K is for Knight

You're never too old for a little fantasy time.  Ladies, on this ordinary Thursday morning, take a few minutes to let your imagination wander.  If you were a damsel in distress (or just a damsel hanging around), who would be your knight in shining armor?  Let's have an MGM movie moment.  You can choose stars from today and/or stars from the classic movie days.

Big surprise for my choice:  Hugh Jackman  Here's my choice from the classics:  Gary Cooper (one of my Dad's favorite movie legends)

So your knight on the white horse who lives to adore you on the silver screen is....

H is for Hopscotch

So I'm sitting here watching "The Voice", eating Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, and making a spreadsheet for a book order for the school when it hits me...I need to do an H post.

Talk about winging it at almost the eleventh hour. 

Remember hopscotch?  As girls, we would chalk up a shaky, but doable hopscotch board across the often broken sidewalks in front of the big apartment building on our Bronx block.  Hours and hours of fun would inevitably happen when we dedicated ourselves to a hopscotch tournament.  We didn't need any instant technology or flashing devices.  Hopscotch filled the bill quite nicely when it came to entertaining us city kids.

On my street now, guess who is the only house with hopscotch boards all over the driveway?  It looks like I'm successfully turning my driveway into a pseudo Bronx street.  Now if only I could jump into a double dutch game without spraining something vital.

Back to my cookies.  There are two left!

P.S. I'll visit you all soon.  I have to finish this project for the school and then I'm back to blogging.

G is for green

Rake in hand, I'm getting my front lawn ready for planting.  We have more dirt than grass.  Where did all that grass go?  As a family, we are going to tackle this problem and bring the glorious green back in front of our house.  Now it looks like the set for that movie, "The Sandlot."  When the boys play soccer, it becomes a dusty spectacle.  Looking forward to seeing some green grass sprouting again.  It will take some hard work, but we are ready to see if there are any green thumbs in our family.  Fingers crossed!

At least, I won't have to tackle poison ivy again.  With the way it looks now, I'm expecting to see a tumbleweed soon!

F is for Fabulous

Remember that Billy Crystal character on SNL that always said, "Darling, you look marvelous!"  It looks like I have my own catch word when I kick into daisy leader mode. Fabulous has become a favorite word for me when I greet the daisies.  I will say to them, "Look at all the beautiful, fabulous daisies smiling and shining!"

I think it is very important that each of those cute daisies feel like they are valuable, amazing, and perfect just the way they are.  My main goal as troop leader is to help the girls feel special and fabulous.  When we sit in the daisy circle, I always start off saying that they are all superstars and can achieve so much in this world.

I say the same to each of you: You are all superstars!  You are all fabulous!

(I'll try to feel fabulous sitting here in my sweatpants.  I'll just throw on a sparkly necklace and then I can play the "fabulous" role to the max when loading the dishwasher :)

E is for Entertain

If you want an elegant, perfect posture guest for your tea party, don't send me an invitation. I'm too much of a goofball type who likes to entertain my companions with a joke here and there.  I have always had this inclination to make people laugh or raise an eyebrow at my shenanigans. (I just love that word: shenanigans. Images of rascally leprechauns come to my mind.)  As a kid, I loved the shenanigans of the Carol Burnett crew.  Right up my alley.  Whether my Kelly form of entertainment is any good is up to my sometimes captive audience (sorry family, friends and blogging buddies!). 

When out socializing or hanging out at the bus stop, I like to stir things up with a few jokes or light humor.  If I want to be very serious, I'll turn on the news.  If I want the positive energy of fellowship, I'll put on my entertainer's hat.  I'm humming the song to myself: "Let me entertain you..."

Sounds like I'm a good candidate for a revival of The Gong Show.  Don't you think?

A to Z challenge, I know you'll get my blogging mojo back!

A to Z challenge here I come.  I'm a few days late, but I need this daily kick in the butt inspiration to get my blogging back in motion.  Are you ready for my letter "D" post?  Let's see what comes to me as I sit here keeping an eye on the kids as they bounce on the trampoline.  I'm the trampoline police, you know :)

I'll go with the first "D" word that comes to this frazzled brain...DESIRE.  Hmmm, interesting.  I'm sure my husband would like that choice.

Anyway, at this moment right now, I desire...

chocolate (continuous desire)
magically folded laundry (that pile just grows and grows)
another addictive TV marathon for me on NetFlix (I miss Lost)
ear plugs (the kids are getting quite loud)
a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (I want to practice my sophisticated art lover strut)
a chance to dance (I had fun at a Sweet 16 party on Saturday.  You should see the 40 something moms try to keep up with those 16 year old girls.  They get into positions that would definitely throw my back out!)

And my biggest desire right now:  to visit YOU!!! Here I come! Are you ready? 

Shhh, it's May 1st and I'm late with my letter "Z"

Call me casting director. Let's go with Z for Zorro. Hmmm, who would I like to see play Zorro on the silver screen? Diane, I wonder if the following gentleman would make you and I spill our popcorn at the theater? (See Diane, here's a "Hugh" post for both of us!) And look - I put up two photos!

Y is for Yesterday

A few moments with the Beatles is just what I need.



Happy Friday everyone!! I'm cooking all day. I need a couple of "more yesterdays" to get me ready for the party :)

X is for the X Factor

Job descriptions for technology managers are like a laundry list of every technical skill out there. Having looked through hundreds and hundreds of job descriptions over the past 4 years, I often get discouraged because my husband will not be considered a worthy applicant due to a missing X factor. Bottom line is that he can't have every technical skill, but he does have solid management experience and common sense. Unfortunately, hiring managers are fixated on those missing X factors on his resume. We can't even get to first base often in the application process.

I write cover letters for him all the time. I try to think of every kind of persuasive twist or spin to get hiring managers to give him a shot at an interview. I hope that there will be something in the cover letter language that will expand a hiring manager's perspective about considering the full package of an applicant and not just the laundry list of skills. Once I see one of those X factor skills on a job description, I know that I'll have an uphill battle with this cover letter pitch. We do a ton of networking and we still run into that X factor wall many times. The X factor is relentless and hangs over our heads when we try and try and try to find something permanent that will pay the bills.

Looking for a job via the Internet has pros and cons. It is convenient to apply via online. However, I wish that he could walk into a place and fill out an application and actually see the hiring manager face to face. Given that opportunity, I'm sure that my husband would make the hiring manager see that a good employee and a hardworking human being is more than a series of matching X factors.

On a lighter note, I think I just have to turn my 3 boys into some kind of boy band. Now if only I could get them to follow choreography. I'm sure that my little daughter would love them to learn a few ballet steps. Picture those tutu wearing boys and little Miss Jillian saying, "Back straighter. Point those toes!" LOL.

Back to cleaning the house for the communion party. I feel like the Roadrunner. Beep! Beep!

Hope to visit you all very soon once things settle down. Hugs and love - Kelly

W is for Wacky

Put some pressure on me and I go into full Lucille Ball mode. That wacky, sarcastic side helps me keep going when it feels like my daily plate is overloaded. I need to laugh and make silly jokes to handle everything on my HUGE to-do list for this Saturday's communion party. In contrast to the elegant royal wedding, I'll be throwing a party that would make Martha Stewart wonder if I know how to even spell etiquette. But that's alright with me. I like things a little wacky and fun. With job hunting, it has been very tense around here. Carefree wackiness is my specialty. Imagine if I had a drink or two. Watching me with all my wackiness, people may assume that I've had a drink. As I get older, I'm starting to get more and more lighthearted when everyone else around me turns serious. I think that it's good for your body and soul to relax and joke around once in a while.

I tried to be a good girl when it comes to healthy snacking. I took the time to wash a bunch of grapes and place them in a beautiful bowl right next to the computer. Instead of indulging in this readily available fruit bowl, I got up and beheaded a chocolate Easter bunny in the fridge. This week, I might as well be wearing a chocolate necklace. Apparently, that chocolate fix will get me through all this preparation. I hope that all that chocolate doesn't keep me from fitting into my one good skirt for the Communion!!!

***

P.S. Any other Lucy's or Ethel's out there? I could use a wacky buddy on Saturday. There will be a good amount of chocolate on hand. I may have more "Martha Stewart" type guests showing up instead of fun loving Lucy's. I feel outnumbered. LOL.

V is for Vraiment

Do you feel like there is a word that you write way too much in your posts? My word is "really." I catch myself writing it all the time. I need to edit out some of those extra really's.

Well, vraiment means really in French. I could sound very cosmopolitan with that word choice.

"Vraiment" could make me a little more sophisticated around here. LOL.

What word pops up in your writing often?

Wish I could write more today, but I'm a zooming woman trying to get ready for my son's Communion on Saturday. Off we go to the church rehearsal now.

U is for Untitled

I put a lot of energy into finding a title for one of my poems. Often, that title search takes longer than composing the poem. When I write the poem, I let it all hang out in a way. The words and images hit the page and, then I let the poem stand with a tweak here and there. When it comes to finding a title, I feel more pressure trying to contain the essence or thrust of the poem in a few words. Chasing that elusive title can be a challenge for me.

If someone would ask me to find the right title for the poem of "me" that encapsulates all that I am, I would have to call myself "Untitled."

Aren't we all happily untitled and loving the flux of just "being?"

Many, many, many positive and unique "titles" float all around you. Don't worry about trying to define yourself with one or two. Enjoy the idea that the true you can't be easily captured in a couple of definite words.

It reminds me of that dreaded interview question, "Tell me about yourself." I would love to answer, "Hang out with me for awhile. You'll get a sense of what I'm all about. Interact with me. Laugh with me. Observe me. Challenge me. I'm a human being. I can't be contained in a title or group of words."

Delight in the fact that we all are dynamic and untitled.

T is for Traveling

"Mama, your pocket is singing."

I'm wearing a big, fuzzy, pink bathrobe while I straighten up around here. (I'm sure that Pamela Anderson wears the same one at home. LOL)

I have found the perfect traveling buddy for me to help me get through my chores. My son gave me a $6 speaker attachment for my MP3 player. Now I can have Norah Jones or Dave Matthews or the Beatles or Tina Turner or Sting or Stevie Wonder or Beethoven serenading me as I fold the laundry, make beds, or load the dishwasher. Instead of wearing the earbuds, I like the idea of my music surrounding me while I move from room to room. It's fun to see the kids' reaction when I start to rock around the house to one of my favorites. Music can travel with me anytime. I like how it puts an added spring in my step.

Whether the kids like it or not, they are getting an earful of my kind of music education. Watch out kids, mama and her music may be traveling your way. I can hear my oldest son turning up his rap music now. Hmmm, maybe I should start traveling around here with rap music too. That's a way to get my teenager's attention. He'll ask me to "travel" the other way when his pals come to hang out. I guess he's afraid I'll "bust a move." I'll wind up busting something else most likely.

Turn up that music everyone!! Your spirit will thank you :)

(I look like a pink, fuzzy bear in that bathrobe. What a look for this slightly "older" groupie!)

Can I Get Away With R for Random? (Microfiction Muse and Things I'm Loving This Thursday Too!)

It's a running here and there kind of day for me since Easter is around the corner.

My mind feels like it's roaming all over the place with random plans and ideas. Joseph's communion is on April 30th and I have that planning too. I need a genie, I think.

Before I get all the kids in the car, I want to share my Microfiction with you today. My friend, Diane invites us to write a short, short story in 140 characters or less (including spacing and punctuation) in response to a select photograph for Microfiction Muse.

Here is my microfiction:

After helping the last kid with her backpack, Ashley closed that kindergarten door and clocked in as an international spy.

Continuing with my random list of blog things to do:

My friend, Teresha, over at Marlie and Me, asks "What am I Loving This Thursday?"

I'm loving...

• reading time with Jillian (she's taught herself to read!)
• new recipes
• watching the boys play basketball (with little fighting)
• quick doctor's visit - I have my horse pill medication now.
• planting flowers with the kids

I'll come by to see all of you very soon :)

Q is for...

Thoreau must have treasured it in the woods.

Bombeck would want to bottle it and sell it to harried parents.

Mozart knew that it filled the spaces between the music beautifully.

Stop what you're doing right now. See if you can harness it for just a minute.

I promise that you'll breathe a little easier after you give yourself this "Q" gift.

There is nothing like a little quiet to bring perspective and peace.

During this Holy Week, I need to make time to allow the quiet to lead me through prayer.

***********

P.S. The kids are off from school tomorrow and Friday. I better take advantage of any quiet that I can find over the next few days. Wishing you all some well deserved peace and quiet :)

P is for Practice

So much practicing going on here this week.

• Find those cleats Kel. The two oldest boys have to hit the fields for soccer practice. Not thrilled about all that muddy soccer equipment invading my living space again.
  
  
• Jillian is going to her kindergarten assessment in a few weeks. She's a whiz at her "getting ready" workbooks. No complaints from my little student. You should have heard her brothers at that age.
  
  
• My 8 year old is practicing for his First Communion on April 30th. The biggest challenge is remembering to process slowly and not get distracted by the other kids.
  
  
• I'm practicing my best "I have a job hunt plan honey" face when my husband and I have our daily job summits. If I look optimistic, I hope that some of it will rub off on him.
  
  
• I should be practicing my yoga moves before I submit to that hot (104 degrees) yoga class. I'm no elastic woman these days. More like achy breaky Kelly.
  
  
• I'm trying to get my 5th grader to put in some solid math practice time before the state tests in 2 weeks. I think he's more interested in sharpening his pencil than using it to do some computations. (fancy math word for me, huh?)

I'm going to put on my poetry practice cap later and try to do a poem, (I'll see what I can do bel). Fingers crossed that practice makes sort of perfect in that department. As I tell my kids, "Just keep at it. Something is bound to work."

O is for Onion

Now I'm not going to get into a big philosophical reflection about all the layers of my "personal" onion - remember that scene in Shrek?

Here's a public service announcement for all you moms who need some peaceful time alone in the kitchen, hopefully rocking to some good tunes from the 80's or 90's.

If you're having one of those days filled with kids and their reports about who did what to who, I recommend this quick and easy strategy to keep the revolving door battling kids outside the kitchen when you're trying to get dinner together.

"Don't come in here. I'm cutting an onion. Remember your eyes!" Now you first have to instill a fear of cut onions into your children's heads.

You should see how fast my kids will run for the hills and sometimes bond over their escape from the "deadly" onion tear making fumes that are hitting the kitchen.

It's funny to think that my me time could be my "onion" time too. I'll even deal with those stinging eyes for a little time to sing along with Bon Jovi in peace. (Another vlog moment!) A mama will take what she can get on some days.

Imagine if one of my kids wanted to be a professional chef? Even though their adult minds will know that they can handle the onion, I wonder if a little distrust of onions from these adventures will hang on a bit. I know. Another reason that they will complain about me on the therapy couch. LOL.

Now if I starting cutting onions in the bedroom so I can read, then they will start to figure me out!

N is for Negotiate

Wouldn't it be a nice change for me to close my bedroom door and hang up a sign that says, "Mama, the Negotiator is off duty." Keeping everyone in the house sort of happy seems to be all about negotiation. I find it to be an exhausting process often. It's a Saturday afternoon and the kids all seem to have their own agendas for what they want to do at a given moment. Inevitably, there will be a battle because each kid wants to stay firm with their idea of what is fun to do. How stubborn each of the boys can be when they want their own way.

Kids have too many choices these days. I hate when they spend half the day arguing about picking an activity instead of just enjoying being kids. Since I tend to be a peacemaker, I get involved in their debates and try to mediate the negotiations. When I succeed in that role, I breathe a sigh of relief. But there are days like today and I can't get anywhere in these negotiations.

Call me negotiator. Call me ego juggler around here. Call me when you can take me out for some chocolate :) There's my Saturday rant. I'm sending the crowd outside now with a ball and a prayer. Hopefully, I won't have to throw anyone into the penalty box.

I think my negotiation tool of my mama's toolbox is getting worn down. Well, before I know it, they'll be dating and I'll miss these days when mama was so needed as the negotiator. Or will I miss those moments? LOL

L is for Loquacious

Making the beds can wait because it's another day of the A to Z challenge. The month is moving along quickly with this fun meme.

So back to L is for Loquacious...(I wonder if there is anyone else doing that word for L.)

With a scrunched up face, my 8 year old son put down his juice cup and said, "Is that an English word?" I love to throw out new vocabulary words at my boys to shake them up and hopefully get them thinking. If we had a formal vocabulary lesson, their minds would probably drift off to the no thinking zone of "what's for dinner?" or "what video game should I play?"

By the way, my son asked if it was an English word because I'm trying to give them a little French once in a while too. They never know what their "loquacious" mama is talking about. I keep them on their toes. After knowing me for 23 years, my husband has perfected the art of fully tuning me out. Gratefully, I still can get my boys to turn to me and say, "What? What did you say Mom?"

Well, after I explained to my son that loquacious means talkative, my son laughed and said, "That is the word for you Mom!" I bet he'll remember that word and its definition just from our little exchange. Funny that this shy girl from the Bronx could be considered loquacious. Look how motherhood loosened these vocal chords!

Also, BIG NEWS over at WRITE WITH PICTURES!!!

The wonderfully talented Gail from Louisiana Belle has graciously allowed me to post a beautifully inspiring photograph for all you haiku writers out there. And by the way, you all can be a haiku writer. It's a lovely poetry form, a few words with a punch of imagery and/or emotion. Please take a moment to drop by Write with Pictures and share your creativity and say hello to Gail :) Thanks!

K is for Knowing Me, Knowing You

Here's the scene. Ponytails, ring dings, flowery pajamas, small apartment bedroom with Shaun Cassidy on the wall. It's 1980 and my sister and I are doing our famous ABBA performance for my giggling little brother. Karaoke at its finest. No worries about what I looked like or who heard me. We loved playing this 45 on our little Donny and Marie phonograph. (My oldest son just commented, "Wow, you're old, Mom.) Anyone else want to admit that this is a fun song?



Also, here's one more fun "K" reference that comes to my mind right now. When I was 21 (now there's a song title), my 18 month old nephew couldn't say "Kelly" so he called me "Kiki." One day, he came to my job and announced to the whole place, "She's Kinky!" I was a lovely shade of scarlet at that moment.

Remember to visit more A to Z challenge participants today. See you all soon :)