Guest Bloggers, Squatters

November 11, 2008

over the river and off the deep end

GoBloMeMoFo 2008

Guest post by the dayton time

So my mother has decided that she is going to be the Thanksgiving Hostess this year.  Her house is located in the same quaint little village as ours, and it is for sale.  Although I keep wondering if her Realtor remembers the freaking house is up for sale, because she never shows it.  There's a contingency offer on my mother's house, and I guess that's good enough for the Realtor.

My mother doesn't really cook any more, since the father figure left her seven years ago, and all of us have since moved out, and, well, why cook for one?  She doesn't invite us over for dinner unless one of my brothers are in town, and then it's A GREAT BIG SHOW of FAMILY and LOVE and STUFF!!!!!

She wants to hostess Thanksgiving because she might never get to have Thanksgiving again.  This makes my eyes get all squinchy, and my teeth clench, and my head begin to shake back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, like the crazy stalker mommy in that horrible book everyone gives you when you become a mama.  (Don't even tell me she's not crazy.  All I have to say is this:  she straps a LADDER to her CAR to climb up to her GROWN SON'S ROOM to ROCK HIS ADULT ASS whilst he sleeps.  Crazy.)  She's just moving to another town, for flip's sake. 

Cimg0704And this Thanksgiving?  Is Cutie Pie Dimple Head's second birthday.  And this?  Is Cutie Pie Dimple Head just hours after his birth.  And yes, my boobs were bigger than his head.  I like this picture of me because the angle of my face shadows/disguises/who cares what you call it, all my preggie facial rolls aren't there.  Due to the circumstances, I think I should be the one who gets to decide about Thanksgiving.  After all, the child was about the same size as the turkey we'll be serving to eight adults and three children, oh yes he was, I remember, and I feel it is my right, as resident Child The Size Of A Turkey Pusher-Outer, to call dibs on Thanksgiving at my house.

I did not get to spend that day at my home two years ago.  In fact, I believe we celebrated Thanksgiving at my mother's house that year (DC-area brother was home), and last year we ate at my in-laws' house, so it's my turn anyway.

And it's my kid's birthday, for flip's sake. 

Here's what will happen if we tell my mother Thanksgiving is at our house:  she will insist on making the turkey.  Not a big deal, right?  Except for my mother likes to eat holiday dinners at Not Dinner Time, you know, around 2 in the afternoon.  Hear that sound?  It's the mommy buzzer going off, and why?  Because all good children who value their general state of being ought to be taking naps at 2 in the afternoon.  And pregnant women like me?  Ought to be taking naps, and two o'clock is just as good a time as any, because, duh! the three kiddos are asleep, so it just makes sense.

This is how it will go:

If you tell your mother you are having Thanksgiving at your house, she'll tell you she wants to cook the turkey.

You'll tell her dinner's at five.

So she'll put the turkey in the oven at 8:15 a.m.  And the turkey will be done around 1:30.

Continue reading "over the river and off the deep end" »

November 09, 2008

Post-Election Strat-egery for the US of A

Goblomemofoguestpostmofo104x162 Guest post by Jenny from Mommin' It Up!

I'm Jenny Rapson, and I approved this message!

 
We’ve just had an election, and there is a celebratory mood in the air. For some, it’s revelry of relief – no matter who they voted for, many Americans are simply celebrating the fact that it is over. I am one of those Americans. Because the truth is, the past few months in this country have been full of rancor, and it has depleted my spirit.

I have wept, more than once during this election, over the viciousness in the air. I drive down a street nearly every day where for the past four weeks or so there has been a hand-painted sign in the 2nd floor window of a house. It is a painting of John McCain's head, with a drill pointed at his temple. It says, “Drill Here, Drill Now.”

Lovely, America. We should be so proud.

I don't understand why politics causes humans to hate each other so much. I don't understand why people spit a candidate's name out of their mouths like it's a dirty word. I can’t wrap my head around why that has to be part of this democratic process.

I'm not blaming the campaigns for this; I'm blaming their "supporters." Supporters of McCain hell-bent on making Obama, a devoted father of two, out to be a terrorist,  supporters of Obama wearing t-shirts at a rally that said “Sarah Palin is a C***”.

Here’s my brilliant post-election strategy for our country: Why don't we stop acting like jerkwads and start loving each other? Even if we could even love each other just a little bit, it would help so much.  If you prefer, you can choose to follow the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you'd have done to you." I prefer the words of Jesus in Mark 12:31-32.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these.”

Just give it a whirl. I challenge you to treat someone you disagree with like you'd want to be treated. Respect them, honor them, agree to disagree, but agree to work together to make this a better country for all of us. 

 Parents, let’s do it for our children. They are watching our every move. I have seen many pictures of children at campaign rallies this year. They’ve been witness to an amazing historic election in our country; now let them be witness to an amazing outpouring of love among its citizens. If we show them the way, just imagine where they can take these United States! We can’t always agree, but we can always choose to love and respect one another.

I think it’s just that we’ve forgotten that it’s an option. Consider yourself reminded.

Jenny Rapson is a SAHM of two who complains blogs about motherhood,  her vanity, and her coupon addiction over at Mommin' It Up!

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November 07, 2008

Never Mess With The Face

Goblomemofoguestpostmofo104x162 My name is SciFi Dad, and I write a little blog called Tales From The Dad Side.  (Why do I suddenly feel like I'm standing up at an AA meeting?)

So here I am, guest posting.  If tradition is to be followed, I'm supposed to make some quips about looking in the medicine cabinets or dresser drawers, but since a man rummaging through a woman's drawers is frowned upon in most states, I'll just stick to writing; that way, no one ends up in the back seat of a state trooper's car.  (Although I was in a state trooper's recliner receiving inappropriate attention from his daughter once; but that is a story for another time, and definitely another blog.)  I'm also supposed to tell you how awesome this blog is, and how amazing Megan is, and how I'd totally lie down in traffic for her or something.  But a) you already know about the blog and Megan and b) I don't lie, so the whole traffic thing?  Not going to happen.  (Sorry Megan.)

Guest posting is an interesting thing: people may say they do it as a favour, and in all likelihood that is true.  However, they also do it to direct traffic to their own blog.  Anyone who tells you different is lying.  If they were really trying to be altruistic, they would guest post anonymously with neither name nor link to attribute it back to themselves.  So, if the goal is to drive traffic, what works best?  I could be funny or sarcastic, and while I am those things at my own place, I would not say it happens often.  Usually I'm more pensive, more self-involved more self aware.

Anyhow.  I usually start my posts with a song; sort of a soundtrack for the post.  So, let's get started, shall we?


Baby Skin Tattoo - Moist

One night I was sitting on the couch holding my (one month old) son, marveling at the newborn's ability to sleep in any place, in any position, and do so while appearing both peaceful and comfortable when my (three and a half year old) daughter climbed up beside me.  After making the requisite attempt to stroke her brother's hair in an effort to see just how soft his soft spot was, she turned her attention to me.

"Daddy, why is your ear purple?"

"My ear is purple?"

"There's a purple dot in your ear."

"Where?"

"There," she said, touching a spot in my ear.

"Ohhh..."

In university I had a penchant for ear piercings ("never mess with the face", my good friend always said, "always the ears").  When I met my wife I had five earrings in one ear and one in the other.  The singular one was a lobe piercing.  On the other ear, three were in the lobe, one was in the helix, and one was in the upper part of the antihelix above the tragus (ref: Pinna (via Wikipedia) - bet you didn't expect an anatomy lesson when you started this post).  Since then, I have removed all my earrings.

My daughter was interested in the antihelix piercing, probably because it is "inside" the ear and atypical.  My wife smirked with that common "Let's see how you figure your way out of this one, smart guy," look.

Continue reading "Never Mess With The Face" »

November 03, 2008

GoBloMeMoFo 2008! Save the bunny. Save the blog.

goblomofo08
 

Guest Post or the Bunny Dies.

GoBloMeMoFo 2008!

The lazy blogger's answer to NaBloPoMo...

Do the right thing.  Guest post on Velveteen Mind during the month of November. 

goblomemofo-GuestPostorBunnyDies-200x267

This is the second year of GoBloMeMoFo, the first year having been a raging success for both Velveteen Mind and the bloggers that guest posted in order to save the bunny.  Time to save the blog again!

What is GoBloMeMoFo?  It's the lazy blogger's answer to NaBloPoMo, short for National Blog Posting Month, in which bloggers post every day for the month of November.  Yeah, um...

I'll still be posting as usual this month, but no way in hell I can NaBloPoMo by myself.  Together, we can...
Save the Bunny.  Save the Blog.
 

 

Brief recap of the original full guidelines (ha.  "guidelines" is tongue-in-cheek, I promise): 

  • Any writer. 
  • Any content. 
  • Any length. 
  • Any time in November.

 

And this year?  A special treat... 

Prizes!

Prizes for the commenters, that is. 

To be eligible to win a GoBloMeMoFo rabbit treat, all you have to do is leave a comment on one of the GoBloMeMoFo guest posts (always noted with a bunny-in-peril badge).  goblomemofo-Isavedthebunny-115x166You can enter as many times as you want by commenting on as many guest posts that interest you, though only one entry per post will count.   

Earn extra entries by visiting the blogs of the guest bloggers and leaving a comment on their "Visit me at GoBloMeMoFo!" redirect posts, usually easy-to-spot by that poor bunny in a jar.

Poor thing.  Just look at him.  His eyes are pleading, "Seriously, you're going to guest post, right?  Right?  Oh, please, for the love of Bunny Buddha, please post!"

Some of the prizes so far...

Hey, how did Mrs. Fussypants make it onto the GoBloMeMoFo front page again this year?  Well, she made these horrifically torturous bunny-in-peril buttons for us and donated some of her custom jewelry designs.  She was, by the way, the evil mind behind "Save the bunny.  Save the blog."

Want to contribute to the prizes and get some free advertising for your business this holiday season?  email me a description of what you'd like to donate, a link to your business URL, and I'll add it to our main page!

Winners will be announced the beginning of December.

 

In the meantime, whether you are participating or not...

GoBloMeMoFo 2008

Take as many non-PETA-friendly buttons as you want from the button page

Guest bloggers have a spot on the official GoBloMeMoFo 2008 page as well as mentions of your post on my NaBloPoMo profile (to be updated shortly).

Leave a comment or email me if you want to play.  I've already received a hefty number of volunteers, but there is room for more because not everyone ends up submitting a post by the end of the month.  I'll email all of the bunny-saving volunteers shortly with "how-to" posting details.

***

*"GoBloMeMoFo" was coined by Jennifer at Playgroups Are No Place For Children.  Respect.

***

Come one, come all!  Save the bunny!  Save the blog!

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July 18, 2008

Dick and Jane: A Love Story

Guest Post by Jane Doe

Did you see Velveteen Mind in your reader and got goose bumps?  If so, let me apologize in advance for this post.

I hate to disappoint you, but this is not Megan.   This is Mysterious Anonymous Guest Poster who wishes to remain anonymous.  I’m posting here at Megan’s today because I begged and pleaded until I somehow convinced Megan I am worthy to touch her blog there are reasons I can’t write the following story on my blog. 

This is the story of Dick and Jane and their torrid love affair.

Dick and Jane met when they were in their early twenties and not as little children with a dog named Spot.  In fact, the Dick and Jane in this story aren’t even related, which is good because this would be a very sick story if they were.

See, Dick and Jane had a hugely intense and passionate relationship.  Like tragic love story intense, only no one dies and there are no medieval castles with balconies.

The narrator of this story guesses their story doesn’t technically qualify as a tragic love story since no one died, but the audience here is intelligent enough to catch the drift.  Boy/girl meet.  Boy/girl fall passionately in love.  Boy/girl are torn apart for this reason or that.

There was an irresistible attraction between Dick and Jane. Absolutely irresistible. To this day, almost two decades later, Jane can clearly recall the first time she saw Dick and the jolt she felt.  Hollywood could script a movie scene from the moment.  Jane was that love struck.

The narrator would like to state that she doesn’t necessarily believe in love at first sight, but she does believe in I want to get into your pants at first sight.

The narrator of the story is also sitting here right now with a Cheshire cat grin on her face at the memory scene that is in no way is a true story. *ahem*  While the sexual attraction was there, the narrator knows it was more than getting into each other’s pants.   The narrator also thinks it is safe to say the feeling went both ways.  There was this magnetism between Dick and Jane that the narrator finds difficult to put into words. 

In fact, the narrator is having a hard time putting any of this into words and telling this story that is not based on her real life.  *ahem*

Jane fell madly in love with Dick.  Head over heels, foolishly, accidently, whole-heartedly in love.  She couldn’t turn her feelings off or stop it, though at times she desperately wanted to.  It was always there, overwhelming Jane, making her feel things she’d never felt before, and truthfully, has never felt since.

To make a long and complicated love story short (meaning the narrator will skip the steamy sex scenes, including the chapter on glow-in-the-dark condoms and the sweet nothings whispered in the dark), Dick and Jane didn’t make it.  Jane still doesn’t know exactly why they didn’t, they just didn’t, however heart-wrenching it was for her to have it end.   But end it did and messily, as all intensely passionate relationships must end. 

The narrator surmises there is no other way such passion can end other than a traumatic and messy severing.

And seventeen years went by without Dick or Jane knowing what happened to the other.  It seems odd something so powerful that it couldn’t be resisted would end so abruptly and permanently, yet odd things happen every day. 

Dick and Jane went on to live their lives in complete ignorance of one another until one day Jane stumbled across Dick on the internet. 

The narrator feels the need to inject some reality into the story yet again.  Jane didn’t exactly stumble across Dick.  Jane doesn’t like to admit that she has Googled for Dick occasionally over the years, holding her breath in anticipation, secretly hoping she would find Dick and secretly hoping she wouldn’t. 

On that fateful day Jane found Dick on the internet, Jane wasn’t sure what to do.  Should she contact him?  Both lovers have moved on in life, what’s the point?  Does she dare touch the healed wounds in her heart?  Jane knew she must be crazy to even consider it.

Jane has never prided herself on her sane actions.

It seems like the old saying of ‘history repeats itself’ holds true because Jane couldn’t help herself.   She contacted Dick.

KABLAMO! 

(That’s the sound of Jane falling out of her chair as the last ounce of sanity she had flew out the window.)

What was Jane thinking? The narrator says who the hell knows.

Dick replied to Jane's email.

KAWOWZA!

(That’s the sound of Jane throwing her upper body out of the window and taking huge gulps of air to fend off the feeling light-headedness.)

In recent weeks, Dick and Jane have exchanged innocent emails.  They caught up on the major life events of the past 17 years – kids, marriage, jobs, yada yada.  But then, Dick wanted to ask Jane some things that couldn’t be asked via work email.  Dick wanted Jane to call him.  So she did.

KAWHOOSH! 

(That’s the sound of any sense Jane had left flying out of the same window.)

Dicks’s voice hasn’t changed in 17 years.   He stills says Jane’s name the exact same way he did all those years ago.   Jane couldn’t help but smile to hear it and she felt that old familiar swelling in her chest again.  In just 30 seconds after hearing his voice.  After 17 years.

The narrator won’t tell what was said in the overall (and still generally innocent) conversation because it isn’t necessary to propel the story.  What is necessary for the readers to know is that Jane discovered she has blocked out their last night together

While Jane does have some memory of that last heartbreaking night, her memory ends with the two driving in a car to some vague destination, Jane giddy just to be in Dick’s presence.  Jane knows something must have happened after that because that was the night that ended their love affair once and for all, but Jane didn’t know exactly what.

Dick did remember and he told Jane.

Jane should have realized wounds caused by the ending of such a torrid love affair always heal weakly and jaggedly.  But she didn’t.  Jane is a little naïve when it comes to the darker side of the heart.

Instead, Jane was completely unprepared for the sudden fissure that erupted in her.  As Dick retold the story, Jane began to recall flashes of events.   Just a flicker of memories from that night caused her breath to shorten, her heart to feel as if caught in a vise, and her face to grimace in long-forgotten pain.  Repressed memories began to surface and crack the walls she’d built to forget. 

What has Jane done?

To be continued if the narrator feels Jane can withstand the debridement of this obviously poorly healed wound of the heart and Megan will tolerate this poor excuse for a melodrama to be on her blog again.

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  • Mommyblogger? Fine. Brevity blogger? Rarely.

    Some call me articulate.
    I say I need an editor.

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