SPF-- Tribute

So this week's SPF is a tribute, and I'm sure Kristine means with a song. Well, a few minutes ago I learned Harvey Korman passed away. When I was little, the Carol Burnett Show was just about the greatest thing on earth, and I truly had a crush on Mr. Korman. So today my tribute is to him. He was one of the greats, and he will truly be missed.

Mo closest picture to 18 months I have

Mo update and other random items

Mo turned 18 months last week and I didn't even get a picture of her. I swore with my 3rd I wouldn't be this way, but looks like I am. Chalk up another point for 'them' because 'they' are always right.

We bought a new treadmill and put it together last night. I have yet to run on it but plan on running today, bad back be damned. God wouldn't have my back still hurting if he didn't want me to run through the pain, right?

LP is out right now buying a new water heater. I had mentioned before it was on the fritz, yesterday it officially stopped working and began to leak all over the basement. Now isn't that exciting? That is my life.

On the other hand, my mom has better stories in her neck of the woods. Last summer, her 10-year-old next door neighbor (next door!) set fire to a house down the street and because he was only 10 and they lacked evidence, he didn't go to any juvenile detention or serve any type of community service. We see him all the time when we go over there, and my mother tells me it's like that kid from the Twilight Zone movie, you know, nobody wants to piss him off so everyone is super nice to him.

So yesterday, her neighbor down the street was jumped and beaten severely by 3 men and is in the hospital recovering for 4-6 weeks. Turns out he is a gay man, and that is all my mother had to hear. She has never met a gay person in her life, (that she knows of...anyway) and for some reason she is so curious about anything GAY. When she told me this story, the subject of the email was "THE GAYS". Cracks me up. She is so sheltered.

And all I have is a broken water heater. Maybe I should go beat it up or something. Or set it on fire.

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

I did want to write a list of the things Mo can say now. I know, that is a clear and total lack of segue there, but that's how I roll. I don't have time for things to relate to one another. I'm a busy person, see?

Mo definitely does not talk as much as Al did, but probably more than Rug did. That's not to say she doesn't talk, she is constantly saying SOMETHING but it is Portugese or some language I do not understand. She has clearly been reincarnated and was once a fisherman somewhere and is just not ready to let go of that dialect.

First off, the brainwashing she gets from TV:
Bob Bob: Spongebob
Doo do Doo: Dora
Oooh! FFFFF! (Clifford, not from TV more books)
Melmo: Elmo
Win Pooh
Ohhhhhhhh: (intro to Spongebob song)

Next, People I Live with:
Dada
RahRah
Lala
Mom, Mommy, AHHHHHH!!!
Hi Kitty
Meow

Things I like to do:
Dan: Dance
Soc Ball
Drink
More (eating, and more eating)
Gippppsssss (grapes)
Yes!!!! (baseball watching)
Knuckles (hitting knuckles, someone taught her this)
Five (hi-five)
Ta-Da!
Spider (itsy bitsy spider, on heavy rotation)
Awwwww (petting animals)
Night Night
Thank you!
No! No!(vacuum, in response to me saying these words when she tried to unplug it)

Animals I think are pretty cool:
Goggie (doggie)
Kitty
(raz noise) Horse
(sniffing) Bunny
(pop noise) Fish
Oooooh! Bird

Explicit instructions:
Bye! ("I'm ready to go. RIGHT now.")
Shoe? ("I'm ready to go. RIGHT now. Put on my shoes.")
MMMMWAH! ("I'm ready to go. I'm blowing kisses to get the heck outta here.")
More!!! ("I need more of these. NOW.")
Booop! ("Honk my nose.")
AHHHHHH!!! (everything else you are not doing for me right this second)

Songs I like to sing:
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Any song from the Sesame Street Rock and Roll Show DVD
Elmo's World
ABCs
Winnie the Pooh
Twinkle Twinkle
Old Lady who swallowed a Fly
Low by Flo Rida (thanks, Rug)

When Stupid People Strike

Seriously? Sharon Stone, are you a COMPLETE idiot? When you make such ridiculous end of the world comments such as THIS, what do you expect? People will bow down to your greatness? No, they will realize what a total schmuck you are. Those who want to free Tibet are not backing you on that one, sweets. Go back to opening your legs for the movies honey. We don't want to hear you speak.

That is all.

What I'd Like to say to Some People but Can't

Blogs are great ways to vent. So here goes. Namelessly I will say what I really want to say to people. Here goes!


1. It's not that moving the car seat into your car is a big deal, it's that I don't trust my kids with your driving.

2. Seriously? You have to stop complaining.

3. You haven't seen us in so long because I can't stand the way you talk to my mother. Have respect please.

4. Move out already. You're almost 40.

5. Remember how you said there was a girl in your school growing up who was mean and no one would stand up to her? Yeah, that's YOUR daughter.

6. Your husband is really not a nice person, and has destroyed our friendship and you don't seem to care. I miss you.

7. Losing your temper is not 'just the way I am'. You can control it better than you do.

8. I don't trust you anymore. Don't pretend we are still friends, you told me yourself you needed new ones. (because I don't drink as much as you do? Nice.)

9. For Pete's sake, order something other than a cheeseburger for a change.

10. Stop telling people stories about my childhood. It drives me nuts. (ok, this one is obviously towards my mother. But really, it's driving me crazy) Or at least tell the good ones, not the embarrassing ones.

Hiking with the Say Qua's *

Don't look now but the Illinois, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are converging!





*totally stealing from kalki

Saturday Haiku

I've decided each Saturday I will devote my blogging to haiku. Because I can.

Overnight at lodge
Two rivers converge nearby
Good breakfast buffet!

Hiking in the woods
Just me and my family
I'll look back and smile

One year olds are tough
They want to explore the world
Scream when you stop them!

SPF-- You in the Music

Hey folks, my back completely went out picking up the little muggle so I'm barely getting by today, but I will at least take a crack at SPF from old pictures I have. Most of my pics from last week were of people dancing though, so I may have screwed up here.



The girls 2006 at the Kelly Clarkson concert. I was 6 months preggo and not really into the music so much!



Here I am in 1992 with two of my guy buddies listening to a really loud band my friends were in. This was taken at the local 'teen center' which lasted only a few months in each different location they tried moving it to. Darn meddlin' kids, always getting into trouble! The question is, why did I think a gray vest was ever a cute thing to wear?

Did you Play?

Because God Knows Too

I may be replaced soon

Have I got your attention?

Let me introduce you to my friend, Mr. Daniel Craig. He's hard to look at, no? Here is the sad part...I was introduced to him by my husband, LP.

A few weeks ago, I went out somewhere and once the kids were in bed, LP found a video on demand to watch. He selected "Casino Royale" starring Mr. Craig.

Since then, this movie is almost constantly on my television. Or should I say the tellie, since Mr. Craig is indeed British.

Every time I walked in the room, it seemed as though some part of this movie was playing, especially him playing poker. it is after all, about gambling, or so I surmised from the title.

I'm not a fan of Bond movies. Not that they aren't good, I just don't have the patience for them. Roger Moore was the only Bond I could honestly tolerate anyway.

Until now, that is.

Finally after days of complaining that there is something ELSE on the television, LP made me sit down and watch the movie.

I loved it. And I now officially love Daniel. What IS it with those British boys that just make me swoon? (BTW, Rick Springfield lived in England too, you know...and David, of course)

So due to my husband's man crush on this gorgeous hunk of a man, I now have someone else to put into my fantasy repertoire. Which in case you are curious, involves them coming over and mopping my kitchen floors and then asking me what I want to talk about. And then actually listening.

I guess it should concern me my husband has a man crush, but it's OK. It could be worse.

He could have a man crush on someone else. Then we'd have problems.

It's Monday, let's play a game

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...They MUST be real places, names, things...NOTHING made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your Name: Jana

Famous Artist/Band/Musician: Jimi Hendrix

4 letter word: Jack! (wtf!)

Vehicle: Jaguar baby

TV Show: Judge Judy

City: Jackson, Mississippi (i've stayed there, in a Red Roof Inn...don't ask)

Boy Name: Joseph

Girl Name: Jill

Alcoholic drink: Jack and Coke

Occupation: Janitor

Flower: Juniper

Something you wear: Jodhpurs!

Celebrity: Jennifer Aniston

Food: Jelly

Something found in a kitchen: Junk

Reason for Being Late: Just got up

Cartoon Character: Jana of the Jungle!

Something You Shout: Jeebus!

Haiku for Today

The sun has arrived!
My face must feel the sunlight
No time for laundry

New convertible
It's a perfect day to go
Out for a long drive

My toes are tingling
I can wear my flip flops now
Show my piggies off!!

SPF: Lyrics

Hey Y'all...I do love love this theme this month so I must participate in some way today. I got home late last night from training at work out of town, and today is chock full of end of the school year activities, so it's going to have to be a creative endeavor from some of my older pictures. Let's all see what I can come up with on the fly, shall we?




I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance



(You've got to)
Dance little sister
Don't give up today
Hang on till tomorrow
I don't wanna hear you're late
Dance little sister
Don't give up today
Hang on till tomorrow
Don't give up your stay
and last of all, because I am really at a loss today, here is my favorite Scrubs episode:



I looked out this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away

But these lyrics mean to much to me...music is such a part of my life. Getting lost in a song is about the best feeling you could ever have. I had someone tell me once they could never live with me because I always had music on. Thank God I found someone like LP who listens to it as much if not more than I do....(although I must object to the constant Triumph and Ted Nugent he insists is good music...)

Did You Play???

Being An OverProtective Parent, Part II

Man ticketed for buckling beer, not son.

But it was a 30-can pack. I'd understand if it was say, just a 12-pack or maybe wine coolers or something, right?

Mum's the Word

Best Mother's Day Card I've ever received, written by my 8-year-old:

To: Jana (Mom)
From: Rug (your daughter)

We have been tohger* for 8 years and I Have loved you for 8 years. 8 years is alot. Mother's Day is better then my birthday. I like my birthday because the older I get the more time I've been with you!
* together, I'm assuming.

Is that not the best? Nothing like trying to make it about me but really it's pretty much about her. I love it.

Happy Mother's Day to all the muthas out there, and if your mom is anything like mine, Happy Guilt Trip Day as well!!!!!!!

SPF: How you Listen to Your Music

Kristine has asked us this week to display the way you listen to your music. I have to tell you, my life changed when I got that first MP3 player. To be able to have that much variety and versatility in one little machine blew me away. Certainly a far cry from me trying to find the right groove to put the needle on to play my Thriller album.

When iPods first came out, LP and I blew our wad on the mega super expensive one. It died within a year. After that I suffered through a year without one, having being spoiled by the first. I went and bought myself a Nano, and loved it and never had any trouble with it EVER. (it's pictured on top and has since been inherited by my daughter)

Then of course several weeks ago I went and got an iPhone. I'm not one to go out and get the 'cool' product first thing, but I saw this and we are now in love. I am completely lost without it. I would marry it, yes, I would. I'd use it on a plane, on a train, in a house, with a mouse...okay you get the point. So, DID YOU PLAY?



Top 3 Songs on my iPhone:
1. "Everlong" Acoustic
2. "Since You've Been Gone"
3. "Lose Yourself"

Runnig Down A Dream*

This week someone is making everything go my way, it's so wonderful. Last weekend we spent in Champaign, Illinois, also known as the Home of the University of Illinois, also known as Where LP Went To School and We Heard All About It. "That's where I worked! That's where I lived! That's where I once had to tie my shoes!" I can appreciate it though, your college days are some of the best times you'll ever have, and it was probably really nice for him to get to go back and reminisce. Champaign is a very pretty town, and Sunday was gorgeous weather so we were able to spend some time on campus. One of the geology buildings had a small museum and the girls got to see some dinosaur bones up close. Thus solidifying their dorkiness, I made them pose in front of them. Al ran away, but Rug captured the moment superbly.



(Picture title: "Mom I'm going to act like a dork if you force me to take pictures with dinosaur bones")

Rug won 2nd place in her soccer tournament and scored the ONLY goal for her team in the championship game. I was so proud of her, because she is playing girls two years older than her and still did completely awesome.

On the way home, we did stop by MY Alma Mater, Eastern Illinois University. It took much less time to visit than the U of I campus. I did manage to take a pic of the dorm I lived in the four years I was there, aptly named "LSD":


On Monday I chaperoned Al on her field trip to Camp Ondessonk, a summer camp in southern Illinois. Most people may not be aware, but southern Illinois is quite beautiful and there are tons of rock formations and caves and what not. It was so pretty. The entire 5th grade went, and there were Silly String raids, and crying kids, and canoe tipping and scary stories and unfortunately for one girl, a trip to the hospital when she split her leg open on a rock. I got little to no sleep, all due to a full bladder and trying to decide if it was worth leaving the warmth of my sleeping bag and walking the distance to the outhouse (improperly coined the "Wide Open" as it was nothing but) just to go to the bathroom. Around 4 a.m. i decided yes, yes it was. Then of course we were all up by 7 a.m. for breakfast.
Here was the view from our cabin, I didn't have my camera but I took this with my iPhone:


So here I am, and it's raining and I couldn't be happier because it did not rain at all while we were down there, and since today I've got a ton of work to do inside, what better day for rain than this?

I will be back tomorrow for SPF, in the meantime I will leave you with a few tidbits overheard at camp:

"I can't feel my special place anymore" ---boy in cave pool

"Boys don't have any common sense at all" ---5th grade girl scaling huge rock

"My grandma has a ghost named George. He's always stealing her rings and leaving the toilet seat up" ---5th grader campfire story, more than likely in reality a cross-dressing sloppy grandpa

"When I went to camp last year, I didn't brush my teeth the whole time!" --5th grade girl, not quashing my apprehension of sending Al to camp

"I'm alright". ---Chaperoning Dad, immediately upon falling about 15 feet onto a rock, clearly not alright but maintaining his masculinity.

"God we didn't need to see THAT" ---5th grade boy upon seeing one of the girls emerge from the pool in a white t-shirt sans undergarments

Stuff Portrait Friday ---MUSIC MONTH

So Kristine has reached perfection with this month's themes for Stuff Portrait Fridays. I'm elated, but I cannot guarantee my pictures will be all that great or really even remotely creative. But I will be playing every Friday!

The month's theme is MUSIC and as anyone who visits here knows, I'm a big fan. My tastes also run the gamut, but I'm most fond of 80s music. I'm sure that decade will more likely than not dominate my picture ideas. Oh, and I also am a fanatical Disney fan, so more than likely that will be a recurring theme as well!

Today's theme is: Song Titles. It's been a long tiresome day (steam cleaning carpets and other household duties) so I'll be using pictures already on my computer...

1. "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees



2. "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell



(oh, have I mentioned I have a one-year-old who stays at home with me so I take lots of pictures of?)

and your Disney money shot:

3. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (how old do you have to be to get that reference?)



Ok I admit, pretty lame, but DID YOU PLAY???

Summer, Donna

I won't give you ALL of the details of our conversation last night, but my dear LP compared me to Donna Summer for some reason last night. Upon this revelation I started to sing, "She Works Hard for the Money" and he said, "Donna Summer didn't sing that."

Now LP is otherwise a walking encyclopedia of music knowledge, and it thrilled me to no end that I was on the winning side of a bet.

"Wanna bet?"

Oh yeah, he ran to the internets to get him some answers.

I'm getting me a nice back massage tonight. Which, in case you were wondering, is the ongoing prize for any and all bets that take place in the Say Qua Household.

All this talk reminded me of one of my favorite SNL skits with Cheri Oteri and Toby McGuire:

What to say when a customer in front of you is causing problems at the burger joint

For some reason my kids just don't get it when I yell "Simma Donna!" to them when they're out of control. It does make them stop however.