And what did Thick & Juicy say?

Believe it or not, I was actually a pretty shy kid.  I used to listen in awe to the other kids just ramble on to their parents about whatever.  It amazed me that kids could actually say what they were thinking to their parents. It was a feat I dared not attempt with my parents until I was about 20.  As a kid, I told myself that my kid would be able to talk to me about whatever and he does.  Boy, does he.  He tells me things I'd rather not hear sometimes and since I want him to tell me stuff, I have to listen.  Sometimes I have to listen like the words that come out of that boy's mouth don't freak me out:

-I won and now I'm the champion and Monday I get a brand new belt.  Tonight I was wrestling Thick'n'Juicy...

-Thick'n'Juicy?

-Cason.

-Oh...

-and then Butt Bacon said, ""Oompa Loompa, you""

-I'm sorry.  Butt Bacon?  Oompa Loompa?

-Yeah.  Cody and me.

-Your name is Oompa Loompa???

-It's just a nickname, Mom.  It's cool.

-Oh geez....

-and then Michael went home with his dad.

-Why doesn't Michael have a nickname?

-Oh, his nickname is Poop cuz he's as big as a turd.  But I don't call him that cuz it's rude.

-and Butt Bacon is polite?

-oh yeah....you should have heard what they used to call him.

I no longer wonder why my parents raised us to be seen and not anxious to be heard.  Still, I'd rather hear than not know what the hell was going on in his brain.  He's my child afterall, so I know there's lots of activity going on in there, not all rational or necessarily organized.  I feel pretty good about being less stressed as a mom than my mom.  But I can't imagine how much pot Cody and Michael's moms are smoking.  I almost fought with the daycare over Oompa Loompa.  Then again, I bet Cody and Michael look at my kid and wonder how he can just ramble on about whatever.

I'm old enough to remember retro the first time around

Transformers / More than meets the eye / Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons....

If you're singing along, guess what?  You're old enough to be retro too!  I'm sure you logged into myspace and saw the ad for the new movie.  Let me just say: I AM SO THERE!!!   I saw the preview and it looks amazing.  I'm taking my son for two reasons.  1) I think he'd enjoy it.  2) I don't want to look like a geek sitting there by myself.  But if the kid chooses not to go, I'm not above going solo.

ok, ok...one more!

Splinter taught them to be ninja teens (He's a radical rat!)
Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines (That's a fact, Jack!)
Raphael is cool but crude (Gimme a break!)
Michaelangelo is a party dude (Party!)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Heroes in a half shell
Turtle power!

That's too much fun.  I still have all the dialogue memorized to the first three movies.  (Thanks, Michael Alex and I went and saw TMNT.  Not bad...gotta love Patrick Stewart as Max Winters.  I was singing the theme song to the original cartoon on our way into the theater and my son was impressed.  He wanted to learn it and asked where I heard it.  I proudly explained that the Turtles first came out when *I* was a kid.  Then my heart sank a little as he asked, ""Was it in color?""  Darn kid.  Guess that's the price of getting old, but still I say:  I LOVE BEING A TURTLE!

ok, ok....blogging about vacation

This week has seemed extra long even though it wasn't particularly busy here at work.  Last week, I was on vacation at the parents' house in Laredo.  I looked at my mom Friday night and said, ""If I were at work, it would still be Monday and not even lunchtime yet.""  Time flew by. (except when certain people were arguing like they were still kids )  My mom made all my favorite stuff...tamales, menudo, lengua, fajitas, tortillas...  And for those of you who don't know, my mom is the best cook.  There is a long list of people waiting in line to be adopted just so they can eat fresh tortillas everyday.  Yes, they are that good.  I'm sorry to anyone who wanted me to bring food back.  It's an 8 hour drive and I didn't think you'd want salmonella with your tamales.

We celebrated Eric's birthday with a cook-out and somehow Easter got incorporated into it.  Well, not somehow, Juana went to the store and bought dozens of cascarones.  We Mexicans can fun with anything--the kids had an absolute blast with eggshells and confetti.  (Poor Mama will be sweeping up confetti for weeks.  )

Next year, I understand the gathering will become an annual event and is set to take place in Indianapolis.  I'm game, but not in March, Veronica and the girls came down wearing winter coats.  Maybe June or July--I've seen it snow in late May.  Plus I think a full week was too long, as it allowed us all to get on each other's nerves.  Maybe if we planned activities other than dinner... We'll see.

To my family members who couldn't attend:  You were missed.  We did talk about you.  And if you had a camera phone, I'm sure my loving sister sent you a pic of what you were missing.  She's so nice!   I still have to bring Alex's camera to show you how goofy kids are when left to their own devices.  They're strange, strange people.  meh--It's genetic.

Beauty is Suffering

While playing online, I finally found a listing of about 20-30 places in the greater metroplex that do threading. Threading is where a little Indian woman (dot, not feathers)takes a piece of cotton string, twists it somehow and rips out your facial hair.

You may be familiar with my eyebrow woes.  I had seriously overplucked them and have been letting them fill in so I could have a professional fix my mess.  It about drove me crazy not to pick up my tweezers, but I made it.

I picked the place closest to the optometrist where I had to pick up my sunglasses today.  I went about 2 o'clock when she said she wouldn't be busy.  True to her word, there was no waiting.for eyebrows? Your name please" She didn't even know that I was the one who called that morning- it was just *that* obvious my eyebrows needed help.

I sat down and she did her thing. I complimented her nice touch. (the girl back home used to rip so hard my whole forehead was swollen for HOURS) When she handed me the mirror I asked if I should go thinner. She indicated that they were sized for my face.... Actually, what she said was, "You have a big head. It's better not to go too small." So I picked up my purse and glasses to go. She gave me this wide-eyed surprised look and asked, "You're not doing your upper lip?!" I didn't realize I had a moustache problem. Obviously, I was mistaken. Why oh why did no one tell me it was out of control? I sat back down and she went to town. I don't know what happened to her nice touch, but getting the lip done was a bitch. It didn't get all swollen or hurt very long so maybe the lip just hurts more.

I feel better about the facial hair situation.  I'm rather embarrassed that I had a facial hair "situation", but life's like that sometimes. 

Days like this, I wonder if I should keep putting it all out there for the world to judge.  But then I realize, the world judges anyway so I may as well keep my friends and family amused with my wyrdness.

WW

I've given it much consideration and Wonder Woman is the most kick-ass superhero out there.  She's smart, hot, strong and has fabulous accesories.   Who needs a cape when you have a tiarra?  Yes, she rules. 

Linda Carter is half Mexican and half Irish like Alex.  (Leprecano ) She did more stunts than the Incredible Hulk (what's his name? Ferigno?) while in high heeled boots, running around in a strapless ""top"" and sporting big bloomers.  But unlike more recent women as action heroes, her nipples didn't show and her costume wasn't so tight that it defined her labia.  Kick-ass and Classy...just can't beat it.