Rantings of an Oreo Cookie

Show Me Your Papers - An Angry Rant

2011-05-06T08:02:00.000-06:00

Really.

You're going to try and tell me that this whole issue with Obama's birth certificate is only about his eligibility to be the President of the United States, right? It's a good thing that I'm writing this days after this happened, because this rant may have been more raw and vitriolic that it's going to be.

So, with that being said, I'm going to get right to it....don't try to tell me that this issue, or anything else that the Birthers, some of the Republicans and conservatives in this country, or some of the Tea Party ("Tea-Baggers?" Pick something else, people...it just makes you a big joke) is nothing more than thinly veiled racism. These people just can't accept, almost three years later, that a Black man is the President of "their" country, that millions of people had the nerve to vote him into office. And now they spend their time trying to either prove that he's not really the leader of this nation, not really an American citizen, not really worthy of the highest office in the country, instead of trying to fix what is really wrong with this country (a lot of which was caused by the last few White guys that held the office - Democrat included, so don't go saying that this rant is about that either).

I cannot believe that, in the 21st century, our President was actually "asked" - using the term loosely - to show us his birth certificate, proving that he was born in this country. Oh, that's not racist, Nichelle, here you people go again, using the race card to cry foul! Well then, tell me - when was the last time a president was publicly asked, repeatedly, to produce his birth certificate for all to see? That would be....um.....never. So then he gave us the "short" form - the one that looks like the ones I got for my children when they were born - issued by the state of Hawaii, and all the crazy people yelled, "It says, 'Certificate of Live Birth' not 'Birth Certificate' (or some other official bullshit) so it can't be real!" What!?!?!!? Really. I looked at my own birth certificate, given to me by my mom a few years ago for me to keep track of, issued by the grand state of Colorado, and guess what it says on the top? "Certificate of Live Birth". Does this mean my birth certificate isn't legitimate? No, it means that the crazy people are trying to use any excuse possible to turn back the clock and make it so Obama wasn't declared the winner. So last week, Mr. President had Hawaii release his "long" form - which I realized later is what my birth certificate looks like - for all to see, and maybe have everyone move on to other, more important, things. There are several things that happened (or didn't) that evoked several feelings.

First, I was crushed. Did this just happen? Did our President, my President, just have to prove for the second time, that he was born in the United States? Why is this happening?

Then I got angry - oh yeah, I remember...this is happening because I still live in a racist country, whether or not anyone wants to believe that, this is still an incredibly racist country, and it took the election of a Black man to the highest office in the land for my country to show its real face...the one that still sees me (and my son) as "less than" because of our mocha skin.

Third, I started looking for validation that, maybe, my angry reaction was wrong....and I got a little of both. No surprise, though, that most of the validation came from people who look like me and the friends of people who look like me. The Donald said that he was "friends with 'the Blacks'." I'm here to tell you - anyone who is friends with "the Blacks" don't call us that. Bigots trying not to look like bigots call us that.

Now that Obama has produced the very thing Trump and the other haters asked for, not only does he refuse to look at it, but he has moved on to questioning his qualifications for acceptance into Harvard Law, Occidental, and Columbia. This isn't any better - now this tiny man is questioning the intelligence, not just this very important Black man, but every Black person that ever went through the doors of any of those institutions.

I did end up getting some vindication - after all of this, while Trump was claiming victory saying that he forced Obama to produce the birth certificate, he then got "informally" roasted at the Correspondents' Dinner while the President was multi-tasking and planning the death of Osama bin Laden....and never let on that he was doing it. Bam!...take that, little lame-ass man! While you were pretending to be important, Obama IS important, and did something that none of your compatriots could do, and Obama's predecessor even said that he "didn't think about bin Laden that much; I don't spend that much time on 'im." Thanks for getting your priorities in order...

But back to my original angry rant - I'm tired of people saying that everything that is happening in this country has nothing to do with race, and everyone is so afraid to talk about it but okay to let others get away with questioning the President's citizenship, or parading around with signs or pictures of him looking like an ape with a turban on, or making statements like, "What planet have I landed on? Did I slip through a wormhole in the middle of the night and this looks like America? It's like the damn Planet of the Apes." (Thank you, Glenn Beck, for that brilliant statement) And with the kinds of laws states like Arizona and Colorado and others are passing (or trying to pass), it won't be too long before everyone with skin darker than 2% milk will have to "show me your papers."

Honesty Is The Best Policy

2011-01-18T00:41:00.000-07:00

New Thing #5: I'm going to be more honest with the people around me. This doesn't mean I have been lying to the people in my life, but I most definitely have not been honest with myself and have not said what I really feel out loud. So I walk around feeling bad because I just "let stuff go" and no one around me knows what I'm really feeling. As far as everyone is concerned, I'm just happy and content and "oh, don't worry...it won't matter to Nichelle so we'll just go on this way" or my opinion on some subject is overlooked or even devalued. My not being honest and up front leads to me getting overlooked or ignored.

I suppose I've been too afraid of making people walk out of my life if I'm too honest, and that possibility does exist....but there is a fine line to walk, and as someone once told me "You can't change others, you can only change yourself, which may or may not make others around you change." So I can't worry about people leaving me...I feel like my true, lifelong friendships should be able to handle more "edgy" honesty than the superficial or short-term ones. And it doesn't mean that I can be brutal and cut people down or hurt them - that isn't the point of this either. But this is supposed to help me be healthier and, subsequently, the relationships I keep healthier too.

So, change #5 - be more honest. Be more upfront and stop hiding my feelings to the detriment of myself for the sake of the feelings of others, but still temper everything I do and say with compassion and empathy...the majority of the people around me are still my family and friends, and I love them.

I Believe In....Something...

2011-01-01T02:19:00.000-07:00

New Thing #4: I'm going to be more spiritual. I don't plan on going to church every Sunday, and it definitely won't be something that everyone will "see" on a daily basis. But I do believe in a 'higher power', and, most of the time, when I ask for things (be it a solution to a problem, peace of mind, or even a 3-Story Barbie Dream Townhouse) I get them. I wouldn't call it 'prayer' in the normal sense of the word, because I don't kneel and close my eyes and clasp my hands and implore God for whatever it is I'm struggling with at the time. I do, however, concentrate on the outcome I wish to have, think positively that my outcome will happen, and then release that thought - that energy - into the universe, to that 'higher power'. And, most of the time, what I want will happen. Sometimes, it doesn't quite work out the way I want it to, or it doesn't work at all, but then, maybe what I wanted wasn't really the right thing in the first place and I'm really better off with the outcome that ended up happening.

I've had discussions about religion with a bunch of different people at a bunch of different times in my life, and I've come to this conclusion (strictly for myself, only my opinion) - no one's religion is completely right, nor is it the only one that 'works'. Which is why I say that I'm going to be more 'spiritual', not more 'religious'. That statement will probably make somebody angry, no matter how I try to explain myself, so I'll just keep going. In being spiritual, I can take what works for me and not be bound by anyone's rules about how I'm supposed to worship; I don't have to be restricted in only 'believing' in God or Buddha or Jehovah or The Green Man or Allah or Earth Mother or anyone else; I don't have to go to a specific place or wear specific things. There is one thing that does run through all religions, and that is treating your fellow man like you would like to be treated - that I can also do in being more spiritual. (Which also goes back to New Thing #3 - treating myself nicer!) Now, I'm not slamming anyone else's religion or how they choose to practice - I think that everyone should live their lives as they see fit, and if something works and makes your life better, do it! I think there are good parts to every religion...I just don't want to be restricted to just one - call me a rebel!

So, change #4 - be more spiritual. Meditation. Quiet the mind. Settle the body. Let the thoughts flow. And, somehow, things will be alright.

Is That For Me? Why, Thank You!

2010-12-26T01:30:00.000-07:00

New Thing #3: I'm going to do more for me. I have a job where I'm constantly doing things for others and sacrificing my time, and the remainder of my time and energy goes to my family and friends - leaving very little for me (here's a chance to refer to New Thing #2!).

I go into a store, and instead of buying something that I would like to have, no matter how small, I manage to talk myself out of it on the premise that my family needs something else more that I could be spending that money on - including my alleged "mad money" in my own checking account for that very purpose. Instead of treating myself to a mani-pedi, a new shirt, or cute shoes, I pay a bill or buy someone else something they need with it. Then I resent it later and get mad at the wrong people for "making" me neglect myself. Now, not all of this is on me, because if I try to take time for myself, then others around me get resentful and feel ignored (also going back to New Thing #2 - you get used to someone always paying all their attention to youand doing everything, when they stop it's a bit uncomfortable...so maybe its still all on me.) :-)

Regardless, I have figured out that, in order for me to be good for others, I need to be good for me. And in order to be good for me, I have to be nicer to me. So, that means more pretty fingers and toes, more naps, more quiet time, less nagging/begging/repeating (those who don't listen or do just have to deal with the consequences on their own,) and more little gifts to me. I can't do all this other stuff for everyone and still be happy, healthy and sane. And I don't have to break the bank to do it either - it doesn't have to be about "bought" things...

So, change #3 - more things for the benefit of "Me." Sounds selfish, but sometimes it's necessary (especially when no one else will do it for you.)

I Said....No.

2010-12-23T08:21:00.004-07:00

New Thing #2: I'm going to say "no" more. Now, The Bohunk is a smartass and would say that I say it too much already, but I'm going to ignore him. What I mean is, people ask me to do stuff, and I say I will so they will like me, or I want to please them. It's usually something that benefits them and not me (or at least there is some mutual benefits).

But it has taken me this long to realize that not being able to tell people "no" is really the root of other things that bother me about "me" and I want to change (see New Thing #1 and pay attention to future New Things). Being able to say "no" will free me, but I'm thinking some people in my life won't like this change much - it will force them to do things for themselves, or even do some things for me instead (what a concept!) Now, don't think I'm not going to say "yes" to stuff ever again...that's just not in my nature! I'm just not going to agree to do everything for everyone (isn't that a Barenaked Ladies album?)

So, change #2 - I'm saying "no" to things that are more important to others, "yes" to other things that are more important to me, and I can be free enough to be comfortable in making that choice.

A Whole New Start

2010-12-22T07:50:00.003-07:00

I know...it's been over two years since I've been here to post anything. But, like the title says - it's a whole new start. Today is my 42nd birthday, and over the past couple of months, a few things have crept into my brain and my Capricorn mind grabbed them and refused to let them go. So, on what feels like the midpoint of my life, I've decided to change "me", do some things different, and hopefully, you will join me for the ride.

New Thing #1: I'm not going to be late anymore. It hit me in the face at the last book club meeting...I brought a new person and she apologized to the group for making me late (she arrived at my house about 15 minutes late and we were riding together). When she said this, the entire group burst into laughter, all at the same time, and explained to our new person that, if book club started at 2, someone's phone would ring at 2:30 and it would be me, saying I was on my way.

On the outside, I laughed and jokingly flipped everyone off and told them to bite me. Inside, I was a little hurt. All those times I was late - usually because something I was making from scratch to bring took longer than I expected, or something my family "needed" from me popped up at the last minute (of course). Sounds like excuses? They probably are, but at the time, I felt that I was doing it for someone else's benefit (the girls deserved my best home-made things, not some store-bought, processed thing; my family needed whatever attention they were asking for, no matter how small). My realization - it's not necessary. It's really more important to me to be on time, like I used to be in my "previous life".

So, change #1 - I'm giving up on trying to be perfect on things that don't matter to me, let others take care of things they are able to do on their own, and be on time.

I Have Witnessed History

2008-11-05T21:41:00.003-07:00

I am at a loss for words. I've just witnessed the biggest event in American history - I never thought I would see the day that my country, the United States, would elect an African-American as President.

I went over the ballot with my Bohunk, filled it out and drove them down to the Elections Bureau (because I didn't want to trust my vote to too many hands. Am I paranoid? See Election Day 2000 or 2004.) I barely slept Monday night and spent all day Tuesday fidgety and nervous. I ran through my head what I would do if I was let down again...move to Canada? Mexico? Do something bad so the cops could kill me and put me out of my misery? Grin and bear another four years of madness and hope I could keep my family afloat?

I waffled about whether I could watch the returns on TV. I wasn't sure if I could handle Obama's losing to McCain...but I also could not miss history in-the-making if Obama should actually win. I'm glad I made the decision to watch. As the electoral votes kept piling up on the Democratic side of the screen, I became more and more confident and excited. And when MSNBC put Obama's picutre on the screen and proclaimed him the next president of the United States, tears came to my eyes. I called my mother to share the moment with her, lamenting that my grandmother (who lived in a time where neither women or Blacks could vote) did not live long enough to see it happen.

I watched intently as McCain made his very gracious and eloquent concession speech (had he talked like that during the campaign, he might have won it.) I leaned forward when Obama finally came out to make his speech, proclaiming victory for himself and the American people. I stayed up until 1am watching the "post-game analysis." I was too amped up to sleep.

Today, now that I've had a chance to let it all sink in and assess the significance of this event to my life, I am a bit afraid. Afraid that politicians in Congress will be so bitter that they will do everything they can to make Obama ineffective. Afraid that some crazy nutjob will kill Obama before he can do anything worthwhile in office. Afraid that my country is so far gone that Obama can't save it - even though I realize that he can't undo what has been wrought for the past 8 years. And it didn't make me feel any better when McCain supporters booed when the senator mentioned Obama's name and tried to give him his props for a well-run campaign, decisive victory, and to pledge his support in the future when he returns to the Senate.

I find it interesting that the uber-right water-carriers are crying "foul", saying that the early voting must have been fraudulent. Saying that Obama's margin of victory was not that great (um, Bush only "won" by a little bit both times, and he cheated to get it...Obama win = 7,000,000+ popular vote difference, 6 percentage point difference, 2-to-1 electoral votes for him = royal ass-kicking in my book!) Saying that the Democrats do not have a "mandate" because they now control the White House, the House and the Senate (even though Bush said just that when he "won" 7 years ago).

And I'm also concerned that people are saying that, since an African-American has been elected to the highest office in America, racism is dead in our country. Unfortunately, that can't be further from the truth. Granted, I think the numbers of bigots diminish each generation, but this event will not change much right now. There will still be folks who don't like people of color, who think that we should all just go back to Africa, who thihk people like my son (or even Barack Obama) are "abominations" because they are of mixed heritage.

On the other hand, I am encouraged that my son was able to witness history. He said to me, "Obama is like me because he has one white parent and one Black parent. Does that mean I could be president?" I told my son that he could be whatever he wanted.

Yes we can.

I woke up this morning with a renewed sense of hope for me, my family, and my country. Things could get better. Can't really get too much worse than what we've been through so far, right?

Yes we can.

I was happy to see the true diversity of America in the thousands of faces crammed into the park in Chicago, all happy and crying and smiling and laughing and singing.

Yes we can.

I feel motivated to keep working hard to make life better for my family and make the future better for my children. It feels like a weight has been lifted and I can breathe again.

Yes we can.

I hope we can move forward, together, as a united nation, to increase our standing in the world to where it was before, when we were an example to other countries on how to treat others, when we helped others instead of only thinking about ourselves.

Yes we can.

Morganese Primer - Volume I

2008-09-21T00:31:00.002-06:00

Teek ooo - "thank you"
I wuv ooo - "I love you"
cearoll - "cereal"
peen butta - "peanut butter"
popcorn - "popcorn" or "corn on the cob"
Oz - any small gray or black dog
Daisy - any Golden Retriever
Bender - any big yellow dog
cheese - "macaroni and cheese"
peese - "please"
boog - "bug"
strawbee - "strawberry"
gwape - "grapes"
shoeson - "shoes"
jammas - "pajamas"
hosee - "horse"
Spumbum Squarepints - "Spongebob Squarepants"

More later....

The Boy Is GENIUS!!

2007-05-14T20:57:00.000-06:00

I'm not being very modest, am I?

So, my son was having "behavior issues" in kindergarten, i.e. he's not conforming to the teacher expectations and being a little automaton. He would make noises in class and bother other kids by constantly touching them on he head or arms or something. But in the same breath, the teacher would say "He is so smart! He's way ahead of the other kids academically..." We were told that he may be ADHD and should be put on medication to "even out his behavior". Hmmm...I didn't like the sound of that. So this year, we tried to head the problems off and gave his 1st grade teacher a bit of a "heads-up" that The Boy was not like other kids, and he would need a little extra attention. The Boy was then saddled with these "touching tallies"...every time he touched someone or acted out in some way, he would get a tally mark; 5 marks in a day, and he would lose something, like recess. The Bohunk and I were getting pretty discouraged with the whole thing, until his teacher said something during his last parent/teacher conference...she showed us his benchmark test scores, and he consistently scored much higher than what they'd expect from a kid his age. His teacher then suggested that we have him tested for the highly gifted program.

After figuring out where to do this, The Boy was tested with something called the CogAT and the Ravens Test (I have no clue what these are...ask your teacher-friends...). All I was told was that my son scored in the 95th percentile nationally for one test and 96th percentile for the other, and he qualifies for the DPS Gifted and Talented Program. Now I understand why he was having so many problems in class (with some help from his teacher reporting what he actually does in class) - he was BORED! He'd either finish his work way ahead of the other kids, so he'd bother them, or he wouldn't finish his work at all because he knew it already.

So now, my new crusade in The Boy's education is to find a school that can challenge him - as the NAACP says, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste".

Ice Cream Memories

2007-03-26T21:55:00.000-06:00

I love ice cream.

I love many flavors of ice cream, but one in particular is very special.

You see, I spent lots of summers in my youth with my maternal grandparents, John and Caldonia Pennie. They would spoil the crap out of me while I was there from mid-June to mid-August (upside-down pineapple cake, oatmeal cookies with raisins, pound cake, any kind of cereal I wanted, watermelons, barbeque chicken done on one of those grills made from a 50-gallon drum...) But one of my most favorite things was Blue Bell vanilla ice cream. It tastes like nothing else I've ever had - not in Colorado, not anywhere else. And I, in my adult life, have never been able to find it here.

Well, now my Papa is gone (almost 12 years now) and my Gramma isn't doing so well anymore (she'll be 90 in May). All the things that remind me of them, I cherish. I miss going to their little house in Brownwood, Texas (1102 Crothers Street), shooting off fireworks in the street for the 4th of July, playing dominoes in the little seating area under the carport, listening to the katydids in the trees in the evening and catching lightning bugs in glass jars...but I digress.

The other day at work, a coworker and I had a discussion about sweet tea, Sonic and other things Southern. I mentioned that I wished I could just have some vanilla Blue Bell ice cream (hadn't had it in years, since my last trip to Texas a couple of years after I got married). She said, "There is one place in Denver you can get it - Russell Stover Candies on Colorado Blvd..." GASP!!!! Could it be true? The REAL Blue Bell vanilla ice cream?

So today, I had a reason to be in the area, and I swung by. Walked in the store, smelling all of the wonderful chocolate confections... The nice lady behind the counter said, "Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for your vanilla Blue Bell ice cream."

"Come this way.." and she led me over to a counter with 24 flavors - but I just wanted to see... She handed me one of those little taster spoons and scooped out a bite. Into my mouth and....YESSSS!!! That's IT! All sorts of memories flooded back, and I almost cried.

"I'll take a pint." And I left the store with my prize.

I shared a bit with my mom when she came over tonight...but that's all she gets. She'll have to get her own. These are MY memories...one more piece to treasure. At least I'll have that to get when I want when my Gramma is gone.

Mini Rants - Part II

2007-02-22T18:50:00.000-07:00

So, how Black does one have to be before you can be considered Black (or African-American for the politically correct)? Debra Dickerson , a writer for Salon.com thinks, in essence, that Barak Obama isn't really the next Black candidate for President of the United States because he is not descended from African slaves brought to America (his mother is English and his father is Kenyan)...and keep in mind that this woman is Black. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't think that you had to be a certain kind of Black person to be "Black". She also said that because he went to a private college and had an upper-middle class upbringing, that he hasn't really participated in the "Black Experience" - being poor, discriminated against, underprivledged... This is what I think is wrong with a lot of Black people today - they are so consumed with how Black people as a race were enslaved and held down by "The Man" and all that other stuff, that they 1) hold themselves back and 2) tear down anyone else who became successful in breaking stereotypes. Seems to me Obama should be the one to identify himself as Black or not - it's his identity. If he went out there in the public and stated that he was White, people would laugh him out of town - the color of his skin and the texture of his hair gives away his heritage. But he can lay claim to either, neither, or both - his choice. Ms. Dickerson's view is divisive at best, and racist at worst.

So is anyone tired of the snow yet? Just got our Christmas lights down last weekend...

Got my PAFC swag for winning the Football Pick'em contest - SWEET!!! The Bohunk was upset though, 'cause the CD had Poison and Def Leppard on it...what does HE know!?!?!? :-)

The potholes are eating my car...

The Girl is walking all over the place (and her daddy, and her brother, and her Papa)...and taking over. But I guess that's the job of a princess...

The magnesium chloride is eating my car...

Did I say I do a lot of driving for my job? I do a lot of driving for my job - logged 880 miles last month. I SO need a new car - even just so I can get an odometer that works (mine broke at 173,379 about 8 months ago...)

The miles are eating my car...

Did this post just go from serious to just plain stupid? Thought I had more to say tonight...

One Liner Rant

2007-01-24T21:07:00.001-07:00

I hate being the third wheel.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled life.

New Year, New Me (Ha!)

2007-01-04T00:08:00.000-07:00

So to be short and sweet (since it's so late and I have a ton to do tomorrow), here are my resolutions for 2007:

1) Take better care of myself (i.e. buy myself things instead of talking myself out of them, or buying stuff for the husband/kids/house)

2) Be more spiritual (in whatever form that ends up taking)

3) Blog more than once a month

4) Work out

5) Read more

6) Have more fun

I did pretty good last year, until I got pregnant and then it all went out the window...

So what're YOU gonna do?

Mini-Rants - Reader's Digest Style

2006-11-08T22:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's been ages (again), but here goes...

Can I say how much I'm glad the Dems took over the House yesterday? (and maybe the Senate too if that dumbass "Makaka" Allen would just quit whining and concede...who wants a recount now, bee-atch!?!?) Maybe now the country can stop fighting each other over stupid shit (like gay marriage and who is a "true" American) and do something about health care, the war (no...occupation) that isn't going well, educating our kids, renewable energy....you know, stuff that helps the workin' folk, regardless of whether you are an elephant or a donkey (as The Boy put it)...

Speaking of politics, I'm also happy that this election is over - I'm sick of the nasty mean commercials, the multitude of phone calls to my house, the junk mail... I made up my mind on most of the issues weeks ago, and I coulda done without all that..

A couple of weeks ago, the family gave up Brody - we (read: I) took him down to the Dumb Friends League to surrender him. I was fine, telling myself it was for the best (the final straw - he growled at the Girl every time she came near), that he would get a good home, etc. After filling out all of the paperwork, the volunteer asked me to take him back to the holding kennels since he seemed very timid. I agreed, followed the lady to the back, and put him in the kennel. I took the leash off, patted his head, scratched his ears and gave him a big hug and told him to take care - and as I walked away (holding back tears), he did the one thing I couldn't handle...he whined. I lost it. I hope he's already found a good home (since the League won't tell me one way or the other).

What's happening with my sports teams? The Avs don't seem to be doing as well as I'm used to, the Broncos have me wondering every week if they are actually going to win (even tho I still always pick them in my football pool), my Rammies are suckin' in the 70's (but at least they aren't as bad as the Buffs), and what's up with the 0-3 Nuggets?

I think my car is invisible - I've been nearly run over 3 times this week. Every one of them had a "W in '04" sticker on the back - go figure.

Did I say my son is smart? He's in the first grade, and is reading "The Chronicles of Narnia" every night. He said that he wants to read the Harry Potter series next... I'll try not to brag too much... :-)

The Girl is cutting her 2 top teeth right now - why isn't she crankier?

The holidays are coming (I saw Christmas stuff in my local K-Mart 2 weeks before Halloween), and I haven't finished my shopping. Every year, I say I'm going to start earlier, and I never do. Why am I procrastinating? I know it just creates stress for me... Here's what the next 2 months look like - my mom's birthday is 11/24, my son 12/4, mine 12/22, my sister-in-law 12/25, Christmas, my daughter 12/29, New Year's, my brother-in-law 1/2. Not to mention that I am hosting Turkey Day at my house, GAB Club, The Bohunk's work holiday party, my unit at DHS's holiday party (which I am also hosting), traveling to my mother-in-law's for gift exchange and dinner with her, traveling to my parents for gift exchange and dinner, hosting the gift exchange and dinner with my father-in-law - do I have enough yet? Is it too early to send my Santa letter?

I need to win the Powerball.

I want new clothes, shoes, and a car.

I need more time to be online - maybe I would post more often. Actually, I just need more time to do stuff I want to do.

Ok, I'm done (for now).

Just Checkin'

2006-09-27T22:25:00.000-06:00

As you can see, it's been awhile.....but the new job is keeping me busy! I promise I will add to this space soon (but I don't feel TOO bad since only 2 of my friend's blogs are actually updated in the last week....)

Stay tuned....I have a lot to say.

Sports, Sports, Sports.....

2006-07-28T21:56:00.000-06:00

More specifically - Broncos, Rammies, Nuggets and Avalanche...... With Broncos Training Camp starting today, for me this means the beginning of non-stop sports season. I will be participating in 2 (count 'em - 2) fantasy football leagues; I'm sure my buddy Pat Angello will be doing his Football Pick 'Em (of which I dominated most of the season - then I bragged I was winning and lost my ass instead); and I will be lucky enough to have some sports-related something to watch on TV. The Rockies are still on, but they aren't winning as much, so I'm not watching as much (plus, baseball isn't my most favorite sport).

I'm all stoked for the CSU/CU football game - got my tickets lined up, and I will be at Invesco Field in my Green and Gold - hopefully my Rams will put the smackdown on the Buffalo-chips this year.....what a great way to start the season, yes? And don't bother giving me crap - I won't take it....win or lose - RAMS RULE!!!

I keep forgetting that the Broncos did really well last year...apparently losing to the eventual Super Bowl champions caused that fact to erase itself from my mind. But with the new acquisitions, maybe a funny-shaped football trophy would be in order? And with the drafting of this Jay Cutler dude, what does that mean for Bradlee (CSU alum, for those not in the know..)

Finally, what's with the Avs? I don't think I will recognize them at all ('cept for Joe Sidekick, and he's starting to be in the "older than dirt" category..... Guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Brushes With Fame

2006-07-24T23:49:00.000-06:00

Ok, so it's taken me forever to post again....bear with me! ;-)

So I was thinking the other day - how many times have I had a "brush with fame"? Lessee....when I first started dating the Bohunk in Ft. Fun, I got "picked up" on by the lead singer of Fishbone (we went to see the band at Fort Ram, the Bohunk was in the bathroom and the band was on a break). Christmas-time 2005 I met and had my picture taken (w/ my cameraphone) with 2 of the members of Barenaked Ladies (unfortunately, one was not Ed...Fortunately, the other one was Steven). But I think my best brush was March 2005 when I got to introduce Simon LeBon of Duran Duran to Magness Arena. All my closest friends know how much I am in love with this band - ever since before high school - and the only thing that would have made it better would have been being able to touch John Taylor!! EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! But Simon will do just fine.... The best part? The fact that Simon chose this thirty-something in the second row to introduce him, instead of the teeny-boppers that most likely weren't even born when the songs first came out, forced their way into the front row and flashed the band all night. That was the best $85 I have ever spent!

Do you have a story? Tell me..... I'll just be over here daydreaming....

He Does WHAT?!?!!?

2006-06-08T19:57:00.000-06:00

This is Brody, the newest member of the Anderson family (he's been here since February, but he's still the newest...) Brody has a talent - he is able to get the tips of his ears in his mouth and suck on them....that's right - he sucks on his ears! If you look closely at the picture, you can see that right ear tucked neatly into his mouth. Now, I don't know why he does this, or how he learned that he can do this, but he does. It's quite interesting to see the various ways he has devised to get said tip into said mouth. One way: he rubs his head against the couch, pressing his ear against his mouth, then just gathers it in. Another way: he takes a front paw and rakes from the top of his head, down his face to his nose, and in the process gets that ear to his mouth. And another way: same as Method #2, but with the back paw. He then proceeds to walk around, or lay down someplace, until he decides that he needs some food or a drink of water or just that he wants to switch ears. Insecurity? Self-comforting? Tasty? I don't know, but he's a strange one....

The family is still trying to adjust, but I think the majority of the decisions concerning who's "top dog" in the house have been made. Brody still does stuff that drives me crazy (gets in the trash, runs you over if you are in between him and outside, gets on the couch), but with a little training, I think he'll be ok. The Boy adores Brody, and Brody adores The Bohunk, and Oz is still pissed off that Brody's even here (but Oz is pissed off about everything, so nothing new there..) I suppose we'll manage.

Why Did We Pick This Fu@&!ng Date Anyway!?!?

2006-05-21T21:26:00.000-06:00

**RANT ALERT! RANT ALERT!**

Ok, so the GAB Book Club was supposed to meet at my house today - my chance to have my girlfriends over to my house, eat good food and chat some. Imagine my chagrin when I check the Evite last night (so I know how much food to make) and see that a total of 4 (yes, ONLY 4) people are planning to show up. Then one person calls today to say they aren't coming - that leaves me and 3 others. After having gone to the store to buy all the stuff for a meal, busting my ass to get my house respectable enough for guests, and finishing up the book at midnight last night, I was a little pissed. Then I decided to call the whole thing off - and called the three that were coming and told them as much. I made the meal anyway (jumbo Florentine shells) and fed it to my family instead.

Now, I don't know if this is some kind of conspiracy against me, but I find this pattern a bit odd: the first meeting I hosted, I had quite a few people show up, but no one really liked the book (and don't lie - I could tell....the best comment was "it was really interesting and I probably would have not picked this up if it weren't for GAB"); the second meeting - a few less people came, and only 2 or 3 people finished the book; the last meeting before this one - about the same amount of people as the second, and at least most everyone finished (and liked) the book. Now this. I have to say - my feelings are pretty hurt. I manage to make it to just about everyone else's house every month (even this past January when The Girl was barely 3 weeks old) and I usually finish the book (there are maybe 2 or three I didn't finish). We sat around last month for almost 45 minutes trying to figure out a good date for everyone, and I get 3 FUCKING PEOPLE?!!?!? I realize people have a life outside of GAB Club, and I do too, but COME ON! Why didn't we pick a different date, then? Do I live too far away? Do I keep picking shitty books? Maybe my cooking is bad.....? Miss Francine told me not to take it personally, but it was a bit too late by then. Maybe I'm being childish, maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion, but right now it's the way I feel (and this is my space to rant, so rant on I will). I felt like sitting down and crying, but I didn't want The Bohunk to see me, otherwise he would have wondered out loud why I put myself through this.

The thought ran through my head.."maybe I should drop out....maybe I just won't go to the next couple of meetings...." but what good would that do me? I would just continue to feel bad and then on top of it, miss seeing my friends (after this rant, I might not have anymore friends). And some, secretly, may take this personally, call me childish and immature for letting such a minor thing get to me (Nichelle, my life doesn't revolve around book club....GET OVER YOURSELF!) but right now I can't help it. I'll wallow in my self-pity for a bit, then put on my game face and move on.

Maybe next time I'll blog about Brody instead....

Music is the Beat of Life

2006-02-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of days (through the Valentine's Day frenzy), I was reflecting on my 14-year relationship with The Bohunk, and realized how many songs remind me of him and take me back to specific incidents we have shared. Like how "If" by Bread reminds me of the time we had a HUGE argument (we were in college and had only been going out for a couple of months or so), and I hid in my walk-in closet - then he came in and apologized, and I apologized, and that song just happened to be on the radio at the time. It then ended up being "our song" and was the song we chose to be our first dance when we got married. Then there's Sir Mix A Lot's "Baby Got Back" - The Bohunk used to work for a landscape company in Fort Collins, and one of his jobs was to mow the weeds on the side of Highway 287. He would be pushing the mower down the side of the highway, Walkman blaring, "singing" this song - because it reminded him of me....

Then I started thinking how much music reminds me of a lot of things that have happened in my life, and just hearing the song that I have associated with the event will whisk me back - like a low-priced time machine....sometimes the emotions associated with it come back as strong as ever, like it just happened. The short list:
"Ordinary World" - Duran Duran: my friend Mark Smith ('nough said)

anything by Metallica: my friend Chuck Brickman (he was the one to "turn me on" to them - I had to borrow his car once and that was all that was in the car to listen to. He died from a heart attack playing soccer at 27, so now "Nothing Else Matters" belongs to him. He also gets "Eruption" by Van Halen, because he was the only person I knew who could play it note-for-note just like Eddie.)

"Love Song" - Tesla: this one belongs to Steph (she had just broken up with a mutual acquaintance, and we had gone dancing to try and cheer her up...I requested the song, and put on a performance for her right in the middle of the dance floor - a lip-synched serenade, if you will. A little while after that, I introduced her to Tim, who she ended up dating, then marrying - they've been married almost as long as me!)

"Daughters" - John Mayer (I think): this one is recent, of course - for The Girl. She hadn't even been born yet, but I would hear the song on the radio, and the lyrics struck a chord (no pun intended).

There are so many more, and I can't remember more just now - usually they don't come to mind until I hear them, and then I am reminded and taken back - sometimes to a happy place, sometimes to a painful place. But good or bad, I cherish each one for what it is - a moment that has shaped the person I am today. My question: what are your favorite song-linked memories?

Since When Do You Dress Boys In Pink?

2006-02-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've had enough. What do I have to do to make dense, unobservant strangers understand that I am carting around a baby GIRL!?!?!? Apparently, the sight of an infant in a pink outfit with a pink hat covered in a pink blanket (all done specifically to identify The Girl as a girl) makes people ask, "Is it a boy or a girl" or "He's very cute" or "What's his name?" Sure, I understand that she has very little hair, and most infants at this age do not necessarily look like either sex - therefore, the clothing and accessories are put in place to take away the guesswork.... But I can't understand, with the strong social mores against dressing up boys like girls (God forbid you do that - you might turn your boy "gay"), that one would say something about "your cute baby boy" when that "boy" is all gussied up in pink!

I took The Girl to the doctor today (she's got an ear infection), and the doctor (not her normal doctor, but a resident from Childrens' Hospital) says, "So, what's his problem today?" Mind you, she's dressed in the very outfit pictured above, and covered in her carseat with a pink blanket covered with pink, purple, and mint-green kitties, and pink hearts all over. Sigh....

What's worse is that I am really not a big fan of pink - I'd prefer to dress The Girl up in yellow or lavender, and even that mint green....but having to deal with the idiocy of the general public makes me want to parade her around in bright pink, with lace and frilly stuff all over her, just to stop the questions. But wait - they DON'T stop the questions....I think out of all the people that have commented on her, maybe 2 of them actually got it right that's she's a "she". But I'm still pissed off at those people because they went on to ask if she was "mine" (see previous blog on the virtues of 2% milk)....

So maybe I'll just dress her in whatever I think is cute (and fits) that day, and suffer through dumbass questions from people I'll probably never see again - or maybe try to come up with some smartass answer instead....somehow I think that would make me feel better.

Boy, How Things Change.....

2006-01-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

12/29/05 - the date the Double-Stuff Oreo Cookie was no more.....now I'm back to being my regular-old-Oreo-Cookie self. And so much stuff worth talking/ranting about has passed me by while my mind was "pregnancy-addled", so I guess I'll just have to let it be and start over.

But first - I have to brag on our new little one....Morgan, who has been aptly dubbed "The Girl" for this space (just seems to follow with The Boy and The Bohunk)... Anyway, she is a gorgeous (if I do say so myself) 7 lb, 7 oz, lanky bundle of wiggles and a set of lungs that could wake the dead (i.e. me at 2am when she wants to eat). She gave us a scare in the hospital when her heart rate dropped during my labor (thanks to induction hormones that made my uterus freak out), but she came out fine. And now I'm re-learning to be a mom to an infant again....I forgot how much advance planning it takes to go anywhere with a baby.

Ooo - I can rant about one thing that has to do with The Girl.... I now understand how The Bohunk feels when he goes out someplace with The Boy. Let me explain in food and beverage terms - The Bohunk is 2% milk, I am chocolate (not dark but not milk chocolate either - somewhere in between), which resulted in The Boy being a smooth cafe` latte`, if you will. So you can imagine the looks The Bohunk gets when he goes somewhere with The Boy and I'm not around to complete the picture and stop the question. The Girl, at this point in her new life, is also....2% milk. So I take her with me to the grocery store last week, and a lady stops me in the aisle and says "What a beautiful little girl!! Is she yours?" In my head I reply, "Nope - stole her out of the hospital and hoped the public wouldn't notice the difference.." Out loud I say, "Yes, she is," and completely gloss over how hurtful her comment was. And considering that The Boy didn't settle on his skin color until he was about a year old, I guess I should get used to the stares and comments.

Alright, I have to go and visit my other favorite blogs (all my friends, of course) and let them know I'm back (and they can come visit me here again soon)!

So much to talk about......

I'm Winning!!! (and gloating)

2005-10-31T18:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I try not to gloat too much on stuff, because I believe that karma catches up to one that does - but I can't help but do it a little bit.... Why? Because I'm winning in both my fantasy football league (8-0) AND Patrick's Football Pick 'Em! This NEVER happens to me! I'm thinking that the boys won't let me play anymore if I continue to dominate like this.

Usually, what happens to me is that for the first 3 or 4 weeks, I do pretty well. After that, my team (or picks) just tank, I suck, and end up watching someone else rake in the glory. There is one caveat - if there is money involved, I suck from the very beginning, so I'm sure to lose whatever cash I put in. And now that I'm gloating, I'll probably suck from now on, too.

So I have to take this opportunity (seeing as though I'm in uncharted territory) to gloat a bit and stick my tongue out at all those guys who think girls don't know much about sports - this particular Oreo grew up watching football with her daddy - it was our "quality time" together. The Bohunk makes fun of me because I will watch college football, pre-season football, the Pro Bowl, and NFL Europe (and "my team" doesn't even have to be involved in the game!)

Imagine me singing....."I'm win-ning, I'm win-ning....."

I'm Stealing The Covers

2005-10-11T21:13:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I'm doing 2 things with this post - stealing an idea from PammyJean, and promising not to be serious ('cause I've got so much to bitch about right now, but I haven't done anything fun with this blog-thing yet)...so here goes.

PammyJean likes to have people who visit her blog (see "Stuff I Like To Look At") answer questions - sometimes deep questions, sometimes frivolous ones (like the one she did today - TASTY!....) So, I'm going to do a frivolous one of my own.... I have been planning for months now to make a CD of cover songs, but I only have so many in my music collection. For example, Duran Duran does a cover of "White Lines" by Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, or Steve Miller Band's "Abracadabra" redone by Sugar Ray.

The question: what are your favorite cover songs? And don't forget to tell me who did it, so I can try to include them on my CD (I WILL get around to actually making it!) ;-)

What's In A Name?

2005-09-23T13:52:00.000-06:00

Everything, if you ask me.....

Like I said in my very first post - you're looking at a Double Stuff Oreo Cookie....and, as a consequence, a name must be chosen for the "stuff" on the inside. We know its a "pink one", as opposed to the "blue one" we got last time. Here's where the quandary begins, and I get all up in arms.

The Bohunk, during our first pregnancy, refused to even discuss girls names ("it's a boy anyway - I don't make girls"). Since I felt like it was a boy, and then had that confirmed by the doctor later, it wasn't an issue. We had picked out a name - his first name wasn't "family related" but we both liked it, and his middle name is The Bohunk's little brother's middle name (another story for another day). Anyway, this pregnancy, it's supposed to be a little girl. I feel like its a girl, and the doctor also says its a girl. But The Bohunk a) still is holding out hope for a boy, b) still won't discuss girls' names, and c) insists that if it is a girl, her middle name will be "Alma" after his grandmother. Now, this irks me on more than one level. First, the actual name - I loved his grandmother...once she got to know me, she was very kind, and she was a good woman. But her name is an old name, and very heavy - not something I want to put on a 21st century girl. And, to be blunt, I don't find it to be very pretty. Second, naming our second child after another member of his family leaves out my family altogether. It may be a bit selfish, but our children will always be "Andersons", and without having part of their names having anything to do with my side of the family, that part gets lost and disappears. It's more that way for girls than boys, since boys don't lose their last names in marriage. So I think that our baby girl should have a name that honors my side of the family, so that even if she gets married someday, she will carry a part of my heritage in her name.

I had thought of one name from my family, but in examining the names of people around me, 4 of them have the same name. So I came up with another one, a variation on my grandmother's name (she is "Caldonia" - which is also old and heavy, so a variation was necessary in my mind...) that is lighter and pretty (I think). I bounced the idea off of my mom, who said it was a very strong name and felt that the women I got the names from would be proud and honored. Plus, I had a little "divine intervention" in deciding on a name (also another story for another day). The other night, I mentioned only the first name to the Bohunk in conversation, and he just dismissed it and said "We've already decided, and that's final!" That didn't sit so well with me. So now he's gonna get a list of first and middle names, and he can pick from that. But this is one issue I refuse to give up (or give in) on. It seems only fair.

The Boy's Take On....Cereal

2005-09-12T14:22:00.000-06:00

Frosted Mini-Wheats, to be exact. One morning last week, I made the boy breakfast before school - meaning, I poured some Frosted Mini-Wheats and milk into a bowl for him. The Boy dutifully ate every bite, and drank all the milk, and thanked me for making him breakfast so he "could be real strong like the big boy I am." A few days later, over the weekend, I asked him what he would like for breakfast. He said, "I want cereal, but I don't want the kind that tastes like 'nest'. If you give me that kind, I will NOT eat it." The seriousness of the statement, even from this 5 year old, was very evident. So I asked him, "It tastes like 'nest'?" He said, "Yes, and it looks like a nest too. I don't like stuff that tastes like 'nest'." I couldn't help but snicker - I had never thought of describing Mini-Wheats as 'nest'. Even still, I do prefer to eat them without milk (more like a snack than breakfast) because they get soggy too fast.

Which made me think - The Boy has always been game to eat whatever I set in front of him (always been a good eater), but now that he's getting older, he definitely has his own preferences....no onions, unless they are cooked (and therefore, sweeter), no mustard ("it's too spicy on my tongue"), loves smoked kielbasa sausage, mac and cheese, PBJ's, and most veggies (even the ones his mother refuses to eat - cauliflower!).

But back to cereal - I understand his feelings....I still can't eat those nasty Froot Loops. Makes the milk look (and taste) funny if you let them sit for more than 30 seconds. And they still don't taste good, even if you eat them as fast as possible.

So, I suppose, I won't feed the boy any more 'nest', and stick to the tried-and-true choices - Honey Nut Cheerios, Special K w/ Berries, Lucky Charms....but I still refuse to buy Froot Loops.

My Mother Always Said.....

2005-09-11T16:51:00.000-06:00

I should have listened.....Mom always told me never to discuss religion or politics. Lately, what with the state our nation is in (like it or not), I broke that rule.

Without going into too much detail to protect the innocent, I sent a post to my book club regarding the FEMA director (it was actually a link to another website) - suffice it to say that the creator(s) of the site were pretty blunt in their opinions about the whole subject. A day after that, one member of the group decided to leave, saying that she didn't feel her opinions were welcome. Well, that sent me into a tailspin (the raging hormones don't help that either). I have felt incredibly guilty because I think that I do respect others' opinions, even when they don't necessarily agree with mine. It's a free country, and I don't have a right to impose my beliefs on anyone. Sending that link to a mixed group of people crossed the line. My circle of friends includes people who think a lot like me and some that are on the complete opposite end from me. And now I think she may not want to be my friend anymore.

My mom said that - no matter what a person may say to your face - you could hurt a person saying out loud thoughts or beliefs that are deeply held but are also divisive, and politics and religion are at the center of those deeply held beliefs. I did it, and I'm sorry for it. I shoulda kept my mouth shut.

So, I think I'll keep my political/religious thoughts to myself (and not pass on the jokes/links/stories that might offend anyone. But I still plan to put it all here on my Rant - you don't have to come here and read them, unlike something that shows up in your email inbox. I have a feeling, though, that my internal censors will be on the lookout anyway.

On Pets and Dying

2005-09-01T21:07:00.000-06:00

My friend Stiffa lost her kitty of 13 years today, and it made me think about the 2 dogs I have been forced to "help" go to a better place. My first dog, Ce-Ce, was a Miniature Schnauzer, and the feistiest thing on 4 legs. I got him as a birthday present from my parents when I was 3. His self-appointed job was to be my protector - even when he didn't know what he was protecting me from. He took on a full-sized Doberman that ran up to attack me while I played in my front yard, he sat outside my bedroom door when I had the chicken pox (because dogs can get it too, so I was quarantined from EVERYONE), he tried to bite my mom when she was tending wounds I got from falling off a horse and I was crying. He ended up having congestive heart failure, and we put him to sleep the day after Christmas, 1986. I was a senior in high school, he was 15 years old.

My second dog was Ben, a Golden Retriever. I got him while I was in college, when I could barely afford to feed myself, let alone a dog. But there was no question when he came into my life that I would keep him forever. He helped pick my boyfriends (he hated one guy I dated so much, he did everything he could to keep us apart - sitting in front of the TV, squeezing between us when we sat together on the couch, etc.) He stayed with my parents when I had to move to a place where I couldn't have dogs. He adored the Bohunk when I met him, which was one of the many reasons I've kept him around this long. ;-) He even helped care for the Boy when he was a baby, keeping watch over him when my back was turned, and "cleaning" his face. Ben got colon cancer and we put him to sleep 2 weeks after his 14th birthday, 2 years ago.

Stiffa had mentioned how she grew up on a farm and basically made fun of people who went off the deep end over their pets, because farm animals are "outside" animals, and are treated differently than most well-cared for housepets. Unfortunately, she's learning what I have always known - a dog or cat that sleeps with you every night and hogs the whole bed, the one that barfs on the floor and hides because he thought he'd done something wrong, the one that sheds everywhere, the one that jumps up and puts a hole in your brand-new pantyhose, sits by and licks your face when you are sick, listens while you vent about whatever, and loves you unconditionally - that dog or cat becomes a member of your family and an irrevocable part of your heart. Loving them as fiercely as we do, and doing anything to make sure that they are healthy makes it more likely that we will have to watch them grow old and waste away leaving us to decide when they die - as opposed to them crawling off by themselves and dying alone, like they did in the wild. Having to decide to let them go is heartbreaking.

I do know that when I die, I will see my Ben-dog and my Ce-Ce again - they'll meet me when I come, tails wagging. Brodie will be there to meet Stiffa, too, one day.

Grand Opening!!

2005-08-29T17:49:00.000-06:00

So, under peer pressure, I've decided to try my hand at "blogging". I decided to use my first blog to try and explain a bit where this all came from (but I have a feeling I will probably butcher this - and badly).

First, to explain the title - back in junior high (when they had those, and not "middle school"), someone pointed out to me that I "don't talk like no black girl, you talk like a white girl"; also, that I listened to "white people music" and wore "white people clothes". Then I was promptly nicknamed "Oreo" - you know, black on the outside, white on the inside. The intent was'nt nice either, and I was definitely aware of that - at first, I was terribly offended and hurt. Then I realized that there was nothing wrong with speaking correct English, and I could choose to do whatever I pleased, from my music choices, to my clothes, to my choice of people to hang with. So instead of being hurt, I embraced my "Oreo-ness" and let it go. I'm much better for it.

Next, my "rules" (not really rules, just a heads-up)....
1) I won't always be funny or witty or insightful. I have a few friends who have blogs, and they always seem to have something useful to say. Me? - I'll probably slip into "trite and stupid" more than once.
2) I won't always be regular in my posts. Right now, being a "double-stuff Oreo cookie" (thanks for the nickname idea, PammyJean), sleep is more important that posting. Plus the Blond Haired Blue-eyed Bohunk tends to hog the computer - he's writing.
3) I won't always be tactful or politically correct. Part of the reason I'm writing this blog is purely selfish.....I need to vent! (see title) Hopefully my friends can still hang out with me if we disagree.
4) This place will probably be in a state of flux - since I've never done this blog-thing before, I'll probably end up changing all sorts of stuff as I go along. So one day the font may be little, or a different color, or the headings and descriptions will change. But I promise it'll be here (at least for awhile anyway...). Hopefully, it will also get better as time goes along and I figure out how to do more interesting stuff.

Have at it!