In her words...

"Daddy, tomorrow I want to go eat out."

Note: she's 2 years and 9 months.

Some days it sucks to be a mom...

...like today, when I would've rather had my baby (Larissa, almost six) rip out my heart from my chest and step all over it. Instead she freaked out after I dropped her off at soccer camp, and run after me crying "mami, mami!"* not wanting to let me go. Gulp, sigh, and sniff.

Guilt is a powerful emotion. The need to hold her and cuddle her and keep her with me for the rest of her life even more so. And as her mom, the knowledge that it's better for her if I don't, the one that makes everything just suck. Ugh.


*for the non-Spanish speakers, the translation would be "mommy, mommy!"

Beware of the 5%!!!

Also known as "other duties as assigned" - that last line on most job descriptions, the 5% truly is a trap created by employers to make sure that: (1) they can change your job description at will without increasing your salary (heaven forbid!), and (2) you take on any duty whatsoever that can in any way, shape or form be associated with your current job description.

Case in point here: my friend and office neighbor Kristin, who for the purposes of this blog shall also be known as "Events Queen", was in charge of an event at work yesterday. Her job description has no custodial duties attached to it, and her title doesn't even get close to them - neither do mine. However, at the end of the day (a very, very, very long day), she and I found ourselves cleaning the patio off stepped-on crackers, grapes and cheese. Gross. But necessary. And yes, I did take some pictures for material and because I liked the light, but trust me, I also got my hands dirty (and wet).

So, beware of the 5%... and from this day on, if you drop a grape, a cracker or some cheese on the floor, for heaven's sake pick it up yourself!

Shell shocked!

I have to step aside from my usual entries just to do a little pat on the back... I just got two entries into the photography contest at the OC Fair!! I figured what the hell, I'll just send them and see. I mean, I like them, but it's so nice to know that others liked them too - enough to allow them into the exhibit hall!

As James Brown liked to sing... OW!!! I feel good...

Ever wonder...

...who the people are who write in those descriptions for movies on TV? Sometimes when I'm channel surfing and wondering what to watch, I read those descriptions and use them as a guide.

Granted, they're not much of a guide at all. I think nobody would ever watch TV if they based the decision on those descriptions. Try it! Read them and think about them. They don't work but for the simplest of movies, or the worst ones (they could actually make those appealing!)

I'm waiting to run into "Gone With the Wind" and see what is written. I bet it will be something like "Woman loses house in fire during Civil War." Margaret Mitchell would weep from her grave.