Friday Funneez....

Okay, so I had to post these today... cuz... ya' know everyone needs a little bit o' fun in their lives!

Trampoline Dog - watch more funny videos

Dramatic Cat - watch more funny videos

Senile Cat Talks - watch more funny videos

Happy Friday, everyone!

Her giggles...

As with any parent, I feel my daughter is the cutest, the brightest, the most caring and nurturing of the bunch. I think all of our kids are the "top of the line"... [That's a play on words from my sister-in-law about a fellow employee that has to buy "top of the line". I hear it and it cracks me up! Sorry, I digress!]

I wanted to get down as much as I could about the love of my life: my amazing daughter and partner in crime! Crime, because that's how we roll...

I love her giggles that start out small then grow to be twice

her size and just as infectious.

I love her new thing now where she, completely out of the blue, yells at you to play the quiet game and who can stay the quietest the longest. I get a kick out of the progression of her facial features and her body language as she absolutely tries to hold in the laughter. Her nose starts to wrinkle. Her eyes squint up and her lips curl up and over her top teeth. A little brown Hotei totally comes to mind.

I love her high energy and how she is nonstop pretty much most of her waking life. But, then too, there isn't much quiet time in our waking life unless she's playing the quiet game.

I love how her little round body can move and groove to some pretty tricky beats. She loves to sing and dance and prance in her Sunday best with the highest, most gaudy shoes she can find. The uglier for me, the better for her! Although, she gets the jiggiest when she is just butt nekked and free... all the while giggling uncontrollably.

I love her early appreciation of music. We used to drill her on a handful of about 10 black musicians and what instruments they played. From the time she could speak, her daddy started this ritual wherever we went. She got to the point she could identify by sight with some as well. Those were some fun days.

"What does Miles Davis do?"... "He plays the horn"
"What does Bob Marley do?"... "Listen to Bob"
(all drawled out and mellow-like)
"What does Jimi Hendrix do?... "He plays the guitar"
"Who is James Brown?"... "He's the Godfather of Soul"
"Who is George Clinton?"... "He's the Godtather of Funk"
"What does Stevie Wonder do?"... "He plays the piano"

I love how she can endure, persevere and is overcoming her obstacle to learn. Near the end of last year she could not read. Now she reads beautifully and is working on her comprehension. Even with her struggles and extra workload, she trudges on and is still excited to go to school and is willing to learn. I can only hope and pray that tenacity carries her through life and takes her where she wants to go! I could really learn a thing or two.

I love how she is my little protector. She is always concerned how I feel and how others feel. She remembers the way things used to be and in her own mind and in her own little world, that was the best heaven a little one could ask for. Still are those quiet moments that we share together some memories of our old house wtih the great room in the front and the pool in the back and daddy bar-b-quing. She misses those younger times -- sheesh, she's only seven!! Now with daddy having a girlfriend that quite possibly will be moving in soon, she's concerned with my feelings. I hide my true feelings of resentment and anger trying to make her at ease when I feel her stresses. She's my Amazon, my little warrior princess -- and has a strong right arm comparable to Kimbo Slice!!!

I love her curiousity! Dang, but it trips me out sometimes. When my dad was in the hospital and then home after his surgery to remove cancer (yay to being over a year cancer free!!!), she was right there being his rehabilitation nurse -- telling him to drink his water, be careful when walking, making sure he ate his lunch... She is all about cuts and bruises and even the dog pooping. She's always wanting to know how things work and why and then cringing at the sight and the explanation, only to go back for more.

I love how she is a survivor. She came into this world in such an unfair, unfortunate way, but she fought hard and beat the odds. This little vulnerable creature was born to an older, misguided creature who decided not to take care of herself while carrying my precious package. See, I was told by a Lakota friend that children choose their parents. Being that Miracle is half Dakota, this story seems to apply to her. She was up there floating around in the heavens for about eight some odd years saying, "okay, would you hurry the hell up and be ready to be parents so I can be born?!?!?". It's unfortunate, or not, that she was not born of blood and bone to us, but born of the heart and on a much more difficult path to come into our lives.

Phew, enough of that!!

Here is a huge thank you to my little sassy frassy girl
and to all the kids and parents that we have in our lives.

We are just that much more rich for it.

Valentine's Day...

I'll be open and darn right rootin' tootin' up front with it... I hate Valentine's Day and today is that day. I'm happy for all out there that have a true, bona fide Valentine -- a husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, partner, friends, kids, dog/cat... I have a few of those on my list as well and they are the ones that make me truly happy.

I don't need to have the conventional Valentine to make me feel complete or validated. That's actually farther from reality than most might think of my situation or one similar.

What is my problem, then, one might ask? As I type this out... maybe I'm not so sure either!

The thought of the day creeping up along with the typical diamond commercials and the happy wishes exchanged amoung people here and there only come as a big bang reminder on THIS day that yes, I am alone. I may be alone in the conventional way, but I am surrounded by many people (and pets) that I feel truly do love me. That in and of itself reminds me that I am very much NOT lonely.

Right now as I sit and type this I'm without my most special Valentine. I didn't wake up to her not so little feet padding across the floor, calling to the dog, running down the stairs, rifling through her toys.... Maybe that's why I'm in this "Groundhog Day" funky Valentine mood.

So, I guess this will be my New Valentine's Day resolutions:

1. Continue to just love everyone unconditionally
   
2. Appreciate what I have and share it
   
3. Enjoy the day for what the day is
   
4. Teach my daughter the strength in herself, even without the conventional Valentine

I guess I can go on forEVER, but will refrain for now...

So, in the spirit of the day and my new outlook, have a very happy Valentine's Day however you celebrate it!

VTech cordless phone giveaway

Enter for your chance to win a VTech LS6245 Cordless Phone System (ARV $79.99) from @yourmamareviews, an awesome'blog with great product reviews and amazing giveaways!

Get all the details here:

http://yourmamareviews.com/2010/02/your-mama-loves-her-vtech-cordless-phone/

Hurry! Giveaway ends 2/8 -- That's today!

Good Luck!

A Dog's Purpose...

This was sent to me by a friend and since I absolutely love my dog so much, I thought I would copy, paste and share...

We humans can learn quite a lot from this and from our furry, four-legged friends!

Supposedly this came from a 6-year-old from somewhere in some state or country. Either way, I'm not here to question its validity, but how profound!!

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said, ''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday

How did my daughter and I celebrate such a day? It's actually a very special day to me and always has been.

I've always respected Martin Luther King, Jr. What he stood for, preached for, fought for... means even more.

Why, you might ask? Well, I was just two years old when he died so I have no memories of anything while he was alive.

I think, for me, it's because of my family. In every family there is history and where there is history there are stories that are told to you as a child that stick with you. These stories help build your respect for your family, those around you, and can also help build up some respect for yourself.

One of the stories that has stuck in my mind since I was young was that that my aunts and uncles, were discriminated against because of their skin color... and yes, including myself. Some were "forced to ride in the back of the bus". I know that sounds so cliche, but some of the stories I've been told of their experiences makes me respect and love them that much more. It's just what I've been told...

I will NEVER forget being called a pickaninny by, of all people, a teacher because I was running where I was not supposed to be at school. I had no idea what it was until I went home to ask my mom.

So, how did my daughter and I celebrate today? We went to a pizza place where we were with a very beautifully diverse group of friends in a place that was filled with beautifully diverse people... having a really fantastic time!!!

Not in the too distant past would that have been possible. It wouldn't have been made possible now without the Martin Luther King, Jr.s or the Rosa Parks...

Embrace our differences and love each other for how well we treat each other...

The New Year...

So I'm well into the first month of the new year. There's not much about this month that has been exciting -- yet -- or even mildly noteworthy. I just feel responsible to write something here so I don't lag behind too far.

There's so much in my head at the most inopportune times, but alas, I forget to write things down and that trickles into not posting anything at all.

Time is passing by so quickly... so much has happened in the last few years and it's all gone by in such a blink... a fraction of a blink it seems.

My wee one is not so wee anymore and she's just turned seven in this new year! Seven!!! I can still picture the day she came into our lives and even that seems like a fraction of a blink for the timespan.

Wow! Am I getting old...?

I'm hoping this year brings about a lot of change and hopefully good change. Lordy knows, I sure need some good to come my way. I feel there's plenty of good in my family and my friends... in the fun things that we do, in the good times, in the people we meet along the way. Along the way as in this life journey we are on.

Okay, enough mushy stuffy...

Happy belated New Year to all... at least to any or the very few that may pass by and read this.

Woo woo!