My Most Embarassing Fall Ever

It happened over this Thanksgiving weekend, it seemed like all was going well, and then, it happened. I'll set the scene for you:

My cousin Phil's basketball game just ended. I'd left from work and traveled to Rockford, IL to the game, so I still had my adorable high heels on from work. I made it through the whole game, climbing up and down the bleachers a couple times, but with assistance, I made it. That was, until the game was over. I'm climbing down the bleachers and the next thing you know, I've tumbled, rolled, and fallen down 3 or 4 rows of bleachers. Also, I'm missing a shoe. Although the gym had mostly cleared out, my family was still there. We're talking cousins, uncles, my sister, my parents, my grandparents. When I realized what happened, I heard this girl, 10-years-old or so, saying, "Oh my God, I tripped her!" I told her she didn't, but then I led everyone to believe that she did (they didn't believe me).

So, this was a good laugh for the moment, which I thought would end. Normally, when I fall, there's usually only a few people I know around me, and they usually let it go. Not my family. All Thanksgiving weekend they'd make little comments. I deserved whatever they would throw at me, though.

My footwear is almost always inappropriate and the root of most of my problems, but it's worth it!

A Lifetime of Thankful

This year, I have so much to be thankful for. It's good for the soul to recognize your blessings and let people know you're thankful for them, so here it goes:

• My Family. I am blessed to have parents who love me and my son. Many of us think this is a given, but if you look around, it's not. I've given my parents enough reasons to throw their hands up at me and give up, but they never have. I also have a sister who I love dearly and speak to about 5 times a week. We had our differences growing up, so I'm particularly appreciative of our relationship now.
• My Son. I didn't really want to be a mother, but you do what you have to...and I'm so glad I did. This child brings me endless joy and has fulfilled me in a way I never expected. Since it's just the two of us, we don't really have a choice but to be each other's constant companion. I wouldn't choose anyone else.
• My Friends. I have the world's best friends. I have several friends that I've known since grade school and high school that are still my best friends in the world. I feel fortunate to have such strong bonds with such wonderful friends. I have a few friends from college who I still talk to on a weekly basis. I'm a lucky girl.
• My Home. I know you're not supposed to be thankful for material goods, but I love my house. I love what it stands for, I love that I did it myself, I love that everything in it is a deliberate decision on my part, I love that it's mine, I love that I don't have to clean it if I don't want to, I love that my dad didn't want me to buy it, but he helps me all the time and I'm sure he's secretly proud of me.
• My Grandpa. Most of you know, but for those who don't, my Grandpa was diagnosed with stomach cancer and it spread. He's opted not to treat it because the odds that it will get to the cancer in the stomach are not good. My Grandpa is what's good with this world: he was a lawyer, then an FBI Agent, then a Judge. He gives his time and talents to good causes, he loves my Grandma, and he loves all of us, despite our faults. I'm so proud of my Grandpa and I don't want to lose him, but I'm proud of the way he's handled this. I know grandpa's are supposed to die at some time, but the thought of loosing mine takes my breath away and I can't bear to think about it. I only hope that I can live my life with the dignity and class that he exemplifies.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

I Love New York

I have a guilty pleasure, and it's called I Love New York on VH1. This is the woman, New York (aka Tiffany Pollard), is searching for love in a sea of men who are most likely actors. Now, New York is a woman that was originally on the Flavor of Love, but apparently wasn't good enough for Flavor Flav (who hooked up with Brigette Neilsen).

This season of I Love New York has been top notch. There was a midget, a "spit" fight, ghosts, toe sucking, snitching, and anything else you could want on a reality dating show. It's not even a guilty pleasure anymore, it's just something I'm proud to admit that I watch.

I am, however, not proud that New York (Tiffany) and I are more alike than I'd like to admit. This realization came when I saw the previews for a new episode where her suitors have to cook her a meal and she says, "He combined two of my favorite things in the whole world, ranch and vodka." Hold up, New York, those are two of my favorite things. I began to think of other ways New York and I are alike: we both like low cut shirts, we both can't find love, we like big strong black men. I feel like she's my sister from another mister.

If you've seen this show, you're probably lowering your head and shaking it with disappointment. That's OK, I'm OK with it!

Never Underestimate Me Again

This weekend's home improvement project was a big one. I was going to paint the living room AND remove the carpet. With a couple days of prep, the painting was a breeze. Big ups to my friend Annie who came to help, I will be forever indebted.

Then came the carpet removal. I tricked my dad into coming over to "check out how the painting went" and then enlisted his help. Once he got me started and Annie left, I had a large room's worth of carpet to remove. By myself. And you know what, I did it! I only have a few dozen scrapes, cuts, and bruises, but considering I used hammers, screwdrivers, crowbars, and pliers, I don't think that's too bad!

I underestimate myself quite a bit. While I wish I was financially able to pay people to do my dirty work, but I can't. There's something to be said about doing it yourself. I don't think I'd appreciate the beauty of my completely transformed living room if I hadn't lost some blood in the process (FYI, William lost some blood too, but only because he was playing with the tape measure). I really never thought I was cut out to do this type of manual labor, but I guess I am. I'm proud of myself today.

Do You Think This is a Sign?

Yesterday, as a grabbed a little Nestle Crunch out of my son's Halloween basket, I went to the mailbox. There was a flyer from Weight Watchers. Thanks God, I think I'll listen.

The Proper Feeding of Children

I once read a quote from Melania Trump that said (about her newborn son): "I don't feed him because I have to, I feed him because I want to." That is the exact opposite of how I feel.

I took two days off to be with my son when he was off of school Thursday and Friday. We were supposed to go to St. Louis, but when those plans fell through, we ended up staying home for four days of togetherness. My least favorite part of spending time with my son, is that he requires to eat at least three times a day. I could easily go without eating either breakfast or lunch, but he always wants both. Plus, when it's four days in a row, you can't exactly go to McDonald's or BK for every meal. In addition, he doesn't like to eat most of what I like to eat (probably my fault).

We need a Mom.