Go Here.

Tribute.

Hope the link works.
Thank you all again for the love and care and kindness you've passed on to us, to Yeti and his family.

6:08 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos

Something to make EVERYONE smile a little.....
Category: Life

.... you guys SO deserve it.

Why I Love Hand-Me-Down Clothes

All are Spence to the left, Max to the right.
We're big on donating their clothes once they've grown out of stuff.  First we see if anyone we know needs it, then it's off to Good Will with BUCKETS of clothing.

Some of the outfits have made their way into the "Special" bin that I'm keeping.  And sometimes, when we know they've both outgrown something we love seeing them in (Like those Tigger jammies....) we kinda sigh, and know, there are many years ahead and more things they're going to outgrow.  But oh, how lucky we are to watch the process.....

Now before anyone says, "WOW! Your boys look alike!"..... Look again.

It's just the clothes, guys.

Spencer is all me, and Max is all Pat.

 
Me and Spencer

 
Yeti and Max.

Thanks for lookin'!!

5:44 AM - 25 Comments - 36 Kudos - Add Comment

The Domino Effect
Category: Life

The Day Began....

We're out of creamer.  I might need to go to the store today. Nah, we can use milk. NOT the same, but I don't want to go to the store today.

Start breakfast. Toast? Nope. Out of bread.

I think I really might have to get to the store today.

Max pooped.  One diaper left.

Looks like we're going to the store today!

The kids finally broke my glasses.  I had my old pair in the car for emergent use, and found they suck royal donkey ass. They're scratched and not strong enough. So before I can go to the store, I have to drop off the specs for inspection and repair.  The temp pair he gave me that my lenses fit in are thin framed and they suck as bad as my old pair.  It's bad enough that right now I don't feel like me. I don't want to not look like me on top of it.  Damnit.

Must drag chilren along while running errands because Yeti needs sleep.  It's a medical need at this point that that man get some REST.

Store Done.

Glasses Done.

Off to Hospice with the kids and Yeti. The Man only got a three hour nap -- hardly enough for someone who works THAT hard.  Emergent "We might have to spend the night" bags are packed. 

Upon reaching Hospice, the kids grew bored with the BOAT LOAD of toys in the playroom.  Max kept wanting to run up and down hallways.  Spencer was fixated on the vending machines.  They were acting their age, which is not the best thing in a place like that.  The last visit they had been wonderful.  Now? They were just being themselves.  No fault in that, but clear that a long visit was not in the cards for us.  Yeti needs to be and has to be with his Dad.  This is a given.  To get the kids INTO the car for the hour+ drive home, I promise we will go to Nana and Papa's house rather than straight home.

Yay. Just what I want to do at seven in the evening.

And that is when we pulled in to Mom's drive.  I bought the kids dinner and made them sit and eat before taking off and running around. Almost three hours in the car, they needed to expell energy.

My Step-Dad has family in from GA, and there's a little 8 year old girl named Emily at their house at the moment.  She's my Step-Brother's Step-Daughter. Confused yet?

Anyway, Emily and Spencer kept chasing Max.  Don't get me wrong, Max was loving the attention but I begged and pleaded for them to STOP IT.

Max falls when he's tired.  And when he's wearing sandals and running.  His legs this summer would make a DCFS worker's eyebrow raise up. 

An injury was bound to happen.

And happen it did.

Max was running with Spencer hot on his tail, and he just STOPPED.  It's a Max thing to just STOP in front of someone.

Spencer's eye smacked into the back of Max's head, and Max hit the pavement.

I have never seen a goose egg swell so fast and so large on a child's head in all my life.

And what scared me was that he just laid there when it happened.  As if he blacked out for a moment.

I scooped up both of my crying, screaming children and dashed to Stat Care. I wasn't taking chances on that head.  It was just..... ugly.  It was throbbing and swelling and several shades of purple and black and scared the ever lovin' fuck out of me.

Spencer kept crying about how sorry he was, and while I felt bad for him, I was also angry at him.  I can't count how many times I told him and Emily to STOP CHASING THAT BABY.

Lucky for all involved, the boys behaved at Stat Care.  Max is fine. No sign of concussion or anything.  I didn't want to be the Drama Queen Overactive Mommy but I had to be sure he was okay.

On top of it all, Spencer's going to have one HELL of a shiner from the contact with the back of his brother's hard lil' head.

Spencer kept explaining to everyone that they fell over like Dominos.  That's my entire day today -- a domino effect of one thing effecting something else into a big pile of fuckupidness.

Now, they're in bed.  Yeti's an hour away standing vigil with his father.

I am going to go colapse into bed.  I won't sleep.  But at least I might be able to rest a bit.  I have to wake Max at least once, if not twice, through the night to make sure he'll actually wake up. ....and with THAT thought in my head, the way my mind works, who wants to bet that I won't sleep at all? Huh? Any takers? I'm sure it's a bet you'll win.  Better odds than the lottery on that one.

11:00 PM - 25 Comments - 50 Kudos - Add Comment

What’s going on.

As a family, Pat and his brothers and his Mom decided to stop the steriods that Gene is on.  The steroids were keeping the tumor from growing at the rapid increase it had been, but in turn it is also what is making Gene SO uncomfortable and aggitated.  In short, it is prolonging his life.  If it were quality time, if Gene could talk, and interact with his family, and BE HERE, it would make sense.  But keeping him on it is keeping him in limbo.  It was a tough choice for them to make, but the merciful one.

Yeti came home yesterday and had some quality time with the boys.  Some time with me. Took a nap. Worked his normal shift last night and he's resting right now.  In the evening while at work, he got a message from his brother that Gene is fading.  When I get him up, we're heading back to Hospice as a family for more precious time.

I have received phone calls and messages from so many of you with love and support and care in your hearts.  Thank you for that.  I feel helpless right now. I'm a Mom, and Moms like to Fix It.  Make It Better. Take The Boo-boo away. I can't fix anyone right now, and in that I find myself frustrated.  I want to take the hurt from all of them.  I can't fix this.  But oh, my heart wants to so badly. 

The boys have handled things well save a HORRIFIC day on the 5th with Spencer and with Max yesterday.  They had their meltdowns, and trust me..... I had mine before Yeti got home.  If my sister hadn't been in town this past week I don't know what I'd have done.  She was, literally, a Godsend for all of us to be here when we needed someone here the most.  And the irony doesn't escape me that years ago, she would've been THE SINGLE LAST PERSON I'd have left my children with or depended on.  But she's been clean for six months, sober and fully committed to recovery.  She's like an entire different person from who she used to be, and I am so thankful for her strength and determination.  She held me up.  And we laughed and shared memories. Tears. Hopes.  She might come home for Christmas this year and it will be the first Christmas in 18 years we'll have her.

So, that's what's going on.

If I'm scheduled to be somewhere in the next week? Count me out. I've tried to take care of that on a one on one with people.  Canceled my week at the Funny Stop for the 15-19.  I'm going to TRY LIKE HELL to make it to the Funny Farm on Wednesday, but I make no promises.  I'll make that call on Wednesday when I know more what's going on.

Thank you all. You've blessed me with your kindness.  I only hope to be able to repay it some day if you need me there for you.

12:32 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos

Tradition.......Tradition! Tra-Di-Tion! A PhotoBlog that’s Red, White, and Blue all Over!
Category: Art and Photography

It started over 100 years ago with these guys right here:

My grandma (center, bottom row) and her siblings.

They decided, because life and living gets busy, that every 4th of July the family would gather for the Hysong Family Reunion.

A Tradition was born.  While all of their generation has long since past on, it continues.  Some years we have a very poor turn-out, some years the pavillion can hardly hold all the people.

This year, we had a pretty kickin' turn-out.  The weather was a tad on the chilly side, but we were glad to have that over the scortching heat.  Or rain. It seems it almost always rains on the 4th, or the day before it causing any playground area to be wet, muddy, and soupy.

The boys were SO ready for it!
Spencer's been asking me,
"When's the family reunion?" since Summer broke open.

Yeah thar buddy, yer tough!
That's actually the shirt he wore last year, but he HAD to wear it again.
Thankfully it wasn't too too small on him.

In his head he's singing,
"Hey, hey I wanna be a Rock Star!"

The swings were a hit!

I think Spence went down that slide about a hundred times.

I had a hard time gettin' Max outta THAT thing!
I was fortunate that he has plenty of Aunts and Cousins willing to push, push, push him.  'Cause you know, I can't be in two places at once!!

This is Aunt Mary's only Grandson, John, trying to "butch up" my boys.
His dad, also named John, said I should get both my boys out there and let them get hit in the face with a ball a few times so they wouldn't "turn gay on me".
He was kidding.
My family..... we're all tactless pigs.  You didn't think I was the only one, didja??

Mom with five of her seven children.  We've had a good batting average that at least five of us are at family functions, and that's pretty good for us.

At the end of the party, there's the White Elephant Sale.
Who ever's turn it is to get the park and bring the ham recoups their money by having what equates to a Garage/Junk Sale.

It's pandimonium.  Kids pushing to the table to grab little thing-a-mah-bobbers wrapped in newspaper with "Boy 25 cents!" written on it.  What it means for me is that my kids are going to come home with a load of cheap, made-in-china-loaded-with-lead, choking-hazard-dollar-store-toys.

For the kids?  It's Pure Heaven!  Like Christmas In July.
I always loved that dang sale when I was little.

 
The boys scored some killer, silly Bird Hats.
....and bubble sticks, and bubble stuff, and baseball cards, and a stuffed dog, a stuffed dinosaur (several of them) a stuffed lion, a stuffed beaver (shut-up, sickoes.... it's actually a cute lil' thing....)
There was one "extra" stuffed puppy, and the boys decided to send the Extra Woof-Woof to Po-Po to help him feel better.
Have I mentioned how cool my kids are??

Max even took his off long enough for his Uncle Donald to pose with Spencer.

The boys behaved and ate well and had a ball.  I embraced the sheer number of people around me that I love and who love me and had fun as well. 

Max zonked out before we were even out of the park.


Kathy laid him out on the couch when we got home.  Those are some of his new toys from the Sale.  His "Grrrr-arh!", his "Woof Woof" and his "Roar!"
Yes, those are their names.
He also has a pig who's name is "Snnnook!" Not the word Snook, but the snorting nose a pig makes.

While Max was napping, Spencer enjoyed his new Bubble Stuff on the porch,
complete with his new Hat.

All in all? A great day.  While Max was napping and Spencer engrossed with Bubbles and Baseball Cards, I left the kids with Kathy and went back up to Hospice to see Gene and Yeti.  Pat's parents were sleeping and the mood of the day was calm. Gene had been talking more yesterday -- actually forming words they could understand -- so it was a good day for them as well.  I didn't stay long.  Just long enough to let them know,
"Hey.... I love you guys."
I'm so very lucky to have the family I was born into,
and the one that embraced me with open arms when I married their son.

I am
A Blessed Woman.

And while I'm sharing pictures......

Have you guys seen this movie?

Spencer had been totally fascinated with the previews but we never got around to seeing it in the theater.  When I saw it was out on DVD the other day, I picked it up.

BOTH boys are totally in love with this movie.  Truth told? So am I.  It's the kind of thing I'd have totally been into as a kid.

The past few mornings we've started our day with this:

The boys.... checking out the window....

 
....with their Seeing Stones to make sure our yard is Goblin Free.

Have a great day, all.

And once again, Thanks for lookin'!

Currently watching : Fiddler on the Roof (2-Disc Collector’s Edition) Release date: 2007-01-23

9:49 AM - 27 Comments - 42 Kudos - Add Comment

'Nother Update
Category: Life

I've been trying to keep things around here "Business As Usual" in my MySpace world, but I'm sure you can tell something is a little..... off.  I'm blogging less, and not getting to my comments like I usually do.  Things are just..... wonky.

Because things are, indeed, off right now.

Yeti's back up with his Dad.  Gene has taken the worst turn.  They had to put him in Hospice tonight.  We were just up there on Saturday, and Gene was still able to verbally communicate.  He no longer has that capability.  Doug called this morning right as Yeti laid down after a long (and very rough) night at work to let Pat know........ things are getting bad.  Very bad.

So, with -- literally -- a 10 minute nap under his belt, Yeti trekked up to be with his family.  I don't think I exhaled an actual breath until I heard him on the phone telling me he made it there in one piece.

It's ironic, really.

Yeti had taken vacation time in late June -- scheduled it, I mean, to get stuff done around the house and catch a few of my shows. Circumstances changed with is Dad, and he spent his time off there rather than at home.  That is a good thing.  He had that time scheduled long in advance before knowing he'd be needed in Cleveland.

This week? His shop is on shutdown.  He's off all week. 

My sister Kathy is in town for the 4th of July family reunion and got in last night. She's staying with us rather than our Mom because Mom has some unexpected house guests (My Step-Dad's son, girlfriend, and her daughter) from Georgia.

Things........ just time out right sometimes.
Kathy being here.
Yeti having the time off work when he needs it most.

The kids had fun playing with their Aunt Ki-Ki today.  Max can't say "Kathy" and the nickname "Ki-Ki" was birthed this morning.  Spencer couldn't say "Julie" when he was Max's age and calls her Aunt Tookie to this day because of that.

I'm trying to find smiles in the little things, but I won't lie:  I want to be with Pat right now.  I know he wants me there.  And we both know I'm where I really need to be.  The kids would not do well with both of us gone.

Last night I dove back into my Clay Stuff for an escape.  I plan on doing the same thing as soon as I sign off here.  I have back-orders, and I need the stress relief. 

I miss my husband.

I miss who Gene used to be, and knowing that version of him is gone? It's hard. He's a good man.  He's always been SO GOOD to me.  Kinder and more loving than my own father could ever bother to be.  It is so unfair, in the greatest degree, for a man to live such a solid, honest, pure life and then be taken out the way he's being taken out.  This type of suffering should never happen to The Good Ones.  Period.

So, if I'm not around on here?  It's simply because I just don't feel like it.  It's really that simple.  I don't feel myself right now, and that's to be expected.  I don't want to sit at the computer right now.  I want to get my hands dirty creating.  I don't want to swim within my own mind because there are dark things in there making it hard for me to feel RIGHT right now.  And it's not even the kind of stuff where it feels better to "get it out".   This whole situation just SUCKS.  It fucking SUCKS, okay? 

I know people get sick.  And we all die.  That is fact.  The moment we draw in our first breath, our clock starts ticking.

But why the hell does the end have to be so damn cruel? Especially to someone like Gene? 

I'll be back here and there, and I won't be gone long.

I just need a break from my own thoughts at the moment.

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC 4th Of July.  Be safe.

*Edit*

I went yesteday with my sister in law to see Gene.  Kathy stayed here with the kids.  Me, Joanna and Seth (nephew) drove up together.

I needed to see Yeti.  I needed to see Gene.

He's in pretty bad shape.  Through most of the visit he was either sleeping or restless in the bed, grabbing his head with his one arm that still works.  I kept thinking, "Is he still here?" meaning, is he still aware of us, of what's going on....

My answer came when Linda bent down and put her hands on his face.  She leaned in to kiss him, and that one good arm quickly came around her as his eyes lit up and he kissed her back.  The love between the two of them, at that moment, was a tangible thing that filled the entire room.  It was like a wave of comfort, a wave of grief and longing, and it washed over us and almost knocked me on the floor.

I hadn't cried to that point, but I felt the tears come and left the room.

He knows what's happening to him, and I almost think it would be better for everyone -- us, him -- if he didn't.

I'm driving up again and taking the kids this time.  The Hospice center has a HUGE play room, and Kathy's riding with us so she can keep an eye on the kidlettes.  Yeti misses the boys.  He's been gone now since Monday? Tuesday? What day is today? I hardly know at the moment.

Just thought I'd give you guys an update, and thank you for your kindness, heart, and prayers.  I just don't have time to answer each comment individually but I am reading.  And it's all very very much appreciated.

***Edit again.....***

So, me and Kathy and the kids drove up yesterday.

I have to interject this simply because I think you guys might need it after reading all this heavy stuff. 

We drove up to the Hospice and Yeti's brother Doug saw us pulling in and quickly texted (is that right? texted? whatever....) Yeti that we were there.  He was walking towards the car as we got out, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the boys.  Okay, and me. 

Then he holds out this clump of tape.  It's that brown packaging tape -- you know, the kind of stuff that's a pain in the ASS to deal with or cut through?

Yeah..... his oldest brother Greg had used almost an entire roll of packaging tape to TAPE YETI'S CIGARETTES SHUT!!.... and it was the last pack he had on him at the time!

In the midst of sorrow, people, there is still time for practical jokes.

I let Spencer decide whether or not he wanted to see Gene, and he went in.  Max just toddled on in right up to that bed saying "Hi! Hi Po-Po!!  Yuv You Po-Po!!" and I could tell that Gene heard them.

They spent most of their time in the playroom.  My sister is a lot like me in her desire to clean up messes.  She reorganized the bookshelves and put all the VHS tapes back in their boxes.  Okay, I helped with that.  It was bugging the SHIT out of both of us, and the sign DID say we were responsible for cleaning up after our kids.  I think Kathy cleaned up after the last 40 kids that had been in and out of there over some extended time, but we left that place pretty spiffy.  It was mostly my sister's doing!!

There isn't any change right now with Gene.  He's still hanging in there, but still very much "not there".  A lot of people from their church came so I kinda hung back and let them visit more than I spent time in the actual room.  He's responding to questions by squeezing people's hands with that one good arm.  He still knows what's going on around him.

Oh and here's another good one for you guys who've stuck with this whole blog:

Before we went to Hospice yesterday, I had to get some grocery shopping done.  HAD TO.  There were things we needed for the house, and my family reunion is today.  I was getting stuff to make my cheesecakes.  

Let me say this: I made a list.  I. made. a. flippin'. LIST.

Spencer was non-stop talking as the Eagle's Nest wasn't open yet. He was just going on and on and jumping and distracting me and NOTHING would calm him down.  He wasn't being bad, just.... you know.... annoying, as only a four year old can be.

My brain is a tad scattered at the moment as you can imagine.

We get our stuff, pay for it, load it, and as I'm pulling INTO MY DRIVEWAY.... I realize........

I forgot cream cheese.

Damnit.

Damn IT!

So, after Hospice, after the kids were tucked into bed, I headed BACK to the store for flippin' cream cheese.

Ugh!

I don't even have blonde HIGHLIGHTS right now!

We're all headed to the Reunion in a few hours here.  Spencer's been looking forward to it since Summer started.  I remember being that excited about it when I was a kid, too.  The whole thing started with my Grandmother's generation with her and her siblings.  It's been going on for probably a hundred years or something..... EVERY fourth of July.  Rain or shine, cold or hellish heat... we're together.

And I kinda need that right now.

Have fun today people. Be safe.

9:12 PM - 54 Comments - 98 Kudos - Add Comment

Body Boundaries!
Category: Life

There are innocent things that children do that can......... well, creep a grown up out. 

Right now, Max is fascinated with boobs.  If Yeti is running around without a shirt on, Yeti's nipples are a target for Max to try and tweek them.

They BOTH try to smack each other in the winkie or on the butt at bath time.

Ah yes, the "Body Boundaries" conversation happens a LOT around here. I'm hoping eventually it will sink in!

But what of us Grown People?

Last night I did a show at the Canton Negro's Oldtimer's Club.  Yes, that's the actual name.  A group called Single 2 Mingle put on a show last night with various local performers -- there were a few dance troups, some spoken word poetry, a few comedians  -- it was an interesting night!

The booker at the Cleveland Improv likes to make a stink about white comics not being able to handle themselves with an "urban" crowd.  I wish ole Lee had been there last night.  This silly White Girl did just fine, thank you!   If the truth be told, I prefer a more culturally diverse audience.  I'm not trying to make any generalizations here to piss people off, but as a group? White people are a little uptight.  And a primarily black audience is going to MAKE you be funny, or they will give you shit.  They'll either ignore you or heckle you if you're not funny enough.  I'm happy to report that I was neither ignored or heckled last night.  I had several people tell me I was the best of the entertainment of the evening, and I'll take that!! Thank you!  They asked me to come back again, and I will do it. It was a GREAT room and a wonderful group of people.  Lots of laughs, and lots of new material birthed last night in that room.

Standing outside smoking, a few people decided to betray the Body Boundaries.  This has nothing to do with race.  These were just a few random people, here and there, and we encounter these kinds of people in EVERY walk of life.

I'm talking about people who are Close Talkers.

Lemmie put it this way: I can hear just fine.  If I need someone to repeat something, I'll say, "What?"

I don't need someone IN MY FACE.

Your space.

My space.

Let's not invade our Personal Space while talking, getting all UP in my face while trying to carry on a casual conversation!  Especially when I have a lit cigarette in my hand as someone might lose an eye or something.

If I'm not talking loud enough for you to hear me? (Ha.... like THAT ever happens with my big mouth??) ask me to speak up.

It just makes me nervous in a situation where there isn't background noise for interruption when people get close enough to kiss me just to talk.

What do you guys think?  Do Close Talkers make you nervous?  How do you handle such a situation?  And if we all met on a random Summer day in the park, or at the Mall, what would you do if Max just spontaniously grabbed a big ole handful of one of YOUR boobs?

6:03 AM - 30 Comments - 61 Kudos - Add Comment

A Week In Review: A Photoblog
Category: Blogging

It's been a Busy Week.

Yeti got the pool out for the boys.....

.... fill'er up!

Almost done!

Check the temp!

"Ooooooh! Told!!"

Getting used to the water....

Now we're talkin'!
Looks like Max is ready to beat the crap out of Spencer!

Literally, right after this was taken....
Spencer puked in the pool.
Got out, hoarked all over the sidewalk.

We tried to tell him he had to wait a while after lunch,
but he wasn't hearin' it.
Hot Dog Chunks on my Sidewalk! Wooo Hooo!
Horray For Summer Fun!
Bwaa ha ha ha ha!!!

Had that show on Thursday in Geneva.
It went very well.  We had a lot of fun!
That's Bill Boronkay, me, and Jeff Blanchard.  I'm not sure why Bill Squire, the headliner, isn't in there.

Tami went with me.  Two hour drive = too long to go at it alone.
We had a wonderful drive there and back.  Singing, smoking, goofing off and having long drawn out conversations about everything and anything.
Friends are great things to have, you know?

Yesterday we went to Yeti's parent's house for his brother Doug's wedding.  It was a small ceremony.  Very casual. I've come to view weddings like that to be the best kind.  There's no need for bells and whistles and pagentry.  Two people want to wed? Then do it.  Surround yourselves with the people you love and good feeling and go for it.

They brought their dogs!

Spence enjoyed a little Pre-Wedding Football.

I had some fun with some still life photography.

As Doug and Peg were giving their vows, the sky OPENED UP.
Downpour! BIG TIME!..... Just like when Yeti and I got married. I told Peg that was a good omen.

The boys played with some umbrellas....

...just as the sun started to come back out.
After everything official was over, of course!

Yeti entertained the children with some stimulating "Go Fish!" while I helped in the kitchen.

All in all, a good day.

Oh, and there's this....

Yeti and I were playing with some pictures and some of the software we have.  I wanted to see just how BIG I could make that Diva Dome!!

Have a great week, guys!

Thanks for lookin', and thanks for stickin' around through this busy time!

12:25 PM - 52 Comments - 54 Kudos - Add Comment

Quickie!

Sorry I haven't replied to my last blog comments.  I'll get to it.  There are some fun starters to silly conversations there.

Last night's show went VERY well.  I enjoyed the Feature Spot and did purrrdy well!! ..... if I say so myself.

I woke up this morning thinking, "I think I have the flu....."

Nope.

Aunt Flo is in town and she's being a royal Bitch.

Because of that I simply can't SIT for long. Been camped out on the couch most of the day. Bless Yeti for taking over with the boys.  I can't hardly be upright at the moment, but it will all pass by morning. Yay!

Everything's still the same with Gene.  Thank you all again for your prayers and kindess.

Because I'm not on here much today, I'm just disabling Kudos and Comments. Just wanted to give y'all an update and wish you a Happy Weekend!

6:22 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos

Bubbles and stuff.
Category: Life

Mom came over the other day while I was getting ready for a show.  She has this little bag of toys she keeps in her purse, and you'd think they were the BESTEST, most EXPENSIVE things money can buy.

Nope. Just little do-dads, different from the bazillion things cluttering up my house.

Spencer's fond of the lighted ones.... especially if he can catch you off guard and shine them RIGHT in your eyes.

Ouch. My heart!

He's going to outgrow those Scooby jammies soon.
Again I say... ouch.

Max refuses to keep a shirt on.
Period.
This is one of those Lucky Timing Shots.  He wasn't really standing on his head.
Well, not for long anyway....

Yeti came home yesterday and the boys enjoyed some much needed Daddy Time.  Sometimes it's just the simple things that make a day go right.

Like..... Bubbles.

Max kept trying to chase them and eat them.  Spencer just wanted to see how many more than Max he could pop.

Cripes.  Lookit Max's RIBS!  When he extends his arms like that it looks like we never feed the child anything except bubbles.

Bubbles: Much, MUCH more fun to photograph than poop.

We spent the day at Yeti's parent's house today.  We were just there a little over a week ago as a family, and I'm saddened and concerned at how much worse my Father-In-Law has gotten.  It pains me to see him that way, and I'm only his daughter-in-law.  I can't imagine what it's doing to Yeti and his brothers and his Mom. 

Thank you for all your prayers and kind words.  I know I haven't been around here lately to read other blogs or really interact on my own, but I've been phasing out here and there.  Zoning out.  It's all very unfair, for someone to have to go through what this family is going through.  I have such a high level of respect for Yeti and his brothers right now -- I can't even put it into words.

Gene has always been good to me. Good to the boys. This just sucks.  Period.

I have a show tomorrow night, and I'm hoping that Comedy provides me with a nice outlet for stress.  Yep, I'm using it. I'm nervous as it's my first time up as Feature on a paid basis.  A "normal" comedy show usually has an MC, a Feature, and a Headliner.  Bumping up to Middle-Man is kindof "the next step" and some would say I'm due.  Some would argue I haven't been doing this long enough, but I've been given that chance so I'm taking it.

I had an odd Surreal Moment yesterday as well.  I went to get my hair cut (because the Unruly Chia-Pet was growing out again) and the girl at the desk said,

"We'll be with you in a minute, Katrina."

Now, I go to one of those walk-in places and rarely get the same person twice.  Yes,  I gamble on my Diva Dome like that.  I can't see paying $50 on something that should cost the $15 I pay there.

I figured she knew my name because I had been in there four weeks or so ago, and that's when the other girl said,

"We have your poster in the back!"

Huh?

What?

"What poster?"

The show I'm doing Sunday -- the people promoting it made Katrina Comedy Fliers and passed them out at local businesses around town.  I had NO IDEA.

It was .... kinda cool.  And honestly? A tad on the creepy side.  There was one other customer there, and he peeked around the mirror to see me, kindof a "who we got over there?" curiosity.  And then he just kept staring.

Move on, mister.  Nothin' to see here but a Mommy getting her hair did. 

Because I was in my ratty blue t-shirt and shorts. No makeup. I think I washed my face before I left. I know I brushed my teeth.  I was all raggiddy is what I'm sayin'.

I save the Diva shit for the stage, thanks.

8:33 PM - 26 Comments - 60 Kudos - Add Comment

On Pooping and Vampires and Peeing One’s Pants: Random Randomness at it’s Finest.
Category: Blogging

I think a woman has reached a point of obsession with a digital camera when she photographs her child's turd.

What do you think?

Yes, once again, Spencer was playing the "I don't HAVE to poop" game.

But we have ammo in our corner.  We have....... Suppositories.  They were recommended by the doctor at Stat Care the last time this issue came up.
And Spencer had one that week.
And he knows they suck.

He'd gone FOUR DAYS, again, without droppin' the kids off at the pool.

We told him he had three choices:

1. Go in there and do his business.
2. Another trip to Stat Care

or

3. The ...... suppository.

That little stinker waltzed into the bathroom and, on command, produced a turd that could choke a dinosaur.  Yeti and I could not hold back our shock at the sheer size of the thing.  AND that he did it on command like that.  It brings to mind several questions like, WHY is he holding it in?  HOW is he holding it in for days on end?  And did the threat of a suppository, quite literally, make the child shit himself?

I did, indeed, photograph it.  Upon me running to get the camera I hear my eldest child say with pride,

"I should enter THAT in a Poop Contest. I'd WIN!"

As you can see, I did not upload Spencer's Poop Picture to this blog.  Even I have my limits of what photographic memories I'll share with my online friends.  But having the picture for ammunition?  Hey, you NEVER KNOW when it can come in handy.

I will say THIS though:  Last week, the child had a suppository, 2 prunes, mineral oil in his milk, AND a fiber bar and STILL held it for another 24 hours before giving in to nature.

You can lead a horse to water but you can not make them drink?

Ha!

You can lead a child to a toilet but you can not make them poop.

******

Yeti's spent the last few nights at his parent's house.  He is where he is needed, but I have to admit ..... I miss the man.

With his schedule, I'm used to him not sleeping next to me.  It sucks, but it is our reality and we've developed a routine out of him working midnights.

But here's the thing:  The kids go to bed, and Daddy's still home.  He gets home from work before they get up so upon waking, Daddy is home.  They never actuall SEE him leave.  Even when he's home sleeping in the daytime? They still know he's here.

The first night, Max called out a lot for Yeti but he's settled down about it.  Through the day they ask when Dad's coming home. Spencer fully understands that Daddy is with "Po-Po" because PoPo is sick and needs help.

The seed is being planted in our sons on how to be a loyal, loving, caring, wonderful man.

Yeti is where he is needed most right now.  It's just that simple. He came home yesterday and had dinner with the kids.  I had to bust out the door for my Alliance gig.  I probably would've canceled it all together if I wasn't the one running it.  I already canceled on the Cleveland Improv for tomorrow's Open Mic simply because I need to be where I'm needed : At home.  And, it's an Open Mic.  There are 11 other comics.  They aren't going to miss me much, and Fact is Fact:  Home is where I need to be. It's where I WANT to be right now.

******

The kids have been hilarious through the day just being boys. Today, for a half hour, they played race car on the couch.  Spencer kept telling Max to change the blown tire, and Max would hop down, do this little pantomime gesture of changing a tire (where did he learn THAT??) and he'd hop back on the couch and continue the race.

They're really cool little people...... even if one of them won't poop enough and the other one poops too much. 

******

I wanted to post a George Carlin tribute video within this blog, but ironically almost ALL of the Carlin Videos on MySpace won't play.  They all just show a black screen.

A loss in the comedy world to be sure.

I remember watching him at my college room mate's parent's house in the Summer of 1990.  I laughed so hard I peed on their couch.  I wish I were kidding.  I should've taken a bathroom break before she started the video.

******

I haven't been around other blogs much, and I'm sorry if anyone's feeling ignored.  I haven't been doing much of anything the past few nights except watching mindless television and zoning out.

Anyone else watching The Two Coreys?  Corey Haim and Corey Feldman..... holy hell.  Why I'm drawn to Train-Wreck TV is beyond me, but The Lost Boys was one of my favorite 80's flicks. The part where Keiffer Sutherland's character bites into that bald guy's head, and blood sprays like someone cracked open a beer STILL gets me.  Every time.  I thought both Coreys were quite annoying in that movie and they were actually my least favorite characters although Haim had some fun lines.

"You might be a blood sucking vampire, but you're still my brother....."

Only in the 80's, man.

******

I believe that's enough nonsense for one night.

9:36 PM - 51 Comments - 58 Kudos - Add Comment

A Good Day, In Pictures: Photoblog number 978.... or 979.... or...
Category: Art and Photography

As I left the computer yesterday, having posted my "Today's going to be a good day!" blog, Spencer proceeded to kick his brother. HARD.  This landed him in a time out..... which produced much, MUCH screaming.

See, he thought being in Time Out meant he was going to miss the party.  Upon being released from his corner prison, he then decided to show us how sorry he was and how much he loved his little brother by snuggling with him on the couch.

Okay okay, it's cute.
But stop KICKING the baby, okay!?

They were still in their Junky Play Clothes and we got them all cleaned up and started loading up.  Max has this horrific habit of walking in front of adults and then.... STOPPING.  This causes said adult to put on the breaks at record speed, but you can't SEE that tiny person when you're carrying a diaper bag, a bowl of pasta salad, and your purse.  So, I knocked him over outside producing another scrape on his knee.

At this point, my mind went back to that "This is going to be a great day! I can feel it!" blog and I'm thinking,

I spoke too soon! I spoke TOO SOON! bwarrr-aaaahhhhh!

Tears from the scraped knee dried and crisis over, we went on with our day. Yeti and I drove separately because he was leaving to spend the night with his parents. 

Kids loaded? Check.
Pasta salad? Check.
Buckeyes? Check.
Collage, camera, diaper bag, purse? Check, Check, Check!
Sanity? Bah, who needs it!

Let's go!

My sister looking at the photo collage.

 
The boys were running and playing so much, it was hard to catch them in any kind of "still" moment.  Man, they had fun!

Meet the first girl to be born in our family in over 16+ years.
This is my Grand-Niece Delaney.
Ain't she a cutie??!!

Everyone was fawning over her, as they should've been!!

My brother was holding her and said,
"Man, I miss this....."
and I knew just what he meant.
Babies are such amazing lil' creatures.
Of course, then you remember all the "other stuff" and think.....
.... nah, I can't even get cynical looking at that little face.
Every time I hold a baby, I want another one.
Then Spencer kicks Max, or Max punches Spencer and I realize,
"Nope. We're done!"

The boys sure were fascinated with her though.
Max kept walking up to her saying "Goo-Goo, Ga-Ga, Baby!"
My heart. Ouch, oh, my heart!

I was still wearing my "Quiz Bus" shirt from the PBS shoot earlier in the day. I had come home from that, tossed on shorts, and forgot to change my shirt. Eh, no biggie.

Even my Mom, who rarely (if EVER!) smiles for pictures?
Well, she couldn't contain herself when holding lil' Delaney!!

Ashley, the Star Of The Day, and Uncle Tom.
I can't deny that it was heart-wrenching to see him walk up without Aunt Mary.
But she was with us.  In our hearts anyway, and I guess that just has to be enough.

My nephew Alex, Ashley's brother.  He was late because his team made it into the playoffs.  They didn't win it, but he didn't care.  He was so proud to be on the team that MADE it there.

Braden wanted a turn, and Max wasn't givin' it up.

"Seriously Mom? I have to get OFF this thing and give him a turn?"
Max and Spence are used to having free reign over Nana and Papa's toys!
Eventually Max did get off the thing, and Braden was on it for so long that when HE had to get off, he wouldn't let go!

Yeti and Spence, in a rare moment of calm.

Biker Gang In Training??

Me and My Sibs.
Only two are missing in this one.  Not bad.
This is for those of you who ask why I'm never IN any of my photoblogs.
And, see? See? I AM the tallest female in my family!!! That doesn't mean I'm tall. It means I hail from a clan of Midgets!

Ashley and my nephew Craig.
My God, where does time go? Seriously? WHERE does it GO??

Alex, entertaining Maxwell.

He was VERY entertained!

One of my Step-Dad's old cars.

And another one. Check out the wooden wheels!!
Don't ask me what make and year these things are.
I'm a girl. I don't know these things.

And then, after all the fun and food had been taken care of,
as people were starting to leave,

The Sky Opened Up!

Spencer, who has been obsessed with The Wizard Of Oz lately, started screaming,

"It's a Twister! It's a Twister!"

We were half laughing, and half searching for the tell-tale signs of danger. It is, after all, Ohio.

But he just. kept. yelling it.

We were all bent over laughing at the kid.
I know who the REAL comedian is in this family, and guys, it isn't ME!

Taken on the drive home.

By the time we got home -- and it's only a 10-15 minute drive from Mom's to our house -- it had calmed down into a "normal" rain storm.  Spencer, of course, had a bazillion questions about what we'd do if it WAS a Twister, or if the lights went out, or if.....

Ah, doesn't matter.

It was, indeed, a Good Day.

As always, thanks for lookin'!

7:15 AM - 39 Comments - 43 Kudos - Add Comment

Shake It Up Baby, Now!
Category: Life

When the boys take a tumble or bump themselves, we tell them to "Shake It Off".

Now, we're not Hard Core parents of boys that ignore when they're hurt. We don't bark at them that "boys don't cry" and any of that malarkey. If they've actually harmed themselves, we take care of the boo-boos.  But sometimes kids can make more out of a scraped knee than what's called for.

And telling them to "Shake It Off" is delivered with humor.  We'll show them a silly Shake It Dance and try to pull a laugh from them and make them forget they just bonked themselves or fell or skinned that knee.

Needless to say, things have been a tad on the STRESSFUL side around here lately.

And the support that Yeti and I have found in our MySpace circle of people has been astounding.  Heart warming. Humbling. Refreshing. Phenominal and Fantastic.

Thank you guys.

Thank you for sharing your hearts, your prayers, your kind words and your humor. 

Thank you for helping me Shake It Off.

This morning is a new day.
The money situation was resolved.  I'll be honest -- I didn't think it would be. I thought that check was simply lost to us.  The black pit in my stomach told me so.  Rarely is that instinct wrong, but I'm happy that it was wrong this time.

So, I'm Shakin' It Off.

I'm able to do so because of You.  Yeah, YOU.  You who have come to my blog and left me a piece of yourself.  You with the messages of encouragement and hope and kindness. 

YOU guys..... Friends.

Thank You.

Now I'm off to finish taping part of that PBS thingie.  Then my family is getting together for my niece's Graduation Party.  Looks like we have blue skies on the horizion for today. 

Because our money situation got straightened out, I was able to whip up a big ole batch of my Buckeyes last night and my signature Pasta Salad to take to the party.  Spencer's been looking forward to this day for a few weeks.  He gets VERY excited when he knows he's going to see his aunts and uncles, his cousins, his Grandparents.

Today is going to be a good day.  I can feel it. 

Thank you all again, so very very much.

9:23 AM - 39 Comments - 40 Kudos - Add Comment

PSA From Katrina Brown

Warning.

I am about to hit Code Red Stress of ginormous proportions.

I would go into detail and share it all with you so you guys could nod and say "Been there. Bought the T-Shirt", and then we could all have a laugh about how stressful life is but gosh golly gee ain't it all worth it and blah blah frikkidy blah blah blah BLAH......

 but I have to go clean up my otherwise smarter than the average bear Four Year Old as he has, once again, shat himself.

Calgon?

Screw that.

I need something stronger and something that lasts a lot longer than a frikkin' bubble bath.

11:33 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos

I took the long way home.
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

I had some minor errands to run today, but Max was pretty vocal upon waking that he wanted to see his Nana and Papa.  Spencer was content to leave Max there and run errands with me..... until we got there.

The lower lip came out.

"I want to stay here, too...."

Run errands alone?  Son, I have no issue with that one.

Our medical insurance has a flex spending account.  You know the kind where you give them a dollar ammount at the start of the year and they take a bit out of each check and blah blah blah.....

Many months ago, my OB/GYN had given me a list of herbal suppliments he wanted me to try for some of my PCOS symptoms.

And that stuff is expensive.

It only dawned on me that -- Duh! -- I could use the Flex Spending for it. If we can buy Tylenol with it (which, ironically, we never have....) why not something my doctor TOLD me to buy?

So, I did some research on what he recommended along with some other things that are supposed to assist naturally in weighloss, the body's ability to speed up metabolism and whatnot.

I went to The Raisin Rack -- a local health food store.  I figured they'd have everything I needed.

They did.

And our card was denied.

Why?

Because I was in a place called "The Raisin Rack".

I drove a block and a half to the Rite Aide down the street and had zero issue getting what I needed.

Yes, Please, Insurance Company.  Make zero sense to me as I want something else, something little, to just piss me all kinds of off.  Had anyone walked past our truck and saw me talking to myself in the parkinglot of the Raisin Rack, they'd have probably bought me some "Anti-Psycho Herbs" out of pitty.

I went to WalMart for a few things and then..... I took the back roads back to Mom's. 

I took in the beauty, the fresh air, and the memories those roads provided.

Riding my bike as a teen.
Almost running -- on foot, mind you -- into a cow.
The time the tornado came through town and that one road was blocked, and all I wanted to do was Get. To. My. Mother.

I looked at my bag of pills, and hoped that I didn't just waste money.

I'm of the opinion that God put some things on this Earth for us to use beyond the tobacco I suck in way too much.  Time to try out some good things from nature.

Don't worry. I'm not in danger of becoming some Tofu Chompin' Hoopie.

I've always said I could easily become a vegitarian if I could cheat with a nice steak now and then.  I've always liked healthy food.  Just, you know, the UNhealthy stuff is so much cheaper and easier to obtain.

I fail to see the logic in the denial of my purchase at The Raisin Rack though.  I bought the same exact stuff at Rite Aide.  SAME SHIT.  The only thing the drug store didn't have was Kelp Powder or Kelp capsules.  Other than that, I got everything on my list.

A little of this for hot flashes and a little of that for mood swings.  Some of this for lower cholesterol and some of that for energy boostin'.

Don't worry, there's no herbal Ephedra or herbal Phen-Phen or anything heart attack inducing here in the house.  I stuck with the "Good Stuff" -- the stuff that's been around for centuries that, for some reason, we continue to ignore.

We think a nasty tasting diet shake is going to help.  Or horrifically flavored Fiber Bars..... Thank Spencer that THOSE were ever in our house.
Did I mention he went six days without pooping AGAIN?  Ugh.  That's another blog in of itself.

I'll let you guys know if it all works.

I'll be the Test Subject if any of you were/are thinking about taking this route to better health.

I'm tired of feeling tired.  I'm tired of feeling like ca-ca.  I'm tired of my ovaries controling my life and I'm tired of my own complaints. 

I could kick myself that I ever, ever, EVER let myself get in THIS piss-poor of shape..... again.  I envy people with speedy metabolisms. 

I'm tired of kicking myself.  It hurts.

I'm attempting to have another 20 pounds gone by the end of Summer.

I wonder if I can do it?

1:35 AM - 48 Comments - 48 Kudos - Add Comment