Officially Nominated

That's right. I have been officially nominated for the prestigious, Mother Of The Year Award. I must admit, in light of yesterdays post, I am both shocked and elated at the honor.

The other morning, I hear Michael in the kitchen rattling around. The next thing I hear, is his melodious tone screeching down the hall, "what's for breakfast?" Now, I'm inside and in the middle of something. Let me clarify. I am already in the house, but being inside when you are already inside, means you are further inside the house. In a different room. If you were in my kitchen and said, "ok, I'm going inside," I would know you are going to the living room. LOL! It's all very confusing I know. I don't know if it's a Northeastern thing or ethnic one or why we even do it but we do. Off the subject a bit.

Since, I'm not getting to Mr. I can't WAIT for breakfast any time soon, I yell back, "I don't know baby, whatever you want this morning will be fine." I'm thinking, he will make a selection from one of the 6000 boxes of cereal we have in the cabinet. I swear, it looks like Jerry Seinfeld's Apt. However, that was clearly not the case. I round the corner to the kitchen and this is what was for breakfast...

Now, if I feed them Dairy Queen banana splits with large cokes for dinner and let them stay up and watch the Cartoon Network until their eyes fall out of their heads, I should have it in the bag. Hm, this mothering stuff is cake, lol.

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed."

-Unknown

...and DO NOT come out!

Those few words followed, "get into your rooms, NOW." Give me strength. One day last week, just before the holiday, the kids about sent me to my death. I mean, I felt myself rocketing to the edge without any signs of slowing down. I was sure that Honey would be making calls over the weekend, stating there was a terrible accident. She snapped.

When I realized that I had to do something and do it quick, sending them to their rooms was the only thing I could think of that would save the lives of us all. With all the air my smoke free lungs of 8 years could hold I shouted, "the two of you get into your rooms and DO NOT come out for any reason." Well now. As they both recognized the verge of hysteria tone in my voice, they complied without any lip. Now I'm thinking, "OK girl, in through the nose and out through the mouth and repeat."

I continued with my task at hand. (couldn't even tell you what it was now) I for whatever reason, stepped out into the mud room and shut the door behind me. Bad, bad thing. Very bad. I am now locked out of the house. CRAP! With my head in my hands or better yet up my butt I'm standing there looking at my keys dangling just inches from me. However, on the other side of the door.

We have taught the kids to NEVER open the door for anyone they don't know, for any reason. Now, I'm think this is not at all going to come in handy here. I start knocking on the door. Man, are they going to come out? I told them not for any reason. They can't open the door because they don't know who it is because they aren't going to come out. Genius. Now, I'm banging and yelling. Open the door. Because Michaels room is closest to the door I am seriously rapping on, I hear him shout, " who it is." "It's ME, Mommy." This all goes on longer than I would have liked but he finally emerges from his room. Oh, thank God. Mina is right behind him by now. Michael opens the door and asked why I locked myself out. Please. I am however, very grateful that Michael was there because if it were up to Mina, she would have negotiated me back in. I mean, we would have had to strike a serious deal, for her to put the first ounce of weight on that gold lever that would allow me entry.

Naturally, they didn't have to return to their dungeons, but there was no need. They both were a pleasure for the rest of the afternoon.



"Kind words will unlock an iron door"

-Turkish Proverb

The biting elephant

There couldn't be anymore people in the kitchen. That is typical, I'm sure for anyone's kitchen on Thanksgiving afternoon. Even over all the chatter that was going on, I still heard my little girl crying.

I rip around the corner and there she stands wailing, while holding a small stuffed baby elephant. I thinking, "ok, either something horrific has happen to her little friend or there was an elephant attack that I wasn't aware of." I scoop her up and in between sobs she informs me that "it" bit her. (apparently she was attacked by the elephant, lol) Naturally, my next question was what? What bit you? "Something in the elephant," she tells me. Before she got the rest out, I could see that she was bitten by a bee. I was relieved that it wasn't the elephant. I would have hated to have put the thing down right there in the living room, being Thanksgiving and all.

Daddy is VERY allergic to those honey making babies and with her never being bitten before, I quickly look in all the key areas for any welts or rashes. Nothing. A little bit of ice and she was off and running.

There was some swelling later that evening and by Friday night this is what it looked like. We called her club for the rest of the weekend. Mean, I know but still sorta funny.

I think it's about time for a manicure, huh?

"It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised; the mosquito is swatted."

- Marie O'Conner

Sunday Funnies

Instant boob job!

*I may have to remember this for the future.

Fat Friday

Self Portrait

Maybe this isn't what I look like but it's certainly what I feel like after yesterdays gluttonous activity. Whew!

"In general, mankind, since the improvement of cookery, eats twice as much as nature requires."

-Benjamin Franklin

HNT III

Turning back the hands of time...

...to think, he's nearly seven.

"Modesty is a vastly overrated virtue."

- John Kenneth Galbraith

"Twas the Night of Thanksgiving

'Twas the night of Thanksgiving, But I just couldn't sleep I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned - The dark meat and white But I fought the temptation With all of my might.

Tossing and turning With anticipation The thought of a snack Became infatuation.

So, I raced to the kitchen, Flung open the door And gazed at the fridge, Full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey And buttered potatoes, Pickles and carrots, Beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling So plump and so round, 'Til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, Floating into the sky With a mouthful of pudding And a handful of pie.

But, I managed to yell As I soared past the trees.... Happy eating to all - Pass the cranberries, please.

May your stuffing be tasty, May your turkey be plump. May your potatoes 'n gravy Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious May your pies take the prize, May your Thanksgiving dinner Stay off of your thighs.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed!

According to Mina

Her school career has started out with a bang. Lots of stories to be told, new friends being made and plenty of things learned. The things learned, is what is so astounding to me. I mean with only a two day a week schedule, and a half day at that, I'm amazed at the things she has learned and remembers.

The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us and of course the kids are all learning about the Pilgrims, the Mayflower, Indians and how they all came to know each other. As well as how they all survived, where and in what the lived. Mina came home one day last week a fountain of knowledge. She just knew everything about the Indians. She explain to me that they all lived it Teepee's that were built, that they had to hunt with bow and arrows for their food, she even knew what a baby Indian was called.

"Mommy, do you know what they call baby Indians?" My reply was, "what?" "They are called a Baboo." Now, I can barely contain my laughter. I asked her if she was sure about that, and of course she was positive because that is was her teacher told her. I explained to her, that I think her teacher may have said Papoose. "Oh yeah, that's right. That's what they are called, a Papoose."

A side note along the same vein. Michael asked at dinner tonight if they had stores to shop in. I told him I knew they didn't have any Supermarkets that's for sure. "OK. What about WalMart?" Please, is there NO end?



"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset."

-Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator
1890 (last words)

Overheard

After dropping the kids at school, I decided to swing by my neighbors. Mostly, because I'm considered the Mayor of our little community by some. More specifically my husband. I thought it would be a good idea to keep up my PR for the next election. Also, to see how they were making out with the remodeling of their kitchen.

I step inside to find an almost completely gutted kitchen, and my neighbor, lets just call her Mrs. O. to protect the innocent, looking beside herself. While the two workers, lets call them Clyde and Homer to protect the moronic, were busy looking busy. Clyde was holding the wall up or was it the other way around? While Homer was rattling around under the sink in the one cabinet that was left. Mrs. O. wandered off into the livingroom that is just a doorway away from the kitchen and I became side tracked with snack bag of cookies.

Clyde, who appeared to the brains of the operation yells into Mrs. O. "Are you going to be using this sink again?" I pull my nose out of the cookie bag, look at him and think, "WHAT?" Mrs. O. replies "oh, yes sir, my sink will be going back there in front of the window." Me, just because I can't keep my mouth shut say, "No, he wants to know if you are going to use this same sink?" She tells him, "no, no I have a new one ordered that will be going there."

I thinking, "of COURSE you do." That freakin' sink along with everything in this kitchen is over 30 years old. You are having all of the cabinets custom built, granite counter tops, brand new hard wood flooring, lighting and top of the line appliances going in. So, yes Clyde, lets go ahead and just put that same 30 year old sink BACK in. I think it may just set off the granite. UGH!

Meet Clyde

Whatcha think 'bout havin Clyde cum do sum work at yer house?

"Don't you wish there were a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence? There's one marked 'Brightness', but it doesn't work."

~Gallagher

Sunday Funnies

Wow! Sure am glad I'm not a cow. Wouldn't want to be doing more than TWO.

Makin' Mommy proud!

Yes. Yes, he's mine. Yet still, I must ask WHY?

I suppose the why, would be better asked of me. Why did I take a picture of this so attractive sight, instead of telling him to please pull his fingers out of his nose. Well, who really knows the answer to that? Beside, I think a picture is a lot more fun.

"When you're up to your nose in sh!! keep your mouth shut"

-Unknown

Homepage news

I sit down at the computer today and watch my homepage flash the news, local and otherwise. I am not at all a celebrity hound. I could actually give less than a rip about anything related to that, but this did catch my eye. The headline read "The weeks best quotes"

Nicole Richie was recognized for this oh so profound statement. "I don't even own a scale." It's genius I tell you. Now I'm thinking, "well it's about time you get one baby, because you look like hell."

Here she looks like "super-fly" on a latte rampage. Please, what's with the shades? They would look just as good mounted on the skeleton hanging from a bolt in it's head in Biology class. Man get off the latte's and hit a buffet.



Her clothes literally hang off her. This little piece of photographic brilliance was called "the nip slip." How clever. I mean, forget the nip, get a load of the what that garment is hanging on. Doesn't have anymore appeal, than if it was actually on a hanger. Ugh!

We are in a bad place, when we as a society look at this and consider it HOT!

"No diet will remove all the fat from your body because the brain is entirely fat. Without a brain, you might look good, but all you could do is run for public office."

- George Bernard Shaw

HNT Numéro Deux

This is my second Half Nekkid Thursday, yay! Numéro Deux, is number two in French. Just thought I'd throw in a little numerical trivia.

Guess who loves Daddy?

"Acting is standing up nekkid and turning around very slowly."

-Rosalind Russell

"Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore"

Dude, the weather is horrific tonight. Severe everything. Thunder, lightening, rain, wind we are even under tornado warning as I'm typing this. (have never been accused of being the brightest crayon in the box) It's a very unsettling thing when the weather turns nasty. The kids get all freaked out and it's makes for a long evening.

Michael as it is, is our little meteorologist. Oh wait, he's inquiring as we speak about the tornado warning, lol! He just has to have all the information. What all the colors mean on the radar and what direction it's going. I have to keep him away from the eyewitness news team. I suppose it's a good thing but NOT when it keeps him from going to sleep. That is where I draw the line on the input as far as he goes.

I have a nagging feeling that I will be spending sometime in the closet tonight with them. THAT is not going to be pretty. First it's not very big, it's tiny actually, and second if I go into the closet, that also means I have to be coming out of it too. Not really something I think I should be doing with my kids. :):)

I think it's time to shut down. My neighboring county has their sirens sounding, yikes. Pray I don't meet the Tinman tonight!


"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."

-John Ruskin

All is well!

Ta-dah! We made it AND we didn't have to spend any time in the closet. Although, I was glued to the tube for my fair warning. I did see a Scarecrow in the mirror this morning as I staggered into the bathroom, but no Tinman, thank goodness. We were lucky and usually are. Fortunately, we have never had the destruction our neighboring counties have had. Even last night the reports were bad, there has been some reported deaths. Thanks so much for all your concern, I appreciate it.

Poor Miss Kitty

Crap. It's here. Literally, the crap is here. My little Mina has a touch of this stomach yak that has been going around. Thankfully, the key word here is "touch." It is not near as violent as some I've heard about, read about and even had to deal with in the past. Just some very frequent and rushed trips to the John, not to mention a very sore coolie.

It all started when Mina began complaining that her belly hurt, that is never good news. I wasn't sure what the deal was or what exactly to do for her so I continued my trek to the supermarket. Not long after being there, she makes the announcement that she needs to go to the bathroom. (there was urgency in her voice) I race her in and toss her on the bowl, after a quick visual. I swear the child exploded. What was released was horrific and the force in which it exited was un-freakin-believable. I think I saw her raise right off the seat. I now knew what was causing the belly situation. Someone obviously planted little sticks of dynamite in her when nobody was looking. The rush was on. I had to get home and I had to do it fast.

Now home, I feel a little better, the bathrooms are close at hand and she can get there by herself. The afternoon goes on, and just before dinner I'm informed that she now has on plain white panties. (not that I had the first clue what she had on before that) I asked her why and she made the great declaration that she farted on Miss Kitty. Apparently, she was having some difficulty determining what was going to be just air and what wasn't. So, she actually sharted on Miss Kitty. I assured her that is was alright and that Miss Kitty would forgive her. She asked if it happened to me, I said "me baby, not so much but your Daddy is a completely different story." Your brother, I swear, I believe he thinks everything he expels is going to be air, ugh! She felt better that she was not alone. I naturally had to do a double doody check, and it all checked out.

Lets hope it stops there. I'm not holding my breath. Actually, as I sit here pecking this out I'm feeling a bit on the queasy side, and my stomach is making some ungodly noises. Crap!


"How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on"

-Unknown

Mr. Mom for the weekend

I was away for the weekend, and you know what that means? Yup, Honey was alone AND in charge of the kids. (God help us) Salena and I had a weekend away for business and definitely some fun. Business wise, not such a booming success, a great experience, but the FUN OMGosh. Not only did we have fun we even made a couple new friends. We laughed and talked, even got in a movie. We saw Derailed, it was pretty good. I really just enjoyed being in a theater and not have to say "shhhh" 600 times or have to race them to the bathroom every other two seconds. (because they just had to have the big soda)

I called several times and all seemed well. Michael answered the phone, so that was comforting. At least I knew he was still alive. Mina was at the neighbors, our adopted Grandma's so I knew she was safe. By the time I was on my way home and called to let them know, it sounded like it was time. Michael said, "Mommy, I'm in the mud room watching all the cars, when are you coming?" I told him soon and that I missed him very much, he started to cry, poor thing. I said I would be home to tuck him in at bedtime but he had to be in his jammies and ready.

Daddy, by the time we arrived home was frantic. I mean, just frazzled. I wasn't in the house five minutes and I heard all the trauma that took place, from getting to church on time and all the questions on my where abouts to not being able to find Mina's favorite heart pajamas, lol. Man that makes me LAUGH!! I could see the relief all over his face the moment I walked in, after of course he stopped obsessing over a bruise on Michael's back. (which was NOTHING, ugh) I swear, it's a darn good thing he's not here all day. Well, he made it through, my house is a wreck but my little one's are still breathing, whew! Let him say, "gee, baby what did YOU do today?"

I'm glad to me home, but I think I'll wrap things up here and go make up my two missed days with Honey. :):)

Whew!

It's been a LOOOONG week and I'm too pooped to peck. (I swear, I wish I could be cloned.) I think I'm going to call it a day and it the boards.

Just remember.......

LOL!

"My values, our values, aren't about pointing fingers. They are about offering a helping hand."

-Kathleen Blanco

OUCH!

I have finally caved. I have succumbed to the pressures of the blogging world and I want to play. That's right. HNT, I'm in.

I think purple is my new favorite color. Would you just look at that shiner. Granted not where you find your typical shiner, but a shiner none the less. Here is what happens when you think your Superman after a couple of Corona's, poolside. It's best to leave the horse play to the younger idiots, don't ya think?

Gotcha!

The only thing I have to say today is.....

SMILE!!

...and I love my pink pig.

Start every day with a smile and get it over with.

~W.C. Fields

The two of them, FREAKS!

My man, who needs Halloween, when I have kids that look like this on any given day through out the year.



Holy freakin' COW! Where on this earth was I the morning these two lunatics got dressed? I mean, the red. ALL the red, but I might add how lovely her headband matches the very little bit of white in all the red. Gosh, and those shades. Please, wearing them, along with that smirk on her puss, she looks like her last name should be Belushi. I swear, a bonafide "Blues Brother"

Who is that boy? Certainly he's not MY son. With his plastic fire helmet (that would be sure to crush in a strong breeze) and those yellow safety goggles, he looks like an escapee from the local nut house. Perhaps that is the new fire safety get up, who knows? What I DO know, is that I must pay closer attention whilst the young ones are making the selections for the day.

They sure do know how to make Mommy proud! I look at those faces and just HAVE to love them.


"Things are seldom what they seem, / Skim milk masquerades as cream."

- William S. Gilbert

A voice from home

How nice it was to hear, even though I didn't know her. See, Honey came home this afternoon with tons of real estate info. Not that we need it for anything really, he just likes to be in the "know." (he knows nothing else but he has to know this) The information was received from a realtor the he found on a sign, much like everyone does. Apparently, she was from our original part of the country, NJ and it seemed as though they had a lot in common. There was more information that needed to be exchanged, so he called her again from home, this is where I got in the act.

We are not from New Jersey, New York actually but I say close enough. As Honey carried on his conversation, there was a comfort that I quickly recognized. There were several comments made that I just couldn't let slide. Before I knew it, I was talking to her through him. You know, I would tell him something and he would relay what I said and vise versa. She was done with Honey and asked to speak to me. Ahhh, the sound. It was like music to my ears. That thick NY/NJ accent. We talked and talked, about kids, husbands, being from the Northeast and now living in the South and everything else. It was a great conversation that lasted about a half hour. By the time we hung up, I told her that I felt like I have always known her. She felt the same way.

I don't miss the state itself and certainly don't miss the winters that make me want to lock myself in a closed garage with a running car. Ugh! I do miss the type people. I know we are considered rude, loud, obnoxious and fast paced but I for the most part love that about us. We speak our mind, love to laugh and most of all we just GET it. Living Southward for the past ten years my Bronx Baby and I have had to learn a completely new way of life. I don't mind it, it's actually very nice, just different. Things here are very slow paced. That, I'm still adjusting to. I have people tell me very often that I must learn to talk lower and slower, lol! I just don't know how to do that.

I truly love where I live and it's a beautiful place to raise a family. I wouldn't want to be living anywhere else BUT I do love coming across people that though no longer there still call the North home.

Sunday Funnies

How do you NOT know the stick?

Of course we adults and parents benefit greatly from Halloween. Need a little something sweet? Sure, we head for the kids stash. For the past week Salena and I have been rifling through the kids pumpkin heads looking for "our" favorites. On one of our invasions I come across a fun size Chick-O-Stick and this is how it went:



Me: Oh man, look a Chick-O-Stick. I haven't had one of these in ages.

S: What's a Chick-O-Stick?

Me: Are you kidding me? You have never had a Chick-O-Stick?

S: I've never even heard of them.

Me: NEVER?

S: EVER!

Me: Oh, they ARE gooooooood!

S: Really? What do they taste like, chicken?

Ok. Now. Please tell me what kind of a freak would pass out chicken flavored Halloween candy? If they did? Their house wouldn't survive the year. The neighborhood kids would burn it to the ground before the next candy fest!

I will NEVER be bringing my kids to her house trick or treating, that is for sure. Does it taste like chicken? Good LORD!!


"Anyone who uses the phrase 'easy as taking candy from a baby' has never tried taking candy from a baby."

- Anonymous

Do ya know what I'm sayin'?

Please. I don't even know what I'm saying and I have the book. A book of Ozark sayings, that God help me I think these people really use. I have gone through a couple pages (mostly because that was all I could handle) and found some and thought I would see just how much Ozarkinese you know. Ready? Here goes.

Each question will have a correct answer.

1. "I'll jest dance with who brung me."
a) stick with my prior decision
b) stay with current Boe

2. "I cain't turn off work like I used to."
a) gear down
b) accomplish as much

3. "She looks like a bale of hay that's had it's string busted."
a) spread out some/pregnant
b) is a complete wreck

4. "She's gotta' rear end like a forty dollar mule."
a) nice butt
b) wide load

5. "That feller is too narrow 'tween th' eyes."
a) has a very thin face
b) can't be trusted

6. "She's awful persnickety."
a) very fussy
b) picky

7. "You're actin' awful twittle-pated."
a) confused
b) silly

8. "I'm dryer'n a popcorn fart."
a) hot
b) thirsty

9. "We jawed up a patch."
a) talked a lot
b) eat a bunch

10. "I've got twinges in m' hinges."
a) arthritis
b) sore muscles


OK, I'll stop the torture, lol. I will be sure to post the correct answers for those of you who are interested in taking up a new language. (I will post them in your blogs comments)

"All slang is metaphor, and all metaphor is poetry."

-Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Retraction

Girls afternoon out! Me, Mina and Salena, out for the day and what a great day it was. This being said, you must realize that that also means the boys, Honey and Michael were left to have their own fun.

After taking care of the necessary shopping, like Home Depot, Lowes and every other home improvement store within a 35 mile radius, it was time for the FUN! Honey took Michael to a motorcycle shop. (thank God he didn't come home with a new bike) He did however, come home with new riding pants and chest protector for Michael, that were by the way ridiculously expensive. Ugh! (Michael loved them, so all was forgiven) Next, they were off to lunch. I receive a call from my little boy stating that he is having just the greatest time with Daddy. What music to my ears.

We arrive home a bit later than the boys. Michael was decked out in his new gear and ripping around on his bike. After noticing us, he stops, gets off his bike and proudly models his new wears. He goes on to tell me all about his day, things he did and people he saw. He was so excited. He says to me "Mommy, I saw a lady that looked just like you." You did, I asked? "Oh yes, she was as tall as you, with brown hair and...." I asked him, "well, was she pretty?" "Um, NO Mommy! I SAID she looked like YOU!" Now you see why I am retracting my earlier statement. LOL, did you ever? I swear, BOYS!


Don't wait to make your son a great man - make him a great boy

-Anonymous

Tag catch up!

Name five foods, dishes or otherwise, that were a part of your childhood, and that you sometimes miss when nostalgia gets to you..."

Hm, not only was my Mom a fabulous cook, she was an even better all around homemaker. There are so many things I remember about my childhood that my Mother made so special. She was/is creative, funny, warm and extremely welcoming to ALL. Lets see, food wise some of the things I remember :

Thanksgiving was always a wonderful time for our family. Lots of warmth, laughter and good food. (plenty of food) Trying to recall, I would have to say that my Mom's stuffing was the best thing on the table. It was just so yummy, I mean the flavor was amazing and she didn't put in the yack body parts of the bird, whew!

Coffee cake. Need I say more? My Mothers coffee cake should have been patented and marketed, it was that good. The body of the cake was dense but moist, and had the most wonderfully buttery flavor. The TOP! Please, I can't even tell you how great IT was. I remember the smell of the cake floating through the house, down the hall and rifling right up my nostrils. Even though I had no intentions of getting out of bed, I couldn't help myself. Just like in the cartoons, the visible smell would make a lasso, tie itself around me and haul me out of a very warm bed. It dragged me back down the hall and planted me there at our kitchen counter. Very much worth getting up for.

Next and not so fab. in and of itself, but I loved the jello desserts my Mom would make. Granted it's just jello BUT, with a loving hand and her best parfait glasses she would whip up the most beautiful little treats for us all after dinner. They always made me feel like we were so special. (I know we were/are) Just that she took the time to make each one. Not just throwing a blob of jello in a bowl, covering it with topping and tossing it in front of us. I just remember sitting there with a towering glass of prettiness in front of me, and that is was prepared so lovingly by Mom.

Something to eat? Not so much. Homemade play-dough. Sure we had tons of the store bought stuff, but it just wasn't the same. Being raise in the Northeast, we had our share of cold and rainy or snowy days. I can remember specifically requesting that Mom make us some dough, and would whip up a batch as us older ones sat waiting patiently. What fun!

NO! Not that for dinner. Just because this is supposed to be about things that were great, I had to throw this in. The meal that would cause me to sit at the table for hours was liver and spinach. Holy COW! What was this woman thinking with such a dinner? There were four of us, and this is what she created. To this day, thirty some odd years later, I still have to flee the area if either are being prepared. YACK!!

So, there are my five. Hope you have enjoyed it.

Mom, thanks for making all the simple things so very special. I knew how to be a wife and Mother long before I became either because I was lead by a wonderful example of both. I love you!

I wish....

.....for an entire 72, I was not needed by anyone for anything. SHIT!