Catching Up (first with my addictions)

Ok, so I have some blog-catchin-up to do. I just saw Erin's Bad-list, and think that would be something good to blog, but first I've got to do my "Five Addictions" list that Allison tagged me to do. I also have some others up my sleeve, but that requires downloading pictures, which I have not done in 6 weeks. Ahem! Ok, ok, let me give credit where credit is due--Rob has not downloaded pictures in 6 weeks. We currently have 376 pictures sitting on our camera. Sheesh! That will take a while to go through and edit.

Anyway, so here's the list of addictions:

1. Reese's Cups
2. Reese's Peanut Butter Trees (a.k.a. hearts, eggs... the "alias" depends on the season)
3. Breyer's chocolate chip ice cream (yes, I have expensive taste in ice cream).
4. Godiva chocolates (Oh yes, very expensive taste in chocolates--but they are SOOOooooo good--and I really, really want some for Valentine's. That might not happen,but that is yet another blog. I'm SO behind!)
5. Sweet tea.

Yeah, so my addictions are all edible. That is my struggle right now--so much so that I don't dare do WW or some other diet plan. The sweet tea has been a life-long addiction. I was raised on it. But, it's not hard to throw some sugar (ok, a LOT of sugar) into a pitcher and boil some water on the stove and put tea bags in. So, so easy. And a lot cheaper than buying a gallon at the store. Oh, and the chocolate? That has ALWAYS been an addiction for me. And peanut butter and chocolate together? Pure bliss. This Reese's commercial was made for me.

If I get inspired, maybe I'll try this list again first thing in the morning, when I'm not craving. The cravings usually hit about 10:00 a.m. and don't go away the rest of the day. And watching Reese's commercials doesn't help at all! I'm going to get one now--see ya later, people! Pure bliss awaits.

Following a friend's soapbox

Ok, so I am borrowing this from Amber's soapbox, but I just saw an article on it that fired me up even more.

The mother of octuplets has 6 more kids at home, taken care of by her mother while she is in the hospital. Some things I didn't know:

• The grandmother of the babies says she will be gone when the mother gets home from the hospital. (I'm betting the mother was counting on her mother staying to help. 8 babies plus 6 other kids won't be easy!)
• The mother apparently has some sort of OCD that centers around having babies. (Haven't heard of that one.)
• This woman is a single mother who IS IN SCHOOL. Her friend said that she was having more babies because the WAS PAID TO DO SO. Um, that is so sick. No one should have babies for that reason--it's so unfair for those precious babies, who deserved to be loved as people and not material possessions or a means to an end.
• Who is this fertility doctor that he would allow this to happen? This article doesn't say (I don't think it's public knowledge) whether she was actually implanted with 8 embryos. Some experts are concerned about what that would do to someone, and what sort of issues those babies might have, even later in life. When the grandmother clarified that she was implanted with far fewer embryos, experts agreed that splitting could have happened after her body had been jacked up on fertility drugs for so long. SCARY!
• As one of the experts says, "After Pampers stops delivering the free diapers, then what?" Yeah, Ms. Obsessed-with-having-more-kiddos, then what?!?

I have more use for my money than to pay for the consequences of that woman's disorder. And those babies (and other children) need to go to someone else who can not only take care of them, but also love them for who they are and not the $$ or phenomena that they represent.

If you want to read the article for yourself, click Here.

A Lesson in Art Appreciation

I've never had a course in art appreciation. But even if I had, I don't think anything could have prepared me for appreciating my son's art. A lot of the stuff from school is really cute, but I can't help thinking that the teachers are actually doing most of it. John has gotten a lot better about coloring in the lines, though, and I definitely credit the teachers for that.

All that aside, I have attached a particular piece of art that I'm not so sure I can appreciate. See, here's the thing:

1. I bought a "leaf decorating kit" as a craft for John's class Halloween party.
2. There were a lot of leaves and the accompanying decorations left in the package.
3. Rob has been home for 2 weeks on vacation.
4. Rob does not "sit" at home very well.
5. John has been home from school for 2 weeks.
6. John does not "sit" at home very well.
7. So, to occupy at least 5 minutes of every day, Rob has helped John decorate a leaf a day (each one different, of course).
   

Here is one leaf:

Does anyone see the resemblance? I do not, but then I've never been one to constantly gaze at myself in the mirror. Let me spell this out for you (not because I think you are dumb, but because I had to have it spelled out for myself):

1. Yes, this is supposed to be me.
2. Yes, Rob helped John stick the pieces where John wanted them (because John gets the sticky part stuck to himself and not the art).
3. Rob was faithful in putting each particular piece where John said they belong.
4. Yes, I take Rob's word for it when he says it was not his idea,
5. because he knows me after 6.5 years of marriage,
6. and he values his life.
7. Did he laugh at the end result? And when John declared "Dat's Mama!"?
8. Most definitely. Although, I am sure what I heard was a very suppressed version of the laughter in his mind.
   

How nice. Should I consider laser hair removal to thin out the bushy brows? Ouch! Are they that bad? On second thought, don't comment on that. Polite comments are welcome, of course.