Slacker

I'm a bum. I admit it, I've been preoccupied and too lazy to post. I didn't even post for Jacob's Birthday! (Hangs head in shame.) I've just been tired and BUSY. Since I can't seem to post any real entries, here is a list post about what we've been up to, because I love lists (and they're easier-again, LAZY).

1. 4 is a good age. Definite  improvements in my little guy has made days with him fun again!
2. The boys are playing so nicely together, it's awesome. Probably due to #1.
3. The dog is driving me up the wall. Seriously, he needs to be entertained constantly. It's very annoying.
4. Trying to get the house ready to sell.
5. Busy trying to get Christmas all taken care of. The decorations are up, some gifts, bought, cards ordered, so we are getting there. I make Christmas cookies in the second half, so I need all my time for that.
6. Trying to keep Drew, who is 6 1/2, to believe in Santa Claus. It's getting really dicey, he keeps asking very sensible questions. My favorite was "I don't know if Santa Claus is real. I don't think he would come down the chimney, ours is so dirty."
7. Trying to remember to move our Elf each day. Remembering is hard, yo.


Uh... that's all I have for the moment.... More to come, I promise!

2010 Recap

I lifted this off of Mommy Melee, who got it from Linda from All & Sundry for the inspiration.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?


I raised a puppy. The first time I have owned a puppy, and it was very challenging. There is definitely a steep learning curve. In some ways, a baby was easier! I donated my hair, which I have wanted to do forever. I also finally ran (okay jog-walked, mostly jogged though) a 5k.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't really make any resolutions, although the 5k and the donating hair were on my bucket list, so I am proud of that.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, people close to me are also pregnant. I am very happy for the new Mommy and Mommies-to-be. I'm also happy to NOT include myself in this.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully, although a lot of distant friends' parents died, which just freaked me out. I don't know what I would do without my parents.

5. What countries did you visit?

USA only. I wish I had traveled. I would have liked to visit Italy this year....

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

LESS STRESS. Much less stress. More dates with my husband. More time with friends, and more traveling!

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

January 5th- I picked my Puppy up from the airport. Pretty exciting and nerve wracking for me.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Definitely my 5k and donating my hair. I wish I could say more. I got another child out of diapers! Oh yeah, I navigated selling on craigslist, which was nerve wracking for me, and we began to turn our basement from baby storage into playroom/wrappingroom/workshoproom.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Easy. I stopped working out and eating healthy (again- STRESS). Too much drinking. Too much Internet shopping.

I also think I could've been a better Mother/Pet Owner. I had a short fuse this year which I am not proud of (again STRESS related).

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not me, but my poor baby broke his foot!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My window curtains for my floor to ceiling window. Seriously, I am that boring. I was just telling my husband how I love them. This is our first year with them, until now we had no privacy and drafty windows. Yay for the kids getting older (the first year we could even attempt this with Jacob.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Our family has been pretty whiny and stressed out this year. This is a weird question. I'm sure at some point I've been proud and disappointed in everyone this year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Ugh... this is so easy, and yet I plead the 5th (STRESS).

14. Where did most of your money go?

Medical bills, CHILDCARE.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Lollapalooza, and then I decided not to go. Next year, I hope!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

F*** you, by Cee-Lo.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Sadder
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter
c) richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Oh how I wish I had worked out more. I was so busy with the puppy, it made it almost impossible. Still, I should have done it.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Stress out. There is a continuing theme here!

20. How did you spend Christmas?

I spent it with my family, who chose to sleep in until 8:45am on CHRISTMAS DAY! What?!? I was up at 8am.

We high-tailed it to my parents after the Santa Gifts and our family gifts were opened where we opened more presents and I gorged myself on my Mom's awesome cooking (cheesy potatoes, fillet, apple pie). I made myself absolutely sick. Then we came home and put the kids to bed, and I watched Eat, Pray, Love and put together/cleaned up toys. It was about then that I realized I took no pictures of Christmas.

The children loved everything they were given and loved opening presents, even ones that were not theirs. I loved that they had such joy surrounding the Holiday, although I will try and keep pushing the meaning of the Holiday as one that is about family, not presents.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?

Towards the end of the year, I fell in love with blogging again. I also fell in love with our puppy.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Community
Modern Family
The Office
Vampire Diaries
True Blood

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Nope. No new grudges, just my old existing ones.

24. What was the best book you read?

Can I say the Hunger Games Trilogy? I ate that up, and it haunted me afterwards.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs... I'm sad I saw Tool instead of them at Lolla two years ago.

26. What did you want and get?

A netbook.

27. What did you want and not get?

A new kitchen.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Inception.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

This is funny. I took the day off and went out to lunch and a movie by myself. I know it sounds weird, but I had such a wonderful time. It was so peaceful. Then I went out with the kids and my parents and Mr. B to an Italian restaurant. 31.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Change. I need a change!

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Summer: Flip flops. Winter: Cardigans and my rainbow scarf. I dress to impress. Jeans everyday.

32. What kept you sane?

Family. My sister and SIL chats and IMs. Long walks. Days off by myself. MUSIC. Date nights with Mr. B. Dinner and movie nights with my friends. Cuddling with the boys. Vacations with my family.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I just love James McAvoy and I miss him in movies! When is his next one coming out?

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

There is a lot that stirred me. Let's just say I am not happy being a Red state.

35. Who did you miss?

I miss my friends who have moved away. I miss them terribly- Kristy, Emily, Laura especially.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I don't have any new person that I have met specifically, but I enjoyed getting to know/getting closer to my sister in law this year.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming....

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Change your heart, look around you
Change your heart, it will astound you

Best of 2010 Playlist

photo © 2003 Shiv Shankar Menon Palat | more info (via: Wylio)
Music was ABSYMAL overall this year, but here are my favorites:

1. Bad Romance, Lady GaGa
2. Crystalised, The XX
3. Cousins, Vampire Weekend
4. F*** You, Cee Lo Green
5. Dog Days Are Over, Florence + The Machine
6. Ready To Start, Arcade Fire
7. Rill Rill, Sleigh Bells
8. 10 Mile Stereo , Beach House
9. Empire State of Mind (f. Alicia Keys), Jay-Z
10. Uprising, Muse
11. Dance Yrself Clean, LCD Soundsystem
12. Grenade, Bruno Mars
13. Monster, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver  

Disagree? Agree? Have better choices? Think it's bad news that I ended the list on 13? Sad I left out Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus? (It's so damn catchy!) Leave it in the comments.

My Confessions

I will sometimes jam out really loud to a really dorky song in my car and then turn it down when I get to a red light.

I am obsessed with American Idol.

I giggle at inappropriate things.

Whenever I lose weight, I lose it first in my ass. This makes me sad. I NEVER lose it in my stomach- I'm like a reverse hourglass.

I own seasons 1-3 of Dawson's Creek. (Pacey forever!)

I dance around to my Ipod while I clean my house.

While I hate cooking, I'm actually a pretty good cook.

I love to talk about and think about food. It's my addiction.

I am never full. I just stop eating when everyone else does.

I am actually very concerned about the Eggo Waffle shortage. Damn you Kellogg company!

My biggest fear? Flying in an Airplane. Ever since I saw the movie Alive when I was 10 in the theaters. I cry every time we take off and then I'm okay once we are in the air. Poor Mr. B hates flying too, but he has to keep me calm. Next time I fly, I think I will need drugs.

I have seen New Moon twice.

I'm pretty sure I'm going bald, also maybe blind.

I might be a little bit of a hypochondriac.

My Family still thinks of me as the baby of the family. I'm pretty sure they can't believe I am raising two kids.

I saw the movie 2012, and now I am a little scared for December 21, 2012.

I would eat at Noodles n' Company every day if I could.

I put cheese on everything!

I'm comment obsessed.

I have something big that I am excited about... but I am not telling you guys yet.


What are some of your confessions? I would love to hear them!

My Bête Noire of Children's Programming

Us parents, we put up with a lot. We clean up some gross bodily fluids, have no alone time, spend thousands on ridiculous plastic shit that becomes walking hazards, and lose thousands of hours of sleep every year because of our children. Unfortunately, that is not the worst of it, either.

We have lost control of our Television. Gone are the days of watching some stupid movie on TBS that you already own because there is nothing else on. No TV channel is safe from inappropriate commercials, not even during the middle of the day. Your only safe channels are Sprout, Noggin, and the Disney Channel. (Yeah, and the Cartoon Network? NOT FOR CHILDREN. What a misnomer.) In turn, as parents, we put up with a lot of terrible children's programming. Usually, the show with the most annoying characters is our child's favorite show and we end up having to watch it again and again and again because unlike us parents, our children will watch the same episode of Dora the Explorer again and again with no remorse. Believe me, it's happened. (Note to ONDemand: Please put more than one episode of Dora on ONDemand? The only one that is on there is the one about Dora having a baby sister and now Jacob is convinced I am going to have a baby, we've watched it so much.)

So here are my least favorite characters from my children's favorite shows. I would have more, but I really don't let my children watch TV, we are too busy baking organic whole wheat bread in the oven or sewing our own clothes or learning mathematics.*


Special Agent Oso
Listen, I love Sean Astin (who voices Oso), I do. But this character is the dumbest Secret Agent on Earth. I can literally feel my brain cells slipping away as I watch this. It makes me wonder what it's doing to my children, who are way smarter than this Agent.


Caillou
Caillou is one of the universally hated characters. If you ever are having trouble making conversation with another Mother, just mention how you hate Caillou and you will have lots to talk about. (Unless of course she says she doesn't let her children watch TV in which case you should stop trying because you are not going to see eye to eye with this woman on anything anyway.) Caillou, here's some advice: maybe you should give it a rest and stop whining all of the time. Plus, you're kind of a little asshole. Caillou's parents: step in and discipline him, please.

Big Bird
This dates back to my childhood days of watching Sesame Street. Big Bird's voice annoys the crap out of me. Believe it or not, I prefer Elmo. That is saying a LOT. I don't know why Mr. Snuffleupagus hangs out with Big Bird, anyway because he is awesome, and Big Bird is not.

Norman from Fireman Sam
Fireman Sam is supposed to be a show about fire safety, but they need a catalyst to show you what NOT to do, and they use annoying Norman to do so. A note to Norman: Stop starting fires in your town. You are a menace to society and you are definitely not teaching my children good fire safety lessons. Hopefully they don't follow your lead.

Curious George
I threw this one in for Mr. Bee, who says he cannot watch George make these huge messes and cause so much trouble everywhere. I do agree with him, although he's so darn cute, that I can't stay mad for long.

What about you? What characters really get under your skin? Please tell me in the comments!

*oh come on, you all know me better than that! I'm kidding. Also, yes, I looked up and found the phrase Bête Noire from the thesaurus so I could look smart. It worked, right? (Don't answer that.)

My November Playlist

This is what I am enjoying the most this month in music. Check them out.

1. Go It Alone, Beck
2. Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat), Digable Planets
3. Vocab, Fugees
4. Working Class Hero, Green Day
5. In My Heart, Moby
6. It Takes Two, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
7. Meet Me On the Equinox, Death Cab for Cutie
8. Kids With Guns, Gorillaz
9. Just, Radiohead
10. Munich, Editors
11. Daft Punk Is Playing At My House, LCD Soundsystem
12. No Way, The Breeders
13. Huddle Formation, The Go! Team
14. Something Is Not Right With Me, Cold War Kids
15. Islands On The Coast, Band Of Horses
    

Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K

This Month in strange events and funny happenings from around the world, and in the Bee's world....

Awww... Kirk, really? Kirk Cameron's claims about Darwin's theory of evolution being false makes me even more embarrassed that he was my first crush.

Did you know when I would write WTF, I was referring to Wisconsin Tourism? Well, not anymore.

My kids are totally losing in the cutest kids contest. I know what you are thinking- how is this possible? They are so cute! Well, you can vote and change this- on the left hand sidebar of the blog, there is a voting spot. (Jacob is #16 on the baby one, Drew is #8 on the kid one.)

One of my blogging friends looks like a barbie. No, really.

My Nonnie (Grandma) totally schooled one of my Facebook friends:

Did I tell you how awesome my Nonnie is? I hope I am half as cool as her when I am a Great Grandma.

TLC decided to change name of series from Jon and Kate plus Eight to Kate Plus Eight. You have taken a step in the right direction, TLC, by getting rid of the DOUCHE. Now, how about getting rid of the media circus show altogether?

Ellen on Idol? This is late, but what???

Oh yeah, and there is the whole issue of the deer that decided to run into my Bessie. With all the Bees in the car. Luckily no one was hurt, I mean, except the deer.

Don't worry, I bought Ernie to soften the blow.

Hahaha, it wouldn't be funny if it weren't so true. Wait, did I say funny? {Sob}

Geeks are underrated

Last night when I was watching Glee (which is becoming a guilty pleasure of mine) I was struck by how cute I thought the Glee teacher was.... which made me think that I really like cute nerds. In fact, one might say I have a type, and part of my type is that guy cannot be conventionally handsome.

I mean, for me, Brad Pitt= snooze, George Clooney= eh! I'm just not into conventional leading men.

I know a lot of women like bad boys, I find them boring too, very one-dimensional. Give me a nerd/geek/weirdo any day... they don't take themselves too seriously, they are funny, self deprecating, and smart.

So here is my list of my favorite Nerd/Geek/Weirdo Hotties, and the Nerd/Geek/Weirdo roles that made me love them.

Matthew Morrison
Acafellas wearing a cute hat HOT. Caring Glee teacher HOT.

Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd plays the geeky brother you love to hate so well, perhaps why I fell in like with him when I saw him in Clueless. Also, totally awkward guy HOT in I Love you, Man.

Simon Pegg
Accent= HOT. Funny= HOT. Making movies 100% better just by being in them (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Run Fatboy, Run)? Hottest!

John Cusack
Indie I don't give a s**t HOT. Lloyd Dobbler HOT. I can make a hitman look HOT.

Zachary Levi
Oh wait, Zack Levi again? I'm sorry, HOT! I don't care if he is supposed to play a nerd- how many nerds look like this?

Will Smith
I totally thought this was a conventional pick until I talked to other people. Will Smith isn't hot? Is it the ears? Big ears are HOT. Last 5 minutes of The Pursuit on Happyness HOT.

Jake Gyllenhaal
Donnie Darko mentally unbalanced HOT.

Patrick Dempsey
You may be McDreamy now, but you had me at Ronald Miller HOT.

What about you?
Who do you think is unconventionally hot?

My (Slightly Embarrassing) Freebie List

Do you know what I mean when I say "My Five"? It's the Five "freebies" you can ahem with and your partner cannot get mad. If you have seen the Friends Episode you know what I am talking about. (Psst... Mom, Dad, this is where you STOP reading! Love you- J) So I thought I would introduce you to my 5, starting with:Just kidding y'all. Don't get me wrong, Kirk Cameron was my man back in the day... but Kirk, you probably wouldn't approve of all the damn swearing and drinking I do. And, you know, I'm not 10 anymore. So no.

Anyway, I was thinking the other day that my five are kind of embarrassing. Not Kirk Cameron embarrassing but maybe somewhat cringe worthy. Why don't you be the judge?


5. Zachary Levi- I heart the TV show Chuck, and he is part of that reason I love it so. Look at the hair, those eyes..... dreamy.... sigh. Cringe worthy? That hair, those eyes... why, does anyone else think it's sad that put a "freebie" on my list that looks so much like... Mr. Bee? Or is it cute? I will settle for cute!


4. Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson- I just LOVE him. Love him on SNL, love him in the Rundown... anything can be slightly entertaining with him in it... Cringe worthy: ... including WWF, which I got to watch a lot of when I first started dating Mr. Bee. He got me through a lot of WWF shows. That, and vodka. (Sorry Kirk!)

3. TIE Robert Pattinson- There is no denying that Edward Robert is a hottie. Cringe worthy: I do feel kind of gross that he is 23. But it's not like he's

Taylor Lautner or anything. Gasp, are they ALLOWED to show these kind of pictures of a 17 year old? I mean, I just saw him in Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl! I feel dirty just looking at it, and so should you! Moving on (no he's not on my list, I am not THAT person!)

So, Robert is tied with....

Kris Allen- Also 23, wait now he's 24. When he sang Heartless, I might have swooned and voted once or twice for him on American Idol. Which is cringe worthy enough.

What, you say I can't have a tie on a "freebies" list? Hey it's my Fantasy List! On my blog! I does what I want!

2. James McAvoy- Have you seen Atonement? Go out and rent it, watch it and then come back. Or watch Becoming Jane. Or even Starter for Ten. Ugh and the accent. I heart accents. Forget the "freebie" about it, I would be happy if he could just cuddle with me and read The Time Traveler's Wife or Harry Potter or Twilight or hell (sorry again, Kirk!) the Dictionary. It almost makes me forget when he play Mr. Thomnas, the faun in The Chronicles of Narnia. Almost. Then I look at this picture.
Cringe worthy:

Oh and speaking of accents....

1. Gavin Rossdale- I thought he was hot all the way back in 1995, when he was the front man for Bush. Now he's older but like a fine wine, he just gets cuter.

See? Gavin Rossdale +baby son+ sling= adorableness squared.

Cringe worthy: Makes me almost forgive him for that DREADFUL song he released last year. (Vocoder, go the way of the 8 track, nao please?)

~~~~~~~~~~

In all seriousness, Mr. Bee and I talk about our "freebies" when we are drinking sometimes. It's all in good fun. I hope Kirk Cameron understands that, I wouldn't want him to think badly of me!

What about my list... cringe worthy or not? Do you have any "Freebies" you want to share? And accents- hot or overrated? I think you KNOW where I stand on this one!

8 Things I hearted in 2008

8 Things I loved in 2008 (in Haiku form).

(Not necessarily all from 2008, just things that I appreciated this year)

Chuck (TV Show)
Zachary Levi,
I heart thee and even hub
watches thee with me.

MamaPop (Blog)
Oh where would I be
without my daily read of
droll pop oddities?

Mario Kart Wii (Game)
Baby Mario
riding in his stroller is
fun to run over.

Curious George (TV Show)
Oh silly monkey,
You have saved hours for me
to write on my blog.

30 Rock (TV Show)
So late to the game
am I. Luckily TV
is on DVD!

DVR Recorder (Tech)
How did I manage
before, having to watch shows
live with commercials?

Ipod Touch (Tech)
So very much fun
will drain my bank account for
cool applications.

Twilight (Book)
I do not know why
but I am entranced with hot
vampires named Edward

That is all. What are some of your favorites? (You don't have to say them in haiku form, but if you want to, feel free!)