Okay. Interesting territory. We all know lying is bad news. You shouldn't do it. You shouldn't associate with those that do. Kindergarten 101. That and sharing, but I don't feel like sharing this post with "sharing," so simply lying it shall be...
Which, we ALL do. Everyday. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. This whole topic got started from a Lifetime TV movie that A and M were watching the other night...that ripped a good ten minutes of my life away when I happened to pass through the living room during that fateful time slot.
The movie was - of all things - about an author who ghostwrites other people's books, and a yuppie doctor. Both vying for the heart of the central female lead. Riveting...and ground-breaking. So fresh!
I peeled myself away from the chair and went - I think I merrily skipped - back upstairs to Legoland thinking that was that. But, that was not that. Ugh...
The next day on the way to church, this same movie reared its ugly head in the car. This other lady character had the nerve to LIE about writing those romance novels when it was really "what's-his-face" writer dude the female lead liked. This other lady was taking all the credit and "lying" to the world. Um...
I was literally having to say don't base life decisions on a Lifetime movie. The way the whole "story" was set up was bogus and unrealistic to begin with. And ghostwriting is a respectable job. Has nothing to do with lying. Yet, A and M saw it as portraying such and I was dragged kicking and screaming into a word match with them about lying.
In A's defense, teaching kiddos about the intricacies of falsehood is not a path to be taken lightly. In the wrong hands, stretching the truth can be catastrophic.
(UPDATE: After a talk today, A no longer sees ghostwriting as a lie. She sees it as a job people do to help the "author" get their story on paper.)
My argument was - and still is - that sometimes it's okay to lie. Shocker! But wait...there's more!
Lying for the sake of lying, or worse, for the intent to harm someone, is horrible. Lying for a malicious intent has no place in decent society. Bad guys and supervillians do that kinda stuff. Boo. Hiss. However...
Lying to feel good in one's own skin (ie. makeup, hair color, extensions, spray tans, yada, yada...) is fine. Lying to save someone's life (ie. hello, the people who hid Anne Frank!) is perfectly acceptable. And commendable. And then ya got guys who buy engagement rings and have to lie about going to pick them up, excellent ghost-written books by ficticious Lifetime movie actors, Santa Claus...
The trick is, to call a lie a lie. There's either truth, or there's not. Grey is for hair and trendy wall coloring. Not for when it comes to what is, and what isn't. The lie's ultimate goodness relies ultimately upon its intent. Just be upfront and honest with yourself about the fact that you're lying.
Trying to spin word magic and rationalize a lie into a tasty ice cream sundae is ridiculous, and messy.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
today's discoveries
So I took Lil' A to a friend's birthday party. In McKinney. It isn't that it's too far from homebase or anything. It is that the entire area seems to be devoid of places I want to eat, yet full of people. People who obviously don't eat Jack in the Box. Or at least, know of a secret one not on the maps or anywhere on this plane of existence. I think there's at least a hundred people per Bruno Mars song played on any given radio station per hour up there. We're talking rapid overpopulation ahead if these numbers stay on course. And we're about to move up there. Ahhh!!!
Plus, I didn't have break-y, which makes for a hungry me come lunchtime. I dropped off Lil' A and said hello to a few parents inside the party, then bid them all adieu while they celebrated and I shopped. For such glamorous things as paper towels and toilet paper. A house nine people deep with seven of those people being kids. You do the perforated TP square math...
So after a trip to the store, I began hunting the elusive Jack in the Box you may have seen in National Geographic. Who knew that it wasn't indigenous to that area of North Texas? I figured, "Surely I'll see one on the road somewhere."
Much to my chagrin, all I saw was every other restaurant on the planet. Plus, there have got to be more random pizza places and no-name banks crammed into the Frisco/McKinney area than I thought humanly and geometrically possible. I'm no financial wizard, but I don't see the sense in keeping money in "The Bank of Eldorado Street" versus a national outfit like Citibank. Either way your money disappears like socks in the dryer, but at least your lawyer and the judge will have heard of Citibank.
At one point, after leading the ship astray following the sun and moss on the trees, I consulted the cell phone GPS. Eureka! There was a Jack in the Box...about 4 miles back the way I came and further - further?! - up I-75. And to make matters even more zany, the exit to the street where this lone North Texas JITB called home was jam packed with cars, trucks...and maybe even a tractor or two. Was everyone else also hungry for the $3.99 Jumbo Deal?
Of which, I did order and eat while I awaited the time to pick up Lil' A from her party, which had now moved to Gatti's Pizza. A random pizza joint. Good, but no Cici's. However...
Back to the food. As I ate - and then upon a reflection of what I just ate - my eyes drifted from my tray, out the window and across the street to...a McDonald's. I had passed at least two of those on my Columbus-esque journey for the fabled "New Jack," and now as I stared longingly at it from my booth seat...I wished I had eaten there instead. A couple crispy snack wraps with either chipotle barbeque or salsa roja...that'd been the ticket.
Nevertheless, food had been fed. To me. And while good, I can't help but reflect back on my greasy, fast-prepared meal like...
why...?
"Slow, subconscious mind-induced torture upon the rest of my body" is what I came up with. And with that new found notion - obviously destined to be forgotten by dinner tonight - I departed my discovery for a last minute top secret mission before scooping up the 10 yr-old from the party.
She had a good time. Got some blue stuffed animal dude and a dolphin from one of those coin-ops and a bunch of party favors. Some of those favors were bubbles. Which she then gave to the boys when we got home. Hm. Bubbles are sticky, right?
Plus, I didn't have break-y, which makes for a hungry me come lunchtime. I dropped off Lil' A and said hello to a few parents inside the party, then bid them all adieu while they celebrated and I shopped. For such glamorous things as paper towels and toilet paper. A house nine people deep with seven of those people being kids. You do the perforated TP square math...
So after a trip to the store, I began hunting the elusive Jack in the Box you may have seen in National Geographic. Who knew that it wasn't indigenous to that area of North Texas? I figured, "Surely I'll see one on the road somewhere."
Much to my chagrin, all I saw was every other restaurant on the planet. Plus, there have got to be more random pizza places and no-name banks crammed into the Frisco/McKinney area than I thought humanly and geometrically possible. I'm no financial wizard, but I don't see the sense in keeping money in "The Bank of Eldorado Street" versus a national outfit like Citibank. Either way your money disappears like socks in the dryer, but at least your lawyer and the judge will have heard of Citibank.
At one point, after leading the ship astray following the sun and moss on the trees, I consulted the cell phone GPS. Eureka! There was a Jack in the Box...about 4 miles back the way I came and further - further?! - up I-75. And to make matters even more zany, the exit to the street where this lone North Texas JITB called home was jam packed with cars, trucks...and maybe even a tractor or two. Was everyone else also hungry for the $3.99 Jumbo Deal?
Of which, I did order and eat while I awaited the time to pick up Lil' A from her party, which had now moved to Gatti's Pizza. A random pizza joint. Good, but no Cici's. However...
Back to the food. As I ate - and then upon a reflection of what I just ate - my eyes drifted from my tray, out the window and across the street to...a McDonald's. I had passed at least two of those on my Columbus-esque journey for the fabled "New Jack," and now as I stared longingly at it from my booth seat...I wished I had eaten there instead. A couple crispy snack wraps with either chipotle barbeque or salsa roja...that'd been the ticket.
Nevertheless, food had been fed. To me. And while good, I can't help but reflect back on my greasy, fast-prepared meal like...
why...?
"Slow, subconscious mind-induced torture upon the rest of my body" is what I came up with. And with that new found notion - obviously destined to be forgotten by dinner tonight - I departed my discovery for a last minute top secret mission before scooping up the 10 yr-old from the party.
She had a good time. Got some blue stuffed animal dude and a dolphin from one of those coin-ops and a bunch of party favors. Some of those favors were bubbles. Which she then gave to the boys when we got home. Hm. Bubbles are sticky, right?
Friday, January 21, 2011
mobbed up
WATCH OUT!!!
The first attacker jumped on me from above. I didn't see him through the spray of light coming off the streetlamp (ceiling fan light) above us. He landed on my back and hooked in for the long haul...
The second attacker hit me around the waist, then slid down to grapple my feet. Maybe he's a cage fighter, I don't know. He had my ankles and wasn't letting go. I almost fell two or three times, but a nearby wall saved me...
The third attacker was less finesse, more wild man with a head-on steamroll approach. He came at me while his cohorts were wrapped around my neck and my feet. I was doomed until...
My sidekick stepped in. He jumped on the dude at my feet, rendering him out of commission. He'd be trying to pry off that little guy for days. That just left the guy around my neck and the wild man who I learned to dodge and spin away every time he came at me. He twirled into the alley dumpster (couch cushions) more times than he'd like to remember.
Strange that it's every two weeks on the dot that I am repeatedly mobbed by this same crew in a consecutive three day grouping. Even more bizarre? That there's always this little ninja sidekick dude who comes to my rescue each time. Sometimes he's even dressed like Iron Man. Wait. Come to think of it. My attackers are sometimes dressed like Batman, Spider-Man and a clone trooper from Star Wars. Weird...
The first attacker jumped on me from above. I didn't see him through the spray of light coming off the streetlamp (ceiling fan light) above us. He landed on my back and hooked in for the long haul...
The second attacker hit me around the waist, then slid down to grapple my feet. Maybe he's a cage fighter, I don't know. He had my ankles and wasn't letting go. I almost fell two or three times, but a nearby wall saved me...
The third attacker was less finesse, more wild man with a head-on steamroll approach. He came at me while his cohorts were wrapped around my neck and my feet. I was doomed until...
My sidekick stepped in. He jumped on the dude at my feet, rendering him out of commission. He'd be trying to pry off that little guy for days. That just left the guy around my neck and the wild man who I learned to dodge and spin away every time he came at me. He twirled into the alley dumpster (couch cushions) more times than he'd like to remember.
Strange that it's every two weeks on the dot that I am repeatedly mobbed by this same crew in a consecutive three day grouping. Even more bizarre? That there's always this little ninja sidekick dude who comes to my rescue each time. Sometimes he's even dressed like Iron Man. Wait. Come to think of it. My attackers are sometimes dressed like Batman, Spider-Man and a clone trooper from Star Wars. Weird...
Thursday, January 20, 2011
blogdentity crisis?
Quite possibly suffering from some sort of identity crisis like a freshman in high school, you may have noticed I am toying with different looks for this blog. Never one to keep the furniture quite the same for too long, I like to freshen up the joint from time to time to keep things new...in my mind.
Of course, it's the same old furniture in the same old room, but, like many maniacal things, it's psychological. In my head. Not sure the popular kids will like my blog better just because I went from penny loafers to low top Converse All-Stars. But, hey...
I like the new Star Wars comic book page in the back, don't you? It has Luke, Darth and Artoo! Three-for-one special!
Oh, I think not too long ago someone - may have been one of my friends - said they used to rock penny loafers with dimes tucked in 'em. Not pennies. Dimes. Please. Joke's on them! Everyone knows that dimes are smaller than pennies thus making them less monies. Just ask E.
Of course, it's the same old furniture in the same old room, but, like many maniacal things, it's psychological. In my head. Not sure the popular kids will like my blog better just because I went from penny loafers to low top Converse All-Stars. But, hey...
I like the new Star Wars comic book page in the back, don't you? It has Luke, Darth and Artoo! Three-for-one special!
Oh, I think not too long ago someone - may have been one of my friends - said they used to rock penny loafers with dimes tucked in 'em. Not pennies. Dimes. Please. Joke's on them! Everyone knows that dimes are smaller than pennies thus making them less monies. Just ask E.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
"what am I smelling?"
That's what E says all the time. At first, I just thought our lil' dude was curious what he smelt, like when we ask, "Mmm, what's that heavenly aroma coming from the kitchen?" However, nope. That's not it.
Allow me...
"What am I smelling?" vs. "What's that smell?"
These two questions are different down to their very core. While the latter demonstrates, first, the idea that the person knows what smelling is and what different smells mean; and second, that upon you telling them what's smelling up the joint, they will have a their "a-ha, of course, pecan brownies" moment.
The former is vastly opposite. When E asks "what am I smelling?" he is actually seeking to learn from nothing. A blank slate, free of preconceived odiferous notions. He wants to literally know what he is smelling, so down the road, he, too, can have that "a-ha" moment.
I've thought about this a while. With various smells like the orange-y tangerine mixture thing I have in my office, and yesterday at Spaghetti Warehouse for E's 4th birthday lunch when bread and marinara filled the air.
Just figured I'd write about it...
Allow me...
"What am I smelling?" vs. "What's that smell?"
These two questions are different down to their very core. While the latter demonstrates, first, the idea that the person knows what smelling is and what different smells mean; and second, that upon you telling them what's smelling up the joint, they will have a their "a-ha, of course, pecan brownies" moment.
The former is vastly opposite. When E asks "what am I smelling?" he is actually seeking to learn from nothing. A blank slate, free of preconceived odiferous notions. He wants to literally know what he is smelling, so down the road, he, too, can have that "a-ha" moment.
I've thought about this a while. With various smells like the orange-y tangerine mixture thing I have in my office, and yesterday at Spaghetti Warehouse for E's 4th birthday lunch when bread and marinara filled the air.
Just figured I'd write about it...
4 makes you fastest!
Punkinface (aka E) is now 4. So that makes him a big boy. He's bigger than everyone - except for his mom he says. And he's faster. Than anyone.
We had his Star Wars/Iron Man party at the house yesterday and he loved it! There were balloons, lots of presents...and a ton of cupcakes covered with blue icing to make them look like a dinosaur. It wasn't in line with the birthday theme - yet too cool to pass up - so I stood an Iron Man Pez dispenser in front of the Brontosaurus and...BAM!
Iron Man vs. the Dinosaur!
A comic book waiting to happen. Anyhoo...
Earlier that day we had lunch with A's grandparents to celebrate E's 4-ness. Spaghetti Warehouse was the venue. Inside of their train car/trolly(?) was the place. It was great and E got the first of his b-day presents. Give a wild guess as to what he got. I'll allow a few moments for gift guessing marination...
....
....
LEGOS! Yes! Star Wars Legos! And these were sweet! Like, brand new, never before seen Mandalorian dudes. They're from the SW extended universe and they are awesome. Boba Fett was a Mandalorian. 'Nuff said.
And after lunch, and an averted overheated SUV radiator scare, we made it home for naps and playtime before the party. To which my mom, bro and sis-in-law joined us for the aforementioned dino-cakes, a surplus of gifts including an army of Iron Man dudes, more Legos, some pretty cool shirts - one of them reads "Dude" on it! - and a large robot guy that has a smaller guy that sits inside and drives him that was E's apparent front-runner for favorite of the day. So if there's a contest for that...mom wins! But we're all winners here, right?
If I'm being honest, I did get a lil' frustrated a few times with the kiddos when I thought a few things were going to go south. Namely: When they flocked to the cupcakes like staples to a magnet, edging E out of the way.
Also mentionable: When the boys began to delegate who got to play with E's new toys, without E being at all involved in the discussion.
I'm gathering the notion along this here journey that kids - usually boys - under a certain age, don't quite fully grasp the idea of some gifts being "not for them." They may very well assume that if there's a new toy introduced into their environment, that said toy is "free game."
Birthdays? So? Christmas? Bah! And while we encourage sharing practically every time we have the kiddos, we also feel the actual present-intendee should get to play with their gifts a bit before they become community property and subsequently lost in the land of Lego weapons and laundered socks.
But, that may just be us. No matter the take on that, the party was a success and the kiddo's had fun. Oh, and E's new Lego guy - a Mandalorian with two guns - is the new master of the other Lego dudes, plus the dude I am, Boba Fett, who is now the "gardener."
Yep, I said "gardener." E means "guard," but so what? I get it. I'm the guard. Gotcha.
We had his Star Wars/Iron Man party at the house yesterday and he loved it! There were balloons, lots of presents...and a ton of cupcakes covered with blue icing to make them look like a dinosaur. It wasn't in line with the birthday theme - yet too cool to pass up - so I stood an Iron Man Pez dispenser in front of the Brontosaurus and...BAM!
Iron Man vs. the Dinosaur!
A comic book waiting to happen. Anyhoo...
Earlier that day we had lunch with A's grandparents to celebrate E's 4-ness. Spaghetti Warehouse was the venue. Inside of their train car/trolly(?) was the place. It was great and E got the first of his b-day presents. Give a wild guess as to what he got. I'll allow a few moments for gift guessing marination...
....
....
LEGOS! Yes! Star Wars Legos! And these were sweet! Like, brand new, never before seen Mandalorian dudes. They're from the SW extended universe and they are awesome. Boba Fett was a Mandalorian. 'Nuff said.
And after lunch, and an averted overheated SUV radiator scare, we made it home for naps and playtime before the party. To which my mom, bro and sis-in-law joined us for the aforementioned dino-cakes, a surplus of gifts including an army of Iron Man dudes, more Legos, some pretty cool shirts - one of them reads "Dude" on it! - and a large robot guy that has a smaller guy that sits inside and drives him that was E's apparent front-runner for favorite of the day. So if there's a contest for that...mom wins! But we're all winners here, right?
If I'm being honest, I did get a lil' frustrated a few times with the kiddos when I thought a few things were going to go south. Namely: When they flocked to the cupcakes like staples to a magnet, edging E out of the way.
Also mentionable: When the boys began to delegate who got to play with E's new toys, without E being at all involved in the discussion.
I'm gathering the notion along this here journey that kids - usually boys - under a certain age, don't quite fully grasp the idea of some gifts being "not for them." They may very well assume that if there's a new toy introduced into their environment, that said toy is "free game."
Birthdays? So? Christmas? Bah! And while we encourage sharing practically every time we have the kiddos, we also feel the actual present-intendee should get to play with their gifts a bit before they become community property and subsequently lost in the land of Lego weapons and laundered socks.
But, that may just be us. No matter the take on that, the party was a success and the kiddo's had fun. Oh, and E's new Lego guy - a Mandalorian with two guns - is the new master of the other Lego dudes, plus the dude I am, Boba Fett, who is now the "gardener."
Yep, I said "gardener." E means "guard," but so what? I get it. I'm the guard. Gotcha.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
our engagement party
I think we totalled up 40 people or so that showed up to the party. Not too shabby. If you had me list 40 songs or 40 of my favorite foods or 40...people, off the top of my head, not sure I could. It's funny how "40" seems like a low number in the grand scheme of things - and it really kinda is when factored in with, what, that number "41" and his expansive list of older buddies - but that's not even what this post is about so why am I mentioning it? Uh...
So! We had such a great time and feel very blessed our family and friends made it out to celebrate the news of our engagement with us. The house we live in now is big, but 40 people can fill a few rooms quickly. And as I took coats and purses and put them in our bedroom, I stopped to listen to all the people's voices echoing throughout the house. I felt honored to have everyone there for us. For the family.
The pool table appeared to be the guest of honor last night. My friends camped out around it and we all played several games. My bro and dad got in the rotation with us and time stood still. This is what it should be. Family and friends and nothing else. All of them beating me at pool on my own table.
I'm glad my mom got to meet A's mom. I wanted them to talk and share stories and all that jazz. I'm glad my dad met A's dad. Really, I'm very glad everybody got to meet everybody else. The night went just beautifully. A was happy, which, when it boils down to it, is what it's all about for me.
We talked a bit about my books and dreams of others reading said books. Last night shed some light on some potential for that I think. And speaking of books - or blogs rather - this blog...this adventure of mine with A and the kids. That I share with the world. I love it. I love the fact that it has allowed people like A's parents and grandparents, my mom and my dad, and A's aunts, uncles, cousins, and her friends and my friends, basically everyone...to get to know me. The "me" I feel I have become, am becoming.
Far and away something else entirely than I once was. And for those who understandably had concerns when A and my role model adventure started, they have been able to see into our lives and, even further, got to hop on the roller coaster with us. Going up and down and through the loops. Everyday. Getting to know me and A and most importantly, getting to keep up with the kiddos.
A and I just talked about how much E's physical appearance has changed in the last less-than-year that I've had the pleasure of knowing him. This blog lets us hold onto those memories, those mental pictures...forever. Ah...emotional tangent. Sorry. Back to the engagement party recap where...
Many of our friends and family were visiting our house for the very first time. And they seemed to really like it. A mentioned tonight after dinner - go, Outback Steakhouse! - that she felt bad she hadn't thrown more parties here, on account of us moving next month. The new place is much smaller, but I'm sure we'll host a gathering or three there as well. It's in her blood to be the hostess with the mostest...
So! We had such a great time and feel very blessed our family and friends made it out to celebrate the news of our engagement with us. The house we live in now is big, but 40 people can fill a few rooms quickly. And as I took coats and purses and put them in our bedroom, I stopped to listen to all the people's voices echoing throughout the house. I felt honored to have everyone there for us. For the family.
The pool table appeared to be the guest of honor last night. My friends camped out around it and we all played several games. My bro and dad got in the rotation with us and time stood still. This is what it should be. Family and friends and nothing else. All of them beating me at pool on my own table.
I'm glad my mom got to meet A's mom. I wanted them to talk and share stories and all that jazz. I'm glad my dad met A's dad. Really, I'm very glad everybody got to meet everybody else. The night went just beautifully. A was happy, which, when it boils down to it, is what it's all about for me.
We talked a bit about my books and dreams of others reading said books. Last night shed some light on some potential for that I think. And speaking of books - or blogs rather - this blog...this adventure of mine with A and the kids. That I share with the world. I love it. I love the fact that it has allowed people like A's parents and grandparents, my mom and my dad, and A's aunts, uncles, cousins, and her friends and my friends, basically everyone...to get to know me. The "me" I feel I have become, am becoming.
Far and away something else entirely than I once was. And for those who understandably had concerns when A and my role model adventure started, they have been able to see into our lives and, even further, got to hop on the roller coaster with us. Going up and down and through the loops. Everyday. Getting to know me and A and most importantly, getting to keep up with the kiddos.
A and I just talked about how much E's physical appearance has changed in the last less-than-year that I've had the pleasure of knowing him. This blog lets us hold onto those memories, those mental pictures...forever. Ah...emotional tangent. Sorry. Back to the engagement party recap where...
Many of our friends and family were visiting our house for the very first time. And they seemed to really like it. A mentioned tonight after dinner - go, Outback Steakhouse! - that she felt bad she hadn't thrown more parties here, on account of us moving next month. The new place is much smaller, but I'm sure we'll host a gathering or three there as well. It's in her blood to be the hostess with the mostest...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)