Wash that Man

There's a good amount of personal and mental stability and satisfaction that accompanies an at least partially mexican wife and mother's ability to wash every item of clothing in a household and have every dish washed and put away. Did that make sense? If not, let me just say, I feel good.

Tonight I finished watching (after 3 nights) South Pacific. Hahahahahahahahaha. What a freaking funny movie that was. I could NOT STAND the song about "talky talky happy happy", I did not get why the love of "Lutelant Cable" did not speak (the dvd skipped at a few parts), I loved Popeye's dad, (Billis), and if it were not for the ending that made me shed tears (I know, what a lameo I am), I might not have liked it so much. Have you seen it? If not, go rent the Sound of Music.

Something happened today that made me want to start posting pictures. Maybe I should. Well, I got 2 new pairs of shoes. I think (in all honesty) it's been about 2-3 years since I got a new pair of kicks, and I really needed them. I walked into Sportie LA on Melrose, while Alex drove around the block maybe 8 times, and in that time, I got a new pair of black on black Saucony's, and black and white Nike Cortez. I always wanted a pair, but in high school you'd get your ass kicked if you wore them and you didn't belong to Toonerville Locos, or some other gang. So, now, that I'm a mommy, and know karate, I'm not worried. Oh wait, I don't know karate, but I just may as well know it cuz I was Daniel Laruso last halloween.

If you know me, you know I'm kinda poor and cheap, so I begged the lady for a student or mommy discount, (cuz nice kicks ain't cheap) and she said no. Then I took off my very well worn and tattered checkered Vans and put them on the counter. I said "look at these. I haven't gotten a new pair of shoes in years, and I've been going to work and walking around in public with these babies on. Can you please hook up a little break for a busy mom?" She immediately took 30 bucks of the total. Hahahahahaha. (some people in this occasion may chose to use "LOL", but I still like "hahahahahaha")

What a day.

Bob

The dishes are done, and tomorrow both of my kids are going to the dentist at 8:30 in the morning. I'm hoping it doesn't go as bad as I think it could.

We've done swim class for the older kid 4 days this week and she won't even blow bubbles in the water. She clings to me for dear life. At the end of class, they sing a good bye song to each kid, and when it's your kids turn you dunk them in the water. So all the kids get dunked - and 3 out of 10 cry bloody murder. When it comes to Celia, she blows a kiss and waves like Cinderella. It's quite funny, and I will not dunk her cuz she'd get livid. I'd rather deal with looking like a sissy mommy with a cute kid then listen to her cry even if it's for 30 seconds. One kid slaps his mom in the face after every dunk.

Next week, I'm taking Effie. I think she'll like it better.

Today we made it to Bob's on Glenoaks for a late night piece of pie.
Celia ran in immediately to practically make out with Bob who stands in front of the cash register. She ran up to him, hugged him way too long and began kissing him on his lips. On the way out, Effie did the same thing and she kept trying to get him to sip her chocolate milk.

However - we went in, sat down, and a guy was spraying chemicals all over the rug in the next room as he was carpet cleaning. A bit unpleasant.

Then... we ordered pie. Strawberry pie sounds good right? The pictures are always dreamy. Big berries, lots of sugary strawberry glaze, flakey crust, mounds of whip cream? We ordered an entire pie cuz we were thrilled, and since a slice is 4 bucks, and a whole pie is 10, we opted for the whole thing. Well - no it wasn't what we dreamed.
It had tiny pieces of over ripe - almost black berries that tasted like they were fermenting. The crust was soggy and the whip cream was melted. It was a bit on the nasty tip. So, I walked up to the homeboy waiter and said, skip the whole pie - we've had enough! He didn't charge me for it - cuz he could tell it was bad if even the kids wouldn't get near it - so I gave him a 4 dollar tip on a 6 dollar meal instead. Haha. Oh well, things can't always be dreamy at a dreary, very "un-Glendale" establishment (if you knowadImean), but at least my babies had fun with Bob.

What's the Secret

I'm more than tired and I just can't get it. Every day I say - "tomorrow I"ll feed them more fruit and veggies" - or "tomorrow I'll do that", and "tomorrow I"ll keep on top of the dishes", or "tomorrow I'll make sure they brush better", and "tomorrow they'll bathe", and "tomorrow I"ll make sure they run around outside", but some things just don't happen.

It's late, and as USUAL, clothes need to be folded, dishes need to be put away, and others washed, then put away, I need to clean up everything, vaccume the kid's room, sweep some floors, water some lawns, water other plants, pay some bills, write some emails, make some calls, prepare some food for tomorrow, and yadda yadda yadda yadda. More money in these circumstances could be nice right?

So if you wanna be a mom, and actually hang out with your kids - good luck on getting anything done.

But here are some things we HAVE done in the last week:

1. THE ZOO! (we had a great adventure in which the mighty sea eagle sent out a message to all the animals about wicked queens stealing animal coats that needed to be delivered by Celia. Fun!)
2. Griffith park Carousel - and thanks to Julio we get to ride - for free and stay on at least 3 times... (dizzy) Plus - we went 3 times this last week..
3. The library - at the central library Lida (our fav. librarian) got a new ant farm, and wants to add our caterpillars to the collection to see what happens! We've also been there at least 3 times this week, and got to go back to the Central Library DOWNtown LA in which the dvd selection is preeeettty nice, and NO ONE is ever there in the kids section so my kids get to run rampant.
4. Observatory! - I'm so glad I tricked Alex into going there last month cuz we've been back 4 times and we all LOVE it. The food there now is excellente for my babies, and the ice from the ice machines is exceptionally crunchy and delicious.
PLUS - the Trails cafe down the road and hiking area is superb. The playground stinks but my kids love it, and you can find a very chill ice cream man smoking in his truck playing some very o.g. ice cream truck music his homey recorded for him.
5. PARKS! oh yeah - griffith park - playground. Celia and Effie have a see-saw addiction, and just to note - one side of the seesaw is now missing a foot rest - so watch out.
6. my Homies took me and the kids on an adventure to "THE Americana", and we DID enjoy the 24 second Trolley ride. (that's about it) Have you gone? Isn't it teeeeny??

these have been the places we've been able to manage having sick kids - and once they are better, it'll be back to the pools, other parks, and friends houses - so maybe we'll see you around. AND NOWWWWWWWWW, I will go to the kitchen to have some domestic fun.

Take a Pepto Bismol and Blog

I looked at Alex right now after considering putting away dry dishes while he put on some coffee, and I said, "I'll be right back, I've gotta blog", (in a tired, sluggish voice), then he said "Take a Pepto Bismol and blog". What a weirdo he is. If you wanna know how strange Alex really is, call our land line at home and listen to the greeting he put on the answering machine. Today we sat listening to the reactions of people while they left messages and started busting up. Perhaps no one understands our humor. Probably not, and that's a good thing. I think. 

It's been a rather wonderful week. In fact, since the birth of my little Effie, I think it's been the best in years. Giving birth to Effie was probably the hardest day of my life. No. It was the hardest day - because it was the first time I went over 24 hours without sleep, and I NEED sleep. It sucked. And last night while Alex and I took a beautiful cruise down Colorado in Eagle Rock we passed the Oinkster. While we passed it, I thought about the first time I tried their pastrami - in the hospital, and I was alone cuz Alex had to go home, nap, and shower cuz he was as delirious as I was from not sleeping, and even crankier, and Monica brought me an Oinkster pastrami sandwich. It was really good. And when I was alone after she left, it was just me, my new Effie, and a pastrami, and I felt so good after feeling SO bad. It was the first time I had been away from Celia for the night, and I had a few hours to get to know my new little girl who changed our life forever, cuz if you don't know already - having 2 kids is a bit trickier than one. 

And for the past almost 2 years now that she's been around, it's been crazy. My kids are amazing and demanding, and being a mom is freaggin hard. But FINALLY we gave into something we feared, avoided, desperately wanted, yet couldn't find the discipline to establish. A SCHEDULE!

The schedule is what has given me the most wonderful week with my 2 girls and Alex and it happened by accident. It's been 7 days now that we put the girls to bed each night at 8:30 after they eat, brush, get the pj's, a blanket, Eeyore for Celia, a doggie for Effie, and we tuck them in the stroller and take a walk, then they fall asleep after Celia makes a wish on a star. Before this - bedtime was a long, drawn out process, random, and exhausting. Now, it's so fun. We got our walks back, and I finally have a few minutes to actually have a conversation with Alex, and WATCH (a piece of) a movie each night, wash all my dishes (sometimes mi viejo does them now), straighten up, play piano, read, or whateva, and I'm so happy. 

So, right now, Alex is starting a VHS so I better go. 

I'll write again soon. So long pals. 

P.S. I liked the movie Wall-E.

So Much

As always there's so much to say, but it's hard to figure out what might interest someone besides myself enough to read. Today is Saturday, and it's been almost a week since I wrote about napping, and I didn't take any naps all week.

But the week - was great. I actually watched 3 movies this week, one being the Searchers with John Wayne. Alex and I counted, and he said "That'll be the day" 5 times, and "ya Blankethead" twice. For me it was a great movie, cuz it had all the things I love in a movie.

1. pretty scenery

2. catch phrases

3. lots of comic relief

4. a happy ending

It seems like every other artsy fartsy movie I watch has only elements from #1 on my list, and sad endings. It was a good change.

One thing we did this week, which I had been trying to avoid for months was take Effie to the doctor. Luckily Becky watched Celia so we were able to give Effie full attention and we needed it. The clinic we take her to is a bit ghetto, but her doctor is cool. She's loud and extra smiley, but she does the job well of looking at her records and telling us to put sunblock on her. The one thing she didn't do too well was look in Effie's mouth. She stuck that tongue depressor in so far that it made my already crying baby gag, cry more, then vomit all over her pretty dress and Alex's hands. When we thought she was done barfing, it just kept coming, and we were both scrambling to get paper towels and continue listening to the doctor and it was difficult. 

Being the unprepared mama that I am, I had no change of clothes for her, so we left her in her diaper for the remainder of the time. And during that time we listened to the doc tell us how she may need speech therapy in 6 months if she doesn't start talking more. Ugg. 

I personally - think she's fine, and that she doesn't talk much cuz Celia does all the talking. Lots of peeps say that they think one day Effie's just gonna start talking in proper sentences the day she begins to blab, but as for now she's quiet. When I tell her knock knock jokes - I say "Effie! Knock knock... " And she says a very cute ".... hello". (which in her language sounds more like "eh-lo". She's so cute.  However, we are concerned and have upped the number of books we read to her and I'm trying a bit more actively to get the little lady to say her syllables. The kid doesn't talk, but you'd be surprised how well she fake sings and knows rhythms from movie scores. Hmm.

Happy Sunday

There's one person who doesn't read my blogs, and that's Alex, and that's ok, cuz he knows everything about me. Everything I think, eat, do, etc. We think sometimes that we are actually the same person, because we eat the same meals and breathe the same air all day long, and considering your cells and skin are completely new and regenerated after 7 years or so, now we must be made of the same material. Well, whateva, I ain't no scientist. As Vicky would say: "Barev-a". (slang for "whatever") - and my cousin Benito would say  "Guat-eberd". (Mexican for "whatever")

And today my point is to write why I am blogging in the first place.

I don't post youtube clips (yet) of funny ass things I like, or every 80's cartoon and tv show I loved as a kid (even though I'd like to), I don't review movies cuz I never watch any. The main reason I believe to be writing is because I don't get to talk to many people much, and writing a blog is kind of like writing an e-mail blast. People who know you will read it, and unlike an e-mail blast, it won't go into your spam folder. Since I've been a mommy, I haven't had too too much time to just call up friends to tell them all the funny stories, or invite everyone around as much as I'd like, cuz really, getting older makes you busier, and for the most part, people just don't get around to seeing each other as much. Se la vie. And so, this is just a way to let people know what goes on every once in awhile. Mr. H asked me today when I'd blog again, so now I can call him in the morning and let him know I did. 

And so it's Sunday, and for me Sunday's are lazy. It is strange that even when I don't work on Mondays, I feel like resting on Sunday. It could be a Horlick thing, or possibly something instinctual or in my DNA perhaps, but something happens on Sunday, and I kind of shut down. 

All I want to do on Sundays is take a nap and eat. Sounds good right? Yeah, it would be if you could do it. And today I did get to eat, but didn't nap. Did you? For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to take naps on Sundays but not in the afternoon. Naps on Sundays are best at about 10am, given you've woken up before 8am. 

Since I don't have anything particularly funny or interesting to say to any of you today, besides the fact that I watched some of Pete's Dragon and realized that the lady in it (Nora) never even sees the dragon until the last 5 minutes, I better go and try to do some of the things I avoided all day today because it was... Sunday. 

This is for Becky

Mainly cuz it's just a good story. There's no anonymity here. You probably know me, and if you know me you know my family, and if you know my family you know the Q's, and if you know the Q's you know Becky, and if you know Becky, you're lucky, cuz she's one hellova gal. So, before I continue, let me write a disclaimer. I do love Becky, and I'm not mad about what you did to my daughter ok?! Great, now let's continue.

Wednesday: Becky and Alayna took Celia and Effie out around town and to the zoo on one of those unbearably hot days.

Thursday: Mama Lety babysat my kids as usual, cuz it was Thursday night, and I went to a Lachsa Alumni Gala, etc, etc.... 

Friday: Didn't do much, but it was hot. I think we went swimming somewhere, or to the observatory.

Saturday AM: Monica came over after her AIDS marathon training, and while we were in the living room chatting while the girls watched the Bearenstien Bears (or however you spell it) I noticed that Effie's rat-tail was gone. OMG. jajajaja (that's spanish for LOL)

Monica and I both looked at eachother and asked -"Effie! Where the hell is your rat-tail?" Now I could have sworn Effie's hair was really long, cuz I brush it sometimes, and in the bath I always comment on how lovely her little rat-tail (that she's had since birth mind you) was so sweet, and long, and so very rock n roll. Monica had just made fun of me weeks before for having a kid with a tail. Now my sister and I said if we ever had sons - they would have a tail, and now that I had my Effie, I didn't need a son, because I had a child born with a tail. Jajajaja.

So first thing - (in my mind) I thought "hmmm, someone cut my kids hair! but who?? 

I asked Celia.

"did you cut Effie's hair?"

She said "No."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes."

So I called Mama Lety.

"I'm calling because I'm trying to solve the mystery of Effie's haircut."

"I have no idea, it wasn't me. In fact, I noticed her hair was uneven. Did you ask Celia?"

"Yes",  I said. "But I'll ask her again".

So, I asked her again, and she answered me.

"Yes. I cut her hair, but just a little on the top."

"With what?" I asked her - 

"With my blue Scissors."

"Ahh ha!" 

But Monica and I were still a little confused. We found no hair on the bedroom floor where Celia said she did the chopping. Aaaand... Effie's hair was cut so straight!

Hmmmm.. Becky I thought. But since Celia had already confessed to the crime, I believed her. She rarely lies to me ( I think ), so I just thought she did it. Besides, I find her all the time sneaking scissors to her room to cut her dolls' hair and her own...

Later that evening I get a call from Becky.

"It was me! Effie got gum in her hair, and I forgot about it, and I thought you'd be mad cuz I gave her gum, and I didn't know if she was allowed to have gum, and when I saw you I totally forgot".

"Yes, Effie is allowed to have gum with supervision, but not haircuts!" 

Ok, so I didn't say that exactly, but that's what I meant. 

To make this long story short, Becky could've been scott-free (BTW what does Scott free mean? I'll go ask my friend Skot), but she just had to confess, and in the end I found out that she didn't like the rat tail, and that she felt bad for my little kidling for having such a disgrace of a hairstyle. jajajajaja.

All is said and done, and I still love Becky. It's ok, but a lesson has been learned. If you REALLY like your kids rat-tails, be sure to tell everyone how much you like it or someone someday may just chop it off. 

And one more thing - just for Becky - you did do a great job. It looks pro. But next time - throw in a trim of them bangs - the poor girl can barely see!