Miguelina

Ah, The French...

Not sure why I like this video, but I do:

Make The Girl Dance "Baby Baby Baby" ( official video )
by placeblancherec

Maybe it's because the bystanders are remarkably nonchalant about the whole thing? I can see the thought bubbles over their heads, "¡Mon Dieu! Cette Fille needs a scarf or she'll catch a cold!"

25 Random Things

From Facebook. I caved in to peer pressure:

1. I have dual citizenship. So do my kids.

2. I’m a night owl. My children are early birds. This is, as they say, Not Good.

3. I have two favorite numbers: 4 and 9. My phone number and address include both these numbers and I take it as a good sign.

4. I can’t parallel park. Yes, I think it is shameful.

5. I learned to read at 3, so I got to skip first grade. Woo-hoo!

6. On a related note, I graduated from high school at sixteen, and graduated from college at twenty. I am special.

7. I didn’t speak a word of English until I was in fourth grade. This is why I don’t stress out about speaking Spanish to my kids exclusively. They’ll get it. They’ll have no choice.

8. I speak fluent high school French - not to be confused with actual French. (Let me prove it to you: Où est la bibliotheque? - SEE?)

9. I’m blind as a bat. My contact lens prescription is -6.50 and -5.75. I’m afraid to get Lasik.

10. I have to shower every morning. It wakes me up. I’s sooner give up my morning coffee than my morning shower.

11. I don't watch much TV - except for Gossip Girl and Mad Men.

12. When I was little, I wanted to be a zoologist.

13. I hate snow and ice with a fervent passion. Why do we live in Boston, you ask? EXCELLENT question.

14. I will never turn down dark chocolate. Ever. Give me a brownie and I will love you. Forever.

15. Macaroni and cheese is nice, but my preferred comfort food is rice and beans with picadillo.

16. I will eat anything if it has figs in it.

17. I like paper: Books, newspapers and letters

18. I haven’t made my kid’s baby books, and I live in constant fear of a hard drive failure that will erase their baby pictures forever.

19. You know how in German the word “mädchen” (young girl) is genderless? That bothers me.

20. I don’t understand the need for children’s menus, or kid food. Sorry. Food is food.

21. I don’t trust women that don’t have close female friends.

22. I’m grossed out by frozen dinners - stuff like Stouffers or Lean Cuisine. Blech.

23. Know what else is gross? Oysters. Eww...

24. When I was little, I wanted to have curly hair. Now I love my straight hair, because I am lazy.

25. I still wear my retainer.

Breaking resolutions before I make them

Guess who was going to "write more" in '09?

I don't know what it is about this year, but I've had a hell of time trying to even come up with one concrete thing I want to accomplish. I keep writing things down and then erasing them - I guess 2009 is destined to be a wash.

(I don't really believe that.)

I do know that I don't want this year to just fly by with nothing to show for it. And I also know that I am a certified resolution-maker. I make resolutions, I keep most of them. It's what I do. So why can't I decide what I want from this year?

At first I was going to try creating one good habit a month. January's "habit" was going to be "waking up early" but its corollary habit, which is "going to bed early," is keeping me from fully committing. Waking up early is as easy as setting an alarm clock - it's the going to bed early part that's hard.

I also want to write 100 pages of a manuscript I've had rattling around my brain for a couple of years now. Don't worry, it has nothing to do with blogging or motherhood. It's nonfiction, aaand that's all I can say for now. Why 100 pages? Because I want to have something that I can show someone to see if it's something anyone would be interested in buying, of course.

Vague enough for you?

There is no conclusion to this post. There's no point to it. I just don't know what I want to do this year. Blargh.

Guess who has an iPhone?

I love it.

The end.

(A real post will come tomorrow. I'm currently working on figuring out how my new phone works.)

(Squee!)

Let's Chat!

Hey! Do you have any burning Thanksgiving turkey related questions? I'm like *this* with Carol Miller, one of the Butterball Talk-Line experts who helped Rachael Ray with her turkey questions and now she wants to help you. Here's your chance to get some help!

Committed

Since I've managed to blog every day so far in November, I guess it's pretty safe to throw my hat in the ring for National Blog Posting month. Too bad my brain is absolutely fried after writing 6 posts for work in the last two days.

Why am I doing this again?

I didn't mean for...

... my blog to turn into an Obama lovefest, but...

He has a blog.

Just when I thought I couldn't like him any more, they go and do this. LOVE!

(I'm only saying hello for a second - I'm way behind on work deadlines and my baby boy is sick with the coxsackie virus and he doesn't care much for my deadlines. So now that he's napping I've got to get to work.

Talk to you later,)

Don't fear the turkey

I've been keeping a secret from you, internet.

I'm on my way to Chicago.

Why?

Here's a clue:

Can you figure it out?

No?

Click here to find out!

(You'll never, ever, guess - I can hardly believe it myself.)

Blogher Boston

I've been wanting to go to Blogher for a long time. There's just a little problem (well, two, if we're going to get specific): I have kids. Little kids.

Yeah.

I've always wondered how parents manage to get away for a weekend. It's hard to do. Believe me, I've tried. I know people do it all the time, but I haven't figured it out yet. Heck, she has a hard time too, so cut me some slack.

When I found out that Blogher was going to bring the party to my corner of the world, I literally had no excuse. So I went. And it was good.

The End.

Oh, I kid. I met some people and had a wonderful time. This is going to take a while, so you may want to get that drink you've been meaning to get.

I am a Jackie. I do everything the right way.

I can't resist these internet quizzes. They remind me of the ones from Seventeen magazine - I loved taking those! I somehow always end up as the perfectionist brunette.

No surprise there, since "I do everything the right way." I may put that on a poster. No, seriously - I had a meltdown yesterday because my new eyebrow lady made them too thin. Yes, we're probably talking millimeters here. I think I need to chill out a bit.

......

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn?  Or Someone Else?  Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Jackie!

   

You are a Jackie.  "I do everything the right way."

Jackies are realistic, conscientious, and principled. They strive to live up to their high ideals.

 

How to Get Along with Me 

* Take your share of the responsibility so I don't end up with all the work.   

* Acknowledge my achievements.   

* I'm hard on myself. Reassure me that I'm fine the way I am.   

* Tell me that you value my advice.   

* Be fair and considerate, as I am.   

* Apologize if you have been unthoughtful. It will help me to forgive.   

* Gently encourage me to lighten up and to laugh at myself when I get uptight, but hear my worries first.

 

What I Like About Being a Jackie

* Being self-disciplined and able to accomplish a great deal 

* Working hard to make the world a better place   

* Having high standards and ethics; not compromising myself  

* Being reasonable, responsible, and dedicated in everything I do   

* Being able to put facts together, coming to good understandings, and figuring out wise solutions   

* Being the best I can be and bringing out the best in other people

 

What's Hard About Being a Jackie 

* Being disappointed with myself or others when my expectations are not met   

* Feeling burdened by too much responsibility   

* Thinking that what I do is never good enough   

* Not being appreciated for what I do for people   

* Being upset because others aren't trying as hard as I am  

* Obsessing about what I did or what I should do   

* Being tense, anxious, and taking things too seriously

 

Jackies as Children Often 

* Criticize themselves in anticipation of criticism from others  

* Refrain from doing things that they think might not come out perfect 

* Focus on living up to the expectations of their parents and teachers   

* Are very responsible; may assume the role of parent   

* Hold back negative emotions ("good children aren't angry")

 

Jackies as Parents 

* Teach their children responsibility and strong moral values 

* Are consistent and fair   

* Discipline firmly

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn?  Or Someone Else?  Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy