clear boundaries of my faith.


I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again.

Oscar Wilde

Simply put. I do this very thing every time I write. It goes from proof to proof, through edit and edit.

I have read almost everything Oscar Wilde has written. He makes me laugh and think and yearn. I love his work. Almost every line he has written is quotable, and these are just a couple out of the dozens of his lines that have been ingrained eternally in my being, as a writer.

Have you a writer who has inspired your work? or who continues to surprise and enthrall you even after hundreds of times reading his/her works?

Yours

I fell in love with you
a little--
again.
Its funny,
Honey,
How your smile
Never fades
Even after days
And months
Have passed me by.
Goodbyes
Most every time
We say hello.
There we go--
Again.
Right at the end.
The punctuation:
An exclamation
Mark.
But the end
Nonetheless.
Just another waking dream
But with less of a gleam
And less love it would seem.

JM

Delve

In another writing rut

On command.

I need to tap into my muses mind

On command. 

No patience or desire

To be left behind.

To have to wait

For my will to take

What is rightfully Mine.

Talks With Toucans

Here's my little Indian Native American ;-) at her preschool Thanksgiving celebration!

Who am I?

There once was a girl named Jillien,
with hair dyed several shades of vermillion.
She partied night and day--
Wasted her money away
Not realizing true friends are one in a billion.

There then was a lady named Jill,
who met a young man and decided to chill.
It went a little farther.
They delivered a daughter.
Now she's up to her elbows in bills.

There now lives a woman named Jilli
Who never grew out of being silly.
She dreams of far off places,
While blogging and checking myspaces.
She reads and she writes at her will-y.

Delve

Opportunities

Analisa at A Word to Take Away spoke Truth in this Incredible Post(<--click to read)

I have been offered an overwhelmingly amazing opportunity, but like always when faced with challenges, I'm beginning to feel the nerves.

Can I live up to the expectation?

Will I succeed or disappoint?

Can I do this?

Analisa's words convinced me that YES of course I'll succeed because I have faith that the LORD will deliver all the tools I need in order to thrive! Yes, I can do this. Yes, I will be challenged and pushed to limits, but it will reveal the depths of my character and the depths of the LORD's power and love.

Upon finishing a book

Been staying up late every night
Just trying to finish you.
I'm exhausted...
Actually, I'm quite the opposite.
I'm overflowing with words,
and images,
and thoughts,
and horrors,
and victories.
I know its late,
But I've got an unread romance novel
Collecting dust on my overfilled book shelf.
Should go to sleep,
But knowing me, I'm most
Probably going to keep reading.
I'm not exhausted...
I'm quite the opposite.

Twas Not Me

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Growing up my parents would always say there was a phantom that lived in the house whose name was "Not Me."

"It was Not Me" I would claim whenever things would go missing or mysteriously break... Considering I am an only child, a strange phantom child who wreaked havoc upon our household was the only LOGICAL explanation.

So thanks to MckMama, I'm able to tattle-tale on Not Me once again....

Here we go!

I certainly did not wait until an hour before an expected visitor arrived at my home to begin cleaning frantically all over my downstairs.  

The upstairs living area is in No Way completely closed off to all guests because of its tremendous mess and dirt and chaos.

I totally did NOT forget to peel off the wallpaper in my bathroom that read "Looking for a good time? Call Flora Nemetz... Lord knows everyone else has!" before my IN-LAWS paid us a timely visit on Saturday. That would never ever have happened.

And finally... I did not purposefully forget to mention to my parents that we got a cat because I didn't want to hear all 4 of them nag at how dirty, expensive, needy being a pet owner could be. I would NEVER be so sneaky!

Well there you have it... Poor Not Me has struck again!

Sunday Citar: Banter

The Taming of the Shrew

PETRUCHIO Come, come, you wasp; i’ faith, you are too angry.
KATHARINA If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
PETRUCHIO My remedy is then, to pluck it out.
KATHARINA Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.
PETRUCHIO Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting?
In his tail.
KATHARINA In his tongue.
PETRUCHIO Whose tongue?
KATHARINA Yours, if you talk of tails: and so farewell.
PETRUCHIO What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again. Good Kate; I am a gentleman. (2. 1. 209-219)

This is one of my favorite dialogues in any of the Shakespeare plays. Petruchio is always one step ahead of Kate. She rants and rakes at him, yet he continues to jest and allow her insults to simply bounce off leaving him unscathed. Lee reminds me of Petruchio in that respect. Although I'm usually one step ahead of his wit, he is impenetrable by my insults. We make a good Shakespearean romantic lead.

JM

The Juice Joint

This is me dancing the Charleston during the dance contest at the Juice Joint.

I hosted a Murder Mystery party at my home a couple of weeks back... yes this was after a month FULL of birthday parties I planned for my daughter, which totaled 3 parties for a 3 year old!

Anyways it came out wonderfully, and we all had a blast! Here are some highlights!

Pressed

I'd think you'd fit just right--
Pressed up against me.
Barely sleeping this one night;
Tracing my body by clutching tight.

Friendship

"Wine from the Mists of Arbor"  Bueno

Friendship is such an incredible thing.  

One walks around life completely alone in his or her mind. All thoughts are encompassed within one, sole consciousness. And then the Lord gives us speech, in order to communicate those thoughts to others around us.  And we do.  We speak to an innumerable amount of people in our lifetimes, but there are only a few who communicate back in such a way that they reach the very core of our souls. Perhaps that person makes you laugh like no one else can.  Or gives counsels that touch your heart like no one else's can.  

And those few are given the distinct honor of being one's friend.

What is it?

"But I have never for a moment wavered in my belief that we would make each other very happy, and I swear to you, with my whole being, and no matter the circumstances, I do absolutely want you."

-Splendor, Anna Godberson

Ever want something so bad that no matter what has happened to that something or someone... you'd take it anyway.

Love can be a tricky little thing--at times its easily overlooked, ignored, denied, repressed, suppressed... but desire is so intensely simple that it's almost impossible to ignore. It rings in every fiber of your body. Desire consumes all thoughts. You fight against the impulse to just spring and take it.

Ever look at something and think, "I do absolutely want you."

My daughter has that look when she sees candy. My husband and my father share that desire for chocolate. Some, I'm sure, look at cars.... and others, I'm certain, look at people.

Whitney Update

I begin and draft so many updates about my lil bro without ever posting a single one.

Its probably because his life is ever changing. One second he's 12 years old sitting on the couch next to me talking while I'm watching TV... the next he's moving away. In a blink of an eye, he's in high school.... I take a breath and he's graduated. And now Whitney's in his first semester of college and preparing himself for boot camp! How is this possible?! How is he so adult and grown? Who am I that my little Whitney is a man?

Frantically I awaken and drowse.
Up and down--in my incompetency.
Why is this damn house never clean?

quotes of Late

Lee: Why does we always have to till someone comes over, before we clean the house?

Jillien: which one, the velopciraptor?

Mommy: I wants it.

Bueno: Customers can drink the water from a fountain of his tears. Where else would the water come out from??? His ears? No, eyes are better. 

Back Home

I live a mere hour and a half from my hometown... less than 2 hours to venture to the house that I spent 21 years living in. 

Why does it take such a push to get me to go? Why does it feel like I'm uprooting my life by just going down the road for a couple of hours. 

I need to lighten up. Just enjoy the drive. Enjoy technology... Enjoy the rain... Enjoy my perfect daughter....

I need to start enjoying more. So since i'll be away to NOLA for a few days here's this awesome clip....

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOzNrO54xsY <<<------totally worth clicking

Guilt

Is keeping me up tonight.

Ever say something, you had no business saying? Ever repeat someone else's business when it wasn't your place? My goodness do I have no freaking self control?

My 3 year old is in her second year of preschool and from the start it has been a bumpy road.
-connecting with the teacher
-feeling comfortable with the extremely regimented schedule
-doubting the effectiveness of the classroom environment

and at some point several of the mothers have voiced concerns about either the school, teacher, or their own child.

Who the hell am I to repeat someone else's concerns? I should be worrying about MY concerns, MY insecurities and doubts... I should be a supportive and trustworthy friend whom you should be able to entrust with your feelings and doubts. Do I have no self control that I feel the need to voice my opinion about everything? Am I that wise that I need to chime in on someone else's hardships?

The answer to those questions is: ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Its disgusting. Even though I was speaking to one of my best friends and am able to confide in her wholly and thoroughly, it still left a bad taste in my mouth. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but not all opinions are positive or encouraging or understanding.

And while I consider myself to be a supportive friend, it is also really difficult for me to hold my tongue when I think you're wrong. I always feel compelled to let you know that I think you're wrong. But that shouldn't be my place. As a friend I should support you when your wrong, celebrate with you in times of joy, mourn with you in times of sorrow, pray with you in times of hardship, and because of the love I have for you I should never voice any of those events to someone it does not concern.

This berating on my peace is my conscience lashing out--Teaching me a lesson to respect and put into practice the qualities of a good friend. I will take this and learn from it. I will be more thoughtful of my words and feelings--immediately putting in check any feelings or opinions that are not positive or helpful. I should be a fountain of living waters not a pit of self-gratifying opinions.
Amen

These Dark Seas

My small boat sways acutely on the dark blue seas. Tumbling the marbles of uneasiness within my unsettled stomach.  The winds are warm but bitter and smart the skin on my face. There is no light but that which dimly blinks from ages above-- just ancient light sifting its way through the hazy world onto these inky waters.  My throat is dry and feels swollen almost shut.  Swallowing is terrifying. My sticky wind pipe threatening to adhere to itself in one last rebellious stand against this oppressive, moribund shell I call a body-- closing air from my raw lungs forever. All the while, my small boat rocks. Drifting steadily toward an unknown target. Undulating me toward an unknown threat. How many more can I endure?

Delve

I betcha it feels like home

I betcha it will feel like home,
But the most unexpected kind of homecoming--
Considering you've never been there before.
It has only seized your mind.
It has only crept behind your lids at night--
Forcing you to dream never-before-seen places

And uncomfortably familiar faces.
Given the chance,
I'm sure you will take it.
The chance to jump ship
And sail away,
More like back away
Toward the unknown region.

Random Post Redux

Visit Kel and participate in Random Post Redux!

This is one of my many, ridiculous, and pointless One Act/One Scene plays... This one's from May of 2006 called Sad but Funny:

[There is a split stage; the two characters cannot see each other; Stage Right: Jillien sitting in her car talking to Lee who is on Stage Left: Sitting in his cube at work. They are on the phone with one another]

Jillien: [excitedly] Lee, guess what i did today that i haven't done in a REALLY long time, that it was starting to get disgusting. I'll give you three guesses.

Lee: Uhh I dont know.. you finally shaved your legs?

Jillien: [disappointed and amused at the same time] No i washed some clothes.

The End

Sunday Citar

"Do I dare disturb the universe?"
--Jerry Renault, The Chocolate War

Ever wonder if you only behaved the way you do because of an internal fear to mess up the norm, fear to rebel against the in crowd--against the drones? 

I do.  I always have impulses that seem to want to push me toward the "not so acceptable."  I've always been that way, and I suppose that is what made me into such a weirdo growing up. Don't get me wrong... I'm able to fit in at times, but with the forever present coating of strangeness mixed in.

my daughter's bubble party

I had a bazillion activities ready for this bubble party, but the 3 year old attendees were quite satisfied with the run around and make a mess activity.... So we kind of just left it at that! Lia had a blast, and that's what counts!

When someone looks to you for guidance or wisdom, that is a huge responsibility.

 It adds pressure when one has to be inspirational on the spot... 

Doncha think?

The music that filled my home.

My grandmother was my stay-at-home-mom. 

FOr most of my childhood I didn't know that she was 

actually NOT my mom.  Every night she would play 

music to help me go to sleep...These are some of 

my favorites from my childhood.

And quoth my husband, "nevermore."

Lee: "Why does she have to be so cheap? It just ruins it."

Lee: "All you ever do is talk about how you used to dance salsa with Dennis. You do NOTHING ELSE."

Lee: "They have fishes that put birds on their heads just to be cool."

This is why I love my old man.

JM

Inspire Me

"When you work, you work. When you pray, God works"

"When you pray you move the hands that move the world"

Where are all the men?

Do people rear chivalrous young men anymore?

Is that a quality deemed necessary in today's society? 

Women at an all time high in empowerment now-a-days. Do we still need gentlemen? 

.... i think so. 

I have a theory that chivalry is more common in some regions than others. But its a shame when a lady feels like she just lucked out when someone holds the door open for her when her arms are full, and she doesn't have to do that "pull with pinky finger, stick your foot in, kick it back, hold it open with your knee and squeeze on through" maneuver. 

The other day I had my daughter in my arms along with a few grocery bags and this guy runs over and offers to put my basket up for me. No he wasn't a worker there-- just a random gentlemen who saw a damsel in distress. Praise God for that gentleman. 

On the flip: Lia and I were holding hands about to enter a frozen yogurt shop.  A young couple were 2 feet in front of us. The young man opens the door, they walk through, and the door LITERALLY closes in our faces.  Sad.

I have to admit that in my city it  is rare that you aren't answered with a Yes Ma'am, No Ma'am... I'm 24 and I get yes ma'ams.  But the men here are lacking. 

Lacking in some good upbringing.

Jesus is my nutritive

"When you seek more, you will see more!" -- Mike Haman

Powerful message tonight at Church! 

Intuitive

Glossy air swirling in your mind--

Opaque and pearly,

It chills as it moves.

In this silky fog,

glide all your dreams--

over icy and remote vales and hills.

Faces and voices

of long-past people

are beckoned by the mind-spun wind.

And softly as the faintest whisper

It begins to hum

gently calling you to act.

End of September

Walking outside barefoot,
I am happily surprised to feel the faint chill in the air.
It circles around and hugs your bare skin.
It's the end of September, and the year is nearing an end.
And we really feel it on days like this.
There are no crispy, red leaves
being methodically raked in large front yards.

But there is the air.
Air that flows not just over me
But over the world.
Lifting and cooling from the topmost points
Shifting and raging its way down the globe
Till finally, it hit me here.
Soft and subtle cold.
The kind of cold that northerners would snuff at--
Thinking to themselves, "You don't know what cold is."
You're right. I don't.
I've worn flip flops on Christmas Day.
I'm wearing flip flops as I type today.
But the air doesn't lie,
And its song is universal.
Singing, "Fall is come.
And the year is near done."

You always wait

Till the impossible moments--

Right when it's time to end.

Hard to read

Even tougher to mend

Are the blurry and idle

Words you send.

Then higher and higher we both go--

Leave it to me to let it all go.

Leave it to you to never show.

What you mean 

Way down below.

Not that serious at all to you.

I wish for me that were also true. 

For those of you who love the ShamWOW! Introducing: Paper Towels

The things i say

My daughter breathes in my face:  "EwwwWww Lia... you've got dragon breath"  

--Translation: Your breath stinks.

I look at my bum in the mirror at Target: "That's terrifying... I've got goblin butt!"

--Translation: My butt is dimply and saggy and horrendous.

I attempt to eat the nastiest chicken ever cooked @ Macaroni Grill: "Ixnay on the artichokesnay"

--Translation: I don't know what I'm saying and apparently I think its called a Snartichoke.

What am I thinking about this Sunday evening?

I am Holy Rolling Today! a Sweepstake

Blog about The Jesus Storybook Bible and you could win 16 copies (a case) of The Jesus Storybook Bible Deluxe Edition! Submit your e-mail address and blog-post URL HERE for entry.

Its also a Zonderkids book, which if you aren't familiar... they publish veggietales and other REALLY awesome, moral kids books and stories!

Wouldn't winning this be amazing!?! I could give one out to each of Lia's classmates. We have a toddler bible that we read at night, but we're about half done the new testament.  It would be nice to begin again with fresh words and pictures. 

2 Cor 12: 5-10 (NIV)

⁵I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. ⁶Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.

⁷To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To remind me to always allow the LORD to rest his power on me, for his strength is made perfect in my weakness.

The Road

Finding a place for my mind to rest peacefully is difficult right now.  I'm at  a place where i can either let things go or build them back up. Its a really dizzy spot.  I'm sure we've all found ourselves facing crossroads.  The funny things is we often don't realize that we have 3 choices... Take the left route, take the right route, or come back the way we came and do it all over again. Perhaps someone will have paved an interstate over these forks by then...

I've been tagged!!

It only took me 2 eternities to check my blog!  

My beautiful blogging friend Kelli, tagged me for this! Enjoy.

1) What’s your current obsession? Mafia Wars on Facebook

2) What’s your weirdest obsession? My celebrity crushes. I really do obsess sometimes.

3) What are you wearing today? khakis shorts and a white tank top

4) Why is today special? Today is lia's first day of school

5) What would you like to learn to do? sight read music

6) What’s the last thing you bought? Food and school supplies

7) What are you listening to right now? The TV playing in the other room. ER just finished.

8) What’s your favorite weather? cold bright autumn days or rainy evenings

9) What’s your most challenging goal right now? trying to become a teacher

10) What do you think about the person who tagged you? An incredible writer and a very sweet woman with lots of things to teach and share.

11) What's your favorite guilty pleasure? cinnamon pretzels from the mal

12) Favorite vacation spot? I can count on ONE FINGER how many vacations i've been on.  I'd have to say the beach though.

13) What would you like to have in your hands right now? MONEY lol

14) What would you like to get rid of?  My debt.

15) If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go: Backpacking across Europe. Visit its history and its richness.

16) Which language do you want to learn? Sign Language

17) What super power would you like to possess?  Super Spiritual Strength

18) What’s your favorite thing about the city you live in? LSU Tigers!!  Its really amazing the camaraderie you feel as a tiger fan.

19) What’s your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet? A comfy dress i can throw on and go about my day

20) What’s your dream job? Broadway actress or singer. Wouldn't it be nice to hear applause every night? (OMG! That's my dream too!! Always been)

21) If you had $/£/€150 now what would you spend it on? In US Dollars that's $215.43. Can you point me to the nearest bookstore? I also would like to finally get an Ipod:)  (OMYGOODNESS again!! I totally agree)

22) Do you admire anyone’s style? Style::::: I'm not very stylish! i really wouldn't know

23) Describe your personal style. Just grab it and go. Its doesn't even have to be ironed :)

24) What is your weakest character trait?  I always think I'm right. 

25) What talent would you like to have?  Dancing... dont' get me wrong. I can groove, but like ballet or tap...

26) What are you most proud of? Finishing college

27) If you could choose one person to have lunch with who would it be and why? I would like to each lunch with Georges St. Pierre and then ask him to marry me. (don't bother that I have a husband lol!)

Now the rules of this tag: 
1) Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention.

Okey dokey! So its been a while

I've been away

With nothing to say

And too much to do

Without words to assign it to.

I 'm feeling the urge

For my writing to surge

and i'm rapping this rhyme

for you one more time.

Keep your eyes open

And keep your heart hoping

I'm coming back

With my blogging Rap!

Pre-readers: Meet the Alphabotz

This is such an awesome little website. Its mostly products but it's a great concept to help kids to learn phonics and letters!! check it out! 

The link I'm posting is the activity page, but if you navigate away there are more features on the site.  I would love to hear what y'all think

http://alphabotz.com/fun.html

Good Sports:

Sasha Cohen plays Ali G, an urban style interviewer. Sasha Cohen also plays Borat and Bruno.

In this video Ali G is interviewing David Beckham and Posh Spice... he hits some low blows, bu they are excellent sports about it all. Have a look see and enjoy this beautiful Thursday :)

Photo Friday

Nice to meet someone so much like myself!

This orangutan lives in the New Orleans Audubon Zoo.  

This particular orangutan placed paper bag on his head once it began to rain... Ingenius... I got soaked! 

It gets me thinking. These brilliant, large, beautiful creatures are so charming. They are human-like in a way that some humans could never be. (We have some sick, merciless, and demented humans out there!)  Anyway, I stop and think often of this one point:  How different are all of us anyway?  I mean think about it... our DNA is something like 98% identical to that of a chimpanzee.  While all of us, including myself, revel in our originality, our uniqueness, really if we're that close to an ape, we must be so much more mind-blowing-ly  close to one another. 

I believe that if one is able to really become self-aware, understand his own nature, evaluate and reflect on his humanity that that individual would have such incredible insight on the human race as a whole. 


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

How to be an Angel

Thats the Cootie Mama smiling on the right, in her very first dancing class. She had the most beautiful dance dress of all (if i do say so myself) and this was in part because of the Cootz refusing to wear anything that doesn't look like a "Princess Dress".... there are also: Princess Shoes, Princess Makeup, and Princess Bows. 

The Drawing Dead

Simple as the setting Sun
Dancing when the day is done
Singing as the dead all come
In lines as infinite as the world is long

Happily sitting on its lap
Cuddling against him-- warm and fat
Sighing and humming in quiet relief
Never believing this peace will cease.

Suddenly, its belly rumbles.
Fat and plump are these carrion crumbles.
It eats them all, each one by one
Until the infinite are chewed and gone.

But rest assured that more will come--
Just as simply as the setting Sun
Just as there's dancing when the Day is done.
He'll be singing when the dead all come.

I very rarely append my poetry with an explanation of my inspiration or an explanation of my meaning.  But after my husband read this and said he didn't get it, I felt inspired to write about this poem. The Drawing Dead is a dark poem inspired by my past poetry that often had some treacherous or demonic villain or the beings/persons in my poem were doomed to a certain fate because of some flaw in their behavior.  Often my writing can be fantastical or ridiculous in some way, and I'm currently reading a book of short stories by a writer, while far superior to me in writing quality, is in his own way very dark, super fantastical, and often, vague and intangible.

What does this poem mean? Anything really. The only important thing to me is that it means something.

Tough Love vs Spanking

- Good Argument Most people think it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.' One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk. Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, IPod, etc. Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together. Eye to eye contact helps a lot too. I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique. Sincerely, Your Friend An email my friend forwarded me! Sooo Funny! **Disclaimer: This is just a joke. Please don't try this at home, and if you do.... you didn't get it from me!***

Ages Ago

I posted this: CARNEY <---------click here to read the original post

Well now they've posted videos of themselves playing acoustic versions of their songs.  Now you can hear what I heard:

Everyday

Every day brings it own constant reminder that time is passing. I'm sure this seems obvious to everyone, but I often space out for lengths of time, when suddenly I'm aware that I'm older--much older than I want to be. I realize I'm by no means old, but as the archetype Peter Pan personality, each day propels me farther from youth. Or as Shakespeare described it once... propels me closer to second childishness "Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." This is terrifying.

How morbid to face your own mortality... Where's the joie de vivre?

I've always had it in me-the dark, brooding side that can't let go. Always looking back, wishing to go back. But it's become worse now that I've a little one. I look at pictures taken just a mere 3 years ago... the progress, the growth, the advancement, the age. My goodness if only i could hit the pause button.

And then it happens... I space out and another six months have rolled by.

Hopefully I'll have taken enough pictures, that looking back will be so filled with snapshots that i can use it as a "My Life" flip book.

Sitting in the dark morning glow
Behaving peacefully,
Although I already know
That the worst is yet to come.
The In-laws are coming
To stifle my fun.

What a day!

I've the filthiest house in the universe. We've got Jump-n-Jive this morning with Lia's school friends for a back-to-school bonanza. I've got some baking and shopping and A TON of cleaning to do before I host a dinner party today, which I'm very excited about!(the dinner party that is... not the cleaning lol) But there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. I completely forgot when I scheduled dinner for Thursday that I had also confirmed playing all day at Jump-n-Jive.

Ever spread yourself thin? I think it makes it easier when you're doing things that you love/want to do. Say if today were filled with: dentist (cringe), going to Walmart (kill me), and in-laws...(just joking) it would have made it less worth the effort.

My carrot cake is on the menu:

Its Monday Again

And the weeks are passing by so quickly. The summer is nearing its end, and Lia is soon to start pre-k again. Its time to go back to a routine that I'm not sure fits us anymore. I'm the worst person in the world when it comes to change. I always like for things to remain the same and to maintain normalcy; I like for people to stick around...remain the people they always were.

But the long and short of it is that things have to change. I know how beneficial it would be for Lia to start school full time and for me to work full time.

Maybe its like a band-aid. Gotta just do it quickly and neatly.

How do people change routines so easily? Find new jobs? Buy new houses? Move to other cities? It must take a lot of courage and confidence.

Prayer in Verse (A Revisiting)

Nothing more to say.
So much typing these couple of days.
So much arguing...
Not much going my way.
Hold on to faith and pray.
I ask Mother Mary...
You too are a mommy.
Show, teach, inspire, charm me.
Reach out your arms and hold me.
But most of all love me.
I beg--Holy Spirit
Send me your graces.
Unlike King Solomon,
Don't let me fall on my faces.
Send me wisdom...
Erase all traces-
of impatience.
I implore my heavenly Father,
Help me get through times.
I know they getting harder.
Help me be a better mother, daughter, wife and lover.
You are my only hope.
Its through you that I'll be able to cope.
I beseech you Jesus.
If anyone needs you... its us.
No more words but you know what's in my heart
And I know you won't let me fall apart.
You will make me stronger.
You will help me be a mother.
You will guide me by your perfect example
And on the devil, with you by my side,
I will trample.

Birthday Blues

I have been in New Orleans since Wednesday and have eaten out (restaurants, fast food, trash) every single day!

I feel fat, disgusting, guilty, gluttonous.... and now its my birthday today, and guess what the plans are?~!!

Going out to EAT! which WILL involve appetizers, main dishes, creamy salads, desserts. I don't think a year's worth of exercises will burn off the weight that I packed on this week.

I've fallen in love

With soccer star: CRISTIANO RONALDO.

You may need to avert your eyes... it is like staring into the SUN!

For your viewing pleasure: a video of my man. Excuse the sound track because the guy who made it didn't seem to have a firm grasp on music and video editing, but the video is still PHENOMENAL!

Red Flags?

have you ever met someone that you thought was going to become a good friend and ended up being a person that you don't wanna become friends with? 

Sometimes it takes time to discover who a person is. 

Love and Marriage

Sunday Citar hosted by Fresh Mommy.

I've selected some funny quotes about love and marriage for this week's Sunday Citar because I believe that some of the best lessons can be learned through humor. It is the gift God gave us in order to survive the mundane, the painful, the boredom, the indifference, the consistencies, the predictable--I think you get the point...


I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her.
-Rodney Dangerfield

My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.
-Rodney Dangerfield

Women don't want to hear what you think. Women want to hear what they think - in a deeper voice.
-Bill Cosby

The one thing women don't want to find in their stockings on Christmas morning is their husband.
-Joan Rivers

To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore to love is to suffer. Not to love is to suffer. To suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy, then, is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. (from Love and Death)
-Woody Allen

An Accident

[Daughter is playing in the bath tub. It is filled with brand new toys her mother bought.  The toys are the standard random aquatic animal squirt toys... When squeezed they squirt water out]

Mother: Here baby... Look what happens when you squeeze them!

[Mother fills a toy with water and proceeds to squirt water on her daughter's cheeks and face]

Daughter: It pee-pee'd...... on my face.

HP6

Okay so I saw Harry Potter 6 last night,  and it was AMAZING.

Well I must say that the only other HP movie I saw was the first one, and I was not very impressed with it. I have, however, read all the books! So now i'm tempted to revisit not only all the books, but to watch movies 2-5 as well.

Whatta ya think?

The outcome of my trip.

I made it back from my trip after a painful 13 hours in the airport.  Altogether it was a great trip, consisting of a beautiful wedding and awesome people.

I'm so happy that I went. For a while last week I contemplated not going because of how difficult I was finding having to leave Lia. 

When I got back. It was like I had never left. No one overly excited. No one missed me terribly. They just did their thing while I was gone,  and then when i got back they did their thing with me around.  

Inattentive

"Stop coming in and out of the bath;

you're gunna get sick"

she said as she turned back around

and finished commenting on her facebook.

The little girl is singing in the bath tub

to some Disney song 

whose lyrics have been consolidated into

only 2 or 3 lines repeated without cessation. 

Finally the mother stops and listens.

Nods her head and thinks to herself,

"Is there something I should be doing right now?"

Nah. Oh look another Farm Town gift!

Back from historical downtown Saint Charles

Back at home the lights flicker
with familiar ineffeciency. Like small
eyes on a smiling face, where only
tiny glimpses of glass catch the light
before it's unceremoniosly squinted closed.

After a long holiday away from normality,
one tends to forget how important everyone is
and how competent they all are
even when you're not around.
Puts you back in your place.

I've seen the world through airplane windows--
more glare than scenery. The mind oddly focused
on overlooking your own reflection in the plastic-glass;
Carrying a book to show the travelers that you
are indeed literate, while still from Louisiana.


You remember all your prayers while on a plane:
The forgive-me's, the please-give-me's, the I-promise-
I-Will-give-thee's.... Just get me off this God forsaken
metal, flying, abomination safetly's... Then I say to myself,
"remember Moses... tapping twice... no faith... best be confident!"

At home you remember why the hell you left.
All the while thinking, "Man I know I have a half read book lying
around here somewhere!" Just let my mind escape.
No need to be rash and propel yourself a thousand miles away.
Just lay yourself down. Close your eyes and think.

Then tap tap tap,
Just like that.
you've written yourself
a little rap.

Pride

Translation: Honduras is a role model for the rest of the world. We don't have petroleum or dollars, but we have BALLS!

The Cootie Mama dancing along with Elmo

1:45 is hilarious! and at 1:47 she just pops back up! She kills me, hahha

Late night babbling... It happens!

Listless dreams

In restless sleep,

Of grey fluid streams

With no life to upkeep.

Cold empty water--

It neither crashes or flows,

In an endless shudder

As I sink farther below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the same dark pitch ocean where the Kraken lies asleep, swims Moby Dick, the great white whale, harvesting lives within the deep. "As unchanging as the sea," she sings, as the Phantom listens below, and an incessant tremor ripples, unforgivingly, about my soul.

Too nervous to write

I've been stressing over a trip to St. Louis that I'm taking this Friday. 

I can't sleep at night!

I'm worried about the airline. I'm worried that I'll do something wrong and they're going to throw away all my stuff. I'm sad that I can't take my daughter with me. I'm upset that I'll spend so much time away from her. 

Praying for peace in my heart, peace in my mind, peace in the Middle East, and peace in the New Orleans East!

JM

What the hey?! I'll give it a shot!

I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I will give everything to Jesus. When I have nothing to give, I'll give Him this nothing. ~St. Therese~

"Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary use words." - St. Francis of Assisi

"When we are whom we are called to be we will set the world ABLAZE!"- St. Catherine of Siena

I have a friend-- well more like a friendly acquaintance, and it's truly my loss that we aren't closer. We went to high school together ( i think she was many years younger), and we ended up going to the same college... and those quotes are off her Facebook. This young lady is so filled with the Holy Spirit that you feel renewed in faith just by being her presence. Every time I need inspiration, I visit her page. She's a photographer, and she seems to have the ability to capture the beauty/goodness/soul of everything she shoots.  Her quotes lift me up. So I hope that these quotes lift you up today... even if you didn't need a lift--it can't hurt :)

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

All day i've been trying to upload a photo for photo friday but every time I try my browser crashes!! So instead I'm going to share a joke and a video... make it a Funny Friday!

Can never go wrong with a boudreaux and thibodeaux joke!!

 
Boudreaux and his wife Clotille lived on a little farm outside Mamou. One day Clotille said, "Mais,
Boudreaux, you have to get rid of dat dog. All he does is lie under de front porch and turn over da trash cans."

Boudreaux said, "Okay. Cher. I'll get rid of him." He put him in the pickup, drove down the road a
couple of miles and dumped him out. He drove home and in a few minutes the dog showed up!

 So he put him back in the truck, drove several more miles and dumped him out. After getting back home, the dog showed up again. Clotille said, "You have to take him out and drive around and around a lot in circles, den dump him out. Dat way he won't know da way home."

Boudreaux said, "You some smart, Clotille, and dat's why I marry you."

Boudreaux took the dog, drove all around and zigzagged a lot then dumped the dog out.

He started back home but soon pulled over and parked and called Clotille on his cell phone. "Has dat dog come back yet?"

 Clotille answered "Yes, he just came in."

Boudreaux said, "Well, put him up to da phone -  I'm lost." 

The best version of Total Eclipse of the Heart ever!! Thank Bryan the Beautiful for discovering this and sharing it with me!!  (you may want to make it full screen to be able to read the captions! they're priceless!)

    

Tongue Tied

When the words

Are all dried

I look toward you

For words to rhyme. 

Unlikely chances 

And unusual themes

In your hands

I leave the keys

To my writing

And borrowed style-- 

This happens

Every once in a while.

After its all said and done

That's when the fun

Has finally begun.

Overflowing with creative juices--

My sacrifice to the writing muses:

Endless sighs,

And awkward staring,

Half closed eyes,

And music blaring, 

Unfinished lines

That are not worth sharing.

Best of my Best

See Alex at Please Try Again!
Feel free to join in!!! Take it to your own blog, see what your followers have to say :)


Best death scene EVER: Romeo and Juliet the Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes verson. It was so simple and perfect

Best Farewell Scene: The Nightmare Before Christmas when Jack is leaving to spread Christmas to the human world.


Best Revenge Scene: The Princess Bride's Inigo Montoya: "My name is Inigo Montoya. You have killed my father. Prepare to die." I agree with Alex. The princess Bride is my favorite movie so it must make my list

Top Tear Jerker: Titatnic. It was unbearable. Although I did leave in the middle of I Am Sam because I was crying so hard. So its a tie.


Unbelievable Ending: At the end of Grease when Danny and Sandy are in Grease Lightening and then all of a sudden the car takes flight... i don't believe it :)

Best "I Didn't See That One Coming" Scene: The Sixth Sense when we find out Bruce Willis is really (you know)!!! I totally didn't see it coming!

Saddest Romance: Philidelphia: Tom Hanks and Antonio Banderas. One dying of AIDS, the other struggling to hold on and both living in a world that doesn't accept them. Sad.

Best Hand Holding Scene: In Pursuit of Happiness, Will Smith with his son as they look for a place to stay the night.

Movie Most Quoted in Chat Room Conversations: Space Balls, "I see your swartz is as big as mine" ??? couldn't think of anything.

and one for the road:

Best Hospital Scene: Talladega Nights, Ricky Bobby when he's pretending to be in a coma and his friend comes in to take him out of his misery! LOL