Derby PC Tech?

I wonder if my coworkers think I am taking this whole derby thing a bit too far...

Hero Orgy

So our pals came over today to watch the game, eat pizza, drink beer, giggle nonstop and watch the Bear game while the kiddo's played. Sugar asked to get out his Rescue Heros so he and Emma could play. Apparently these action figures were new to Ben, so he began to ask why Spiderman was in an astronaut suit and a police uniform. Why are their arms and legs so big? Simple I said, it's because they are Rescue Hero's; action figures of heroic and non-violent themes. There are firefighters, rescue divers, police officers, life guards, helicopter pilots that fly the fire jumpers, etc. Their legs and feet are so big, I explained, because it makes it easier for a 3 or 4 year old to pose them so they won't fall over.


This, of course, led directly into some unique poses that I'm not so sure these hero's have found themselves in before...

It reminded me of my youth. Barbies in my collection would have found themselves in similar poses, but it would always begin with some serious kissing. I would have their lips touch and move their bodies back and forth while I made "hmmmm-smack, hmmmm-smack" noises.

Barbie was a lesbian for years until I finally received my first Ken doll.

Surrounded in Death

On the way home from Abi's junior high open house this evening Sugar asked us to pop in one of his (annoying) nursery rhyme CD's. Something I hear grabs my attention and I find myself focusing intently on the lyrics, being sung by obviously very young children with sweet, high pitched voices. Of course this is not the first time I have listed to these songs, having been a small child once myself, but I'm not sure I ever really put any thought into the words I would sing skipping down the sidewalk. Until tonight that is. So here I am in the front seat listening to my three kids in the back , singing along gleefully...

GO TELL AUNT RHODY
THE OLD GREY GOOSE IS DEAD
GRANDPA FOUND HER DYING
IN THE MILLPOND ON HER HEAD

THE GANDER WON'T EAT NOW
GANDER WON'T EAT NOW
BECAUSE HIS WIFE IS DEAD

LET'S PRAY FOR THE BABIES
PRAY FOR THE BABIES
BECAUSE THEIR MAMA'S DEAD

This prompted me to do some reasearch on nursery rhymes when I arrived home. We all know the common theme in many Disney movies to be death. Parental death to be more exact, i.e. Cinderella, Snow White, Lion King, Bambi, Tarzan. I suppose I never realized until I did some Googling how much death has inspired so many of the nursery rhymes we all learned and innocently sang as children. I read stories with references to the Bubonic Plague and Mary Mary Quite Contrary torturing poor souls and burning them at the stake. At that point I thought I had better stop before I lost all my enjoyment of Humpty Dumpty falling off that damn wall. Poor egg.

I also have to throw in there, since this is my blog and I can say what I want, that I also found this particular verse interesting for alltogether different reasons:

COCK A DOODLE DOO,
MY DAME WILL DANCE WITH YOU,
WHILE MASTER FIDDLES HIS FIDDLING STICK,
FOR DAME AND DOODLE DOO.

~snicker~

The Big B

Working on some computer installations in a clinic department this afternoon, I saw my arch enemy. While we work for the same company she normally isn't on my side of town, the doctor she works for must have been on call today. I don’t think she saw me, but I’m not sure. By the time I looked up she had already turned around to take a patient back to an exam room. I knew it was her immediately as she has changed little in the years since the day I last saw her. The day I stood as Matron of Honor in her wedding. Without question, the most uncomfortable day of my life. I have no desire to reopen that hurt by typing the story, but will say that the way I navigate friendships has been altered because of her. I have made new, good friends but keep them at arms distance. First signs of trouble and I will easily bail; remove myself from an uncomfortable situation before it becomes agonizing.

Knowing I had to spend several more hours in the department I began to prepare my reaction should I come face to face with the person who wounded me so dreadfully. The person who made me realize you should never expect a friendship to last forever. The person who showed me how easily you can be inseparable one day and amputated the next. The person who serves as my excuse to drop friends like batter on a cookie sheet when times get tough. The person who taught me to never give another friend more than I am willing to lose. The person who made me believe friendships should never be difficult and if they are reconsider their place in your life. The person I thought I would punch in the face should I ever come face to face with again.

So, what would I have said to this person?

“Hello Brenda, how are you?”

Yeah, I’m a badass.

P.S. I never saw her again, all afternoon.

Rediscovery

I revisited this site tonight for the first time in ages after receiving an email asking permission to delete a blog a friend and I had created some time ago that has outlived it purpose. It prompted me to consider whether or not the same fate should befall TaterTotsThoughts.

TaterTot really doesn’t exist anymore, she has been suppressed by a new and more powerful alter ego…BoomBoom Martini. I have been wooed by the derby in recent months and have so little time outside family, work and new mistress that this blog site has been left to rot. My life is no longer ruled by spontaneous trips to the park or last minute game nights with friends, but rather by a red leather day planner with very few empty squares. My response when asked if I or my family is available has become, “I will have to check the Red Book of Life and let you know.”

So, what is to happen with this site? Looking back over the old posts brings a smile to my face whether it is pictures and stories about the kids, my hardass opinions or funny tales of evenings out with girlfriends.

I think I will keep it around for awhile and maybe begin to share some of the current goings on in my life. Spending some time looking back tonight made me realize this site isn’t for those who may read from time to time, but more for me. A reminder.

So what would I share of my weekend?

Friday night was spent skating at the Pines. We took Isaac for his first skate and he lasted about 10 minutes. Thankfully Jeff and I predicted this and brought two cars so I could spend the rest of my evening skating with the girls, their friends and PBW. I tell you, if you want to have an interesting conversation talk with a 24 year old jam skating man slut. Hilariously tragic.

Saturday my Mom and I traveled to Chicago to see Wicked. Words cannot express my awe and love of this production. At intermission, I was pissed because I didn’t want it to stop. Fifteen minutes? I can’t wait fifteen minutes! At the end, tears rolled down my cheeks and I immediately wanted to know how long the run was…could I afford a second show? My girls really, really need to see this show. Everyone really, really needs to see this show. Unfortunately, I will not make it to the current Chicago run of The Color Purple, but in its place at the Cadillac Theatre beginning in October is Phantom of the Opera. I have this entire soundtrack memorized, but have never seen the show and can’t wait!

Saturday evening was spent with our pals Ben, Jami and Emma watching UFC 76. We had a great time and predict many more such evenings in the future. Thanks again Jami and I can’t wait for the next Sushi Committee meeting.

Today was filled with breakfast at the parental units, rearranging of our storage items currently being housed in their garage, afternoon naps, grilled pork chops, the Bears game and some computer time.

There are so many more things I could type here, such as:

• Roller Derby (it would take too long to catch up, so we’ll just start from here)
• My Sobriety Trial (lasted 18 days)
• Friendships: Newfound, Rediscovered and Ebbing
• The Mini-Martinis
• Mr. Martini: Caught with Cigarettes and His Explanation
• The LONG Tale of How We Have Sold Our House Twice But Still Haven’t Sold It

For now, I will just leave you with this…the Bears are playing afterall and the game is calling me.

Change of Scenery

We're attempting to get our house ready for the market in the next four weeks and right now are at the point usually described as "it always looks worse before it looks better". While I love our home, we have simply grown beyond its capacity. Five beings in a two-bedroom abode is not an ideal living arrangement so we are looking for bigger and better...and unfortunately with that comes more expensive. This is our hefty "To-Do" list in the next four weeks:

• - upgrade electric service and install new breaker box (scheduled for May 3rd)
• - new roof on the carport
• - paint the bathroom (which I steamed the wallpaper off of on Thursday for 6 1/2 hours)
• - new floor trim in bathroom
• - new floor in kitchen
• - new floor trim in kitchen
• - paint one kitchen cupboard
• - paint kitchen counter shelf
• - replace kitchen faucet
• - repaint floor trim in kitchen
• - empty and clean basement which includes packing crap
• - paint basement
• - clean garage
• - scrape two windows (that Jeff painted the trim on two years ago and never scrapped)
• - remove pond from backyard and replace with something inexpensive
• - replace door on girls bedroom (buy, drill, stain, seal and hang)
• - fix or replace lighting on front walkway
• - general yard clean-up and mulch replacement
• - random touch-up painting throughout house
• - CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!!!

The good news is that it looks as if we can do all of these things for under $2000, the bad news is it will be a lot of work. Since I am overwhelmed to say the least, I thought I would make a change in my life that was fun and easy...so here's introducing my new blog skin inspired by the many thoughts swimming around in my head. I hope you like it.

P.S. As I was typing this post, I broke a nail. Fu**!

Heavens to Betsy

I work with a superb woman, affectionately known as Grammy Pammy. She isn’t a Grandma by any means and could easily pass for mid-late 30’s rather than her mid-late 40’s. She is a brilliantly hip professional, divorced and remarried mother of two who takes trips to Vegas with her girlfriends and wears sparkly paisley tops while drinking Jamaican rum on the deck of a cruise ship with her hubby. Lunch table conversations are peppered with her tales of growing up on a farm with two sisters and two brothers and drunken escapes in her 20’s (and 30’s…and 40’s). When she gets flustered or starts to bitch about something, or someone, her voice gets high-pitched and her words drag on… “I-I-I-I-I-I-I don’t know what he was thinking.”

So what earns her this matronly nickname? I have kept a Post-It note on my monitor for the past week keeping track of the hilarious phrases that Grammy regularly colors her speech with. These are just a few of the things I had noted as of this morning:

“Heavens to Murgatroid”
“Those damn pot-lickers”
“Dog-on-it”
“Yow-zer”
“Eye-Corumba”
“Well if he’s not a monkey’s uncle”
“Don’t have a conniption”
“You parked all kitty-wompass today”

I adore Pam, to say the least.

We have a game night planned this weekend and I can't wait to hear what comes out of her mouth.

Derby Prom, 2007

Everyone should have the opportunity to relive their prom and take some pictures like these...

Mr. and Mrs. Tot, sporting matching mohawks

Amanda, Bombadee and TaterTot

Toni and Tot

That's Mr. Tot in the background and one of our several buckets of beer in the foreground. Yeah, Tot enjoyed herself a bit more than she usually does.

Dear God...

The Color Purple has long been known as my favorite movie. Without fail I cry every single time it graces the screen, and I'm not someone who is known for crying very often (I'm made of stone...remember). The story moves me in a way very few ever have. It’s about strength, heartache, survival, faith, the human spirit but most notably it’s a story of love. Love between sisters, love between friends, but most importantly the love you have for yourself. I once had a friend who had never seen it and I was so excited to share it with her…and she simply didn’t get it and my heart was broken. (No, we’re not friends anymore) Who wouldn’t be mesmerized by lines like these:

Shug: Yeah, Celie. Everything wanna be loved. Us sing and dance, and holla just wanting to be loved. Look at them trees. Notice how the trees do everything people do to get attention... except walk?

Celie: The jail you plan for me is the one you're gonna rot in.

Sophia: All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men, but I ain't never thought I'd have to fight in my own house!

Shug: See Daddy, sinners have souls too.

Celie: I'm poor, black, I may even be ugly, but dear God I'm here, I'm here!

While I have seen the movie well over a hundred times, I only recently bought the novel and have been reading it slowly chapter by chapter, savoring each word not wanting to reach the end. The musical opens in Chicago on April 19th and I will be taking Sister Stephanie for her 23rd birthday in May. In anticipation I recently downloaded the soundtrack on my iPod and have been amazed with what I've heard.

I recently had a talk with some of my girlfriends and found it difficult to articulate my faith and explain my self-esteem. These songs help to say it for me, The Color Purple and I’m Here:

The Color Purple

CELIE: God forgot about me!
SHUG: God takin' his time getting around to you, I admit, but look at all he give us. Laughin', and singin', and sex. Sky over our heads, birds singin' to us. I think it piss God off if anybody even walk past the color purple in a field and not notice it. He say, "look what I made for you."
CELIE: God just another man, far as I'm concerned, he triflin' and lowdown . . .
SHUG: No, Celie. God not some gloomy old man like the pictures you've seen of him.God not a man at all.
GOD IS INSIDE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE
THAT WAS OR EVER WILL BE.
WE COME INTO THIS WORLD WITH GOD.
BUT ONLY THEM WHO LOOK INSIDE FIND IT.
GOD IS THE FLOWERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT WAS OR EVER WILL BE.
AND WHEN YOU FEEL THE TRUTH SO REAL,
AND WHEN YOU LOVE THE WAY YOU FEEL, YOU'VE FOUND IT
JUST AS SURE AS MOONLIGHT BLESS THE NIGHT.
LIKE A BLADE OF CORN,
LIKE A HONEYBEE,
LIKE A WATERFALL,
ALL A PART OF ME.
LIKE THE COLOR PURPLE,
WHERE DO IT COME FROM?
OPEN UP YOUR EYES,
LOOK WHAT GOD HAS DONE.
CELIE
DEAR GOD, DEAR STARS, DEAR TREES, DEAR SKY,
DEAR PEOPLES, DEAR EVERYTHING, DEAR GOD,
GOD IS INSIDE ME AND EVERYONE ELSE
THAT WAS OR EVER WILL BE.
I CAME INTO THIS WORLD WITH GOD
AND WHEN I FINALLY LOOKED INSIDE, I FOUND IT,
JUST AS CLOSE AS MY BREATH IS TO ME.

I’m Here

CELIE:
I'M GONNA SING OUT . . .SING OUT.
I BELIEVE I HAVE INSIDE OF ME
EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO LIVE A BOUNTIFUL LIFE.
WITH ALL THE LOVE ALIVE IN ME
I'LL STAND AS TALL AS THE TALLEST TREE.
AND I'M
THANKFUL FOR EVERYDAY THAT I'M GIVEN,
BOTH THE EASY AND HARD ONES I'M LIVIN'.
BUT MOST OF ALL
I'M THANKFUL FOR
LOVING WHO I REALLY AM.
I'M BEAUTIFUL.
YES, I'M BEAUTIFUL,
AND I'M HERE.

This TaterTot is as Hard as a Rock...

It was decided after and long and insightful discussion on such topics as feminism, politics and faith that the following picture would be an appropriate representation of me.

Apparently I am made of stone.

But I believe that those who are around me and chip away long enough will someday find my elusive gooey center.

Fashion in the House of Tot

The fashion was edgy and the models were FIERCE!

The agency's newest model is rumored to be the next big thing on the catwalk. Here he can been seen sporting a crimson fleece jumpsuit embellished with racecar embroidery accessorized with a single white, lace glove and black cowgirls boots with silver toe and hot pink stitching accents.

Seven Day Spending Spree

…canvas art for Sister Stephanie’s dining room
…four framed wine themed tiles for Sister Stephanie’s dining room
…brackets for Sister Stephanie’s stacked book shelves in office
…three sage green candles for Sister Stephanie’s candle holder in dining room
…framed picture noting “Always Kiss Me Goodnight” for Sister Stephanie’s bedroom
…floor mats for Sister Stephanie’s front and back entry ways
…green dragon bubble machine for SugarLips
…gallon size tub of bubbles for prior noted machine
…five pair of jeans for Jeff to wear at work
…pack of wife-beaters for a husband who would never beat his wife
…pack of socks for above mentioned husband
…new outfit for TaterTot to wear to interview
…hot pink and black canvas shoes with skull/checker motif for Doody
…two scrolled iron candle holders for bedroom
…two tarnished bronze leaf-inspired wall pieces for bedroom
…one tarnished bronze & iron scrolled wall piece for bedroom
…king-sized bed sheets
…king-sized comforter set and three matching decorative pillows
…two gallons paint for bedroom
…entertainment center for living room (Sister Stephanie needed one so I bought new and passed down old)
…sage green rug for front entry
…white wood curtain rods for Doody & Mimi’s bedroom
…white valances for Doody & Mimi’s bedroom
…tickets to Roller Derby
…sushi and cocktails with Bombadee
…coffee and scones at Mudd Puddles with Sister Stephanie
…lunch at hospital while visiting step-dad after back surgery
…treats at Dairy Queen with Sister Stephanie
…breakfast at White Pines Inn with Mimi and SugarLips
…dinner at PineCricker with Sister Stephanie (surf & turf…YUM!)
…dinner at McDonald’s with family before Roller Derby (bleh!)
…lunch at Applebee’s
…and my favorite purchase that I have to wait two weeks for: our first brand-new bed, king-size. We’re sleeping on a poking-spring used mattress we bought from my older sister’s roommate 14 years ago and my parents frame and headboard from 1978. It was time for an upgrade.

In queue to be purchased soon:

…king-size mattresses; looking for a sale, I’m out of money
…framed picture noting “Always Kiss Me Goodnight” for my bedroom; Jeff was bummed when I told him it was for Stephanie’s room and not ours
…19” widescreen LCD monitor; now that I have the Internet at home 15" CRT will not do

Will an "A" Get Me In?

I found a quiz online today, asking readers Got Religion?

I only missed one of the fifteen earning a 93%, although I will admit one of the True/False was a total guess and I happened to pick the right one. (No bragging on my blog about your perfect score Dan!).


The article that lead into the quiz has prompted me to put Professor Steve Prothero's soon to be published book "Religious Literacy" on my reading list. This statement regarding the professor rang close to home for me:

"The professor is not an advocate for any faith, though he's a great admirer of the faithful."

But, as I read on he is an advocate to "teach religion in public schools. Prothero believes that before graduation from high school, every American should take a Bible course and a world-religions course—dispassionate humanities courses whose purpose is not to catechize or evangelize but to educate."

Sounds like a good read, and an opportunity for me to be swayed into a change of opinion...something that doesn't happen very often.

Scruples: A Tot in Need

Similar to something that my pal Jenny emailed me the other day, I made a statement during a board game with friends last night that has weighed heavily on my mind ever since.

While playing the game Scruples with the Bombadee’s and Blahzeeblah’s, my closest friends who I am comfortable saying anything in front of, I found myself quickly answering a question before giving it much thought. You have the option to answer all of the hypothetical questions with a yes, no or depends. A “depends” requires additional explanation, but rarely the way I respond to anything. While my ability to give an opinion quickly and precisely can depict a woman who is steadfast and confident in her beliefs it can also reveal that sometimes I speak before I think, as in the case last night.

So what is the question that has haunted me for about 14 hours now?

Would you consider leaving your spouse if it was discovered they could not have children?

Before I knew it, “YES” blurted out of my mouth to my wide-eyed friends, a husband who said “gee…thanks a lot” and a friend who said “that’s the case for my brother and his wife”. Her brother and his wife have been married for 15 years and after thousands and thousands of dollars on fertility treatments and invitro have only been left with too many heart aching losses to count and too much debt to visit home.

Yeah, I can be a real ass sometimes.

So why did I say yes? I’m not sure, knowing I have the ability to conceive and carry a child to term and having experienced that, I would be able to give that up for anyone. Being pregnant, that is. But of course that is easy for me to say, I have conceived and carried three children to term without complication. I appreciate there are women out there who are unable to conceive, carry and/or have babies and my heart breaks for them, I will never understand the grief they bear. My quick, thoughtless response was inconsiderate not only to my husband and friend but to the thousands of families who suffer broken dream after broken dream. For that, I apologize.

So after putting some much needed thought into the question, I would have to change my answer to “depends”. Ever since I can remember when I was asked the question “What do you want to be when you grow up” my response was always the same…quick and precise: “A mom”. My mind equated that question with not being a mom, and it should not have. There are many ways for one to be a mom, and apparently many ways for one to be an ass.

My Magnificent Mimi

Happy Double-Digits to My Magnificent Mimi!!

Looking through some pics from the last year, I see you inherited the same silly gene that has plagued your mother (much to your fathers chagrin)...

While you are my fearless one who flys higher and faster than your mom would sometimes like...you are also a strong, confident, funny, loving, inquisitive and bright shining light in my life.

I love you.

(Even more than my shoes.)

Coming Soon...

More of TaterTots Thoughts.

Jeff and I are making the leap to the 21st Century and setting up an ISP for home (finally). You can thank my husband for this new development. I think my birthday present had an ulterior motive; I need the Internet for my new 4GB iPod Nano.

Now I won’t be able to say work was too busy to post…but will be able to say I was too busy downloading songs...or would that be uploading songs? I'm always confused on which is the proper way to use those two terms.

Wonder Twin Power Activate...Form of...

Work discussion today:

If you could have any superhero power, what would you choose?

You Know Who You Are

I would like to thank you-know-who for you-know-what. We really need to you-know-what more often. It’s nice to be reminded that I do have a you-know-what that has the same you-know-what about you-know what. I could have sat up you-know-whating til you-know-when. If you do move down to you-know-where we are going to drive you-know-who crazy with our you-know-whating.

And I love you too...you're the you-know-what!

Plans via Pics

Dinner and a play with gals from work...

A date with one of my fella's to see Pirates and Mermaids on Ice...

Celebrating my 34th year...

Dinner at my favoirte hibachi grill with the family...

An evening out with The Casseroles...

And tonight, and evening of crude humor and red leather with Mrs. Blahzeeblah...

Reason I Love Being a Mom #5,234

Last night as SugarLips and I were “nugglin” in bed, preparing for a good night of rest I softly stroked his head and told him a story. He lay there spooned up against me still as a statue, listening to the adventures of Prince Isaac and his sisters Princess Mimi and Princess Abigail. There were castles, mighty steeds, magical apples, a dark forest and snarly bears. After about fifteen minutes, I concluded his story with the classic they lived happily every after when SugarLips quickly rolled over, eyes wide, grabbed my cheeks with his soft little hands and asked in amazement… “Mommy…where did you get those words?”