What'cha Wanna Know??

Things people would actually want to know..

The Basics!
Name:: Rebecca
Birthday:: May 6
Birthplace:: Jackson, MS
Age Now:: 29
Current Location:: West Monroe, LA
Height:: 5'8"
Hair Color:: brown
Eye Color:: brownish-hazel
Lefty or Righty:: righty
Random Questions!
Do you think your life is good so far:: parts have been, yes
Any regrets:: sure
Ever been in love:: yes
Ever been engaged:: yes
Ever been married:: I am now
Believe in love at first sight:: no
Been in love:: yes
Kiss on the first date:: I have before
Sex on the first date:: no
Believe in love at first sight:: um....no....still don't
Miss anyone:: always
Want to tell someone something that you cant:: no, not really
*Favorites*
Number:: 10
Movie:: Forrest Gump is one of them, but I have more
Color:: blue and pink
Drink:: Dr. Pepper
Alcoholic Drink:: don't drink alcohol
State:: MS
Vacation Spot:: the beach
Food:: turkey and chips
Day of the week:: Saturday
Animal:: cats
Sport:: don't really have one
Football Team:: don't really have one
Baseball Team:: don't have one
Hockey Team:: don't have one
Have You Ever.......
Been out of the country:: yes
Been on a plane:: no
If so, To where?:: n/a
Been on a train?:: yes
If so, To where?:: it was just a little cutesy "tour" train
Gotten a tattoo:: no
If so, how many?:: n/a
Where are they at?:: n/a
Gotten into a car accident:: fender benders
If so, Whos fault was it?:: theirs...duh!
Been in love:: yes
If so, Was it real:: well yeah
Who was it?:: there were a couple of people, but my husband was the last one
Been so drunk you have thrown up:: no, but I've dry heaved
Gotten a DUI:: no
Been out of state:: yes
If so, to how many different ones:: several...and I'm not taking the time to think of them all!!
In the opposite sex......
Eye color:: no preference
Hair Color:: no preference
Cut Short or Long:: I prefer short, but some guys are sexy with longer hair
Height:: taller than me is good
Skinny or Muscular:: I'd like a balance between the two
Younger or Older:: older
Hot or Cute:: cute
Body Type:: no real preference, as long as he's not morbidly obese
Skater or Prep:: definitely not skater
TattoosPiercings:: tasteful ones are okay....I couldn't be with someone who was covered in them
Sports:: what about them?
More Randoms....
If a magic potion could make someone love you, would you slip it to them?: I don't feel like I'd have to
What if a potion could make your enemy miserable?: nah...what's the point?
If your bf/gf had to move out of state, would you leave your family?: I did
Is abortion ever an option?: sure...not one that I'd be choosing, but it's always an option
A parent confides in you that they are gay. Now how do you view gay rights?: I have no idea....luckily, I'll never be in that situation!
A loved one on life support for years, could you finally let them go?: I suppose I'd have to....
You are on life support, what would you want a loved one to do about it?: if there was absolutely NO hope for me, whatsoever, I'd want them to let me go
A friend just fell over a very high bridge, do you jump to save them?: honestly, no....but only because I can't swim and would be NO help....I'd sure do what I could, though!
Do you have/want kids?: I have one....and I think I want another one someday
What have you/will you name them?: I named her Alyssa Frances...I'd name my next one Mariana Katherine or something Shane
What do you think are 3 things that can destroy a person?: 1) lack of a relationship with God....2) the death of a child....3) feelings of self-imposed hopelessness (at least those are MY downfalls)

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1979

In 1979 (the year you were born)

Jimmy Carter is president of the US A major accident occurs at a nuclear reactor on Three Mile Island near Middletown, PA An American Airlines DC-10 loses its engine and crashes seconds after takeoff, killing 275 people Hurricane David kills over 1200 in the US and the Dominican Republic Some 90 people, including 63 Americans, are taken hostage at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan ESPN starts broadcasting Aaliyah, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Norah Jones, Heath Ledger, and Kate Hudson are born Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series Pittsburgh Steelers win Superbowl XIII Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup Kramer vs. Kramer is the top grossing film Sophie's Choice by William Styron is published "My Sharona" by The Knack spends the most time at the top of the US charts The Facts of Life premiers

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

No!! You're KIDDING!!

Note the sarcasm in that title!

You Are a Little Negative...

You can be negative from time to time, but you rarely go overboard. You have a realistic view of the world, and most people appreciate your honest insights. Like everyone else, you have your darker moods. But when you're feeling super negative, you keep your feelings to yourself.

Are You Too Negative?

Done

I got my daughter registered for school yesterday...finally. I procrastinated as long as I could. This story is not without its share of fiascoes, however. I had to take her on Thursday to have her booster shots. What I didn't know is that I had gotten behind and let her miss her 15 month shots. So, when I took her Thursday, she had to have four shots done. That was rough enough, as she cried and screamed and BEGGED them to stop by about the third one. So, once it was over, of course, she was fine. She played all day and went to bed. When my husband went to bed at around 12:30, he noticed that she was warm. So, he woke me up, we checked her temp and it was 104.7. So, off we went to the ER. She's doing much better now, but it was an ordeal!

So, I have my baby registered for school. Now, if I could just do the rest of the things I have to do to prepare, I'll be all set for Tuesday. Keep us in your prayers!

See? I Told Ya!

You Are a Believer

You definitely believe in God - and you're very unwavering in your religious beliefs. In fact, religion and spirituality are definitely big parts of your life. Religion shapes how you view right and wrong, as well as the decisions you make. It's hard for you to imagine how your life would be without your beliefs.

Are You an Atheist, Agnostic or a Believer?

Rebecca Means.....

What Rebecca Means

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Senseless Crime

Never in my life has a devastating crime hit me close to home. I have a cousin who has had his truck broken into a time or two, but nothing like the crushing blow that my husband's son and ex-wife experienced this week. Their home, which they rented, was set on fire by an apparent arson. They've lost EVERYTHING. This boy is almost 12 years old and has lost his entire life (materially speaking, of course...they, luckily, were not home and, therefore, unharmed). All of his soccer trophies he was so proud of, as well as his awards from school are gone, as well as his PlayStation and all his games and the TV he got for his birthday...EVERYTHING. But, what's worse is, she lost all her baby pictures of him and her home videos, family heirlooms...it's just sad. How can people do such terrible, random things? It makes me very sad for them, but also makes me appreciate the things I have.

Movies I've Seen Recently

Okay, so first of all, my husband and I went to see The Dark Knight last Friday morning at midnight (yeah, we were two of "those" people!) and it was FABULOUS! It takes a great movie to make me stay awake until 3am just to wait for the end! I will go on record and say that my "late future second husband" Heath Ledger did a great job! I was almost sad when it ended because they cleverly left it open for the next movie and Heath won't be there. It's tragic and unfair! I try not to get bitter, because I know there's a reason for everything, but as an orphan, I tend to see the unfairness in life, and this is another one of those moments. There are plenty of celebrities who get in far more trouble and are far less talented than Heath Ledger and they are still alive, getting arrested and making really crappy movies/music! UGH! But, I digress.....

We also rented Definitely, Maybe from Blockbuster and I really enjoyed it. I'm a romantic comedy kind of girl and this one was really cute...or maybe it was just Ryan Reynolds! What on earth is he doing with Scarlett Johanssen?? She's not attractive to me, but perhaps Ryan isn't as superficial as I am! Anyway....the movie was cute and it ended just like I wanted it to, which made it that much better to me!

Then, we watched Stop-Loss with Ryan Phillippe. I'm not all that into war movies, but this one wasn't too bad. I intentionally took a shower during the scenes in Iraq, so I missed most of the nastiness. Ryan Phillippe is pretty cute, too (and I promise that cute guys isn't the ONLY reason I watch movies...but it sure helps) and the movie had a good ending, which is also important.

And, of course, I watched Picture Perfect, which is almost 10 years old, but it's one of my favorites! I've seen it a million times and I caught it on TV the other day. It's got Jennifer Aniston and Jay Mohr in it and I like their chemistry. It's not the stuff that "classic movie couples" are made of, but it's cute, all the same. I LOVE that movie!!

That's What I Knew

You Are a Moderate Mama

You're not overly political, and your views fall more with the American mainstream. In fact, it may be difficult for you to decide who to vote for at times! Your approach to politics is reasoned and well though out.

Are You a Liberal Lady or a Conservative Chick?

I'm not a political person and I don't "belong" to one party. I'm not that loyal!

Who ME???

Your Greed Quotient: 49%

You are somewhat greedy, but your greed is probably a healthy motivator. Wanting nice things is normal, as long as it doesn't take over your life.

How Much Greed Do You Have?

I'm simply not THAT greedy!! I mean, I am a little---I like money! But, who doesn't??? I want things. But, if I were greedy, I would have a cell phone and I would still have money in my checking account. But, I don't. Therefore, I can't be as greedy as some!

Well DUH!!!

There's a 70% Chance That You Need Therapy

You almost certainly need therapy. And there's nothing wrong with that. Lately life has not been easy for you. Why not let a therapist help you sort things out?

Do You Need Therapy?

I would have thought there'd be more than a 70% need for therapy in my life!! I think if I could get rid of a few "minor" irritations in my life, I'd be alright. But, those odds are slim and none, so I guess I'll look into therapy!

Why Are They Not Safe???

I just read on a message board that I frequent that a member's 7 year old granddaughter was killed in a car accident. How does that happen??? This, of course, isn't the first I've heard of tragedy striking a young child, but WHY?? It just doesn't seem fair to me. Why does God give children to people and then take them away before they reach any level of maturation? It's scary to me, as a mom, that, no matter what I do for my daughter or how well I take care of her, there's still a power greater than me that can take her at any moment. I could have very little warning and my life could change in an instant, but it's really frightening to me. I have given this little girl the very best of me...better, in fact, than I even know I had in me. We all have a "number", so to speak and all I can do is hope and pray that she's not one of those unfortunate children with a low number.

Sad Stuff

For several hours now, I've been watching as MSNBC replays lots of footage of Tim Russert. In case anyone didn't know, Tim Russert was the moderator of "Meet the Press" and collapsed and died Friday at the age of 58. I'd be lying if I said that I was a huge fan of the show, because I'm really not into politics, but I do remember watching it years ago, when I lived with my grandparents. Grandpa would have it on every Sunday while I ate breakfast and got ready for church. I'm finding it to be a little sad that he's gone, mainly because, through the interviews and whatnot, I've come to the conclusion that he was genuinely a great guy and one I would have liked to have met. It's sad that his father lost a son and his son lost his father right before Fathers Day. My prayers are with his family.

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day is a bittersweet holiday for me, even more so this year. I lost my own father in 1995 at the age of 43. So, not only is Father's Day just rough, in general, this year, it falls on what would have been my father's 56th birthday. It's going to be a tough day, but I will soldier on, for the sake of my daughter and my husband, who still have the pleasure of celebrating the holiday together. I went shopping for a gift and cards and I'll put a smile on my face and try VERY hard not to let myself get bogged down by the memories of a man who should be celebrating twice as hard tomorrow.

I Am Nothing.

At least that's the word, according to my five year old. Now, I know she didn't mean anything by it. My daughter loves me. Let me set this up.

We're in the car and she starts asking me about the "apple pie party" that she had with her school last October. It was held at a restaurant that's owned by the parents of one of the little girls in her class. So, she proceeded to go over it all in her head. "Sage's mom owns a restaurant. Bubbie's mom is a teacher. You're nothing."

NOTHING?!?!?! Does dedicating the last 5 years of my life to the health, happiness and welfare of my most precious gift not count for anything? I realize that she didn't mean it that way. She merely meant that I don't have a "job", in the paycheck drawing sense. But, am I truly nothing because of that? I made a conscious decision before she was born that I was going to stay at home as long as I possibly could, so that I wouldn't miss any of the little things and so that she wouldn't get confused and call her day care worker "Mommy". I wanted to be able to be there when she was sick and attend all her school functions, field trips, etc. I've devoted my life, since late 2002, to seeing that she eats all her vegetables and washes her hands after she goes to the bathroom or plays in the dirt. I've been there to wipe her nose and kiss her "boo-boos". But, is it enough? Does my daughter, subconsciously, think I'm "nothing"?

The very last thing in this world that I want is to be seen as a failure by my own daughter. She's the one person whose opinion matters to me and the one person that I'll go out of my way or alter myself to please. I know what makes me happy. I'm happiest when I'm able to be with my daughter and do things for her. I was happiest, this past school year, when there was a trip or a party or something and I was able to be there. I would see her face light up as soon as I'd arrive and I was convinced that I had made the right choice in not going back to work. How can that be nothing?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not mad at my daughter. I'm not blaming her or anything of the sort. I'm just worried that I've given her the wrong impression of me. I do not want to be "nothing" in the eyes of my child. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I just want to be something that my daughter can grow up to be proud of. I want her to be able to look at me and say, "you know, Mom...you're really SOMETHING".

I'm Just Not Sure

I don't know if I'm liking this medication or not. I don't get the feeling of euphoria that my husband says he experiences. I don't know if I need a higher dosage or if he's exaggerating or I don't know what "euphoria" feels like enough to recognize it or what. All I know is, after I take it, I feel pretty good. Then, I have this overwhelming urge to take a nap. And, now I have a crampy stomach. I don't feel sick, just crampy. It says on the internet that this could be a side effect, so I'm not overly concerned. I just hope it goes away if I'm going to continue to take this stuff. I don't like pain, mental or physical!

I "Love" Being A Mom!

I have managed to catch Alyssa's cold. It stinks when there's a germ going around and you don't have the option of avoiding the person who has it. I love my daughter dearly, and, naturally, wouldn't have avoided her while she was sick, but man! I wish I could have avoided THIS!! I suppose I should be grateful that she didn't have a stomach virus or something. It could have been worse! I've never had the chickenpox either, and she was exposed at least twice this year, so, considering what it could have been, I feel lucky to have a little sniffle! I will just also feel "lucky" when it's gone!!

I Can See the Light

Recital is TOMORROW!!! After which, it will ALL be over! At least until next year. Then we start all over again! Of course, I've managed to catch Alyssa's cold, which I'm thrilled about, but it's just a hazard of the job I suppose. I feel pretty terrible. Alyssa, on the other hand, is feeling better. That's the important thing. She has to dance at 5:00 tomorrow evening, so I want her feeling up to it. I just hate that everything got so mixed up. Apparently, everyone thought that the recital was earlier than it is, so no one is going to be able to come now. It's times like these when I REALLY miss my mom and dad. They would be here, come hell or high water. There wouldn't be any "I have plans" or "I don't have the money" or "I have friends coming over" or any of that. They would be HERE, no matter what they had to do to get here. I really wish they were here for her.

Almost There!!

If this week had been any more hectic, I don't know what I would have done!!! I went to Mississippi on Sunday to see my grandma for Mothers Day. So, at about 1am on Monday morning, my daughter woke up with a fever of 103.3. Naturally, my elderly grandparents don't just keep children's Tylenol lying around and, of course, there's nowhere to BUY something like that at 1am in a small town. So, Grandpa and I had to drive to the ER to pick up some samples that a nurse said she'd give us. Luckily, we managed to bring the fever down. However, by the time I got home later that day, it was back up to 103.5. So, we took her to the clinic and the nurse practitioner, who is very nice, but sometimes her diagnosis makes no sense, said that she "might" have mono. This was based on nothing more than checking her temp and feelings her glands (they were swollen). HELLO?!?!?!?! There are a million things that can cause fever and swollen glands...not JUST mono! Alyssa didn't have ANY of the other "classic" symptoms of mono, including the fatigue, which is the MAIN symptom (due to the fact that mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus). At any rate, she now has a cough and such, so I really think it's just some kind of respiratory infection. She's on antibiotics, to be on the safe side.

Then, I had to make the cake for her graduation....with NO help, naturally. It was fun and I really enjoyed it, but it was HARD to do that, get it done on time, while taking care of a sick kid all by myself. You should really try it sometime...no fun!! But, I did it, and my baby graduated from Montessori school today. She'll be a big Kindergartener next year!!

Then, we had dance rehearsal right after the graduation and we'll have the dress rehearsal tomorrow and the recital Saturday afternoon. I swear, if I get through this week without needing drug rehab, I will feel like I've accomplished something!!

What's A Weekend??

Back in the day, the word "weekend" actually meant "end of the week". Since late 2002, a weekend has been just another day. I no longer get weekends "off" or half days either, for that matter. Every day is just like the next. That's not altogether a BAD thing. I enjoy being a mom, for the most part. There's nothing like turning around and having a couple of little arms around your waist, simply because "you looked like you needed a hug". And, having someone come running immediately to you when they get their feelings (or their bodies) hurt, looking to you for comfort that they've grown accustomed to you providing. Or, to look at a little small person and realize that, at least until they hit puberty, you are the smartest person they know! It's amazing to me, and most days, I wouldn't trade my job for anything! It's beyond wonderful!

What To Do?

It's Sunday and I'm a little disappointed. I didn't get to take Alyssa to the circus yesterday and planned to take her today. So, today, lo and behold (no surprise, though), she wakes up with "the sniffles" (or at least that's what it was called to me a few days ago). I don't care WHAT you call it. The point is, I feel like I can't take my child out around other kids and do unto them what was rudely and selfishly done unto me. Therefore, because some parents don't have enough respect for other parents to keep THEIR sick kids away from kids who aren't sick, my daughter will miss the circus! This, my friends, is why I'm a cynical witch who detests people!

Snow??

Anyone who lives in the south knows that snow is a rarity. It'll snow in Texas, usually once, maybe twice, a year, but VERY seldom in Louisiana and Mississippi. However, yesterday, in March, during a time of year when we're SUPPOSED to be moving towards spring, it snowed. It really came down for while yesterday afternoon, shortly after I picked Alyssa up from school. I was so excited that she got to play in it. We built her a mini snowman and had a little snowball fight. Granted, it didn't snow long and didn't accumulate much, but it snowed, all the same. I was told that it snowed overnight, too, and we had two inches on the ground, but I missed it, and by the time we got up, it was melting. It was fun while it lasted, anyway. I got some cute pictures of Alyssa and even a little video. Now all I have to do is find my camera software and reinstall it so I can get the pictures uploaded!

Be Careful, Little Ears, What You Hear

I remember that song from preschool choir at church, when I was no older than my daughter (hence "preschool"...DUH!). I just never really understood the importance until I had my OWN preschooler! I noticed, the other day, that she is a walking carbon copy of the things that she hears and sees. She can quote lines from songs, tv shows, movies, commercials, you name it. Luckily, I have always tried to make sure that the things of that nature that she's exposed to are things that I wouldn't necessarily MIND her repeating, even if hearing "don'cha know?" after every sentence can be annoying at times.

I try very hard to be a good influence on my daughter, as most parents do, but it's not always easy, because I can't walk around all day long singing happy songs and speaking in a chirpy tone. I'm an adult. I have real adult problems. They're problems that my 5 year old wouldn't (and shouldn't) understand or even hear about. But, I'm sure she can sense my demeanor and figure out when something isn't right. And, it affects her mood as well. So, I have to do my best to hide these things. We all want what's best for our kids and if we don't feel like we're giving it to them, we start to second-guess ourselves and wonder if we're going to wind up parenting a juvenile delinquent. Or maybe that's just me? I'm bound and determined to put her in a private school, because I know what I turned out to be, thanks, in part, to the public school system, and I want better for my daughter.

I've often sat and wondered what would happen if I died. Would my daughter have something left of me to be proud of, like I have with my own mother? Have I been a good enough mother to her to balance out the fact that I have no real skills for her to be proud of ? My mother was a stay at home mom with a degree in elementary education. So, even if she had been a bad mom, which she wasn't, I could still brag about the fact that she went to school and had a degree and was a very smart woman. Can my daughter do that? I look at myself NOW and think 'no'. I'm a decent mother, I realize, but I don't, yet, touch what my mother was to me. Then, being a college drop-out on top of that, what will my daughter have to brag about??? I get visions of her, in college, telling her friends, "My mom was "employee of the month" at the Piggly Wiggly", and it makes me sad. Now, don't get me wrong, I've never worked there, but there is NOTHING wrong with a job at a grocery store if you're happy with it and your kids are fed, etc. I'm certainly not knocking anyone with a job AT ALL!! I don't want anyone to think that. I just know that, for MYSELF, I want more!! I'd never be satisfied with that and I want more for myself and my child.

My whole point has been, I want to make sure that I'm a good influence on my child. I want what she sees and hears to be the things that cause her to grow up with a strong sense of self and all the other things that will bring her success in life. It's going to be hard for me, because I've been conditioned to be a negative, cynical person, but there can be no more negativity around my impressionable five year old! I have to make sure that the things she hears shape her into the person I feel like she needs to be!

10 Movies I've Intended to Watch But Haven't

I'm not a movie buff, but there are a few that I've been wanting to see. Some are newer...most are older. But, regardless, here they are:

1. 10 Things I Hate About You--I actually have this one sitting on the shelf, waiting to be watched before it has to go back to Blockbuster.

2. Brokeback Mountain--I've already seen it once, but I've been meaning to watch it again.

3. Dirty Dancing--I'm the only child of the 80s I know of who hasn't seen this one.

4. Wedding Crashers--Greg bought it and said it's HYSTERICAL!

5. The Illusionist--Greg also said this one was good.

6. Casablanca--I'm on a "classic" kick and have wondered what made this movie so great.

7. The Village--heard this one was good.

8. Shaun of the Dead--I love a good "spoof" movie, which, for the record, lets out Date Movie and Epic Movie, because they were NOT "good" spoof movies!!

9. Hairspray--a friend and I were supposed to go to the theater and see this, but we never did.

10. Spaceballs--another one Greg said was hysterical!

So, there you go!!

Maybe I'm In Denial

I went to the grocery store a little while ago, and was chatting it up with the friendly little dude who was ringing up my stuff. Somehow, we got on age, and I watched him "size me up" as he tried to determine MY age. Now, granted, I had on my glasses, hair in a ponytail, makeup ONLY on my eyes, and in a sweatsuit, but when he said "31??", I was floored!! I knew I was getting old, but I didn't think I LOOKED 4 years older than I am! Lucky for him, I'm not offended, but I do wonder if I should start getting life insurance quotes. Apparently, I'm older than I feel! I guess it could have been worse. He could have said 41! Off to use my Mary Kay TimeWise products!

Not Sure Why

I'm having a little depression issue today. It's not too bad, but what bugs me is I have no idea WHY I feel this way. It's just one of those "down-for-no-reason" days. Those annoy me. If I'm going to feel bad, I at least like to know WHY I feel bad. At least then I won't look like an idiot when someone says, "What's wrong?" and I have to say "I dunno". Of course, it's not an "I-can't-get-out-of-bed" day, which I'm thankful for. Just don't know why I keep having fleeting moments of sadness. Just one of those days, I guess. This, too, shall pass.

Uncanny Resemblance

I might have mentioned this before, but my daughter and I are "old people magnets". When she and I are in a store, it seems like every senior citizen there wants to talk to us, which is fine. I like old people, for the most part. There was this one old couple, we'll call them "Bob and Sally Smith", which TOTALLY aren't their real names. They stopped us in Wal-Mart and chatted with us. "Sally" reminded me of my father's mother, who I loathe, but I didn't hold that against her. They told me how cute my daughter was and he gave me his info, because he's an accountant (retired, surely). Not sure why he thought I needed an accountant, but whatever. So, then, "Sally" handed me a little calendar, a notepad, and a pen that all said, "I stole this *object* from 'Sally Smith'". Amusing, yes? Turns out, that woman is all over town passing these little "funnies" out. I was in the grocery store a week or so later, and the pen they had up there for me to sign my slip with was one of those same custom pens from "Sally". I've seen that same couple about a million times since then. They're sweet, but a little odd, I'd say!

My Quest

I've recently decided that I need to make sure that I've seen EVERY movie Heath Ledger ever made. I called myself a fan, and I was, but, after his death, I realized that I'd only seen, like, three, maybe four, of his movies. I'd seen A Knight's Tale, and owned it. I saw The Patriot before I even knew who he was, and, of course, I'd seen Brokeback Mountain. So, last week, we rented Candy, which was his last released movie, made in Australia. It was a pretty good movie. It was a little creepy seeing Heath play a junkie, but he looked REALLY hot! Last night, we watched Lords of Dogtown, where he played Skip, the guy who put the skate team together. They had given him some false teeth and his hair was all scraggly, so he didn't look like his usual hot self, but he did a good job, all the same. I'm not sure which one Greg will come home with next, but I'd love to see 10 Things I Hate About You. I'm sure I've seen part of it, but I don't think I've ever watched the whole movie. I just still can't believe he's gone! :*(

Rebecca's Got Talent?????

My Mother's Day gift last year was the karaoke machine that I'd been BEGGING for. I used to do some singing in high school and college and I LOVE karaoke! Well, recently, I learned how to record my "performances", so I've had a great time doing that. I'm in the process, now, of trying to determine if my recordings are any good or if I should try to re-record them in the hopes that they'll sound better the second (or third) time around. I'm not sure WHY it matters. I suppose because I have a weak recording of my mother singing "The Lord's Prayer" at her wedding, and I cherish it. So, I want to have some recordings of my voice for my daughter to treasure when I'm gone. Or, for me to treasure when I get too old to carry a decent tune!! Either way, I can't make up my mind. I suppose I'm off to re-listen.

Need Suggestions

I'm about to have to embark on something I've never done before. I have to figure out how to decorate a child's bike for a Mardi Gras parade. I'm from Mississippi, for crying out loud! We don't "do" Mardi Gras there! Alyssa is going to be in a parade with her school and her bike has to be decorated. I want to do a good job, but I just don't know where to start. I'd like to do something cuter than just throwing some beads on it and calling it "decorated"! I just don't know.

I also have to go help her pick out a box of Valentines for her class. That should be fun. I haven't had to do that since I was a kid. I'm a little bit excited!

R.I.P.

I am still shocked. I am still deeply shocked and saddened about yesterday's news of Heath Ledger's death. I fell "in love" with this curly haired Aussie when I saw A Knight's Tale in the theater in 2001. From that time, I watched him change his image both on and off screen. I got to feel jealousy when I learned of his relationship with Michelle Williams (didn't he realize that he was supposed to wait for ME???), I got to laugh when I learned that he was going to play a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain. I got to be excited when he was nominated for an Oscar for that role and I got to be irate when he was "robbed". And, yesterday, I got to be devastated when I heard that he is no longer with us. I'm not going to pretend to have known him personally. We never met. But, I do get to feel the grief, mainly for his 2 year old daughter, as I HAVE been in a similar position to where she is today, half-orphaned at a young age. Regardless of the rhyme and reason behind it, this was most definitely a life needlessly lost too early.

Rest In Peace, Heath Ledger (1979-2008)

ARGH!

Why are kids so trying? I love my 5 year old with every fiber of my existence, but geez! I sometimes think she is seriously trying to kill me! She can't understand the concept of "don't break all your crayons in half", no matter how many boxes of crayons we go through. And, if I hear "can I have....?" one more time, followed by "PLEASE???" after I've already said "no", I'm going to go ballistic! I know, I know...she's just a kid. I understand that. But, I just don't recall being THIS obnoxious when I was a kid. I had my moments, yes...but, in my house, "no" meant "no". It didn't mean "continue begging until I give in" and it didn't mean "I might have said no, but please go ask your other parent, in case they think differently". It means "NO"! I'm learning a lot about parenting, but there are some things I still need help with. So, if anyone has any pointers on how to make a child clean her room or how to make her stop pouting when every little thing doesn't go her way, I'd be more than happy to hear them!!

Baby Fever

Yes, I have it. My only "baby" is five years old and I'm emotionally ready for number 2. Physically, though, I'm a mess! I want a baby so badly, but there's no way my body could handle it. I have a friend who is having her second daughter in a matter of weeks (about three, actually) and I'm a little envious. Part of me isn't, because, I know that while she's up and down all night long, I'll be sleeping soundly with my 5 year old. On the other hand, I went to see her nursery today and I really wish I could buy little bitty things and prepare for another love in my life. I suppose I'll maintain what I've always said, which is, there's a Power that's bigger than me, and if God intends that I should ever have another baby, then I will, regardless of what I try to do to prevent it (Alyssa is proof of that). However, if I'm not, then I won't and I'll just enjoy the daughter He's already blessed me with. Hard pill to swallow, but that's what I have to do.

Plans For A Sunday

I usually love Sundays, not for any particular reason, but just because it's another day when I don't have to get up and take Alyssa to school. I need to be going to church on Sunday mornings, and I know this, but I just SO love to sleep. I realize that that's not going to be a good excuse in Heaven, but that's a topic for another blog and I don't want to get into it right now. My point is, I have as little as possible planned for today. We've had company all weekend and now, if we can EVER get rid of all of them (one down, one to go), my life will go back to normal and I can't wait!! I'm going to work on some of my stitching and then, at 6:00, I'm going to go to a church in town and hear Testify sing. I have a good friend who sings with them and I love going to their concerts when they're in town. I'm hoping that Greg will go, but I'm not holding my breath.

Folks Don't Get It

I will never truly understand why people are oblivious. Like, do they not stop to pay even a LITTLE bit of attention to the world (and the attitudes) around them. For instance, if you come to my house, after inviting yourself over here, plan to STAY and I don't speak to you, although we're in the same room, then a logical person would deduce that to mean that I didn't really want you here. DUH!! Some people are a little bit slow, though. And, then, when the person has received every hint that their presence isn't appreciated and still hang around, why must they try to make idle chit-chat with you when it's more than obvious that you're trying to watch TV?? It makes no sense and that's kinda why I'm not a people person!

How Pitiful!

We're watching Celebrity Rehab on VH-1, with "celebs" such as Brigitte Nilson (or however you spell that), Jessica Sierra (from American Idol) and some others, but the saddest case is Jeff Conaway. He used to be so cute in Grease and Taxi, but he is just horrible and sad now. He has to use a cane or a wheelchair to get around and is totally incoherent. You can't understand what he's saying half the time. It just really makes me sad to see. He was such a talented actor and he wasted it all on substance abuse. I'm not even sure what substance he used, but whatever it was, it ruined him. I could just cry because I like him as an actor and he is going to die!

Rainy Day

I'm not really a fan of rain. I don't mind it so much when I have nothing to do and don't have to get out in it, but I actually have things I have to do today, so the fact that it's raining is a little irritating to me. I have to go to the bank and get a few groceries. I also need to go to the mall and return something, but I don't know if that'll happen or not. That can, technically, wait. Oh well, at least it didn't happen yesterday. Everything on my "to do" list yesterday involved Alyssa and it's ten times harder to get her in and out of the rain! I suppose I can be thankful for that!

Geaux Tigers!

We had a party over here last night to watch LSU play in the BCS Championship game. Several of Greg's friends and such came over. It was amusing, I suppose. I could have made do with less children. Of course, the little girls stayed in Alyssa's bedroom and were fine. They were actually cute and endearing and had a great time. I just LOVE little girls! Alyssa had a great time playing, too, which is good, because she doesn't get a lot of interaction. Other than school, she rarely gets to associate with any kids. I feel sorry for her, really. She desperately needs some good, well behaved kids in her life. Hopefully, we can get to Mississippi soon and she can play with some of my friends' and Greg's friends' kids.

At any rate, the point is, LSU pulled it out! I'm not really a fan, but I LOVE Les Miles and I was excited to see him win the championship. It was a good game.

A Not-So-Happy Anniversary

Today is January 5th. It was today, 18 years ago, that my family, as well as the world, lost the most fabulous daughter, sister, wife, and mother ever. My mother passed away 18 years ago today, in 1990, after a short battle with cancer. I was only 10 years old at the time and my sister was just 6. I don't have a lot of memories of my mom, which is the saddest part about the day, but I do remember that she was a devoted mom. Nothing and nobody came above my sister and me in her eyes. We had homemade birthday cakes with interesting party themes. She was a room mother for my class at school every year, going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that my elementary years were as memorable as possible. Unfortunately, as far as memories are concerned, the happiness she caused was overshadowed by the painful memory of her loss. I guess that's how it works. All I know is, I pray every day and strive to be half the mother to my little girl that she was to me!