Hoagies and Grinders, Hoagies and Grinders....

This past weekend, our family celebrated my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary. That's them over there to the left... Mem and Pap.

(sound like a total redneck, don't I?? heh)

I have mentioned on here that my mom's family is Pennsylvania Dutch.

I'm pretty sure that, at one time, our family was Amish and broke away.
And I'm not joking. I'm dead serious.

Anyway......whenever there is a big, family function you can always count on good, country home-cooked food. Which, truth-be-told is good. But not necessarily good for you.
For example, homemade Whoopie Pies.
Yum.
But not so good, as far as healthful food is concerned.

Because the celebration was a more "formal" affair, we had some food catered.
And everyone pitched in and brought something.
Even my grandmother, who we were celebrating.
She brought her homemade sloppy joe.
Which, is so delicious, it can make absolutely no comparison to that Man-wich stuff.
There is no substitute for Mem's sloppy joe.
We were fortunate enough to be sent home with some of the homemade sloppy joe.

Monday, the kids & I were sitting on the sofa. And Rav walks into the room.
I ask him what he's heating up for lunch.
He replies Sloppy joe.
And, without warning, and at the same time, we both being to sing from Adam Sandler's Lunch Lady Land song:

Sloppppyy joe. Slop-slopppy joe!!!!
Sloppppyy joe. Slop-slopppy joe!!!!

As we sing this, the kids are both delighted and scared. For they have no idea what has come over their parents.
We begin to play some weird tickling game with the kids while singing:

Sloppppyy joe. Slop-slopppy joe!!!
Sloppppyy joe. Slop-slopppy joe!!

And they laughed like they've never laughed before.
We laughed like we never have laughed before.

In the middle of the sloppy joe tickle fest, I was able to break away.
And I hopped over to the computer to search out Youtube for the video.
And I found it!
Upon the first viewing, the kids were hooked.
We've been singing:

Sloppppyy joe. Slop-sloppppy joe!!!
Aaaalllllll week.
And watching that video over and over and over again.

Here's the video in case you've never seen it or heard it. Although, I'm sure many of you have.
But go. Enjoy.
Act your shoe size. Not your age.
It does us all some good to be juvenile once-in-awhile.
Go! Watch! Sing! Nobody's watching. I swear.

How Can I Argue With That??

Being the narcissist that I am, I awoke on this foggy morning & checked my statcounter. And I found that someone found me by googling: "hot mom next door Tabitha".
I'm just sayin'...Awwww, sheeat.
Now, it may or may not be true. Hotness is in the eye of the beholder. And they may have someone else in mind. But damned if that doesn't make your head swell up to the size of the Goodyear blimp & send you on your way with a happy, little smirk on your face.
I'm deplorable. I know it. But that kind of flattery will get me everytime ;)
*Added later, upon request the following image. This is the best that I can come up with, as I have very little pictures of myself. Since I'm generally the one taking pictures. It's certainly not the greatest. That's for sure.*

NYC - You Belong To Me, I Belong To You

So I mentioned with my last post that the Ravioli & I headed into The City. We've been planning this trip for awhile, with our friend, Jon. So, some tickets were purchased for a Broadway show, some plans were made....and voila! Into the city we headed. As I said, I used to make pretty regular pilgrimages into the city - years ago. In 1999-2000, I frequented that city more times than I can tell you. The last time I was there (before Saturday) was October of 2002. I was amazed at how much has changed, as well as, how much has stayed the same.

For instance, when you ride the subway, you can tell the true New Yorkers because they are falling asleep on the subway car and awake suddenly, when it is their stop. They just know. And true New Yorkers are always carrying bags. Big bags, small bags, 'Medium Brown Bags' from Bloomingdale's, plastic bags from various previously patroned shops, which now carry their subway reading material and other what-not. And the true New Yorker that amazed me the most was a barely two-year-old little girl. Sitting in her stroller in her eclectic outfit, chatting away with her mommy and, as she's sitting in her stroller, stretches out her legs, props them up on the subway seat & crosses her legs at her ankles....riding on the subway is old news for her.

Manhattan is just amazing. I fall deeply and helplessly in love each time I go back. I consider myself somewhat of a hippie, farm girl. But I'll tell ya what, I would live in NYC in a second if the opportunity presented itself. The endless culture - so vast, so varied - is amazing. The people watching is unparalleled - except for possibly Tokyo (I don't know from first-hand experience). And the fact that you can hop in a subway and be transported to another town - within a town - just amazing. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.

Ravioli & Jon viewing the WTC sight

Our first stop after 'landing' in Penn Station was the subway to Downtown. We took in a quick look at the WTC sight. Ravioli & I did this in 2002, but were happy to take Jon to see it. We walked a bit along the platform, trying to see past the layers and layers of chain-link fence. As we were making our way down the platform, there in front of me were the peddlers of all things fake. Purses, watches, perfume, etc......I have no problem ignoring these people when walking around the rest of the city. However, I was particularly annoyed by their immediate presence at the WTC sight. I felt that it was highly disrespectful...but whateva. That's just my $.02.

The city was absolutely gorgeous yesterday. Central Park, in particular. I wish we had had more time to roam there. But time was of the essence as we had a date with a particular Phantom.






Good food was to be had in Koreatown. Not as great as Cow Town on Main St. in Flushing, Queens (man, I love the 7 train). But oh, well. Gotta take 'authentic' Korean food where you can get it. I have to say, though (and Ravioli will as well) that my homemade Bul Go Gi is right up there with that prepared in a Korean restaurant. I've always said that I was a cute little Korean girl in another lifetime.
I was sad to say goodbye to The City. I have such a hard time leaving. Parting is such sweet sorrow. She has me in her clutches. Inevitably. Forever.

Today, I bear the earmarks of my steamy love affair. My aching legs, the black/gray soot when I blow my nose, the calm, happiness that washes over my face and the spent feeling that envelopes my entire body. (I think I need a cigarette...haha).
Kidding.

Somebody More Like You

Thanks to Pippajo for this idee-er. This was fun to do. It is how I spent my afternoon while Connor was at school. I really know how to prioritize.
For the record, though. I do not believe I look like any of these here ladies. Although, anything is possible with a ton of make-up.

Meant To Be?

So, I did the Dead Celebrity Soulmate quiz on Biography's website. And here's my 'perfect match'. Rudolph Valentino. Whudda thunk it??

I Heart Inappropriate, Vulgar Humor - Especially On My Birfday

This is how Bryan sang 'Happy Birthday' to me this morning. Too freaking funny.
(It's not really Ravioli. Just a link he was kind enough to share with me.) This is up there as one of the best 'presents' I've received. Completely juvenile. Completely necessary.

http://prestonandsteve.com/audio/341.mp3

Now, stop reading and checkitout.

I Got A Gnome In The Backyard. I Put It Right On The X-Mark.

I have been looking for a garden gnome. And believe it or not, have had a hard time finding one. At least, have had a hard time finding one that doesn't look like a garden gnome on meth. "Shhh. La lee La lee, Ice Head." Sorry, couldn't resist that little outburst.

Anyhoo.

Today, our day was packed with appointments, errands, action, adventure, meals, more errands, getting Connor on the bus, getting Connor off the bus.......you get the picture. After a long, weary day. We came home and found this guy. Quietly, eargerly awaiting the arrival of his new family. Much to my glee.

I used to hate them. But I admit, I cracked up each time they popped up in 'The Full Monty' and loved the storyline behind it in 'Amelie'.

He's just a wee one. I need to find him a suitable older brother.

Lambda Lambda Lambda

Aaaaah, it was great to laugh at this last night. Here are some quotes that had me almost pissing my pants:

Takashi: "I think I have a frush."
Booger: "What the fuck is a frush?"

Takashi: "Maybe we can have robster craws."
Booger: "What the fuck are robster craws?"

Stan (alpha beta): "We're gonna be up to our necks in nerd shit."

Stan: "What are you looking at, nerd?"
Booger: "I thought I was looking at my mother's old douche bag, but that's in Ohio."

The True Genius of J.K. Rowling

I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. When the 1st movie came out, I totally poo-pooed the whole thing. I would laugh at adults who enjoyed it. I thought it was just a silly children's book. I've never really been into the whole magic/fantasy thing. And I guess it's because I just never gave it a chance. However, I finally broke down and watched the 1st movie a few months after it's release & have been hooked on Harry movies and books ever since.
Today, I've had the most geekiest of geeky revelations & think I have come to understand the true genius of J.K. Rowling. Here are a list of a few items/spells which I think she created as a result of being a mom who needs a helping hand from time-to-time:

*Invisiblity Cloak - for when you want to sneak off to the bathroom by yourself (this almost NEVER happens otherwise), you want to enjoy that bowl of ice cream without sharing one stinking bite with the kids or you and your husband need a nooner.

*Pensieve - for when your mind gets too clouded with all of the details, thoughts and memories that we try to carry around and call upon later. After all, once you become pregnant it's a fact that your brain is sucked of it's memory and full potential.

*Polyjuice Potion - for when you want to create the illusion of those other mom's/women who have it totally together, to act out fantasies with your husband by you or him taking on the form of someone else OR when you want to momentarily see what it's like for your child to be like the 'normal' kids in playgroup.

*Marauder's Map - for when all you want to do is lay down or blog, you can use the map to see where your children are in the house without getting up & to see what they are up to.

*Accio Charm - again, for when all you want to do is lay down or blog & need to call upon certain items without getting up. You can 'Accio, cup of milk' or 'Accio pint of beer at 10:30a.m.' or 'Accio diapers and wipes from babies' room upstairs.'

*Transfiguration - for when you want to escape for a minute, take on the form of an animal or other object to see what your kids really do when left alone OR see what your husband really does or doesn't do when left alone with the kids.

*House Elf - You know how all of those feasts magically appear in the Great Hall at meal times at Hogwarts? Wouldn't it be great to have a House Elf just magically come up with all of the meals and menus and unload all of the laundry/dishes????

I'm sure there are many, many more that I've missed. But these are just the obvious ones to me. The woman is a freaking genius. I just wish these things were possible! A girl can dream, can't she?