Raisins?

Since I had absolutely nothing to do today (my last year of this! YEAHHH), I have been cleaning out my blog reader. I had over 130 blogs I was trying to keep up with. It was actually stressing me so I got rid of about 50. Now, If you do the calculation I still have over 80. Next holiday or snow day I'm getting rid of more...this is a full-time job I tell you...I'm sure I won't be getting rid of yours though. ;-)

Anyhoo, while looking at blogs I came across a man who did a raisin experiment with his son 2 years in a row. The first year when his kid was 3, his son seemed pretty happy about the raisins ranking his squeal a 6 out of 10. The second year when he was 4 his son was none too happy. As a matter of fact he couldn't believe he had "RAISINS!...You gave me raisins? Here, put this in your food!" O. MY. GOODNESS. This is the funniest Christmas present opening I have ever heard. It is a classic. Listen to both audio recordings here. It is so funny that I think I may do that experiment with Baby I but not using raisins. I'm looking forward to tormenting my child(ren) just as my mother did me! Opps I mean loving them dearly! LOL

Happy Easter

Most of the time on holidays you get grumpy posts from me but nosirrebob, not any more!  I'm finishing my dossier and this time next year if Baby I is not home at least I will have my court date and be on my way, so I'm happy and thought I would say Happy Easter!  

I know, I know this is a first!  :-)  

What You Do When You Don't Have Kids

One of my friends doesn't have any kids.  She says she may want to "have" one but she isn't married.  She just turned 43.  To satisfy her child urge she got a dog last year.  Now, I know that dogs are like kids, but her dog gets treated like Baby I will (ok, almost).  He goes to camp, the salon, has a dog walker, special meals, etc.  She was even considering having a nose surgery to open up his nasal passage some (deviated septum?).  He did have a few surgeries last year which set her back a cool $6k; he is still a baby not even 2.  Whew.

By the way, his daycamp fees are the same as what you would pay for your child to go to daycare.  Following are pictures of her dog from daycamp playing soccer, with the Easter Bunny and on an Easter egg hunt.  Hilarious!

On a side note: my mother is considering giving me her dog.  You better believe, as much as I love that dog, Mr. Pepper Fox will not participate in any daycamp unless it is in my backyard and it involves chasing a squirrel, cat or one of those big a@@ opossum.

Head of Skate! HA HA HA

What would this blog be if I didn't get in on the Presidential Election Humor?  

See more funny videos and href="http://www.collegehumor.com/">CollegeHumor.

Everything But the Baby

Last night I went to get a new gym membership at LA Fitness with Laura.  I decided I was tired of  working out at Washington Sports Club (WSC) with myself and it was a little too expensive.  So, since I have a few friends that already work out there I figured this would be a great place to switch too.  You should have seen Laura and I... wheeling and dealing, getting all of the  freebies and perks.  Guess what we even got thrown in?  Two (2) free passes to the Kids club for the life of my membership!  This is worth $20 a month.  At WSC I would have had to pay $2 each time I dropped my kid off so say I worked out 5 times a week (just say I did) that's $40 a month for 1 and $80 for 2.  

So what I don't have a kid yet... I have babysitting at the gym!  I'm starting a nursery and haven't completed my dossier yet...what's your point?!  Should I send you back to my bass ackwards post?  Hello my name is Tami and I'm bass ackwards!  LOL  

Baby Mama

As someone who has experienced fertility drama, I was excited to see the movie Baby Mama come to the big screen.  Yesterday I went to see it and let me tell you, it was a riot!

When I was told I was infertile and could not get pregnant without medical intervention (I thought it was the end of the world).  When I was going through IVF by myself, my friends and family thought I was superwoman to make those decisions and give myself those shots (but I did what I had to do).  I never thought I would be able to laugh about it all, but it is funny how you really come to the other side.  A little over two years later, I know it happened but I totally see the humor in it now and after seeing Baby Mama it is funnier than ever (you must laugh about it instead of crying).  I could probably add funnier parts to the movie or better yet write my own.  I wasn't really looking for a Baby Mama I was looking for a Baby Daddy (so to speak... although no contract or support was required). 

Anywhoo, if you want a lot of laughs go check out Baby Mama.  I left the theater very happy and with more thoughts of Baby I on my mind.  

More Love Letters For Me?!

I just love when I get love mail (ie. commments) from anonymous (code name for chicken and spineless people…only when you are being evil)! Look at what I got today regarding the More Babies for Brangelina Post:

Why is it ok for you to adopt from Ethiopia, but not her? Because she's famous she doesn't get to make the same choices you do? I hope other people don't judge you the way you judge people you don't know. And I hope you teach your child to be compassionate instead of catty.

Hey Lady,

If you came to my blog you would know that I like Angelina, see My Hollywood Mom Match. Even in this post particular comment section I said I like Angelina. In my blog I just look for things that may spark conversation and a little controversy. Then I get to say, I like Angelina. ROTFL As I always say, I’m glad it worked (the controversy) and WELCOME to my world! LOL Oh, and thanks for giving me something to blog about today!

Tami

You Need A What?

Since I have been a lot obsessed with Baby I, it has been all about baby products over here. And I have come across some of the funniest and craziest products I have ever seen! Okay, too me at least. I know that as mothers and many new mothers (obsessed) by our precious children we "must have" all of the new gadgets but, some of the stuff that is out there just makes no sense at all. With that said, I thought it would be fun to share some of the silly things that we have come across in our baby/kid product hunting experience.

So, if Baby I has Monsters under her bed I can buy her a can of Monster Spray for $14.95 plus shipping and handling (of course). Whatever! I think I'll stick a label over my Mrs. Meyers Lavender scent cleaning spray which will have the same effect and is about $10 less expensive and I can clean my entire house!

What products have you come across that really don't make any sense? Tasha, you have a list full, give us one that you haven't listed already...if possible or you can give us your favorite.

Cooking a Staple?

For Dominicans the base of any meal made is plantano (plantain). Most people think its rice and beans for all Latinos but, for Dominicans (rice and beans is a very close second though) plantains is the main food source (if you will). We can cook it at any stage it comes and any color-- green, yellow, speckled black...you will have a meal on your plate in a jiffy. I love plantains!

I just figured out the reason why I don't enjoy cooking is because I don't really care that much about food... However, in my house there were very few times we fought over food but, one of those times was when my mother was making plantano maduro (sweet/ripe plantains). This was a treat because I was raised in Cleveland and it was difficult (and expensive) to get plantains and when she did, they went just as fast! Now, I live in DC and the culture is so diverse, I can get plantain anywhere, I think I've even seen it at 7-11 next to the Big Gulps.

I don't fight my little brother for my plantano maduro anymore but I still love them. Does this mean I cook them? Of course not, silly...well, not too often that is. LOL So, the staple of the Dominican culture is plantain and the staple of the Ethiopian culture is injera. Uh, OH, although I love (and always have loved) Ethiopian food you know I can’t make it and I’m a little concerned about trying to make injera because it has a taste that you don't want to mess up. But, I want to make sure that I can make it before Baby I comes home. I keep looking in the Safeway aisles for it and they don't have it. Something tells me they won't be getting injera anytime soon. Hey, maybe I should ask them next time I go. What do you think they will say? That would probably be funny. I’ll keep you posted on this one. LOL Maybe this weekend, in my free time (yeah right) I’ll have my first try at making injera and a little snack to go along with it. What do you think about this recipe that someone sent me? I'll let you know how it turned out. Wish me luck.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups lukewarm water
2 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 tsp baking powder
salt to taste
2 Tbsp canola oil

Preparation
1. add the yeast to the flour and slowly add the water and stir it well to form a thin batter; cover and let it sit in a warm place for 3 days; stir the batter once a day
2. when ready to make the injera, add the baking powder and salt to taste, stir well
3. heat a large non-stick pan/griddle, brush it with some canola oil, set heat at medium-high
4. take about 1/2 cup of batter and pour it on the pan and swoosh it around to spread the batter into a thin layer on the pan (sort of like making crepe)

I Really Hate Cooking

I am actually a pretty good cook, although I don't do it often. However I get inspired when I see all of these cooking shows (operative word here is inspired). But, I guess not inspired enough because I still don't cook. But I do call as many of my friends as I can to see who I can bum a meal from. Luckily they love me and feed me. I don't eat much I'm entertaining so it's ok. Sighhh, I guess that will have to change when Baby I comes home next year. As such, I've tried to get back in the habit of cooking again. It isn't easy because I honestly don't like it! It's so easy to go to Whole Foods and buy sushi, nuke a sweet potato, prepare a salad, eat cereal (my personal favorite) or go on a date just for the free food! Yes, people I am not above going on a date with a man I have absolutely no interest in for the food. It's easy! I act very hungry, order extra and then I have meals for a few days...it saves me on my grocery bills! Don't hate, didn't you hear I'm saving money for my adoption! LOL

Oh yea, getting back to cooking. So, tonight I had to eat and was determined not to eat out. I cooked catfish with fresh string beans. Don't be impressed...the seasoning was out of the box and the string beans were, well, string beans. The meal was tasty but any idiot could have made that meal and tonight the idiot was me. Poor Baby I. Mommy is going to do better, she really is. She is going to remember those lasagnas, homemade macaroni and cheese, chicken and dumplings, sancocho (a Dominican stew) and other yummy dishes she used to make before you come home, she really is. If not she knows where the local My Girlfriends Kitchen is located!

The Billboard

I took a picture of this billboard when I was in New York this past summer. I thought a little funny would be a good way to end your Thanksgiving Holiday. Plus, I have absolutely nothing to write about today. Only six more days of writing and you better believe I'm taking a well deserved time off for good behavior!

Help World Hunger Today

Remember those emails you occasionally received from that annoying friend about going to a particular website to save the world? Well, the email is now a blog posting and the annoying friend is now me (hee hee)!!!! Check out Free Rice where by simply playing a vocabulary game, ten grains of rice are donated for each right answer selected to the United Nations World Food Program. The World Food Program is working with more than 1,000 organizations in more than 75 countries.

Since more than 25,000 people die annually from hunger I think I can be your annoying friend today and I give you permission to goof off at work and play this game. Hey, you are goofing off anyway and reading blogs so go ahead and play, it's okay! Oh, and you will have a much better vocabulary to wow your supervisor with. Maybe I should play, then I'll stop using urban language like WTF (I was just told this is important nomenclature), holla and whateve. Even more importantly maybe I can beat my mother at Scrabble. Yea...WHATEVER!!! Is that better? LOL

Kiddie Domain Names

I just heard that parents are buying up Website names for their newborns or preborns (Does that even make sense? I just came up with that.) So that name you are thinking of, you better reserve it now so they can have a facebook page of their own. You don't want them to feel left out do you. Sighhh...what happened to the good ole' days of teasing and taunting with the simple things like ice cream or stealing (oops I mean borrowing) each others doll babies? Now we have to worry about buying domain names even before the little brats (oops again! I mean luv bugs...hee hee...just jokes) get here. Now they walk around saying I have my own domain name what do you have? Or just contact me @ http://www.missygirlwhatev/. See my face page, self page, space or WHATEV!

Geez... well Moms get your credit cards out and start thinking about those names because little Pacey, Madison, Parker, Gabi, Arriele will hate you forever if you don't have a domain name for her. I mean Mom what were you thinking?

The Cure for Telemarketers

I don't answer my phone when the caller id. shows unlisted or unavailable. It could be someone I don't want to talk to like: an ex boyfriend, one of my colleges asking for money, a bill collector (of course I pay my bills, but it could happen right?...LOL), my aunt (I see her name, I just don't pick up the phone because she talks entirely too much), one of my credit card/mortgage companies with a great offer or the dreaded telemarketer (I put my name on that opt-out list but somehow I keep getting calls!). For the past few days my phone has continued to ring and the caller id. kept showing unavailable. This morning I decided to answer the phone to see what was so important. The conversation went something like this:

" Hello"

"Good Morning, I'm Tim calling from Eastern Marketing Company, yesterday you started a survey with us. Would you like to continue today?"

"Good Morning. What perfect timing because I'm conducting a survey also. I'm adopting a baby from Ethiopia as a single parent. I'm having a few issues trying to figure out how to raise money to finish paying for the adoption. Also what color do you think I should paint the baby's room? At what age do you think I should put her into daycare? Do you think I should work full or part-time? But I really need to work full-time...Oh I forgot to tell you about my business. Hello.... Hello... Tim? Are you still there?"

I laughed hysterically. I don't think Eastern Marketing Company will call me back again. The point is, start asking them a lot of questions and see how they like it!

Blogging While Brown

I think I'm in trouble. I may need to commit myself. I need some serious drugs: Twizzlers, M&Ms, Ding-Dongs, Kit-Kats, Reece's Pieces...oh, these aren't drugs? Well, I just need them anyway because I really like them and they make me happy when I eat them...but I digress. I found out about another blogging event, the International Conference for Bloggers of Color. I think I may attend, it's in Atlanta and an opportunity to see my friends and do some business. I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do there and what purpose my blog will serve but I may be there. Possibly by then I will have a new blog name and more purpose. I think the blog purpose is becoming clearer though...I annoy as many people as I make happy! LOL

African American Support for Your Adoption

Believe it or not, I did receive a few questions in my I Help Where I Can post. I have just been trying to come up with a witty response so here is my first response. We still have 16 days so I'm accepting questions! LOL

Question: Your perspective on how white adoptive parents can work at gaining support from the AA community in adoption (in terms of trust). I find that many of my AA friends/ acquaintances aren’t to keen about my adoption. I want to work at finding that support in my local AA community. I want to meet folks where they are I’m not expecting them to come to me.

Answer: Well, this is quite a dilemma you have here. Don't feel bad because you are not alone. I'll let you in on a little secret, a lot of African Americans aren't too keen on us (other AA) adopting African, Haitian or any baby of color that is not "African American." I get criticized regularly for my Ethiopian adoption so, my first point is: you will not be accepted by all African Americans simply because you are adopting a little brown baby. Now, once your little bundle of joy is here he/she will clearly be American and be considered African American through most eyes. So, how do you get the adults to understand you want to meet them where they are and you don't expect them to meet you where you are? Simply put, lots of hard work and effort.

Don't use where you live, your family, friends, work, community or any of that as an excuse. What I mean by all of that is, it takes a concerted effort. Let me give you an example. In Cleveland my Aunt has a friend who is white who adopted a black daughter. They live in an all white community yet weekly she drives 35 + miles (one way) to make sure her daughter can play and socialize with another black child and family. The mother has made friends with my Aunt who, in turn, has introduced her to other families. Her child may live and go to school in an all white community during the week but, on the weekend she is part of an African American community and activities (The irony of this is my Aunt lives in a white community also but hers has a few more Blacks). The mother joined a black mother's group and no they were not too keen on her joining at first. She said she joined for her child and kept coming back, they eventually got over it (she had a lot of "balls" and my Aunt had to fight for her). Ultimately, you simply need to have very, very, very thick skin and keep the course. Eventually, the community and your acquaintances will come around. And then the honest truth is some of them never will. I have lost some friends on my journey to adopt my child(ren) and you know what? That is fine by me! If they can't accept this new part of my life and that God has called for me to be a mother to 1 or 2 children from Ethiopia then they are not meant to be in my circle.

So, you have to continue to expose your child and make sure it is all about your child. Be clear, what they are saying under their breath is "uh hu" sure...we'll see...but is that really any different from what I would get if I decided I loved hockey and am now a huge fan. I want to know everything about it and go to all the games and become part of the community. I want to be accepted and I want everyone to love me. Nope! Probably not. Hockey is a predominately white sport. Are there any blacks that play? I'm sure there are at least 1 or 2 we are everywhere (heehee) but you get my point! Eventually, the people at the hockey ring would see I really am serious about hockey because I keep coming back every week...then I can speak the language, I know the people and I'm comfortable in the arena, nothing is made up.

Becoming part of the African American community will be the same for you. However, whatever you do please, please, I beg you as you try to meet AA where they are do not speak Ebonics or say one of my best friends is black, neither are cool at all! LOL

Worth More Dead

Ford Magazine just came out with their Top-Earning Dead Celebrities List. The 13 legends grossed a combined $232 million in the past 12 months, can you believe that? You know the King Elvis was on the list, along with Dr. Seuss, Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol, Einstein and my boy Tupac but I swear I saw him last week!

This list actually made me think and realize (I don't know about you) but I REALLY am worth more dead than alive (scary but true...sorry Mommy)....let's see:

-there's the house (I live in DC you look at real estate here!)

- two life insurance polices (I won't tell you how much they are worth but Baby I will be chillin' on the French Riviera when I'm 6ft under)

- the business (it will be worth something...my financial planner says it is worth $xxxK if I sold it today...any takers? LOL)

- the car (it's a depreciating asset but an asset none the less...LOL)

- jewelry, artwork, furniture and other stuff (you can still make money at yard sales you know!)

Oh well, since I'm still alive and happy I should continue to work on trying to make it on the Gladney's Mommy list first...I'll be happy with that!

Save The CeleBRITy Children!

(This was too funny, I had to post. I know so unlike me...more like Tasha ;-) )

African family adopts Britney's kids.
By Ellen Tarlin Posted Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, at 5:19 PM ET

LOS ANGELES—A Malawi couple has completed adoption paperwork for Sean Preston Federline, 2, and Jayden James Federline, 1, after their mother, Britney Spears, lost custody of the children Monday. It was Ms. Spears' inability to provide car seats that initially brought the plight of her children to the attention of the Malawi couple, who wish to remain anonymous, and who will be referred to here as Mr. and Mrs. M. But it was the widely circulated photograph of Ms. Spears' vagina that really drew their concern. "In our country, a good mother does not show her business to the press," Mrs. M said. "It is very bad luck." After Spears' "performance" at MTV's Video Music Awards, the adoptive couple knew they had to do something. "We could not allow innocent children to live under such horrific conditions anymore," they explained. "The Third World can no longer turn a blind eye to the tragedy affecting so many U.S. celebrity children."

Los Angeles, where the Federline children have been living, is one of the richest cities in the world, trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of depravity, narcissism, and veganism. Nearly 27 percent of the children in Los Angeles suffer the misfortune of having celebrity parents. Mr. and Mrs. M were stunned by the deplorable conditions these victims live in. Children are subject to verbal abuse via cell phone, and babies are dangled over balcony railings. "Fathers kill mothers, and then put out badly written books about it," Mr. M said. "And the names these children must bear," said Mrs. M. "Apple, Fifi Trixibell, Fuchsia, Moxie CrimeFighter, Pilot Inspektor, Sage Moonblood—what kind of future can these poor children have?"

From Slate Online Magazine

Bass Ackwards

My mother said I've always done things a little differently, case in point I came into the world premature with afterbirth first (yes, we almost both died)! Hey, I wanted to make an entrance (like the Diva I am (hehe)) and wanted to make sure that no one would forget Tami. I never was the quiet child. I was always bored so I had a playroom full of "creative items" accompanied by a yard full of wonder (read: stuff to get in to), I kept my mother on her toes.

Then there was school. I was the child that got straight A's in my classwork but straight 5s for my attitude. Yes a 1 was for she is sweet as pie and a 5 was for she doesn't know how or when to shut up. I know you are not very surprised I got 5s are you? I still don't know when to shut up but I'm an adult now and I don't much care what people think. I guess that's why I'm an entrepreneur because corporate...well....not so much! Anyway...more bass ackwards...

• Growing up I would always have to have the last word with my mother even though I knew it meant getting smacked in the mouth...WHY????


• Here's a good one...I got behind the wheel of a car when I was 4 and put it in reverse and down the hill I went with the car...I couldn't drive of course (I got it that night!). My mother chased the car and saved me and the car if you were wondering.


• I purchased a manual transmission car first then learned how to drive a stick! Hey...it was cheaper!


• I did not go to the business school library even 1 time. It was on the other side of campus, too far to walk! Thank goodness for the Internet and nice companies! LOL


• I went to Europe after business school and figured I would find places to stay along the way AND we stayed in a different city every night for two weeks straight!


• I moved to NYC without a job or an apartment (thank God for friends).


• I quit my good corporate job to start a company.


• I started another company instead of looking for a good corporate job (risk adverse I'm not).


• Finally, I'm starting a family before being married....oh that's not bass ackwards that's just life! Love it!

FOOTBALL!!!

Yes, I have a new hobby and it is football. You may say what is so interesting about that, many of you like to watch football but I actually don't like to watch football. I play football , much to my football loving family's dismay!

Why did I do it (many have asked)? I wanted/needed something different in my life. I guess being faced with becoming a mother in less than a year has me thinking of things I should have done and wondering if I have enough of a community. Joining a football team is definitely a community. Next year I'll just strap Baby I in her stroller and push her on the side line with someones wife or husband and she can watch Mommy playing football.

So far, I have had two practices (Saturday and yesterday, Wednesday). We are getting ready to compete with all of the other teams in the metro DC area so it is imperative that I get up to speed. Yes, I wonder if that is possible also. Hey I paid my $75 just like everyone else so I am going to play like everyone else! After the first practice I was told "Tami since you are the weakest link you can pick the jersey colors." LOL That was pretty funny but I said that's okay I'm going to get better and all the guys laughed. BTW...on our co-ed team of 13 we have 4 women. At our first practice I had to get the basics you know...catching, who the quarterback was, etc. They decided that I should be a rusher. What? They wanted me to rush the quarterback (the guy with the ball) and get his ball or flag in this case while he has the ball. And mind you there are men and women blocking me from him. Well...okay. Then they put it in perspective for me. "Tami just act like he has some Prada's around his neck that he stole from your house!" "Oh no! I want my shoes back!" "Exactly, go get him!" LOL After practice number 1 I didn't catch anyone but I only fell twice, was hit in the face once and got one swollen finger and the next few days I ached like HECK but I had fun.

Practice #2. The pain stopped on Tuesday just in time for practice on Wednesday...life is good! I called my Aunt on the way to practice and she laughed hysterically about my going to practice. She calls my telephone calls her MDLB (mediocre day looking better) calls. That's okay...I hung up on her after I gave her a piece of my mind! hehehe I got to practice and started out with a few one-on-one passes and then we went into the game. Yikes..it was no mercy but guess what? The other team was sleeping on me and I got 2 sacks or flags. Then they realized I'm fast and am actually a good rusher (okay learning to be) and started blocking me with 2 men! They even called me out on a play. I accused them of being scared of me now and my team laughed at them. It felt good and my team said that I'm doing really well and I'm turning out to be a quick learner and may even be the 6th man!

See don't tell me I can't do something...I'll do it just to spite you! As a single woman going through adoption and preparing to be a single mother (like my mother) if I don't know strength then I don't know what I know. Now I just have a great outlet. I wonder what I am going to get into after this season is over? What is your outlet? If you don't have one...get one and physical ones are awesome!