These Swim Trunks Are A Bit Distracting

Oh boy.  Nice flag.  Who knew the men of the Singapore Water Polo Team were so patriotic?

Asian Games rules stipulate that a teams uniform cannot be changed in the middle of a tournament, so these poor guys have to wear their "cresent moon" to the end of their season.   The back-stroke should look interesting ;->

Virtual Girls Night Out - Thanksgiving Hangover

I think I have a Thanksgiving hangover.  Tryptophan is powerful stuff!  We hosted dinnner and I'm still finding bags of rolls and cans of black olives.  (Why couldn't we find those when we needed them?!?)  How about a Virtual Girls Night Out to get my mind off cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes.

*The VGNO blog-hop is for those who want to party "virtually" with other bloggers. More exposure for your blog is the point of VGNO. Connecting, supporting, encouraging - those words describe the VGNO Guest. So get on your bunny slippers, make yourself a cocktail add your blog link below and have fun! Happy VGNO!*



Time For Some Tunes!

The Cranberries "Linger"


See what I did there?  I didn't get my mind off the cranberries, did I? ;->

*Join The Virtual GNO Add Your Blog Link Below*

 
Time For A Cocktail!

Uncle Angelo's Eggnog
Ingredients:
6 Separated eggs
1 qt. Whole Milk 1 pint Heavy Cream
.75 cup Sugar 8 oz Bourbon (Four Roses)
4 oz Spiced rum (Captain Morgan or Sailor Jerry)
Garnish: Fresh grated nutmeg
Preparation:
Beat the egg yolks with half a cup of sugar well until they turn light in color. Add the milk, heavy cream and liquor to the yolks. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until they peak. Fold whites into the yolk mixture. Grate nutmeg over the drink.

I do believe I have some room for this drink.  I love eggnog!

*Join The Virtual GNO Add Your Blog Link Below*

Time For A Giveaway!

At my review site, Ann Again... and again Reviews, I have some fun giveaways happening.  If you would like a chance to win these items please visit Ann Again... and again Reviews. 

Alright blog pals get cozy, make yourself a delightful beverage and have fun at our blog-hopping Virtual GNO!

I Guess We Really Have To Talk To These People

Happy Thanksgiving dear blog pals!  I truly appreciate the fact that you check-in on my little corner of the blogosphere.  I wish you health and happiness this day and all the year through.

(I will now go and actually talk to my family face-to-face.  Not through e-mail, not through Twitter and not through comments.  Cheers! )

My Cat Hates The Holidays

My cat is so-o-o-o over the holiday hub-bub.

Virtual Girls Night Out! Turkey Shoot Anyone? And A Giveaway!

Oh my.  We are into our second weekend of painting ceilings.  Ugh.  If anyone knows of how to clean candle, fireplace... years of life soot from a ceiling please share.  This prepping and painting thing stinks!  (Except you do get to listen to music and drink cheap beer, so it's not completely bad ;->)  You know what I'm in the mood for?  A Virtual Girls Night Out!

*The VGNO blog-hop is for those who want to party "virtually" with other bloggers. More exposure for your blog is the point of VGNO. Connecting, supporting, encouraging - those words describe the VGNO Guest. So get on your bunny slippers, make yourself a cocktail add your blog link below and have fun! Happy VGNO!*

Time For Some Tunes!

Carbon Leaf - "Life Less Ordinary"

Carbon Leaf - Life Less Ordinary
Video Codes at http://www.roxwel.com/

*Join The Virtual GNO Add Your Blog Link Below*

Time For A Cocktail!

Turkey Shoot

Ingredients:

1/2 cup bourbon whiskey

1/4 cup triple sec
1 cup cranberry juice
Directions:
Combine ingredients and shake

I wonder how the turkey will taste if I'm sipping on a couple of these while cooking ;->  Oh, who am I kidding?  Rob does the cooking.  Cheers!

*Join The Virtual GNO Add Your Blog Link Below*

Time For A Giveaway!

At my review site, Ann Again... and again Reviews, I have some fun giveaways happening.  And for the next 9 days I'm continuing with the Kymaro 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways!  Day 1 is a Body Shaper, Day 2 is a Bottom Shaper, and Day 3 (November 20th) is a Cami Body Shaper.  Enjoy all the food you want this season, just slip on one of these babies and you are good to go!  If you would like a chance to win these items please visit Ann Again... and again Reviews.

Alright blog pals get cozy, make yourself a delightful beverage and have fun at our blog-hopping Virtual GNO!



My Dog Isn't Subtle

While sitting at the computer I notice Benny has brought me something

And, what's that down the way?

Lily and I discover Benny has delivered another shoe.  Hmmm...

I follow the trail of sneakers to the Living Room to find more footwear arrangements

This selection...

And this selection

In the course of 15 minutes our dog has arranged 4 shoes* in obvious places.  I do believe Mr. Ben wants me to get off the computer and take him for a walk.

(*These aren't my shoes, they're Rob's ;-> )

Dear Commenter, Go Tweet Yourself

@jimmj8871 told me on Twitter this morning:  "@AnnAgain66 how old is your daughter? good approach if younger, if older maybe she needs to figure out by self?"

Is this person kidding me?    (Their comment was in response to my post - click: here)

In this stage of our world development, where bullying is escalating to such terrifying levels that the desperation of some children pushes them to the unthinkable conclusion that committing suicide is the only relief; is this person telling me that I should back off at a certain age and let my child "figure it out for themselves"?  Are you freakin' kidding me?!?

Let me be clear to whomever feels you should let your child "figure it out for themselves", I will always be there, making my presence known, either by actually standing beside my child, or quietly in the classroom corner.  I will be the parent in the principals office asking to have a meeting with other parents, or I will be the one at the PTA Meeting pleading my case hoping others will join me.  I have no qualms of going to the news media if I feel a situation is endangering my child. 

Mama Bears Unite!

When I told my dear husband Rob about the comment I received his reply was this, " Dear @jimmj8871, please define older and younger for me.  At which age should I throw my child into the pit?  Whether my child is 6 or 16 I am still a parent teaching lessons."

Amen.

Will The Sucky Kid Please Stand Up?

While my daughter was devastated that a classmate would go into her desk, take out her personal property, and smash it to bits, (11/11 post: click here) I did my best to stay calm and think of what to do next.  Just what the hell is going on in this place?

I decided to observe her class on Friday.  I spoke with her teacher's individually and let them know, regarding what happened, I'm concerned about the lack of respect, and possible lack of control in the classroom.  They were open to me staying and also asked for my help with the days projects.  I'm happy to help.

My daughter began to feel overwhelmed with her sadness at one point and wanted to leave.  Luckily we were able to hang out in the Principals office and talk it out.  We came up with an idea that would help her move forward with the situation.  Together we wrote a note to the class.  She just wanted to know who did it, and how it happened.  I thought that was so brave.  I gave the note to her teacher, who was very supportive of this process, and headed home.  I thought it would be easier for the class that way -- no Mama Bear hanging out in the corner ready to pounce!

Well, when I picked her up I couldn't believe it, she said the teacher read the note and a classmate confessed.  The two of them had a talk and she felt much better about her place in her school.  Some kids asked, "What's the big deal?  It's just a toy."  And she said, "Everyone has their special things and this is special to me.  That's all."

And that is all.  Now I'm going to go hug my teddy bear.

Let's Help!

http://www.act-today.org/

A wonderful organization called ACT Today! provides grants to families with autistic children. It is through these grants that parents are able to get their autistic children the therapy they need. They aren't trying to figure out a cure, they aren't doing research, they are simply answering the requests of many parents and grandparents who are desperately trying to do their very best to help their loved ones reach their full potential.

An absolutely fantastic blogger, Susan for Secrets of a Suburban Soccer Mom, serves on the advisory board of ACT Today!  Susan has a fun way for us all to contribute to ACT Today!  Please visit Susan's site (click: here) and become a Google Friends Connect (GFC) Follower of Secrets of a Suburban Soccer Mom.  For every new follower, from now until December 1st, she will donate $1 to ACT Today!
 Please become a follower of Secrets of a Suburban Soccer Mom site today!  With the click of a mouse you can make a difference.
 
 
ACT Today!  Autism Care and Treatment
http://www.act-today.org/

Virtual Girls Night Out - Get Happy! & A Giveaway!

While driving home from spending the day with my daughter's 7th grade class I was in dire need of

A) Energy
and
B) A mood lifter

A lovely red wine with lunch?  Sure!  Why not :->

There were actually good kids in the group, it's just dealing with the situation (read: here) of who would take a personal item from my daughter's desk and rip it apart all over the classroom.  Watching the kids respond to her sadness was interesting, some very compassionate, some -- well, they're just little bastards.  (Did I just write that?  Yes, yes I did.)   We did find out who did it, and I'll write about it on Monday.  For now I just want to be happy and play with my blog buddies.  Happy Virtual Girls Night Out!!!

*The VGNO blog-hop is for those who want to party "virtually" with other bloggers. More exposure for your blog is the point of VGNO. Connecting, supporting, encouraging - those words describe the VGNO Guest. So get on your bunny slippers, make yourself a cocktail add your blog link below and have fun! And a huge 'THANK YOU!' to Michelle at The Want Beauty Daily for featuring our Saturday blog-hop.  Happy VGNO!*



Time For Some Tunes!

Guster "Do You Love Me?"

*Join the Virtual Girls Night Out!  Add your blog link below*

Time For A Cocktail!

The Gold, The Bad, and The Ugly

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1 oz Bailey's® Irish cream
Fill with milk
1 1/2 oz Goldschlager® cinnamon schnapps
Directions:
Pour the kahlua and bailey's irish cream into a glass. Fill most of the glass with milk, leaving enough room for the goldschlager. Float the goldschlager using the back of a spoon.


My goodness!  This isn't so much a cocktail as it is a sugar rush.  Enjoy!

*Join The Virtual GNO!  Add your blog link below*

Time For A Giveaway!

With the holiday season quickly approaching I have some wonderful giveaways lined up on my review site  Ann Again... and again Reviews.  Currently there is a great offering from Cookie Cutters From Vermont - Ann Clark Ltd;  a 5-Piece Christmas Gift Set. 

If you would like the chance to win this perfect for the holidays gift set click over to Ann Again... and again Reviews.  They are also offering a discount for my readers with a special code.  Good luck!

Alright blog pals get cozy, make yourself a delightful beverage and have fun at our blog-hopping Virtual GNO! 

I'm Going In

Considering what happened to my dear daughter on Wednesday I'm going to go hang out in her classrooms today.  I'll try to be a fly-on-a-wall.  We'll see if this Mama Bear can keep her temper ;->

( I feel so incredibly fortunate that I have the ability to do this today.  Thank you, dear husband, for working so hard for your family :-> )


*Also... I have a wonderful holiday giveaway happening at Ann Again... and again Reviews.  Check it out!

Kids Can Suck

My oldest daughter made the mistake of leaving one of her precious possessions in her desk at school while she went to join Crossing Guard duty.  When she returned to her classroom she found her favorite belonging had been broken to bits, scattered all over the classroom floor.  To say that she was sad is an understatement.

I thought that I had seen my 12 yr. old breakdown before, but nothing prepared me for her complete devastation. 

There were no clear answers as to how this happened.  Her best friends were trying to help her, consoling her and sharing stories of when something similar had happened to them.  I was immediately 12 again remembering the pain I felt when someone stole something of mine from my desk.  All of a sudden these kids that you spend your days with look totally different to you.  You're suspicious and hate them all! 

I'm sure we'll get more answers on Friday (no school today, Veteran's Day).  Is it time to go live in a bubble?

Jon Hamm Can Cry For Me Anytime

Just an excuse to look at Jon Hamm really :->



This Commerical Actually Ticks Me Off

Ya' know, I don't take myself that seriously.  Laughing is good, we should do it more often.  However, as a blogger and occasional vlogger, I'm a bit irked at this Cinnamon Toast Crunch commercial.

I take this to mean that the makers of this commerical associate people (women) who blog/vlog as ridiculous.  That, by doing what we do, we're just goofy beings that like to record ourselves looking like fools. 

That's how I take it.  What about you?

Virtual Girls Night Out - Where Has It Gone?

I've been out of town the past few weekends so I didn't set up Virtual GNO parties for those that might have wanted to dance their "virtual" booties off or down a few "virtual" cocktails.

But this weekend I have no excuse, other than the fact that I'm still feeling worn down from illness, and emotions surrounding my dad's wife (not my mother) passing.  Learning about my dad, and creating a relationship, takes more from my spirit than I consciously realize.  Only when I come home from our visits does my body react to the situation.

Inner dialogue: Smile Ann, smile - Everything will be ok  -  Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat. (oh wait, that's for my hair).

I'm hoping that I'll get back into the swing of things soon.  Things are definitely different in my life that's for sure.  But if I could just shake this weird cold thing that's happening, I would be doing so much better.  Hopefully a big, ol' Virtual Girls Night Out will happen here next Saturday! :->

Looking Away Doesn't Make It Go Away

It's garbage day and with that brings gentlemen who like to look for "treasures" in the neighborhood bins.  As I was returning home from the school drop-off I noticed that someone was going through the bin in front of our house.  I didn't feel comfortable passing him and pulling into our drive-way so I rolled right on by.  I just wanted to give him time.

After circling the block I headed back only to find that he was still busy.  Hmmm.  I still wasn't comfortable passing him so I circled once again. 

Why?!?

Why didn't I just pull into the driveway say, or nod, a 'hello', and go in my house?   I felt so foolish, I felt ridiculous.  When I came back around the 3rd time he was gone. 

Next time I'll see him.  Next time I'll say 'hello'.  My avoidance was embarrassing.

Wordless Wednesday - Thanks Cat

While I'm feeling a bit under the weather my cat Phoebe is helping me out...

How lucky am I? ;->  (Is it cruel to attach the sponge by rubber band to her paws?)

Check out more Wordless Wednesday here.