Happy First Birthday, Galina

Galina's Birthday Present

Galina's getting one of these things for her birthday - I won't be able to look at it the same way, now :) ...

Galina Claps Her Hands!

Mother's Day Gift

This was my mother's day present from my daughter:

Dreams and Songs

Had a dream last night about my ex-bf, and this is the song that made me feel better (now):


And this is the song that I was singing in my head when we broke up (then):

55 Flash Fiction Friday - Best Friends

Two women, brought together as infants, met at Cosi for their weekly get-together coffee, dinner, and dessert. "Guess what? Alex proposed on Saturday. I'm getting married! You have to be my matron of honor. So will you?” "You know I will, but only if it's after my baby's born!" “I’m going to be an auntie???”
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Flash Fiction Friday is hosted by g-man

You may also visit Flash Fiction Friday 55’s, a blog dedicated to hosting 55 Flash Fiction Friday.

The ABCs of Me

I'm taking the general format from The Rational Mind of a Crazy Person's Blog:

A. Addiction: Buying books
B. Bed size: King...Although, I sleep on the very edge, and my hubby, who is way smaller/shorter than I am takes up most of it...
C. Chore I hate: dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathroom...if I had to pick just one, it would be dusting.
D. Dog or Cat?: Cat all the way!
E. Essential part of my day: Taking a walk
F. Favorite Animal: Horse
G. Gold or Silver: Definitely silver
H. Height: 5'9"
I. Instrument I wish I could play: I would love to play piano - it would be sooo relaxing, to just sit there and let my fingers do all the singing
J. Job: Mom, wife, daughter, sister, niece, grand-daughter, friend.
K. Kids: A beautiful baby girl (6/9/09), and hopefully another one of the way soon
L. Living Arrangements: House in the city - hopefully will be moving soon when I get pregnant
M. Mom's Name: Donna Marie
N. Nickname: Shelle
O. Overnight Hospital Stay: Delivery of Galina
P. Pet Peeve: Ignorant people
Q. Quote from a movie: "Harry (on Sally's answering machine): The fact that you're not answering leads me to believe that a) you're not home, b) you're home but don't want to talk to me, or c) you're home, desperately want to talk to me, but you're trapped under something heavy. If it's either a) or c), please give me a call."
-When Harry Met Sally
R. RIGHTY OR LEFTY?: Righty
S. SIBLINGS: 1 of each and I love them dearly!
T. TV Shows: House, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Numb3rs, Supernatural, Bones, NCIS, NCIS: LA, Project Runway, Fringe, Flash Forward
U. Underwear: would you believe me if I said I was going commando?
V. Vacation: Realistically - shore house for a week in July (around my bday - woohoo!!!), dream vacation - Australia!
W. Why I am always late: I'm actually the opposite- I'm always early
X. X-ray: broken arm on April Fool's Day when I was in 1st Grade
Y. Yummiest food the hubby makes: Umm- hubby doesn't cook
Z. Zodiac sign: Cancer - Yes, I'm a crab :)

A Duo - An American Tail

I watched An American Tail tonight, and just had to post my favorite scene from it!

When You Feel Like Dancing

The Rock Star

A cute girl in a cute hat

My Fave Die Hard quote

I was watching Die Hard tonight with the hubby, and after hearing this part of the movie, I just had to post it!

[McClane tries to call up police]
Supervisor: Attention, whoever you are. This channel is reserved for emergency calls only.

John McClane:

:0D

Save the Last Dance for Me - Michael Buble

Here's my fave Michael Buble song:

My life is just sometimes like this...

Live Like We're Dying - Kris Allen

ABC Song Re-do

Is it any wonder why kids have problems learning the letters, L, M, N, O, and P?  I was singing (or what I call singing...) the ABC song to Galina, and thought to myself that someone needs to re-do that song!  There are 2 parts of the song that need revision.  The first is the middle part, mentioned above.  And the second is at the very end, "...X, Y, and Z".  There is no "and" in the alphabet!  So when I sing it, I just draw out the Y a split second longer to compensate for the "and" that I omit.  The last part is no big deal, but that middle part is a real problem!  Listen to kids who have started singing the alphabet song, and at that part, they kinda just mumble something.

 

Super Mad

I am so upset! (Okay, not really that upset, maybe more like slightly annoyed, b/c there are way more important things to be upset about...)

I received an e-mail ad from Babies R US this morning, and I checked out all the deals and things.  I saw an ad for a Fisher Price Ocean Wonders jumperoo!  Now for those who don't know me, I love all things beach/shore/ocean related, and that's what the theme of my nursery was.  I checked out the website and saw that they had an entire line of Ocean Wonders products!  If that was only available about a year ago...

Here is what I would have put on my registry if they were available then...

Yes - I would have wanted everything in that room... crib set, mobile, diaper stacker, etc.

Yes, I'm still stamping my feet in protest...*sighs

Tea Time

I'm ready for some more tea time with my aunts Susan, and Michelle :)

My Cutie Pie

I got your tail, cat!

Peek a boo!

I like my tea!  So can I join you, mommy, on your next tea outting?

A Woman's Right to Choose...

to change her mind!  That is me.  I am editing my blog.  I will no longer be sticking to my schedule of Monday Musings, Two Part Tuesday, What If Wednesday, TV Thursday, Feel Good Friday, Silly Saturday, and Snapshot Sunday. 

I do things when I feel inspired or energetic enough to do them.  Managing this blog and sticking to a specific schedule sometimes makes me feel like it's work.  I'm doing this blog for me, and when I feel like writing about something, or revealing "stuff" about my life (via home videos/pictures, etc), I'll do it.  And not on some schedule.  Whew, I feel better now :)

I kept a journal when I started high school.  I didn't have an entry every day, only on those days when I really had to get something down on paper.  So why shouldn't my blog be like that?  Well guess what, now it will be.

To be continued...(when I feel like it)...    

Snapshot Sunday: Fire

Taken at the Atlantis resort/casino on a cruise with my hubby:

Silly Saturday: The Bicycle Prank

Feel Good Friday: "I Hope You Dance" - Lee Ann Womack

TV Thursday - The Galina Edition

Galina's First Spoon Feeding

She still makes those noises whenever she eats her solid foods :)

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Here is Galina's version of Irish Dancing :

What If Wednesday

What if you were a character in a fairy tale - who would you be?

I think I would be the Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen.  I felt very much like the Ugly Duckling.  In grammar school, and even high school, I didn't fit in.  I pretty much was a wall flower. 

There was a boy that I liked in 6th grade.  I was at a school dance and a girl from my class found out that I liked him and shoved me towards him.  Well, the boy moved out of the way, and my knee ran straight into the railing, slicing it open.  I didn't need stitches, but I still have a scar there. 

At the end of my high school years, I found a guy in an AOL chatroom that eventually became my boyfriend.  After a few years of dating, we had a conversation, during which he told me that the first time we met, he thought to himself, "Oh wow (in terms of my looks).  Well, I'm here now so I might as well stay".  I guess my personality won him over, b/c we dated for a couple of years.  (This was the same guy in my posting, The Revenge of a Jilted Ex-Girlfriend).       

I didn't have any real friends until I went to college.  Sure, there were some girls at my high school that I talked to at lunch, and before school, but we never got together outside of school to hang out, or to talk.  I remember going to only one birthday party in my childhood, and I think it's b/c the whole class was invited.  At the party, I pretty much was ignored.

When I started college, I decided that I no longer wanted to be without friends.  At Drexel, I met a couple of awesome girls, whom I am still friends with today.  I also met a guy in a Yahoo! chatroom, whom I went out with a few times.  We didn't click as a couple, but we were good as friends.  When he met his wife, we became good friends as well.  (And because of her I met one of the followers of my blog :), who is also becoming a good friend).  One of my girl friends from Drexel was in a relationship with another Drexel student.  He was best friends with my hubby, and was the one that introduced us.  He is also a good friend.  And because of my hubby and his best friend, I have several more good friends.

And so, this ugly duckling became a swan.  She found a place where she belonged.  She is home.  She has a wonderful husband, who gave her a wonderful daughter, and wonderful friends.  

What if there was no such thing as money - what do you think the world would be like?
 
At first, it seems like it would be a good idea.  If there was no such thing as money, I could have the house that I wanted, all of the books that I could possibly imagine in my bookcase, a plethora of movies to choose from, etc.  However, without money, people wouldn't work, b/c there would be no incentive.  And without people working, there wouldn't be the things that people buy.  If you wanted a house, you would have to cut down your own trees, and find all of the other necessary materials to build your house.  And that's just it, you'd have to physically build your own house, unless you found someone to help you (you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours).
 
Also, if there wasn't any such thing as money, the services that you would need wouldn't be available.  Doctors visits, and hospital visits, and health exams/tests - all of those things cost money (training, materials to make the microscopes, MRI machines, etc.).  So while it sucks that there is such a thing as money, I guess it's necessary.
 
(Is this what Communism is?  I'm not a history person, and what little history I do know about, I'm really bad about the details...This whole no money thing may look good on paper, but when you really think about it, it's not... )  
 
For some reason, whenever I wonder about money and what it would be like if the world didn't use it, I think about the book, The Giver.  That was a really great book, and so were the other two books that involved the same characters. 
 
Next week's What Ifs:

• What if you could turn any book into a movie - which book would you choose, who would you cast, and what changes would you make?
• What if you could know the details of your death - would you want to know?  What would you do with that knowledge?

    

Two Part Tuesday: My Favorite Things

Part Two: Shelle's Favorite Things

(in no particular order)

*Watching my daughter gain new experiences and do new things
*Playing Trivial Pursuit on the Wii with my hubby
*Seeing my hubby come home from work (when he's not in a bad mood...)
*Spending time with my family
*Hanging out with friends
*Reading a book by Robin Cook, Gary Birken, Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Nicholas Sparks, Mary Higgins Clark, or Dean Koontz.
*Watching House, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, CSI (Las Vegas), NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Bones, Numb3rs, Flash Forward, Project Runway, Survivor, Property Virgins, Sell This House, Designed to Sell, Bang for your Buck, or Fringe
*Watching sappy love movies
*Going out for walks
*Listening to music
*Seeing plays at the theatre
*Playing computer games of the Seek & Find, and thriller genres
*Visiting new places
*Traveling
*Line dancing
*Planting flowers in my garden (not weed, though...)
*Taking photos
*Fishing
*Going out on a boat
*Walking on the boardwalk
*Walking along the shoreline
*Girl time at the Wild Violets Tea place

Two Part Tuesday: My Favorite Things

Part One: "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music

Monday Musings: Romance

Romance. What is romance? To me, romance is doing something for your partner that you know will make her/him smile.  It's the thought behind the gesture.  While women can most certainly be romantic, for this posting, I'm going to focus on the man's perspective. 

For some men, one romantic gesture is to give the woman they love flowers.  At the surface, it appears to be a very romantic thing to do.  However, if they really wanted to be romantic about it, after presenting her with the flowers, they could take them back, cut the stems diagonally at the bottom, fill the vase with water (and plant food if it was included), and arrange them in the vase.  Then they could keep tabs on the flowers and change the water as needed.  It would be truly romantic for the woman to be able to sit back and really admire them, without having to do the work of keeping them alive.

Another thing some men like to do is give their women a box of chocolates.  Men think they are doing something romantic by doing this, but for us women who loooove chocolate, but dislike the way they look and are trying to do something about it, this can be a major setback.  "Yeah, hun, I appreciate the sentiment, but thanks for the temptation..."

It may seem like I'd be ungrateful with those kinds of gifts, and maybe I am a little, if I'm being honest.  But I don't need material things from the man I love.  If he wanted to be romantic, I'd be tickled pink by the small things.  For instance, instead of me making dinner every night, maybe one night he could say that he'd take care of dinner.  Even though he doesn't cook, he could still stop somewhere on his way home from work and pick up dinner.  Or, after making dinner when I cleanup the kitchen and do the dishes, if he could intervene and say "why don't you go put your feet up and I'll take care of this".  Or he could suggest going out for a walk with our daughter. It's the little things like that that I appreciate the most.

Sometimes I wish I was the man in the relationship.  I've made his lunch for him for the following day when he was out late with his guy friends, so he wouldn't have to make it when he got home.  I even took a marker and wrote "I love you" on the outside of the baggie.  I gave my husband the PS2 game, Madden for Valentine's Day a few years back b/c I knew he'd like it (his co-workers said I was a keeper and that they wished their wives/gfs/etc. would have given them that gift :) )

Sometimes I just wish that I could be one of the characters in a Nora Roberts novel, or a sappy chick-flick.  (I'd say that I'd like to be one of the characters in a Nicholas Sparks novel, but usually one of his characters dies in the end...).  I want to be able to feel the passion.  You know, get the butterflies in your tummy feeling.  The kind of feelings you get when you go on your first date.  Maybe it's just me.  Maybe I'm the only one holding myself back.  Maybe that's the problem with me wathching those kinds of movies or reading those kinds of stories.  Life just isn't like that.  But why can't it be like that?        

Snapshot Sunday: Footprints in the Tub

(Not to be confused with the poem, Footprints in the Sand :) )

Silly Saturday: Guys as Girls and Girls as Guys

Now I could write an entire blog about the stereotypes in this video, but I think I'd rather just enjoy it for what it is :)  Or I could be a girl and change my mind (*wink*), and do a future edition of Monday Musings on it.

Feel Good Friday: "Amazed" - Lonestar

Imagine being the inspiration for this song.  Doesn't it make your insides feel all gushy?  It does for me.

TV Thursday - The Galina Edition

Here's Galina sitting up and playing with her cars :)  I just love how she sends the one car flying.

What If Wednesday

What if you could live anywhere in the world - where would you live?

If I could live anywhere in the world, I think I would live on a cruise ship.  I think I remember (I wouldn't quote me on this) coming across an application while I was working at the passport agency that had "cruise" for destination and a duration of something crazy like 180 days.  I think I remember one of the specialists calling the applicant asking her about it.  I believe she was a widow, and retired.  She said that she didn't want to live alone in some place and instead of giving money to a retirement center, she would just live on a cruise.

What a wonderful way to live!  You wouldn't have to pay a mortgage, or utilities, or pay for groceries.  You have your entertainment and housekeeping done for you.  And you could travel the world, getting off the ship whenever a particular port pleases you.  I think I'd like that lifestyle for a while.  Although, there's only so much trivia that I could take on the 5-day cruise I was on :) 
  


What if you were given one wish - what would you wish for?

As much as I would like for there to be no war, famine, grief, etc. in the world, I would wish for me to be happy.  I wouldn't wish for all the money in the world, b/c all of the money in the world can't make you happy.  I wouldn't wish for eternal life, b/c the conditions in the world are not right for that.  Not to mention, having to work forever to be able to afford eternal life...  But if I were happy, it wouldn't matter how much money I had, I'd find a way to be happy.  I could get through sickness and still be happy.  I could get through the sad times and still be happy.  I know that without sadness, you can't appreciate happiness.  Without sickness, you can't appreciate health.  Without the Winter (and what a Winter this one was!), you can't appreciate the Spring (I am sooooo ready for it!).  But having experienced all of that already, I know what I would be giving up, and what I'd have.  So bring on the happiness!

Next week's What Ifs:

• What if you were a character in a fairy tale - who would you be?
• What if there was no such thing as money - what do you think the world would be like?

Two Part Tuesday: Galina's first tooth!

Part Two: Funny clip about a baby getting his first teeth -

(I love Stewie!)

Two Part Tuesday: Galina's first tooth!

Part One: Galina has a tooth!

Galina's first tooth came in on Sunday, March 7th.  Even though the dr. said that she had a tooth months ago.
"See that white spot there?  That's a tooth".  I think the doc was seeing things.  But it's there now! She's not really complaining about it either.   Although, she is biting on her spoons, and chomping on her gums.  My baby's such a trooper! 

Monday Musings: Mean Mommy

I am going to be a mean mommy.  Even before I was pregnant, I said I was going to be a mean mommy.  What exactly is a mean mommy?   

Well, several years ago, I was an assistant early childhood education teacher at a daycare.  Basically, I floated from room to room wherever and whenever the daycare needed me.  In this daycare there were three classrooms of infants, two classrooms of toddlers, two classrooms of the next age group, one pre-K, and one half-day classroom.

Well, one week I was in the half-day classroom filling in for the lead teacher.  There was this little girl, I'm guessing around the age of 4, who refused to eat her sandwich and healthy foods.  She would only eat the junk snack foods that her parents provided her.  I was not okay with that.  So at lunch time, instead of presenting her with all of the food that was in her lunch box, I only put out her sandwich and healthy items.  She decided to try and push my buttons by just sitting there without eatting anything.  It's not long after lunch that the parents come to pick up their kids.  Well, when it was time to pick up this little girl, the mother picked up the lunchbox, and noticed that it was still heavy.  She looked inside and saw that all of the food she had prepared was still there.  I explained to her that I wouldn't permit her to eat the junk without eatting the healthy first.  Her comment to me, "You're a mean mommy, aren't you?" (said with a smile).   After a couple days of doing this, the girl realized that I wouldn't budge, and she ate her sandwich :)  So yes, I am going to be a mean mommy.

I will follow through on any consequences (not punishments, mind you...) that need to be dished out.  Even if it means I need to sacrifice something.  For example, if we are on our way somewhere, and my child is misbehaving, and I say to him/her, "If you don't stop right now, we are turning around and going home", then that's what we'll do if the behavior continues.  I hope that when the time comes for me to have to discipline my child, I remember my values and philosophies and put them into practice.

I hope I never, ever say "because I said so".  I always hated that as a child.  I have a logical mind, and so that answer never worked for me.  Tell me the reason why I couldn't go outside. "I don't have the time right now to go outside with you and make sure that you are safe".  I would have accepted that. 

Or when it's time to put toys away, that I have the patience to sit with my kids and make sure that they put their toys away, instead of me doing it for them.  And if they refuse, that I have the will and patience to pull them aside and explain to them why we need to put the toys away.  Then give them a time out for defiance (if the talk didn't work).  After the time out, I hope that I ask them if they understood why they were in time out, and then continue with a follow-through of them helping to clean up.

I believe that, while it may take some time, embarassment (read as: "hissy fits in the store"), and a lot of patience, it is worth it to guide the child towards doing the right thing, instead of giving in and letting the situation carry on, which will only make it that much more difficult in the future.

If being a mean mommy is ultimately looking out for the best interests of my children instead of playing by their rules, then that's what I am.  A mean mommy.  My daughter may think I'm her BFF now, but she has no idea what she's in for... 

Snapshot Sunday : Beating Up Daddy

Silly Saturday : Wipeout - Where's the Pole

Have you ever seen the show, Wipeout?  It's an awesome show with obstacle courses, where the majority of contestants wipe out.  It's hilarious!  I wish they would air more episodes, and soon...

Here's one of my fave contestants:

Feel Good Friday: She Smiled at a Sorrowful Stranger

This is one of my favorite poems:

She Smiled at a Sorrowful Stranger -- Author Unknown

She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.
The smile seemed to make him feel better.
He remembered past kindness of a friend.
And wrote him a thank you letter.

The friend was so pleased with the thank you.
That he left a large tip after lunch.
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,
Bet the whole thing on a hunch.

The next day she picked up her winnings,
And gave part to a man on the street.
The man on the street was grateful;
For two days he'd had nothing to eat.
After he finished his dinner,
He left for his small dingy room.

He didn't know at that moment
that he might be facing his doom.
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy
And took him home to get warm.
The puppy was very grateful
To be in out of the storm.

That night the house caught on fire.
The puppy barked the alarm.
He barked till he woke the whole household
And saved everybody from harm.

One of the boys that he rescued
Grew up to be President.
All this because of a simple smile
That hadn't cost a cent.

TV Thursday - The Galina Edition

Subtitles : "Dada", and "baba"

What If Wednesday

What if you found $20 lying on the ground - what would you do with it?


First off, I would hang around the area for a couple of minutes and see if there is anyone looking for their lost money.  I once went to a shopping outlet years ago near the Poconos, and found over $100.  I think it was around $150.  I sat on the bench for about 15 minutes looking around and seeing if there was anyone looking around like a crazy person for their lost money.  When no-one fit this description, I looked at it as my gain, and spent it on clothing. 

Okay, now if no one claimed the hypothetical $20, I would probably put it into Galina's saving account.  It's never too early to start saving for her future. 

  

What if you could choose your relatives - would you keep the ones you have?
 
Despite some family members annoying me more than others, I would probably keep them.  I love them, quirks and all.  Although, there is ONE family member I would probably trade...my Uncle Jim :)  (I only say this b/c he's one of my blog followers).  And if I could choose some people to make my relatives, I would probably add some of my girl friends to be my sisters :)  I bet my brother would just love that...seeing as how he always wanted a brother.  What a great revenge - to give him more sisters, muwahaha :)
 

The Beben Family Reunion

 
Next Week's What Ifs...

• What if you could live anywhere in the world - where would you live?
• What if you were given one wish - what would you wish for?
  

Two Part Tuesday: Happy Birthday, Raga Muffin!

Part Two: Raga Muffin today

And here are some recent pictures of her:

She's still tiny, but long.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAGS!!!!

Two Part Tuesday: Happy Birthday, Raga Muffin!

Part One: My Birthday Present

We bought Raga Muffin on June 22, 2007.  Her birthday is March 2, 2007.

These are some pictures of her when we first got her:

She was soooo tiny!

Monday Musings: The End of Winter

When will Old Man Winter settle down for the season?  Have we seen the last of the snow for this year?  The snow this year was so awful, that my hubby was granted 2 days off from work, which almost never happens.  I'm going stir crazy with cabin fever.  I like taking walks with Galina in her stroller, but with icy and snowy sidewalks, I'm not taking any chances.

So, in review:

12/19/09 - 13.5 inches

2/6/10 - Almost 14 inches

2/9/10 - (Got tired of measuring...)

In summary, that was a LOT of snow!!!  If I hear the "s-word" one more time this winter...

Snapshot Sunday : Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty : Played by Galina

"I fell asleep while Uncle Walt was holding me"

"Nap time in my Pack N Play"

"I'm so cute, and everyone knows it!"

"I missed you so much, Mommy, and I'm very happy to see you!"

Silly Saturday: The Hide and Seek Cat

I forget where I saw this, but it's awesome! That cat is so silly, and so cute!

Feel Good Friday: "Forever" - Chris Brown Wedding Entrance

Sue posted this link on her FB (when she had an active FB account), and watching this made me smile.  I showed it to my hubby, who was also watching it with a smile.  So pretty much anything that makes you smile, also makes you feel good.  Therefore, this qualifies as a post for my Feel Good Friday Blog.  Expect more :)



Did you smile? :)

My guests would have killed us if we gave them an entrance like that!  Our wedding was in a stone church building with no air conditioning at the end of June.  It was really hot and humid.  Not only would our guests have killed us, but I think everyone in our wedding party would have killed us, too, b/c they would be sweating like crazy!  And who wants to get married smelling body odor the entire service? :)

Being a woman seriously sux

*Warning: This is a seriously detailed blog, which may be too detailed for men (read as: you've been warned, so stop now), but women will understand.  And if you're a woman who is embarrassed, disgusted, etc. about discussing the biology of periods, you'll want to stop too....* Scroll down to read more if you dare.










Men really don't understand what women go thru when it's that time of the month.  Seriously.  I am feeling sick right now.  I have my period.  Which means that I have clots that drop pretty much every time I go from a sitting to standing position.  So everytime I have to get up to do something, I have to waddle to the bathroom, or have to change clothes.  It seriously sux.  And on top of that issue, my intestines go on strike as well at this time of the month.  So I have to run for the bathroom for clots, and major diarheal (word/spelling?) type problems.

So of course I get my period and all of the problems that go with it at the beginning of a snow storm.  Fine.  Whatever.  But then I'm supposed to have my washer/dryer delivered/installed tomorrow.  Which means that I have to shovel out the back yard and driveway so they can get through it (b/c that's what the instructions say needs to be done).  Not to mention, I will have to constantly check on Galina while running to the bathroom.  I ask the hubby to take off work tomorrow so he can help me out with this, and he refuses!  He says he'll get up half an hour earlier to shovel a path.  He doesn't understand why I need for him to take off. 

First off, a path isn't what needs to be done.  The whole yard will need to be done.  Can you imagine trying to carry a washer and dryer down a small path?  Plus, I don't know how they plan to do it...will they park in our yard and take it out that way so it's less of a distance they have to carry them?  And the driveway leading from our house to the street (b/c that's what the instructions say: "a clear path from the street to the entrance to your house") needs to be done.  It will probably still be accumultaing snow after he leaves and I'll still have to shovel that crap, even if he does shovel before he leaves.  And who the hell wants to shovel snow when they have their period.  Oh yeah, did I mention that I get anemic when I have my period.  So yeah, I have to fight the shakes as well.

And I really don't want to be alone in the house by myself and a child.  Being on the cautious and dramatic side, who knows what kind of person I'll be letting into my house.  I don't know who's coming.  A rapist could be coming for all I know.  Yes, I know, the odds of that happening are slim to none, but it's not impossible. 

It would just be nice if my husband could understand what it's like to be feeling like this when having to deal with the weather and the Sears people.

Thank you for letting me rant.              

TV Thursday - The Galina Edition

Again, all of my fave tv shows are re-runs this week, so I don't really have anything to comment about.  Therefore, I've decided that if there's nothing that inspires me to write, then I will post "Galina's Edition of TV Thursdays".

Note: These will not necessarily be in chronological order.  Deal with it :)

Episode 1: Dancing with Daddy

What If Wednesday

What if you were selected to be in the Olympics - in which event would you compete?

I would probably compete in the Curling event.  It reminds me of playing shuffleboard, which is really fun.  Also, I don't think that I really need to be in that good of shape to partake in that event.  If I were on the Curling team, I would probably be one of the sweepers.  I'm not very good with aiming things down a lane (just look at my bowling aim - I used to call myself Gutterball Beben), but I can sweep pretty well :)    

What if you were on the game show, Deal or no Deal - what would your strategy be?
 
I would start by picking whichever case I wanted, and then open up the cases in numerical order - starting from 1.  There would be no jumping around for me, which is what almost all of the other contestants do.  Also, whether or not I take a deal depends on what the board is like, and how much money it is.  More than likely, if I was made an offer of 6 figures, I would probably take it, no matter what my board looked like.  I'm not greedy - I need just enough to clear my school loan, and maybe my car loan as well.
 
 
Next week's What Ifs...

• What if you found $20 lying on the ground - what would you do with it?
• What if you could choose your relatives - would you keep the ones you have?

Two Part Tuesday: BRU Response

Part Two: Babies 'R Us Response


(The silence is deafening, isn't it...)

Two Part Tuesday: BRU Rant

Part One: The Letter

December 26, 2009


To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to let you know how very dissatisfied I am with two of your company’s policies. The first is with your rewards program. I think that it is absolutely ridiculous to give only half credit of the purchase price of a product that was purchased on sale/clearance. It makes absolutely no sense. I’m already receiving less credit of the product because I’m buying it at a reduced price. But why should I be penalized by crediting me with only half of the new lower price? Why can’t I receive the entire credit of the item at the sale/clearance price?

The second policy I have a problem with is regarding the Babies R Us bucks. I received $5 from the rewards program and used it on my recent purchase. It was credited to my total by distributing the rewards among all of the items. I then used a manufacturer’s coupon on a set of bottles (original price was $12.99) that I purchased. The coupon was good for “up to $15.99”. When the coupon was rung in, it deducted the new price of the bottles ($11.01) from my total. By deducting the new price of the bottles (as a result of the BRU bucks) instead of deducting the $12.99, I lost $1.98 of my $5 rewards money. If I had the bottles rung up separately from the rest of my purchases, I wouldn’t have lost that $1.98. Why can’t the BRU bucks just be deducted from the total instead of distributed among the items being purchased? That would eliminate that problem. Or, the manufacturer’s coupon could have been used to deduct the original price of the product.

I hope that you will take these issues under consideration for revision. Otherwise, I will seriously consider giving my business to another store that doesn’t have these ridiculous policies. I am currently the mother of a 7 month old girl, and will eventually be the mother of 3-5 children. I would like to continue shopping at Babies R Us because I get almost all of my baby’s products there. However, if I can’t reap all the rewards, then I will go to a store that gives me the rewards that ultimately saves me more money.

Sincerely,

The Crazy World of Shelle

Monday Musings: The Revenge of a Jilted Ex-Girlfriend

Every once in a while, I check out the webpage of the guy that broke my heart over 8 years ago.  It's simply morbid curiousity.  Not so long ago, I checked out his webpage to learn that he is about to get married.  And to top it off, his wedding date is 2 days (and 4 years) after my own wedding date.  The fact that he is getting married stung at first.  He was my first love, and he shattered my heart.  A small part of me will always love him, and the good part of that relationship. 

Now don't get me wrong.  I have absolutely no desire to see or talk to him again.  And my husband once asked me that if I were still single, would I ever go back to him.  My answer was that if he was the guy from the good part of the relationship, then I probably would have liked the chance.  But knowing the kind of person he was at the end of the relationship, there are no second thoughts.  There are no doubts in my mind that I married the better guy.  I wouldn't trade my Max for all the money in the world, for he truly is a wonderful husband and an awesome father.

Now, on to the revenge...

On his webpage are links to the stores where the bride and groom are registered.  The ultimate revenge would be to go and buy all of the things on his registry.  Imagine the confusion after the bridal shower, when all of the gifts that were purchased from their registry are nowhere to be found.  But what would I do with all of those items that aren't of my taste, and have no use for me?  Well, I would return them after the wedding date, of course.  While I think it would be amusing, I would never do it.  I'm just not that kind of person.  And while it would be revenge on my ex, it's also hurting an innocent bystander (well, relatively innocent...).  It's not fair to do that to his fiancee.

I hope, for her sake, that he grew up and treats her with love and respect.  I hope that he realized how much hurt he caused two girls in his past (he did the same thing to the girl after me) and decided to never again treat someone that way.  And in my heart of hearts, I hope that he is happy.     

Snapshot Sunday

"Just wait 'til I start crawling, cat!"

Silly Saturday

It's been one week since you looked at me

Cocked your head to the side and said "I'm angry"
Five days since you laughed at me saying
"Get that together come back and see me"


Three days since the living room
I realized it's all my fault, but couldn't tell you
Yesterday you'd forgiven me
but it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry

Hold it now and watch the hoodwink
As I make you stop, think
You'll think you're looking at Aquaman
I summon fish to the dish, although I like the Chalet Swiss
I like the sushi
'cause it's never touched a frying pan


Hot like wasabe when I bust rhymes
Big like LeAnn Rimes
Because I'm all about value


Bert Kaempfert's got the mad hits
You try to match wits, you try to hold me but I bust through


Gonna make a break and take a fake
I'd like a stinkin achin shake
I like vanilla, it's the finest of the flavours


Gotta see the show, cause then you'll know
The vertigo is gonna grow
Cause it's so dangerous,
you'll have to sign a waiver


How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean?
Well, you soon will


I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of taking off my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Threw your arms in the air
and said "You're crazy"


Five days since you tackled me
I've still got the rug burns on both my knees
It's been three days since the afternoon
You realized it's not my fault
not a moment too soon


Yesterday you'd forgiven me
And now I sit back and wait til you say you're sorry

Chickity China the Chinese chicken
You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'
Watchin' X-Files with no lights on
We're dans la maison
I hope the Smoking Man's in this one


Like Harrison Ford I'm getting frantic
Like Sting I'm tantric
Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy
Like Kurasawa I make mad films
Okay, I don't make films
But if I did they'd have a Samurai


Gonna get a set a' better clubs
Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs
Just so my irons aren't always flying off the back-swing


Gotta get in tune with Sailor Moon
'Cause the cartoon has got the boom anime babes
That make me think the wrong thing

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
Tryin' hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean?
Well, you soon will


I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of losing my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Dropped your arms to your sides
and said "I'm sorry"


Five days since I laughed at you and said
"You just did just what I thought you were gonna do"

Three days since the living room
We realized we're both to blame,
but what could we do?


Yesterday you just smiled at me
Cause it'll still be two days till we say we're sorry


It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry


It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry


Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie

Now tell me that these lyrics aren't silly :)

Feel Good Friday: Paying It Forward

Not so long ago, I remember a story on the news about this restaurant that had a patron pick up the check (and tip) for another table.  The people at the table were so touched, that they decided to return the favor and do the same for another table.  This trend continued for several hours.  I really can't do the story justice, so please check out the link to get the full impact.

Several years ago, when I was with a bunch of young women on a SWE (Society of Women Engineers) sponsored Ulternative Spring Break Trip (a service-oriented spring break) to Florida, we did something that the first patron did.  We were at a drive through fast food restaurant, and for whatever reason, we irritated  the people in the car behind us (think along the lines of driving too slow, etc.).  Instead of getting upset about being honked at, we decided that we would be nice and pick up their tab.  We paid for their check and took off without checking out their reaction.  We were all giddy when we left, and maybe, just maybe, they decided to pay it forward.

Another instance of paying it forward, that I did, happened while I was doing a co-op at Community College of Philadelphia.  It was my lunch break, and I decided to take a walk to the Wawa down the street and get my lunch there.  On my way, I found some change on the sidewalk (about 60 cents in different denominations).  I picked it up and put it in my pocket.  There were parking meters on the next block, so I scoped out the meters looking for those whose time were about to expire.  Someone inadvertently gave me the money, so I payed it forward by inserting some change into as many meters as I could with the 60 cents.  With any luck, those people would return the favor for someone else.

Do you have a story about paying it forward?  If so, I'd love to hear about it!   

TV Thursday

I haven't seen an episode of tv that I feel like commenting on this week (especially since the Olympics are on, and all of my fave tv shows are re-runs as a result).  So, instead, I will give you a list of all of my fave shows.  And they are, in no particular order:

• House
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• CSI: Miami
• CSI: NY
• NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service
• NCIS: LA
• Flash Forward (can't wait for it to start its' episodes again in March)
• Survivor
• Fringe
• Project Runway
• Numb3rs
• Bones

See a common theme here? :)

What If Wednesday

What if you were forced to give up one of your five senses - which one would you give up?

Of the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste, I would probably give up taste.  When you start considering what sense you would give up, you really begin to appreciate all of the senses that you do have. 

I wouldn't want to lose my sight, b/c I appreciate the beauty of nature, and I just love watching everything that my little one does.  I wouldn't want to lose my hearing, b/c I love listening to music, and I love listening to the babbling and cooing of my 8-month old daughter.  I wouldn't want to lose my sense of touch, b/c I have heard about people who have that malady and cannot feel pain - which can lead to extremely serious injuries.  I wouldn't want to lose my sense of smell, b/c I love the smell of the flowers in Spring, and look forward to that every year when I plant my annuals. 

I wouldn't want to lose my sense of taste either, but it's the one that I would most willingly give up.  I love, love, love the taste of food, but that is also a source of distress in my life.  If I no longer had the sense of taste, food might not be as appealing to me, and I wouldn't eat quite so much, or quite so much junk food.  I could then lose some weight, and feel like the person I want to be.  I currently hate shopping for clothes b/c I don't like the way I look in them.  It's depressing.  And I am currently avoiding my Wii Fit b/c I'm not making any progress toward my goal, and it forces me to admit why.  So, while it would suck that I couldn't enjoy food anymore (I would then look forward to the day when our food is given to us in little pills, and then I wouldn't have to worry about shoving food in my mouth that has no taste), I could begin to appreciate the other things in life that do make me happy, that don't cause me distress.     

 

What if your house caught on fire and you could only save one item - what would you save?
 
Hmmm...there are several things that I would want to save.  Obviously, I would save my family, but the question is about an item that I would save.  So with that said, I would save my box of photo and scrapbook albums.  I can't replace those physical manifestations of my memories.  If everything else burned, I could replace those.  It's just a matter of money, which the insurance would pay for.  And it could be an exciting experience - to buy new things to replace the old ones.  I don't really have too many treasured items, just decorative items for my house.

Next week's What Ifs...

• What if you were selected to be in the Olympics - in which event would you compete?
• What if you were on the game show, Deal or no Deal - what would your strategy be?

Two Part Tuesday: Playtex Reply

Part Two: The Reply

December 15, 2009

Dear The Crazy World of Shelle,

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for contacting us and providing your feedback about our Playtex (R) Ventaire (R) Advanced Bottle System.

It is because of loyal consumers like you sharing this valuable information, that we can make changes to our products to better meet you and your baby's needs.  We are pleased to let you know that based on your input, we have made recent improvements to our Ventaire (R) Advanced Bottle System to help ensure your satisfaction.  This BPA-FREE Ventaire (R) Advanced bottle is clinically shown to reduce gas, colic and spit up better than leading reusable bottles.  We are confident that these improvements will meet your needs.

We are sending the enclosed compensation for your inconvenience.

Thank you again for sharing your comments with us, and please feel free to contact us again.

Sincerely,
Energizer Personal Care (contact person)


It pays to complain :)  And I'm really glad I did, b/c I really like their bottles.  I received two coupons, one for up to $15.99 (the cost to replace my three bottles), and a second one for up to $7.99.  I used the second one to buy insulated sippy cups.  Look for a future rant about BRU rewards policies that pertains to the use of the bigger coupon...

Two Part Tuesday: Product Complaint Letter

Part One: The Complaint

December 7, 2009


To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to let you know how much I love your product, Playtex® VentAire® Advanced Wide bottles. I love the angle of the bottle – it makes it so much easier to feed my baby, as compared with the straight designed bottle. I also love how I can hear the air being sucked out of the end of the bottle, instead of going into my baby’s mouth. This is my first baby, and I really like this product.

However, I was a bit disappointed when the ink/markings on three of my 9-oz bottles from the VentAire® Advanced Wide bottles gift set began to disappear. I have only been using these bottles for about 3 months now (my baby is about 6 months old), and I definitely did not expect this to happen so soon. I received the advanced wide bottles for my baby shower, but now that my daughter is drinking more formula, I prefer to use the 9-oz bottles instead of the 6-oz ones in the packages.

I was hoping that I could get some kind of voucher/coupon or replacement product for these 3 9-oz bottles. I only need the bottles replaced, not the attachments. Any assistance you can provide me will be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,
 
The Crazy World of Shelle

Monday Musings: Galina vs. The Sock Monkey

I wonder who will win?

And in this corner, we have Galina, weighing in at a whopping 20 lbs...






And the winner is....

GALINA!

Snapshot Sunday

*A mixed up world where children are caged and the animals roam free*

Silly Saturday

As I walked out the steps of my front door, I landed on a white fluffy cloud.  The cloud slowly rose with me on it up into the sky.  As we were moving along, I looked down at the land below me.  I saw thousands of snow people doing the Macarena!  I couldn't help but smile.  A few minutes later, the cloud returned me to my house, and as I stepped off it, the cloud transformed itself into a horsey, and it galloped away.

Feel Good Friday

This post couldn't have come at a better time.  While I was attending undergraduate school at Drexel University, I did a work-study position in one of the freshmen dorms as a desk receptionist.  On one particularly frigid day in January, a resident brought a homeless man with him into the building.  He escorted him up to his room and gave him something to eat, and a chance to get warm.  A short time later, the resident walked the homeless man out.  The man was wearing one of the resident's hoodies.  When the resident returned and gave me his ID to swipe him into the building, he said to me, "I had to hook the man up.  He was freezing".  I had tears in my eyes (and they are tearing up even now), and a huge smile on my face.  The world needs more people like him in it!

When was the last time you did something nice for someone?

TV Thursday

I really enjoyed the most recent episode of House, M.D. (Mon, 2/8).  It was the episode which detailed a day in the life of Cuddy.  What I really liked about the episode was how they depicted a powerful woman.  She handled being a mother (with a child who was under the weather), a contract with a stubborn insurance company, an employee stealing medications, and a stubborn patient who wanted a prescription for breast milk to treat his cancer.  You don't often see a woman in charge of big operations, like running a hospital.  It was a nice change, and she was portrayed realistically. 

She wasn't Super Woman.  She showed her emotion of frustration.  She stuck to her guns when a lesser person would probably have caved, even at the expense of losing her job (insurance contract issues), and being slandered (lies by the medication-stealing employee).

I know several women who are like her - they are called parents and teachers.  They are often underappreciated.  So if you know women who are like this, give one a hug, or take them out for a cup of coffee, and tell them how much you respect and appreciate them!