Writer's Workshop 3/11/10

What lights my fire? Five things that I am passionate about...

Go see MamaKat and see more passions

(other than raising my kids and being a Mama, I have a lot of other passions... being a Mama goes without saying)

***

1. Well... from yesterday's post... it's obvious it's bread baking. Not regular baking in general... I intensely dislike baking cookies and making cakes and desserts in general... but baking bread...

is my passion.

I have often dreamed of opening up a place that specializes in Artisan Breads. A place where customers can come in... grab a cup of tea or coffee, with a great book, and eat my sandwiches and dunk their bread into Olive Oil and just... "be".

I have recently delved into the world of sourdough and catching my own yeast from the air, and not using commercial yeast at all, and now use my own leavening... and it's been such

a pleasurable journey. The patience it takes to make a starter, and feed it, and keep it alive, is much like the patience needed to take care of a newborn, and it's a patience learned and perfected with each "child".

My bread making and baking has matured in the last couple of years, and am now in the process of having a wood burning stove built to be able to stoke up heat to 850 degrees and really create breads that rival good bakeries.

I am praying one day to duplicate the oven in a bakery one day...

***

2. Writing... probably my first passion I discovered when I was very, very young... about 7 yrs old. Putting pen to paper, and now finger to keyboard, is intensely satisfying...

Finding the time and energy to continue writing my novel and cookbook is the most difficult part. Writing a blog is easy... each page doesn't have to build upon the previous one, a few hundred words, and the work is complete. Because my novel and cookbook are so close to my heritage and my upbringing, it's difficult to write and cry from happy memories all the time.

***

3. Crocheting... since I was 6 years old... I love it. My Nonna taught me, in my living room of our tiny house all those years ago... and it's the one thing she and I shared that has lived on. I didn't know her well, like my other hundreds of cousins did, we lived far away... but that one thing stuck. My Mama sees me crochet and sees me hold my hook exactly like her Mother did, and it brings tears to her eyes. My Nonna died with her crocheting in her hand, sitting up. I love how peaceful I feel when I am making something. I love how I can think of her when I am working on a piece. It's the only piece of her I am able to hold on to... and it's a precious gift, and I keep it alive so I can feel just a tiny bit closer to a Grandmother I never really got to know very well... When I am stitching, I can remember bringing my little blankets I was making in grade school to her house when we visited, and how proud she would be, and all the face grabbing and face kissing and looking at my tiny, perfect stitches, and her pride... A couple of times, we would sit and crochet together, on her plastic covered couch. She didn't understand one word I said, and I didn't understand her Sicilian dialect, I spoke Calabrese, but we bonded over yarn... even for a short time... it was precious.

***

4. Photography... especially creating digital books from the photos. It's a new passion of mine, and I would spend HOURS and HOURS doing it, if time permitted...nuff said...

***

5. Reading... There is never a day that goes by, that I don't have a book on my bedside table ready to devour a few pages at a time just before nodding off to sleep. It's another passion of mine that goes waaaaay back to when I was a very young girl... My Mother was and is an avid reader, and I know I inherited the passion from her... and I thank her for it every day... when I ask God to bless my Mama and keep her well.

***

So what are your passions?

Do tell...

Writers Workshop 10-8-09

The prompt for this week is...

'WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR'...

***

When I look in the mirror, I don't see what everyone else sees.

*

When I look deep into my eyes, I still see the young girl who dreamed of becoming a professional

dancer, of having multiudes of people clapping and cheering for her.

*

I still see the naive, starting to come out of her shell, Sandee, who was unsure of herself some of the time, and stayed true to herself, no matter what came her way.

*

I see the young girl who wondered who her husband would be, what her children would look like,

and whether I would have a career, or raise my kids, or both.

*

I see a girl who wanted to do everything she dreamed of.

*

I see a girl who thought it was impossible to fail, if I really tried.

*

I see a girl who had so many questions, and very little answers.

*

I see a girl who was steadfast in her faith in God, family and mankind in general.

*

I see a girl who was also skeptical, wary, and was always looking for the "catch"

*

I see a girl who, early on in life, knew and realized that if it sounded too good to be true, it most certainly was.

*

I see a girl who kept her virginity to herself a lot longer than most girls she knew.

*

I see a girl who felt sorry for other people because they didn't have my awesome Italian heritage, and would never know how wonderful it was to be in an immigrant family.

I see a girl that didn't realize that EVERY heritage is awesome.

***

Then... with new, older, wiser, keener eyes, I see who I am now...

a woman, not too different from who I used to be.

*

While so many other women in my life are striving to retain a youthful APPEARANCE, I choose to BE, ACT AND THINK youthfully.

*

I see a woman who stills listens to music a little too loudly, and loves all the new, "kid" music out these days, as well as the music I grew up loving.

*

I see a woman accepting herself... right. where. she. is... and is trying to improve her health, vitality, and overall well being by continually being teachable, and continuing to learn.

*

I see a woman who is over weight, but not overlooked, over accomodated, or overcome by her circumstance. She is. She will be better tomorrow than she is today. It's just the way it is.

*

I see a woman who is done with listening to other women bash eachother.

*

I am done with hearing that women "dress" for other women.

I dress for me.

I like to wear black.

Sue me.

If you don't like my clothes, my hair, my shoes, my lifestyle, my career choice, my husband, my kids, my candor, my house, my car, my politics, my belief system, my... anything... take it somewhere else please... I can do without the negativity.

*

I see a woman who wants to raise good, women honoring, respectable men... who know that showing a woman she is cared for, revered, respected and loved, doesn't make him less of a man.

*

I see a woman who knows how blessed she is that all her parents and inlaws are alive and well... and really needs to see them more often... just because.

*

I see a 41 year old, flawed, happy, fluffy, married, work at home Mama, who still dances with delight when no one is looking, loves with all her heart, and is still cynical and skeptical,

still asking "what's the catch?", still dreaming, still believing I can do anything I set my mind to...

with the help of God, family, and my children.

*

I wouldn't go back to that little girl for all the gold in the world...

She is still here...

She never left...

She just grew up... and found her way.

***

What do YOU see in the mirror?

Writers Workshop 9-10-09

MamaKat's Writer's Workshop...Check her out... she's hilarious!

This weeks prompt I chose is...

"List the pieces of you that come from those around you".

***

Wow... I love this one.

I completely believe that the people we meet and know and love become pieces of us... good, bad or indifferent.

While I take a full 80% credit for the bad parts of me... impatience, narcissism, skepticism, sarcasm... basically all the "isms", there are parts of me that truly belong to other people for grafting their problem or "giving" me permission to be the way I am.

***

I hate liars because I was lied to a lot growing up.

I'm not gonna say who lied, but rest assured I learned how to distrust things said to me

because of it. It has helped to make me an uber cynic. That's both good and bad.

Good.. because I'm nobody's fool now... I can see a lie from across the country.

Bad... because I assume EVERYONE IS lying to me.

***

I have a lot of distrust of friends these days, because of what a friend did a couple of years ago.

She had an affair on her hubby, and USED ME AS HER SCAPEGOAT... unbeknownst to me.

When her husband called me to rake me over coals for 'covering up' for her for the past year,

I was flabbergasted! I had no clue she was sleeping around, nor did I know she was using me as her alibi. She was my BEST FRIEND... and obviously she wasn't the same person with me, that she was in front of everyone else.

She even used my house, when I was in Italy for a month with my family, as her "LOVE PAD".

That'll teach me to never give anyone other than family keys to my house to water plants, take care of my dogs, and water my garden. Next time, I'll kennel the dogs, buy new plants when I get home, and put my garden on automatic water.

Needless to say, we are no longer friends... and I miss the friendship we had... but I don't miss all the drama that came with her friendship.

***

I have a hot Italian temper. Like the song sorta says... "I got it from my Papa!" I truly did.

He and I are 0-60 in 2.2 seconds.

It takes exactly NOTHING to set me off. Wait.. that's actually no longer true... the older I get, I find that I am getting less and less combative, and more "whatever" in my attitude.

I was hell on wheels in my 20's.

I was too busy with baby's and toddlers in my 30's...

and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my 40's. I'm more Zen now... LOL! But don't ask my hubby... he'll say I'm sooo not! But I am... I really am!!!

shut up!

***

I've always had really, really high self esteem.

No matter that I'm overweight... I still love me. My attitude is that if you DON'T LOVE ME TOO... it's YOUR problem... not mine.

I don't feel "less than a woman" or "out of place" because of how I look.

I am comfortable with WHO I am, and I always have been.

I owe that to my Mama. SHE isn't comfortable with herself as far as her looks go, BUT she made sure I didn't follow in those footsteps, and ALWAYS built me up. I owe my positive outlook on myself a little bit to her. She also... NEVER put herself down in my presence when I was a child.

Don't get me wrong... I don't love myself like to say...

"I'm the best... or... I Adore ME!".. I just mean that I accept and love myself where I am at...

don't feel the need to beat myself up... there are plenty of people in the world to do that for or to me... I don't need to contribute to it.

Every pound I have gained that I don't need, I feel like gave me a new sense of self that I wouldn't have had if I had stayed thinner.

Now that I am losing it, and know that my back won't put me in traction ever again, and my kids are older now and I can start putting myself back on my list... I will emerge a whole new person that I was supposed to be. Life is an evolution... and I must look at my weight as a necessary evil that I went through... and I am on my way to a different evolution. A healthy, energetic, healed-back woman... with a good 50 years ahead of her.

No sense looking in the past... there's no going back and changing it. I just choose to learn from it, and find the things that were wonderful and move forward...

I owe that to my parents... they are perserverance personified.

***

So that's me... a liar hating, Hot headed, 40+, mellowing out, weight losing, still loving herself where she is...

woman.

I wish only happiness and self love for you too.

Life is too short to put yourself down... there are 7 billion others on the planet ready to take that job... you have to love you.

God don't make no junk.

Today is my Birthday! Show me some comment love!

Yep... today is the day EVERYONE has been waiting for... with bated breath, I'm sure!

I am 41 years young today!!!!

*

I love my birthday...

It's the only day all year, I get all to myself!!! Mine... all... MINE!!!

*

Last year, Bill threw me a HUGE, wonderful, 125 person, Mama catered, white table linened,

Champagne on every table shindig, at the Sons of Italy, and it was a HUGE

SURPRISE!!!

This year... I know he'll just say Happy Bday and ask me where I want to go for dinner.

Not that there's anything wrong with that... Please don't think I require a party every year...

but a prank of some sort... would be cool, maybe something sparkly or really useful like a new laptop would be great... but... alas... I don't think it'll be done...

Except for last year... he hasn't really acknowledged my B day... really.

Sad... yes... but he is such an awesome man... who can begrudge him that one thing... ya know?

He does great for Christmas and Anniversaries... he just doesn't seem to 'get' my Bday happiness.

Whatever! Today is about ME!!!!

I know... I know... when ISN'T my day filled with me... fabulous me!

I kid, I kid... don't get your panties all in a bunch...

***

So... today... I am 41. I reaaaaaly love the 40's. I don't know why.

I have always love 4's, so maybe that's it.

I am enjoying the clarity of mind and spirit that comes with this age.

I speak my mind more and worry less about who hears or who likes me or who doesn't.

Not that I have ever worried or cared about what others think of me... but... you know...

now I care even LESS! Yahooooo!

***

I'll let you in on what we are doing in a day or two. AS it unfolds...I want to savor the nothingness of my B day. LOL!

*

This year, I am going to be sending my Mama Flowers on my Bday... she should be recieving them right about.... now.

The card reads... Thank you for taking such good care of me and for being such a great Mama... without you...I wouldn't be here! Happy GIVING birthday.

When I turn 80, hopefully she will be with us still, and be a fetching 99, I'll send her black roses... for all my aches and pains...LOL . She'd love it.. and laugh till the cows come home!

*

So... that's my post for today...

I'm 41.

Go ahead... take the day off for this holiday. Tell you boss I said it was okay...

She/He'll understand...

Oh, man! I'd better to change my profile thingy...

Now I'll say 40-ish.

Have a lovely Flag day!

Mama Kat's Writers Workshop

I remember when...

I was young, unmarried, and childless

I didn't have a care...

I could get out my car, and not have to wait, or tell someone to watch for cars.

I could come or go all I wanted, without having to check in, and could go anywhere I wanted.

I could sleep in on Saturday and Sunday's.

I could clean my house in an hour... top to bottom.

It would stay clean for about a week.

A WEEK!

I only had to do a load of laundry a week, or could take everything to the dry cleaners and fluff n fold, and pay someone else to do it....

I didn't have to worry about anything or anyone...

Just me.

I could shop all I wanted...

I could read all I wanted...

I could decide where I wanted to go on vacation based on my needs and desires.

I could take as long as I wanted in the shower, and no one would be there knocking on the door to ask me how long I was gonna be. There were no burning questions to be answered.

I didn't have to help anyone with homework.

I didn't HAVE to do anything.

If I didn't feel like cooking... I could go out or order in and get the spiciest stuff I wanted.

If I caught a cold, I was the only one getting it... it didn't cycle through an entire house for weeks on end.

My car was clean... all the time.

I could buy white carpet if I wanted to.

My purse didn't weigh 400 lbs, it wasn't filled with mini cars, lizards, DS games, PSP's and other people's cell phones.

My purse could be smaller.

I got the whole bed to myself.

No one snored.

No one hit the Snooze button 1,000 times a morning... unless it was ME!

I could watch all the chick flicks I wanted.

Nascar never existed for me.

My boobs didn't sag so low, I could scratch them around my knees.

My entire body wasn't a roadmap.

I didn't have grey hair.

I didn't have a worry in the world.

***

You know what?

I wouldn't go back to that for all the money in the world.

(well, maybe the boob thing, yeah)

Sounds kinda boring huh?

Just all the me, me, me, me....

Well, I promised myself I was gonna take a couple of "me" days, and I just booked them.

I booked the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach for 3 glorious days ALONE!

I am sooo excited.

I'm packing books, laptop, capri's, a few blouses, flip flops, undies, and maybe a cell phone.. I'm not sure.

Saundra is gonna find Saundra again.

I'm gonna get my groove back.

I need some swagger.

Quiet.

I love my chaotic, overfilled, cup runneth over, incredibly fantastic wife and mom life... but

a girl's gotta do , what a girl's gotta do.

OF COURSE...

I have to wait until after the I'm done with the stupid Snack Bar.

So... I booked July.

Ahhh... I can feel myself relaxing already...

Momdot.com Small Talk Six!

Small Talk Six...

I will list 6 songs I love to groove to when no ones looking...

1. Evil Woman (ELO)

2. Copacabana (Manilow, yes I'm a Fanilow)

3.Hey Mama (Black Eyed Peas)

4. Gonna Make you Sweat (C & C Music Factory)

5. Two Tickets to Paradise (Eddie Money)Yeah... baby!

6. Crazy on You (Heart)

I couldn't carry a tune if you gave me a wheelbarrow, but I do love belting these out all my myself... ;)

What do YOU listen to when no one is around?

10 honest things about me.

This award came from Ruby Red Slippers, my new friend for life...

I now have to tell you 10 honest things about myself...

Holy S(crap) is right...

Here goes...

1. I absolutely ABHOR mayonaisse. Just the sight of it makes me want to hurl!

***

2.When I was in my early 20's I used to collect watches... it is sad to say I still have over 200 of them.. and I don't wear even one of them anymore.

***

3. I really, really, really hate it when people assume I am missing something from my life

because I didn't have a daughter. I am a mother.. that was my goal when having kids...

not to be a mother of a certain gender.

***

4. My nails are fake. I love to get wild, sometimes colorful designs airbrushed on them.

I know... trailer trash like... but I don't care... I love it!

***

5. I have over 50 Toni Brattin hair thingys that I wear on occasion...

I call them Cousin It.

***

6. I can't be friends with people who have disrespectful children. Shallow... I know... but I just can't keep my mouth shut when I hear a kid or teen tell their Mama or Pop to 'shut up' or worse...

Then I want to slap my friend for allowing it to continue...

***

7. I have an addiction to yarn. I crochet a lot, but I completely over purchase. I could open a store with all the yarn I own.

***

8. While I enjoyed the Twilight Series books, I found her writing to be very juvenile.

I have not seen the movie yet... and am not sure I will.

I know... I'm an outcast now.

***

9. I love, love, love foreign films with subtitles. My favorites are "El Higo De La Novia" and 'Indochine'.

***

10. I have a serious purse fetish. I own waaaaaaaaay too many.

***

There.... thank you Ruby Red Slippers for the award!

I am very honored!

Tag.. you're it!

What Novel? you ask?

Okay... my novel... since so many asked.

Yes. I am writing a novel...

As you can see from my Blog Title... I am an Italian (and sooooo proud) Mama and I am going

completely crazy...

My family (extended family) is nuts.

They make a great story.

Always have.

They are the most lovable, funny, quirky, dysfunctional, functional, loving, giving, impatient nutbars you will ever hope to meet.

I have over 6o cousins on my Mama's side of the family, and over 70 on my Papa's.

Italians do thing... well... differently.

I do have to say though... that really only 1st and 2nd generation Italians to this country

are my emphasis. The craziness tends to dilute as we marry OUTSIDE our Italian Heritage.

Which doesnt make for as much writing fodder.

My novels will be a series of books, with someone like me being the Shero.

Stay tuned.

If I tell anymore., it will get stolen, written by someone with waaaay more time than me, and then I'll have to go all Rambo on someone's A**!

Ciao Bella's!

Things I have done Tag.

(TAG! YOU ARE IT! Copy and post this on your blog ASAP!) What is this?

Well, you’re supposed to bold the things you’ve done so readers

can find out how you've led an awesome life so far.

(wink,wink!) Here's what I have done in blue...

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16.Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (you are supposed to take them when you ARE SICK? I thought was just the NAME of the day!)

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping(waaayy back when I was young and my fat didn't float)

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo's David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant(it was Burger King...but hey!)

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (No, but I've been 1 foot away from it.)

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie (no, but TV yes.)

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67.Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job (see sick day comment)

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle(does a Vespa count?)

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House (Pres.Obama... I'm waiting for my invitation!)

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

Pet Peeve

Hubby had to work all weekend long in Woodland Hills, so the boys and I took full

advantage of the time and baked Daddy's favorite cookies,

breads and appetizers for his arrival home today.

***

He fell asleep in front of the TV watching the Steelers vs. Ravens game.

Daddy's home.

***

I adore my hubby, and I even miss him when he is gone, from time to time.

However... when he tells me ahead of time he will be away...I do a little

secret happy dance in my head.

Mean? Horrible? Rotten wife... you say?

If you had to "sleep" with the window shattering, wall shaking, bed rattling

SNORE MACHINE... you'd be doing a happy dance too.

I was so happy to see him when he walked in the door, tired and worn out of 18 hour days, on a roof, while a helicopter whirred its angry blades at him while setting an

HVAC unit on the third floor rooftop, I really was... happy I mean.

He works so hard so I can continue to be an at home Mama...

then he fell asleep, and little itty bitty bits of mind numbing snoring started to waft through the air. Then the sawing started... then it could be heard all over the house...

even from in the garage.

That's when I wanted to slowly put the pillow over his sweet bearded face,

and put him out of MY misery.

Oy Vay!

I wonder how many women are in the State Penitentiary for killing her hubby

because he snored incessantly.

I didn't get a pillow...instead... I gently shook him and asked him to go to bed.

What did he say?

You've all heard this before... I know you have...

"HUH? Oh, no.. I wasn't sleeping... I was just resting my eyes..."

WHAT IS THAT!

Why do they say that?

One morning we woke up and I said in a cheery voice...

"Oh man... that was a great night of eye resting!"

He was not amused.

I, of course, laughed hysterically.

So I asked him what just happened on the TV and he couldn't tell me.

So I swooped into his face, and tried with all my might to see the

'see through' eyelids.

Again... he was not amused. Yeah... I laughed.

I don't understand why he is unable to admit he was asleep.

In 18 years, he has never admitted that he fell asleep on the couch, floor, recliner, chaise, outdoor chaise, towel at the beach, whatever!

Every. single. time... he only says he wasn't asleep... he was resting his freaking eyes!

That is one of my pet peeves.

Ridiculous huh?

Yeah.. I know.

That's why I pull the antics I pull now with the sarcasm and the "eye resting" comments.

It's for my own enjoyment.

I am a very light sleeper.

I haven't had a good nights sleep in 16 years.

His phone accidentally called me at 5 a.m. Saturday morning.

I made a voodoo doll that day.

Tonight, I'm going to ask him if he neck, right arm, nose, and tongue hurt.

MWHahahahahahaha

Hey... I'm sleep deprived...deal.

Oh... and P.S. those adsense ads??? yeah... I don't pick 'em. My last name is Shaver, and one of them is an add for removing pubic hair...ewwwwww!

So don't be offended... it's supposed to post things 'relevant' to my posts...

I don't remember posting at the stuff... 'way down there".

Just so you know!

10 biggest fears

Okay, I'm going to follow LazyCrazyMama's lead and do Mama Kat's writing prompts too.

I need this.

I need to get started on my book, and I think writing with this workshop will help me.

Sooooo...here goes.

My Ten Biggest Fears

(aside from losing kids, family and other special people)

*****************

1. I. HATE. SNAKES. H-A-T-E THEM! When I was about 10 my Papa would take up up to Lytle Creek to pick raspberries and enjoy the ice cold water in the 110 heat of summer.

After one especially hot day, we were going back to his truck, and it was surrounded by at least 10 snakes. I screamed like someone was cutting my legs off with a butter knife.

They were hissing, and coiling, and slithering and ooohhhh they were AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL! Papa took a huge shovel he kept in the bed of the truck and proceeded to slice each and every one of them in two. The gross part? They don't die right away! They slither and wiggle even more! I don't know how I stayed conscious!

I. HATE. SNAKES!

Remember the movie SSSSSSSSS? Yeah... I know!

***

2. Change. I am afraid of any sort of change. Like when grocery stores change their set ups.

What is that! Just when I get used to it... they go and rearrange everything.

Why does it make sense to them to put cosmetics across the way from baby food?

Is that better somehow?

3. Heights. I'm okay as long as there is a floor beneath me. We were in Toronto one year, and we went up to the CN Tower, and they have a glass bottom floor 1400 feet up.

I was okay outside, looking over the edge... but then we went inside to see the glass floor and I freaked out.

The boys were walking all over it and I just stood there, like a statue.

I can't go on glass bottom floor boats if I have to stand on the glass.

No thank you.

4. Being caught without a bra on some mornings when we are running late to school and I just rush out the door in my sleepwear.

That would be horrible.

5. being stranded out in my car with no cell reception. So... being the planner that I am... I always have a blanket, flashlight, batteries, granola bars, extra shoes, spare pair of glasses, a change of clothes, lots of water, and money stashed in the car at all times.

6. Needles. I can't watch them go into any part of any body, even on TV. I don't mind getting shots or giving blood, I just can't watch the needle. Yuck!

7. Losing my memory. I think that would be horrible. To not remember all the wonderful memories of my kids and my wedding, and our trips... would be completely awful.

8. Going under General Anesthesia. I have never been under. 3 oral surgeries, 3 c sections, root canals, 3 wisdom teeth pulled, all awake.

9. Not raising good men. I fear the world will turn them against all my hard work.

10. Being irrelevant. I think a lot of women experience that.

We have a lot to say, and there are still people that think because we have vajayjays we aren't

relevant.

Okay... that's my 10 fears. what are yours?

Stupid parents

You know... I got up this morning and set about deleting a bunch of programs on my DVR that I know I won't watch, and some of them are Oprah's shows. After all, I am the master of my idiot box, it is not the master of me... capisco?

BUT, once again, there was a title that intrigued me. It was the one about "What can you live without" or something of that nature. People... I think Oprah reads my blog! Okay, no I really don't think that... but we seem to be on the same wave length. That kinda scares me. I am not into deifying celebrities, and following everything they say and do, BUT in this case, she aired her show AFTER I posted myo opinions.

The whole show was an experiment of two families that cut back on food waste, TV time, shopping, giving in to kids whims, and energy conservation. I don't know about you... but I remember my posts just last week about how parents aren't doing their jobs as parents and are "yes" people to their kids.

On my other blog, a few weeks ago, I challenged myself and everyone else to eat out of their pantries for as long as possible, and to realize how much food we really do have at our disposal at any given time. Well, the families on the show had COMPLETELY overfilled refrigerators and they still went shopping to get more stuff. Every night, one mother made FIVE DIFFERENT MEALS, one for each family member.

Again I say... some parents need to slapped! Are they kidding? When and where does it say that we as Mama's need to become short order cooks and dumb ourselves down when it come to running our households??? When did common sense leave?

Here is my philosophy...

Cook what you want your family to eat, if they don't want it... fine, they can go hungry... when they get hungry enough they will eat what you put in front of them! IT IS SIMPLE!

Of course, we all want to make meals that are liked and taste good, but if a kid gets used to processed foods, and eating whatever he/she wants for each meal, with no respect for the food the Mama made for them, they are not being parented correctly. Yep, I said it... I was just a wee bit judgmental there. THERE ARE A LOT OF STUPID PARENTS OUT THERE, AND THEY ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES ON TELEVISION!

I was floored.

I would NEVER want to go on TV looking like a complete fool for "Not realizing I was allowing my 5 year old son to play video games for 5 hours a day." If my kids sit ANYWHERE for 5 hours, I haven't done my job. Period.

One of the Dad's was complaining, as he was walking up to the Best Buy store, that his daughter purposely broke her bedroom TV, so he would HAVE to buy her a new plasma flat screen.

Really? Was he at gun point? Why was he giving in? I don't remember seeing him being dragged into the store... he was the one doing the driving! It baffled me that he thought it was annoying, but he took no steps to stop it. He just schlepped over to the store and gave his little darling whatever she wanted. OMG!!! Lets reward our kids for destroying hard earned property!!!

If I were Oprah, I would have hit each one of them on the forehead and said "SNAP OUT OF IT!" Mom couldn't go to sleep without the TV on! Come on!!!

Are we, as a society, THAT stupid? Do we need that many pacifiers?

I am just beside myself. I don't get it. What do my kids have to look forward to as potential mates down the line? The products of these stupid parents? How sad!

The really sad part was the experiment was only 1 WEEK! They were going bonkers for only one week away from creature comforts.

I know I harp on this a lot. I have a teen now, and all my hard work is starting to show up in him, he is turning into someone I can really talk to, and like, and just be around. That comes from saying no, and exposing him to lots of different things, and choosing who he hangs out with wisely, and not letting him veg out in front of a stupid game. It's not always fun to be the hag that limits everything, but I have always told my kids

"I'm NOT here for a popularity contest, I don't CARE if you like me, I am your Mama, and I know what's best for you. When you are 25 and buying your own toilet paper, you can go on Oprah and tell her what a terrible Mama I was. I am not perfect, never have been, never will be. This is my first go around as a Mama, I'm gonna make mistakes... but one thing I will never do is give up on you."

It takes work, and lazy parents don't make good kids. That woman admitted she was using the boob tube as a sitter. Yuck!

Okay... I'll stop for now. This feels good to let loose. It pains me to see people so ignorant, and laughing at themselves like its cute to be so dumb.

Whatever!

Have a great Saturday Night!

Ciao!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!

Had a tough week emotionally. Could be PMS, could not. Either way... I'm tired and crying over everything this week.

I am choosing to end the week on a positive note. So here are a few things that make me smile.

1. Babies. I love them... especially newborns. Babies are such a great way to start people.

I don't know anyone with a newborn right now. If I could hold a newborn every day, life would be grand.

2. Surprises... I adore them. I love the not knowing part, and all the puzzle pieces getting put together after.

3. Being in my house when everyone else is asleep. It's a little slice of heaven when everyone you love most in the world is snug in their beds, and you can just be.

4. Cherries, fresh or frozen or dried. I love them.

5. Public speaking, performing, being "on". Give me a microphone and I am in heaven.

6. Crocheting. It relaxes me unlike anything else. I can even do it without looking.

7. Writing... duh...I would love to have assignments for like magazines or newspapers and such.

8. Driving alone. I love it. It soothes me. Life seem limitless behind the wheel.

9. Listening to the kids tell me about the kids at school or their day. It is so cute to see something so important to them. Oh, to have those problems again.

10. Sunglasses. I have to wear them to see, mine are prescription... but I love that I don't have to wear makeup when I am wearing them.

11. Shopping for decor for my house. I am a quick shopper too. When I see something I like.. I don't hesitate.

12. Buying my Mama presents. She is truly thrilled every time I give her something, so I do it often. My rule of thumb is, I just buy 2 of almost everything, and give her one.

13. Laughing. I mean belly busting laughing. I wish it happened more often... I hear you burn 3 calories a second laughing. I'd better start laughing every second of every day! Quick tell me a joke!!!

14. Listening to my music all day. I love my Ipod blaster.

15.Green Tea. I drink it every single day. Oh! and Chamomile tea too!

Okay, tell me your favorite things... I tag Kathy C, Charmed, Angela, Michele, Andi, and Holly!

You're it!!!

Ciao, Ciao! for now!

TAGGED BY LETTI!

The Goods on the Hubby

His Name - Bill Shaver

How long have we been married - 15 years Oct. 17, 2007

How long did we Date? From the day we met to the day we got married it was 1 and 1/2 years. He proposed after 2 months, but I told him we need to weather each season dating first before making that leap, plus it took my Mom a year to pull the wedding of HER dreams together.

How old is he? 44 almost

How old am I? 40 in June YAHOOOO!

Who eats more sweets? Definitely him... I think he has a monthly cycle. He craves candy bars once per month. hee hee. I am definitely a salty food junkie.

Who said I love you First - Him. I couldn't say it for months and months. I'm not a really romantic type girl. Even after we were married, I wouldn't let him call me his wife. It freaked me out. So here we are on our Honeymoon in Jamaica, and he kept wanting to introduce me and I would just jut out my hand and say... I'm Saundra.

Who is taller? Him, he is 6'2, I am 5'6".

Who can sing better? me... and I can't carry a tune, so imagine how awful he is!!! haahahaha

Who is smarter? He would say me, but I say him. We are both pretty smart cookies.

Who does laundry? me

Who does the dishes? The kids, I haven't emptied a dishwasher in years!

Who pays the bills? I used to for the first 8 years and our pastor said something about letting the man be the man and the true head of the household, and to give up things we "think" he can't handle, so I gave them all to him, and I haven't been happier. He's good at it, he has owned his own house since he was 19, he's very astute. We both make decisions concerning money together, he's a spender, I'm more of a tightwad.

His guilty pleasure? He would say he doesn't have one because he is a working slave all the time... but I would say his guilty pleasure is really violent video games. He knows I HATE them and I have found a few in his computer bag when he asks me to get something out of it for him.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Me

Who mows the lawn? Our gardener, of course!

Besides me, who is his best friend... Danny and Carlos

Who cooks dinner?- me, but him on occasion

Who drives? Mostly him, but his commute is 2 hours, sometimes more, one way... so sometimes he is just too tired to drive and he wants me too.

Who asked who out first- We were set up by my Mama, but after we met, he asked me out again.

What was our first date - We saw "Silence of the Lambs" and had dinner at my mom's.

Who proposed- I don't know if he did or not. We were at dinner one night and he asked me what kind of wedding I would want to have when I got married... so i got a napkin and planned it all out... after dinner, I asked him if we just planned our wedding and he said"Yeah, I think we did" I didn't care about a ring. I knew I would get one eventually. We started planning that next week, my mom went into hyper speed, and about 4 months before the wedding he gets on one knee with my ring in a box and asks me to marry him. I, of course, say "Dude, My wedding gown is being picked up next week, do you really think the answer is gonna be "no"?. Yeah, I know... romantic.

Who has more siblings - He has one sister, I have one brother, same, same.

Who wears the pants- I will just say "him' to keep the peace. How's that for an answer.

My favorite thing about him? Ask me another day... I am very upset with him this week.

I was tagged, so here are my Top 25 on my Ipod

Okay. Here are my top 25 most played. Don't be shocked. I love to rock out when I clean my kitchen. I swing my head like the Hair Spray bands of the 80's, (yeah, picture that! HA!)

1. Smooth (Santana/Rob Thomas)

2. What Hurts the Most (Rascal Flatts)

3. In the Morning (Junior Boy)

4.Let's get Married (Jagged Edge, remix version)

5. How you remind me (Nickelback)

6. Jesse's Girl (Rick Springfield)

7. California Dreamin (Mamas & Papas)

8. Cuz I can (Pink)

9. Edge of Seventeen (Stevie Nicks)

10. Evil Woman (ELO) boy am I telling my age!

11. Makes me Wonder (Maroon 5)

12. Movin Out (Billy Joel)

13. Sway (Michael Buble)

14. Feelin Good (Michael Buble)

15. Sway (Dean Martin)

16. I only wanna be with you (Dusty Springfield)

17. Wake up call (Maroon 5)

18. We Live (Super Chick)

19.Let's Go (Trick Daddy) I know, I know, Why! but i love this stupid song!

20. It's Raining Men (The Weather Girls)

21. Put your Head on my Shoulder (Paul Anka)

22. 65 Love Affair (Paul Davis)

23. Auld Lang Syne (Dan Fogelberg) (RIP)

24.Stupid Girls (Pink) (great video for girls to see too)

25. Love is a Battlefield (Pat Benatar)

I LOVE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY MORE SONGS! BUT THOSE COMPRISE MY RECENT PLAYLIST. Can you tell I love my 80's teenage years music? Don't ever get me started on my Journey infatuation!!! But I love my Rat Pack guys too! I own every Sammy Davis Jr. song he did!!!

More blog later!! Ciao!

20 things about me!!!

Okay, I read other peoples blogs, and I love it. I have noticed a trend. People are "tagging" each other to tell things about themselves. Well, since those of you that know me, know I am PAINFULLY shy! A real wall flower. HA! I can't keep a straight face. Since I have not been tagged, I am officially tagging myself. You all know how I HATE to talk about myself, so it will be brief... yeah right!!! ONE MILLIONS THINGS ABOUT MOI! just kidding, just a few things. In no particular order. 1. I love being a stay at home mom. I know I joke and make it seem like it is terrible at times, but I know how blessed I am to be able to be home with my monkeys. My husband takes the absolute best care of all of us, and he is ridiculously generous to me. I so do not deserve him. Oh heck, yes I do, I'm fabulous!!!! (wink) 2. I am a total word junky. One day I hope to paint every favorite quote I love all over one wall of my home. I know there are companies that sell the rub on words, but there are too many words and quotes I love, so I am going to have to paint them. 3. Did I mention I love everything associated with the written word, books, books and more books? When I enter a library or a Barnes N Noble, angels sing above me in my perfect heaven. 4. Purple is my favorite color. Not lavender, but plum and deep purple. 5. I collect authentic Italian pottery, and some things with purple grapes on it. 6. I am afraid of heights when there is a glass floor involved. I hate all buildings with a glass viewing floor. Too scary. Tall buildings are fine as long as I have solid ground beneath me and a wall in front of me. 7. I often say things before I think it through. I suffer from "foot in mouth syndrome". 8. I love the BEACH! Everything about it. It is my favorite vacation! 9. I danced at Freddie Finn Dance Studio for 20 years, and did Tap, jazz and absolutely hated ballet. 10. Travel is and always has been a passion of mine. I have been to 11 countries and all but 11 states. 11. I am extremely proud to be a first generation Italian, and profoundly proud of my parents. They came to this country dirt poor, and gave me the life of a princess. I wanted for nothing and got way more than I deserved. 12. I love all songs by Barry Manilow. But I also love Maroon 5, Billy Joel, 80's music, the three tenors, Josh Groban, Bond, and a host of other music. I love almost all music. 13. Even though I sell Pampered Chef, I absolutely love Williams-Sonoma, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Cooks.com. Angels sing for me in those stores too. 14. I am a shoe junky, but more of a purse junky. I think I own over 100 purses. So Sad... I know. 15. I love, love, love foreign films. I will watch anything with a subtitle. 16. Favorite Food - Eggplant Parmigiana (Mom's only), Cheesecake Factory's Lettuce Wraps 17. Favorite Holiday- My birthday of course!!! Flag Day! 18. Dream place to visit - Greece and the Southern most tip of Africa, or Patagonia. 19. I am really happy to be turning 40. I'm in a good place. I am a much nicer person now than I was in my youth. I used to covet lots of things, and now, I am more content and realize I need much less to be truly happy. I feel sorry for people that have to have things so they can impress other people. 20. I have been married for 15 years as of October 17, 2007. Well, that's all for now. I hope it didn't sound too narcissistic.. ha ha! Please tell me about you! Tell me 20 things about you!!! Just hit the comment button!!! Much love... Ciao!