Word verification... is it really necessary?

I gotta tell ya.

I have started participating more with this blog comment thing.

I joined SitS, and MamaKat.

I love them. I love all the comment love, and the new friends I have made...

BUT OH MY GOD!!!!

The word verification junk!

It is killing me!

Really people...

It is too much!

Sometimes it takes me 2 minutes longer to post a comment because of all the windows, words, my email address is needed, then my password, then the comment finally appears... and.. then..

I'm exhausted!

Allow me to clue you in on something Blogger just came up with.

INTEGRATED comments!

Check it out on your gadgets list!

It is so great!

I understand you feel the need for humans only to comment on your blogs... that is the only reason for the word verification thingys, I've been told. But seriously... I have not had any robots try to contact me via my blog!

If I do... I will let you know!

I would be able to visit a lot more blogs during my 30 minute allotment I give myself to do bloggy things, if we all could just make it really easy and fast to comment on each others' blogs!

Okay... rant over.

I know I'll get a huge onslaught of comments on why the need for verification is so great... but really... just change your settings.

I love ya... I really do.

I'll keep commenting... but you can't make me like it... and I have started a personal list of NON VERIFICATION blogs that I know and love.

Please don't make me post them!

***

I feel so much better now!

Enjoy your evening!

I'm evil and must be destroyed?!?

My Mama modeled for me! She wouldn't let me show her face!

I'm having a hard time writing these days.

I usually spend a few minutes each day, jotting down different things that go on, or ideas I want to talk about, or something I've learned that day.

Lately... not so much.

Except for the Writer's workshop, which I love... I don't really have a whole lot to say this week.

Maybe I had Electionitis.

Until today...

I did read in the paper today, one man reminiscing about how in the good ole days, about 20 years ago, one could go around with bumper stickers and sign in their yards touting who they are supporting without fear of retribution.

He wrote how these days, when he put a lawn sign out, or a sticker on his car, it gets vandalized or stolen off is yard by someone who doesn't share the same viewpoint.

I found this disturbing. Pathetic actually.

What have we all become? Why can't we all have different views on things and still love eachother!

This past week... I had one person personally email me and tell me she was disgusted with my post about being happy Obama won.

She told me she no longer thought of me as a decent person, and wouldn't be reading me any longer.

Well.... I can't say she'll be missed... I didn't know her all that well, but it still hurt I really feel more sorry for her though. To be that base about an election!

Pulleeeeze!

I emailed her back and told her that even though I am an evil Democrat, will surely end the world as we know it, and have absolutely no moral fiber whatsoever, I would withhold her name and her email so as not to offend or embarrass her with her kindergarten like attitude. Hey... I may a terrible, horrible, evil, Democrat, but I still have class!

I went on to inform her that I have many friends who are Reps, and though we don't see eye to eye on everything, we don't base our friendships on political party affiliation, and it is a shame she may.

I mean, I don't go around saying... Hi, I'm Saundra Democrat.. are you a Rep or a Dem, or Ind?

She was sure I was so left I could see the right.

She didn't know me at all.

Goodbye pseudo-friend... I wish I could say you will be missed... but you won't.

***

William got word, at his football game on Friday, that he'd earned the privilege of playing at the Varsity game next week! He was SO excited. He hasn't shut up about it all weekend.

I caught him trying on the varsity uniform about 5 times.

It was so sweet.

I remember getting all giddy about stuff too at that age.

Nowadays, I just get giddy if I get 6 straight hours of sleep.

I am really livin' it UP!

***

My mom and I just bid on and got an Anniversary Dinner Dance for the Sons of Italy to cater next year.!!! So exciting! We think it will be for 500 people.

We are getting our menus put together and tested right after Christmas.

Anyone who wants to volunteer to taste test our creations, give me a jingle! We will probably do 5 sample tastings before the event.

***

My scarves are selling really well.

I have oodles of orders.

The pictures don't really show them well, but you get the idea.

The skunks, (black and white curly Q on my sofa) is the hottest seller.

It also takes the longest to make.

I'll take better pictures this week.

Today was chilly, and I actually used one!

Quite toasty!

I'm off to make another skunk!

Writer's Workshop

Writers Workshop

I choose #1, and #4.

1.) You awaken with amnesia in what looks to be an igloo. You have $4 and a rock in one pocket, and a toothbrush in the other. Someone is staring at you. Write this scene.

2.) Write a 16-line poem (rhyming or non-rhyming) about a moment from your childhood that changed your life for the better.

3.) You're sitting at work one day and receive a text message from an unrecognized number. The text says, "I have the money and hid the body." You think this is a practical joke from a friend, so you play along at first. But the more texts you receive, the more you realize that it isn't a joke. Write the text conversation you have with this unknown texter.

4.) 10 of my absolute worst pet peeves...

5.) Fictionalize an event that happened to one of your parents, friends, or siblings

****

Alaska Morning

***

I awaken with amnesia in an igloo, with $4 bucks, a rock in one pocket, and a toothbrush in the other. Someone is staring at me... who is it?

***

{Me}"Yaawwwwnnn! Oh, that was a good long nap!

Boy, it sure is bright in here!

Have I always liked white this much?

And who turned the AC on so high! It's FREEZING in here! Brrr!

Holy CRAP!

Who are YOU!?!"

(Ridiculously handsome creature is sitting cross legged, across the... the... igloo... white shirt unbuttoned, blue jeans, barefoot, holding one simple white stem of Gladiola, staring lovingly at me.)

He says "I'm Tom Selleck. You've been out for quite a while honey... You were shivering, so I gave you my parka and my socks to keep you warm"

{Me} YOU CALLED ME HONEY... ARE YOU MINE? ALL MINE? TO KEEP FOREVER? ALL MINE?

To which he replies..."Yes, sweetheart, don't you remember?"

{I scramble for the right answer... if I say I remember, we can get on with life and all the stuff married people get to do without worry of pregnancy, and if I say I don't remember, he might go away.. he can't go away... he's MINE ALL MINE! Choose Saundra, is that my name? Choose!}

{Me} Of...of...course I remember silly, I was just seeing if you remembered! ha he ha hhha ugh!

Tom, babe, uh... I know you already told me and all, but I just love to hear you say it, anything really, but can you tell me again why we are in an igloo...? Hmmmm? Oh... and when is bedtime?

{Tom} "Oh baby, you are such a kidder! You know we do this every year... we come up to Nome Alaska and help the Polar Bears find food and get from one broken glacier to the other... now come on and help me gut all this fish... you know how much you love getting your hands dirty...come on in here and help me. Oh, and since it stays light all day in summer, we go to bed when the urge strikes us"

{Me} I'll follow you to the gates of Hell, if that was where you were going...

(Suddenly, I see what everyone is doing... trying to catch fish that are still alive and plunging a sharp knife right up through the middle of 'em. I start to gag... did he say I love this? Is he kidding? I hate this... don't I? Do I? Have I really done this before? If I say I have the urge to go to sleep, will he come with me?)

I take off my gloves and try to put them into a pocket, when I realize I have a rock in my pocket.

Why the heck do I have a rock in my pocket?

I look at the rock and see that it says "I love you Mamala" written on it, in what looks like a left hander's hand.

{Me} Tom, sweetie, where are our children? They must be worried about me... us."

{Tom} Are you feeling okay? We don't have children... Are we going to start THAT conversation again?

{Me} How do you explain this? (showing him the rock)

{Tom} I don't know... maybe one of the Eskimo children gave it to you and you forgot.

{Me} Eskimo children speak Yiddish? Up here in Nome? Really? I... I....I feel like I've been called that before... I don't know why...

{Tom} (grabbing me with those fabulous handsome hands, pulling me toward him in a huge bear hug, his hairy naked chest just inches away under all that dang goose down and thermal underwear...) Saundra... you are starting to scare me... I know the air is thin here, and it's cold, but you aren't acting like you usually do."

{Me} Well, honey, I don't quite feel like myself... I think I'll take this $4 bucks in my pocket and go get a Starbucks around the corner.

{Tom} Ha! Ha! hhhaaaa! Starbucks! Around the corner! In Nome! In Fall! HA! You aren't feeling well, but you sure are funny!

{Me} Uh....yeah.... ha! Yeah, no Starbucks around here, that's for sure... huh!

Hmmmmm.

(The rock goes back in my pocket, the money gets stashed in my Parka, and I wander around the camp... igloo... and I decide to take a nap...)

(I dream. A lovely dream. I have a handsome, rugged husband, and three ridiculously handsome sons in my dream. We live in a smallish, nicely furnished home, with, I am sorry to say, microscopic bathrooms, a big, fruit tree laden backyard complete with fire pit, built in pool and a summer lounging cabana. They dote on me constantly, always making sure I am comfy, and take good care of me because I am the only girl in the house.)

I wake up to screams of

"Hey! That's mine! Give it back or I'm telling Mom!"

"Mamala!!! Hellllppp meeeee! My brothers are ganging up on meeeeee!"

and

"Hey Alex, I'll hold John-John in the air like a pinata, you swipe at him until he barfs!"

and the lovely screams of...

"Stop giving me wedgies!"

***

Tom is gone. The igloo is no more.

The phone is ringing, the boys are arguing, the TV is too loud, my dinner is burning, and I have 15 guests coming to a Pampered chef show in 30 minutes, in my kitchen.

Alas... it was all just a dream...

Peaceful, childless, fish gutting Nome Alaska is gone...

and John-John walks in with the rock that inevitably fell out of my pocket during my nap...

"Here Mamala, you must have dropped this.

Don't you like it?"

{Me} Oh, baby, I love it. I'll keep it always. It helps me come home to you.

{Johnny} Good, now, can you go give my brothers up for adoption now? They really don't need to be here anymore... do they?

***

***

MY TEN BIGGEST PET PEEVES

1. "Not my baby" Mama's... You know who I am talking about. The Moms who say how fantastic their kids are, that they would NEVER do this, or NEVER do that, and you really know

what those kids do behind her back...but she just doesn't see it?

Yeah... I hate that!

2. People who don't wave a thank you from their window after you let them cut in front of you in traffic.

3. Liars. A little tiny exaggeration now and again is tolerable... but outright lying is just too much to handle.

4. People who are afraid to speak their minds because they are constantly afraid to offend someone.

5. Eating with mouths open or really loudly.

6. Chewing tobacco spit. It is sooo gross!

7. Litterbugs

8. Bigots... can't stand 'em

9. Parents that allow their children to talk back or be disrespectful to them.

(because they are afraid the kids WON'T LIKE THEM!!!)

PULLEEEZZE!

10. The holidays. I don't like them ever since Bill and I had kids, and have to make decisions that won't hurt anyone on the 8 sides we have to deal with now.

It's not fair to us. We aren't divorced... why do our Holidays have to be miserable?

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY!

What a day! What a day!

What a night last night was!

HISTORY WAS MADE!

I am so proud of this country to see beyond color and vote a man in that really, I think, wants to change what has been so wrong with this country for 8 long years.

***

I really like McCain too though... his running mate??? Not so much.

I think smart women ought to be a heart beat away from the Presidency, not a woman like her.

She just wasn't my cup of tea. I don't think being a Mom with 5 kids and one of them challenged was enough to run a country. I kept hearing how much she was loved because of that... and hey... I have kids, why not pick me! I've organized 200o person luncheons before, I've met Marylou Retton, Bill Clinton, Ed Mcmahon and host of other celebs... pick me in 2012!

No... that's just not enough for me. We need a woman with Diane Sawyers brains, Jackie O's style, Maya Angelou's speaking abilities, Martha Stewarts business savvy, and Margaret Thatchers balls.

That's my opinion... its my blog... deal.

***

I am a Christian woman who just happens to be a Democrat. My hubby is Union Sheet Metal,

My father was Union Steel Worker when he came to this country at age 27,

My Father in Law, and Bill' Uncle are Union Sheet Metal workers, Bill was President of his Union for 8 years, has only missed 2 union meetings in the past 25 years, so Yeah, voting

Democrat is in my bloodlines.

Obama is a friend of Labor and of Unions... so hopefully jobs in housing, development, and good and services will start coming back home where they belong, and not overseas. Unions pay great wages... and without Unions, I would not have been able to be a stay at home Mama for the past almost 15 years,

I am really sick and tired of talking to my bank representative named

Abraham Lincoln with an Indian accent, trying to tell me what I want to know, and he's 9,000 miles away.

Today is a good day.

If today were the days of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I would be standing and marching with him, by his side... sick of oppression and segregation.

I loved last night... and today is a good day.

***

No, I am not one of those people that thinks he can do no wrong, and no, I don't believe everything he says... heck, I don't even believe everything ANYONE tells me.

If McCain would have been elected... I would feel the same way.

Quit blowing the hot air... and show what you got!

So now... President Elect Obama... you won... now make me proud and do what you said you are gonna do.

Today is a good day.

***

Whoopi Goldberg said this morning... today was the first day she felt like she could put her suitcase down and stay. What a powerful statement.

I am not a black woman. Oh... I suspect there may be just a little black in me, and if I ever find that there is, I will rejoice!

I have no idea how the black people feel, all I know is how I feel, and I have felt for them my entire life... and today, no one can EVER tell another black boy or girl, they can't be something.

There are no limits... and all those bigots out there are just gonna have to shut up and stand in line and take this. I, for one, think today is a great day.

***

For those who don't agree with me... don't hate... it's okay.

I have kept my mouth shut for 8 years, and I still love all of you.

Allow me this triumph.

It is a great day when a Brutha is elected President in a country that once enslaved them.

***

I will not turn a blind eye if he falters. Like when Bush lied about why we went to war, and everyone made excuses... no that can't happen. We need to hold our President accountable.

He needs to be open and honest, and not just do what he wants because fear is his MO.

There are a lot of haters in the country. Many, many bigots.

Pray for our country, pray for our President Elect.

Pray for his family's safety.

Just as I prayed for Bush's safety and his families safety. I did not agree with him on any level whatsoever... but he was still my Pres. and I showed him the respect he deserved for being my President for 8 years. But that reign is over.

We need to show this new man the respect he deserves.

He, too, is someones son, brother, father, husband, friend, uncle and acquaintance.

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY!

Election day!

I have made history today!

And so will all of you when you VOTE today!

Either way you vote will make history!

What an exciting time to be alive!

***

There was no line when I voted this morning.

I take my kids to the polls every. single. time... even when they were all under 5. I wanted them to get used to seeing us do our civic duties.

***

William is really into it this year. Yesterday, his High School had a Mock election and they learned about each candidate in depth over the last few weeks.

He now knows more about the candidates than half the people going to the polls today.

Too bad he can't vote yet. But for the next Pres. Election... he will be able to!

***

It's raining! It's raining! After 7 months... it's finally raining this week!

The firebugs are out of commission for a while. I'm so happy!

The weather is wonderful!

I mean... we actually HAVE weather!

I adore the sunshine... but rain is SOOOO needed around here!

More later, as the day progresses!

Tomorrow is a history making day!!!

Tomorrow is probably one of THE most important days in our Nations History!

HOW BLESSED are we to be able to be a part of it!

How PRIVILEGED are we!

Many say our votes don't count.

DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!

THEY ARE IGNORANT AND BITTER!

Let your voice be heard...

Shout it from the mountains...

or whisper it in your baby's ears...

Get up out of bed, take an early lunch break, drive to the polling place before going home...

JUST VOTE!!!

I DON'T CARE FOR WHOM,

I DON'T CARE HOW...

JUST VOTE!

There... I feel much better now...

I'm the Worst Mama Ever... Christmas Memories 2007

Our fabulous "Box of Wonder" and our fabulous wrap job. They must have thought "Homeless" Santa delivered it.

Bill, "decorating" the "Box of Wonder" Don't you just LOVE the duct tape? The paper was the packing paper from Amazon. See! we recycle! My attempt at decorating it. It needed Mama's touch. Just before all the mayhem, my Mama came over and made Roley Poley Santas with them, like she has every year since their births. This batch is Johnny's interpretation of Santa. A bit skewed, but hey, Art is Art! We had just read that "Ho, Ho, Ho' was about to be deemed politically incorrect (so as not to offend prostitutes at Christmas, yes, we heard it on the news), so Bill crossed out Ho, and wrote Ha, Ha Ha.

Okay... here is what we did to our fabulous boys LAST Christmas.

***

Shaver Family Annual Christmas Prank 2007

We were going camping at the beach for the entire week of Christmas, so Bill and I decided to

do Christmas morning a week early. We just couldn't deal with storing and hiding the gifts in a 40 foot motorhome with all 5 of us in it, plus all our beach gear etc...

***

I had ordered a Guitar Hero for them, and the box was huge, from Amazon.com where I buy 80% of all their gifts. I love free shipping, and they have EVERYTHING.

Well, of course, we decided, since we spent all that money on gifs, we would get some pleasure playing a trick on them.

They were all outside riding their bikes and playing at the park across the street.

Bill and I were gathering the last minute items to pack for our trip, and then we went into

Prank mode.

***

That huge box was perfect.

I had purchased of bunch of new clothes (they HATE getting clothes) and wrapped each bundle in horrible, horrible fashion. Picture a 3 year old getting a hold of tape and wrapping paper.

In they went into the "Box of Wonder"

I knew two of them wanted new Gameboys, and I had purchased all the Brainage games, so their minds could be stimulated, so I matched the size of the box of the Gameboys with a box a similar size in my pantry. Cake mix Boxes!!! Perfect! William wanted a new Watch, so that box was the same size!

Mwaaahhaaahahahah!

My dastardly deed was taking shape, and my giggles started.

***

We found bricks and wrapped them so it would give the box weight, we wrapped the cake boxes, and all the real gifts too, but those, we hid again all over the house.

We locked the doors, because they had no idea what we were doing, and when they wanted to come in to get a drink of water, we lovingly told them to 'use the hose' for a drink... we were busy with something.

***

When the box was full to the brim with nonsense, and so beautifully wrapped, we called them in and made them stop at the front door for instructions as to what was happening. We (heck, who and I kidding, I was laughing too much to talk,) Bill, told them to close their eyes, and hold hands and he would lead them to their big surprise.

They obliged, ever anxious to see what all the locked doors were about.

I took pictures of them turned around (see above post)

and then we let them see their "gift".

They laughed out loud! We wouldn't let them open it until they read all things we wrote on the lovely wrapping.

Happy Birthday was crossed out for Christmas, Chanukah was mentioned as an homage to their Paternal Grandpa, Ha, Ha, Ha, three random names of boys, and how much we loved THEM,

then they were allowed to open the Box.

***

The pictures in the next post tell the story better, but suffice it to say... the older two caught on quickly, and were gracious, and Johnny was a little better about it this year.

But you can still see a hint of dissappointment in their eyes.

Aaaahhh. the joy of Motherhood.

***

Those of your that don't have teens yet, yeah, I know... I'm sure you would NEVER even think of doing these things to your precious kidlets... but WAIT! You just WAIT! A little fun loving, good natured payback is JUST the ticket with the teenaged Monsters that invade your house after puberty sinks it's evil teeth into them. Mine aren't bad kids, just a tad different from the sweet, impressionable kids I used to know and love. So this is my way of dealing with the change.

Pranks.

I love it.

They actually do too.

They went looking for their gifts without us needing to say a word. Johnny said he LOVES searching for them instead of having them under a tree.

"It's funner, Mamala!"

"I also know we aren't poor, I membered from last year!"

We put them in the oven, pantry, some out in the open (those are the hardest to find apparently)(Guess they are practicing not noticing things for when they are married)

So, that was Christmas 2007.

I'll post a bucket full of photos now.

I don't know how to get more than five pictures to upload on one post... so it will have to be on the next two posts.

Enjoy!

More Christmas fun 2007

Hey! I just figured out how to put more than five photos on here! Yahooo!

They just walked in from outside...

Patience... patience... Surprise! Yes, they read the other boy's names!

There is a look of sheer joy! He is so thrilled!

MMMM. Just what I've always wanted... Cake Mix of my very own!

Johnny is a tad bit dumbfounded.

More Christmas Prank pictures

We hid the gifts... In my backyard oven...

Under a blanket... Finally, some real loot!

That thing is REALLY, REALLY awesome... you all should really get it for your kids!

He was graciously accepting. We gave him a watch, but he got to pick it out himself, so he got some other things that were just tad too young for him. My bad.

Now I know. He actually enjoyed the clothes.

My baby is growing up!

Christmas memories...

I am always so glad when Halloween is over.

I absolutely hate that "holiday".

I know... hate me if you will... it's my blog and I'll say what I like.

I do, however, love Autumn.

The apple orchards, the weather turning from Hell on earth here in So Cal, to a nice temperate one.

We enjoyed two wins today at the boy's soccer games, and Bill did some work on our neighbor Claire's gate. He will hopefully be doing our new gate tomorrow.

***

I need to start my kids' Christmas shopping. It is getting so much more difficult to buy for them.

I don't ever go overboard though. They get a couple of things, usually one they really want, within reason, and some things I know they'll enjoy.

I know William wants an Ipod. I'm not sure he'll get it... it may take time and lead to distraction from his studies. I'd hate to give him one and have to put him on restriction from it in the same week. Plus, I don't know how he'll pay for the songs. I certainly won't.

I know... mean Mama.

One thing I know for sure... we will be playing another prank on the boys again this year.

We have been doing it for about 4 years now, and it is such a good time... for me anyway.

I laugh so hard it makes me need Depends!

3 years ago, we only put out a motorized toothbrush and a bike helmet for each of the boys on Christmas morning.

We hid all the rest of the gifts all over the house. We even wrapped a baseball bat, and a basketball in the shapes they were.

I went to bed giddy.

I LOVE playing tricks on them!

LOVE IT!

We were horrible.

The morning of, they woke up all excited, and stood... stunned into disbelief,

staring at the lowly toothbrush and helmet.

(I am cracking up right now)(snort)

My oldest, was gracious, and said, I think the red one is mine because it's my favorite color.

He walked up to us, gave us a kiss and was lovingly looking at the stupid helmet.

Such a good boy.

Alex, middle boy, walked up to them, chose the blue one, and sat on the sofa, silent.

I am dying at this point. I rush to the bathroom and laugh and laugh!

Johnny, baby, looked at them, looked at us, looked back at them and said...

"ARE WE POOOOOOR?"

I lost it at that point. I was on the floor, LMAO!

My kids thought I had lost it.

I did.

It was too much.

Bill has a much bigger heart than I do.

Johnny ran into his room screaming, and it only made me laugh harder!

I AM THE WORST MAMA EVER... I KNOW... I KNOW!

You have to understand it's because I knew we had all this beautiful stuff just hidden inches away from them! Some in plain sight!

Bill and I then broke the news that, No, we weren't poor, and there are more goodies,

they just had to search for them. We hid them in the oven, fridge, fireplace, couches, cabinets, you name it.

Johnny, still crying in his room, didn't hear him Dad over his wailing, and upon hearing his Dad again, perked up, eyes dried immediately, and then he said...

"I knew you were joking."

YEAH RIGHT!

We just let him believe we believed him.

The rest of the morning they kept saying how they tried to be good boys and be thankful for whatever they got, like they had been told to all their lives, but they admitted it was hard.

At that moment, I felt a TINY bit bad... but not bad enough to not play another trick on them the last two years too.

Ahhh, life as a Mama.

So good... so very, very good.