Super Bowl XLIII

I love the Super Bowl.  When I lived in Dallas, the Cowboys were in their glory years with the Troy Aikman era.  MMMMmmmmm, Troy Aikman.  So, it was always a festive time.  We got to buy a new TV for the playoffs and that was memorable.  I think 2 years in a row, I had to call in sick to work on the day after with what I termed, "Super Bowl Flu."  Have you had it?  It usually is gone by noon with the help of a greasy cheeseburger.  As much as I always enjoyed the festivities, it pales in comparison to Nick.  When he was 4, after the Super Bowl ended, he threw himself down on the floor in tears.  "What's wrong?" I asked.  "There is no more football for 8 months," he replied back through sobbing cries.  "Well, next week there is the Pro Bowl," I said. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, "That doesn't count because it's not a real game."  I knew right then it was going to take someone very special for him to spend the rest of his life with.  Someone who really enjoyed the game, and would think it was cute when he started quizzing them on how many times a particular team had been in the Super Bowl and their records for the past 10 years.  God speed, poor soul.  That unsuspecting person has no idea right now what they will be getting into.

Nick has logged 20 hours this week of pre-game TV.  He has the background story on every player, knows the line on the game, and has even talked to his Dad about placing a bet for him.  I realize I am in the gamblin biz, but have you ever tried to place a sports bet?  Next to speaking in front of large crowds, I find it the most intimidating thing I've ever done, so I've only done it once.  I couldn't tell you if I won or not because I didn't know what I was doing.  The betting is especially crazy in this game.  Here are some of the weird bets you can make (I have put in the latest line if you're interested):

• Coin Toss
• Total distance on the first punt of the game Over/Under 41.5 yards
• Total kickoff returns by both teams - Over/Under 9.5
• What color will (Cardinals owner) Bill Bidwell's bow tie be?
• Red -600
• Any other color +400
• Bidwell must be seen on camera wearing a bow tie during the game for this to be an official play
• How long will it take Jennifer Hudson to sing the National anthem? Over/Under 1:54
• Will a cheerleader's nipple fall out of her costume on national TV, creating a wardrobe malfunction? (ok, maybe I made that one up)

No, I'm not encouraging the boy to gamble, but if he can exercise his brilliant math mind on a few statistical options for me, I'm down with that.  Mama needs a new pair of shoes!

So, I asked Nick if he wanted to have people over, and he responded with a resounding NO.  Why you might ask?  He doesn't like people over because they distract him from watching the game. They always do that annoying thing called talking and he might miss something.  Oh, and he doesn't like to share his poppers.  He has requested that everyone get their own box so they don't have to share.  I usually give everyone 2 or 3, and because this is such a big game, that is totally not acceptable.  We are also having pulled pork sandwiches, pigs in blankets, spinach dip with pita chips, hummus, chicken kabobs (as seen on Biggest Loser this week), veggie tray (which Nick crossed off my menu list when I wasn't watching), and a cheese tray.  The princess has requested brie and smoked apple cheddar. 

If I were having people over, I would go to Home Depot and get some Astroturf to use as my tablecloth on the buffet table.  I might even put in the hash marks and paint the team names and logos in the end zones.  I would also pull out all Nick's football stuff to use for decoration.  Since it's just us and princess has announced she will not be watching the game because she can't follow it, I think I will just throw the food on the table.  Hope you get to have a party.  What are you making?

Facebook

My friend, Pam, was telling me how much she enjoyed Facebook and that I should join.  Whatever.  That is for the younger crowd, I thought.  I have my Linkedin account for professional networking, and have resisted any other Internet social networking. The only time I got on Facebook or My Space was if I was planning to hire someone and I would check them out and see if they were stupid enough to put a clip of themselves on Spring Break in a Girls Gone Wild video.

Pam kept encouraging me to go on her account and see photos of all the people she knew, both past and present.  Of course, it was the past we were having the most fun with.  Looking in on old high school, college, and post-college friends and checking out intimate details of their lives without actually needing to carry on a conversation.  This aint so bad, I said.  So, I set up my account and invited a few friends, caught up with a couple of people, rummaged through a few photos, and was soon pretty bored by the whole thing.  Fast forward to Saturday night a couple of weeks ago when I'm home alone cooking dinner and decide to grab a glass of wine and play around on Facebook.  I had so much fun.  I was able to search through high school classes, and found my old boyfriend's brother, who was charming and just as sweet as ever.  Again, we spent a few minutes writing back and forth and then that's it.  I would hope to keep in touch.  I would hope he will call when he comes to Vegas.  I would hope I will call the next time I'm in Chicago (which is always during the warmer months).  I think this is what Facebook represents.  It is social networking using today's technology which continues to encourage people to not really get together.

Just like texting.  I love texting because it is quick, down, and dirty.  You can tell someone something without the annoyance of having to have a long chat.  Can you imagine dating in the texting world?  I would have loved that!  Breaking up with people by text because you're too big of a weenie to talk to them in person.  I think most of my relationships wouldn't have lasted as long as they did.

So, on Facebook, there is no room for error and you should know all the ins and outs.  If you tell something personal, and really most of this stuff is, you risk looking like an idiot.  I really watch what I say, who I have as friends, and how much information I provide.  In other words, not a great idea for someone who's had too much wine.  You might invite people you really don't care about (did that), and now those people have access to your information.  People write on your wall, but I don't always want everyone to see my conversations.  I'm sure you can do this privately, but don't know how.  Once, Liz gave me a picture of the old Cat and the Fiddle, which was cool.  Then, you get something like this:

You have been Kidnap'd by Kelly to Mumbai with the Spicy Beef Burrito!

What???  I don't have any idea what this means.  I haven't been kidnapped.  I've never been to Mumbai.  I certainly don't eat Spicy Beef Burritos.  So, there is a lot of crazy stuff on Facebook that I don't understand.  Maybe it is for the young folk after all.

Other people's children

When I say that I don't like other people's children, I'm not kidding. Generally, I like mine and a few others, and that's it. But Sofia and Vanessa (Gravy) are awesome kids. Sofia is smart and intuitive, and I've never seen another human so focused while watching TV. She already has her selective hearing fine tuned. A bomb could explode right next to her, and as long as the TV was still operational, she wouldn't notice. She woke me up in the mornings with her sweet voice, and talk of her special powers. By the way, she will be getting another special power on her birthday. Stay tuned. Then there's little Baby Gravy. She is a super sleeper. When Krys picked me up, she was sleeping and proceeded to sleep for another 3 hours. I threatened to pinch her so I could play with her, but Krys said no. Stupid Krys.

Our friend from high school, Melissa Rebori, stopped by with her son, Blake. Stay longer next time, chica!

Gravy's first coo!

The Lazy Friend

Last week, I had a great lunch with my friend, Margo, whom I adore hanging around.  When we get together,we always have a great time talking about the kids, husbands, jobs (or lack thereof), plastic surgery wishes, and all necessary items.  We laugh and always talk about how nice it is to have a normal friend in this weird town. 

We never see each other. 

We probably get together 2-3 times a year.  When we meet in the middle, it takes each of us about 15 minutes to get there, so it's not inconvenient.  She works at home and I don't work, so we have the time.  We always have fun when we see each other.  So, what's the problem?  Why don't we talk or see each other more?  I like to blame it on The Lazy.  I am a very lazy friend.  I want friends.  I like friends.  I just don't put forth the effort to grow the friendship.  That being said, I have a circle of friends I've had since I was in middle school.  That's fairly amazing.  How many of you out there still talk to people you knew 25 years ago, especially when you were kids? 

Krys, who is one of my bestest friends, is the polar opposite of The Lazy Friend.  She always makes sure we keep in touch, sets up the Christmas reunions every year, and generously used her frequent flyer miles to fly me out to play with her over the weekend. (psst...I snuck Gravy home in my suitcase.  I hope she doesn't notice.  I plan to give her back when she starts talking.)  I had such a  great time.  We cooked, played with the kids, drank our share of red wine, built a fire, set up her iTouch, and just hung out. Our main accomplishment outside of the house one day was to go to Starbucks. I don't have friends anymore to hang out with.  You know, where you could just drop by their house with a 5 minute notice, and they don't care if the house is clean or not because they are just glad to see you?  The ones that don't mind when you wear the same sweatshirt for three days in a row?  Or that don't mind when you kid barfs on them?  I have a friend in Vegas that I talk to on the phone almost everyday, but hardly ever see.  My phone friend.  Krys has gym friends.  They talk everyday and she knows things about their lives, but not their names.  I have previous work friends, Facebook friends, industry friends, shopping friends, old friends, new friends, distant friends, bestest friends, and casual friends.  Do you know what kind of friend I would really like?  A private plane friend.  A really close friend who would loan out her private jet.  How about a Caribbean Villa friend? 

One night, Krys and I got out the old photos.  Another thing I love about her.  She has them organized, and in a box by date, etc.  Some are in photo albums, or they were until I ripped them out.    There I was, ripping photos out of her organized photo album, and she didn't care at all.  She said they needed to be posted, and she was right.  I hope I asked her before I did it because that's what a good friend would have done, but I probably didn't because I'm The Lazy Friend.

These are photos from a toga party in high school.  Anyone who can help me with the names will get a "I'm not a Lazy Friend" button.

 

Thanks, Krys, for keeping the photos and letting me rip them out so we can share.  I will be posting to Facebook soon.

The Cardinal Sin

Yes, I did it.  I'm not proud, and the thing is, I know better.  There are just certain things you just don't do.  Certain codes you don't break.  You don't date your friends old boyfriends.  As you get older, you don't ditch your friends for a guy.  You don't date your boss.  You don't flirt with your kid's teachers or coaches. Don't get your meat where you buy your bread.  

The Cardinal Rule:  You don't mix your salons.  You go to a different salon for hair, waxing, nails, massage, facials, little injectibles, etc.  You can't mix them.  You can't have your facial where you get your hair cut.  What happens if you have to break up with one of them?  That makes for the awkward hello when you see them again.  You know that they talk about you when you leave.  Compare your stories.  Who needs that kind of stress?

I never want to be known as the salon whore.  I don't want to know the name of every hairdresser because I've gone to everyone in the salon.  I like long-term relationships.  I do.  I don't want to date around.  I've never had a problem before staying faithful.  In Arizona, I had the same stylist for years.  The same nail person.  The same doctors, dentists, etc.  Since I've been Living in Sin (City), I can't stay faithful.  I've had 3 gynecologists, and looking for number 4.  I've had my hair cut by a million people, some of them licensed, and have only found one that I loved.  His cut was $175.  I only went a couple of times, Robert.  Even I just can't justify it.  I've had so many nail people I can't even count.  My previous nail lady actually asked to use my address so her kids to go to school in my school district.  It is our "extra" house and no one lives there.  I told her I didn't think it would be a good idea, and unbeknownst to me, she decided not to take no for an answer.  I didn't realize what had happened until an officer from the Clark County School District left a note on the door that they were verifying an address.  I called and said little Johnny did not live there.  No, not for the past two years that he's been using the address.  I assume he found another school and is not learning in a cardboard box under the underpass.  So, some I've had to break up with some because they were crappy, and some I've had to break up with because they had a touch of The Crazy.

I have a nail person that I've been going to for about a year.  I like her.  She's pleasant, she knows what I like, and she doesn't cancel on me.  She just found out she was having a baby.  I bought her a present.  We are all good.  Right across from her station is a very nice lady who cuts hair, and is good friends with the nail lady.  I've seen her clients come and go for over a year now.  The cuts are good.  The color is good.  So, I tried her out on the kids.  It all went fine, so I signed up.  I KNEW I WAS BREAKING THE RULE.  Truth is, I have a touch of The Lazy so it was a convenience thing for me.  So, she cuts my hair.  All was good.  Robert actually noticed I had it cut and liked it.  So, I have her color it.  It was ok.  I'm actually new to coloring, so it always takes me some time to get used to it all.  I went in Friday for a cut.  I said to the woman, "I just barely want it trimmed.  I want the scissors to wave by the hair and cut off the stragglers.  Less than 1/8 of an inch, please."  SHE CUT BANGS.  It was at least 2 inches across the bottom and 5-6 for the bangs.  I screamed at her that I have not had bangs since the infamous Dorothy Hamill haircut when I was 9, and they were as terrible then as they are now.  I can't even put it in a ponytail, which is crucial to my training.  Oh, and the chunky layers you put in might have looked good on a little chickie who is 19, but looks like a desperate attempt at youth on a 41 year old.  Oh, and also, you don't want to thin this hair because now you are able to read a book through it.

Now I'm in a salon dilemma.  I don't have to address it right away because my hair is so damn short that I wont need another cut for months but it's looming.  Weighing quite heavily on my mind.  Feeling pretty good about myself with my oompa loompa face which is still not cleared up, and my lovely new do, especially since I have a job interview today.  Doesn't it sound fun to go to an interview with someone you've never met and have to preface the fact that I usually can open my eyes more than 3 mm, or those huge purple bags under my eyes is only because my cheeks are so swollen, and when I smile, I look like a bulldog because of the extra swollen wrinkles?

Internet, I need your advice.  Anyone have any good salon break-up strategies? 

Spring Ball

Enzo has decided to play Spring Football this year.  If anyone would like to sign up for carpool, he is an excellent driver and a decent tight end.  We are hoping his neck injury won't be a factor in the playoffs.

Protein Smoothie Challenge

How many of you are brave enough to take the Purple Power Smoothie Challenge?  I have been making this smoothie for the past week or so and we all love it.  Of course, some of the smaller people in the house don't know what's in it.  They know what's in mine and just assume I take it out of theirs.  Isn't child logic interesting?  This recipe came from Cuisine at Home Magazine, February 2009.

Makes 1 smoothie

1/2 banana

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup acai-blueberry juice

1/4 cup soft silken tofu

1/4 cup soy milk

1 tsp lemon juice

Process in blender until smooth.  Done.

Per 1 1/2 cups: 219 cal; 3 g total fat (0 sat fat); 0 mg chol; 43g carbs; 46mg sodium; 4g fiber; 7g protein

I never could find the acai-blueberry juice so I bought one that also included pomegranate.  Also, Tofu has no taste.  I REPEAT, TOFU HAS NO TASTE.  It is like a flavor sponge so it will absorb whatever you put with it.  If you put it with blueberries, it will taste like blueberries.  If you put it with strawberries, it will taste like strawberries.  If you put it with snozberries, it will taste like snozberries.  This calls for the silken tofu, which is different than the chunky kind you see in Chinese food.  Oh, just try it.  Let me know if you do it and what you think.

Swimming, Biking, Running, and Leukemia

I've been warning you this was coming...

My sister, Sandi, died in 2002 of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.  She was 39 years old. It was absolutely horrible.  She was in terrible pain in her back, and went all over Springfield, MO, begging doctors for help for months.  At one point, they even suggested putting her in the psych ward for evaluation because there was nothing physically wrong with her.  Her ex-husband was on the local Red Cross board with a neurosurgeon who agreed to see her.  He did a full blood panel, which no one else had done, and a body scan.  After 4 fruitless months of trying to figure out what was wrong, she was diagnosed on Memorial Day.  To say that the medical treatment she received was a clusterfuck would be an understatement.  Her primary Oncologist would come in and talk to her and tell her the things he learned the night before on the Internet and possible courses of action for her treatment.  NEVER ONCE did they say, you should get your affairs in order.  She went through all the hells of chemo and all the treatment plans.  She had the resources to go to other hospitals in the country, but they never told her how bad it was.  I don't think it ever really crossed her mind that she might die. 

She started developing fluid around her heart and I decided to come in for the weekend from Phoenix since she wasn't doing well and it was the weekend before school started.  When I arrived, she said, "Wow, I must be really sick if they called you to come."  I asked what she was on because she was kind of loopy, and they said she was on no meds.  She was scheduled for surgery the next morning at 6:00 am.  I arrived about 5:30 and she was unconscious.  She would mumble words, calling out for her kids by name, but never waking up.  No one came to get her for her surgery.  Her husband, my sister, and my mom showed up a little while later but still no one came.  We asked the nurse who said she would send in the doctor as soon as she arrived.  Sandi's regular doctor was off for a few days, and this woman was on call.  She finally came in the room and told us that Sandi wouldn't make it through the weekend.  We were completely shocked.  We called for her kids to come, and when they arrived, she did open her eyes and say their names.  We are thankful for that, at least.  The doctors were actually right on this one, she didn't make it through the weekend.

She was gone August 10th.  She left behind two boys who were 14 and 15 who were at a time in their life when they needed their Mom.  They still do.

I have decided to complete a triathlon in Las Vegas on April 19th in her honor and at the same time, raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  I am working with an organization called Team in Training who will train me while I raise money for them.  I've always wanted to do this, but now I feel I need to do this if I can prevent one more family from going through the pain.  Maybe one more kid can have his Mom around when he needs her.

I'm asking for your help with a donation.  I know it is a terrible economy and the Christmas credit cards bills are rolling in, but if you can help at all, it is really a worthwhile cause.  To donate, you can click on My fundraising web page and you can donate online.

I will also be sending out an email for those of you in my email list so please don't get offended if you see this twice. 

I will be letting you know how my training is going, which seems to be at a standstill right now until I get rid of the Oompa Lumpa rash on my face, but I will get back to it as soon as I can. 

Thanks for this.  I will now return you to your regularly scheduled blog reading.

WARNING: AVEDA GREEN SCIENCE FIRMING FACE CREAM IS MAKING MY LIFE MISERABLE

In an attempt to get off the greatest/most expensive face cream in the entire universe, I have been playing around with cheaper options.  I go from Creme de la Mer which is over $200 for the jar which lasts about 2 months to Oil of Olay which is about $17 for the same amount of time.  Thanks to the lady at Wal-Mart who checked me out the other day, I now know that their brand, Equate, was the same exact formula for $8.  I didn't tell her I was coming down off a product high and felt like I was scraping the bottom of the barrel with Oil of Olay and wasn't going down any deeper to Equate.  You may tell me that it is just as good, but I'm taking baby steps here.  Work with me.  My husband decides he's going to help because he doesn't like to see me suffer, and while he is getting his hair cut, picks up the Aveda Green Science Firming Face Cream.  OMG.  I now have hives all over my face and neck.  Little blistering bumps that make you feel like you are either going to cry from the pain, or tear apart your face from the itching.  As a bonus, it also sparked a cold sore as well.  I would take a picture, but I'm way too vain to have it out there.  Now, I've used Aveda hair products for 20 years, and use the body soap everyday as well so I'm used to their products.  You know, "The Art and Science of Pure Flowers and Plant Essences."  Or hives.  Whichever.

I went to the doc in a box today and have a prescription for steroids.  He didn't think it would scar.  Great.  I can't exercise for 2-3 days and have to continue to take Benadryl, which makes me sleepy as soon as I pull the box off the shelf.  I break open the blister pack and I better be standing 3 feet at most away from a sleeping surface because I am out. 

Just a friendly consumer warning from someone who is tied to the house.  Do not use the Aveda skin care cream. 

New Year, New Goals (or same ones as always)

So the calendar flipped into 2009 and here we are.  I feel like I should be doing something. The beginning of the year is like having a restart button, or a do over, if you will.  I've never been good at holding myself to a "New Year's Resolution" so I don't do one.  Oh, and don't you hate it when people ask you what your resolutions are for the year?  I mean, it's usually really personal and something you don't like about yourself.  You never hear someone saying, "I've decided that this year I'm going to eat like a pig and gain 20 pounds, spend all my money and be homeless." One of my favorite journalists, Jack Germond, a salty old liberal who used to write for the Baltimore Sun,  had the same New Year's Resolution every year which I now have adopted. "I'm going to drink less, smoke less, and suffer fools gladly."  My mantra going into 2009.  I don't smoke but I also don't suffer fools gladly either.  I am training for a new triathlon.  I'm doing it with a group so hopefully that will help with the training.  They aren't there everyday to make you do something.  Notice I'm not at the pool right now which is where I should be.  More on that tomorrow, or the next day, or whenever I get around to it.

As you know, I'm addicted to the Martha Stewart radio channel on Sirius 112 or XM 157, and they started a 35 day health challenge on the Whole Living channel if you're interested.  I signed up but not really all that interested.  As you know, it is Wednesday and it really started on Monday so I can't join mid-week.  It also has a no meat first week policy and I love meat, and a no alcohol policy and I love alcohol.  I'm not quite sure this is the program for me, but I feel pressured to have a resolution. 

According to the Internet, the most popular resolutions are :

• Lose Weight (year long battle)
• Manage Debt (Manage to keep the debt below head level)
• Save Money (See below - first things first)
• Get a Better Job (or just a job at this point would be good)
• Get Fit (Like 6 pack abs or just able to button my pants?)
• Eat Right (Less cupcakes, more tofu)
• Drink Less Alcohol (Hmmmm, no?)
• Quit Smoking (Check)
• Reduce Stress Overall (Really not that stressed right now)
• Reduce Stress at Work (I have NO stress at work)
• Take A Trip (That doesn't mean Missouri for Christmas)
• Volunteer to Help Others (Yeah, Yeah)

Did you pick yours?  Go ahead, take one and make it your own.  Then we can all feel like losers together when we've blown it off by President's Day.

Happy New Year

2008 New Year's Eve was officially the most boring New Year's Eve for me on record.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it felt really forced.  I made way too much food and found myself at 9:30 on the couch by myself watching Clueless for the 20th time.  Robert was hiding out somewhere in the house and Nick was in his room watching "his" TV.  We had watched a movie together earlier, but I think we started too early in the evening and then the time dragged by.  We finally made it up to midnight to toast the new year, but it just seems kind of silly when all you want to do is go to bed.  I was asleep by 12:15.  Of course, Taylor was the only one with plans and was at a lock-in at her dance studio.  She didn't sleep all night so we are looking forward to a full day of cranky!!  I might suddenly remember a very important thing I have to do out of the house.  It is nice not to have anything at all to do for a change.  Unless you count all these Christmas decorations that are still up.  They've been here so long that I can't even see them anymore.  Good thing because if they were still up, I would need to take them down today but since I can't see them, I really have nothing to do today at all.  Happy New Year!