dinner & a movie

i woke up this morning with every good intention. the goal:have a wonderful day.

after a night of baking cookies and studying for my bible study lesson i was already pretty groggy, but i pressed on.

i could write about my exhausting day . . . but i'd rather write about my peaceful Tuesday night.

Deciding what type of sushi roll to devour can sometimes prove to be tricky. I had already decided last week, when i originally made my date to meet up with a good friend for sushi and a movie that i was going to partake of a Sweet Heart Roll. YUM!! now the dilemma was deciding if i wanted gyoza or shumai and what roll would compliment my Sweet Roll on my bamboo platter. i ended up enjoying a Sweet Heart Roll, a Crunchy Roll and Shumai. i can taste it now . . .

After dinner we went to see "The Secret Life of Bees"
Fantastic film. i laughed . . . i cried . . . i talked to the screen. Teen Dakota was amazing. Jennifer Hudson did an incredible job in her second film, if her Oscar wasn't proof enough that she is going to be around for a while, this movie definitely did. I was so proud of Alicia Keys and her diesel portrayal of June Boatwright. I want to know how they made her bald though. It really looked like they cut her hair. Finally Queen. Oh Queen. She was great.

So i give the Secret Life of Bees a FIVE out of 5 buckets-o-popcorn.

=)

Jan loves the kids!

ok, so i'm trying to meet my blog-a-day goal that i set for myself that i am starting to think was slightly unrealistic. but here we go.

my thought for the day is . . . "cherish the time you have with your children."

i know that seems simple and cliche, but as i was dropping my kiddies off at school this morning and we performed our morning ritual: Devyn kisses me on the cheek and throws his arm around my neck and says, "bye mom. have a good day." and i say i love you! have a good day devyn." then comes little Ari in her mousy little voice, "i love you mommy. have a good day. bye! i love you!" and she kisses me on my cheek, then she shoves her cheek into my mouth for a kiss. i suffocate a little. then they both hop out of the car and hit the sidewalk. one rolling a back pack, the other struggling with a back pack that is as big as she. Ari stops and turns around and waves at me then she blows me a kiss and blow her one back. and then all of a sudden everything just stopped.

it was as if the earth stopped spinning. the wind stopped blowing. and even for a second my heart stopped beating and i felt a sadness. i felt time leaving me. i caught a glimpse of my family watching Ari walk across the stage and receive her high school diploma and i was wondering where time had gone. where their lives had gone. how it all just flashed by me in an instance. and just a tear was about to cascade down my cheek . . . i snapped out of it.

i wanted to jump out of the driver's seat, run and grab my babies and squeeze them and never let go so that they would stop growing. i managed to keep it together as they walked into the building.

we might be watching a stupid kiddie movie or awful disney program together tonight though. all of us on the couch . . . under one blanket. =)

my blogging Goal

well the purpose of this blog was to flex my writing muscles because i have been out of practice for almost 10 years now. that's so crazy to say. but honestly i have. i have whipped out an poem here and there, but nothing super serious. so if i am going to take this writing a book thing serious then i need to buckle down.

my new blogging Goal is to blog everyday. i know you're thinking i am crazy because my current frequency is like once every two or three or four weeks! yikes! but i am going to do it.

My plan is either to write first thing in the morning, or last thing before i go to bed at night.

so this may mean that i can't get on facebook or youtube first thing or that i may have to stop playing Diner Dash 10 minutes earlier, but i AM going to do it!

I CAN DO IT!!

new toys!

it is a beautiful day!!

so today my new toys arrived in my office.

THREE NEW PRINTERS!! I am so excited! words cannot express my excitement. It's been four years since my mom and i embarked on the journey that is CCC Graphics . . . and Printing and now four years later we have all new printers!!

i am so excited about what God has in store the shop next year. i feel increase baby!!!

=)
www.cccgraphicsandprinting.com

Open Gym | 08NOV21

you know what time it is.

another beautiful Open Gym Video Creation by jan & BER!
enjoy.



aww yeah. =)

Confirmation

So as suspected, the McCain|Palin campaign will continue to unravel before our very eyes now that the United States of America has elected Barack Obama.

I thought about summarizing the NEWSWEEK article, then I decided not to.

NEWSWEEK has also learned that Palin's shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain's top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy. One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told Palin to buy three suits for the convention and hire a stylist. But instead, the vice presidential nominee began buying for herself and her family—clothes and accessories from top stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. According to two knowledgeable sources, a vast majority of the clothes were bought by a wealthy donor, who was shocked when he got the bill. Palin also used low-level staffers to buy some of the clothes on their credit cards. The McCain campaign found out last week when the aides sought reimbursement. One aide estimated that she spent "tens of thousands" more than the reported $150,000, and that $20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband. Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. An angry aide characterized the shopping spree as "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast," and said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books.

A Palin aide said: "Governor Palin was not directing staffers to put anything on their personal credit cards, and anything that staffers put on their credit cards has been reimbursed, like an expense. Nasty and false accusations following a defeat say more about the person who made them than they do about Governor Palin."

McCain himself rarely spoke to Palin during the campaign, and aides kept him in the dark about the details of her spending on clothes because they were sure he would be offended. Palin asked to speak along with McCain at his Arizona concession speech Tuesday night, but campaign strategist Steve Schmidt vetoed the request.

Astonishing. Or is it?

And I couldn't resist posting this recording. SIX MINUTES!! She talked for SIX MINUTES! ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!



and to think . . . she could have been our Vice President. You can't tell me that every vote doesn't count. SCARY.

it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings

I proudly hopped out of my Pilot and briskly walked through the parking lot of the Catholic church across the street from the elementary school that is my polling location. I could feel a giddy smile cropping up on my face. I tried to suppress it so that I didn't look like a foolish, little voting virgin skipping to the polls.

As I placed my feet on the sidewalk, now less than 50 paces from the front doors, my joyous bubble exploded with the words

"WE CAN'T LET THESE BLACK PEOPLE TAKE OVER OUR COUNTRY! IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL THE FAT LADY SINGS!"

I was no less than stunned. Immediately this alternate universe that I had created where everyone was voting for a candidate based on their credentials. Where people were voting for the party they believed was better qualified to do the job and not because of the color of their skin or maybe even their gender. Where REAL CHANGE was possible . . . all of this crumbled right there with those words of hate. I felt my body stop moving, and then I remembered that I live in an area that is predominantly Republican and sometimes VERY "old school." Her eyes met mine and for a second I could see the humanity in her . . . somewhere buried deep behind her glare. I chose to "just keep swimming . . ."

My eyes fixed on several McCain|Palin signs and I was hoping to see at least one Obama sign in the sea of McCain. As I reached the front door . . . finally. Obama|Biden.

At the door I was a little perplexed, I wasn't sure which way to go. I saw two people in suits holding information, I started walking toward them and we made eye contact. Before I could open my mouth to say anything, they glanced away and continued their conversation without a greeting of any sort.

"Ma'am. Did you need some help?"
My eyes met the kind eyes of a woman standing a little further up.
"Yes, which door do we use?"
"This one, right here. Here, have a sample ballot."
I hesitated. The paper was blue. **phew** "Thank you so much."
"God bless."
"Thank you, you too!" My giddiness was restored!

As I walked down the hall, I felt my smile coming back. I looked at the drawings of families and pumpkins, I peered in the empty classrooms and gazed at the squares on the floor. As I tried to walk with my feet in each square and not step on the lines (that must be where Ari gets it) I realized that tears were welling up in my eyes. I looked at my brown skin and I thought of all of the people who had put themselves in harms way. People who had given their life, just so I could have this experience. Just so I could fill in bubbles on a ballot. One tear. Two tears. The floodgates were about to burst.

"Excuse me, what line is this?!"
Why is she yelling? Can't she see I'm having a moment!?! GEEZ!

"I'm not sure ma'am. I think there's just one line."

She saw my face and my blue sample ballot and she stuffed her pink sample ballot into her purse and then turned to her friend and they started talking.

I was afraid that I would be standing in line for hours on end . . . but in less than 30 minutes I was sliding my ballot into the magical tallying device!

God Bless America!
I ROCKED THE VOTE!

Olbermann's take on "Joe the Plumber"

Oh Olbermann . . . you make me smile.

Who thought Hip Hop on Dancing with the Stars was a Good Idea?

OMG! I can't believe what my eyes have seen!! Too much!

I can't believe that the producers of Dancing with the Stars thought that a Hip Hop routine was a good idea!!! I am in complete shock right now. First of all, I am so irritated that Cloris Leachman was still on the show! She should have either been the first, second or third to leave the show! Definitely before Toni Braxton. I would have rather seen more of Kim Kardashian or Rocco!! i love Rocco!

But now . . . this God-forsaken hip hop routine.

The best part of this dance was actually not the dancing . . . it was the beat boxing that Cody did in the beginning. I almost didn't even notice that Corky Ballas (who is freakin' 47) did a spin on his back!! I actually had to rewind my TiVo to catch it because I was distracted by Cloris Leachman sneering at the camera (i think that was supposed to be her hardcore hip hop snarl). I am so embarrassed for Maurice, because about 2 eight counts in to the group portion of the dance, he's off beat and can't seem to get it together after that. He's standing right in front and he's doing his own choreography! So sad. Poor, poor Susan Lucci. I don't even know what she's doing. FOR OUT LOUD CRYING!! THE WOMAN IS OVER 60!! WTH! Lance's mouth is opened the WHOLE time! oh Lance. and Warren, what are you doing with your wrists?! yikes! Cody did alright, he did a good job hiding in the background. He tossed Julianne pretty high in the air and he managed not to kick anybody in the head.

Unfortunately even the stars looked uncomfortable on this one. there were points where Julianne, Lacy, Cheryl and Kim kinda seemed like "fly girls" and few glimpses of soul in Derek and Tony, but all in all . . . not impressed.



I really feel for poor SHOTYME. don't feel bad, it was a loaded challenge man, teaching Hip Hop Choreography to amateurs and then to have it displayed on national television.

POP TART Commercials -- a little morbid!

so this morning i am doing Ari's hair. whenever i say Ari, get your hair stuff, for some reason to her that means, turn on the TV. So i'm taming her mane and she's watching Fairly OddParents . . . commercial comes on . . .

WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH THESE POP TART COMMERCIALS??
i know you've seen them. the ones that say "CRAZY GOOD!"
the one i saw this morning has the little poptarts going Christmas Caroling. They are going door to door and each time they get to a new house, one or two poptarts are missing because the homeowners are EATING THEM! so by the time the lone little poptart gets to the last house, he's trembling as he's singing because he knows he's next, BECAUSE ALL OF HIS OTHER FRIENDS HAVE BEEN EATEN!!! so the lady invites him into her house to get warm, and she winks at the viewers as if to say, "YES. I'M DECEIVING THIS POOR, LITTLE, TALKING POPTART INTO THINKING I WANT TO HELP WHEN REALLY I AM ABOUT TO EAT HIM!"

it's pure madness and it really bothers me.

I couldn't find the one i saw on TV this morning, but here are some of the sadistic commercials they keep showing.

i'm sorry

ok- i was talking to Lee the other day and he told me that i never say that "i'm sorry." so this got me to thinking . . . i was like i know i say i'm sorry . . . and he was like "nope, you never do."

do i really not apologize?what do i have to apologize for? i mean i'm pretty nice to people, if i bump into someone i say "excuse me" or if i call someone by the wrong name, i always apologize. so what is he talking about??!!

so now i am extra, super self conscious that i don't say "i'm sorry" i don't want to be one of THOSE ppl who are too prideful and never apologize. sooo . . . i gathered some information to make me a better aplogizer. i have decided to share it:

A proper apology should always include the following:

		a detailed account of the situation
		acknowledgement of the hurt or damage done
		taking responsibility for the situation
		recognition of your role in the event
		a statement of regret
		asking for forgiveness
		a promise that it won't happen again
		a form of restitution whenever possible

that sure is a lot of stuff, but i am dedicated to apologizing and doing it correctly. i will even teach it to my offspring. i will no longer tell Devyn to say he's sorry to his sister when practices karate on her. His apologies will now sound like this:

Ari, I kicked you in the stomach. I know that it hurt you when I kicked you in the stomach. I take responsibility for kicking you in the stomach. I recognize that you were just innocently standing there when I chose all on my own to kick you in the stomach. I regret that mommy saw me kick you in the stomach. Please forgive me for kicking you in the stomach. I promise that mommy will never see me kick you in the stomach again. Would you like to kick me in the stomach?

=)

myspace made me mad

MYSPACE MADE ME MAD!

so, i was sent this awesome picture a little while back and i tried to upload it to my myspace pictures . . . well, i actually did post it.

then i got this message from myspace that said that i had uploaded an inappropriate picture and that myspace had deleted it. they sent me all this information about their terms and blah blah blah . . . so i guess i violated some rule.

Here's my thing, if you have a myspace page or if you've spent more than 10 minutes perusing through myspace profiles, then you've come across at least one or 2 million perverted images of half naked females flaunting their rears and fronts for all to see. if you have a myspace page with no security settings then you've reasons several dozen requests from online prostitutes and porn pages . . . but then i upload this image and myspace deletes it within in minutes of my uploading it.

you look at it and you tell me if it was inappropriate?!?




Just incase you can't red the caption:
"A Powerful and Prophetic thought rendered by Robert Kennedy 40 years ago: He gave a speech to the 'Voice of America' all around the world and despite what was going on in the country, particularly in Alabama, Bobby Kennedy said this is 1968: 'Things are moving so fast in race relations a Negro could be president in 40 years. There's no question about it, in the next 40 years. There's no question about it, in the next 40 years a Negro can achieve the same position that my brother has. Prejudice exists and probably will continue to, but we have tried to make progress and we are making progress. We are not going to accept the status quo.' "

blog virgin

ok-so i've got the myspace, the facebook, but i really don't blog.

since i'm trying to get back into writing, i have decided that a blog would be a good place to flex my writing muscles.

this blog will be about whatever i feel like writing about. no particular, focused topic, just the general stuff that goes through my head.

i'm a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a mentor, a teacher and just me . . . so we'll see where this goes.

-aiko