Rainy Days and Sundays (always get me down)

I dread Sunday afternoons. On Sundays, I really miss my family. I miss home. And by home, I mean Louisiana. I still don't consider Montgomery, Alabama home. I doubt that I ever will.


We are trying to make the best of it here by starting our own family traditions. For instance, every Sunday morning we go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We have the same waitress, Salena, who knows us and reserves a table for us now. Others go to church but we worship those home-cooked eggs, blueberry pancakes, sausage, freshly baked biscuits and that coffee that keeps coming. After breakfast, we do our grocery shopping for the week. We look forward to it every weekend and we're usually home by 10:30 a.m.



But by Sunday afternoon, we are bored. We have gotten all the house chores done. Generally I've completed the laundry, cooked 2-3 meals, unloaded the groceries, played with Vivian and prepared for the coming week. Kirk has done the yardwork, paid bills, kicked back several beers and surfed the internet.


When 2-3 o'clock rolls around, we become lonely. We miss our families and friends in Louisiana. We know that if we lived there, we would be at some barbecue, fish fry or other fun gathering. Or we could be at a movie or playing trivia games at a buffalo wild wings restaurant. Probably we'd even be hosting our own fun party like we used to do all the time. We had our regulars -- my parents, Kirk's mom, his sister or our friend John.

The Regulars (of the old days):



John or Kirk's mom would come over and we'd play games and watch movies until midnight or so. Fact or Crap, Trivial Pursuit, Scene It, Scattegories and Sequence are some of our favorites. John is flippin' hillarious and does impersonations and quotes lines from random movies. He, Kirk and I go back and forth all night long cracking jokes.


My family takes turns hosting different holiday family functions. My dad has the coolest barbecue pit, made out of brick. They have a covered patio in the back of their house. It is probably one of the most peaceful places on earth. It overlooks a field and there is always a breeze blowing.

Dad's BBQ pit:


We took a trip back to Louisiana in February, just over a month ago. Ever since then, Kirk and I have been "homesick" to go back there. He's even looking for job openings back in the New Orleans area. We didn't realize how much we missed it and our old life there. Seeing Vivian interact with grandparents and cousins was such a joy. Eating all that wonderful seafood was definitely a high point of the trip. I guess we had to leave our roots to fully appreciate them.


When we left Louisiana for Ohio in late 2005, we wanted to leave. We were very bitter about the hurricane, Kirk being laid off, etc. We felt that Louisiana had betrayed us. But that is just life and bad things happen. We have no regrets moving to Ohio. We had a great life there too. We miss that life as well.


Home is wherever Kirk and Vivian are but I sure wish it could also be closer to where our families live - in the New Orleans/Houma, Louisiana area. I think we'd both be happier if we could make it back there someday.


Until then, rainy days and Sundays will continue to get me down. (Gosh, don't you just love the Carpenters?)

To Dance with John Travolta

For some odd reason, when I drove home from work yesterday, a thought popped into my head....I would love to dance with John Travolta! Random, right? Well, not really. Not for me anyway.





Weird things pop into my head all the time. Silly things come to my mind. I think it's because a lot of very serious thoughts and deep questions pass through my brain (like, what is the meaning of life? when will I have faith? what is going to happen in this economy? etc. etc.) So to counteract all my philosophical thoughts, my head will just dream up something wacky.


However, this one is sort of justified. I have always adored John Travolta. And I was listening to "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin so that triggered the scene in the movie "Michael" where Travolta played the archangel. If you've seen the movie, you know the scene. He's got all these women around him dancing because no lady can resist "Michael." Travolta is waving his hands around and moving his hips from side to side and it just looks like a blast. Who wouldn't want to dance with him? From his moves in "Grease," to his trademark motions in "Pulp Fiction," the man has got it going on. I don't find him attractive in appearance per say, but just lovable and someone I could dance with. I'm sure I will never get the chance to dance with him but it is fun just thinking about it.

That's when I started to make a list of random fun things I wish I could do in my lifetime. I didn't want to think hard about it. I just wanted to write whatever came to my mind, the first five things. So, here they are.

1. To dance with John Travolta

2. To be the person who announces, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

3. Announce the winner at the Golden Globes

4. Appear in a music video

5. Throw out the first pitch at a major league baseball game


I promise that I did not spend more than a few minutes to dream these up. They are not set in stone. They're just a list of activities that I know I would enjoy doing. Let me elaborate a bit.


#1. See above. I've already covered this one. Were you paying attention? But I'd like to add that I'd love to do a few moves with him from Pulp Fiction. I thought it was so cool of him to dance with that student from Inside the Actor's Studio because it had been a dream of hers to dance with him as well. See, he's such a down to earth guy.


#2. I have always loved the show Saturday Night Live. I will admit that I haven't really watched it in the last few years. However, the show has always had a fond place in my heart. I love many of the talented comedians and actors that have came from this show. From Bill Murray to Adam Sandler, I often quote random skit lines from an old show and laugh my head off. New York is a place I have always wanted to go (and I will get there someday). How frickin' cool would it be to host that show or to just annouce the show's opening line? It would be awesome.


#3. I'm not exactly sure why I thought of this one. Perhaps it came to me because I actually know someone who has been to the Golden Globes; well she broke in but that's a story for her to tell, right Carrie! ;-) I mean yes, it would be fun to be at a famous awards ceremony. But I think announcing the winner and glancing down at that piece of paper revealing the actor or actress or director who is the winner would be a great experience. And then to congratulate and hug that person before they give their acceptance speech must be an amazing feeling, maybe not as much as the winner but you're right there with that person.

#4. LOL. I'm not sure why I thought of this one either. Maybe it's because Kirk and I were watching that old Bruce Springsteen video where Courtney Cox first appeared. A music video can change lives for some people. No, I just think I would enjoy being on the set, dancing, being around singers and performers. I don't even know whose music video I'd want to be in. The Wiggles? So my daughter would love it. Hahaha. I'll have to come back to this one. See, I told you this was random and not thought out yet.


#5. I love baseball. It is the only sporting event that I'm always willing to go to. The ball park is the most family friendly arena. Plus I love the food. I gorge myself on hotdogs, nachos, peanuts, beers, and anything else I can afford when I go to games. I've only been to one professional baseball game -- the Oakland A's back in 2001. I'd love to go to a Cubs game or a Yankees game or even a Braves game. Those would be the teams where I'd want to throw out the first pitch. To have the crowd cheering me on and to get the game started seems like such a thrill. I wonder if my throw would even make it to the pitcher's mound. After all, I throw like a girl.


So that's it. That is my list. There is mostly no reason behind it. Lists are just somthing I do to get me through the day, whether they are serious or not. Try them someday. Just pick up a pen or crayon and write down some fun things you want to do. It's like free therapy. If you come up with anything good, please let me know. I may want to add it to my list.

The Meltdown Plague

An epidemic is spreading across the U.S. -- it's called the Meltdown Syndrome, aka the Toddler Tantrum disease. Yes my Vivian and all my friends that have kids under the age of 3 seem to be having the same problem lately -- terrible fits and uncontrollable behavior from their little one.



Sadly, I'm beginning to think that impatience, diva-ness and tantrums may just always be a part of Vivian's personality. She's a "spirited" kid as the experts would say. The smallest thing goes wrong or gets out of sync for her and she just loses it. Vivian seems to want instant gratification; she's been that way since the very beginning, (hmmm, that is probably one of the reasons why I had trouble breastfeeding-- she wasn't willing to work at it with me.) She wants everything now.


I'm not a patient person either so we're in for some head-to-head battles in the future. However, I don't throw myself on the floor kicking and screaming when I don't get my way. I don't toss toys and food around just for the heck of it. I have some composure, LOL. To get my frustrations out, I eat chocolate, have a cocktail, listen to angry chick music, vent to friends or just curse internally a little (or a lot).


I have been researching articles on what to do when your toddler has a tantrum. Most experts suggest ignoring the problem, letting them CIO (cry it out) or distracting the kid's attention with something else. They also recommend to talk softly to your child and try to rub their back in a soothing motion. Well I've tried all of these things and most of them do not work with Vivian. Gosh you can't touch her when she is having a meltdown! You certainly can't talk to her or reason with her either. My best hope is to put ear plugs in my ears for a few minutes and let her practice her tantrum opera and hope the mirrors in the house don't break from her piercing scream. After fifteen minutes or so, I then pull her out of the "timeout" playpen dungeon and try to distract her with something like a toy or take her outside for a walk (where there are no witnesses).


Like other moms I know well, Vivian has a huge fit lately when you change her diaper. I mean, honestly, does she want to sit in feces and urine all day? Because I could just leave it there and let the dog lick it up! Why do they hate to be clean and fresh? Anyway, I do my best to change her quickly. I try harder to entertain her while I'm on diaper duty -- I sing to her, give her a toy to play with or whatever. I pull, wipe and snap as quickly as possible.


These kids don't come with a manual and even if they did, I know Vivian would need an "exception" copy because she is an "exceptional" pain in the butt. Well, I can only hope that she will channel all this tantrum energy into something like acting or performing some day. Maybe these mega meltdowns (like her Shirley McClaine "Terms of Endearment" hospital scene fits) will win her an academy award in the future or land her a role on Broadway. We shall see.


In the mean time, could someone please send me a box of chocolates and mix me up an amaretto sour cocktail? That would be great, thank you. Don't make me throw myself on the floor. I'm 30 years old, I might not be able to get back up!

A Full Day at the Spa

A full day at the spa! (How did I get to be so lucky?)




First I have to give you the background story that led me to my spa day:



In January I entered an essay-writing contest through my local moms on-line board. The contest was to write about being a “frazzled mom” or basically how hard motherhood can be. I decided to enter it.

A part of me has always wanted to be a writer so I thought why not try it. There was about 7-8 other people who entered. I was the second person to post my essay. As I read the other essays posted after mine, I began to feel bad, thinking, wow I don’t think I’m as frazzled as some of these women. They have some real challenges. I didn’t think I would win and that was okay. But when the contest was over, I got the call that the judges chose my entry, that it was the most honest and relatable. My prize -- $500 to use at a local hotel, the Marriott Renaissance of Montgomery. I was thrilled! (I will post my winning essay at the very end of this story).


I asked Kirk if he wanted to stay overnight at the hotel or use it toward dinner or brunch. He didn’t seem interested. He said it was my thing so I should spend it however I wanted. So I began looking at their spa services and packages. Something inside of me said here is my chance to blow the whole thing on one fabulous day. Why not really indulge and do something I’d never do with my own money and my whole day at the spa was born.


On March 20, 2009, the first day of spring, I was scheduled for the “Passport to Relaxation” package. Here was my tentative itinerary:

9:00 a.m. – check into the spa. Collect my bathrobe and relax.
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. – exfoliation treatment
10:30 – 12:00 p.m. – full body massage
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. – lunch
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. – facial
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. – pedicure and manicure
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. – shampoo and hair style

(So yeah, a day of heavenly bliss!)

My day began with Kirk cracking jokes before we even got out of bed saying I would have some big Norwegian lesbian named Hilda Beast rubbing her big hands all over me (like the woman in the movie Deuce Bigalow). I said as long as those hands relaxed me and made me feel like a woman, I didn’t care. LOL! I got ready as usual and dropped Vivian off at day care.


To put myself in the mood for the day, I pulled out my Divas songs and got into the groove with Etta James “At Last” and Aretha Franklin’s “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman”. Those ladies inspired me to relax and feel sexy. I arrived at 9:00 a.m. I stepped into my bathrobe and put my things in the locker. The lovely attendant Taquita brought me a complimentary glass of champagne (yes at 9a.m.) and I sat by the whirlpool until my treatments began, after a few pictures of course.

Drinking champagne at 9:00 a.m. --- ahh, I love this place!



First on my list was a chocolate exfoliation treatment by Alicia, a strapping African American woman with hands made of silk. (not the Norwegian lesbian my husband dreamed up). I have never exfoliated before especially not with chocolate-scented lotion. When she rubbed it on my legs, it felt like sandpaper was being run all over me but she said that was because I had shaved two days before. My arms and back didn’t bother me like my legs did so she must’ve been right. After I got all “caked up,” I took a shower and washed away the exfoliation which made my entire body smell great and feel silky soft. And that shower! Wow, I’d give anything to have a shower like that in my home – it had two shower heads at the top and four on each side – so you get water from all angles. Now, that’s a shower!


Then my massage started, also by Alicia. It’s amazing that areas don’t hurt until someone starts touching them or moving your muscles around, but hurt in a good way I guess. Like my legs for instance. Alicia asked me how her pressure was and I told her it was fine. I think my favorite part was when she massaged my scalp and face. Gosh, why does that feel so good? Of course all of it was good – my neck, shoulders and back stay tense constantly but man oh man, the head and face feels so good to the touch. I highly recommend an hour and a half massage if you have the means. An hour goes by too fast and that’s all I have ever had prior to this.

Where all the magic happened:




Massage was over and it was time for lunch. I chose to sit outside by the pool on a lawn chair and under an umbrella. I had ordered a chicken flatbread and a slice of cheesecake for my lunch.


Lunch!




My lunch break was scheduled for noon but the food arrived almost 45 minutes late so the rest of my day and treatments were pushed back. I didn’t really mind though. I enjoyed sitting outside by the pool listening to the birds chirp and the music play. It was a gorgeous day – around 70 degrees and sunny. I was groovin’ to Counting Crows, The Killers, Ben Harper, Gwen Stefani and more without a care in the world.

Pool deck where I ate lunch:





At 1:00 p.m. came my facial by a young girl named Shiloh. It turns out she has a five month old son. Yes, I can’t go without asking someone if they have kids apparently! The facial was actually my favorite part of the day which surprised me. Shiloh was very friendly and talkative and she educated me on taking care of skin. Like did you know that babies produce new skin cells every 4 – 7 days? I didn’t. But that’s why babies skin glows and why their scratches and bruises fade so quickly. As adults though, especially old farts like me over 30, it will take us 40 or so days before we produce new skin cells. So there you go!

Me getting my facial:




Shiloh used this brush on my face to help rid of dead cells. It sounded like a dentist drill but it didn’t hurt. I loved how clean and refreshed my face felt after it was all done. Plus, I loved those hot towels on my face! Just heavenly!


After my facial was my pedicure and manicure by a nice Asian lady named Alice who spoke few words but smiled a lot. At this point, I was still enjoying myself but I got really tired. I kept yawning and I start thinking about my family and wondered what they were doing. I could have fallen asleep in that pedicure chair and not woken up for days. Alice did her magic on my feet and nails. By then it was 3:45 p.m.


My pedicure results (normally I really hate my feet):



I was getting anxious to go but still had my shampoo and style waiting for me. Last came another lady whose name was so long and complicated that I couldn’t reproduce it here. She took her time massaging my scalp (which I loved) and shampooing and conditioning it. She asked me how I wanted to style my hair. I said, nothing special, I am just going home to my husband and sixteen month old daughter. After toying around a few ideas, I just told her to give me a braid going down the sides and back. Kind of like a little house on the prairie girl look, to complete my day of purity and innocence. LOL. So she did.

My innocent hairdo, lol:




It was 5:00 p.m. before I left after paying with my gift card and distributing some tips to those talented women who made me feel like a queen for a day. On the drive home, I felt a little sassy and like I had a skip in my step. So I put on some Janis Joplin and Meredith Brooks and was singing like I had no tomorrow. Then I finished off my drive with “One Fine Day” by the Chiffons. Because after all, it was indeed one fine day.


When I walked into the door, Vivian gave me the biggest smile and came scooting over to me so fast. It made my entire day complete. She is the reason I had this wonderful day. She is the reason I was ever frazzled in the first place. But gosh, she’s so worth it.

The reason for my spa day:



So thank you to the makers and judges of that contest who chose me. I sure enjoyed my day.



-----------------------------------------------------------

Here is the essay that made this day possible for me:

Frazzled Mom Essay Contest Entry – January 2009


"Gripping my steering wheel over the weekend, I pondered the question of motherhood and being a frazzled mom. I don’t have to look or smell very far when Boudreaux’s butt paste remnants are still on my fingertips (even though I washed my hands twice). I find myself humming tunes to The Wiggles even after my daughter is out the car when I used to belt out Alanis Morissette songs.

What happened to me and my life? I became a mom, that’s what! My state of frazzleness is self-inflicted by constant worrying, societal pressures, and a few other factors that have happened over the past year.

The first thing I realized shortly after my daughter was born was that I was not prepared to be a mother. The parenting classes and five-year waiting period did nothing to assist me in the difficult work of being a mom. There is no manual that helps you through the crying, lack of sleep, and more importantly-- the moments when you really don’t love being a mom and do not know how you can continue. Motherhood is rewarding but it doesn’t come easy or naturally to just anyone, certainly not for me. My journey began with me living over 800 miles away from family or friends that would normally be around to offer assistance or an occasional break.

The worry I have in my head each day is enough to drive anyone over the edge. My daughter is not walking yet and she’s fourteen months old; what’s wrong with her? Am I doing enough? She hardly touched her food. Why isn’t she eating? I’m a horrible mother. Why is she throwing a tantrum? Did I mention I’m a horrible mother? I can’t do this. Oh wait, breakfast time is over.

Society says what your child should be doing and I take it personally when my kid isn’t up to par. Why do I compare my child to others? Why does it bother me when my baby isn’t a genius or hasn’t invented a cure for cancer yet? Crazy, I know. This is my brain and how it works when I read or see things like four out of five doctors say this about your children.

Other factors have added to my constant state of worrying. We moved to a new state when my daughter was six months old and we are still trying to sell our old home, with no prospects in sight. I went from being a working mom to a stay-at-home-mom to a working mom again. My daughter had ten ear infections in three months time just after I returned to work. I spent five days over Christmas cleaning up diarrhea since our whole family was sick.

I laugh and cry a lot more than I used to do. Every day I wonder, “Why did I do this and what hell did I get myself into?” Then every night while she’s sleeping, I realize, “Oh that’s why.”

By: Mandy Fernandez

Pop-tarts, Kid Bites, and Gestures, Oh My!

It's been an interesting week for us. Lots of activity. Vivian received a bite on her arm from a bully kid in her day care class. When the teacher called me at work, I just knew who the boy was that did it, even though "company policy" prevented the director from telling me. I hate that the punk punctured my daughter's beautiful skin but I know these things happen often with kids. Maybe next time Viv will be the one biting another kid. Kirk told her it's okay to bite back next time, LOL. I added that she could also kick him where it would hurt!







We've had some trouble feeding Viv lately so we finally laid down some new rules and have omitted snacks before and just after dinner. We have also separated real meals at the dinner table and snacks at her little play table. Surprisingly, it seems to be going well. It's been in place for about about a week now. Fingers crossed that it continues. One thing she never fights me to eat is cheese puffs and pop-tarts. See photos below of her with smeared chocolate pop-tart all over her face.







After months of watching "Signing Time" DVDs, she has been on a roll with making gestures lately. Her favorite is "car," "juice," "cat," "dog," and "cold." She also points to the table, her head, shoulders, and sometimes her nose and mouth. You can tell that she is trying hard to communicate but she has a long way to go. I love how her eyes light up and she screams (I mean really screams) with delight when she discovers a new skill.


I waited sooooooo long for her to walk (fifteen months old) and now she walks everywhere all the time. It really is amazing. Sometimes I look at her and forget that she came from me and my loin, lol. She's so beautiful and so funny sometimes. How on earth did I create this wonderful creature? Ahhh, the mysteries of life and parenthood....

Diverse Friendships and Life Lessons

I just finished reading this book entitled "Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral." I really enjoyed it. It was a good fiction book about friendship, evaluating life, and taking time to have some fun. The story centers around the funeral of a woman, Annie, who plans a traveling funeral just before she dies. She sends five of the most influential, important women in her life on a two week journey and asks them to spread her ashes in various places across the U.S. Her friends don't find out why it's special or significant to Annie until they get to their destination.



Sure there were parts in the book that dragged out or seemed a bit far-fetched. But the concept of the book and the life lessons really resonated with me. I love a good book, (movie, song) that stops and makes you think deeply the way this one did with me. I really don't like funerals. They're sad and hard to deal with. Like the book says, funerals are for the living. So I loved the idea of planning my own funeral and my friends and loved ones having fun on my behalf after I've gone.


I look at all the people in my life that I am lucky to know. I have a bunch of diverse friends -- some Christians, some atheists, some Republicans, some Democrats, some who hate both, some white, some black, some male, some female, and on and on. All of them have shaped me and influenced me in some way. Some of them I feel so incredibly close to but have never even met in real life. They are my virtual friends, my true soul sisters. They bring out something in me and make me want to give a part of myself that I didn't know was there or even existed before. It's wonderful. I have my sanity because of the people in my current life.


This book makes me more appreciative of my friends and of the life I have. Even though I don't have it all figured out, even though I'm not sure I believe in God and heaven most of the time, even though I'm not sure if I am Republican just because I voted that way, even though I don't know if I am a good mom, even though I don't know what I want do with the rest of my life, I do know this....that I'm a lucky lady for the life I've led so far. I'm a lucky gal for those people who have touched me in some way, shape or form. I'm lucky for getting to live in the places I have lived and the travels I have gotten to make. I am lucky because I'm pausing to write this post at this moment and reflect on who I am and what I have.


So if I die tomorrow or the next or years from now, I hope that maybe something like a traveling funeral will happen in my honor. I hope that maybe some of my wonderful friends who don't know each other would get the chance to meet in real life, kick back and have a few drinks and pause to think about their lives too. And then like the book says, Pause, reflect and then go on.


Thanks to the author Kris Radish for writing a book that made me pause and is helping me to move on in my life in a new way that I needed to. Thanks to all my wonderful friends who may read this. I love you all. You're all my heroes and thanks for loving me back as I am.

Ready for her Training Bra?

Last night Vivian grabbed my bra that was sitting on the couch along with all the other folded laundry. She then walked all over the house proudly showcasing her mommy's bra (a 36-B, I think. I don't know; it's been so long since I've bought a new bra and the tag was cut out of this one). But if we're talking hooters, then Vivian will probably outweigh me someday. She already has a set of knockers that peek through her shirts. LOL. Anyway, the whole thing was pretty funny and I was able to snap these few photos of her.


Well, look at this!


Let the revolution begin, I'm ready to burn my bra mom!



Dad, have you seen this? I bet you've never seen this before the way you're smiling like that.

Sick Child with Cuddle Benefits

So my daughter Vivian has been sick since Tuesday (March 3rd). And of course I hate it when she's sick. It means sleepless nights and worry for all of us. She is the most pitiful little thing when she's not feeling well, just a lifeless ragdoll instead of her easy smile and exuberant personality. She is on the mend now but still not quite herself.

Vivian has been sick for half of her life -- ear infections (thank goodness for the tubes put in), upper respiratory infections, and the latest thing -- a fever virus. She's in a daycare with at least six other kids on a daily basis so it's inevitable that she will catch something at least once per month, unfortunately.

While I don't ever want her to be sick or in pain, I do love it when she cuddles with me and that only happens usually when she's ill. You see, Viv is not a very affectionate baby at all. From the beginning, she's never wanted to be touched or hugged a lot. She doesn't mind you being right next to her, but gosh, don't touch her! But for the past three days, she has curled up in lap, fell asleep while snuggling with me, and even let me rock her for awhile. And I just love it.

It reminds me of when she was just a few weeks, months old and wanted no one but me to hold her. As soon as I'd hold her, she'd stop fussing or crying (most of the time). She would lean against my beating chest and I imagine she'd pretend to be in utero still. Those were not easy times as I was adjusting to motherhood and the lack of sleep, etc. But every once in a rare moon, I remember those early days and nights when she was tiny, helpless, and not quite as sassy as she is now. ;-)

Get well my Vivian Rose. I want you to be my healthy girl getting into everything as you are discovering to walk around more. But could you squeeze in some cuddle time every now and then? I sure do enjoy it and I sure do love you kiddo.

Figuring it all out

Maybe one day I should be on a Jeopardy show. Not that I know a damn thing about obscure knowledge or history or literature. But I'm always asking questions. I could invent a game about questions.

I'm the one that can always come up with something to ask about. Have I always been this way? I'm not sure. I don't remember. My memory stinks and it has gotten worse ever since I had my daughter (October 29, 2007). I'm always analyzing this or that about myself, my life, my choices, the fruit in the grocery aisle, my socks with the holes in them, and so on and so on.

I wonder if I'll ever be truly satisfied or find a place where I can just be and relax. At age 30, I had hoped I would have had more things figured out by now. Nope! I'm more confused now than ever. I struggle with being a good mom, a good wife, a good friend, a good person. Do I believe in God? Do I really need that piece of chocolate? Why didn't I remember to pick up that liquid dish detergent on my way home? It's always something....

Maybe writing this blog will help me figure things out. Or maybe it will just be fun or a journey that I can share with my daughter Vivian someday. We'll find out. Let the fun (and lots of questioning) begin....

About Me

Who am I? Well that is the question, isn't it? Right now, I'm a wife, a mom, an aspiring writer, a toddler butt-wiper, a dog-feeder, a kick the cat off the bed at night gal, and much more. I sometimes miss the days when I was just Mandy with no real worries. But my life is full and fun and well, I wouldn't trade that for anything. I was born a Cajun girl in South Louisiana. I later lived in New Orleans then moved to Dayton, Ohio for a few years, followed by Montgomery, Alabama for over a year. Now I'm living in Pensacola, Florida and I hope to stay here for a long time. I have virtual friends across the U.S. and even in Canada. It's wonderful because when you can't find pals living down your street, you might just find them several states and a few internet waves away. Stay tuned for more of my crazy antics and wacky thoughts. If you have questions or comments, please e-mail me at littlebit.mandy@gmail.com.