I LOVE my Friends!

Specifically, IHOEL and the Missus Bee who have graciously agreed to watch my little ones tonight so i can go see Lyle Lovett. Now, the background on this would be that I had purchased these tickets months ago, planned on taking my darling pal Miss Tail to celebrate our respective birthdays, lined up a babysitter, double checked all arrangements last night only to recieve a VM from the babysitter -- on my way in to work this morning -- saying that she was sick and had to cancel. "Sorry." Enter IHOEL who wanders by my desk and wonders at my complete and abject sadness at having to cancel/ammend my plans and who then offers to watch the babies for me so I can go out tonight... [!!] That's right, folks. There is no one in the world who could convince me at this point that I do not have THE highest quality, most caring, most wonderful friends ever invented. {sniff. wipe eye} I just really heart these guys!

This sh** can NOT be taught!

My home phone has been statickey to the point of my not being able to hear callers AT ALL (leading to a really very nice justification of my unwillingness to actually answer the phone ever) for the last 6 months but I think it got fixed yesterday. I do feel the need to point out the fact that I am well aware that waiting the better part of a year to get something as intrinsic as my home phone fixed raises my "slacker" quotient to heretofore unimaginable heights but that being said, I say "I think" because the nice repair guy (if that's who, in act, he was!) stopped by, had a quick glance around my house, asked if I had kids (to which I replied in the affirmative) then said, and I quote: "K. Well, I don't think the problem is inside. I'll either be back or I'll call you with an update." Then he left not having actually at any point examined the inside wiring. Further, when I checked the line at a later point in the evening, I found it too be static free (Yay!) but (again) the repair guy never showed back up, nor did he "call." At no point was I asked to sign anything... I just think it's really wierd that he just came by and fixed something, then left without letting me know he was done or asking me to initial anything. The only thing I can think is that maybe the fix was going to cost me and he didn't feel like charging some "Af-Am-single-mom-with-kids" for the service... I dunno. Has anyone else experienced this sort of thing...?

Did I mention...

I'm going to see Lyle Lovett on friday? Quick show of hands, who's jealous??

(FYI: I am so delighted about this I may just explode!)

EEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Today's my birthday!

Happy Birthday, me. Today was fabulous. i love my family. i love my kids. I especially love my friends (and their kids!) I'll expand upon all of that at some later point I suppose but I just wanted to offer it up into the universe from whence I came that I am well aware of (and grateful for) the fact that I'm the single most luckiest/blessed human being on the planet!

Mine, Mine, Mine!

Well, that's over. Spark Bryant has officially become Spark Magnet and I have the reams of certified paperwork to prove it! (Who would have thought it's so relatively easy to shackle yourself to another human being's needs for the next 16 years? Although, I guess that crazy little thing they call marriage sort of involves the same thing but at least it's for a much shorter amount of time. Ha! Just kidding! I heart each and every one of my married and/or soon to be married friends and I hope/know your marriage will last FOR-evah!!

Right this second I am tired, stressed and not just a little overwhelmed by everything mainly because it would appear that I said in front of God and everyone that I not only could do this but that I could do it well (add to the mix the fact that I forgot that my classes start TONIGHT -- I was reminded by my babysitter calling me in San Jose circa 4:30 wondering if I still planned to drop Spark with her at 5:00? I am a loser and a flake. I'm going to buy her something really nice though so hopefully she'll forget tonight ever happened...) Sigh. k. Just for the record, I'm really happy too. I love my little family and I am truly lucky and truly blessed. I will drink a toast tonight, light a candle, possibly take up a religion and I am positive tomorrow will be jsut ducky!

Embraceable

O.K. so apparently Cordouroy Goucho Pants are back in style and I am very, very afraid....

So, I'm talking to a buddy of mine last night and he opines that I ought not be too worried about getting old (for the record, I'm not at ALL worried) because despite my complete lack of patience for all things "insipid"/the fat gathering around the base of kneecaps/my quickness to defend indefensible positions simply because I feel like it -- I'm still "embraceable" and therefore worth something. I cannot say that I honestly know what that means or that he was speaking from the "soberist" of places but still and all, I think it was a compliment of sorts and so, I'll take it!

I'm tired so my reasoning may be faulty

But, I think I need to go see Elektra...! Anyone out there willing to talk me down from this?

"don`t be an asshole Desiree"

Ah, spam.... Where do they come up with the titles for these things...! Alright, so I'm not saying I'm having any kind of mid-life crisis or anything but on my way in to work this morning (as I wandered through the motions of dropping off the kid, chatting up the coffee counter girl, checking out the other caffeine patrons as we stood about waiting for our various toasted pastry items...) I noticed that I'm older than everybody else. Not only that but in spite of (or maybe because of) my actual age in dog years I still get treated like I'm younger for some reason. It's weird. I'm sitting there yakking with Ms. 20-something-Double-latte-with-skim about Tiffany and how sad it was that "Dreams Never Die" never made it to the states (her song was on the sound system at the time -- this wasn't just a random flight of fancy) and about how very misundersttod she/her career were and this other lady (maybe early thirties) in what used to be Armani casual before it became pase to flaunt your designers, glances over at us with a little, condescending smile/"been there, moved on" look and I'm thinking "Hey!! Enough with the 'tude, Chicka, I'm old enough to be your mom! (Or at least much older sister...)" whilst my co-patriot actually looked a little sheepish. And therein lies the rub. It would seem I'm at a point in my life where I still act young enough to embarrass my friends but I'm old enough to defend my silliness/stupidity because, seriously, when it comes right down to it, it's ALL stupid, it just that some idiocy makes you giggle whereas other flavors make you feel like slitting your wrists. Whatever. I give Ms. Beige slacks with this season's jacket a few more years before she either loosens up or starts some serious botox.

How is it so freaking cold???

K. Just needed to get that off my chest. I'm better now. Had a grand week-end. My big kid and I spent an almost scary amount of time giggling over an imaginary conversation we imagined my youngest to be having with us re: her new juice cup.

Me: Here's your juice!
Spark: (in reality giving me the silent stare but in her head...) What's with the new cup?
Me: Don't you want your juice?
Spark: Um. Okaaayyyyy.... I get it. It's a joke. Ha Ha. So... where's my juice?
Me: This is your juice. See [makes sippy face] juice!
Spark: [glances at Boo] Is it just me, or is she insane?

I don't know exactly why the two of us felt this was such a hilarious concept but we did and THE ENTIRE RIDE in today we felt the need to embellish e.g. "HA! There I laughed. Now can I have my juice??" This last from Boo made me laugh so hard I almost swerved into incoming traffic.

We also, Me and the Boo, applied Mud Masks to our admittedly already baby-bottom smooth faces and spent a good half hour walking around the house trying to dream up things to say that sounded really weird when you couldn't open your mouth all the way.

{chuckle, sigh} good times, good times... {wipe eye} I really need to get out more...

K. So I try not to talk about work but I just have to say I ::heart:: my "staff"! I really do! Two of the sweetest, most talented gals a person could hope to work with! K. That's it. More later if I find time...

Happy New Year!

1) Trip to New Mexico was grand! Family is doing well. Everyone is healthy and relatively happy and the entire Magnet clan continues to be almost scarily attractive/charismatic (It's a curse!)

2) Found out that Spark will be legally mine - all - mine as of Jan. 19, 2005 at 1pm o'clock Pacific Standard Time! Yay! Look for your eVite to the celebratory bash later that week!

3) Spent the week-end transitioning aforementioned toddler to a big-kid bed and assembling (with the fabulous tools/assistance of a certain Travelin' Man) THE world's coolest dresser for the Boo so she could give her "little kid" dresser to the Spark -- actually, in terms of assembly, Boo did all the hard work. I think I really just read the directions and handed her the nails. TM pretty much just sat on the couch...

4) House is a mess but school for me doesn't start until the end of the month so it is all about cleaning/throwing away crap for the next several weeks which will be swell and which will make Mistah L-L happy!

5) I got an "A-" in my "not-so-sure-how-I-did" Qualitative Analysis class which is GREAT, although I have afeeling it might be because the Prof was in the middle of something else and really didn't have time to read any of the papers. Not that I care! Go ahead, ask me to qualitatively analyze something, anything...!

and

6) I am not rested but I am still fairly happy which only bodes well for the time when I hopefully will be both!

Cheers, pets! Hope the year's a happy one!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!

I'll make this quick since there are presents waiting to be opened...! I'm in new Mexico with the world's most beautiful family having a very fabulous/cool/stressful time. The various houses of the various peeps are beautiful, the various significant others are sweet and my babies seem to be adjusting well so, it's all good, as they say. (I am kind of secretly looking forward to being back at home in my same old boring routine but more on that later...)

Huge thanks to the front neighbors because I think they're covering for my major bone-headed moment and taking care of my cats (at least, I hope!) and second super big thanks to my beautiful Green-eyed girl for assisting in the Oakland side pick up once we return. Kisses to everybody. I can't wait to see you all again. Mwah!! Mwah!!

What a difference some sleep makes...!

Ah.... re-freshed! So, dropped the baby off with her G-ma in San Josers last night, spent a little quality time movie-going with my big kid, home for a quick visit with the Travelin' Man then - went - to - bed. (And stayed asleep until 7: blessed 15 am.)Woke up this morning feeling GOOD! All singey and dancey and whatnot! i love sleep. Anyone who badmouths sleep has seriously got me to contend with because I will kick some a** over that one!!! Eh, hem. sorry. got a little fiesty there but I'm better now. So... weekend was swell. me and the seven-year-old hung some lights on the bookshelf so the place is all festive and whatnot. I'm nowhere near packed for our trip but, whatever, I'll throw it all together tomorrow night and if I forget anything I was probaly never meant to take it in the first place. (See!! Give a gal a little sleep and all upon a sudden she's got a fine new attitude!) The Bee family is off to the wilds of the Eastern States this morning for a coupla weeks. God-speed and whatnot to them, hope all holiday happenings are FAB! Aight. I'm going to tkae my newfound joy and see if I can turn it into actual productivity... later ya'all!

Tired

I had three hours of sleep last night. Not because the babies decided to keep me awake but because my fabulous new place of workiness decided to throw one hell of a party! Thanks and kisses to all my peeps who showed. DB, you, as always are fetching, simply fetching. Mistah L-L and crew, you clean up well and are an inspiration to us all and Travelin' Man, high five on the HONEY you got hanging off your arm these days! Dammmmmnnnn!

Things I learned at the party:

1) If a cute girl is being nice to you do NOT suspiciously demand "What're you doing?!"

2) I work with some seriously, drop-dead, across the board, no two ways about it "P-H" in "PHINE" people!

Nicest compliment (I think) I got:

"Love the shoes! You're the only girl here who truly gets it!" [ed. note - I don't honestly know what "it" was but the girl talking to me was HOT so I just nodded and smiled...]

Now, however. I am tired. Exhausted really. but working on a proposal that was due yesterday so I guess I'm out. Kisses to everyone! Mwah! oxoxoxoxo!

Tag

So, I'm driving my kid to school this morning (we're in the truck so we're basically sitting right next to each other) and we're not really talking. I mean we're not NOT talking, we're just kind of being quiet when all-upon-a-sudden she reaches over and taps my hand. "you're it!" she announces scooting as far over as she can get toward the door and grabbing the handle. "Black things are base!" she elucidates further. "And no tagbacks!"

I love my kid. (And yes, I did manange to get her back. Just once though. There are a hell of a lot of black things in the cab of my truck!)

---

Last night I got to sign another Spark-related sheaf of papers thereby magically and officially turning my house from a "foster placement" into an "adoptive" one. Now, don't everybody go getting excited yet. I still have to formally apply and then wait for some judge to get back from their extended holiday vacation and see fit to stamping thier seal on a piece of paper that states for any and all interested parties that Miss Spark is unequivocably MINE! Nice to have made some more progress though...

Happy Birthday (BTW) my gorgeous, wonderful Green-Eyed Pal! Give yer moms a squeeze just cause she had the good sense to produce you!!

Excuse me while I go throw up...

Done. School is done. At least for now. Now all I have to do is meet with Spark's caseworker tomorrow to go over some adoption papers, go to Boo's Winter Sing, Go to the Family Builder's picnic, go to Paly Alto for a Spark G-ma gig, then off to Miss Tail's Chanaukka party.... And then, not unlike the sweet lord Jesus, on Sunday I will rest.

Whoo Hoo!

Sorry, I know I shouldn't be writing right now (must work on stuff! Lots of stuff to look into!!) BUT I am just so excited. My Big Bro just assured me that not only will my most favorite Baby-Niece (well, teen-age niece) be attending the big Magnet Family get-together out in the desert from whence we hail -- but that my OTHER most favorite practically grown-up niece (who, I spose should now be officially considered an adult now that she's about 7 months preggo with some Army boy's offspring) is going to be there as well!!!! Yay! Can I just really quickly demand "How very much fun are we all going to have this X-mas????? Loads, is what! Loads! K. Sorry. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.......

Too busy to blog...? Say it ain't so!

That's right folks: Finals at school, work kicking mine a**, baby "choosing" to stay awake ALL FREAKING night -- although she's only actually crying some of the time. She does this other thing where she just sort of sits up chatting with her toys which is A - DOR - RABLE -- And, as such, I've not had time to write. For the record, Thanksgiving (seems so long ago!) was GREAT! Good people, not un-good food... peaceful, relaxing. nice. Things in general are good. Crazy, stupid busy but good. My last class/paper/poster project is next week (Wed.) Can I JUST say I am sooooooo ready for school to be done...?! Nice though that my fabulous baby-watchers from this semester are going to be able to do next semester as well. Sometimes I just get so sillily lucky I'm almost embarrassed about it! K. That's it. Just wanted to let chall know I'm not dead. (Yet.) BTW, everybody go to the GV website and buy tickets to the Holiday Party. It's going to rock and I need my posse there!