The Kleptomaniac

Kleptomaniac: A person evidencing kleptomania; first used in 1861.

Kleptomania: A word of Latin origin meaning a persistent neurotic impulse to steal especially without economic motive ; first used in 1830.

When Miracle was quite younger she would go through my purse (and anyone else's purse that was at arms' reach) and pull out the credit card and any other "plastic" she could find. She always proceeded to put them in her gazillian purses that she would carry around at any given time.

I always thought that was pretty cute and I was always able to find the cards and get them back from her. That little trait has carried her through to her current age of 16... errr, I mean 7 1/2!

So one day when she was four years old, we were at the market and she was thumbing through the gift cards at the end of the aisle. I didn't think anything of it, but a woman had witnessed her taking one of the cards off the cardboard backing and putting it in her pocket.

Of course the lady had to come and tell me, which I was very thankful for. Miracle, at the time, didn't realize that was something that you actually had to pay for and that it wasn't just a card to be played with. We resolved the issue at the time and haven't had an issue since.

So, once again we were at the market yesterday. Lo and behold, Miracle is once again at the gift card rack. I went about my business and when I went back to her she was zipping up her little red satin purse and I asked what she was doing.

"I did nothing, Mommy" was her canned reply. I asked another two times and she even opened up her wallet... I hate to call my own daughter a liar, but with that kind of reply, the gavel comes down and the word "GUILTY" comes to mind.

I trust that she actually didn't take one, but I reminisced just a little bit about that quiet little girl in the market that day getting a little lesson from the teacher that called her out. Since there hasn't been any issues since then, I'm thinking she made a lasting impression.

You just hope your children don't grow up with habits as those... Who knows where they will end up... County Jail? Prison??

I'm being dramatic, but still....

The Side Hug

Hugging is such an important part of our society as "pack animals" or in my opinion should be!! I don't think people do enough of that hugging because of what society has portrayed touching to be... or possibly could be if taken in a negative context. And, unfortunately, for some the horror of some acts of touching has taken them to some very dark places. People of the inappropriate types of touching should be shipped off and bombed to Kingdom Come... but I digress!

Like laughter, I think hugs are a very valuable tool for us to use, take, and give when we need or when someone else is in need. Just having that human to human touch or that human to pet touch can really send some good feelings back and forth.

You see the work in progress when you look into the other person's eyes and see that little sparkle. You see it when they return your look with a smile. and vice versa. That Human Element is working at its best when there has been a warm, successful exchange. Now, if you can ever experience a group hug, then you have truly experienced something extraordinary!! I'm not talking orgy style here, so gitcher minds outta the guttah!

Recently I experienced a Side Hug, that I think I truly needed!! This particular Side Hug lasted a good 45 seconds or so... just long enough to experience some Human Element exchange in a moment of friendship that was very comforting at a time that I think I needed it.

Yes, I soaked it up and didn't even realize all of its potential until it was almost over. But, about a week and a half later, the affect of my Side Hug is still lingering. That's some pretty powerful medicine, if you ask me!

I don't think this person even realizes it as I've not mentioned it... and probably never will. That's okay... hopefully, it made them feel just as special for that brief moment as it did me.

So, to you my friend whom you don't know who you are...

Thank you for my Side Hug!

Bargain Bin Bargain

So, we've all done it. We've gone to the clothing store knowing we can't over spend -- or at least going in THINKING that way.

I went to Target for some regular home supplies, some Miracle lunch snacks and toiletries. I thought I would take a look at the sales racks as I always find at least one thing that I just can't pass up.

Well, I found that one thing. I have been needing a solid black skirt of lighter material. I wanted something not too dressy and not too casual. I found what I thought I was looking for, but it was a little shorter than I wanted.

I looked at the price tag and read $4.98...

MMOOOAAAHHAAAA

(evil laugh at the thought I was almost actually STEALING this skirt!)

I didn't have time to try it on, but it seemed to be my right size.
I took it and we were gone. As I customarily do, I threw it in the wash. I hung it in the closest and sort of forgot about it. Until today.

I went in to put on my "stolen at a great deal" skirt and to my surprise.... It has shorts built in!!! Uh... what??? Did I get a sporty skirt or something???

Yeah... so now, if I really want to get crazy and feeling in a really exercisy mood, I can hike up my skirt, tuck it all up in the waistband and hop on my bike to get to work!!! When I get there, I can untuck my skirt and wear it normal again.

Brilliant!!!!

Me and my Miracle

We love this song and so much of it just sort of goes along with our journey together this far...

Soft thunder from across the meadow
Rain buckets on the kitchen floor
An old letter and the coffins empty
But all these storms I know we'll weather
All these storms we'll ride together

I never dreamed it would be so hard girl
Never saved up for a rainy day
Never thought that we
Might howl and shiver
But all these storms I know we'll weather
All these storms we'll ride together

Pick up your heart my love
Pick up your branch and dove
Canon in the name of the lord
We got a hole to mend
We got a fire to tend
We won't let these troubles grind us
We got friends and prayers to mind us
We got seven years behind us

Long rumble coming across the meadow
Rain pouring and the buckets full
Sky cracking and the house shaking
All these storms I know we'll weather
All these storms we'll ride together

Pick up your heart my love
Pick up your branch and dove
Canon in the name of the lord
My lady look alive
Our ride will soon arrive
Lift up your eyes my dear
We need some light in here
Jam ‘til the jam is through
We've got a hole to mend
We've got a fire to tend
We won't let these troubles find us
We got prayers on the road behind us
We got heavens horse's bridle

All these storms we'll ride together…

STORMS
by Railroad Earth

My Norton Commando burn!

I was talking to Miracle the other day in line at, of all places, Disneyland for another exciting ride on California Adventure. We were comparing, of all things, our owies and how we got them.

One in particular sort of made me cringe and crack me up at the same time. For any motorcycle enthusiasts in my little world of peeps, the biggest rider faux paus is getting your leg stuck on a very HOT tail pipe while trying to remove yourself after a really long ride! Wow that was such a painful experience, but unlike childbirth, I have no scar any longer... no "badge of honor", if you will.

Well, that happened to me when I was about 19 or so. My brother used to take me out on his Commando all the time and everywhere!! We really had some good times going to rallies, riding Ortega Highway, going up to the Rock Store, Cook's Corner, and just meeting up with other riders.

One time we went to a rally up in L.A. against the helmet law! Yes, those were much different times back then. I miss those times and reflect on them fondly as probably one of three things I had in common with my brother... and one of the three things he let me do with him.

Ride on, Jeff!!!

The Bullet Counter...

Suffice to say I'm not a movie critic, but I LOVE to critique movies. I grew up (am still growing up), the daughter of an engineer. Okay, here's some props to my POPS: He was one of the engineers on the first Space Shuttle Enterprise as well as the original Apollo Program. I was able to watch the liftoff of the Shuttle on TV in 1976 -- and yes, I remember it and yes, I'm dating myself!!! I got his logical mind minus the smarts, I guess. But, hey, who's complaining!

So, I was watching Alice and Wonderland this weekend. OhEmGee! What another great Tim Burton creation! Miracle and I both love Tim Burton and his genre of movies, his talent, his creepines, his creativity... so on and so forth!

BUT -- I am an undeniable bullet counter. It started as a wee one in the family room of our subaburnite house in "not that many people know where" hometown. My dad used to count the bullets in movies. I expanded that since I didn't -- still don't -- know how many bullets are supposed to be in guns. Now I see, subconsciously I guess, some mistakes in movies with the editing. Sometimes it's a bit of a pain in my royal because I notice them one after another and it turns into a mini challenge for me the rest of the movie. Thankfully, it doesn't hinder my enjoyment of the movie.

Spoiler: If you don't want to know what I found then stop reading --NOW!!!

In one scene Alice is riding on the back of the bloodhound, Bayard, to get to the White Queen (Anne Hathaway's funny in this and I don't really like her all that well, but I digress). She takes off with her bandage on her arm. In the next couple scenes the bandage AND scratch are gone. In the scene following, still atop Bayard, the bandage is back. Needless to say, I had a wee giggle to myself and fought the urge to Facebook about it since I FEARED being escorted out of the theater.

Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are the best, of course and that goes without saying.

If you haven't gone to see the movie yet, you must go see it if you are even remotely a Tim Burton fan. If you are not, then you might not get it.... or, at the very least, be amused or entertained.

Happy Bullet Counting!!!

Changing the name...

So, I've decided to change the name of the actual blog... my blog, this blog.

Instead of Single Mommy Rants, it's now Single Mommy Musings... I hope there isn't another one out there with the same name. If there is... oh, well. Infringement issue? I wouldn't think so since blogger doesn't have you license your blog... Yay for me!!!

Anyhoo... I've decided to change it as Rants just really does seem to have a negative connotation and this blog isn't intended to be that of a negative nature. I may have a "negative" day or something, but it's not intended for me to just type out and hash out negative subjects as that wouldn't help in my "healing process"... Hahahah!

I don't want to end up looking like this lady ===>

Happy Monday, all! Enjoy your week! Today is Working Women's Day so try to celebrate it anyway you can... Cheer's to that paycheck!!!