one-more b-day party

Here's another birthday party for Tayshaun at Hollywood Connections. What a lucky ducky....so many parties! Pix were taken by Grandpa Maji.

Yes or No. Plastic Surgery

The things you can do with a wireless (formally known as 'cellular') phone.

Not too many years ago, you couldn't talk on a telephone unless you pulled a cord along with you. And god forbid you need to go to another room while your talking, the cord only stretched so long. But...new invention...the cordless phone BUT you had to stay in range of your home while using it.

Then magically, we are mobile. The first wireless phones I remember were big and bulky. And expensive! You had to be Bill Gates to own one. And even if you owned one, you couldn't use it unless it was an emergency for fear you'd go over your minutes. I thought I'd never be able to afford to have or use a wireless phone. And who would have thought children would be sporting them.

So now we can talk on the phone on the go. Wow. The things they come up with.

Then the combination telephone/camera. Yes, now, you can take a picture of your totalled vehicle just before you call a tow truck to haul it away.

And who would have guessed that you'd be able to take a pix of your totalled vehicle just before calling a tow truck and then listen to tunes ON YOUR PHONE while your waiting for someone to pick you up.

No....but wait! A few years later, and you can now snap a shot, make a call, listen to tunes, AND check your email...all on your phone! WOW! Who would have thought? And I'm so behind the times - you can use your blue- pink- or blackberry too! Not quite sure what these features are but I'm sure my kids will update soon.

No, No, No, NO! It can't be! So my brother-in-law, Todd, asks me if I've ever thought of getting plastic surgery?.....maybe to improve my smile, fix my nose, shorten my chin, among other various options. YES! HIS PHONE, will analyze my pix and spit out a plastic surgery solution (surgeon name not included):

Whatda think?


I'm gettin a frickin' iPhone just for this feature! Yes, I'm in the ice-age...I don't even have tunes on my wireless yet!

Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus!

So we were off to the circus last weekend. Tayshaun and I talked about it all week. The only thing HE could remember from last year's visit was how an elephant pooped a LARGE YELLOW ca-ca! And he remembered that we got there late and missed the motorcycle riders!

This year, though, we were going to be on time so we wouldn't miss a thing. He tried to convince me that he should dress in a clown costume for the show. Of course, I agreed so I didn't have to hear him whine about it all week. But I had my fingers crossed. So when the day came, I told him we didn't have time to purchase a clown costume or we'd be late for the circus. Well, he was very disappointed that he wasn't going in costume.

So before we got to the circus, we stopped at 7-Eleven for a purse full of candy. I refuse to buy $7 candybars, OK! It was a great ride to town. We talked about all the things we were going to see and Tayshaun couldn't stop telling us about the gigantic YELLOW poop the elephant dropped, last year.

As we walked up to the Energy Solutions arena, we saw the elephants being led into the building from the side street. Oh yes! We were very excited; we practically raced up the stairs to the Arena. OK....so we got there only 10 minutes before the event started but we had to browse before the BIG event began because for every few steps we walked there was a souvenir stand with colorful, blinking, shining toys. And I have to admit, I was also amazed by the possibilities. I told the boys they could each pick out one toy so we'd have enough money leftover for cotton candy.

Well, we walked past a portrait stand with a backdrop of clowns and a real-life clown ready to take photos. The options were for a photo WITH a clown or a photo AS a clown. Well, you guessed it, Tayshaun was going to be a clown today, afterall. Now, I had to remind him that he had the choice to take a picture as a clown or pick out a circus toy. There was no hesitation. So Tayshaun chose a clown face from the many clown faces displayed in the backdrop. He couldn't stop smiling as the clown made up his face! He picked out a wig and costume. And "cheese"; Tayshaun was BOZO for the day! His picture is hanging on the refrigerator....and will probably be there until next year's circus comes into town.

We were a little late sitting down for the circus but we didn't miss the motorcycle riders! And none of the elephants had accidents, this year. And the cotton candy had a $12 price tag...CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! But I promised them cotton candy and this time I didn't have my fingers crossed. There was a cheesy circus tophat that came with the cotton candy....so...there you go!


We Loved the Circus! Can't wait til next year!

"Mom, when we getting an Incredible?!"

Early this summer, I remember a conversation Tayshaun and I had driving home from his daycare providers'. While talking I glanced in my rearview mirror and noticed his chin with blue, gooey slurpee dripping down onto his shirt. Knowing what I'd find on the already stained backseat upholstery of my 2004 Honda Accord, I groaned and asked him, "When you gonna stop eating in my car so I can go buy a new one, Mister!?".

You see, dealerships see me coming.....every two years for a trade in. And since it's been WAY past the two year benchmark, I've been pheening to visit one. I'm a sucker; I know. I thought I was smart to lease last time but YOU try to turn in a leased vehicle with MY abused backseat.... so I'm now purchasing the vehicle I leased four years ago. But I refuse to buy a new vehicle until Tayshaun can stay entertained in the backseat without food or a drink.

Anyways, back to my story.....

So I ask Tayshaun what kinda car we should get when we buy a new one. His immediate response was a truck. "Nah", I say, "let's look around and show me some other cars you like'. So we're driving and he's asking if I like this or that and as we're waiting for a red light to change, we notice a red, shiny convertible Audi drive through the intersection. Tayshaun says, "Mom, look at that car without a "hood"...I like that one!".

Tayshaun's driven in a convertible before. A few years back, his sister had a soft-top Wrangler Jeep. Apparently he remembered. Because the rest of the way home, he talked non-stop about how they drove in Tishie's Jeep with the "hood" off and how they drove with the radio loud and how they flew a kite while they drove (obviously, he threw that comment out there - he's becoming a little story-teller, lately).

So I explain to him that it's not the "hood" that's off of the car but the "top". "Those kinda cars are convertibles", I explained to him. "Oh yeah, convertible", he repeated to himself.

This conversation occurred early in the summer. Well, yesterday, on our drive home, he asked me, 'Hey Mom, when we gonna get that Incredible?!" I say to myself, 'Get that Incredible?" Hmmmmm. 'That Incredible?", I ask him, "what's an Incredible?". He says, 'You know, the car without a top!".

Well here's the Incredible I wanna drive! He likes it too! Can you see the kite? You wanna ride?



In some areas.......Like Mother, Like Son!