Two Things I'm Proud of as a Parent

forward: I can't stay away. I thought I had lost the will to write about my random thoughts, but turns out, I'm still here. And still drinking wine, so check the wine blog, too.

I love Ellen. Yeah, she's doing re-runs right now, but I can watch her over and over, like Seinfeld episodes. I mean if you've seen the ones with Gladys - "I love Jesus but I drink a little..." priceless. Anyway it's the only show I sometimes watch during the day, and today it made me pensive about two things - both of them concerning motherhood.
But first, if you haven't seen it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83JDXXKzOXg&feature=related

The first item of proudness: it was the first episode of the season (last season) where Ellen had just gotten married to Portia, and was talking about it and showing the pictures, like Ellen in a suit with Portia in the dress. Izzy was watching it with me, and the thought crossed my mind- my democratic, liberal, pro-gay rights mind - "what does Izzy think about this? and if she asks, what do I say?" But she didn't. That's what's so amazing about her. Yes, she's only five, but I do know that some 5 year-olds would scoff at a "two-mommy" marriage, because of what they've been taught or learned elsewhere. But mine didn't, and I was proud. However, I still had the concern about how to explain. "Some people just have two mommies," I thought sounded okay. But what if she asked whether everyone has to have a daddy, you know because she's been taught a very minimal amount of reproduction, what would I say? Well, she didn't, but she will. Is it too early to go into all that? For a child who only knows heterosexual relationships, besides her Uncle Matt, who she isn't really onto either, How would you word it?

Secondly, Michelle Obama was on the show, pre-election. Izzy knows her Obama, and that this was now our president's wife. This made me think of how she has never once said a word about the color of anyone, and for this, too, I'm proud. She has a step-cousin who is black, and she has never once asked why her skin color is different from her father's (Izzy's uncle). She just doesn't see color. Yes, Obama is the first African-American president and this is important to know, but she'll be hearing that in history class for years to come. For now, I just value her innocence. No need to point out differences she doesn't even notice. Since I was brought up to notice differences, I guess this is one (I mean two things) thing I'm proud of as a parent!
What's yours?
There, I at least tried for comments...even a woot would suffice.
~R

Summertime, and the livin's easy

In my adult life, this is the first summer that has actually felt like "summer," you know, that summer feeling that you last felt at around age 18? The one that included sun, water, lazy days, probably beer. And well, I don't want it to end. As soon as late August rolls around, it's back to business, then on to flu season, and of course, those pesky holidays. And then at least three more months of flu's and freezing weather and oh yeah, spring allergies. Oh, Hi there, it's me, the eternal optimist. Did you miss me?

Maybe because of Izzy's age (5), and the fact that in less than 2 months, our life will change dramatically when we become Parents of a Kindergartner, when we have to get one of those stickers on the back of our car to replace the "Well-behaved women rarely make history" and Phish ones, that says: "Proud parent of an (insert school here) honor student." When we have to grow up, possibly join the PTO, start going to bed really early so we can actually get out of the house by 7:30 a.m. (to self-employed folk, this is insane). Maybe I'm over-reacting, but I have heard people say that it's life-changing. And it makes me realize we'd better enjoy our freedom and late mornings (and late nights) while we still got 'em. So the goal this summer? Fun, fun, and more fun. Sun, swimming, slip'n slides, trips, blind-folded ice-cream eating contests, barbeques, beer and chardonnay. And it's all goin' too fast.

The dreaded time also awaits when I must change the name of this blog so that my kids can actually make new friends. The ones I have now love me anyway, but let's face it, most moms aren't so judgment-free, especially if they think they may be sending their kid to play at a lush's house...

speaking of that, my last link to my wine blog apparently failed, so try this:
http://www.wine4poorishfolk.blogspot.com
~R

Have a Drink for Me...

Oh, have I mentioned the wine blog? Lately, it's so much easier to just write about something I love than dig deep for something interesting to say...
www.wine4poorishfolk.blogspot.com

Disney in a Day

We just returned Saturday from our trip to Florida with some BFFs and their little girl. After a week of living like Kings and drinking and sunbathing without consequences, here we are, landlocked again. We had a lot of fun, and I love vacaying to Florida, but Cali is still where my heart is. Florida is just too..too.... melting pot.
Anyway, yeah. One of the excursions in Florida was Izzy and I going to Disney World. Thought I'd share the little tidbits of travel know-how I've gathered for you regarding taking your kid to Disney World. Solo. We got the Disney Your Way (or something) pass and chose to just do Magic Kingdom, in about 5 hours.
So I came up with my Disney Dont's:
Top Ten things NOT to do when going to Disney World:

1. Take your regular purse. I was the ONLY woman there with my everyday purse instead of a fanny pack, backpack or over the shoulder satchel thing. Assuming they're thinking about the back here, and carrying all the insanely-overpriced merchandise their kids will con them into buying.
2. Wear a maxi-dress. If it's past May in Florida, you're gonna burn your ass up on all that pavement. Wear shorts, despite what your legs look like. L'Oreal Bronzer works great.
3. Wear a hat. The heat gets trapped underneath and your head will sweat like a bitch.
4. DO have your kid wear a hat that breathes.
5. Forget sunscreen. You cannot get even a taste of Disney World in less than 5 hours. You'll need it.
6. Think you can get out for under $250, for TWO people. Add $100 for each additional person.
7. Think you're doing it for your kid. You're not. You're doing it because you never got to go as a kid and you think it's the right thing to do as a parent so your kid won't be scarred for life, like you were, for never going. You can tell by the parents' faces there that they are definitely doing it for their own conscience. Just look!
8. Think you'll have time to drink. There may be a Mickey's Tavern, but there's no time for that shit. Someone has to drive eventually, unless you're one of the crazy people who choose to actually LODGE at Disney, for days. Insane, but at least you can drink at night.
9. Think that everyone is going to be all smiles and sunshine, and it's like the magical wonderland they make it out to be. It's not.
10. Think that your kid will even talk about it a day after. Once the $9 balloon ceases to float, so do her Disney memories. But at least we have 50 pictures to remind her.

What? Do I sound cynical or something? I guess I shouldn't expect her to understand the value of a dollar quite yet, but I did tell her how much it cost us to get in the door when she said "I wanna go home" after 30 minutes. All in all, we did have a lovely time, a little $200 mom and daughter's day out. In the 5 hours we had, we didn't even graze the surface of The Magic Kingdom. The Roller Coaster (Space Mountain) was closed for renovation, and we didn't want to wait in line to ride the elephants. So, I'll admit, it's possible there may be a next time, when Daddy goes and and does the more exciting stuff.

As for you, heed my advice, have fun, and make sure you alot at the very least 8 hours to do Disney in a Day.
~R

Thinking that blogging is possibly becoming soooo over. Weep.

Food Psychology for Kids

I'm still deciding on the wine blog name, but I just made a post on my long-forgotten cookin' blog:

http://goodcookinmama.blogspot.com/2009/05/food-psychology-for-kids.html

Don't abandon me yet! Come back if you're interested in my up and coming wine blog for poorish folk. Or in my occasional rambling here.
~R

I'm a Wino, Hear me ...whine?

I wasn't kidding when I said I'm starting a wine blog. I think maybe my time here, ranting about life or being grateful for it or sharing with you stuff I like and hate, has kindof run its course. Obviously, I'm not destined to be one of those "uber-bloggers" whose readership skyrockets from 0-a gazillion in the first month, who gets 80 comments per post. For that, I would have to use a word like "vagina" in the title of my blog and well, I'm just not ready to do that. "Drinks" and "cusses" is risque enough, when you think about the fact that your oldest will be starting kindergarten in a few months and you will probably cave to the PTO and you'll actually have to finally grow up, really.

So, a blog sharing my infinite layperson knowledge of wine, which I study on a daily basis, seems logical and doable and fairly harmless, besides the fact that it screams "Wino."

I actually do have some knowledge, I'll have you know, albeit it doesn't involve words like "tannic" or "floral" or "anise." I'll use totally generic words like "trashy" and "sucks balls." I'll tell you the best wines I tried that week for under $10, what pretty bottle I found, and the newest red Zin I've tried, because it is one of my many missions in life to taste every. single. red zin out there. This is wine for real people, moms, semi-poor people. I'm not out to be all snobby. It's just gonna be about wine, but not Yellow Tail. Not that a bottle of that doesn't pop up here on occasion; It's just I've gotten more creative for my $8.

So, if you're still with me, I'm not totally deleting this blog, because, who knows, maybe I'll have a flash of genius that people will wanna read sometime. Just not regularly. I've really sucked lately and my last two readers may have even given up. So c'mon and find me over there, when I post it. And if you just drink beer, I guess you won't. Your loss, man.
In the meantime, I'll be at the beach, bitches!
Holla,
~Rhe

Perching drinking and watching

Just when you think you have conquered time, time has its way with you. ~ I made that up.
I always get this way when June is near. It means the year is half-over, summer is just starting but will be over too soon, and there we go again, 6 months of colds and flu and icky weather. Gee, my glass is sorta half-empty, I guess.
I'm really not trying to be so effin' Debbie Downer, but you hear old, old people say how fast life passes you by, and you start realizing that, damn, it sure does. As a kid, a year is an eternity. Now, a year ago feels about like ten minutes. And all of these things, things, things we have to do, all these plans, that are supposed to be part of what life is about, seem to make it go by even faster. When your calendar is filled, you feel a little robbed of your time. Even if you do these things voluntarily. I know I'd get real bored if ALL of my spare time was spent drinking wine on the deck and watching the kids play, but man, on weekends when there are 3 birthday parties and a wedding, it sounds like paradise.
So, yeah, hold the invites, we're all full up here. I just wanna perch and drink and watch. it's summer, right?
~R

I surrender!

I think I'm gonna start a wine blog.

Like Me!

Wondering: what gets people talking(here, meaning commenting, yes, commenting)? Something that gets them 'riled up'? Something that pushes their buttons, something that makes them sympathetic? Maybe something that makes them sad? Angry? Happy? I'd say the latter is the least likely. And further more, writing about how great your life is would be the last way to really connect and have some interaction with people. Take Facebook, for instance (yes, I'm still there, cracked out, can't stop. Just wait til I get an iPhone). Nothing unnerves me more than someone being all, "My life is so great! Praise the Lord! Yay me!" It just turns one off. Appeal to the little people, for god's sake. Find a common ground, don't just be so fucking bragadocious! Being grateful is one thing. I guess it's all how you go about it. Then again, on the contrary, no one likes a whiner, either. No one wants to hear, "Shit, this day sucks." Unless you have a truly real problem, like a sick relative or a lost job or a broken heart, it seems that no one wants to hear the "woe is me" bit, either. I just wrote about my crazy toddler, and despite the fact that I know many readers are "mom bloggers" and have experienced just what I have,it just didn't inspire them to SAY SOMETHING! Really, I was just hoping for a familiarity laugh.

What I'm getting at, I suppose, is that there's a delicate balance. With the connecting to people. In the past, surprising topics have garnered me comments. Really, you just never know.

I'll never know! Do you?
Clueless,
~R