Screaming Memes

Our trip up to SLO was super fabulous. Oh wait, have I forgotten?  Part Most of it was a NIGHTMARE.  Go read Hank's version.  It's rather funny!!!  Despite the random shenanigans, we did have fun.  Deep down inside, I did enjoy myself.  Really!

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The eversweet Lori tagged me with the fun "Twenty Things" Meme.  Ready?  Here goes:

1.  I am a fourth generation American.  Yet I can't escape the "So. . .where are you from?" question. 
2.  Certain sounds irk me, like:  the sound of breaking styrofoam, the sound of dried out markers screeching across paper, the sound of popping gum.
3.  My childhood home was the background for a CHiPs episode.  I thought I was so cool.  I still have my autographed photo of Ponch.
4.  I was born and raised in the Heart of Screenland.  I'm super proud of my hometown.
5.  My husband and I appeared on a highly viewed show on a major t.v. network.  Our episode still airs periodically.  Sometimes people stop us and ask for photographs.  I've enjoyed my five minutes of "fame."
6. I was confident that I would marry Hank on our fifth date.  We even talked about marriage that night, and five months later we were engaged.   Eight months after that we were married.  Eight months after our wedding, Alison was born.   
7.  Sometimes I spend hours and hours chatting online with students.  They think I'm Dear Abby.
8.  I enjoy being Dear Abby.
9.  The eye color of my children varies:  Alison, light brown.  Henry, green.  Kate, hazel/blue.  Pretty cool.
10.  Hank and I did a little family history, and we discovered that our kids' ancestors range from plantation workers to educators, from slaves to scientists. 
11.  My children are multiracial (over 6 races).
12.  The other day I ran into an old student (she's a senior in h.s. -- she used to be in my 8th grade class).  We talked about Laguna Beach.  We acted like L.C. and Kirsten were our best friends.
13.  Yes, I still watch MTV.
14.  And yes, I'm in my thirties.
15. I have Master's Degree in Educational Administration.  Basically that means I'm really good at photocopying worksheets.  Ha!
16.  Giving birth is easy for me.  According to my doctor, I had three "silent labors" (meaning I didn't realize I was contracting.  In fact, I never felt my contractions).  With both Henry and Kate, I pushed three times and they were born.
17.  I am fluent in Spanish, and I enjoy a good telenovela once in a while.
18.  I'm still trying to lose the last pounds of baby fat.  The "maternal fat stores" have decided to permanently reside in my gut like unwanted houseguests.  Like your crazy Uncle Al who gets drunk on New Year's Eve, and then passes out on your bed, forcing you to sleep on the sleeper sofa, and . . . . oh sorry!  Getting carried away there...ahem!
19. I've been the same height (5'5") since I was in the 8th grade.
20.  Um,  I know two people who have won BIG lottery pots (one of them very near and dear to me).
Hmmm, let's see, I tag: Kelly, Jenn, and Marilyn.

And now folks,  Miss Yvestown, tagged me  with a food meme:
"Name five foods, dishes or otherwise, that were a part of your childhood, and that you sometimes miss when nostalgia gets to you..."
1.  Chicken Noodle Soup and rice. Whenever I got sick, my mom would heat up this soup, and I could eat and gorge to my heart's content.
2.  Salt Bagels with cream cheese.  When I was just a tot, my mom and I used to stop at the local jewish deli on the way to preschool.  We'd eat salt bagels slathered with cream cheese.  Such a yummy treat.
3.  Saladitos.  Growing up, my brother and I would eat these like they were going out of style.  Okay, my mouth is watering thinking of them.  You may think they're yuck, but I don't. 
4.  Potato Latkes.  Yum.  Okay so growing up, I'd go to this Jewish deli to dine on these ever scrumptious potato latkes.  A dash of salt, a little sour cream, and a cup of apple sauce.  Oh, man, I'm getting hungry.
5.  Tito's Tacos.  Okay, okay.  I know you guys are probably sighing and rolling your eyes at my obsession with their tacos.  But really.  Tito's is part of my childhood, and when I think of home and good food, I think of, yep, Tito's.  Nevermind that there was that "horsemeat in their tacos" scare back in the 80s.  I still boasted my loyalty by still choosing to eat there over the local Pup'n Taco.   Heck!  I don't like to eat meat and I still eat there today!  Now that's loyalty!

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In other news, I took Alison to the dentist today to get rid of her "sugar bugs."  She was SO GOOD, and I don't even think she realized that she had a shot of novacaine.  The pediatric dentist is that good.  Since our family dental plan SUCKS, we chose to use an out-of-plan dentist and pay for everything out of pocket.  So!  That was one hefty payment I made today.  And next week, guess what?!  Another sugar bug needs to be removed.  Lovely.

Speaking of hefty payments, the heater folks will be here on Saturday to install our new forced heating system!  Yahoo!!!  I can't wait to wake up to a warm and toasty house.  I get giddy thinking about all that!  After this, I'm  hoping to give our saving's account a break.  Sheesh! 

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I'm hoping to have another shop update soon.  I have some new cards that have been patiently waiting to make their debut, but it seems that lately time is a scarce, scarce resource.  I have some new discounts up my sleeve for my blog buddies. . . so stay tuned!  Have a great weekend!

Comments

[Alina]

Love your blog!! Beautifu postings!

Alina
http://alinanimation.blogspot.com/

[justJENN]

"So. . .where are you from?"

"I'm from the LBC, bitches!"

[Joelene]

Wow, you were just up in my neck of the woods! And I freaken LOVE Tito's. There is no other taco in my opinion.

Everytime we are in LA we stop there, it helps that my DH grandmother lives ONE BLOCK from there! Oh man I need to go there now!

[yvett]

I like your answers. It's funny how I never realized how many things we have in common. I remember seeing you and Hank on T.V.! I was all excited that I knew you. Good novelas are rare now. Either that or I'm just not keeping up. La Mentira was the last good one I saw. No me la perdia!

[anne]

I know what you mean about the maternal fat stores. I have the maternal fat "MALL." I have yet to catch your episode, and I've been watching that show since I've been on leave. My friend and I discovered Tito's by accident - she moved down the street from them and we kept wondering why there was such a long line everytime we drove by, then we finally discovered why ourselves. Tito's and Versailles (love that garlic chicken!) are my favorite places to eat when in town.

[Anne Marie]

OMG Hank's SLO list of numbers is hilarious!
Don't give up on the road trips just yet.

[mo]

Hey! How did you know about my crazy Uncle Al? Only its more like thanksgiving and christmas... Your answers are hilarious. So I am curious about what show you were on?

[Nanette]

I hope that I can have the labor luck that you had when I finally have kids!

You were on a TV show??? Was it Couples Fear Factor? Wife Swap? What Not To Wear? I'm very curious...

I was on a show once, actually twice - the new Pyramid Game show. I should blog about it some day.

[kelly]

Thanks for the tag! I'll try to think up some good stuff, although I'm not sure I can top yours! I'll have to try Tito's next time we're down there - sounds divine! You're totally teasing us with the tv show... do tell! SLO sounds a lot like some road trips we've experienced... funny how travel becomes such a frightening concept after children...

[Kathleen]

oh dear... i'm so sorry to hear that your SLO trip had so many shortcomings! Just think though, someday you can have your kids do the driving while you and hank watch DVD's in the backseat... ;)

[mrspilkington]

sorry about the bad parts of the trip -- love hank's list, though. great meme answers, i'm dying to know what show it was -- was it a tlc show?

looking forward to the new cards!

[violetismycolor]

I love finding out all these obscure things about you...

[jill]

I can't believe I grew up in the OC and never heard of Tito's... What? Tell me where it is and we'll have to go there when we visit in December!

You HAVE to tell us the show... I will be obsessed now. I was on a game show once, and won about $1500. Remember Win, Lose or Draw? I was the Queen...

[justJENN]

Wait, I just re-read this post. "Maternal fat stores"? You're not fat.

He's coming to "EAT YOUR FAMILY."

That's fat.

[Hank]

Hey -- wouldn't it be fun if I started my own "meme" -- and by the way, what the hell is a meme? -- and made a list of the 20 things that Leslie does NOT want the blogosphere to know about? I'm not sure if our marriage would survive if I posted all twenty, so here's just a little taste:

1. Leslie burps like a sailor. She usually likes to accentuate the burp by saying the word "ralph" while burping. Not surprizingly, she chose not to reveal this "talent" until after we were married. I love her nonetheless.

2. Yes, Leslie loves to spend an afternoon being pampered at the day spa, but probably her greatest pleasure it to rotate her closed fist at ridiculously high speeds against the side of her nostril -- sometimes two fists at once, one on each side. Don't worry, though. She's not picking, just itching. But here's the best part -- she actually does it in her sleep sometimes!

3. Hmm... I think number three should stay in the vault for now.

In the interest of full disclosure, here's a secret of mine. When Leslie came over for the first time when we were dating, my apartment was an absolute disaster. Whatever you imagine when I say that, double it and you're getting close to the actual picture. Anyway, Leslie happened to notice something when she was looking at my toothbrush -- the toothbrush that I had been using everyday for months. There was mold on it.

Can you believe she still married me?

[Marilyn]

HA! I LOVE Hank's addendum to your list. :) I love your list. As for nos. 9 and 11...I've said it before...you and Hank make the prettiest babies. As for #1...Jeffrey went through that when we lived in the V.I...everyone assumed he was West Indian...even AFTER he talked to them (with NO accent). I see you've tagged me...I did a "20 things" post awhile back, but a few of my readers asked for 20 more...you've inspired me to see if I can do another one. :)

[Giao]

Hee! I love this 20 things game! It's always fun to lean a little more about you every now and again! I need to go over and read Hank's account on your SLO trip (I don't even know what SLO stands for!).

Talk soon!

[Melissa]

Sorry the roadtrip didn't go as smooth as expected, but at least it made for a great blog post on Hank's site! Ah, the telenovela - I've managed to break free from it's evil hold. Oh, purty please do tell what show you were on!

[hope]

Maybe I should go to Alison's dentist! I am such a ninny when I go! Off to read Hank's post...

[jesser]

LOL! Your posts (and Hanks) always make me laugh. I actually feel like the motherhood thing is defintely for me (as opposed to around 60% sure).

[hannah]

bueno chica, its settled. i am designating you my spanish practice penpal partner. yo tambien hablo pero soy taaaan perezosa que lo estoy perdiendo. did that make sense?? love the memes and hanks too. what a duo! sugar bugs...ugh, i think we have some of those. i wonder if it would be cheaper to fly to socal to have the work done? at least i could eat me some titos. mmmm...baby wants tacos....

[Snowbear]

So, c'mon tell us which show--pretty please?