Mama Milton

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*tickle tickle*
2008-03-17 02:49:00
I can't think of anything better: Celebrating new life, reaffirming friendship. Cam has stuck around - he was the best man at our wedding in 1994 - and seen us through babies, diapers, good years and bad.Turn about is fair play. When we stood up in church, pledging to be there as Sage grows up, I was overwhelmed. It really is something, watching these kids come into our life.To think, when we were in our 20s, majoring in Doofus 101, we'd make it this far.My heart is full.Little Sage whispered "tickle, tickle" as she reached out to get me. What a cutie.

trader joe's is not a racetrack; a letter
2008-03-16 21:36:00
Dear Maniacal Driver,I was instructing my son on the manner in which we leave grocery stores and enter parking lots - touching on the finer points of being a short person unseen to moving cars - when you flew past me, emphasizing my lesson and scaring the bejeebus out of us.Please be advised: Busy parking lots do not welcome your sort. Kindly slow down or stay home.Regards,Mama Milton(Yes, I considered running your car down, ramming it a bit, but that's not how my mama raised me. Count your lucky stars.)
More About: Letter , Trader Joe

s is for sage
2008-03-15 18:13:00
Remember when I won the illustrious Ms. Melanie's Elliebean giveaway? Well, I'm headed to sweet Sage 's dedication at her church this morning, with this is hand. Isn't it beautiful?I love it.*thank you, thank you*

friday shorts
2008-03-14 16:37:00
Zack has acclimated to the time change. He curls around my middle, and in the dark, he fingers my eyebrows before comparing them to his own.He decides his are softer, but mine? They are like rainbows. Somehow I know he is grinning.* Lexi hands me a pamphlet, outlining the upcoming Talk about Puberty. Her crinkled nose tells me all I need to know. "WEAREGOINGTOTALKABOUTTHISATSCHOOL? Wwwwhhhyyyy?" When I try to explain that not every kid has this information, she trails off, trying to imagine a world where mothers don't initiate awkward conversations, utter embarrassing words. Not that she'll ever know.
More About: Friday , Shorts

the girl who stopped by Powell's books
2008-03-13 17:35:00
This is how I know my sister loves me: She has no use for books but she called me yesterday, breathless, to let me know that Joshilyn Jackson was being interviewed on a local radio station, rightnow. Hurry.(Yes, that author. Lori understands my crazy.) This is how I know Bad Mom loves me: She read gods of Alabama, though she had been sick and weary with the plague and crazy busy, just in time for the reading at Powell's last night.It's a wonder to be understood. And here's the thing: I can nearly adore, nay worship in some ungodly fashion, an author from a distance, and maybe, just maybe, leave a comment on their blog, but when I see them face to face, I feel like a damn groupie and stammer.Maybe I'm nervous because of that wildcat, inches away from my skull.And sputter. Perhaps stutter.Laurel, one of the main characters in Jackson's book, is an art quilter. Joshilyn had this one commissioned, just like one in the book. There is a real human tooth, lodged in the toe of the boot...
More About: Books , Girl , The Girl

signs of life
2008-03-12 14:00:00
I woke up to signs of spring, seemingly overnight. (Need a picture post? Wordless Wednesday has you covered.)
More About: Life , Signs

first draft
2008-03-11 17:25:00
"Talent is long patience." Gustav FlaubertI've taken pains to line up some time to sit here and work on writing fiction, finishing a short story or working on My Novel. The one that exists primarily in my head. I avoid talking about it much here because I am a) struggling, staring at an empty screen & b) I sound like I am vying for the American Idol, dopey and dreamy-eyed, and perhaps, delusional.But be that as it may, I've made this goal a priority and I want see it through, despite my efforts to the contrary.See me cleaning my house and watching Bette Davis in a less complimentary version of Elizabeth, in the Virgin Queen - like I need more Tudor-obsession in my life.(Joan Collins as Beth! I could spend all day! Avoiding writing!)By mid-afternoon, I clutched my laptop, closed my eyes and channeled my best brave Anne Lamott, minus the dreadlocks - because I just can't pull it off - and pushed my way through a 1000 words.Something tells me it isn't going to be any easier tod...
More About: Draft

railing against the daylight (where's my savings?)
2008-03-10 16:27:00
The time change isn't agreeing with me. No 'I' statements here; it's all the clock's fault.I'll own Friday's late night with the kids, post-hockey game that threw their tender bodies into chaos. They slept in Saturday, just in time for the springing forward and further sleeping in on Sunday.See the pattern? Even my Human Alarm Clock is struggling; Greg is lugging himself out of bed around 4:30 or 5 which by my calculations means he is working in the middle of the night now.And paying $3.67 to fill the tank before he drives all over our little corner of the world.(I feel a case of the Mondays coming on.)My trusty CBS News Sunday Morning reassured me that our family needs more sleep and I'm on board, epecially for Greg's sake, if I could figure out how to pull it off. How do you manage, dear readers?
More About: Daylight , Savings

ultimate blog party, 2008 (1999 did have a better ring to it)
2008-03-08 18:22:00
I have lost my everloving mind, searching for more great blogs to read because honestly, my life plate is full. But I couldn't resist, partying with the girls.Pretending I own a turn table.And records. So, here's the scoop: Throw a party, and mingle with the ladies - all from the comfort of your own home. Did I mention there are prizes? Groovy.And if you are new here today: Welcome. I'm terrible at introductions so check out my about page and please, browse around. (And while you are all dolled up, why don't you stop over at Mommified Me and drop off some birthday love and attention to Ms. Cami. She deserves it.)
More About: Party , Blog , Ring , Ultimate , 2008

call me obedient (I didn't flake.)
2008-03-07 17:46:00
K. at She's in Transition and Daisy at All's Quiet on the Homefront graciously tagged me with a fun meme, the one where you dig through your archives and re-run some old posts.Which sounds easy. Except this is post #445, and I'm terribly indecisive. So without further ado, I found some posts that made me chuckle, light and breezy on a Friday afternoon.So, the rules say I must - and it doesn't sound very bossy, no? -do the following:Link one must be about family.Link two must be about friends.Link three must be about yourself.Link four must be about something you love .Link five can be about anything you choose.Ta-da. I will flake on the tagging portion of the meme, because I am just that lazy today. If you want to play along, let me know and I will add your name ____________right here.
More About: Call , Flake

keeping up with the joneses
2008-03-06 02:07:00
My family and I live a life of ease. We have plenty to eat, our needs are met and on most days, I feel like the luckiest girl on the third rock from the sun. I do.But, my skin has been crawling lately and I am trying, desperately, to be a big person and not come unglued each time I hear the phrase The Neighborhood, the one that is special in ways I guess I will never know.When I am feeling particularly noble, I see the snobbishness, incessant chatter about moolah and plastic surgery for what it is: Insecurity. Desperation. Need. And I want to be kind.I want to be kind but I am finding it hard when I'm pretty sure they aren't too eager to be quite as generous to me in my Target t-shirt and drugstore lipstick.I used to think when Greg and I made more money someday - and ironically, we do these days - I wouldn't be unnerved by desperate housewives. That becoming affluent would erase my insecurities.But anymore, the divide grows for me: Less about economic class, and more about lifes...

sailing into spring
2008-03-05 06:50:00
Crown ParkSome of the best days of my summer were spent here, near this rusty ol' boat.*sigh*(Need a winter break? Check out Wordless Wednesday.) +++++Much to My Sjogren is ALL NEW...and not too whiny.
More About: Spring , Sailing

this is my angry face
2008-03-04 19:16:00
Granted, this is not worthy of breaking news so I will pour myself a cup of joe and take to my couch to grumble quietly. But I was reworking my broken blogroll, updating it, when my computer shut down unexpectedly. Your URLs? Not saved.Grrrr.I will try again later.
More About: Face , Angry

recap. because I didn't post all weekend.
2008-03-03 17:44:00
tap tap tap...is this thing on?Here I am, posting the post I intended for Saturday, before the day ran away with me and my computer threw a fit.(Love & Logic doesn't work on my laptop. I tried.)Somehow Zack managed to soldier on, healthy and spunky as ever. I *helped* Lexi bake Junior Mint Brownies for the girl scout bake-off and she finally left the couch.(What's that? Did Greg catch the flu? I think if you listen closely, you'll hear *fraud* & *cheater*. I just figured that my thrice-hourly scoured hands should be the ones handling food. Because I love children.)Zack spent the remainder of his 11 month-old birthday gift card on a spider-man learning laptop he's being eyeing since summer. He hunched over in the corner, dodging bad guys, caressing the keyboard. Like me.The kids and I delivered girl scout cookies yesterday, and visited with some friends until dinner, when I ran away with Stephanie and Jen, to see The Other Boleyn Girl. (We were sadly unimpressed.)...
More About: Post , Weekend , Recap

the plague, it burns
2008-02-29 17:39:00
The sun came out, the birds were tweet, tweet tweeting and my girl? The one who hoped to go back to school Thursday?She began puking in the wee hours of morning, feverish and sad.We created a nest at the end of my bed, and Aunt Lori delivered 7-Up, curbside, while I unsuccessfully explained to Zack why we couldn't have a play date - despite the sunshine, despite the half-day. He was personally offended, missing his built-in playmate.(Paint him dim.)I stood in my backyard, the sun on my face, sick with cabin/spring fever; holding out for March.
More About: Burns

blogging for books (I am not a stalker)
2008-02-28 15:00:00
Working at Borders had its perks: I could check out brand spanking new titles, to my little heart's desire. The company always sent boxes of oranges and apples to the staff during the holidays. And best of all, we got to read advanced reader's copies, which made me feel like I was one of those bright kids in class until I realized I was ahead in no meaningful way. Just spoiled.Jenny-O - she warrants a post of her very own - somehow beat me to gods of Alabama when our copy arrived. She whipped right through it and pressed it in my willing hands, making me loyal to Joshilyn Jackson, evermore.(Evvvermmmorrre. Yes, my obsession admiration was complete when I read Between, Georgia and then found Ms. Jackson's blog, Faster than Kudzu. So witty & smart & delightful. Nearly every day. I've morphed into the One Hour Photo guy, only without the murderous tendencies or creepy photos. Ok, I'm nothing like him. I'm Wonderbread crazy.)So, when Dee the stalker of Dee's Book Dish ann...
More About: Books , Blogging , Stalker

my home girl
2008-02-27 18:04:00
Day three of the Barkathon 2008: Non-stop coughing punctuated with chitchat about penguins and/or rabbits. We are an obsessive people - we, Miltons - but rarely over the same subjects, making it hard for me to keep up my side of the conversation.I'm drowning in penguin pictures; fluent in rabbit factoids.One might ask: Why don't you send her back to school? She sounds lively.She's not. She's just meeting the prescribed tween girl word quota. It's built in the genetic code.So, here we sit, waiting for Martha Stewart Living to air; something to quell her mind while I can't do the same for her cough.
More About: Home , Girl

cat nap
2008-02-27 15:28:00
Plain tuckered out. I bet you aren't...heh.Go check out Wordless Wednesday.

Mount Barclay Project: reading, wRiting & rice
2008-02-26 18:53:00
Sunday morning I set out to write a post, whining about cold tootsies and the search for cocoa the night before, selling girl scout cookies outside a grocery store. I still stand by the original sentiment: It sucked. It was cold. There was crying.But after hearing two young men speak at church - one from Liberia, the other from Sierra Leone - I decided to not hit 'publish'. It just seemed tacky.(I went on to post a bunch of frivolous pictures the next day, so I don't believe I will be winning a human rights award, any time soon.)I want to pass the experience on; the wars in Africa made flesh. I don't know how. We have all heard it before. The genocide. The boy soldiers that walk in the shadows, traveling at night. The girls forced into prostitution, burdened with babies and STDs.And I feel helpless in the face of such enormous problems. I want to turn away, because what can I do? One person.Saah Joseph, Mount Barclay Project I picked up the kids and the line at the PLAN Loving Ad...
More About: Reading , Writing , Rice

papparazzi
2008-02-25 18:05:00
It was Oscar night and I was a little excited. So excited, that I kinda overshot the big hair thing.I think we can all be thankful I didn't have a swan dress floating around in my closet. I can't be trusted.Bad Mom hosted a great party, even though she is not 100% better and she is bringing out my maternal instincts. (Please do take care. I mean it.)And now I am off to brew some tea for my girl, the latest victim of the cough that keeps giving.

for our fallen brethern
2008-02-22 17:14:00
Several of my favorite local bloggers are sickly right now; down right grounded. I myself had to throw away some perfectly good spring rolls after they were contaminated with fever spittle while eating lunch with Zack last week.Glassy eyed classmate: I *cough cough* missed school *cough cough* all week, *takes a drag off his oxygen machine* but my fever is only 100 *passes out...revives* so I came back *cough cough* today. He leans in to say something to Zack, over my lunch and hacks. Bye, bye lunch.So, in honor of the ill among us, I've got some suggestions, to pass the time. Find yourself an able body and send them to Blockbuster, stat:I picked this up on Tuesday and CAN'T WAIT to finally see it tonight. It's one Greg wants to watch too, but the guy gets up in the dark and leaves at 5 am each day, so any flick over 2 hours must be saved for the weekend. Yes, we are old(er). Hush. We settled for Lost last night...Michael Clayton gets the nod, despite the fact that I was disappoi...
More About: Fallen

cracking the books, little milton edition
2008-02-21 17:38:00
It wasn't until I met Mr. Ford, that I gave math a chance. Most years, teachers would sniff out my bibliophile status and start baring their teeth; I was a lost cause.Ford didn't try to convince me that I would in fact be using obscure math concepts in my everyday life as a bestselling author or minister in the church of Christ.(Guess who is laughing now?)We found each other amusing - he loved math and long distance running, kill me now - kept it light and I started getting perfect test scores. Me. Who knew?I'm trying that approach when doing homework with Lexi is trying my patience. With a little help from my friends:Tracy, from Being European-ey , sent Lexi this fun math book for girls, with recipes, and real-life applications that sneak the 'nasty' stuff in. Like those cookbooks.Lexi's eyes grew wide - someone, in exotic CANADA - bought her a book.We can't wait to put this bizarre curriculum aside and have some fun with numbers.*****After we drank tea, and put in our math ...
More About: Books , Cracking , Milton , Edition

tangled up & twisted
2008-02-20 06:25:00
This tree caught my eye. Need more eye candy, turn to Wordless Wednesday.*I also updated Much to My Sjogren too.
More About: Tangled

it may take more than 40 days, or 4
2008-02-19 15:31:00
(Hear ye, hear ye: When taking a break from blogging - what a silly word - never, ever promise to be superwitty when you return. Shoot for the middle.)It was an act of Providence, Lexi being a good hour away when I started combing through her room, lest I lose my lenten mind and choke my little hoarder. Wait. Did I say comb? I meant to say shovel. We helped a lot of people at Goodwill this weekend. We broke away from the painting, repairing, and excavation for Happy Hour down by the river Saturday night and after waiting a while to snag a seat, we feasted on delicious bar food. A couple plopped down next to us, with two little tagalogs, preschoolers. And because I was a motherless mother that night, I wasn't thrilled about their arrival, but I exercised some understanding - I have my kids with me all the time, so what's a few more over cocktails. I must be parenting wrong because I don't start dinner out with a rousing, "Are you ready to raise a little hell?" Greg and I shot eac...
More About: Days

presidential kisses
2008-02-14 19:55:00
Today marks the start of a four day weekend, and it's the 100th day of school, and it is Cupido's day at the range. I am off to commemorate a hundred days of blog reading education at the school, but first I must lovingly bake pick up some fancy schmancy Valentine cookies, sure to keep the kiddies wound up until Saturday.The sun is expected to make a guest appearance here in the land of raindrops and roses so I am taking a blog-vacation, scooting the kids off to their grandparents' house and making merriment with my hubby. (And painting the house, but that is not the sexy stuff you are supposed to mention on Valentine's day.)I hope this cures my waning blog enthusiasm; I'm tuckered out. And resorting to bondage with unexpecting repairmen. Something must be done to remedy my plight.I plan on reappearing Tuesday, refreshed and witty. Perhaps even super witty, just like the founding fathers intended, long long ago.
More About: Presidential , Kisses

that groundhog was wrong
2008-02-14 00:40:00
Our garage door, it went kaplooey. Its spring went sprung and so I raced around this morning so I could get back in time for the garage door repairman, who arrived 15 minutes after the allotted 'you must be here' grounded time. Naturally.Drat.Before the spring-a-thon, I met with a physical therapist this morning for my neck. It refuses to budge from its fetal position. I talked all tough when I saw my dear friend Jen yesterday about how I am willing to do whatever I need to do to get all better and essentially sock this injury/arthritis in the gut, earning me the title, Brave Little Toaster.I guess I figured I'd march in like Rocky and battle it out, like I did when I hurt my knee. But instead, the therapist stretched and massaged my sore neck until it felt like butter. On toast. Or a BLT.(Now I've lost all of you, with my mixed pop culture references.)I'd say something clever right about NOW, if I could think of a fitting way to end such a post, but I've got nothing.(And so c...
More About: Wrong

puppy sings the blues
2008-02-12 20:15:00
So my girl returned from her sleepover with two new passions: Overusing, and misusing the word 'Goth' and the desire to spend her Christmas giftcard on an iDog. Rightaway.And while I deciphered goth to mean not babyish, little girl stuff - like her delicately pink bedroom, for instance - I kept the shopping trip at bay until Sunday afternoon, when I grudgingly made an emergency trip to Target to pick up her new pup.Now, at first glance, this is my kind of dog, what with its perky ears and no-poop factor. Hollister (you can call her *Holli* if you like) prefers Love Me Do and the theme from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, passing the litmus test for good taste in the World According to Me. I was making dinner ahead of time, for after the PTA board meeting, when I spotted the puppy, sitting on the counter. I couldn't resist. I fiddled with it and I sang for it; I talked to it and I even tweaked its tail, just so I could hear it growl.(I'm a jerk.)I went back to my dishes when I heard a ...
More About: Blues , Puppy , Sings

please give us the power to blow people's minds with our high voltage rock
2008-02-10 20:53:00
We flip through the channels on any given night, and spot School of Rock on TNT. Because let's face it: They broadcast six movies, in rotation.Me (fiddling in the kitchen): Oh, I'm not watching it. I'll be ready to go upstairs in a minute.Greg (eating his nightly cookies & milk): Oh, me neither. And then we are supernaturally sucked in, again. I guess it's time to admit - with the Oscars just around the corner - that while I love a good movie, I can't resist Jack Black and his kiddie rock band. Guilty, guilty pleasure.
More About: Power , Minds , High , Give

morning
2008-02-09 18:06:00
Zack wanders in the dark; I gave birth to an alarm clock. He won't go play. He misses his sister.Lexi spent the night with her newest, bestest BFF, a delightful little girl that would cringe at that description. (And may I add: Red hair. Call me Envy.)I thought about her last night, with another family down the road. Up until now, she has always been with people I hang out with - family, family friends, Girl Scouts I've camped with.And though there isn't any reason to worry, the house felt empty.She is taking steps into her own world, where I will not follow.Where did the time go?
More About: Morning

exit evacuate exodus escape & now, EXCELLENT
2008-02-08 19:59:00
This is my favorite t-shirt; I've had it for years. It's really a woobie.I haven't quite figured out how to use my new tripod & focus. My camera outwits me every time.I bought it when I was pregnant with Miss Lexi, although we just called her the 'bean' back then so really, I looked more like this:Isn't my hair scrunchilicious today? Don't judge. Fine. I cannot tell a lie. That's extra padding, folks. When I went into labor on a Friday, we whispered 'Exit, Evacuate , Enter our world' as I walked around the hospital and then the mall. By Saturday, I begged for Exoneration and perhaps, an Escape . By Sunday, the 'E' on my bosom stood for Elation & Ecstasy when we heard: 'It's a girl!'*****My favorite Bad Mom and Daisy have awarded my humble blog with a mighty E for Excellent ! I couldn't be more pleased. I'll wear it with pride, ladies. I'll wear it with pride. *****And my blog has officially hatched too. Thank you, kindly, Bradley.(I have some awards to dole o...
More About: Exodus