Diary of the Nello

Give Me A Movie About Wrestlers...

2006-04-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

...And I will give you a movie with Jack Black in it.
I don't know why I am so movie minded lately....
But.
Can I just tell you that I CANNOT wait for "Nacho Libre" to come out?

You have got to check out the trailer for this movie. (click on "video" then on the left side you will see the "theatrical trailer" link. click on it.)
Watch it. And then just try to come back here and tell me you didn't laugh.
Just.try.

On a side note:
Guess what I finally did?
Pilates.
I know. I exercised.
Is the world coming to an end or something? If you remember correctly, I had a New Year's Resolution to do Pilates. Well.... failure that I am, I just got around to implementing that resolution today.
But guess what? I feel stronger, taller, and more sculpted.
Just like Mari Winsor said I would.

I plan on doing her 20 minute workout five days a week.
And because I am a glutton for punishment, all y'all will know if I did or not.
*Pilates, check!*

A Whole New World

2006-04-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

Get ready.
To Wiggle.
We've been ready for so long.
Get ready.
To Wiggle.
When you Wiggle you can't go wrong.

And seriously folks. You really can't.
We took our kids to see the Wiggles live in concert.
Holy crap! I know.
I can't believe that we did it either.

You have to know that I have long been averse to the Wiggles. My kids watch the show on a very limited basis. (read: with their Dad.) But they love them. They really do. I, however, do not. And since I am a mean Mom and in control of the remote, they really don't get to watch them at all when I am around.
Go ahead. Lambast me for being a crappy Mom who doesn't give her kids everything they want. Go ahead. I'm waiting.

Anyway. My opinion of the Wiggles has changed. ~gasp~
I really expected to see substitute Wiggles on tour.
Holy moly was I wrong. All the originals were there... and I do mean ALL. I'm talking down to the freaky Red Coat Dancers.
Hey. These Wiggles take their responsibility to these little kids seriously. And for that, and that reason alone, I think that they are oh-kay.

Needless to say, my kids L.O.V.E.D. loved it. They had a blast.

And because Simon and Helene had a good time, Tyson and I had a GREAT time.
... Even though we did look like this before the show started:

Here is a few snippets of conversation between Tyson and I for you:

"Kelly. Hey. Kelly!"
~looks at him~
"Yellow is huge!"
~laughing my ass off~

"Tyson... do you see that dancer?"
"Which one?"
"Uhh... The one that is seriously on crack."
(You better click on that link above. You WON'T be sorry.)

"Kelly."
"Wha...."
"Yellow is a sweaty mess."
~laughing my ass off~ "That is why they let him wear the short sleeve shirt!"

We had a flippin' sweet time.
Eighty bucks well spent.

*Note: Although the Wiggles have won me over I want to make sure that everyone knows that this is a rare occurrence and pretty much never happens. That said. The stupid Doodlebops will never ever change my opinion. Not.ever.*

Friday Wrap #13

2006-04-21T01:03:00.000-07:00

My week has been pretty busy... But really.
Not that interesting.

I launched a new design for Miss Virenda over at The Green Straw. I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE this design. So funky yet so simple. Of course, Vi was a complete doll to work with and I HIGHLY recommend her site. Go see her. Go see her often!
Helene threw up the other night. Pukey kids are NEVER fun. However. She miraculously did not get puke everywhere. I know! I love this kid!!! The ralph was only on her favorite blanket. I don't know how this miracle occurred, but I will take it. She is better now. Hallelujah!
We took the kids to see "The Wild". Here is a short Nello Review. This is a kids movie and I actually laughed at a few parts. I know. What the? Well... I actually laughed at pretty much any part that the Australian Koala, that acted as if it were drunk, was in. I don't know what it was, maybe something in my popcorn, but that damn Koala made me laugh. Anyway. All in all this was a pretty okay kids flick. However, I'm not sure the DVD will make it into my house until my kids are a bit older. (There are some scary Lion scenes.)
So yesterday I was talking to Vi on the phone. This conversation resulted in a dramatic defeat in my personal battle against arachnophobia. I don't know HOW we got on the subject of spiders and such, but I am freaked. I mean, we talked about jumping spiders, black widows, and all about the people that get sick and die from spider bites. Can I just tell you how freakin' glad I am that I currently employ a bug destroyer? Because after THAT conversation, I am not so sure that I will sleep well ever again. ~Oh. Remind me to later tell you about the time that I was way pregnant with Simon and a HUGE spider was crawling on me in my sleep. And I woke up. And the very pregnant lady shrieked and jumped. Jumped real high. (Jumping while pregnant is normally frowned upon by the way...)
I decided once again that my neighbor is a jerk. Long story. Suffice it to say that he glares at me whenever I am around, he gives the stink eye to any of our visitors, and he talks like a serial killer. This guy not only pisses me off... but he scares me. He is the kind of guy that the kids on the block all think is a mass murderer. Who knows. Maybe he is.....

And there you go.
I cannot believe that I have been doing my wrap for THIRTEEN weeks.
Time flies.
Even when you are NOT having fun.

Thursday Thirteen #18

2006-04-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Ways I Waste My Time While On The Internet
Be prepared to be sucked in.

1. Star Wars Kid
A classic. A great way to start off the day.
2. Paper Toss
Be prepared to be addicted.
3. The Friggin' Nut Job
Yes. I really do love to ogle the freaks.
4. Freaky Christmas Lights
If these were my neighbors I would move.
5. Mr. Rogers Breakdancing
No. You read correctly. The man busts a freaky move. Check it. Check.it.now.
6. SNL Clips
Watch some of those clips. You won't be sorry.
7. Numa Boy
Uh. I could watch this all.day.long.
8. Lyrics Search
Mmm-Hm. I look for lyrics. A lot.
9. I'm hooked on Hasselhoff
I cannot get away from this video. It has become a part of me.
10. The President of the U.S. has an ipod
I'm sorry... but did Bush just become sorta cool? ~ha!~
11. David Elsewhere
This is amazing. This kid is ALL cartilage. He has no bones. None.
12. Google Images
Love. Can spend many many hours searching.
13. Randy Constan
No day would be complete without seeing the latest fashion trend in crazy land.

In the words of the the famous Lena, "It is RUDE to link and run!"
Please Leave Your Thursday Thirteen Link AND A Comment!
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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂs easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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I Should Probably Tell You.......

2006-04-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

I realized that for all the complaining I do on this blog I hardly ever come back with an update of how things turned out.

I have been yammering on and on about hives and mystery bumps since December.
Update: I got my house fogged two weeks ago in a last ditch effort to be healed.... And.
Voila! Gone. The friggin' bumps are gone. I am pretty sure I was getting hives up until January. And then, obviously, I started getting bit by something. I don't know what was biting me because even the exterminator couldn't find the bug. But whatever it was is gonzo thanks to crushed up chrysanthemum plants being smoked into my house. (aka: bug fog)

I think I also mentioned that I was fighting with Simon's school district so he would receive the services he needs for his sensory integration dysfunction.
Update: I win.
Yeah. All it took was about fifty thousand (read: twenty to thirty) bitch out sessions aimed at anyone in the special education department, some phone calls to local media about the huge school district having illegal going-ons in relation to special needs kids, threats of my mortgaging my house to get an attorney to sue the school district for, among other things, SCREWING with my Simon's future, and then finally one big fat gigantic rant aimed directly into the phone at the head of the special education department. Whew. After all that we won. You would think I would be really proud of myself. I'm not. You know who I turned into during all of that? My Mother. Hey. I love her... but she gets real mean when a situation calls for it. And I do mean.... real.mean.

You know how I've been blabbing about rain?
Update: Rain gone.
Oh freakin' happy day! Because the rain went away Tyson and I finally planted our garden over the Easter weekend. We planted tomatoes, some pumpkins and some bell peppers and I am so darn excited I can hardly contain myself.

I think that is it. I complain about a lot here at The Diary sooooo....
If I missed something let me know.

*UPDATED TO SAY*
Oh yes. I had MANY questions regarding the fact that I shaved my face.
I have to tell you that no. The hair, at least mine, does not grow back thicker or stubbly. If it did I would have NO problem hauling my ass to the local waxer. In fact... I would rather be waxed. BUT. Right now I don't have the time or the babysitter to do it. Before children I was waxed on a regular basis. After children... not so much. Pretty much only in the summer time does the waxing happen anymore. You know.... bathing suit season. You know what I'm sayin' there don't you?

Come on. Just Take A Guess

2006-04-18T23:04:00.000-07:00

What does it say to you that I currently have an open bag of See's chocolate....

On my nightstand?

A. Stress
B. Period time
C. Sad addiction

A Nello Movie Review

2006-04-17T23:24:00.000-07:00

I decided that every time I go to the movies (which is seriously NOT often) I am going to post about it.

You wanna know why?
Because I am SICK.
Sick of saying, "I don't even remember the last time we went to the movies."
Yeah. I am so not going to play that game ANY.MORE.

Saturday night we (The Husband, The Sister, and The B.I.L) went to see
"Thank You For Smoking".

First of all. The cast was really great.
Some names: Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, David Koechner, Adam Brody.
Of course there were others: Katie Holmes, Robert Duvall, William H. Macy, Rob Lowe.

Second of all. This was a really funny movie.
Some highlights:
Rob Lowe clad in a kimono. This definitely equals immense hilarity.
Rob Lowe's assistant played by Adam Brody. He personified the typical L.A. ass-kiss to the letter. To the letter, people.

This picture gets two thumbs up via the Nello.
Thank You For Smoking is rated 'R' for a lot of bad language and a few unnecessary sex scenes between Aaron and Katie.

Holy Crap!!!!

2006-04-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

I am so busy.

Here is the latest out of Nello Design.

Go to Hillary's and check it out!

Like I said before.
I am seriously busy.
Over the weekend, while it wasn't raining, we did a bunch of yard work and holy crap!
My body is feeling it tonight. Just a few words for you.
Out.Of.Shape.

Oh. And I got tagged.
Thanks Denise. Did that rock I threw hit you yet?
*UPDATE* I was tagged for this same thing by Mary too! Looks like I gotta get me another rock. ~looking~

Rules

1. Go write weird facts/things/etc. about yourself in my comment box and on your blog, then tag six more people!
2. Then leave a comment that says Ã‘You are taggedÃ’ in their comments telling them to read your blog.

I actually have not one, but two tattoos. (Ok. Get up off the floor for cryin' out loud.)
I had bunion surgery when I was..... FOURTEEN years old. Uh-huh. I had the feet of a "sixty year old" according to the podiatrist. Whatever. All I know is the two scars on my feet look like two big fat pink worms. Nice work Mr. Foot Doctor. You clearly did not care about scarring a poor fourteen year old for life.
I didn't actually hit puberty until I was about 16. No.Joke. I swear. I was still "growing into myself" when I was 18.
I hate big crowds of people. I have been known to actually get painful heart palpitations because of them.
I have to shave my legs everyday. If I don't. I can't sleep. (Creepy.)
I get sad when my houseplants kick the bucket. I actually almost cried (read: cried) when my last african violet died.

Alright.
I hereby tag:
Lena
Kathinator
Vi
Cub Mommy
Marcia
Shelli

Friday Wrap #12

2006-04-14T01:09:00.000-07:00

This week I tried to get over my blog-hate.
I think It is starting to work.....
But you never can tell.
Your blog can turn on you at.any.time.

I launched this design for FrogLegs yesterday. I loved doing this design. It really made me feel like spring. And heaven knows, with all this rain, I NEED to feel like spring!

Simon and Helene have become exhibitionists. I swear. Every time I turn around someone is sans clothing. This is actually really funny.... but then quickly becomes annoying when I end up re-dressing them ten times per day.

I got Pride and Prejudice on Netflix on April 5th and I STILL have not returned it. I am SURE I have watched it about 100 BILLION (read like Dr. Evil) times.

I ground my very own wheat flour yesterday. I know. How very domestic of me. I have GREAT plans of making wheat bread today. Where did I get my mill, you ask? Oh you know... I inherited it from my Mom who inherited it from my Grandpa. I have had this mill since Simon was born and I used it for the first time... yesterday.

The experience above made me miss my Grandpa tremendously. He passed away in the summer of 2003.

I realized the other night while cleaning my bathrooms that I actually hate cleaning bathrooms MORE than I hate doing laundry. Oh.My.Gosh. I never thought that my hatred of laundry could be outdone by something else. Oh. How very wrong I was.

I've had a shop over at CafePress for a long time and have not really done a lot with it. Well... I popped in there yesterday to see what I could see and lo and behold I had sold a lot of tees without even knowing it! I guess my smart-ass saying has really caught on! Anyway. Since I am ever so popular in the tee industry now (read: shyah.right.), I decided to do something with my shop. Allow me to shamelessly plug my so-NOT-original CafePress shop!Come on. I bet you know at least ten people with a CafePress shop of their own. But what can I say? I have found me a real winner in that there shirt!

Now go. Eat deviled eggs and chocolate bunnies and call that celebrating Easter. ~winkwink~
Oh. And maybe attend Church. You know.... if that is a thing that you do.
You know I'll be there. Clad in a new Easter dress. (if I can find one.)

Thursday Thirteen #17

2006-04-13T01:59:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Thursday Banners For YOU!

These are Thursday Banners that I created for all of YOU!
In order to use ANY of these banners, please go to http://nellodesign.com/thursdaybanners.htm and follow the instructions on the page. Please. I am being nice here.... so do not direct link! I really am in no mood to deal with bandwidth stealing!

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

In the words of the the famous Lena, "It is RUDE to link and run!"
Please Leave Your Thursday Thirteen Link AND A Comment!
This auto link is for THIRTEENERS ONLY!

If you would like to use the auto link code, clicky here. Oh. And please be sure to donate to the cause. I am sure a lot of work is going into keeping this service up and running.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂs easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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The Manly Things That I Do

2006-04-11T23:39:00.000-07:00

I shaved my face today.

No. I did.
With something akin toTHIS.

Did you click on that?
Did you?
Because it's not like I just took some shaving cream and my husband's razor to my face.
No. I took the more "feminine" route to shaving my freaking face.
Shameful.

Well... it's not like I have a thick black beard or anything.
Nope. I just have a light blonde beard.

You know... if you look hard enough you may just have one too.
It's that fine hair that people like to call "peach-fuzz".

Ah. Now you know what I'm talking about, don't you?

Well. I got irritated with mine and out came the buzzers and away went the peach fuzz.
I felt better for about half of a second.
Then I realized that I had just shaved my face.
Oh. And that I'm NOT a guy.

Please. Tell me that I am not the only one who has done this.

My Green Thumb

2006-04-10T22:53:00.000-07:00

I need sun.
I love the sun.
I've GOT to get some SUN!

Over the weekend we had a tiny break from the rain so the first thing I did was haul my kids outside so we could all play in the dirt.
My playing was a tad different than theirs in that I was planting stuff and they were trying to dig their way out of our backyard.
Yes. Because of all the rain my kids have officially gone stir crazy. As have I.
With the little sun that we did get over the weekend I pretty much out-did myself.
I MADE a strawberry planter and then planted some strawberries. Tyson said it looks very "rustic". Is that his way of saying that looks very "home-made" (read: tacky)?

Then I got the flower bug and potted some cute flowers amongst my amazing tulips.

For all my efforts I not only gained a gorgeous flower bed and strawberry patch...
But I also got a ginormous blister-like wound because in my haste to get outside and do some gardening in the sun I neglected to put on gloves.
Stupid.
Real.Stupid.
Oh well.
What's done is done. I guess the wound is worth it because it will remind me of my time in the sun now that yet another friggin' storm is upon us.

Here's to hoping that my house doesn't wash away after all this rain.

Another Design Plug

2006-04-09T23:51:00.000-07:00

Some new designs for those that are interested....

Dubious Wonder was a lot of fun to design. I really dig the background because it fit so well with the main graphic which just happens to be a personal picture of hers. I thought this design came together rather well and I am so glad that she liked it!

I've actually designed for Rhonda before and I was so flattered when she came to me once again to design a banner for her. The graphic is a custom graphic made by her friend and she put together all the colors in the blog template. I just went in and did the banner. I know I've said this before but I really love working with original graphics.

The Friday Wrap #11

2006-04-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

This week I realized that I am pretty boring.
HEY! Don't argue with me.
I know what it is like inside my head.
And.... I.Am.Bored.

This one is for Marcia! I got the shirt in the mail this week!

Yesterday while doing the Thursday Routine I gained a special appreciation for the word verification feature that some bloggers have on their comments. Thank you word verification. Thank you for helping me fine tune my typing skills. What's that? Nnnnnoooo. You are SO not a waste of time.

While making some juice from a can the other day I again remembered that juice in a can is not the type of juice that you can have right away. The stuff takes FOR.EVER. to make. Okay. Maybe not forever. But it seems like that when you want juice right.now. Which just happens to be me in a nutshell. I want it right now. Not later. Now. This is why Kathinator calls me Veruca. Yes. I know this is a character flaw. I hate it.

I bought Tyson some Centrum vitamins so we could ward off any possible attack of scurvy on his body. No. I am serious. While at the grocery store the other day Ty reminded me, via cell phone, that he has needed more vitamins for a long time now and could I please remember to get them for him. Don't you know I am LUCKY that he hasn't gotten scurvy yet? Yes. I know. He is soooo funny. ~wink~

I freaking got a HUGE bruise the other day. How? What do you mean how? Because I had to step over a gate that I use to corral my kids and I misjudged the height of the stupid thing. I guess that is the punishment I get for virtually caging my kids in on a daily basis. Sadly. This is a pretty regular occurance for me.

I read this post over at Queen Ellen's place and got real ticked because this is so not an isolated incident. The woman did apologize to Ellen and that deserves some saying... However. Parents passing judgment upon other parents when they don't agree on methodology is pretty commonplace and is also really lame. I've said it before... but here it comes again. It is freaking none of your business unless real child abuse is happening. If you don't agree with Ferber that is great. But don't throw stones at someone because Ferber is working for them. Until you walk in their shoes shut it.

Yesterday the UPS guy knocked on my door and delivered a much needed pick-me-up. Click the links before you read on. No. Click it. Thanks. Anyway.... THANKS to Lena for sending me some great additions to my ever growing casual wardrobe and also for the following item that is SURE to bring many laughs MY way.

Thursday Thirteen #16

2006-04-06T03:37:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things I Bought In San Fran
1. Fabulous shoes
2. A very cute pink, lacy dressy shirt
3. Some gold cords that actually sortof shine
4. A beautiful dress (see anniversary pic below)
5. Cute hair clips
6. A lot of this makeup
7. This fantabulous purse
8. This exceptional wallet
9. A very nice pen for Tyson that I can't find a picture of... but it looks just like this except for it is a golf club for the clip part.
10. This necklace
11. This bracelet
12. These pj bottoms
13. And these shirts

Now. No judging y'all. Let me tell you that this was my very first girls-weekend-shopping-trip-getaway that I have had since having Simon.
That would be almost FOUR.YEARS for anyone who wants to know.
Trust me when I say I do not shop like this often. I would like to... but I can't afford it. This was definitely a special occasion and most likely (read: sadly) this is going to be my last binge shopping adventure for quite some time.

Please Leave Your Thursday Thirteen Link AND A Comment!
This auto link is for THIRTEENERS ONLY!

If you would like to use the auto link code, clicky here. Oh. And please be sure to donate to the cause. I am sure a lot of work is going into keeping this service up and running.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂs easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Father And Son Conversation

2006-04-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

"Okay... I gotta go to work."

~stare~

"Say, 'I love you Daddy.' "

~double stare~

"Simon, say, 'I love you Daddy' "

"Quack."

Stupid Rain

2006-04-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

I am soooo over the rain.

We have experienced twenty days of rain in the entire month of March, it has rained EVERY day in April, and to top it all off, there has been rain for ten.straight.days.
Uhhhh. I am officially of the opinion that the rain can stop now. I just read that my area has gotten fifty percent more rain than Seattle, Portland, AND Honolulu *last month*. Fantastic, no?
Do you know what this does to me? Uh. It pretty much kills my muscles is what it does. Good old Fibromyalgia. Just keepin' me down when I need to be up. I HA-HATE fibromyalgia. It basically can go to hell right about now.
Oh. And let me tell you how much fun it is to drop off and pick up Simon at preschool in all this rain. It.bites. I can't just pull up to the curb and pick him up. No, no. Since he is such a little guy I get to park far away, lug little Helene all the way up to the school, and then drag them both back to the car..... in torrential rain. (Or vice-versa depending on the situation.) Ummmm... No wonder why I didn't do my hair all of last week. What's the point? I just end up looking like a wet dog after all of that anyway.

Like I said.
I am so over this rain.

*updated to clarify! Thanks Jen!*

My Farrah Hair

2006-04-04T02:41:00.000-07:00

Well...
We had a great anniversary!
Tyson took me to the Melting Pot and we had us some pretty fab fondue!

My San Francisco getaway was everything I hoped it would be.
Great food, amazing shopping, and good sleep.
It just ended too flippin' soon.

Yes. I know my hair looks like the 70's Farrah 'Do. And, uh-huh. I am really okay with that.

Good thing I am going to New York next month....
Because I still need a vacation.
And. I am seriously NOT done shopping.

Five Years Ago

2006-04-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

It rained on our wedding day.
But in Hawaii that is considered good luck.
And clearly it was. Because five years later "we" are still a "we".

Before I Go...

2006-03-31T16:45:00.000-08:00

I just have to say thanks to Andria!

Thanks so much for these gorgeous flowers!

I've sortof had "a day" here once again. What with dealing with screaming toddlers who don't want to go in their carseats and rain that is seriously never going to go away.... Well. Let's just say that fresh flowers that look as snazzy as these do, really brightened my day.

Hmm. I see a future Diary of the Nello banner in this picture.........

The Friday Wrap #10

2006-03-31T12:50:00.000-08:00

Hey! Let's wrap this week up so I can go to San Fran with my sister Holly and some friends! I see much shopping in my future.

This week I discovered that you don't KNOW laundry until your house gets fogged. Yes my friends. In a last ditch effort to get rid of itchy bumps we have hired an extermination company to come and rid our house of a possible, unknown enemy. Even though after our glue traps were analyzed and nothing was found, we hired them anyway. Why? WE.ARE.DESPERATE!

Welsh Kelly sent California Kelly (me) this just because she was so happy with her blog design.

That would be a "love spoon" and a cool postcard of where she is from.
She is without a doubt the nicest, most thoughtful Kelly that I know!
Thanks so much Kel. You are a doll.

Little Meppy (my little sister, for those that don't know...) came into town so the family hung out. I miss Meppy. I miss giving her crap about everything she does.

This week I re-learned what it is like to muscle a screaming toddler (Helene) into a carseat. Oh.my.gosh. I HATE putting this kid in the car. She makes the biggest production out of it all... and she is freakishly strong. I know I've mentioned her strong will in my blog before. Well. She has got muscles to match. Not.Fun.

I didn't do my hair at all this week.

See? Even Helene is like, "Mom. Your hair needs HELP.
It's called a blow dryer. Use one."

Simon did the cutest thing last night. He fell asleep at the table.

Well... cute while he's asleep, not so cute when I had to
wake him up to get a bath and go to bed for real. Now that. That was ugly.

Okay. I am off to San Fran for a weekend of sleep, no cleaning, no cooking, no laundry, no tantrums.... Oh man. I better stop there. My list could go on and on.

Thursday Thirteen #15

2006-03-30T12:11:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Things about Me and Nello Design
1. My official business site is up!
2. That means that I can now consider myself employed.
HA! Haven't been that for about four years!
3. Yeah. As if full-time Mom wasn't enough...
4. The business launch means that I get to use more sophisticated software.
WAHOO!
5. Too bad I have to teach myself how to use it.
I'll do it though... apparently I just like to be "self-taught".
6. I am now officially, without a doubt, scared.
7. Scared because I am out there now.
Now is when I will see just how many people are willing to pay for a Nello Design.
8. This where my inner demons come out to play.
"Nobody likes you, everybody hates you, guess you should just go a-way."
~sing in a sing-songy-way and you'll get it.~
9. This is also where hopes and dreams could possibly be dashed into complete oblivion due to a mass internet rejection.
10. Oh well. I asked for it.
I put myself out there... and I am ready for what comes my way.
11. ...Or am I?
12. NO! I am. I.Am.
13. Come on... say it with me now... "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can........"

PS. My house is getting FOGGED today so I will play with you all after 12pm Pacific Time.

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The Woman And Her Ring

2006-03-29T14:42:00.000-08:00

I've got this friend.
In real life.

She just broke up with her boyfriend who was supposedly about to propose to her. Simply put, he wasn't good enough for her, and she knew it. So, BAM. Done.
Story should end there, right?
Wrong.
I mean... what else is there to say other than, "He wasn't what I wanted"?
Well. She has some other friends that are busting her balls about breaking up with him. Her other friends are like, "Why did you break up with him, he was about to give you a ring." "You need to get back together with him. What if you never find anyone else that will want to give you a ring?"

Can I get a big, WHAT THE?!?!!!!!

I'm sorry. But did the feminist movement NEVER happen?
Why oh why should my friend, or any other woman for that matter, stay with a guy that is straggling behind her just because he is a willing party in buying her the coveted ring? Why would you want to spend the rest of your life with someone who was not for you? Is it worth all the effort involved in making a marriage work just to have a ring on your left hand?
Being a married woman, I have to say... um...NO.
I can tell you this. I got married four years and three hundred and sixty days ago. To a really great guy. And. I didn't do it for the ring.

If I had... I would not be married still today. Trust me.

My question at this point is, when did marriage, and the decision to get married, become about a ring? WHEN?
My take:
Chalk this one up to just one of the million reasons that marriage is a very unsuccessful institution in our day.
I say it is a sad day when a woman would settle just so she can get a ring slapped on her left hand.

I'm Having A Day

2006-03-28T14:40:00.000-08:00

Wow.
How do I know that I am having a crappy day?
I had a See's Awesome Walnut Square bar for breakfast. (Yes. I am well aware that this was a stupid thing that I did knowingly.) And you know what? I'm not even a fan of walnuts.
This, my friends, is a sure sign that the day started out crapaliciously.

On the upside, however, I did just make up a pretty fantabulous word... And in case you missed it, that word would be "crap-a-licious-ly".

Okay. So I think now is the time where I need to remember some reasons why the day really isn't so crapalicious after all.
Because Marcia told me I could, I bought the "Blame it on the Rain" tshirt. Like Marcia, I LOVE me some Milli Vanilli and I also LOVE me some t-shirts.

OH! And how could I forget? I also bought these fab slippers today.

(No comments about pasty skin or anything, please.
AND. Yes. On my right foot, that IS a mystery bump NOT a shaving nick.) I needed some new slippers to replace the germ traps I've been traipsing around in ever since I was in the hospital giving birth to Simon.
Note to self: Over 3 years is way too long to have a pair of slippers. Don't get so attached this time.
Random thought: Do those slippers look a little gypsy-ish to you? -- I just noticed that.

One last reason why my day isn't so bad: I finished this design for Lena!
And guess what? She LIKES it! Yay! That always makes me feel good.

Well. Now that I have some reasons to keep my chin up, I am sure I will be hanging around my blog all day just for the reminder.

Before You Ask... I'm Not Pregnant

2006-03-27T13:35:00.000-08:00

My uterus just moved.

The Weepy Mommy Post

2006-03-25T13:24:00.000-08:00

I am filled with emotion right now people.
So please. If you don't want to read a weepy post about my Simon, don't feel bad. Just take your nearest exit now.

Can I just tell you how proud I am of my son?
Well... I guess I just did.
Anyway.
My son is talking! Not only is he talking. He is talking all.the.time.
Big deal, right? No. It is an immensely HUGE deal!

Simon was diagnosed with a severe speech delay at 21 months. At the time he was about one year behind in speech. ONE.YEAR.
When Simon was diagnosed, Helene was a brand new, tiny little newborn all of one month old. She also just happened to be one of the best babies that I have ever encountered. (read- Just the kind of baby I needed at the time.)
I was still in the throes of recovering from one of the worst labors and deliveries in history and still trying to discover just where in the heck the non-pregnant me ran off to. When Simon's test results came in I was thrown. Thrown through a cement wall. I knew he was behind in talking.... but I had no clue that he was that behind. I was so sad. I was so scared. I was a mess. I am pretty sure I cried for four months straight after that. The experience of a speech therapist sitting down and telling Tyson and I that Simon was an average of twelve months delayed in speech has changed me forever. It was then that I fully realized how much I loved Simon. It was really then that I knew that I would do anything to help him overcome his disabilities. It was then that I realized that my heart could break ten times harder than it ever had before.

Fast forward to today. After roughly a year and a half of Simon going to speech therapy twice a week and now going to special day class preschool twice a week, he is finally talking to Tyson and I. He is actually having working conversations with us. He understands us and now he has responses. How flippin' amazing is that? I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am for him. I can only imagine the frustration inside his head when he couldn't tell us what he needed. When he has no words to tell me what is on his mind, and I can tell.... It breaks my heart. Anytime I can see him searching his mind for the words he wants to say to me, and can't find them... I really feel physical pain for him. I just want to bow my head right then and there and cry. (Oh. And you should know that I have totally done just that.) He has had to work ten times harder than most kids to learn how to communicate and I have to say that it has been very difficult to watch.

I am so happy to see that all of his hard work is finally paying off for him. I am so glad to know that at such a young age, my son is a very, very strong person. He already knows what it is like to work hard and to learn to deal with big set-backs. As hard as it has been to watch I know that as he grows older I will see these experiences making him an even more amazing person than he already is.

~sigh~ Kids. They really just suck all the emotion from you and then somehow manage to fill it all back up again. Seriously. How do they do it?
I never knew how painful parenting would be. And I'm glad I didn't know because I'm not sure I would have been strong enough to take the plunge. Regardless, I am glad I did because now I know happiness like I never knew it before.

The Friday Wrap #9

2006-03-24T03:01:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh.
I am so not ready for the Friday Wrap.
I really don't know what to say.

Well. It's no secret I've been tired this week.

It is, however, a secret that I am STILL getting my mystery bumps. Yeah. I cropped up about 15 this week. No good people. I am going to go clinically crazy any second.

I currently have glue traps placed strategically throughout my house by an exterminator to see if I am being bit by something. I look at those traps every day and I see no bugs with blood-sucking teeth or anything... In fact. I see nothing at all. The bug man is my last resort in my quest to find out why I keep getting red bumps all over my body. And if he can't help me, I don't know who can. I.MUST.STOP.ITCHING!!!!

Simon started rearranging my furniture this week. I'm pretty sure at this point that he doesn't like the layout of my living room. Seriously. If I leave the room for a few minutes, I can count on coming back to a whole new arrangement in my living room.

Helene has turned into a typical toddler. You know. Screaming, crying, whining.... all for no apparent reason. And. She has developed an insanely strong will to match her insanely loud screaming. Great. Not ready for this stage. Not.at.all.

I bought this book and re-awakened my need to crochet. Don't make fun of me people. Crocheting is one of the most relaxing things that I know how to do. If you are a knitter or crocheter, you know what I'm talking about. And if you don't do either, don't knock it til you try it.

I took my playgroup to the neighborhood park this week. (I know. I still can't believe I'm in charge of it either.) While there Helene decided that sand tasted really good (I can't think too long and hard about that one... I may just end up puking.) and the first slide that Simon went down just happened to have a giant pool of water right at the very end. Wonderful. Helene covered in sand from the chin down and Simon drenched with dirty water from the butt down. Good times. Good times.

I am real sick of looking at my computer. I actually have been for a few days now. This doesn't go over very well when you are trying to start a business on the internet.

Ugh. Did I mention how tired I am?

Now if you'll excuse me. I am off to go sleep for about one hundred years.
Please.
Do not wake me.

Thursday Thirteen #14

2006-03-23T00:38:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Reasons I Shouldn't Be Playing The 13 With You Today
1. I.Am.Tired.
2. I really should be working on building my business website.
3. Because my brain is too tapped to really be able to come up with thirteen of anything right now.
4. Not only is my brain too tired to think of 13 things, it is also too tired to come up with any sort of clever topic.
5. Because I would rather be watching this.
6. Or reading this.
7. Or sleeping.
8. Did I already mention that I should be working?
9. Because I am pretty much over looking at my computer screen today. (And it is only 1 in the morning.)
10. I do not have the desire to be funny or clever right now.
11. I don't even have the desire to be feisty.
12. My only desire at this point is to be blah.
13. And blah doesn't really bode very well with the TT list, now does it?

And there you have it.
A bunch of blah blah blah for you...
Because that is pretty much how I feel.
Blah.

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An Email Exchange

2006-03-22T00:55:00.000-08:00

~Me~
Hey. Just wanted to let you know that I bought a few Lionel Richie songs on iTunes today. And I seriously don't want any crap about it.

~Him~
Hello? Is it me you're looking for?

This made my cry

2006-03-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

I know my kid isn't autistic, but this hit somewhat close to home.
Please check it out.

The One Where I Prove I Work!

2006-03-21T02:37:00.000-08:00

Some may think... Wow! Nello sure has slowed down on the designs.
If you are thinking that, you are correct.
However. That is only because I am trying to get my very own business site up.
Anyway. Being that I am turning out to be a workaholic, and that my queue is getting longer and longer, I thought I would share a few more designs.

The first one is for The Other Kelly that lives in the U.K.
She.Is.GREAT! I LOVE having an international friend!
She is the Kelly who hooked me up with this necklace. Anyway. Since she was oh so cool about shipping a necklace internationally for a blog friend I thought I would hook her up with a blinged out blog.

This design is for Andria over at Another Day in the Neighborhood.
I love reading about Andria. She is such a strong lady and is seriously, seriously cool. I just read her post about her 100 things and I cannot tell you how impressed I am with her.

Just an FYI on my upcoming business launch:
I hope it will be SOON! I am really trying very hard to get all my crap together, but with Helene being sick and then passing it on to me, things haven't been going very smoothly.
Also. Every now and then I get comments from people who want me to design for them. I am pretty sure I miss some of you because it is sortof hard for me to keep up with the comments on the blog sometimes. If you want to inquire about a design and would like more info please email me at nellodesign@yahoo.com

Helene's Hair: My Arch Nemesis

2006-03-20T00:47:00.000-08:00

The hair on Helene's head is a big problem for me.
I don't know what to do with it.
Either she looks like a grunge rock star...

Or she looks like some version of Pebbles.

What she is supposed to look like is this:

But the hair never stays put.

Do you see my problem here?
Do you see that I need help?

*Lucky for me, this kid looks 100,000% CUTE no matter what her mop looks like!*

Conversation With My Three Year Old

2006-03-18T00:39:00.000-08:00

I have a MONGO zit on my face.

Simon walks up to me, presses his pointer finger right on my "infection" and says, "Hey... watz on yo chick mommy?"
I said... "Uhhhhh....."
He then tilted his head sideways, gave me a funny look, and ran away.

Yes. It is safe to say that I was totally caught off guard. It isn't every day that Simon uses a six word sentence.... And who wouldv'e thought that my zit would be the inspiration for it?

The Friday Wrap #8

2006-03-17T01:46:00.000-08:00

Did I ever tell you that I love doing my Friday Wrap?
Well... I do.
It gives me closure. And heaven knows I need of that as I can get... So here we go!

*I had to add the following bullet to today's post since I am soooo very excited about it!*

I actually launched a design today! I KNOW! I can't believe it either!!!! It seems like ages since I have launched anything! Anyway. The following design is for Mama B over at Confessions Of a Busy Mom. She was pretty fantabulous to work with AND her design is pretty fab too. (If I do say so myself.)

I was forced to go to the Doctor's office with both my kids the other day. ALONE! Uh. Yeah. I try to avoid this situation at all costs. However. I could not avoid this one. Helene was puking so much I had to take her in to get her some meds to make her stop yacking. Poor kid. She is still sick but no longer dehydrated. Anyhow. Let's just say that I had to carry both the kids as neither one would walk on their own account. When I would put Simon down he would either run away... fast... or he would flop on the dirty office floor and throw a tremendous fit. So. Sound like fun to you?

I met my brother's baby for the first time when I was in Southern Cal. This baby is about 8 months old, has red hair, and a ha-huge attitude. This baby constantly has this look on his face like he is just unimpressed by anything and everything around him. It's like he is just ticked that things around him aren't cooler. Needless to say. I LOVE this kid! He cracks me right on up!

I washed EVERY blanket, towel, and piece of bedding TWICE over the last few days of Helene puking. Nice. This doesn't bode well with my hatred of laundry.

I filled out my NCAA tourney bracket. I know. Most of you are like, "so what Nello." I like me some basketball and even more than that, I like me some good old fashioned competition with my husband. Long story short... I picked Duke to win it all. And guess what? Redick better pull it off or I will be ticked.

I turned Simon's favorite stuffed animal into a stuffed replica of Napolean Dynamite just by washing it. I laughed my butt off when I pulled it out of the dryer! It's mane used to be all straight and out of control... Now it has a tight perm gone very very wrong! All Tyson has to do nowadays to get me to laugh is hold up the flippin' lion. It gets me every.time.

I am now an official business owner. That is right. Nello Design is an official bona fide business. Now I just have to get that darn website up......

Both Simon and Helene have recently started to bust out into spontaneous song at various times of the day. Simon loves singing any random song from The Jungle Book (which is HILARIOUS to hear!) and Helene loves to sing the "I Love You" song from Barney. I'm telling you, people... this is funny funny stuff.

And without further ado... I got this animated gif from my little sister. I think this is HIL.FREAKIN'.LARIOUS! I LOVE the U.K. version of The Office. And if you haven't seen it, you should get it on Netflix right.now.

Oh yeah. And Happy St. Patrick's Day.
(I'm not Irish... so I almost forgot.)

Thursday Thirteen #13

2006-03-16T12:34:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Thoughts On My Mind
1. How on earth did I not know my bra size?
I just bought some new bras. And guess what? I am one of those women who have been wearing the wrong sized bra! I feel so dumb. How could I not know? Wait... wait. It's coming. Maybe because my boobs just barely figured out what size they are really going to be after my body birthed two kids in two years.

2. Why am I eating a butterfinger right now?
Why why why... It is only past midnight. Yeah. That is for sure the best time to eat an entire candy bar.

3. What is so bad about laundry?
Really, Kelly. What is sooooo bad about it? You don't even know the reason you hate it... yet you loathe the chore anyway. It's not like you're out in the yard with a wash board or anything.... A FRIGGIN' machine is doing it for you!

4. Not a lot of comments on the blog as of late....
Maybe y'all are finally figuring out how stupid and boring I really am.

5. Still cannot believe that Kelly from Pink Champagne was cool enough to send this necklace to me!

But wait! Before you think she bought it for me... let me tell you that no. That is not the case. Long story short. I saw the necklace in this post, badgered Kelly about where she got it, paid her for another necklace just like hers, and she shipped it! Oh. And did I mention this was my first international purchase? So nice of her, huh? Just because she did this for me does not mean that you can go over there and ask her to do it for you as well. I would feel soooo bad if that happened to her. So please. Don't.Do.It.

6. How is it that as of right now I have NO Nyquil in my house?
How is this even possible? Hang on. Maybe this isn't my house.....

7. Cooking with electric appliances (ie: oven and stove) sucks.
Nothing cooks right. I hate it.

8. I'm old because I notice the weather.
For instance: I am really amazed at how late the rains came this year.
Uh-huh. I was sad when this thought crossed my brain. I aged like 15 years on the spot, people.

9. I really hope that Simon doesn't get the throw-up bug that Helene has right now.
I hate cleaning up puke.

10. It is pretty funny that about 8 months ago I only got on the computer about once a day.
Now. Now I cannot live without one. Now if I am away from my computer I feel like I have lost my big toe.

11. I still cannot believe that I just spent ELEVEN bucks on fish food... OR that I almost bought this water for my fish.
Hey. Simon may have the coolest fish in the world... but does it really need the grandaddy of all the betta food on the market?

12. Pretty pathetic that I spend a good portion of my brain power on Wednesdays trying to come up with a Thursday 13 list. I think I need professional help.

13. What happened to Arrested Development?
Did it get cancelled or what? I've tried to figure it out... but to no avail. Do any of you know what happened to it?

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂs easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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FUNNY!

2006-03-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

FYI: This post is most definitely 100% for me. For my entertainment.

I am posting this late at night so I know not many of you are even going to bother to check this out...
But I have to say. You are missing out if you don't watch this.

*UPDATE*
RATS! It was removed. Damn.Damn.Damn.Damn.

The Highway 5 Rant

2006-03-14T23:37:00.000-08:00

To all the jerks who cut me off on my trip down California State Highway 5:

You.Suck.
Yeah you. The ones who decided that they had to cut off everybody on the road just so they could move up in the traffic line one.car.at.a.time.
Have you seen these people? Have you seen the traffic weavers? They seriously just can't take being in line. They just have to move up. Even if it really is one.car.at.a.time.

I'm pretty sure that I saw about fifty cars do the weave dance. They just weave in and out of traffic lanes like nobody's business, for who knows why? Oh wait... That's right. So they can continue to blatantly break the law by going about 25 or so mph over the limit. Heaven forbid that they come across a bunch of cars that are staying about 10mph over the limit.
Poor weaving speeders. All the "other" cars on the road are impeding their right to break the law and to put everyone on the road with them in danger. The answer: WEAVE DARNIT... WEAVE. Shoot the gap and thread the needle, people. THAT is the name of the game, right? Laws are meant to be broken. They really are just put in place to irritate you. They really have NOTHING to do with safety. They really have NOTHING to do with the fact that you can KILL people real fast by going the speed that you are going.

In all seriousness though...
What I really want to know is:
Where's the fire?
Where's the lady having the baby?
OH.... What did you say? None of the above? You are just in a hurry for no reason, in the middle of flippin' nowhere, and you just want to piss off all the other cars by causing traffic?
Oh. Okay. Go right on ahead then.
I'll be the one in the back of the traffic line who will pull into their destination before you do because I passed you while you were getting a speeding ticket. Oh. And by the way... I was laughing my head off while I cruised by your sorry butt.
Sucker.

I'll Be "The Third" Any Day Of The Week.

2006-03-13T22:05:00.000-08:00

I'm back.
Back to the land of a computer that doesn't suck and doesn't freeze up every five minutes.

So much to say right now... but so little time.
It will probably take me most of this week to catch up on all the blog crap that has been building up inside me... but that is a good thing. I won't have to pull any posts out of clear blue sky just to say that I posted that day!

So. Who is crazy enough to go out on a big fat limb and merge her blog life with her real life?
Who is crazy enough to want to intrude on two best friends who are not only really pretty and hilarious, but smart too?
Uh-huh. That would be me.

I was a tad late to our date.
Hey. I missed my exit people.
It is not every day that I am down in So. Cal. Cut a girl some slack.
Anyway. As I walked nervously into the Cheesecake Factory I was really trying hard not to look like I was looking for people who I had never seen in real life before. Because... uh... how lame would that be? ;) I think I failed miserably... because at first I didn't see them and I somewhat panicked. (read: Went all pale and curled up into the fetal position right there in front of the hostess' stand.)
Long story short... I finally found them. There they were. Cheeky Lotus and The Green Straw. Hangin' out like they usually do and being seriously cool to allow me to penetrate their twosome-ness. I walked my nervous butt right on up to them and was introduced promptly to the waiter as "the third".
Yeah. I would say that the "ice" was instantly broken... except for I don't really think that "ice" was ever even present.

Let's just get some stuff out of the way.
I can personally attest to the fact that Lena and Vi are actually two separate people.
I also feel the need to tell you that neither Lena or Vi looked anything like their pictures. Nope. They only look about fifty thousand times more gorgeous in person. I know! How is this possible? I've no clue... but it is true.
Also. You need to know that what you read in their blogs is completely who they are. How great of a surprise was that? Who knew this was even possible? I was so relieved that these two were and are the real deal.

No. I have no pictures to prove this meeting of cyberspace and realspace happened. But the fact that there are no pictures just goes to show how great of a time we had.
(even though I did have my camera and had every intention in the world of taking one...)

I think we were all nervous that we wouldn't have a lot to talk about but we were all very wrong.
Somehow, in a matter of three hours, we managed to laugh together, laugh at each other, talk about our blogs and your blogs, have some mommy discussions and some wife discussions, and finally managed to fit in a little conversation regarding our pasts and our futures.
I KNOW! And if you can believe it... there is still so much to say!

*Oh. And just to prove that I did have my camera... When I remembered that we didn't take a picture I was already on the freeway. So I took the following picture just to prove how badly I wanted that picture!! (And also to show you all just how sad of a person I really am.)*

Thanks for meeting with me Lena and Vi! Thanks for taking the chance even though there were roughly ten to one odds that I could've turned up being some dirty old man!
I had a blast with both of you and I plan on being "the third" again in the near future!

This Computer Bites

2006-03-10T17:11:00.000-08:00

I'm down in Southern Cal visiting my parents.

Six and a half hours on the road yesterday.
Just me and my kids.
I know! I think I'm brave too! ~wink~
I never thought I'd see the day that would voluntarily go on a road trip with two toddlers alone. But I did it and it went well. I just hope my luck keeps up for the trip home...

Anyway. I love visiting the parents but I do not love visiting the parents' computer.
The thing sucks. I can't reply to emails and I can't even check my blog.
In fact... I will be lucky if this post even makes it to press.
My Mom wants me to figure out what is wrong with her computer...
Yeah. That's what I want to do. Spend about five hours trying to de-bug a computer that was old four years ago. Uh. That would be no. (A reference to yesterday's post!)
I basically told the Mother that the only thing wrong with her computer is that it is old and it sucks. Get a new one already!!!! Is there really any doubt that when a computer is about six or seven years old that it is time for an upgrade? Is there? Well, in my mind there isn't... but I am not technologically challenged like my parents are. (read: "The computer still turns on, doesn't it? Well then. I don't need a new one."~Kelly's Dad)

Frustration is abounding people.
I feel as if my right arm is cut off.
I need me some good high speed internet and a computer that is no older than two years.
That, my friends, would be like a shot in the arm of liquid happy.
Alas, that is not to be my fate. I am stuck in the dark age until I go home on Monday.

Sorry I couldn't play the 13 yesterday and I am sorry in advace for not being able to comment on anyone else's blog. I'm reading, but there will be no commenting.

Sheesh. I feel as if I have a big fat piece of duct tape over my mouth.

Thursday Thirteen #12

2006-03-09T00:53:00.000-08:00

Thirteen phrases that have been known to come out of my mouth....
Past and present.

1. "Uh. That would be no."
2. "For the love."
3. "Are you kidding me?"
4. "Piss off."
5. "Get.out."
6. "Gag me."
7. "Right on."
8. "Whatever."
9. "Sheee-ya. Right."
10. "...Not."
11. "Cool beans."
12. "Yeah. And monkeys might fly out of my butt."
13. "Wicked bad."

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

*I am driving right now so I will play with you all later today!*

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Is My Life Really Over?

2006-03-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

On my way to San Ho!

That's right. I've sealed the deal on going to BlogHer '06!
Just how cool is that? I am really looking forward to meeting the few of you that I know are going. As for the rest of you. COME ON DOWN! The conference schedule looks very good and I am totally gearing up to get massively informed on everything blog related. Oh. I am also completely looking forward to all the "networking" (read: partying with other cool bloghers)!!!!

Now for our regularly scheduled programming:

Once upon a time not that long ago I was a new Mom.

I had this giz-orgeous little baby boy who I got along with swimmingly.
Simon and I were real good friends from the very day that we brought him home from the hospital. My little newborn had the best traits I could possibly imagine. Example: The child loved his sleep. There were days that he would not rise until after 10am. My gracious child even was good enough to start sleeping through the night right when he hit 6 weeks old. I'll tell you now... I did not know how blessed I was!

During my "new Mom" break-in period people would ask me the infamous question, "So. Do you feel like a Mom yet?" For some reason this question was somehow usually punctuated with a sad undertone. Almost like, "Oh, poor you. You're a Mom now and your life is over..... But do you feel that way yet? Do you feel like a train has run over you yet?"
Being young and dumb I never called anyone out on it, I just opted to say, "No. How can I feel like a Mom when I don't have to say 'no' over and over again?" That response would get a laugh and then we wouldn't have to talk about the topic anymore.

Fast forward to today where I am completely in the trenches of motherhood.

I have two toddlers who are twenty months apart.
Neither child is potty trained yet. (And I swear if I get any comments telling me that since Simon is 3 that he should be potty trained already I will flip my flippin' lid! He has sensory integration dysfunction for cryin' out loud! Don't judge me 'til you know what is up..... *wow. can you tell I don't like that topic or what?*)
I am in charge of a playgroup. I know. I can't believe it either.
I go on "play dates". Don't ask me why playing with other little kids is called this because I don't know.
I know the in's and outs of rules regarding "drop-off" at the elementary school that Simon goes to. (If you're wondering why I threw this one in there then obviously you haven't seen "Mr. Mom.")
I am very familiar with the politics and bureaucracy involved in school districts. Let's just say that I am currently fighting the fight so that Simon can get the services he needs through a school district that can't afford said services but is legally bound to provide them for him. Yeah. Don't mess with my kid. I'm really not all that nice of a person.
Oh. And I say "no" constantly. I also say a million more "mommy sayings" but I am not going to go on and on about how I ask my kids about fifty thousand times a day if they pooped or not.

Guess what? I sure do feel like a Mom and there's nothing sad about it. In fact. There are days that I am pretty impressed at all the crap that I manage to do.
This is the hardest job that I have ever had and it takes more brain power to deal with these masterminded toddlers than you would ever know.

How I manage to remember all things required of me is a mystery that will most likely remain unsolved. Why people tend to think that SAHM's have a good, laid back gig is beyond me. This job ain't no cake walk and it sure as hell isn't for the faint at heart.

Oh and one more thing. You can be a Mom and not look like a train ran over you. It is possible.

TShirts For Everyone!!

2006-03-07T00:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got a package in the mail.
An unexpected package. (uh-huh. I almost never get those.)
From....
MEL of Mama! Mama!!!!!!!!!!

Mel!!!!! Thanks so much!
Look what Mel sent my kids!

The Flight Risk shirt for Simon:

By the by... that was the only position that my little flight risk would stay in for a picture.

An extremely fitting shirt for Helene:

She is for sure "Blog Fodder" and her hair will be a
topic of a post coming soon to the Diary of the Nello near you.

*Oh. And by the way... Simon got a "Blog fodder" shirt as well!*

Look what Mel sent me!

A very UNEXPECTED surprise:

I'm sorry. But just HOW cool is my shirt?

Mel knows me. Knows me well people.
I have to wear this shirt all the time now.
Because. Well. I love me some Nyquil and now I've got the shirt to prove it!

All of this Mel sent me just because I designed her blog!
Not a fair trade Mel.... You went above and beyond.
You are so great!
Thanks so much!
You made my day, sister. You really did!

And for the record... I am sooo rooting for your husband to get the job in Cali.
Not just because that is what you really really want....
(that would be too un-selfish of me.)
But because that would mean that we could hang out when I go to So Cal to visit my parents!
(Which I just happen to be doing this weekend. Uh-hmmm Lena and Vi! ~wink~ ~wink)

Now you HAVE to go visit Mel's blog and you have to have to have to go to her online store!

Go.
Go now.
Before I push you out the door!

I'm The Type Of Person Who...

2006-03-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

...Cannot take suspense.

Really. I hate suspense. The feeling of the unknown approaching is one of the most wretched feelings I have ever felt. It really is like my body just physically cannot take this specific emotion. Suspense makes me want to crawl out of my own skin and borrow someone else's for a while.

Example:
Right now I am reading Jane Eyre and so far I really really like it. However. I am already filled with suspense regarding the upcoming romance. I can't take it. I have to know what happens in the end. So last night I did what I usually (read: always) do when this situation arises. I just went ahead and flipped to the back of the book so I could see how it all turns out.
I know. It's a little bit evil, isn't it?

"When I buy a new book, I read the last page first. That way, in case I die before I finish, I know how it ends. That, my friend, is a dark side."
~Harry, from "When Harry Met Sally"

So anyway.
Now I want you to finish the sentence.
"I'm the type of person who...." What?

No seriously.
I want to know.

Don't Strive To Be Maintenance Free

2006-03-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

Some unsolicited advice for the masses:

Blow dry your hair every day.
You'll feel better about life.

Paint your toenails when the old toenail polish has chipped away to practically nothing.

You will feel more "maintained."

Get you hair done long before your roots look like this:

You'll feel less like a train wreck.

I think it may be time for me to pry myself up from
off of the dirty pavement and try, try, try again.

The Friday Wrap #7

2006-03-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Yeah.
I almost didn't do this one today either.
I've seriously been contemplating not doing the blog thing anymore.
Calm down. Keep your seats ladies and gentlemen.
I don't think I'm going anywhere. I'm just in that blog funk we all go through.

I've felt like crap all week long. Today I woke up and I can barely move. All my muscles are on strike, it seems, and they are causing me some MAJOR pain. I hate my muscles. They are always hurting me. I think I may need a muscle transplant. Is there such a thing? Probably not. Just my luck.
Remember my friend that I have talked about... The one that was having a baby. The one that I am making the quilt for? Yeah, her. Well.... The good news is she had her baby on my birthday. I know. How awesome is that? The bad news is the quilt I am making is not done. I finally finished the quilt top last night. Now I only have about fifty thousand steps until it is completed. Uh-huh. The kid just may be ten years old before he gets this quilt.
I planted some hyacinths in November and I've got an early bloomer on my hands. It doesn't look so hot, does it?
I think I became an amateur toy collector this last week. I am not going to shame myself and tell you what I bought or anything. Just know that I did buy some "vintage" toys on ebay and it made Tyson say the following: "Are you sure you want to spend your money on that?" To which I replied, "Ummm.... Yeeeeaaah. This stuff reminds me of happy memories. And we all know that I need as many of those that I can get." I feel like a loser. Toy collecting? Really? Look at what I've become, people.
Speaking of toys.... We all know I am obsessed with toys having all their pieces. And. How could we forget that when some pieces go missing I wig out. Wig.Out.People. Okay. So Simon and Helene have this toy. Cute huh? Who doesn't just love the Potato Heads? Well. This toy has been driving me insane because it is missing one part. I love ebay. I went on to the site, searched my missing item and BAM! There it was. For ninety nine cents! (Plus two dollars shipping, of course.) I was thrilled. But the best part is.... it arrived this week. Because of its arrival my burning ulcer has eased up a bit. ;)

And that's the wrap.
Not too exciting.
Not very funny.
Pretty boring, actually.
Why is anyone reading this crap? Seriously.
That is a question I've been wondering about all week long.

Blog Block

2006-03-02T08:52:00.000-08:00

Note to self:
Never bleach black socks.
They will turn brown every time.

Yesterday. A Good Day.

2006-03-01T11:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who voted. You are the absolute best of the best!

Since a few people announced that yesterday was my birthday, I thought I would confirm that said people were correct.
28 on the 28th. A once in a lifetime day. And, like Holly said, I did make a big deal about it.

Tyson planned a great evening out with friends (The Headless "M" is below... now shown with a head.) and family(Holly up above) and we had a great time.

Tyson proved once again to be the greatest husband ever when I opened up this.

No. He cannot be your husband because he is mine.
And no. You can't borrow him either.

My Mom Is Literally Wonder Woman

2006-02-28T00:47:00.000-08:00

That would be my Mom, me, and a pair of fabulous red shoes.

My Mom is a great lady.
She is seriously great in every way.
The woman had SIX kids. When I say she had six kids, I mean she really had six kids!
Can I just say.... NO DRUGS for any of the deliveries!
The woman has been known to say that she has had headaches that were worse than labor. WHAT?!
The woman even had my baby brother at home.
I know. I can't believe she's my Mom either.
I have always been convinced that her nerves don't do their job right because, how on earth do you have six kids and not need any drugs during or after labor and delivery?
Obviously it can be done, but that doesn't change the fact that I will never understand how.

Out of all my Mom's kids, I was the one that entered the world the fastest, thank you very much. Uh-huh. I clocked in at a whopping one hour from start of labor to finish. My Mom pushed one time and out I flew.
ONE push.
Yes. I had things to do and they weren't gettin' done in vitro if you know what I'm sayin'!
Anyway.
I love my Mom. I will always be grateful that she let me live in her body for nine months.
I will always be grateful that she pushed one time to get me the crap outta that cramped place! (I guess you could say that I had claustrophobia from a very very young age... cuz I clearly wanted out of there!)
She's put up with a ton of my nonsense and still has managed to love me in the end.
I am so glad that I have her as my Mom so that I can learn what a great Mom really is.
~tear tear~

Okay. Now that I am done with the mushy gushy...
Let me just tell you that I think that the dress my Mom has on in that picture is absolutely fabulous and I want one just like it.
And how about those curtains? Holy 1970's, huh?

My red shoes take the cake though.
Those things are serious traffic stoppers.... socks and all.

Can I Get Me Some Laser Surgery Up In Here?

2006-02-27T00:28:00.000-08:00

I am blogging from my bed people.

From.My.Bed.

Two words.
Wireless router.

Four more words.
Holding Ty's laptop hostage.
(until he gets me a laptop of my own. *wink wink*)

Anyway....
I wanted to say a quick thanks for all your comments on my previous post.
That was a rough one to blog about, but I really felt it had to be done.
I am glad it is over and I am very relieved that everyone has been cool about it.

So now that I have "outted" myself, I can move on to what I am here for in the first place.
Which is... Complaining about all the mundane things in my life that drive me in.sane.!
Such as:
What is up with all the "age spots" on my face?
Do you know what I'm talking about here?
They look like freckles except they are about 5 times bigger than your average freck.
In a word, they are UGLY. And I don't know what I can do about them.
Can I get them taken off with a laser? Because if I can, sign me up.
These things are multiplying like flies in an outhouse for cryin' out loud!

"Time marches on and sooner or later you realize it is marchin' across your face."
~Truvy of Steel Magnolias

I'm telling you.
I really don't know what has been marching across my face...
But something sure has been.
Some days I think it's a mack truck and others I swear it's a train.
Either way it pretty much bites it.

Controversial Saturday

2006-02-25T09:13:00.000-08:00

Okay.
I'm about to state something of great profoundness to you people.
I hope you are ready for it.
The internet is full of mean people.

I know.... Are you standing up yet? Are you?
I know. That, my friends, is one of the most original statements that you will hear today. I promise.
Now... why would I pass this information on to you today?
Because.

It has come to my attention over the last few weeks that there are some bloggers out there that would no longer read my blog if they knew what religion I associate myself with.
Of course, we here at Diary of the Nello, really do not give two shakes of anything what religion any of you are.... But. That does not change the fact that there are those who will not "like" me any longer once you know that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (a.k.a. "Mormon".)
Here is what you need to know about me and my connection with my faith.
I believe it.
I attend church on Sundays.
I volunteer to help in whatever capacity that I am asked.

I have nothing to complain or gripe about regarding my faith.
And that is why you have never known before what religion I belong to.
And. That is also why you probably will never hear anything about it again.

So to those that are currently headed for my internet based door I bid you a fond farewell.
*And because I anticipate some crap from commenters, I am turning off anonymous commenting for a while.*

IN OTHER NEWS:
I removed the Thursday Thirteen Blogroll from my site because.... OH.MY.GOODNESS! It was completely slowing my page loading process... and Holy Crap! I cannot have that any longer.
So, If you are here looking for the blogroll, it will be up every Wednesday through Thursday night.... but.that.is.it. I cannot stand the slow page load people.

The Friday Wrap #6

2006-02-24T00:19:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or do weeks just start flyin' by the older you get?
Seriously. It's like *wooooosh*. And another week is over.
This week has been completely random.
Enjoy my wrap.

I had a dream that was akin to the song, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds". I'm not kidding. It was like I was in the music video or something. The most prominent thing in my dream was the ha-huge flowers. It was insane. I think I really want Spring to finally spring.
I discovered that the absolute BEST video I have ever seen is this one by David Hasselhoff. A HUGE thanks to Virenda for imparting this gem of media brilliance upon me. You seriously made my day. That is the funniest thing I have ever seen. Like Cartman before me, I just may never laugh ever again.... For I have seen the funniest thing I ever will see. This video will, for as long as I am a blogger, be linked on my sidebar. Seriously Vi. Thank.You!
I proved myself insane for about the one hundred millionth time. I planted a bunch of bulbs in my flower beds in November and some of them are starting to pop up. But. There are some that are not. I began to flip out on Tuesday about this. Here is a little view of what went on inside my head: "What is wrong? Did I plant them wrong? Did I plant them in the wrong location? What the.....? AAAAAAAA! What do I do?" Well... you want to know what I did? I went out to my yard and proceeded to dig up said bulbs. Hey. I wanted to see if they were up to anything. Come to find out that those un-springing bulbs aren't going to start springing until................ MAY! Uh-huh. I flipped out. Over nothing. Once again. I swear. I shouldn't be allowed to be in society.
I let Simon watch Fraggle Rock in my office the other day while I was working. Note: I never let my kids into this office. The stuff in here is just too expensive for them to be around. Anyway. He took a ballpoint pen to my monitor. While I was RIGHT there. He is a slick one, that Simon. Lucky for me the pen came off with just a little bit of Mom spit. (Sorry. But you know that stuff is liquid magic.)
I started making bread that takes SIX days to make. Yes you read correctly. And before you scoff at me. The bread is delicious and therefore worth it.
I have seriously wondered about those blog award nominations over there on my sidebar. I mean really folks. Do you really learn something new here every day? Do you? And if you do... I would like to know what that would be. Because last time I checked, I talk a whole lot about a whole lotta nothing. That is just what we do here at Diary of the Nello. (I like using "we" when just talking about me. It's fun.) I highly doubt I will win in either category because in both categories there are blogs that are waaaaayyyy more deserving than I. And you know, I am really trying hard to be okay with losing. I think I will be okay with it. I guess only time will tell.
Ah yes. And how could I forget.....I launched the following designs this past week.

This proves that I worked.

So there you have it.
Now get on with your day.
There is no more to see here.

Thursday Thirteen #11

2006-02-23T01:15:00.000-08:00

I Used To Be...
1. A baby.
That was almost 28 years ago.

2. A teenager with a crappy car.
Yes. That is a 1980 Subaru. And yes. It kicked.

3. An geek who took geeky pictures with her geeky friends.
A human pyramid in Mexico. How much geekier can you get?

4. A roommate.
To Char and Chatty Kathy. (and if Chatty is cool with it, I will unblock her face.)

5. 40 pounds heavier.
True story. That took two years to take off.

6. Tan.
Skin cancer, anyone?

7. Pregnant.
That would be Simon in there... and he would be born two weeks later.

8. A brace-face.
I know. Adult braces. You gotta love it.

9. An orthodontic assistant.
Hence the braces.

10. A cell phone sales person at Circuit City.
Hey. I was 18 and didn't really know any better yet.

11. A new Mom.
A scary time for all involved.

12. On my honeymoon.
Hawaii. Two weeks. Almost five years ago. I think it is time to go back.

13. One who didn't blog.
And now I am.
And who knew that six months later I would be a finalist in a blog award contest? (more info on the sidebar.)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Mel
Mental
KDubs
Nancy
Jane
Lucy
Uisce
Novaks8
Shelli
D
Frog Legs
Nicole
Paisley
Lisa
Caryn
Lazy Daisy
Courtney
Sherri
Emily
Chatty Kathy!!
Chickadee
Froggie
Renee
Virenda!
Lena!
Dawn
YellowRose
Killired
Chris-Sea
turtle
Mar
Texas Ivy
Ocean Lady
Renee
Kimmy
Kep
Wendy
Katherine
Mama B
Lisa
Stacie
Petite Mommy
Eric
Norma
Laura
Leesa
Jen
Better Safe Than Sorry
jk
LadyBug
Amanda
Ginger

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂs easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I Just Have To Say...

2006-02-22T00:16:00.000-08:00

...That it is interesting to me (and pathetic at the same time) that I will get my kids all dressed for the day and then wait about 2 or 3 hours (minimum) before getting myself ready.

How funny does it look to see my kids rammin' around my house in their "day" clothes while I referee the situation in my robe and slippers?

I have to say.... It has to be a fairly funny scene.
In fact, it probably qualifies as an "oh-my-gosh-I'm-never-having-kids-if-that-is-what-I-will-look-like" situation.

Why can't I get it together, people?
I don't want to be that Mom who doesn't change out of her pajamas unless she goes somewhere.
I'm telling you. I DON'T want to be her.

*Oh, and p.s.*
If you remember my random can-opener-in-a-purse post, then you need to go back there and check out the very last comment.
Because. My friend, "M", has "clarified" the story under the name of "The headless M".
(which is a darn funny name if I do say so myself...)

When I saw that my non-blogging-real-life-friend had commented on my blog....
It.Literally.Made.My.Day.

I Hate Cleaning Bathrooms

2006-02-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

Said to Tyson yesterday:
"You may want to consider working late tonight.
I have to clean the bathrooms and I already know I am going to be a major brat about it."

"Okay. I will take that into consideration."

And you know what?
He stayed at work.
He is a smart man.

I'm Addicted To Babies

2006-02-20T01:02:00.000-08:00

A question for your Monday:

How do you know that your last baby is your last baby?
Really. I want to know.
Is this something that you just know or is this something that just creeps up on you?

I know you are all going to ask me if I want to have another baby.
Answer: I really don't know. Sometimes yes, other times no.
Kids are hard.... yet they are just so much fun.
Kids make your heart physically hurt.... but they also make it so much bigger than you ever thought it could be.

Honestly, either decision will be hard.
I'm beginning to doubt that I will ever be at peace on the topic.

...But sometimes, when I look at Simon and Helene I think,
"Good Heavens above, I want another one!!!"

Oh. And how could I forget?
Another design complete.

*And If you haven't voted yet go right on over to my sidebar and vote...
It doesn't even have to be for me. ;)
Today is the last day to this, so. Don't let me down.*

I Love Anonymous Commenters

2006-02-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

I don't normally blog on Sunday...

But.
Today is an exeption because I have the funniest thing to share.
Behold. A comment left by an anonymous commenter (shocker) on this post that says:

"ok, i just would like to make a comment to all the people saying "thank god my kids are too old for the doodlebops." Just for everyone's information, the doodlebops have TONS of teenage and older fans. I would be one of them....I'm 18, almost 19. Been to Canada twice to see the Doodlebops and I'm going back up in the spring. Season 2 will be airing in the U.S. on March 13th on Disney. If u see two teenage girls in the concert scenes, i would be the red head and my friend would be the blonde. yay for the doodlebops!

www.deedeerooneymoe.net "

AhhhhhhHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I really had no clue that teenagers were fans of these... these..... I don't even know what to call them. Are they aliens? Who knows.
From all the concert footage I have ever seen of this group, not once have I seen a teenager. All fans at the concerts have seemed to be all itsy bitsy little kids and their bored out of their gourd parents.

But all of that is beside the point....
A teenage fan of the Doodlebops?
This just blows me away, people.
Blows.Me.Freakin'.Away.

And Now I Feel Better

2006-02-18T17:25:00.000-08:00

I'm so glad I know so many nice bloggers.

Really. All your comments on my last post really made me feel 100% better.
I've said it here before and I will say it again.
I hate Mom cliques. I really really cannot stand them. And. I refuse to be part of them.
Not only do I not fit in, but....... I DON"T WANT TO FIT IN!!!!
Thank you for helping to remind me that it really is no loss at all because I don't hang with their kind anyway.

My day really brightened up after my shunned post.
Maybe blog therapy really works. Or. Maybe it is because my husband is just the best man on the planet. Tyson came home from running errands with Simon and guess what he got me.....
A fabulous "Leather Executive" office chair.
It sounds soooo.... sooo... professional, no?
Well, if you don't think so just check out the chair.

I'm telling you. This is the absolute perfect place for me to park my butt so I can blog, design, and play with my kids' websites all the night long.

I completed a design today as well.

And that always makes me happy.

Thanks again for the nice comments.
Mom cliques SUCK!!

Shunned By My Own Kind

2006-02-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

I am feeling shunned in the blog world.

People are removing me from their blogrolls left and right.
What did I do?
I do not know.
Should I care?
Not so sure... but I sorta do.

Tyson says that I shouldn't let it bother me.
But... It does.
I'm a blogging Mom but it seems that I don't quite fit with the "other" blogging Mom's.
(And no. I am not going to disclose anything about the group I am talking about.)
What is that about? I know I don't blog about my kids all the time... but come on. I've got other stuff to say. Why shun me from the group?
I swear... it was like one day I was friends with all the Mom's in this one group... and then now. Not so much. I'm telling you. I am being weeded out.
And I don't know why.

Maybe I am offensive.
Maybe I am not judgmental enough.
Maybe it's cuz I once admitted that I need to be more than just a Mom.
Maybe they don't find me interesting anymore.
Maybe they finally realized how boring I really am.

Who knows. And really. Who should care?
No one should.

I am pathetic for even writing about this.
I advise all of you to leave this site now.
Pathetic and boring are sure-fire signs of a blog about to go under.

The Friday Wrap #5

2006-02-17T00:56:00.000-08:00

What a week, my friends.
What.A.Week.

Said to me on Wednesday by a guy doing work in our yard: "I see I'm interruptin' your computer games." Yeah. That is what I do all day. Computer games.
I learned never ever to buy "cream cheese" frosting. Not ever. No. No matter how good it sounds and no matter how much you are in love with cream cheese. Do not do it. The stuff tastes like gluey feet.
That stupid church sign now says: "The best vitamin for a Christian is B1". WHAT ON EARTH DOES THIS MEAN? I go to Church every Sunday, people. (No, not to that one...) And I still do not know what this sign means. *UPDATED TO SAY* I get it now. Thanks to my smarter-than-me-commenters. I feel really dumb right about now. There the meaning was. Staring me right in the face. And I missed the meaning. Completely missed it. Dumb.dumb.dumb.dumb.
Tyson said to me at some point this week: "You are talking in your blog voice again." Hey. Don't act like you don't know what he is talking about. You know you have one, too.
I have the greatest of all Aunts. Mine sent me, for Valentines, some li-hi-moi. (Pronounced, "lee-hee-moy" for all of us howlies... a.k.a. "main-landers".) It is a sweet and sour spice that I believe is Japanese. Anyway. I have been looking for it online and in real-life grocery stores and have been unsuccessful. Li-hi-moi is fab on pineapple.... and. I.love.pineapple. I had to have some and my Aunt came through for me. Love her. Love her a lot.
Discovered I am allergic to bandaids. If you do not want to see my allergic reaction, which is surrounding my biopsy site, then do not click here. Okay. Don't say I didn't warn you.
I've only finished one block for my friends' baby quilt. I am a slacker loser who is not going to meet the duedate. She is due next week. This is sooo not going to happen.

Oh yes. And before I forget.
I would like to take this opportunity to whore out my blog.
I am up for a blog award. You can see all the info about it over there on my sidebar.
Read about it, if you wish, and then vote....
But only if you are going to vote for me!...
"I'm jos keeeding."

...But really.
You can if you want to.

Thursday Thirteen #10

2006-02-16T00:23:00.000-08:00

Another Random Thursday 13 About Kelly
1. I have a green room.
Marcia asked this a while back... And now I am answering.
People either love it or hate it. Take your pick.

2. I don't keep up with pedicures.
You may remember I got one a while back.
Well... Look at my toes today.

3. I also have a grey room...
Just in case you were wondering.

4. I love fireplaces.
No clue why. So don't ask.

5. My favorite movie is "The Happiest Millionaire".
If you've never seen it, you are missing out.

6. I eat cheese sandwiches when I'm all off kilter.
In fact, I am eating one now.

7. I will always regret the way my hair looked at my junior prom.
Too much hairspray.
What can I say?

8. I love love love to get postcards in the mail.
I may just start collecting them.

9. I have a picture of King Kong.
Actually... it is Tyson's picture. But I bought it for him.

10. I bought some strawberry plants online the other day.
Do many people do this? I have no idea. But I did, just the same.

11. I think that this website is one of the creepiest, yet most hilarious, I have ever seen.

12. I get cold in my house if the temperature drops one degree below 70.
Seriously. I really can tell when the heater is not doing what I want it to be doing.

13. I had the best Valentines Day ever yesterday.
I love my husband. He is just it.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Erika
Shelli
KDubs
Dariana
Karri
Kimmy
Amy
Jane
Uisce
The Schooligan
Lazy Daisy
Novaks8
Idle
Peach-Teapots
D
Leighann
Sherri
Jade
Better Safe Than Sorry
Dawn
Emily
Renee
Jen
Krisco
Mental
Nancy
Ginger
Ardice
Lena
Caryn
Courtney
Killired
Norma
Lisa
Mama B
Keb
Jen
Inky
D. Challener Roe
Wendy
Paisley
Jeni
Ocean Lady
Mama! Mama!
Virenda
The Notorious M.O.M.
Ficklechick
Chickadee
Veronika
Joe

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂs easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Still Working....

2006-02-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

Despite what you may have thought.
I have not quit.
I just have slowed down... a lot.
I've found that I have had no other choice.
What with me being sick, Helene being sick, and also Simon being sick.
Not to mention that Tyson is working all the time....

I am just tired.

That said.
Here is the latest!
This design marks my very first international blog.
And.
My very first design for a boy!
SomeGuy was great to work with and he had a ton of great ideas.

Go visit his new rockin' blog!
And... I'm going to try to get back to a better design pace.
If only I could just feel a little less tired....

I Am A Rockstar. No. Really. I Am.

2006-02-15T14:04:00.000-08:00

Today is a day that I feel like crap.

Why?
Because I got my stitches taken out, but still have no real answers as to what is going on with the hives/bites/mystery bumps.
I am sooooo over this, it is not even funny.

*UPDATED TO SAY*
You would think that all of this would make me feel better....

But. It didn't.

I'm also all in a ruff today because I am the worst Mother in the world.
Helene threw up last night and we didn't know it until this morning.
I hate it when this happens.
Not only because I feel so horrible that she went through that last night all alone...
But because I failed her.
Miserably.

Food Festivals And Bad Movies

2006-02-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

Don't ya just love Valentines Day?
Sure. Me too.

Let me just preface this post by saying that all Valentines Days spent with my Tyson have been fabulous. He gets me great flowers, great chocolate, and tear-jerker cards. Basically I love him and because it is Valentines Day I feel that I can tell the internet this without making it wretch and convulse simultaneously.

The V-Day story I want to share with you, however, is not about Tyson.
It is about just one of the many jerks that have crossed my path at one time or another.

Information you need to know:
I'd been dating this stupid guy for about 4 months by the time V-Day rolled around.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, he was the biggest most stupidest jerk around.
He, of course, did his boyfriend duty and asked me out for a date.
To.... Are you ready for this?
A Romanian Food Festival. Put on by a church that neither of us attended.
Wha...
I know.
I was pretty much like, "Uhh.... sure, okay. If that's really what you want to do."

Anyway.
The day came and I got all fancied up. That's what you're supposed to do, right?
I got so gussied up that even my Dad said I looked good. What??? My Dad said I looked good? That means I must look absolutely starlishious!
The stupid guy shows up. Late. My Dad is irritated because... Helllooo. No guy comes to his door to pick up his daughter. Late.

Whatever.
The first thing the guy says is, "What are you all dressed up for?"
I'm pretty sure I melted into the floor because of sheer embarrassment.
And. I still went with him!!! This just shows how low one's self esteem can be at the age of 19.

The rest of the night was obviously pretty boring...
The food festival was completely drab and the food not so great.
Since the stupid one's food festival idea tanked we ended up seeing a movie.
Okay... are you ready for what we saw?

Sphere.
Yes. On Valentines Day.

Quickly Traveling Up A Creek

2006-02-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

And tomorrow is Valentines Day.
Yippee.

I have no clue what to get Tyson.
He is basically impossible to buy for.
You know how I have my "Catalog Crap" over there?
Uh-huh. That is pretty much inspired by, and put there for, my husband.
Very hard to please, he is.
I am pretty safe with anything golf related... but you know what? That is all I ever get him.
I wanted to branch out on this stupid holiday. I wanted to do something different.

Any type of Valentines gift basket is out.
Any type of stuffed animal is out.
Hell... even any type of candy is out because he swears that it either tastes like chalk or it is too rich.

So here I sit.
Up a creek.

"M" Makes Me Laugh

2006-02-11T23:04:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by Queen Beth and we all know I am down with a good meme...

But. I've already done this one!
However, I did this one such a long time ago that most of you have not read it.
So if you want to read it, which I recommend because it is a good one, then you can read it here.

Now that you know just a little bit more about me, let me tell you about one of my best friends. She is not a blogger so I am not going to post her picture and I won't tell you her real name.
We shall call her "M". (I know. I'm so creative with the alias'!)

When I hang with M I seriously feel like I am in a Seinfeld episode. Last night I did the girls night out thing with M and a bunch of her friends from high school. I was the new kid to the crowd and I was A-O-K with that. But only because half way through the meal M was rummaging through her purse and pulled out a brand new can opener... still in the packaging. From.Her.Purse.

You may not find this funny but I did.
Because. How random is that?
And. She didn't even have a real excuse as to why it was even in her purse!
I laughed at her. Hard. For a long time.

The Friday Wrap #4

2006-02-10T01:40:00.000-08:00

This week has been interesting.
And hey... that is better than horrible, right?
I've been doing my Friday Wrap for a month now.
You can expect this to be a permanent feature here at Diary of the Nello from now on.
I like it. It wraps up my week and then I just leave it here on the blog and move on.

I was made fun of by a city worker this week. Nice huh? Some city employees came by our house because by federal law they had to trim back my ginormous mulberry tree so that it did not touch any power lines. They also removed a tree from my property because.... Well. I really don't know why. But the tree is gone. Anyway. When they asked if they could remove the tree I asked if I was going to be charged. The guy, who was helping himself to one of my backyard lawn chairs, laughed at me and said, "Yeah. We'll set up a three month payment plan for you!! *insert laughing of the three other workers here.* So there I was. Standing in my backyard being laughed at by four city workers. This was a first for me.
I wondered the other night just why Madonna's nickname in the media is Madge. I know. Profound thinking. But still. I wonder.....
I heard "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors on the radio the other day and I found out pretty quick that I knew every.single.word. I don't know if that is sad or just impressive.
I decided that every time I go grocery shopping (which is about once every ten days) I am going to buy one of those already seasoned and roasted chickens and have it for dinner that night. You know... sortof a prize for actually going to the grocery store.
I finally decided it was time to get my years worth of digital photos printed. That's right. I haven't gotten any pictures printed in one.year. Total price? Are you ready for this? A whopping $76.44!! What was that? Did I just hear the word, "slacker"? You don't know the half of it! (Those are two photos that are inclued in this year long batch of pics....)
My wedding rings are constantly falling off and the other day I lost them in a sea of laundry and I freaked out. They just don't fit me very well anymore. So I have officially come to the conclusion that I need another band to anchor the other two down. (Can't get my engagement ring sized because it is channel set all the way around.) Wow! Now that I see my conclusion written down I think it is one of the most brilliant plans that I have ever come up with!!

The.End.

Thursday Thirteen #10

2006-02-09T01:00:00.000-08:00

A Plain Old Fashioned Thursday 13 List About Kelly
aka: A list about nothing whatsoever.
1. I sing to my kids on a very regular basis.
My favorite songs for them right now are "Between" by Wayne Brady for Sesame Street and "Do De Rubber Duck, by Ernie for Sesame Street.

2. I used to be a dental assistant.
Started that venture at 18 and quit the venture at 24. I'm inspired to tell you this because I went to the dentist yesterday and got all happy looking at the x-rays that the loves-to-hurt-people-with-her-scaler hygenist took of my teeth.

3. I like Kelly Clarkson.
And I don't care what anyone thinks about that.

4. My current favorite phrase coming out of Simon's mouth is:
"To insiwity and eeyond." (Translation: To infinity and beyond.) When he says this, he is usually standing straight up on the very top of my couch and is about to jump off onto his bean bag on the floor.

5. I once had a "place" that I ate regularly at with all my friends.
I miss it. I miss them.

6. I now have a "place" that I eat at regularly with Tyson and the kids.
I love it. We all do. And that is amazing.

7. I like Mexican food.
It comforts me.

8. My favorite show right now is Grey's Anatomy.
I don't know a lot of people who are watchers... and I often wonder why.

9. The chocolate that makes me the happiest is See's.
This one was for you Maki!

10. I just finished the book Wicked.
I know... slow on the uptake. But still. I felt like I was left hanging at the end. I liked the book... but absolutely did not like being left hanging with a lot of loose ends.

11. I get to go to New York with my husband in a few months for....
Get this.... EIGHT DAYS!
Yes. New York! Manhattan to be exact!
Can.Not.Wait.

12. I get to go out this weekend.
I know! A real weekend. Dinner with some chicks and then the Pebble Beach Pro-Am with Tyson. Still can't believe that I actually will have a life this weekend. Thanks to Holly for making this possible.

13. I have a very loud, very obnoxious, very un-shutup-able inner dialogue.
No wonder I don't sleep well.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. KDubs
2. Mar
3. Mrs. Aginoth
4. Norma
5. Kimmy
6. Lisa
7. Better Safe Than Sorry
8. Shelli
9. Leesa
10. Dariana
11. Uisce
12. Goofy Girl
13. Nancy
14. Idle
15. Courtney
16. Suz
17. Emily
18. Novaks8
19. Amy
20. FlattendFrog
21. Mama! Mama!
22. Jules
23. Chickadee
24. Suzy
25. Janne
26. Mrs. Fun
27. Keb
28. Texas Ivy
29. Master Enigma
30. Paisley
31. WendyWings
32. Karin
33. PJ
34. LadyBug
35. Eric
36. D. Challener Roe
37. Jane
38. Jeni
39. Trouble In ShangriLa
40. Joan
41. Caryn
42. Joe

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂs easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

And Here We Have....

2006-02-08T21:44:00.000-08:00

...the latest designs to come out of studio Nello.

So. Now that you have gone to visit the two ladies up above, I have some stuff to say...

Work work work.
I'm still in denial about how fast this whole Nello Design thing took off. It's like one day I was messing around with code and trying to figure out what it all meant, and then the next I was designing templates for people I don't even know... and they were telling me I'm good at it! I am still pretty convinced that my designs are pretty fantabulous for free... but once I start charging.... maybe not so fantab.

It's a big step to start your own business....
And I'm scared.

Is it obvious?

Britney Spears Is Stupid

2006-02-08T02:00:00.000-08:00

Have I ever told you how freakin' awesome my kids are?
What?
I haven't?

Well. Let me tell you what.
These are the two most brilliant minds on the planet at this very moment.

Helene currently has about a hundred thousand words that I am absolutely in love with.
The first being, "Tah-tel-no". (Translation, "telephone".)
Second, "Si-meee" (Translation, "Simon".)
Third, "Po-Poh". (Translation, "purple".)
AND! This kid can sing the entire "alphabet song", "twinkle twinkle little star", and "If you're happy and you know it". She's an 18 month old genius.

Simon, as we all know, is a genius in the rough.
Meaning... he only shows you how smart he is if he wants to.
We were eating dinner the other day and my boy started singing this song without even being prompted. He just started singing it... word for word, and I started singing it, then Helene started singing... and we haven't stopped since.
Simon also recently revealed that he can count backwards! BACKWARDS, people!
Not only is this boy smart, he cracks me up.
He regularly takes naps in a drawer that lies underneath his train table.
But this sleeping only occurs after he has stripped himself down to nothing but diaper and has stood in his window (which just so happens to face our entire neighborhood) for about an hour. Yeah. So my kid is regularly seen in the front window of my house with no clothes on. You know our neighbors just love us. As soon as I get a picture of this... I will post it.

And on a completely unrelated topic...
I know everyone talked about this yesterday but I just had to say my piece.
Oh Brit. You are so dumb. Don't' you know that tiny babies will go flying in a car crash if they are not buckled down? Flying Britbrit. They fly far. You may want to consider taking your bad self over to the local fire department so that they can show you how to use a carseat.

Just one more thing...
You should know something about me.
I never win anything. Ever.
But I won something last week! Wahoo!
But, imagine my surprise when I won again this week.!!
And just when I thought I was having the greatest luck ever, I got nominated for something! Holy moly... I haven't been nominated for anything since I was a freshman in high school. (Don't ask. Still too painful to talk about.)

Holy crap!!! How bout that luck?
Now if only I could get my blog luck to spill over into my real life.
Now that would be fabulous.

Lingerie Bowl And Swimming Newborns

2006-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Let's lighten the mood up in here.
Basically it is now known to the internet that I, KellyNellyNelloWhatever, had a breakdown yesterday. Yep. I really hit the bottom yesterday. And please know that I really did not intend for that post to be so intense. That, my friends, is just what happens when you blog in the middle of a crying jag.
Thanks so much for all the great supportive comments. They really did mean a lot to me.

I felt the need to laugh yesterday, obviously, and I successfully found a few.
I want to share. You may have already seen these... but. I'm still gonna show you these anyway.

I saw this yesterday. You HAVE got to click on that over there. You.just.flippin.have.to.

Ok. Now that you're back, I hope you freakin' thought what I did.
And that was:
"Are you KIDDING me?!!!!!"
Isn't that photo laughable? Isn't it even more laughable that people would pay to watch that crap? I KNOW! People paid to see that business.
Let me ask you women this: Would you ever want to play football in your undies? Seriously. What amount of money would it take to get you onto that field? Cuz I bet that none of those women were paid that amount. None of them.

Well... I also saw this.
So. Do you think that baby looks happy.... or just uncomfortable?
And. Would you do that to your baby?

Maybe I would.
Just for the hilarious picture.

Gloom And Doom

2006-02-06T01:50:00.000-08:00

Just what do I want to tell the internet today?

Do I really want to tell the internet that I am very sick of being sick?
Do I really want to go down that road?
You know... The road that makes everyone feel bad for me and tell me that it will all get better soon?
The road that will inevitably make me tell the internet that I have suffered from fibromyalgia for ten years, from migraines for about 6 years, from insomnia since I can remember, from vulvodynia for a year, and now.... now apparently from some mystery-may-be-hive condition that no one seems to be able to diagnose or get rid of?
Do I really want to go down that road?

Not really. But it seems that I just did.

But you know what? None of that even really holds a candle to the fact that I was sexually assaulted eight years ago and ever since I have been dealing with massive un-healing wounds.
Ugh. The nightmares.
Yick. The unnecessary skin twinges.
Blech. My not-so-new-anymore skeptical outlook on life. "Just who is going to screw me over next?"
And not to be left out. My constant struggle to forgive and let go.

Blah blah blah.
Basically, I could do without all the crappy side effects of sexual abuse. They all have cramped my life in one way or another.

Yes. I've been to therapy. Actually, years of therapy.
Yes. I have confronted my assailant.
Yes. I am okay with this situation most of the time.

But right now? I'm not okay. Not with any of it.
And I just want it all to go away. Because you know that straw that people talk about? That one that supposedly broke a camel's back?
Yeah. I found that straw.
And that camel must have gotten a wicked bad batch of hives.

The Newest...

2006-02-04T00:02:00.000-08:00

Designs.
Yes. As you know... I do these things all the time!
Still love it though.

That first one is for Kimmy and I cannot tell you how much I LOVE that design! Kimmy is awesome! She links to me as "Nyquil lovin' Nello". You can tell that she reads my blog... So now. You go read hers. She is one really cool blogger!
The second one is for Beth. Queen Beth, that is. Her design is also very fantabulous. I love the VW's on her blog. But the thing I love about it most is that they are her original pictures. And working with original work is my favorite!! Queen Beth's blog is AWESOME! Not only does she watch Mr. Rogers and talks about it, just like me (we've got tons in common)... but I recently won a contest on her blog that she holds every Tuesday. AND. I never win ANYTHING!!

Anywho....
On to the next.

The Friday Wrap #3

2006-02-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

This week.
Not so much fun.

I spent ALL day long in bed on Sunday. I seriously came out of my room for a few hours and then I went right back in. Contrary to what some may think, I absolutely HATE this. I get all stir crazy when this happens and I feel like I lost a day of my life.
I discovered that my dermatologist really needs to invest in some bandaids that don't stick like duct tape to you. I mean come on! If you are in the business of cutting stuff out of people and then giving them stitches, you may as well take a tiny bit of pity on the people and give them the no hurt kind of bandaids. Because when I went to change my bandages.... OUCH!!!!
I think I may have offended someone who read my post from long ago on my crazy neighbors... But I'm not really sure. (If you want to see the post and the comment, go here.) If I offended you, the commenter, I am sorry. In my defense I just want to say that I think farmers are great! In fact, I secretly wish that I was a farmer. I just really happen to think that farm animals such as the ones that my neighbors are illegally keeping in their backyard do not belong in a suburban housing development. Seriously. These houses are not acres apart. These houses just happen to be a few feet apart. And. None of these houses are even on a half-acre of land. I always thought that farm animals needed wide open spaces... not a wide open couple of feet. Plus, It goes against city code! It is illegal to have these animals. Oh and one more thing. The people next door really are nuts. And not because they are wanna-be farmers. These people are putting in a circular driveway that is in no way approved by the city and also is in no way usable. No joke. There is no way any car is going to be able to make that curve! OH! AND. They are making the driveway out of stepping stones! STEPPING STONES!!!!
Discovered that the tulips I planted in November (aren't they fabulous?) are starting to sprout up! I am so excited... Mainly because I have this dream of being a farmer that farms flowers. Yes. There is such a thing.
Remember the sign on the church a while back that completely perplexed me? Well. I drove by it again and it now says, "Believing Is Seeing". Okay. This is still confusing because the saying could be read in so many ways. If you want to tell me what you think it means I would love to hear. I bet all of you will think it means something different.
Simon and Helene be-headed the Buzz Lightyear doll. I fixed it, and they did it again. Apparently they really don't mind playing with a headless Buzz.
I found out once again that chocolate really can make me happy. I mean it. Ever since I gave birth to Simon the stuff really has had a strong power over me. When Simon was like a month or two old, I would send Tyson to the store specifically to get me chocolate. Oh. And did I mention this was usually late at night? Well anyway, the power has lingered on these last three years. And now. Now if I have some chocolate when I am particularly blue or pissed off... the stuff can actually lighten me up. I've decided it is pure magic.
Went shopping with Holly and my Mom on Saturday night only for me to find some pants at the Gap for 14 bucks AND some flippin' sweet Vans for a lowly ten smackers. I know. I am in awe of myself as well.
Got another betta fish. A red one. It resides in a suspended bowl in my office. Check it. I think I'll name him Rosie.
Ah yes. And I started a quilt for a friend who is having a baby this month. Any bets on whether or not I'll finish it on time? I'm betting.... No.

And that is that.

Thursday Thirteen #9

2006-02-02T00:42:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Things That I Will Do.
1. Stay up all night long just to get something done.
Like finishing Meppy's quilt.
2. Watch Friends over and over and over.
I don't know why.... But for some strange reason it makes me happy when I'm all flippery-floppery.
3. Have a glass of water by me.
At all times. I really don't know why I do this... But I have to.
4. Change all my bedding if any part of any shoe has touched it.
Because... Yuck.
5. Sleep during Sesame Street.
I just can't help it sometimes.
6. Crochet while Tyson watches ESPN.
It's the only way I can stay in the room.
7. Ignore tantrums.
It's the only way they stop.
8. Get pissed at really irrational things one week out of the month.
It happens.
9. Eat a cookies and cream Drumstick at 12:25a.m.
I'm actually doing this right now. I really had no choice in the matter.
10. Read a really good book cover to cover in one night.
I actually did this the night before I had Simon. I just could not put that book down.
11. Leave laundry in the dryer for a few days.
Because. Either I forgot about it or I just really really did not want to fold the friggin' clothes.
12. Have a movie playing even though I know I'm not going to watch it.
I need the noise sometimes. Crazy. I know.
13. Do the Thursday 13 every Thursday.
I'm obsessed with lists. That is why I do this.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Norma
2. Mrs. Aginoth
3. KDubs
4. WendyWings
5. Uisce
6. Mama B.
7. Jade
8. Katherine
9. Chickadee
10. Karen
11. Mel
12. Paisley
13. Killired
14. Nancy
15. Courtney
16. Ocean Lady
17. YellowRose
18. Ms. Crystal
19. Leesa
20. D. Challener Roe
21. Shelli
22. Joan
23. The Idle Receptionist
24. Laura
25. Better Safe Than Sorry
26. Renee

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂs easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

The Mystery Bumps

2006-02-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

Went to my dermatologist.
The man is not so sure that what I have are hives.
Great.
Are you kidding me?

So. He cut two of my so-called-hives right on out of my skin.
Uh-huh. Local anesthetic and a few stitches later....
I now have two biopsy sites that both itch and burn.
Fabulous.

I also have officially commenced with the internal freak out.
What are these things if not hives?
Am I going to die?

Hahahahaha!
I am sooo not going to die... Right?
These mystery things on me are probably really just hives and I just happen to go to a dermatologist that likes to cut stuff out of people's skin "just to make sure".Yeah. That sounds like a good thing to tell myself.

Oh yeah.
I launched this site the other day and just haven't gotten around to posting it.

This was my second Typepad design and again, all I really did was the banner.
Go visit! You won't be disappointed!

Monday's Usually Bite

2006-01-31T00:03:00.000-08:00

Well.
The hives are back.
I feel like crap once again.
Headaches, sore throat, indigestion (read: diarrhea.), achiness, tiredness....
I think those are all my symptoms. WebMD can't even help me at this point.
Great.

The hives actually never really went away... they just stopped popping up every day and started popping up every four or five days. I thought they would just phase themselves right on out of my life. I thought wrong.
Now they pop up every day. And they itch and hurt real bad once again.

My personal ban on Doctors, so I can use my co-pay for something else, has officially ended. I go to the dermatologist on Wednesday to see if a specialist can enlighten me as to why I have fallen victim to two months of hives. (Not to mention a life of scars from said hives.)

Monday sucked.
I am so glad that the clock just turned past midnight to make it Tuesday.
Not only did my hives get worse yesterday, but Helene threw up, Simon had a diarrhea attack, and I sliced my finger open with my new scissors.

(That is what I get for trying to use knife-edged scissors while sick and groggy.)

You want to see the cut?
Check it:

And that up there? That is only after twenty or so minutes of bleeding and applied pressure so that the skin would fuse back together. And oh. Did I mention that it hurt?... And that I may or may not have used a level two cuss word? (Well... maybe it was like six or seven of those forbidden words...)

So blah blah blah.... We had a red letter Monday.
One to put down in the books.

I've Been Working... Really

2006-01-30T11:12:00.000-08:00

See?
These are the latest designs.
These designs prove that even though I have been sick as a dog the last three days, that I work anyway.
That's right. Sick.as.a.dog. And. I work anyway.
Well... truth be told, most of the work on these two designs were done before I got sick again.

Just some info on these two designs:
Both of these mark a few firsts for me.

The design for Liz (the very top design) is the very first blog that I created sideboxes for. When you go and see the design, you will know what I am talking about. You can find them in her sidebar. Anyway. I think they are fabulous and I plan on doing more in the future.
The design for Rhonda is the very first Typepad design that I have ever done. A learning experience for sure. For Rhonda's blog all I did was create her banner image and tweak the width of her page. A friend of Rhonda's did the artwork for the banner and it looks great!

Go see them, go praise them, just go check them out already!

So. What's Your Story?

2006-01-28T23:19:00.000-08:00

I got this post idea from Liz.
She asked, "What's your profile picture story?"
I don't know why I felt compelled to answer... Because my story is certainly not funny, or cute, or even heartwarming.
The word for my story would be: Bittersweet (but more on the bitter side.)

That man up there, my friends... That is my brother.
That is my only brother.
His name is Jimmy.
I have four sisters. Feel free to feel badly for Jimmy. Everyone usually does.

That picture was taken at my Jimmy's wedding one year ago.

Growing up, Jimmy and I were really pretty good friends. We played basketball together, we did the park thing, the bike thing, the fort thing...
We even played with He-Man toys and Skeletor's castle together.
But the most fun thing we ever did was torture our baby sister Mary. We were really very very good at that! We threw her in our pool on a very regular basis. (Winter, fall... it didn't matter how cold it was. In fact, the colder the better.)
We loved to hide her in the clothes hamper when she was a toddler, tell her we were playing hide and seek..... and then. We would leave her there. Good times.

Anyway. We got older.
We hardly ever talk anymore.
I would say that in a good year we talk on the phone about five times and possibly see each other once. And like I said... that is in a good year.
He used to be hilarious.
He's not anymore.
He seems to be pissed on a regular basis, actually.

This is the best picture we have taken together since we were kids.
The boy is actually smiling.
He doesn't smile a lot anymore... and certainly not in pictures. I know it is his wedding and all... but seriously. We were all just hoping to see him happy. And he was. And that was great.

I miss him.
I miss the kid I grew up with.
I don't know what happened to him, but I want him to come home.

The Friday Wrap #2

2006-01-27T10:13:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I did this and I was serious when I said I was going to do it again.
Here are the mundane details of my week:

Attended a Pampered Chef party with Holly. I bought this, this, this and this. I am very excited.
Diary of the Nello received its very first anonymous creepy comment. It went something like this: "You know that people with foot f**ishes love your layout?" To Anonymous: I have a few problems with this comment. One of them being that the foot in my graphic up there... is owned by my 18 month old. So if what you say is true... I am officially creeped out. And to all you people that are here and loving my graphic in a not so cool way.... Leave. Leave right now. That foot up there is a baby's foot! So ICK to all of you! (BTW: please please please do not use those "f" words in the comments section to this post. I DO NOT want any searches coming up with those "f" words. I really wanna keep those people away from here if you know what I'm sayin'.)
Learned that Helene does not think that her Dad should hug me in her presence. Tyson and I were hugging in front of her and she sauntered up, managed to squeeze her little body in between us, started pushing us apart, all the while shouting "Noooooooooo". She is serious. Her Dad is her property and hers alone and that is that. I looked down at her and said, "Hey. This was mine before you came along so you are just gonna have to deal." Let's just say that she was not a fan of this information and she has had a problem with me ever since.
My right eye started swelling up on Tuesday night and I had a nervous breakdown. I thought for sure that my eye was going to swell to the size of a baseball just like it used to when I was a kid. (Long story short: My eye would swell up to an enormous size, doctors really didn't know why, but I had to get shots in my eye to make the swelling go down. I was made fun of mercilessly by my three very mean older sisters.) Anyway. My eye just stayed puffy for a few days and went away. Pretty anti-climactic, I know. But. The nervous breakdown.... that was serious. I could not stop crying. It was a pretty pathetic scene. And no. I'm not pregnant.
Went to the driving range with the kids and Tyson on Monday night. Simon had a blast crackin' the golf ball with his clubs and I was completely frustrated all night because I.suck.at.that.game.
Discovered that my kids look like "Dark Helmet" when they wear my pink hat.

And guess what? That is only part of it.
There is soooo much I keep from you people.
You have no idea.....

Thursday Thirteen #8

2006-01-26T00:25:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Things I Just Won't Do

1. Take out the trash.
This is Tyson's job.

2. Change light bulbs.
Again... Tyson's job.

3. Eat seafood.
Ick. Hate it. Hate the smell, hate the texture... Ick.
Don't try to tell me I'm missing out either.
Because I know I'm not.

4. Big crowds.
I get all nervous and cronky. I avoid them at all costs.
Actually... this is one of the many reasons that I got married in Hawaii.

5. Drink carbonation.
Makes me sick to my stomach. The only time I drink it is when I have a stomach ache.

6. Rake leaves.
I make Simon do it.

7. Watch daytime TV.
Because there is nothing on that I want to watch. Nothing. I mean it. Not even Dr. Phil.

8. Pluck my chin hair in front of Tyson.
I'll pluck my eyebrows... but.not.the.chin.hair.

9. Be in a good mood in the morning.
This goes against my genetic makeup.

10. Commit to a weekly exercise regimen.
Because I will fail. And I know it.

11. Subscribe to People magazine.
Because it's expensive and I refuse to pay to read all about the popular crowd in our "Adult High School". (Even though I am interested... but I shouldn't be... And I'm ashamed that I am.)

12. Pay bills.
Yep. You guessed it. Tyson's job.

13. Wear stretch pants.
Not ever.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Mar
2. Lisa
3. Gabrielle
4. Uisce
5. Katherine
6. D
7. The Idle Receptionist
8. Nicole
9. Karen
10. Mama B
11. Mama! Mama!
12. Sherri
13. Janne
14. Jen
15. Renee
16. Ms. Crystal
17. Diva La Jen
18. WendyWings
19. Chickadee
20. YellowRose
21. Dariana
22. Jade
23. Nancy
24. Ocean Lady
25. Ficklechick
26. Paisley
27. Ardice
28. Joan
29. Caryn
30. Leesa
31. Better Safe Than Sorry
32. Shelli
33. Sleeping Mommy
34. Inky
35. Krisco!!!!!!!
36. Norma

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂs easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Do I Sleep? No. Not Really.

2006-01-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much for all the nice stuff said in my previous post.
I really love what I do, but putting yourself out there is hard.
It just is.

I am, however, going to start my business very soon... (even though I am shakin' in my boots just a tad.)
I don't have a date as to when Nello Design will be an official business, but I am working on all the forms.

Do I sleep? Yes and no. Mostly no.
I have not been kidding when I have said that I need Tylenol PM or Nyquil to sleep.
I can't sleep at night. I mean, I can sometimes.... But I would say that for the most part I assume I am not going to be able to sleep and I take something to help me get there.

One of my first memories as a kid is lying in my bed looking at the ceiling wondering why everyone else seemed to be able to sleep at night, but I couldn't. I would just lay there and feel confused.
As I got older the problem got worse and I started complaining about it.
Blah blah blah.
Long story very short:
I have been to countless doctors.
I have been on countless prescriptions.
I've had tests done.
I've done a sleep study.
I've been in professional counseling.

Final conclusion from all of that:
I suffer from many things.... One of them being insomnia.

At this point in my life I refuse to get any more ulcers from prescription medications so I don't take anything. I have never liked the side effects of sleeping pills and I have found that Tylenol PM and Nyquil have no side effect on me whatsoever, and they work.
Problem solved. Well... as solved as it ever will be.

Insomnia plus motherhood is hard.
But, insomnia plus motherhood plus newfound quasi-passion???? Not much harder.
I know. It was a surprise to me too. I just chalk it up to the fact that I am a happier person having found something that I really like to do. I like being a Mother but I just cant get lost in it. I know that there are Mom's out there that can... My own Mother being one of them. But I just can't. I start to get very unhappy when I would look at myself and see that my life is my kids and that.is.it. I need more. I know it and my husband knows it.

It was actually Tyson who suggested the blog thing to me AND the design thing. I always knew he knew me well... but this. This really showed me that he knows me better than I know myself sometimes.
He knows I am happier doing something else other than being a Mommy and he supports me in that. In fact, he pushes me to do it. You have to know, however, that I struggle with the choice to become something other than a Mom. My kids need me and I feel that immensely. I feel guilty needing more than them because they are so great.... And what is so wrong with me that they aren't enough? They should be enough, but I just can't do it. I, obviously, have come to terms with it though. If I'm happier, they'll be happier. And that really is the bottom line.

Well... this post turned into something I didn't intend.
I was gonna come on here and answer the "do you sleep" question of the DYM and Kdubs in a direct yet sarcastic way.... You know. Answer the question but make a joke so you don't think it's really a big deal...

But I didn't sleep well last night... and clearly I am not in my usual sarcastic mood.

Two New Designs

2006-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Nello Design is busy busy.
Who would've guessed?

I certainly wouldn't have...

As per my usual request:
Please go visit these bloggers!
Both Jane and Jen were great to work with and it was a pleasure to design for them!

On a completely separate note...
I'm pretty sure that if I started charging people for these designs, that the demand for my services would go way way down....
But maybe that is just my insecurity talking.

2006-01-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

I put Simon's shoes on the wrong feet today.
And I didn't even notice until about 20 minutes later when he was walking (not running like usual) around whining.

I'm a bad Mom.
Can't even put on a 3 year old's shoes correctly.

How Do You Say "Avatar" Anyway?

2006-01-21T21:15:00.000-08:00

So.
I've seen these Avatar things around the web lately.
I didn't know what they were and all the sudden I saw some blank box come up when I would login to my email account with yahoo.
Well. One day I clicked on it to see what I could see.

Tonight, as I was messing with my Avatar, Tyson came into the office.
He says, "Hey. You have one of those too?"

WHAT?
You mean to tell me that my no-nonsense, no-frills-whatsoever husband has one of these things?
NO WAY.
I didn't believe him. Just like the time when we went on our first date and I made him show me his license because I didn't believe him when he told me how old he was. (I thought he was 21 when in reality he was, at the time, 27 very quickly going on 28.)
Anyway. The man was telling the truth.
After I figured out that he really had an Avatar... because I made him show it to me..... He says, "See Kelly. I'm just two steps ahead of the crowd. Ya know what I'm sayin'?"
Uh-huh. Sure you are, bucko.

Anywhoooooo.
Here we are. All Avatar'd out!

So. What do you think. Does it look like us?

Design For DES

2006-01-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Des!

The Friday Wrap #1

2006-01-20T12:46:00.000-08:00

The following are things that have happened during my week.

1. I came to terms with the fact that I cannot make chocolate chip cookies. I can, however, make chocolate chip tortillas.

2. I decided that "Bubba" (Holly's husband) needs a haircut badly... Because I saw this.

3. I got another cyst-like "infection" on my face. And this one was even worse than the other one. It was so big that Holly couldn't even make fun of me. It was so big that Tyson could. --- "Why don't you invoke the powers of the Third Eye to find all the missing toys?"
Isn't he hilarious.

4. I came to the decision that my favorite words that Helene says are "no no" and "shtop ut". (translation: stop it) Because. She says them better than anyone I know. I'm serious.

5. I managed to cry all the day long on Tuesday. I bawled to Tyson over the phone, (never a pretty thing) I cried to a woman whom I have only met one other time, (how friggin' embarrassing), and I made Holly cry. (but not on purpose.)
Why?
Because. Tuesday was the day that I felt like the worst Mother on the face of the planet. I HATE those days.
So. Why on earth would I feel like that?
a). Both the kids had exploded poo diapers. (Read: Poop exploding out the back of a diaper and gets onto anything and everything it touches.) Did I mention that this happened with BOTH kids?
b). I realized that my kids have been chewing on the little metal weights that weigh down the curtains in Simon's room for heaven knows how long. (Probably since the curtains have been up. Probably about SIX MONTHS!) Yeah. And I had no idea. I had no clue until I walked in on Helene chewing away on the thing and I saw that not only have they been actively chewing on these weights, but they had actually chewed the weights to bits. BITS!
Great. Uh. Child Protective Services, anyone?
c). It hit me square in the face that Simon is regressing in his sensory issues and there is just not a whole lot I can do about it because I made the mortal mistake of not going to school to become a pediatric occupational therapist.
Let me tell you that there is nothing worse on this earth than to watch your child struggle and feel completely helpless at the same time. (We are waiting for his school district to approve him for occupational therapy so he can continue his services... Just so you know.)

Well that was fun.
I may just do that again sometime.

Thursday Thirteen #7

2006-01-19T00:53:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Favorite Television Shows Of All-Time

1. The Love Boat
The theme song will be forever stuck in my head. And I will never understand why Gopher was my favorite character.

2. The Facts Of Life
And who can forget that George Clooney was in that show? Not me. Not with that hair of his.

3. That's Incredible!
I had the biggest crush on John Davidson. Sad. But very true.

4. Press Your Luck
This was my favorite part. I would crack up when those whammies would run across the bottom of the t.v. screen. (especially the Michael Jackson one... but I couldn't find a picture of that one.)

5. You Can't Do That On Television
Do you remember this creepy character? Or how about how gross that slime looked? I almost gagged every time someone said, "I don't know." I always had to look away.

6. Dallas
I vaguely remember something about a crush on Patrick Duffy...

7. Bosom Buddies
Two men cross-dressing. A show way before its time... but still. I laughed.

8. Flipper
Now. Who didn't like this show? I always liked the cool swamp boat thing that the Dad always cruised around in.... But I couldn't find a picture of that so this was the best I could do.

9. Seinfeld
Of course.

10. Friends
Again. Of course.

11. Arrested Development
I love this show! And I love GOB! And. I love Buster!

12. The Office (UK version)
Gareth is my favorite character.

13. Fraggle Rock
The work of a genius.

*UPDATE*
The Thursday Thirteen is being handed over to someone else!
See you all next Thursday!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Uisce
2. Norma
3. Dariana
4. KDubs
5. Mar
6. Ardice
7. Lisa
8. Shelli
9. Kimmy
10. Novaks8
11. Katherine
12. Sherri
13. Rhonda
14. Jane
15. Courtney
16. Interstellarlass
17. Jennifer
18. Lisa
19. Chickadee
20. Mama! Mama!
21. Petite Mommy
22. Ocean Lady
23. WendyWings
24. YellowRose
25. Texas_Ivy10
26. Mama B
27. Nancy
28. Veronika
29. Caryn
30. Better Safe Than Sorry
31. Paisley
32. Keb
33. Jen
34. Renee
35. Suzy
36. Jess

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÃ’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I Blog Way Too Much.

2006-01-18T00:38:00.000-08:00

You want to know what kind of person I am?
This is the kind of person I am:

I was surfing blogs not too long ago. You know... To see what "normal" people blog about. Click click... click click click click click.
And then it happened. I came across a blog called "The Cheese Sandwich".
I immediately stopped surfing. I stared at the title and could not get myself to read any other part of the blog. My brain quit working and another force took over all my senses. A force not to be reckoned with. The undeniable craving.
You know what I did? I went into my kitchen and made myself a cheese sandwich.
I had to. It was like the blog universe just knew what I wanted to eat....

And I didn't have just one cheese sandwich. I think I had THREE!
It was around 1 am.
Come on. What would you do?

The Grocery Store Rant

2006-01-17T09:44:00.000-08:00

Seriously so pissed off right now.
I am having a day where I HATE suburban life.
Hate it I tell you.

I went to the grocery store with Helene, thinking I'm all smart for going while Simon is in preschool. All is fine and dandy until I get to the front of the store to check out.
I have about a hundred bucks in groceries, so I can kiss the 20 items or less line goodbye.
But wait.
The only line open is the 20 items or less line.
What the?
Great.
Here come the looks.

So I wheel my cart up to the forbidden land and take my place. I get a look of death from a random lady and I motion for her to go right on ahead of me.
I know. I'm way too nice.

At this point Helene is done with the supermarket. That would be, D.O.N.E. done. She is actively saying to me, "aw doy, aw doy." (translation: All Done All Done.) And guess what? I couldn't agree with her more. I didn't eat breakfast this morning because I was out of my breakfast. I drink this crap everyday because I.Hate.Breakfast.Food. All of it. Can't stand it. But I know I need breakfast, so I found my solution in this formula. The fact that I was out of the stuff was just one of the many reasons for my trek to the stupid suburban grocery store, the place where really mean people masquerade as nice people.

Just as Helene starts to whine and cry, a little old lady wheels up behind me.
She keeps inching closer and closer to me and my cart as I am unloading the goods onto the conveyer belt. I feel her stupid gaze burning the back of my head and I am thinking, "Uh... what do you want lady? Don't ya see that my kid is ready to erupt into louder screams and cries?"
This lady, who obviously has forgotten how short a kid's temper can be in a grocery store, finally says to me, "Can I just go ahead and get in front of you? I'm going to have to wait a really long time just to check out with the few items I have to get."

I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe that someone could see a Mother with her kid in a grocery store, who is so obviously ready to get out of there, and think that they are somehow justified in cutting just so they didn't have to wait. Especially when said Mother had already done her good grocery store deed for the day when letting someone else cut in front of her. I just think that is soooo mean.
I feel like screaming at her. I feel like telling her, "Just because I am obviously one of those 'lazy stay at home Mom's' does not mean that I don't have other things to do. Because listen lady. I've got about a million things to do every day and most of the time spend all day trying to get it all done by 10 at night! That's right. I pull the 24 hour shift.... Do you? Can't you see that by my letting you cut means that I get to endure a screaming child while trying to get the hell out of here? Doesn't that mean anything to you? If you don't care about me... then think of all the people in this store that are going to have to listen to her just so YOU could get out of here faster!"

But guess what? I didn't say any of that. I told her, through clenched teeth and no smile whatsoever, to just go ahead. Why not? I've got aaaaalllll day.
The lady had no shame. She was so proud of herself. She just sauntered up ahead up me and did her business. I cannot tell you how much steam was coming out of my head.... but it was. I know it. It just had to be.

THEN! Some man comes up behind me and starts giving me that same flippin' look. Burning my head, he was.
There was no way it was happening again.
No.Way.
I didn't look at him and I didn't respond.
By the time I got to the front and was being checked out I could hardly even speak. The cashier was trying to talk to me and it was all I could do not to flip out.

Wow.
I'm still mad.
It's about an hour later.... And I am still ticked.
I feel an afternoon nap coming on.
Screw all the laundry that needs to be done.
I clearly need to calm down.

Question Mark

2006-01-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

My blog is confused.

What is this blog about anyway?
Is it a mommy blog?
How about a design blog?
Or is it one of those snarky, complaining blogs?
What about just an annoying blog?
Wait wait.
I've got it.
It's a pointless blog.

In case you're wondering what all the blog hate is all about...
I have realized lately that my blog has no real point. I don't even know that it can be categorized into one subject. I originally started this blog to vent my frustrations in life so I wouldn't have to find a therapist.
It worked for a while.
Now, however...
Now it is not working.

I don't blog about the things that I need therapy for.
I probably should because that is really why I came to blogland to begin with...
But I don't.

So really. If I'm not doing what I set out to do, what exactly is the point?

Show And Tell

2006-01-16T13:01:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to show y'all that I am working.
A lot. (A good thing.)

This is a design I did for an artist named Amy Petrik.
This design was a great departure from what I have been doing lately because all the graphics that are used in the site are Amy's original work!
I love love love working with original artwork. Plus, Amy's artwork is so cheery and reminds me of happy times! Go check out her work.... it really is good stuff!

Nothing.

2006-01-15T23:18:00.000-08:00

Don't you hate it when you have nothing funny or interesting to blog about?
I do.

Show And Tell

2006-01-14T02:51:00.000-08:00

Can't sleep.
Don't want to take Tylenol PM because I am still trying to be true to my resolutions.

So what do I do?
I work.

But that is A-OK with me because.
One. I love what I do.
Two. This design was sooooo FUN!

Who doesn't LOVE a fat Elvis impersonator?

Not only does Melodee have a fab blog, she also has a fab store.
Go check it out.
Melodee was completely fabulous to work with and through this design work I did for her I found out that we have a lot in common regarding our kids. She actually knew what sensory integration dysfunction was! And I don't meet a lot of people who know what that is. I bet a lot of you that are reading this are like, "What is Nello talking about?"

Simon has sensory integration dysfunction and was diagnosed right after I had Helene. If you want to know what I'm dealing with here you can always click on the link over there on the sidebar. If you don' t want to know more about it just know that Simon a great kid and is completely perfect in my opinion.
Anyway. Exchanging some emails with Melodee really was helpful to me because there have been some days recently with Simon that have been rough. So, thanks Melodee. Thanks for chatting with me about it and being an unknowing support.

Now.
Here's to hoping that I get some sleep tonight! (I mean... this morning.)

Fabulous Genetics

2006-01-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

I finally have an excuse for all the looks I dish out when I am irritated or pissed off.

Little miss Helene.
From the minute she was born Tyson could not stop laughing at her because she makes the same faces I do.
It really is uncanny.

See for yourself.
In the obviously older picture I am the smallest one. (Holly is the one with the tow-head bowl cut, if you care.) Helene and I are about the same age in these pictures...

See what I'm sayin'?
This just goes to show that the looks I shoot deserving individuals are a direct result of genetics... Not years of practice like some people would have you think.
Helene is my proof.

So. What's your excuse?

These Bunnies Crack Me Up!

2006-01-13T02:40:00.000-08:00

you are the "you're so dumb" happy bunny.
you are brutal in your words and enjoy putting
others down.

which happy bunny are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thursday Thirteen #6

2006-01-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Things Nello Must Have

1. Velcro shoes for the kiddies.
Right now both kids have shoes that tie... And. It sucks. Usually when I have to go somewhere I have to go. Tying shoes takes up valuable time.

2. Proactiv.
Because holy crap that infection on my face is HUGE!

3. A flat iron.
Lets just say that my hair used to be stick straight but somehow, when I reached the age of 22 or 23 my hair turned into a frizzy nightmare.

4. Carbohydrates.
Yes. You read correctly. I cannot live without them. I love them.

5. Chocolate.
This one should go without saying.

6. Tweezers.
For eyebrows and chin hair. Yeah. I get those pesky chin hairs. So what?
No. I'm not self concious about it....

7. A flat pillow.
Tyson wonders why I just don't sleep without one. When we travel I have to bring my pillow otherwise I can't sleep at night.

8. High-speed internet.
There was a time that we reverted back to dial up because of the price. And. It.was.torture.

9. Flowers.
What can I say? Flowers make me happy.

10. Jeans.
I wear them every day. Well... almost every day. I actually wear skirts on Sunday. You know. For church.

11. Nyquil.
I like me a good night sleep. And when I know that I won't be able to get it naturally, well.... I turn to the sauce.

12. My winter coat.
Because it is just so darn cute and it is friggin' cold out.

13. My VHS/DVD player.
Yes. I still own all my VHS movies and I still watch them. All the time.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Gabrielle
2. Ms. Crystal
3. Jennifer
4. novaks8
5. Mama! Mama!
6. Lazy Daisy
7. Norma
8. Katherine
9. WendyWings
10. Jen
11. Lisa
12. Joan
13. Ocean Lady
14. Squashedtoad
15. Courtney
16. Goslyn
17. Peri
18. Jade
19. Char
20. Uisce
21. Running2K's
22. KDubs
23. Caryn
24. Ivy
25. Master Enigma
26. TexasIvy
27. Paisley
28. Interstellarlass
29. Sherri
30. J&J'sMom
31. Ardice
32. YellowRose
33. Kat
34. Holly
35. Chickadee
36. Jane
37. JK :)
38. Suzy
39. Kimmy and Jacob
40. Veronika
41. Jeej
42. Jules
43. Ivoryfrog
44. Lisa
45. Shelli
46. KristiSue
47. Richard
48. Nancy
49. Renee

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Show And Tell

2006-01-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

I give you my latest designs.
Not that you really care... But I do and this is my blog.

This first one was for my really really good friend who we'll call "Char".
She's one of my real life friends who I somewhat talked into joining blogland. (If you wanna see another one of my friends that I talked into becoming a blogger check out this fine lady!) In our former lives we used to be roomies. She is a fabulous new blogger and you better go and visit her because, like I told you, she.is.great!

Alright! This next design was a ton of fun. Aunt Vanessa was great to work with and I was so happy to have the honor of designing her new template for her upcoming one year anniversary! Go say hi to Aunt Vanessa and congratulate her on making it to her one year blogging anniversary! (From what I hear, most bloggers don't make it that long!)

What? Yeah. I've Got A Third Eye. So What?

2006-01-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

I have the biggest.... uhhhh...."infection" on my face.
Yes. That's it. Infection.

It is on my right cheek right by my nose. And I am telling you. It.Is.Huge.
I think it may just be the biggest infection I have ever had. EVER.
I woke up today, same as usual, and got up the kids.
Each kid gave my infection the stare down. This thing is almost like another eye.
The kids both gave me their "looks".
If you don't know what I'm talking about then you can see them here and here.

Yes. They were looking at my third eye just.like.that.
I'm mortified for my kids to look at me.
I swear, they are thinking something along the lines of, "Holy crap. What happened to Mom's face and why is her right nostril almost swollen shut."

That's right. Although the third eye is not on the nostril, but just to the right of it, the nostril is seriously swollen half way shut. Also, whenever I look down at something... I dunno, to read or type or talk to the kids, my cheek gets in the way. Why? Because. That too is swollen.

This sucks. I think the only other time that I have had an infection this bad was when I was in high school and I got a lovely zitter just inside one of my nostrils. Now that one hurt.
It was so visible and painful and RED. I think I skipped school.
I am definitely skipping any and all public engagements today and every other day that this third eye is going to take over my face.
I am also going to go and put a friggin' bandaid over this third life-form so my kids quit giving me their looks.

I'm Not Stupid, But....

2006-01-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

I'm a quasi-blonde...(Meaning, I get my hair done. ...If you know what I'm sayin'.)So don't go crazy with the blonde jokes.

Driving around town today I saw the following saying on sign outside of a church:
"Don't give a man a sword if he doesn't know how to dance."

Now. I don't know what church this sign was in front of.... And frankly, I don't care.
I just want to know what the crap this means.
And if you know what this means.... Do ya mind helping me out?
Please keep in mind. This was in front of a church.

I Told You I'd Fail

2006-01-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

So. How did you do in your very first complete full week of 2006?
Did you keep your resolutions?
Or did you fail miserably like I did?

You can find my pseudo resolutions here if you need a refresher on what I'm talking about.

Um yeah. I didn't do too hot.

I really tried hard to sit up straight all the time. I did. (*I say as I'm slouching at my computer...*)
I attempted at the no cussing. I do every year. Unfortunately I still have an ever growing supply of hives that itch and hurt... So. Well. Let's just hope you can understand that in my physical state, sometimes I don't always have complete control over what comes out of my trap.
I haven't actually bought any Tylenol PM.... But I have used it. A lot.
I haven't even used Comet at all this year. Sounds gross huh?
I haven't gotten rid of any of the kids' toys that are missing parts. My OCD won't let me give up the search yet. I did, however, order a replacement shape for our Tupperware shape sorter on eBay. Uh-huh. I'm a loser. Don't rub it in.
I haven't changed the fish's water this year. But he is still alive. And that is a good thing.
I haven't done Pilates yet this year. But I've thought about it a lot. Does that count?
I managed to get into bed before 11pm like twice. And that was only because I didn't feel good and I knew if I fell asleep it would all go away for a few hours.

Well. There you have it. My 2006 resolutions have all gone to crap. In a matter of 9 days.
That is just sad.

As for the news on my hives. I still have them. I'm not getting as many per day as I was and hopefully that means I'm getting better. The doctors have zero explanation as to why I'm getting them. My blood work is okay at this point. So I cancelled my last appointment because I decided I didn't want back on the steroid and I would rather spend my fifteen bucks elsewhere..... Like on a sweater on sale at Banana Republic.