Must See Comedy!

My darling baby sister took a group of us out Saturday night for a wild comedic and musical experience. If you live or travel in the Cincinnati area, I highly recommend you check out Shadowbox Cabaret in Newport, KY (there's one in Columbus, too; I have yet to attend). It is a sketch comedy and rock and roll club in a cabaret-like setting. The actors and musicians also work as waitstaff, sales, kitchen help, and greeting, giving guests a chance to interact with the performers all night.
The show we attended was Holiday Hoopla (running until 1/17). Holiday-themed sketch comedies were interspersed with holiday music played by their amazing band, with some incredible vocal talent. Musical highlights included a jazzy version of Silent Night, a very sexy Merry Christmas Baby (these women can sing, seriously), and the very powerful Christmas in Sarajevo (an instrumental by TransSiberian Orchestra, and these guys nailed it - I was breathless by the end.) I laughed uproariously through most of the sketches, but my favorites included a play on "It's a Wonderful Life" (includes guy stripped down to underwear, definitely worth the price of a ticket), a sketch involving a gangsta-style Santa ("don't #$%! with Santa"), and "Santa Babies" - three female lounge-style singers, doing various holiday songs (my favorite was definitely "Low Rider")...they were so freaking funny, I was crossing my legs to keep from peeing my pants. Seriously. I had to bolt for the bathroom as soon as the show was over.
The food was ok, nothing to write home about (although the brownie sundae was pretty fab), but you don't go for the food. Go for the amazing music, go to pee your pants laughing, go to ogle the very cute guitarist, who I intend to take home with me sooner or later...watch yourself, boy, I will be back...or the seriously gorgeous women, for my male readers. These female performers were pretty lovely - and looking at their arms made me want to go work out right then. They were totally cut.
So - to sum up. Shadowbox Theater. Go see it. Totally hilarious, very talented group of people...bring your friends, family, whatever (I wouldn't bring the little kids, though.) Check them out at www.shadowboxcabaret.com. You do not want to miss this.

The stars at night...are big and bright...

You all remember the Alamo scene from PeeWee's Big Adventure, right? Deep in the heart...of Texas...Of course the Alamo is in San Antonio, a place I have never visited, although I'd like to. We did, however spend a week in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area with my very sweetest, bestest friend in the whole world, a woman I lovingly refer to as Texas Toad, or TT for short, as these aliases are getting a bit long to type.
Anyway, I've heard it said that Texas is a beautiful place...although I doubt they were referring to the DFW area. It's pretty much a big sprawling strip mall, from what I could see. And it is as flat as Calista Flockhart, bless her heart. (I say that now because I live in Kentucky, and that makes me southern, get it?) Anyway, I know flat, I'm from the Chicago area, and that is as flat as it comes. And pretty darn ugly. But that's another story for another day. At any rate, the DFW area is not what I'd call pretty, but the weather was pretty enjoyable for late December.
My poor sweet TT had to work some of the time we were there, and the rest of it, her poor lovely husband had to work. I got to spend a lot of time bonding with my sweet little petunia of a godbaby, and I think she liked me pretty well by the time we left. Watching Monkeybutt and Studmuffin bonding with her was even better...they were very cute. TT's son is my Monkeybutt's best friend, and everytime they get together, it is like they never left each other. It is really amazing how well they get along, when they only see each other twice a year. But they are best friends, and I can see that friendship lasting forever. It's pretty heartening. And I got to spend New Year's with my favorite friend.
All in all, a pretty freaking successful trip. Toad, thanks for a great time.

A New Year!

Whoa, nelly, does time fly when you're having fun...so it's been more than a month since my last post. Sounds like I'm going to confession, right? But no penance for me, it's my blog, I can do what I want, darn it.

teehee

So, HI all my sweet, lovely readers, I've missed you all. It's been...chaotic, to say the least. First off, happy whatever lovely winter holiday you celebrate to all of you. My kids and I have fun celebrating several. The Girl Child had great fun setting out carrots for St. Nicholas' horses on December 6, and then finding the carrots gone and a basket of goodies in its place. We do St. Nick's day a little different...he leaves a basket of baking supplies and ornaments, as well as a new stocking for my mom, which she was pretty freaking thrilled about. Apparently, she's never had her own stocking. Who knew? Of course, now the Girl Child is convinced the gifts are left by the horses themselves. Ok, whatever makes her happy.

My dad turned 60 and we went to Chicago to celebrate that. My brothers and sisters went together and got Monkeybutt a WII for Christmas...the only thing he actually asked for...and they wanted to see him open it, so he got that early. I had told him there was no way he was getting it, they were all sold out everywhere, so it was a pretty wicked surprise.

We also played dreidel and told the Hanukah story and lit candles and talked about the solstice. I'm an equal opportunity reveler...I celebrate everything, as long as I know the story.

We celebrated Christmas with my nephew and his adoptive family (read: new, extended family) on the Solstice as well. We ate some wicked good enchiladas and carne asada, cheesecake (drool), opened gifts, and visited for hours. We are so blessed that they have become a part of our lives. The nephew is getting so big, and is such a joy to be around...he laughs at everything. He also eats everything, but that's another story.

Christmas day was...eventful. We had some unfortunate family stuff air out and dealing with that made for a rather miserable day. It was unfortunate, but probably not material for this blog yet...maybe later, another day, another year...Things are better, though.

The next day we left for Texas to visit my very most favorite friend, my Texas Toad. And my most very sweet goddaughter. Have I mentioned how sweet and cute and fabulous she is? I think this trip deserves a blog of its very own, and I don't have time tonight, so I will continue all this when I have another few minutes.

To sum up...happy holidays, Happy New Year, hectic, fun, very cute babies, WII. That will do for now. Good night, darling friends, and I will get on here again very soon. I swear. Pinky swear, even.

A Whiny Vent About the Weather

So it's wicked cold outside and I'm already tired of it. I really do belong in the tropics or something, this cold is doing something to my brain. I had two great things I wanted to blog about last night, as I was falling asleep, and I cannot remember either topic. Which is irritating. So all I can think to blab about is how frickin' cold it is...you'd think after living most of my life in Chicago I could handle a little chill, but no, not me.
Have I mentioned I hate the cold?
I'll come back when I have something constructive to say.

Halloween pics

I was reminded recently of the fact that I had not yet posted pics from this year's Halloween. Naughty me! I don't actually have any of Monkeybutt - he dressed up and trick-or-treated with a group of friends - but the fairy princess is my Girl Child. Isn't she just magical?

Her friend in law enforcement is our neighbor.

Happy Halloween!

Have a fabulous trick-or-treating time!

(this was from last year, but it was freaking cute. I'll post this year's pics later.)

Manifesto Reassessment (a long one, kids, settle in for this one.)

Yikes. Do you realize how close we are to the end of the year? This close, and I haven't done squat. Made almost zero changes. How sad is that? I wrote this huge long "manifesto", or list of resolutions this year. And yes, I know, nobody ever keeps to their resolutions, but these are changes I really need to make for my and my family's health and well-being. So why is it so hard to change for the better? Here is what I resolved to do this year:
Health
I will lose weight:
Join Weight Watchers – weigh in every week, follow points system, implement new habit a week.
Exercize every day – begin easy, 20 minutes of cardio, work from there
Drink 8 cups of water every day. No excuses
Veggies and fruits…get more. For me and the family. Find recipes with lots of produce.
Dermatologist – see one. Wear sunscreen – for kids too.
Wash face every day.
Get more sleep – go to bed before midnight.
Floss every day
Vitamins – take them
Do Yoga – 3 times a week. Maybe a class?
Parenting – I will be a better mother and enjoy my children by:
Spend more time with kids
Less on computer
Read to Ani more
Art projects, outings, enjoy the kids
Patience – have it, use it. Take deep breaths.
Spend more time working with kids on school stuff
Writing with Aeron
Alphabet and numbers with Ani
Spanish with both
Schedules and routines
Establish firm bedtime routines and times
Chores and allowances
Work on actually having a routine and schedule.
Establish and actually follow through with effective discipline
Money – need more, spend less.
Work on establishing a budget and spending and saving plan.
Create new ways to bring in money (babysitting, selling jewelry, etc.
Spend less! Figure out what we have and don’t spend more. We would like to take vacations this year, need money to do it.
Lunch or breakfast out – only 2 times a month, not once a week.
Shopping lists – make them, use them. Try to adhere to them.
Organization and Household – make this home a haven, and know where everything is…
Work on routines – I have a perfectly good control journal – start using it.
Establish day to work on paperwork – both Mom’s club and home
Everything else:
Work on 50 things list – try to accomplish some of them
Stop berating myself about education. I don’t like my lack of education so do something about it…read nonfiction book every month, work on Spanish, etc.
Read or watch news every day. I have so little knowledge of current events. Rectify that.
Learn more about gardening, work on that. Compost pile?
Learn to sew, get better at other things I enjoy.
Work on my social skills – not everything is about me.
Be grateful for my life. Remember this in journaling.
Enjoy life.

So, what have I done about it? I joined WW...then quit. I didn't like the meetings, the paying $10 a week, taking my daughter along...it didn't work for me. I then started a weight loss group for moms in my area. We are still working on this taking off. Everything else I've done sporadically...I do take vitamins every day, and I haven't been to see a dermatologist yet...but the rest has been sporadic. I am starting the Best Life Diet on Monday. The first phase of this plan seems to follow pretty closely with what I mapped out here - I'll keep you all posted.

I've been spending time with the kids on school stuff, I've tried to be more effective with discipline, I'm still struggling with routine. I think, though, we are always growing and evolving as parents...so I'm not too terribly concerned about my lack of progress here. I think it will always be a section of my resolutions, because how can we be better parents if we are not willing to grow and learn?

Money...yikes. I am struggling with that one. I simply need to stop spending senselessly. There's no reason for it. I have resolved to not use my credit card, except for groceries tomorrow, this whole week. I'll keep you posted on that one, as well. I have been using shopping lists...that's not to say I've been sticking solely to the shopping list...

As far as organization: honestly, I am not a routine-oriented person, and I struggle with this. I just need to suck it up and work a little harder. Maybe start the Flylady stuff from the beginning again. My house isn't scary-dirty or anything, but it needs help. And the big jobs aren't getting tackled because I'm so wrapped up in getting the little ones completed...

As for everything else, here goes: I composed my "50 things" list - it's on this page. I haven't accomplished any of them, but it's written. I have been reading more that I normally wouldn't - including some nonfiction, and some classics. I finally read "To Kill a Mockingbird" this year. That was an amazing book. I also have been paying closer attention to current events, in part thanks to my friend Zen, who is addicted to NPR and seems to keep me posted in one way or another. I even find myself straying to news websites on occasion, just to have something to talk about. I am still dissatisfied with my education, but I have done some small thing to improve my mind, and I intend to continue. This blog is certainly a part of that...putting my thoughts down so someone else may actually be able to follow them is an important exercize. I have yet to learn to sew, my Spanish will get me to the bathroom and eating, and little else, I planted several things this year, and killed about half, but we had some yummy tomatoes, one tiny watermelon...no compost pile yet. I have been working on the social issues...of course the "mememe" tone of this post is no proof of that, but I find myself listening to what I say, and perhaps checking myself, before I start getting louder, or turning a story around to me.

I am sad to read how little I've accomplished this year, but I suppose I should be thankful the year is not over yet. I have some time to maybe tick a few things off the list...and I suppose the important thing to remember here is that I am a work in progress...which is not necessarily a bad thing. And now I am off to bed...before midnight. Kisses.