Spinning....... From Inside My Mind

C'mon Take A Spin Class...... You'll Love It!!!
These people are not your friends.
Run Away!

Welcome to my thoughts during spin.......

Start Time: 6:00PM - 45 minutes long
We are SO going to do this!!!
Bring it on :D
Okay lets get my bike setup away from the mirror.  
Good lord who wants to watch yourself?
Shit did I wear the right bra for this?
Let's get the furthest away from the instructor.
Should I get behind the pole so I can't see the clock?
No - better to see how much longer.
Wait - if I put my bike here I can see the clock and outside.
Fantastic for my ADD!
Maybe something shiny will go by!

Let's look over the bike....
Set everything to short.
Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
Get my water.
Hair up.
Holy Shit - these chicks have special ass spinning shoes!!!
Gulp.   I think I am in over my head.
There is a goddamn emergency switch on the bike?
WTH?  Where is it going to go?
I could so still leave.
A family emergency.
Why can't I will my cell phone to ring?
Not a big emergency - maybe just an appendix burst?
For Jake not Zach.
Zach is a way bigger baby when he is sick.

Here is the instructor.
Oh she seems happy.
"Perky" even.
Ugh.....
Wait.
I don't do perky :(
She looks like she has a lot of energy.
Confirmed.
We were just informed she has been looking forward to class all week.
Swell.

This will be one of the toughest classes she has taught.
Well color me fucking happy.
Find a comfortable resistance level.
For right now?  Or 30 minutes from now when I will surely be dead?
Should I start off a little on the easy side so I can build up?
Why did I come today?

Race it out.
Damn look at my legs flying......
You go girl!
HUH - hey wait look at everyone else's legs.
Girl - you look like you are not even peddling.
Peddle!
Really that is all you got?!
You are embarrassing yourself!
Quick now - keep up - no slacking!!!!
Shit!
Go go go
Wait wait wait
Heart going to explode.
Breathe.  Breathe.  Breathe.


Turn the resistance up?
Hmmmmmm
I want to work hard so let's crank this sucker up!
AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHh
Too much!
Too much!!
Turn the crank the other way!!!
The OTHER fucking way.
OMG - I think I damaged something.
No seriously I think I ripped a muscle.
If I hit the emergency button does a hot EMT man show up??
Now that would be sweet....
One that looks like Hugh Jackman.
What was that movie that he was close to naked in?
Ummmmmmmmmm.......
Oh shit - wait what are we doing now??

Okay..... okay.......
A nice and steady pace.
Don't look at anyone else.
Don't compare.
You are only competing against yourself.
blah blah fucking blah
Really?
How the fuck to they move their legs that fast???
It is not humanely possible.

Turn it up again??
LOL - yeah I'm not falling for that again.
You all are just reaching down and pretending right?
Who the hell would know?
That's right reach down hand on the crank.
Smile - pretend to turn that crank.
I got it.
Won't fool me again.
Wait wait look at me.
I'm reaching down and turning it again.
Cause I'm just that tough.
Ha!

Wait - we are standing up??
Seriously??
Shit - I need more resistance then :(
Reach down - okay there we go.
I got it.
Sit down now.
But I just got up!!!
Keep peddling.
Don't touch the resistance.
But its H A R D now.............
Wwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I want my mommy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Peddle it out.
You can do it!!!
Yeah - well my legs are screaming Fuck No!
Jesus - is this song like 27 minutes long??
This song is so coming off my i-pod as soon as class is over.
I hate Michael fucking Jackson.
Seriously is this like medley of all his fucking hits??

Rolling Hills?
Oh Geesh.....
Up off the seat
Down in the seat
Up off the seat
Down in the seat
How the hell do they do it all in unison?
Friggin' Stepford Spinners.

Time to Isolate!!!
That sounds good right?
Slow?
Oh thank you sweet Jesus
Slow I can do
Huh?   Do what?
Hover my ass over my seat
Peddle Slow.
Do NOT use your arms.
Why cause you want me to fall the fuck off?
You need to I S O L A T E so your legs will SCREAM at you to stop.
I think mine are sobbing.
They are curled up in a ball rocking somewhere in a quiet dark place.

More Hills.....
Not the rolling ones.
Thank you god!
Just ONE FRIGGIN BIG ASS MOTHER FUCKIN' 4 MINUTE one.
Will the joy ever stop??
Climb it out girls!!!
How is everyone feeling?
She only asks cause she knows no one can talk and do this shit.

Why is my ass sore??
I have MORE than enough junk in my trunk for cushion.
How is this possible?
With my ass I should excel at this activity!

Wait - I think she said slow down...
Are we done??
The clock..... look at the clock.
That has to be it.
OMG - I made it :D
6:15
Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?!?!

So when is the next class?

LOL......  So that was pretty much me the first time (and possibly a bunch of times after) but I keep going back cause in some sick twisted way I enjoy it!!!
And I really do move the resistance dial - all that was just said for humor - no really :D

Hugs~
Tracie

Weight Loss: Tips, Tricks, & Truths

I started my diet/exercise routine in September of 2011.   To date I have lost 82lbs.   I have gone from a size 22/24 jean to a size 12.    I thought it might be amusing to share some things I have learned along the way:

• Dieting sucks.  Period.   It really truly does.  No one should sugar coat it (haha - get it?) for you.   Oh my god I would love to wake up every morning to chocolate.  Chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.   Hmmmmm - a c t u a l l y,  I would like to wake up every morning to Joe Manganiello bringing me breakfast in bed (a hot fudge sundae hold the ice cream please) telling me how incredibly hot I looked.   Sigh.   Sadly, that is probably not going to happen.  What is even worse?  I would probably eat the sundae first ;)
• And this is Joe.  I just wanted to share in case any of you didn't know to whom I was referring.   But I have already called dibs. Hands off!!!  I have deluded myself into believing that he is my reward at the end of my journey.  Do not burst my bubble.
• You can say you want to lose weight for the health benefits. blah. blah. blah.  We all know it is to get into the skinny jeans!!!
• There is no such thing as "filler" foods when you are craving something.   And what ever dipshit told you to drink water to help give you that full feeling was full of shit.   If you are craving something HAVE IT.    However do one of the following:  1) Limit yourself to how much (I have literally just taken a bite of something),  2) Count ALL those calories into your day and suck it up buttercup if that means celery for the rest of the day (obviously this is not a healthy option so don't do it often), or 3) Ramp up the exercise routine big time that day.       Above all put what you did BEHIND you and move on.  It is a new day - a new hour - a new minute.   If you need to start over 15 times in one day then do it.   It gets easier everyday.
• My skinny size 0 sister has suggested brushing your teeth when you are hungry so that you don't want to eat.  It doesn't work.   I do however have the cleanest teeth in the state.  
• Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!   I truly think this is what did it for me.   It turns out that I LOVE to exercise (most of the time.....).    And when I say exercise...... Honey you need to work up a huge ass S W E A T.  A disgustingly dripping drenching everywhere type sweat.  You need to peel your clothes off when you are done.   You need to smell like a man!!!  Okay maybe that is taking it too far.   I spent years in the past doing hours and hours and hours on an elliptical.  It did nothing.    When I started last year we already had a treadmill (the hubby bought it for himself years before and it had been used maybe 5 times but it made a fantastic drying rack).   Just do it!   No I am not endorsing Nike.   Everybody has to start somewhere.  If you walk 1 mile and it takes you 30 minutes - that is fantastic - cause ya didn't do it yesterday, right?   The only one you need to compete against is YOURSELF.    When I started it took me 70-75 minutes to do 3 miles.   I can now do those same 3 miles in about 42 minutes. 
• And here is a depressing little newsflash:  Those machines we all use to burn calories??  The calorie counts on them?  Rubbish.  A complete flat out lie.  Pisses ya off right?   You get done and think you have burned like 700 calories.  Not even close.  Try like 30-35% of that number.   Sucks - someone should kick their asses for blatantly lying.
• Little things count!!!   Park farther away from stores or wear ankle weights around the house (especially when you do housework).   It will all add up and you will get stronger.  Do NOT wear these when going out to get the mail and you have an ass for a neighbor unless you want to listen to his bullshit.  
• Did you know that your calves can actually touch when you walk????  No really!!!  Recently I was walking around here at home doing stuff and I kept feeling like there was something on my calf - like a little bug (and most of ya know how I feel about bugs!!!)- so I kept stopping and brushing my legs.   You know what it was?  My thighs have actually gotten small enough that my calves swish by each other when I walk.   I know - who knew that was possible??  LOL.
• Your weight loss will be all from your boobs.   Really.  Further proof that god is definitely a man.  :(    If you are smaller now well you will get even smaller.   Z-Toad (my 9 year old boob guy) has expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of pillowing when he wants to cuddle.    So get ready to pony up some serious $$$ as you go down in bra sizes!!   I was a 44DDD and am now a 38DD.   So far Victoria Secret (which I can finally fit into!) gets my vote for best bras.   Side note:  I have always always always worn a bra to bed.  I know you are cringing (eek! a bra to bed)  BUT I swear that is why my boobs are where they are and not trying to kiss my knees!   You may be 20 now and they are attached to your chin but 20 years from now you will remember this posts when they look like stretched out pendulums! 
• Stretch marks.   Ugh.   Okay well stretch marks when they are S T R E T C H E D out are really not so bad.  I know you think they are hideous now but trust me!   You hate the little buggers across your tummy right? And maybe your tummy has the makings of a map of a city.   Once you start shrinking - the city starts getting smaller and your roads start to pucker and warp.  Honey the city is going to need to be resurfaced.  Stat!   Do you know that gastric bypass folks GET a tummy tuck as part of their procedure????   I am not begrudging anyone anything but damn I think if you do it the old fashioned way that should also be the case!   Am I right girls???
• Lastly - surround yourself with a FANTASTIC group of women!!  You will find your inspiration and provide inspiration for someone else.
• Okay - this is really last.   Even when you totally blow the day you have to realize it is JUST that day and it does not define your journey.  

This is the picture on my fridge (on the left) and me now:

Tracie

xo

Helicopter Parents Suck!

The school year is almost at an end.   YEAH - for not have to deal with homework, getting up early, and the last of certain teachers!  BOO - for having to deal with boredom and arguing!   I give it 3 weeks and I will be begging to get up early and for school to start.

This was the boys first year at a public school.   I have to say that it was probably the best decision we have made in awhile (unless of course you count the monumental decision to buy facebook stock).  

As you 5 regular readers know I abhorred the drive to get them to and from the private school.  The actual drive itself wasn't so bad - it was the playing well with others in the parking lot. 

By comparison this year has been so much better.   The boys are the first ones on the bus which arrives almost always at 7:33.    The boys leave the house at 7:31, walk past 2 houses to the bus stop, wait approximately 90 seconds, and then whoosh they are spirited away my big yellow taxi of sunshine.  I loves me the bus!!   I watch this all from my front door.  It is friggin' fantastic.  Except when it rains and I have to actually leave the house to park at the top of the street so they don't drown (it must be raining hard enough to cause a visible splash in puddles for a car trip to be sanctioned).   I decided to pick the boys up after school because they are the last ones off the bus which would mean almost a 50 minute bus ride home (and with after school activities and homework that doesn't work well).

Z-Toad's (2nd grade) school at first glance seemed to have the most well run pickup.   Parents are suppose to drive up the side of the school and wait in line around a circle at the top.   When you come around the circle one of the teachers looks at you and calls your child to one of three cones.  So in theory 3 cars pull up to cones 1, 2, and 3 where you child is waiting.   They get in their respective cars, drive away, and then the next 3 cars pull up to the cones, etc.....   Doesn't it sound like bliss?  Yeah well leave it to a bunch of helicopter parents to ruin it.

School gets out at 2:45.  At first I was making every effort to get their early and be the first one because I still had to get to the other school to pick up J-Toad.    I tried 2:30 and was horrified to discover that I was like the 20th car in line!!!   What the hell?   So I kept arriving earlier.   TWO pm  these nuts people start to line up!!   And this certain black pickup truck was always first.   So I got their 5 minutes earlier and now I was first!  Ha!   The next day - same time - and the black pickup truck was already there.  Her and I did this dance for a few days each of us arriving 5 minutes earlier than the day before until the arrival time was approaching 1:30.   I'm just slightly competitive but this was even too much for me so I stopped going early.   I figure she showed up that early for at least a couple of more days which means I WON!!!   Plus every now and then I show up that early and take the first spot just throw her off her game and make her come super early for days on end.  LOL  For the past 4 months or so,  I have it timed pretty well to show up last and then I have no wait time and the public remains safe.

The road along the side of the school is narrow - 2 way traffic only.   And the line to pick up backs up all the way around the circle and down the road.   Yet EVERY BLESSED DAY their is a school pickup truck that parks on the road right after cone 1.   So if the people coming in are not YET bright enough (and really it has only been since September ) to leave enough room for exiting traffic then there is a little stand still while all the incoming cars shuffle forward.  Call me silly but why can't the truck be moved just during parent pick up?

The teacher who stands by the cars to call your child to a cone STILL acts like she doesn't remember whose kid is mine.   Keep in mind I am almost always last so there is like - um - ONE child left to be picked up!!!!   Z-Toad has curly hair and I have curly hair!!!   Not to mention he is waving at me and jumping out of his skin to be called.   But everyday she looks at me and says "Z-Toad (well she actually says his name) right?".    I am going to break down in hysterics one day and start sobbing "Where is my kid???  Who did you give her too?"  

Then there are the other parents picking up.  Oy! Oy! Oy!   In theory parent pickup should work like this: Parent pulls up to the cone where child is waiting - child opens door - child gets in vehicle - child shuts door - parent leaves.   You know so the rest of the line could move forward and pick up their child.     There is not one but SEVERAL parents who get out of their vehicle, walk over to their child greeting them with a big display of hugs and kisses cause it has been a whole SIX  friggin hours since they last saw each other and OMG how they have missed their little darlings!  I bet these moms have a flask in their coach bags.  Parent then takes their child's backpack (cause oh it must be so heavy and why expect them to carry their own stuff?) , and LEISURELY get their child into their car.   They secure the seat belts by pulling on them (they worked this morning but perhaps a mouse gnawed thru the belt in the last 6 hours and we wouldn't want Little Savannah to take a face plant into the back of mom's seat).  The whole time uberparent is talking away so animated that small planes could mistake it for landing instructions.  Then they duck their heads back into the car for one more friggin' kiss cause after all they are going to have to shut the door - get into the front seat - and drive that whole way home with no physical contact!!!!  Why did they even have the doctor cut the umbilical cord?  Sometimes ubermoms have OPENED the backpacks to look for something cause their little darling is just SO excited about their latest Picasso like drawing.  

Then there is me.   I pull up.  I get out of the car to open the slider (the one on the passenger side no longer works).  Zachary walks around to the door all on his own and if he is not moving fast enough I bodily pick him up and throw him in (like a bundled carpet) - tell him to buckle up - shut the sliding door - get into my seat - and pull away all while he is still getting in his seat and has not yet got the buckle in place.  At this point I usually need to go around the uberparent in front of me who is still landing small planes while kissing their brat and fawning all over their piece de resistance of the day.

This morning was the first time I had to drop off Z-Toad.   Same concept except no cones so parents pretty much just drop off once they get around the loop.   I have an uberparent in front of me.  UGH!
I am the last car in line.   Everyone is gone now except me and her.   Z-Toad is out - kissed (at home) - and in the recess yard.   Uberparent's uberchild has not even OPENED the damn door to get out of the car.  I still need to get J-Toad to school and make an appointment.   I pull out around uberparent's vehicle to leave and this teacher starts screaming "STAY IN LINE"  "GET BACK IN LINE" and pointing at me.   Is she fucking serious??   I am already 2 car lengths beyond uberparent.  Our eyes meet - my eyebrow arches up making my WTF face (my fingers twitching on the steering wheel) and I go.  What the hell is she gonna do?    Maybe ubermom behind me will don her cape (surely it will have a drawing her child did plastered on the back) perform a citizens arrest all while kissing her child and whispering words of positive reinforcement. 

Laters All~
Tracie

Weight Loss, You, and Me

It is a new year folks and how do I know?   The 24/7 onslaught of weight loss commercials.   Yippee!!!   Celebrities in which my life and theirs have 100%? ,     um 70%?,    wait 50%?,  no no that is not it.......  20%? in common.   Or maybe exactly NOTHING in common?  


Current Diet Commercials:

Jennifer Hudson:  "Yes You Can" and "I am you. You are me." campaigns.   Yes, Miss Hudson I can.  But NO I am not you.   And you are me?  Do you have a house to clean, grocery shopping, a "real" job, kids whining at you, a husband whining at you, anything at all to fucking worry about??  And I seem to have misplaced my stylist, life coach, manager, assistant, babysitter, chef, and personal trainer.   Could you be a doll and send them back to me?  Thanks xoxo.....  Oh, and just one more thing......  Could you stop singing every flippin' line in your commercials?   I keep thinking there is a cat stuck in our chimney. 

Mariah Carey:  Seriously??  I really want to like her.  I do.  But - ugh - can she do anything without posing?  She doesn't speak on the commercial - just quick flashes of her in some skanky two piece outfit.  Oh - and a wind machine to billow her hair all over.  Yeah - that just screams weight loss program to me.  Do I just need to carry a fan in front of me??    What it does scream is that she needs a new stylist, life coach, manager, etc....

Janet Jackson is now touting Nutrisystem.   I like Miss Janet.  Her commercial is the only one that doesn't get on my nerves.   But seriously can you really picture her going into her food vault and rifling thru her nutrisystem meals.  Popping it in the microwave and chowing down on the cardboard food satisfied?   Or can you picture her picking up the phone in her limo and calling ahead to her chef to have something waiting for her that is under 400 calories?   Yeah, me too. 

My Weight Loss Plan/Goal:

• To be a single digit size (um without physically taking a marker and obscuring the first number on the tag).   You know those long stickers that come on your pants that tell the size about 12 times so you can see it across a parking lot?   I want to lose enough so that I keep that fucking sticker on my pants.   Hell I am going to make a bodysuit of JUST those stickers.    

The How:
Realism/Dieting:  I am a bad dieter.   Mainly because I hate almost anything that is good for me.  Unless........ Has chocolate broccoli been developed yet?   So I have chosen to not consciously diet.  I am not counting a damn point nor am I paying to have cardboard food delivered to me while still having a house full of food for all my toads.   I have chosen to try and make better eating decisions every day.   Does that mean I have a brownie sometimes?  Your damn skippy it does.
Exercise:  That is my strength.  I LOVE to exercise.  I wish I had more time to exercise.   And I have refused (some days are tougher than others) to feel guilty about taking the time for me.  I walk on the treadmill for at least 60 minutes a day (I do anywhere from 3-4 miles). That is doing the trick.   If I had the brownie maybe I will do an extra 15 minutes - maybe not.  

Since August I have lost 32 lbs.  The point is do what works for you.  You don't need to count points or buy someone's prepackaged food to know that eating a donut is worse than having a bowl of oatmeal.   You know that walking to the mailbox is better for you than driving your car to it.  Don't pay someone for common sense. 

Advice for Non-Fatties Talking To Fatties:

• If you have never been in a double digit size -just shut the fuck up.  Period.  No one cares that you were a size 4 and then - gasp - gained 10 lbs. and had to buy a six.   Talk to me when you add a "teen" to end of that. 

• If you went up 10-20 lbs and lost it to get back to your size 4.   Well fucking hoorah for you.  Shut up.   I don't care. 

• If you remember being a single digit size.  Good for you.   Don't share.

• If you have trouble gaining or maintaining weight.  LOL.  Really?  Just go to the zoo and jump into the lions den.   You have a better chance of survival.

• If you think "The Avenue" is a dance club we cannot be friends.

• "You are beautiful" is a compliment.   "You have a beautiful face." is NOT a compliment.   Everyone fat person on the planet knows the rest of that statement is "gee, it is too bad about the rest of you."    The next time I see someone with a smokin' body I am going to say "Wow, you have a great body.......... Say, have you thought about meeting with a plastic surgeon about your face?"

 The most ridiculous thing I was ever told:

J-Toad (my 10 year old) is not growing according to the doctors charts.   In a nutshell he is not even on the growth chart.   So we met with an endocrinologists.   She is concerned because he is so thin (54 lbs.).   How is this for irony?   I have a child that I have been told needs to GAIN weight.  Yeah -  I have no clue.    Anyway she says (really I swear):  "Weight and height work hand and hand.  If you can get him to eat more calories it will help to stimulate his growth."    I looked at her and said "Really?   If that were the case I should be 7 feet tall."   She had no comment.

Hugs~
Tracie

Children Are Not Only For Tax Deductions!

I LOVE to drive fast.   L O V E    I T!    Not when you do it - you, of course, are not capable of handling such speed and will inevitably cause an accident.   But not MOI - I have some mad skillz peeps.  I have no idea what the speed limits are 90% of the time.  I just drive.  Usually this puts me at least 10 miles over the posted speed.  But never more than that - mom - if you are reading this.  I drive to my comfort level of the road.   I am an incredibly lousy passenger.   I am almost only comfortable if I am in control of the car.  This causes many fights with Mr. Toad (who drives like well, um, a toad).    I drive fast SAFELY.   I do NOT swerve in and out of traffic, I do not tailgate, I do not text while I drive or put on make-up, etc....   I generally follow all the rules except the pesky speed limit one.  Seriously that couldn't possibly be applicable to moi?

My very first car was a pretty blue camaro and it was LOVE at first site.  Way way way back back back in the day I would say that I was possibly a hottie (nice car - big boobs - big hair - you can do the math).  My love of speed led inevitably to encounters with law enforcement.   I would need all my fingers and toes and the fingers and toes of my 2 children (and possibly some of your kids as well) to be able to count the number of times I was pulled over.  However I would only need one hand to count the number of actual tickets.   I rarely ever got a ticket.   Big boobs and big hair kind of did the trick.   A low cut shirt, hair toss, and a "Who me?" batting of the eyes was enough 95% of the time.   For the other 5% a few well placed friends in law enforcement did the trick.    I even outran 2 state troopers on 2 separate occasions.  I know this sounds like bragging but I'm not.....  okay maybe a little.  I could run rings around Danica!   One of these incidents resulted in the loss of a friendship.  "OMG OMG OMG Tracie - stop....... blah blah blah....... gonna be sick."   Some girls are such wussies!.

That was then .......... this is now.   My love of speed has not changed.  My camaro has morphed into a minivan.  A minivan that screams "I am a middle-aged mom with 2 kids wearing a sensible support bra".   Shockingly the minivan does not perform like a camaro.   But then again I no longer perform like a camaro either.   I am happy to report that being pulled over is no longer as common an occurrence as brushing one's teeth.   So imagine my shock when I was pulled over and GOT A TICKET!   What the hell is that??   Apparently my dyed hair, my adorable TWO laugh lines, and less than perky boobs (even with the support of 15 gage wire) are sadly no longer able to sway the Officer Baby Face calling me "MA'AM".   God I fucking HATE being called "ma'am" or "kiddo".  And now my days of not getting tickets have apparently come to an end.

Or have they?? 

What I have discovered is that having kids - especially adorably funny children is just as good as being young and having boobies!   I have been pulled only a few times while having the kids in the car and have yet to get a ticket.

-Pull over 1:   I had my kids in the car and someone else's on our way to god knows where when the blue lights came on behind us.    Shit.    It was summer so all the windows are open.  As the cop comes carefully up along side of my car, the kids start chanting "Put Mommy in Jail" "Put Mommy in Jail".   By the time the cop actually got to me he was laughing his ass off.   That was it - no license - no registration - just a "OMG - that was the funniest thing ever".   That was when the genius first dawned.  My children could be ASSETS!

-Pull over 2:  We were running late and I was definitely speeding.  I was trying to get Z-Toad to Karate.  I came up over a hill and there was Mr. Blue Light.   He didn't even have to pull out of his spot. I was done.  I knew it.  I pulled myself over.  Our conversation:

Officer:  "Ma'am (cringe!!) - Do you know the speed limit?"
Me:   "Um - no" (am I suppose to ever say yes when asked this question?).
Z-Toad (from the backseat buckled in as required by law - yippee!!!):  "Mom I told you it was 30 and that you were going too fast."
Me: (that was true - Z-Toad wants to be a cop and is obsessed with the speed limit signs.  Let me tell you how much fun that is on a 4 hour drive)  "Z-Toad just sit there and be quiet."
Officer: "You should have listened to him."
Z-Toad: "She was just trying to get me to karate on time."
Officer: "You take karate, little man?"
Z-Toad: "Yes.  I take it cause I want to be a policeman when I grow up."
I could literally see the words "Awwwwwwwwwwwwww" flashing on his young non-wrinkled forehead.    I had to resist the urge to unbuckle myself and shower Z-Toad with kisses.   His charm knows no limits.  You work it son.   Mom has never been so proud :)


How do I know this is fact?   Well strictly as a pure scientific experiment to enable me to write a knowledgeable blog for you all,  I got myself pulled over. 
No need to thank me - just send a small donation.  Enough to cover about $150? 
No children in the car.   Just me. 
And for good measure I made sure my back left brake light was out. 
And if that wasn't enough I pulled over on the left side of the road (I didn't realize I was being pulled and it was just trying to get out of his way.   Any hoots it is apparently illegal to pull over to the left...... details).  

How did that encounter go you ask?


My advice: Either hoist your girls up so you look like you have no neck or make sure to pack a kid or 2 when you travel.  Helps if they are funny, or charming, or........ if nothing else teach them to throw up on command. 



Just sayin'

Merry Christmas All~
Tracie

Never Underestimate the Smart!

Recently we were suppose to go over a friend of mine's house for a monthly card party.   I was having just one of those days:  the kids were fighting each other from the second they laid eyes on one another that morning,  I had like 100 things to do (may be not quite that many but it felt that way), and I had been fighting a headache that day (after 10 motrin the throbbing in my head was just bearable).   So the thought of going to a house full of folks and then also putting my kids into the mix was not appealing.   I called said friend told her what was going on - begged her forgiveness and swore I would be a better BFF in the future. 

The problem was that Z-Toad LOVES to go to this friend's house.   It is mainly because Z-Toad loves women and there would be a house full to swoon all over him.   I had already hinted a few times that I didn't think I was up to going.  That put his mood from bad to thismuchshort of hell & fury. 

I figure that could Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast my 8 year old!!  
Yeah - not so much.

**Earlier that day I went to my hairdresser and had my roots touched up (please note they are not gray just a darker brown than I would like - ahem).  She also had to thin it.   I have a LOT of flippin' hair and it tends to grow horizontal thus the need for thinning shears.   For those 2 of you not in know - thinning your hair causes massive amounts of hair to be shed throughout the rest of your day.   I left my hubby's car with a lovely hair blanket on his drivers seat (you're welcome babe!).**

Then the light bulb went off.........

I went upstairs to toss my head under the tub just to get the last of the cut hair out.   I then called another friend and asked her to call me back.    The phone rang and then after waiting some time I yelled downstairs "That was XXX who called,  XXX (her daughter) is sick so we can't go."    Pretty slick, huh?  I am smarter than my second grader  =)
It was a proud moment folks!!! 

Z-Toad comes sauntering up the stairs with his Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass and top hat looking like the cat that ate the canary.

Z-Toad:   "Mom, I don't think that is what really happened."   he says eying me suspiciously
Me:  "Oh really, Z-Toad?    And how would you know if XXX is sick?"
Z-Toad: "Well the phone didn't say XXX name when it rang it said another name.   So it wasn't XXX who called.   You lied mommy."
Me:  crap - crap - crap - think - think - think - can't let 8 year old win.....
Me: "Z-Toad Mommy would never lie to you.   I am hurt you would think that."
Me: damn talking phones - damn hubby who has to have every technology under the sun.....
Me: "Well for your information Mr. Smartypants, she called from the doctor's office phone cause she wanted to let us know.   That is why the name was different."
Score!
Z-Toad:  "Mom!   I want to text her."
Shit!
Me: "Z-Toad would my hair be wet if I wasn't about to get ready to go?   Do you think I would have made the cookies downstairs to bring if I didn't plan on going?   Don't you think I am disappointed to?"
Z-Toad: "Oh" 
Z-Toad:  thinking....... thinking.......thinking......
Z-Toad:  "Mom that sucks you did ALL that work and then they canceled!   I am mad at XXX."
Me: "Well honey don't be mad at XXX it is not her fault that XXX is sick.   And girls get embarrassed when they get sick so don't bring it up and make her feel bad."

And then we had a somewhat peaceful (if you call brawling between J-Toad Hatfield & Z-Toad McCoy peaceful) night.   I also placed a phone call to the said BFF to explain what went on so that she could back me up because I know this little event is the first thing that Z-Toad will bring up.

What was even more funny was that we had plans later in the week with the same folks and they legitimately had to cancel!!!    Z-Toad says "AGAIN?!?!"    LOL
Well....... at least I think it was legit.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.......

Hugs!
Tracie

-ps- A funny from Z-Toad who discovered that he cannot see out of his mask for Halloween cause the eye holes are cut too small.  He tells me he understands why they are so small.....
"The mask was made in China and they can't open their eyes wide!"

Maybe Things Are Only Funny In My Head?

Or Alternatively Titled:  The 4,328th reason that my children will require therapy.

Getting Z-Toad up in the morning for school is not easy - nor is it pleasant.   It doesn't matter how much sleep he gets, it doesn't matter if he went bed in a great mood, and it doesn't matter the method in which I wake him - he is flippin' G R O U C H Y!

I have tried literally yanking him out of bed by his feet (this method works on my older child who would sleep thru a nuclear attack), I have tried waking him slowly over the span of an hour with music or some NiKTV crap, I have tried tickling him, and I have tried being all nicey-nice whispering that it is time to get up, that he is the greatest child ever and my favorite over what's his face (just a joke people) and all that positive affirmation crap.  And ya know what?   Nothing changes.  He is THE Grouchmiser in the am.

I have learned to make him to a shower the night before to avoid a meltdown in the morning - that would be my meltdown not his!  He doesn't want to put clothes on, he doesn't want to brush his teeth, and he even insists that after 72,000 hours of sleep and 270 ounces of water guzzled .0000004 seconds before he falls asleep that he does not need the bathroom in the morning.

Then one morning as he was standing in front of the toilet arguing with me for the gazillonith time, I started talking like I was his pee-pee (no I don't call it his penis because if I said the real word he would say it like 500 times within a 3 minute span and probably in the middle of church).  I bet you didn't know that a pee-pee could have a voice?   Well it can and it does.  In my head I see a Pee-Pee Muppet.  It looks like a paper towel roll with a face and a beret on top.  Cause see for some reason the voice came out....... with a  French accent.      

So in the morning if you were to eavesdrop outside the bathroom window you would hear:
(Please read Z-Toad's line as if a font called    "7 Year Old Whiny Squeaky Voice  "   existed. )

Z-Toad:  Mooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Can't I sleep more?
Me: Go to the bathroom Zach
Z-Toad: I DON'T HAVE TOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Me: Lift the toilet seat Z-Toad.
Z-Toad: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.  I don't need to.
Me: Z-Toad yes you do.  (turning on the faucet)
Z-Toad:  MOOOMMMM - Don't you listen to me!!!!
Me: (as Pierre the Pee-Pee with a beret):   What do you mean we don't have to go??   I have been in bed for 10 hours dood!  TEN Hours!  Take me out!!!  Take me out!!!  I have been stuck in your underwear in the dark all night!  For the love of Pete,  I have to goooooooooooo.  (by now Z-Toad is usually giggling).    Your the one that drank all the water before we went to bed.  I told you not to!   Why did you do that?  I had to hold it all night so you could sleep.   Take me out!!!  Take me out!!!!  I have to go........

By now he is laughing - and going to the bathroom.  It also effectively eliminates the grouchy Z-Toad monster.

Then one morning this image just popped into my head.  Z-Toad is out on date.......and you know things are happening and now Pierre the Pee-Pee is starting to talk to Z-toad for other reasons.  Except the end message is still the same:  Take me out!  Take me out!  

And in that moment who's voice do you think Z-Toad will hear in his head??   What memory will pop into his head?        

So to the future Mrs. Z-Toad - I apologize....... a little.

Hugs~
Tracie