Civic Duty Called

I did it.
My civic duty.
Jury duty.

I'm  now officially done for 3 years.
Without fail, when I live in this county, I am called...every 3 years.
I know it needs to be done.
It's just so darn inconvenient.

I did get called to be on a jury.
The trial was slated to last 6 weeks.
6 WEEKS!
Really?
For a civil suit.
I was excused.
Due to financial hardship if I was to serve all that.

Back to the basement I went to await the next call of jurors.
Luckily, they had all they needed & we were released.

I made the trek back to my van.
Right pass the prison.
Then I drove through Camden.
The 2nd worse crime city in NJ.
They just recently laid off half the police force & half the fire force for the budget.
Smart move there Camden.

Have you ever served on a jury?
I always get picked but never actually serve.

Caio!

How I know I live with boys

An extremely recent conversation between myself & Cheeks.

Cheeks (yelling from upstairs) "Mommy, mommeeeeee, it's not working?"
Me: "What's not working?"
Cheeks "The itch, nothing is making the itch go away!"
Me: "The itch, the itch where? In your butt?"
Cheeks "Yes"
Me: "Ok, I'm going to wash it"
Cheeks "You mean the hole?"
Me: "The hole?"
Cheeks "Yea, the hole! The hole where my poops lives"

And we commensed the washing of the butt.

Sigh.

How do you know you live with a boy?

Oh that's right ladies

He's all mine.
Keep your hands to yourself.

This is what Bobster does when he's bored at work.
And he tells me I do nothing all day.
Hmm.
Guess that Bobcat is driving itself.

So I am sitting here in my cold home, jammies on, listening to the serenade of Bobster's snores while it snows like a mofo out there.
I am totally over the snow.
Totally!
Growing up I never remember this much snow.
I remember snow here & there
BUT
Jersey is getting pounded this winter
&
well, I've had enough.
Bring on summer!

Don't get me wrong.
Winter is great.
You can bundle up in all kinds of layers.
Hide the fat rolls is my motto.
I don't mind the cold, and really don't mind the snow.
As long as it's on the weekend.
When I don't have to get up & shovel
BECAUSE
as we all know Bobster is usually out of town when snow hits.
He's home this time though.
I will watch from the warmth of my computer screen as he shovels.

It's not that I don't want to shovel.
We only have one.
So really what good would I be.
And my delicate hands would get so frozen out there.

I will man the inside.
Perhaps made a banana cream pie.
From scratch.

How 'bout you?
What do you do while it's snowing?

LMK!

Leaving it in the hands of my readers

Ok.
I need your opinion.


I have been thinking of getting something for awhile.
A few years.


No, no, not a tattoo.
While I wouldn't mind & there are some really cool ones out there, I just can't figure out what I want on my body the rest of my life.


I'm talking nose ring.
Yep.
The Aunt Erin has one.
Very cute.
Very subtle.


That's what I'm talking about.
Did you think I meant this kind?:

While attractive, not exactly subtle.
Plus I'd have to get the big ole ear things & wear black eyeliner etc etc.
Too much work.


I'm talking small diamond stud.


Now let's keep in mind, I'm 40, overweight (don't ask me about my new bra size!) & pretty conservative with my overall look.


So what do you thing?
Should I do it?
Yay
or
Nay.


Leave me a comment with your vote.

Looks sweet as candy, no?

Yea, yea, he's sweet alright.

Take for instance, last evening.
Bobster, myself, Cheekers, TimBob & Dan-o riding along in the mini van.
All talking about God knows what.

Well Cheeks got a little snippy so I said "Cheekers, if you do not be quiet,you are going to be in trouble"
His reply "Mom! Will you stop talking?"
Me: "What did you say?"
Him: "Mom, all your talking, you are giving me a headache."

I must say thank goodness he couldn't see me.
I just started to laugh.

I did correct him, as did his father, but we both thought it was funny.
Especially b/c his cousin said "Oh Meghan, that's you!"
And he is right.
I am famous for telling my raucous, loud, chaotic fam to tone it down b/c I have a headache.

Guess I've created a monster.
Or at least a smart a**.

Caio!

If you need any help

Just holler.
We super heroes are just hangin out, waiting for your call.

Oh, my hunch!

Have you heard/seen this movie?

Igor.

My fam stumbled upon it when it was on Showtime.

This movie is hysterical.
Igor, the hunchback, is voiced by John Cusak.
Steve Buscemi & John Cleeves also provided voices.

When I tell you to run & get this on dvd, RUN!

It's for the little ones & Cheeks adores this movie.
The one liners in it are more for the adults but not in a sexual inuendo (?) type of way.

The cartoon takes place in Malaria, a town where it just thunderstorms all the time & evil runs rampant.
There is hunchback school, where the hunchbacks go, they graduate & all become "Igors" whether it's their name or not.
The town even has an evil scientist competition, which is really the basis for the story.

Santa put this in Cheeks stocking this past season
&
I think we have burned a hole in it already.

Tell me, what is your favorite cartoon/kids movie?

You say tomato, I say tomahto

Cheeks "Mommeeeeeeee! Can you help me with my pants?  I can't do them"

Me: "Yea, come here"
I snap the snap...it's hard...go about my business.

Cheeks "Mommeeeeeee! I need help! You didn't do it"
Me: "Do what?"

Cheeks "Fix my pants"
Me: "How?"

Cheeks: "Fix my pants sleeves"
Me: "Your what?"

Cheeks: "My pants sleeves!!!!!!! Mommmeeeeeeee!"

Me "Oh you mean your pant legs"

Cheeks "No mom, they are pant sleeves, understand, pant sleeves, say it with me...pant sleeves"

And that is how my morning started.

Guilty Pleasure

Do you have one?
I do
It's called reality tv.

Love it.

One of my fav is Tabatha's Salon Takover
On Bravo.

Do you watch?
You must if you don't.

She was a finalist on one of the reality hair shows.
I can't remember the name.
Anyway, she got her own show out of it.

She goes to these salons that are just in despair & turns them around.
Some of the salons are GA-ROSS!
The dirt & filth is endless & the antics of the stylists are horrendous.

Tabatha whips them into shape tho.
Why?
She has a take no prisoners attitude and knows her crap!

I think her hair cut is cute.
Wish I could wear my hair like that.
I keep my hair long.
I think it helps balance my overweightness...is that a word?
Oh!
It so totally is.
I just copy writed it.
Go me.

Anyway, what is your guilty pleasure when it comes to tv?
Do tell!

Come on over & see me

At the Jersey Mom blogs today:

I'm here <~~~~~ Click that.

Blah, blah, blah....

The big cupcake.
Yep.
Cheeks & I made it.
The Grandpop bought me & the Aunt Erin the pan for this awhile back so we were bored so I broke it out.
Super easy to use.
Love how it worked.
Only problem I saw was if you don't eat the whole thing & want to save it, it's a bit hard to cover b/c of it's size.
But eh, you can always just cut off the crusty pieces & eat the moist pieces like we did.

Snowing again in Jersey.
I am ready to move to South Carolina or Georgia.
It's ridiculous.
I like it, it's just a pain in the tushie to shovel & then the mess.
Oy vie!

I'd like to know how if it is just me & the 4yo the house stays, for the most part, neat.
Throw in the 39yo man child & my house looks as if a bomb hit it.
So frustrating.

So I am always looking at blogs to read & follow
BUT
For 2011 I'd like to feature some blogs here.
That way you can get so more exposure, if you are into that sort of thing.

If you would like to be featured, leave me a comment & a link to your blog.
I will be doing a feature once a week.

Caio!

Archie Bunker, is that you?

For those are new to my blog or just don't know, I work customer service.
I am blessed enough to work "behind" the telephone.
I do not see people face to face.

My experience is usually pretty positive.
I like my job.
A lot.

Now yesterday, I answered a call from a very old, very southern man.
We chatted about his issue.
I handled it for him
&
Before we hung up he asked me to cancel a quote in the system.

I asked him for the reason, which I needed.

He responded with the following:
"Well we don't need it, we just n****r rigged it, so we's good to go"

My hand immediately went to my mouth that fell open.
He couldn't see me.
Thank God.
I quickly ended the conversation.

I thought to myself, how does he know what I am?
How does he know someone in my family isn't of this particular "derogatory" name?

I understand he was older.
It's of his generation
BUT
It's still not acceptable.
He knows better.
He could have said "gerry rigged" it & have been done with it.
He didn't.

I think I handled it.
I ignored it to avoid a bigger problem.
Should I have addressed it?
IDK
What do you think?

He just said it so non chalent that I know it is in his everyday venacular.
Just like "Whatever" is in mine.

It's a shame that people still have that view & mindset.
Hello, 2011 is here.
Get a grip on reality.

And that is that.

It's THAT post

Time to do my 2011 resolutions.
We all make them.
Even if we say we don't.
We do.
We just keep them to ourselves.

I actually wrote done our usual resolutions & taped it to one of our kitchen cabinet doors.
It's the usual.
Lose weight.
Save money.
Blah.
Blah.
Blah.

I have some personal resolutions that I didn't write on the list.
So I figure I'd share them here.
You know where the Bobster never goes.
Altho this will be the one time he goes to read my blog.

Anywho this year I really want to collect items for a womens shelter.
I figure this is very do-able b/c I can collect freebies & use coupons to get the items.
Right?
Do you all think this is a good idea?
LMK.

I also want to work w/ Cheeks on his letters.
He is learning them at school but he needs more practice.
Now if I could just create more hours in the work week day we'd be all set on this.

It's just 2 short resolutions, well really more like goals.
Perhaps goals are more obtainable then resolutions.

We shall see.

What are your goals/resolutions for 2011?

A Philadelphia Tradtion

We here in the Delaware Valley have a New Years Day tradition.
The Mummers Parade.


What's a Mummer?
Take a gander:

It's grown men, well now women & some children, but it started as grown men, who dress up in garish, flamboyant costumes, then strum some banjo's & "strut" up Philly's Broadway.


It's an all day affair
&
It's televised.


I hate it.
Really.
I mean, it's a tradition & I am sort of proud of it but do I wanna watch?
No.
Do I wanna go to the parade?
No.


Sigh.


Tell me, what's your areas tradition?

Revisting the Good Times

Some of my fav posts from 2010:

January: Ouch!

February: Climbing the Walls

March: Conversations w/ a 3 year old
April: Who Knew??? (no photo, sorry)

May: Here's your Real NJ Housewives

June: Please Floor Swallow Me

July: 40 Things

August: Totally MacGyvered It!

September: The Condition Known as Slobberitis

October: Stream of Conciousness

November: Just Throwin It Out There
December: Dear Anonymous (again no photo)

Whew! 12 months, gone just like that.
What did you do the last 12 months?
Tell!
Tell!

Twas the Snowy Day after Christmas

Christmas 2010 is over.
Winter storm 2010 is ready to blanket NJ.

I am not worried for the snow because I have Bumblebee to protect me from the winter weather.

And the preteen to complain about shoveling.

And muscles to do all the hard work!

My real question is when did my 17yo get those arms & the physique?


How can these children be growing up?
Yet their father & I remain young & vibrant?


Anywho, enough feeling sorry for myself that the kids are growing up.


Christmas was nice here.
Very simple and kept it small.
Seemed to be a Transformers/Aeropostle/Axe Christmas.


How about your humble abode?
How did the holiday treat you?

Anonymous Responded

Here is what my anonymous commentor had to say:

I don't have a blog so I have no choice but to comment anonymously and it was 3am and your blog post just incensed me. I am just so disgusted at the results of the recent election. There are HUGE ISSUES at stake here, like the absurdity of continued tax cuts to MILLIONAIRES, and yet Obama's policy that angers you is one that's meant to help kids eat healthy in school. The anger and frustration should be directed at the Republicans who are pushing this through. It's fantastic that you encourage your kids to eat healthy, but most parents are kind of dumb, and let their kids eat crap. They also bake crap, and then feed it to other kids under the guise of selling it for fundraising. So I don't understand how the Obamas being concerned about the health of American kids (half of whom are obese) infuriates you, but you make no mention of the greedy millionaires and their recently elected pals in Congress. I'm just so sick of some of the INCREDIBLY ignorant women on *******. (Not all are; I've found a couple of thoughtful blogs.) To be fair, I only read back a few of your posts, and yeah, I was rude, but dammit if people don't piss me off right now for letting this country fall to sh*t. Rachel

First, I'd like to thank Rachel for responding to my post.

Second, I commend her on defending her views.

Third, I'd like to thank her for admitting to only reading a few posts.

If Rachel had gone through the bloggeroo she would have seen that I stay away from politics.
This particular bill must be signed by the President but it is his wife's platform.
She's a mommy, she's health concious.

This is what I am commenting on.
I do not go political on this blog because I don't follow politics for the most part.
As for what party I am affiliated with, I keep that to myself.

Here is what I have to say & it is not just directed at Rachel, if you do not like the content of someone's blog, then don't read it.

Easy as that.

There are plenty of blogs that I don't like, I don't agree with or I just think is plain dumb.
Hence I stay away from it.

Also, name calling in a comment?
Come on!
Really?
Really?
You went there?
Sigh.

So Rachel, thanks for commenting.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
I understand about being pissed off & wanting to vent.
I work customer service, am the mom to 3 boys & one very large man child, so I have a lot to vent about.  LOL

Stick around, perhaps you'll find something you like.

Caio!

Stream of Conciousness

This is my son, Thanksgiving morning, licking the beater from the homemade whipped cream.
He's such a neat eater, isn't he?
I have no idea how he got it on his pants.
His mouth is no where near his thigh.
Sigh.
He keeps me on my toes this kid!

This getting dark at like 4:30 in the afternoon is really sucking.
I just feel like that's it, time to get in the pj's & go to bed.

Which brings me to my next topic....wearing pj's out.
You know, lounge pants.
I just want to say, while I can accept this from little kids or even a quick run into WaWa or DD for coffee, I really don't get why grown men & women do it when they run to Walmart, the mall or even the food store.
They are called lounge pants.
You know, to lounge.
At home.
With your slippers on.
Altho this apparently is the required footwear for those that wear lounge pants out.
Very fashionable.
I think I have seen a lot of this people in the mag, Glamour.
You know, in the back of the mag, with a black bar over their eyes & a big "Fashion Don't" as the title.

I am no fashion queen
BUT
When I am going out...in public....I try to dress somewhat appropriately.
Like putting on a bra.
You do not want me to unless those bad boys.
This also means wearing jeans or something of the like.
Not lounge wear.
To me, totally not acceptable.

I don't know.
Maybe it's me.
Maybe it's how I was brought up.
You know, to look somewhat respectable when I leave the house.
Must be the new generation.

WoW! That made me sound old.
I am part of Gen X.
Where is my cane?
That's how I felt this morning, like I needed a can.
I let Cheeks sleep with me. 
He likes to sleep right up against you & leaves you about 6 inches of the Queen size bed.
Then if you snore, he wakes you up to tell you to stop.
Yep, he's a dream to have in your bed!
Plus he messes the sheets up.
I like em tight around my feet.
How do you like em?

It's a constant fight with me & Bobster.
I like them tucked.
He likes them untucked.
By the time we wake up, it looks like a wrestling match took place in bed.

So leave me a comment & let me know...are you a tucker or a non tucker?

Caio!

Dear Anonymous

I'd like to thank you for taking the time out to post a comment on my blog.
Really.

While you may not agree with my posts I at least didn't do it anonymously.
This is my blog.
Meghan's Mindless Mutterings.

I put my name out there.
Unlike yourself.
You leave snarky comments but not your name or a link to your blog.
Well done.
Very well done.

If you'd like, please leave your name & a way to get in touch with you.  I'd love to say hi.
Then again, you sort of remind me of the kids that do things behind others backs & never admit it.
Yes.
That's it.

So next time you are visiting my "mommy" blog, b/c I am a mommy first but I also have opinions, leave your name.
I'd love to give a shout out to you on the blog!

Thanks for your input.
Seriously.

Buh!

Psst, hey you! Yes, you...

Come check out the giveaway over at Meghan's Mindless Mutterings: Reviews & Giveaways.

You'll like it!