Reluctant Sports Fan

The Lakers vs. Celtics game last night IS one of the many reasons why I don't follow sports as closely as I have in the past. The stress levels hit the moon, with a round trip around Mars. If stress (and it is stress), was indeed crack, then it would have been a drug addicts ultimate high. As for me it just made me sick--literally.

Here is my list of post-NBA Championship ailments due to WATCHING the Lakers play the way they did, up until the last five minutes of the game:

Throat hernia. Seems impossible? Well, I'm living proof that it can happen.
Stomach ulcer. That's an obvious symptom.
Larger nostrils. It seems flaring can do that to an already wide nose. Memo to me: keep nose flares to occasional episodes. Really unflattering to my already aging face.
Deaf Spouse. Well, Aaron's already deaf, last night wasn't the cause for his deafness. However, he shushed me for yelling at the t.v. Imagine being shushed by a deaf person? So the question is: Is he really deaf? Or just when he wants to be? But that's for another blog.

Following a team has it's ups, and definite let downs. I just don't know if I'm ready to head back into that stressful arena. Maybe I should live a little and risk bodily injury to be fan. I most likely will, because I naturally love sports. But I'll keep it to an occasional viewing. Could you imagine my poor nose?

Self-Proclaimed Queen of Failing at Motherhood!

Today is the day that we're supposed to be celebrating Naia's first birthday. The problem is... that Naia's birthday was actually yesterday.

As in yesterday, while driving home from ANOTHER baseball game; I noticed a sign that said: Today is Monday, June 7th. Noooo, I thought, they definitely got the date screwed up. Because tomorrow is June 7th- BECAUSE tomorrow is Naia's birthday. It took a calendar (which I ripped out of my purse) to convince my mommy-screwed-up-brain to realize that TODAY (as in yesterday), WAS indeed Naia's birthday.

GUILTY MOM syndrome or is it SCREWED UP MOM syndrome? Whatever the case, its all the same to me: I SUCK at Mommyhood.

Seriously, how does a Mom forget?! I am desperately trying to find a reason for my memory lapse. If you have one—a certified and valid reason—please let me know. It's probably a condition I need to research. Also, let me know if there's a cure. Hopefully it's a pink pill that needs to be swallowed with chocolate milk. Something to quickly fix and erase the memory of my screw up. Maybe a nice slap to the head would work.

Have you ever screwed up before? Did it make you feel awful? Did you find your cure? Did a nice quick slap to the head, work? Did it make you the Queen of screw ups?

Flashlight Worthy?!

I love books. I love blue books, red books, green books... any book. And that's my tribute to my love of my favorite Dr. Seuss book. I love getting them for gifts (hint hint) and getting recommendations from friends and family.

I'm writing this segment as my unsolicited recommendation to whoever reads this.

Here's a few flashlight worthy books--because seriously who's reading under candlelight these days? But if you are, forgive me my trespass and keep reading.

First flashlight worthy book:



I absolutely loved this book. It was a recommendation out of a magazine article I read and I'm so glad that I opened it's pages. I laughed; I cried; I paused and thought about certain passages; I researched the History of Ethiopia; and I'm still looking for an Ethiopian restaurant to experience here, and yes, I do get pretty hungry reading a great book, don't you? The author is a wonderful storyteller. My flashlight died out, but then again, I didn't really use a flashlight to read this story. I was inconsiderate and left the light on ALL night. Good thing, my husband is very considerate by not complaining.

Numbah 2:



I was absolutely bug eyed by this memoir. My friend Kristy had recommended this amazing memoir to me. The beginning of the book opens up where the author is heading to a very ritzy party in a cab in the city of New York. Traffic--as only New York can have--slows the cab down and she see's a homeless person scouring out of a garbage bin. It's not just ANY homeless person, she recognizes that it's her very own mother. What happens next is surprising (atleast to me), she scoots as low as she can in the cab and hopes her mother hasn't seen her. And this is the 'beginning' of her memoir. Read it, it's worth every battery in your flashlight. Or wattage power of your lamp.

Numbah Three:




This is another recommendation from the same magazine article which recommended "Cutting for Stone." When I read the back of the book, I hesitated at first and then realized that I was ready to read this book. You see it was a tribute to her mother and the process she went through in losing her. The subject was still very sensitive for me as it resonated my grief of losing my own mother. I have to simply say, that her warm and witty personal storytelling was healing to my grieving process. I smiled, giggled and hugged the book when I was done. And then I cried. It was that good.

Maybe I shouldn't measure a book by a flashlight, maybe a good 'ole crying or laughter will suffice. Whatever the case, breakout your flashlights, or night lamp and a really great mosquito punk. Don't forget the tissue and and some good food.

Happy reading! What do you recommend?

Dancing With the Stars

Alright, it's true I watch Dancing With the Stars. The winner only gets a mirror ball trophy but hey, it's entertainment. It's not as if they donate any of their money to charity (which I think they should). But that's for another blog.

Here is something that I have observed from the show through the seasons. The celebrities asked to participate on the show are usually put in the categories of actor/entertainers or athletes.

Here's what this island girl has observed. The actor/entertainers have some serious issues. They're usually crying in the corner complaining about how hard it is for them because they're not dancers. Ummmm, isn't that the whole point?! And really, you're not going to win a career out of it, like say, "American Idol" you're only going to win a disco ball propped on a trophy. So just come out and attempt to dance and give us the entertainment we want to see.

Now on to the athletes. The athletes on the other hand act like athletes. They carry on and work through pain and dancing steps that feel foreign to them. I have yet to see an athlete crying about how much work it takes to 'dance.' Yes, I've heard their frustrations in doing something new and different, but I still haven't seen anyone of them literally crying over the mirror ball trophy. Or abusing their professional trainer.

Also if you watch when the judges give out their criticism, I hate to say it again, but I will, just to be redundant: athletes take criticism in stride. They use it to get better. Maybe, they're just used to their coaches yelling, I mean, helping them with their weak points.

Here's a line I love from one of the participants: I want you to get on my case about my footwork. Everytime, I don't get it right, get on my case, if you have to break another toe, than do it. Three is my lucky number anyway. Yep, an athlete said that, actually the cream of the athletes: an Olympian.

I would love to quote, Kate Gosselin but I can't unless you want me to type out: sobbing.

Athletes are not perfect. But with Dancing With the Stars, they're so much more enjoyable to watch.

Blog Makeover!

It's no secret. This island girl--loves a makeover. LOVE! THEM!

You like it?! I LOVE, HEART and ADORE it! *jumping shamelessly up and down* LOVE! IT!

Imagine if you please my acceptance speech for best blog makeover. *clears throat*

For winning this coveted award for best blog makeover; I want to thank Mel. You'll find her over at mommydoodles.com. She's a mom and Super Heroine both night and day. On her spare time while she's sleeping, she helps out the incompetent and designer challenged people like me. Thank you Mel for making this blog look gorgeous! I really hope that I can do it justice. It's so much fun coming to post on my blog--although most times, I just stare at how beautiful a place it has become.

*blows kisses*

That island girl to the right of the banner looks something like me. Uncanny, really?