It's Willem Dafoe's birthday today. I love Willem Dafoe. To be fair, I have an abiding affection for nearly all peculiar character actors, but Willem's firmly on a special level, reserved for people whose first appearance on-screen in any movie makes me point happily at the screen like an idiot and yell, "Hey! Hey…..you!"

You can put Buscemi in this club, too – you can tell I love him and consider him to be almost family by the fact that I refer to him affectionately by his last name, like we were buddies in high school or we worked together on a construction crew and bonded. "Hey, Buscemi!" I'd shout good-naturedly, cupping my hands around my mouth. "Get me a fucking stack of two-by-fours and a sledgehammer, you son of a bitch! We gotta finish this house!" And then he'd give me the finger and that weird, sneering smile of his.

They're both weird looking guys, who, as a weird-looking guy, I feel a bit of a kinship with. They're not movie stars, in the glitzy, pejorative sense of the term, who automatically seem distant and thus also a little bit like assholes – they're just dudes, who as far as I know might have just taken a wrong turn on their way to the heroin dealer and ended up on a movie set. Regular people.  I like that.  I am giddy when they've got a role.

The funny thing about Dafoe is that, although you'd put character actors as a group obviously lower than the proverbial megastars in the Hollywood hierarchy, I feel like his career is responsible for just as many, if not more, iconic, memorable moments as those of your Will Smiths or your Tom Cruises or whichever film hero you'd like to line up. For every Risky Business Underwear Slide or "I HAVE GOT TO GET ME ONE OF THESE," I see your bet and raise you things like:

THERE WAS A FIREFIIIIIIIIIIIGHT

The countdown is on, only two weeks until Olivia's 5th birthday! Although the countdown started for her a long time ago. I believe it was February to be exact, right after Valentine's day, that she began designing her invitations. "They are greeen," she told me excitedly. When her mother suggested focusing on making valentine's, Olivia politley declined. In the mind of child after Christmas the only other important holiday is indeed their birthday. December 26th the countdown begins.

I don't use the term "holiday" loosely either. At the 4th of July family BBQ Olivia asked everyone if they knew what the next holiday was. "ummm Labor day?" They asked.

"No, My birthday!" she gleefully exclaimed. What a true leo! She already thinks the world revolves around her so much that her birthday is a national holiday!

Then there came the personal invites in the form of a phone call.

"Avani, do you know that my birthday is coming?" She asked.

"Really?? When is your birthday Olivia?" I responded, pretending this was news to me.

"August 4th."

"Wow, how old are you going to be?" I asked, quizzing her.

"Five!" (Like duh, guess I have to come harder to stump her)

"Avani are you coming for my birthday???" She asked in that small cute childish voice that makes you wanna cut your ear off rather than say no. Sigh. How do you explain to your a four-year-old that due to a new job and major bridesmaid expenses and bachelorette parties that you have to throw, you simply cannot afford to go see her??? You don't. Instead, I thought I could take the grown up route and just blame it on work. Yeah, that's the ticket.

"I'm sorry Oli, I can't come I have to work" I said matter-of-factly

"Work? Well what do you do at work??????" She answered in a tone that denoted neck rolling. This of course really meant "what do you do at work all day that could possibly be more important than me and my birthday?"

"Well I write. I write all day at work" I was never embarrassed to say this out loud until this moment. I knew it didn't hold much weight. I instantly felt defeated, I was ready to go online atthis point and start looking up flights. But luckily she let me off the hook easily:

"Well that's ok if you can't come, I can take pictures for you on the camera and then next time I see you I can show them to you, except you have to come look at the computer cause we can't find the camera."

The camera has been lost he last month since they moved, but  I appreciated her art of compromise nonetheless. We can all take a lesson from that!

Here's Mason cleaning the beater.

Here's his cupcakes.

Here he's opening a gift.

Papa had to leave early and go to work.

I think everyone had a great time!

Yes, tomorrow, my Sarah will be 7 yrs. old. In a way, I've felt every minute of the last several years, while at the same time, it has gone by soooo very fast! (Yeah, I don't understand that either!) When I ponder these years with Sarah, I can't help but think back to that very first night...

Sarah was born at 4:01 p.m. on July 23rd, 2001. I remember being so excited to finally get some time alone with my new baby girl...just she and I and some quality bonding time. That night, sitting there holding my baby close, I was so inexplicably full of joy! I felt like I could just hold her forever. In fact, I didn't particularly like it when the nurses came to take her back to the nursery. They told me that I needed to get some rest, and they would bring her back to me in a couple of hours. However, it wasn't long before I was calling them back asking for Sarah. This went on all night...the nurses would come to take her, and before the allotted time was up, I was calling them again. I was just too excited to sleep (yes, I have learned since that night that sleep is very important and almost sacred! ) A while back I told Sarah about that first night, and she has asked me several times since to share it again.

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When I think of Sarah, I also can't help but think about the following saying: "A stranger is a friend you just haven't met yet!" You see, truly, I am not exaggerating when I state that Sarah makes a friend EVERYWHERE we go! In fact, a couple of the friends whom Kerry and I have made are really due to Sarah's friendliness with others! As a Christian, who believes that my family and I need to share the good news with others, I have also been surprised at what a witness Sarah is to people. (I remember thinking "How will I be able to share Christ with others, while I'm just here at home?") Well, Sarah talks to people at the grocery store, the park, the dollar store, the library, the pet shop, McDonald's, Burger King, etc., etc., etc. Without even trying to, Sarah just ends up sharing the Lord with people. She talks about the Lord and church, she invites people to church, she sings about God...

Sarah also just has a natural charisma and joy that she can't help but show. She truly cares deeply about other people. She can be quite empathic and understanding. Sarah is also quite honest with people, and she tells things "like it is."

I just love to watch how she draws others out of their shells. I'll see other kids acting very shy and timid, and at first are often very "taken aback" and overwhelmed by Sarah. However, usually, it isn't long before she manages to put other kids at ease and have them playing with her like they've known her forever!

I suppose it's definitely no secret that I dearly love and cherish my little girl. I admire her too...things that I see in her that I would love to develop in myself! Of course, I know I'm especially partial, and I don't mean to just be going on and on about my child. Sarah isn't perfect, but she is a wonderful blessing from the Lord, and I thank God for her and for both of my children.

__________________________________________

To my Sarah Beth I just want to say:

I love you soooo very much! Happy Birthday, Sarah Beth!!!

__________________________________________

I dedicate the following song to Sarah. This song is appropriately entitled Seven Years. Every time I hear this song, I picture Sarah. Even though she's not often alone (as the song mentions)...from time to time, she does go out in the backyard by herself. She is like our "Backyard Evangelist and Praise and Worship Leader!" Believe me, she serenades half the neighborhood, but not a single person has ever complained!

_________________________________________

"Seven Years"

By: Norah Jones

Spinning, laughing, dancing to
her favorite song
A little girl with nothing wrong
Is all alone

Eyes wide open
Always hoping for the sun
And she'll sing her song to anyone
that comes along

Fragile as a leaf in autumn
Just fallin' to the ground
Without a sound

Crooked little smile on her face
Tells a tale of grace
That's all her own

Spinning, laughing, dancing to her favorite song
A little girl with nothing wrong
And she's all alone

___________________________________________

**Please listen to the above song here.

I ask Justin many days am I a good mommy and he tells me that I am the best mom in the world. With all the mess I have to put up with from the world, his deadbeat dad and the court system, it's those words that remind me that it's all worth it, I am the best mom in the world. On the day that I am suppose to get my son a gift this is a continuous gift in my mind, I am the best mom in the world.....WOW!!!

Remember to keep your head up and love one another!

First up, it was steamboat dinner on Friday at Chuan Yi Pin (located across the road of Bugis Junction's Swensens) with zl, wy, jm, wj and Doug. I easily stuffed myself silly with all that free flow drinks and food items, guess we all did. Thank you guys for Friday evening!

Next, I met up with the Primary School Clique for dinner at Riverside Indonesian Restaurant (Clarke Quay) on Saturday! What started off as a slight drizzle quickly turned into a shower. Shifted our tables and chairs a fair bit into the sheltered area before we could finally settle down to place our orders. We placed orders for the non-spicy Charcoal BBQ Combi (that consisted of grilled squid, chicken thighs, fish and satay), Deep Fried Calamari, Crab Meat Goreng and Sambal Kang Kong. The food was not too bad, but what I really liked was the complimentary (were they?) baskets of keropok that they served before the dishes came. Just in case you might want to know bout the pricing, bill came up to around $20++ for each person (5 of us).

Over dinner, I was made the proud and happy owner of a TGM C-10 (as per sticker found in airhole) classical guitar (hehe, 12 frets, I never forget, siaos!) and 3 marker pens with coloured feathered caps. These pressies made me go dizzy with joy! I could hardly contain my excitment! The girls painstakingly coloured the feathers with markers before sticking them onto the caps, and they even covered the pens with black duct tape for a better grip. I can imagine myself happily using those pens for homework/diary-writing/marking, etc etc. Truly appreciate the efforts, babes! And the guitar, that's my new hubby! I love everything that you guys have planned and done, cheers to 10 years of friendship and more! Love you all!

On Sunday night, Doug had a very special surprise planned for me. He did a pretty good job from letting me find out what it was, I had such a hard time convincing him to give me clues (if he did, at all ha). Picked me up from home after I came back from skating, and we tried out the new GPS that his parents bought. Set our end destination to East Coast Park and the GPS did a rather good job!

Opened up the car boot and there were 2 big boxes and a mini gas stove wtf (lol.. I was really eager to find out what's cooking for dinner) in it. One for the evening, and the other contains my presents, he said. We carried the 2 boxes out and quickly found ourselves at an empty shelter by the beach.

Set up the mini stove, blocked the wind from putting out the flames, and he got down to work. He planned starters & appetisers, a main course, some white wine, and a dessert for our dinner. Got ingredients out from the big styrofoam box and in no time, I was chowing down Tuna Mayo Handwrapped in Lettuce and Home-Made Shuijiaos for appetisers.

In the meanwhile, he continued on with the cooking. He brought out a huge slab of Cod Fillet (which I later learnt was pre-marinated with butter and salt) and put it on the pan. Pan fried it for a couple of minutes before he brought it up and placed it on a plastic plate with brocolli and carrots on it. There we had it, our very own Pan-Fried Cod. Test test, and it was delicious! It was very simply and nicely done, slightly salted and succulent.

The next thing that he whipped out was 2 wine glasses and a bottle of chilled Chardonnay. What's next? The blur guy forgot to bring a wine opener and walked over to Sunset Bay to get it opened. *chuckles* Clinked glasses as we continued on with the yummy codfish. After the cod main, dessert prepared and served was Glutinous Rice Balls with Sesame Filling in Red Bean Sauce. We both agreed that the red bean sauce was a little too sweet.

Finished up those balls and it was time to take a look at the 'presents' box. There was quite a number of items in it, a giant card that opens up to look like it's giving me a big bear hug, pretty pink vase from Ikea (sans sunflowers), a clean & white looking sundress from Topshop, penguin-like water dispenser, giant orange calculator, (the book that I've always wanted to buy) Marley & Me and finally, a brown Braun Buffel cardholder that looks vaguely like the one I gave him on his day. We clinked glasses again before he wished me Happy 20th.

Sunday evening summed up? The entire surprise planned was awesome! Thank you baby, I know you put much effort into the planning/preparation for the night and I just want you to know that I appreciate and enjoyed every single bit of it. I know we've just gone through a rough patch together but I'm glad that things are now the way they should be. What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger, I can't agree more. Thank you for the love showered all this while, I feel like the luckiest girl around. Baby, ilu!

And finally, on the big day itself, Mum gave me, yf and Doug a treat at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant located on the 60th floor of UOB Plaza. Thought that the durian buffet at Cafe Vic would be good, but then I remembered YF doesn't eat durian, not a single bit. 60 dishes ala-carte dinner buffet, and we quickly placed our orders after scanning the menu briefly! Service was prompt and efficient, and the food was of the same standards from the previous visit. The buffet's supposed to be $38.50 per pax, but the total bill came up to $50++ per pax from all the drinks that we ordered ($5.50 for a coke nb). No more soft drinks at these expensive dining places, I'm sticking to iced water.

That basically summed up what I had for dinner for the past few days, doesn't it?

I am so glad that I have these friends around me all the time, thank you all for always being there for me. And to all the well-wishers who sent me sms-es (I didn't reply you guys but I still want you to that I appreciate the wishes), an email (aileng!), facebook messages (coach pekya and zz), thank you so much! I really hope it's going to be a great year ahead!

sidenote: I'm supposed to be off to Malaysia later in the day with Doug but I found out that I had some compulsory talks to attend to in school the same time. Am feeling extremely guilty right now for playing him out so last minute. Sorry baby! Will make it up to you soon yuh?

Yesterday was my husband's birthday. After dinner and way too many desserts, he opened his presents. He read a poem written by the kids, Hannah sang a silly song that she made up and then he opened his two Steelers tickets. They were from the kids with only minimal help from me. He was really surprised when he opened them and it took him a minute to realize what they were. I rarely see him speechless so I didn't want to let the moment pass:

Me: You're speechless, aren't you?
Rick: Yeah, totally. What a surprise.
Hannah: Yeah, dad, you weren't expecting that song were you?

Awesome.

Awesome, what luck! Dad knows we're coming and has found an event that meets ALL of our criteria.

It's close, it's entertaining, and it's free!

It's a library show!

Although they don't have clowns they DO have a mime and a magician. http://chelsea.lib.mi.us/summerfest08.htm

http://www.opusmime.com/

Grump's neighbor!

So we're set for Friday the 25th, Dad's birthday. Who wouldn't want a free show on their birthday?
And we needed to go to the library anyway so Orion could have a batch of books for naptime and night-night time stories.

I e-mailed these folks asking for an interview. They do therapeutic humor in Canada.
http://web2.uwindsor.ca/fools_for_health/

This gal is performing at the Windsor Fringe Fest
http://www.claroltheclown.com/CLaroL-the-CLown-homepage.html
http://www.windsorfringe.com/show-cirque-dzastor.php
but it's on Friday at 4pm... however, she's at the Windsor library on Monday/ Tuesday.

I'm especially interested in crossing the border into Canada so I will be a nationally and internationally recognized clown.

This gal is out of Kalamazoo

http://www.jestparty.com/

This is the guy out of Clio

http://www.freewebs.com/shoqtclown/

This gal is out of Holland
http://www.sonshinedclown.com/

I really like this guy's site, but I don't know if he's doing much clowning.
http://clowningbybuster.com/
and he's in Westland. I think he's spending more time with his Beatles tribute band.

http://www.thebackbeats.com/calendar2.html (on Friday the 1st in Farmington for FREE!),

I really DON'T like this site, but they're in Detroit. They'll be face-painting Sundays before the Tigers games. Yay, sports!
http://2clowns.com/

On the very last night our favorite band is playing in Ann Arbor as the LAST stop of their Unlimited Enthusiasm Tour.

Harry and the Potters will be at the Blind Pig! http://www.eskimolabs.com/hp/shows.htm

We will see them in Olympia tonight (Tuesday, July 22nd), so I suspect we'll have run out of steam by Tuesday the 5th... since our return flight leaves at 6 AM on the 6th!

please RSVP if you want to join us on any of these adventures or you have some of your own to suggest.

]]> http://asifyoucare.wordpress.com/?p=200 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:59:15 +0000 Lisa http://asifyoucare.wordpress.com/?p=200 Lane's fourth birthday was today.  I told her she could have whatever she wanted for dinner and she asked for chicken, corn, and rice.  The chicken and rice parts were supplied by our favorite Chinese restaurant, and the corn was supplied by Green Giant.  If she'd told me her dinner wishes before 7:00 p.m. and a day of swimming and spending Grandpa's money in Toys R Us then maybe we could have managed homemade.

Birthdays always make me introspective, and my kids' birthdays are no different.

I've spent a lot of time reflecting on the last four years with Lane, and how they have completely upended my life.  Don't read that as a complaint - it's not!  She's completely awesome.  Oh sure, she has times - and they are frequent - where I feel like my head could explode because she can be so.... sensitive, contrary, irritable, overbearing.... sometimes all at once.  But as much as she can make you wish you could run away from home sometimes, she is just as equally intense in her joie de vivre, her enthusiasm, her simple happiness.  She is overwhelming, she is exhausting, and she is incredible.  She is perfect.  I love her like crazy.

I added beads and sewed it up in a heart shape. I stuffed it with a little

Brandywine bayberry bought at Longwood Gardens. I don't have the package out, but I bought the fabric from Carol S. : )

Thanks for your comments. : )
My mouth is still sore, but much better.

Update-listed some cute, almost brand new high heel sandals and 4 quilting books (in a lot) on eBay today. The link is on the top right under Moonlitstitcher's eBay page.

What a weekend.

Well not the kind that you are all thinking of. LOL

It was a fairly productive weekend.

1.        I finished up my July birthdays with my son’s. RT turned 8 on Sunday. Both of my kids were fortunate enough to have me slave in the kitchen this week producing meals to feed the near and dear to us. I enjoy cooking and the accolades that come with serving…ribs so tender the meat falls off the bones…chili that starts off sweet and ends with a gentle kick. Nothing brings a smile like a good meal followed by a pelting of airsoft pellets (yes, I got my son some for his birthday…a real boys toy). Along with birthdays come…our immediate family members and the associated drama (which I’ll omit as we all have it).

2.       Boo stayed with us from Friday until this morning. This fine lady is my children’s maternal grandmother.  Yes, I can hear you now…He still associates and tolerates his ex-mother-in-law? Yes I do.  Matter of fact she helps me more than my own mother. This weekend she helped me hang my wall décor (This is a big deal seeing how I am a guy that has no earthly idea how to decorate. Now my house looks like we actually live there…a big improvement). She also is the one taking my kids off to her house for three days and nights...the only one who is willing to do this for me.  So I am thankful and willing to tolerate her subtle “improvements I can make for the children” comments…ugh.

3.       I managed to interact with Bella from across the street.  Bella is my VASM (very attractive single mom) who lives directly across from me and is of Italian descent. Bella has a smile that just does something for me.  Anyway…  Bella offered for LA to sleep over on Friday night with her girls as they were celebrating a b-day. I was like ok…and then offered to take one of her son’s to see Batman with my son and I. This interaction really sparked our kids. So much that one her daughters stayed at my house Saturday night while she went away with her girl friends.  So it all sounds good…right? Well the kicker is Bella has five kids. Ages from 3 to 13. She is a great mom and had many great attributes… So why does she have to be my neighbor? That should place her into the “just friends” bucket shouldn’t it? I am flirting with her and getting some response back… however no “spooning” as of yet. LOL. We are going to have some wine soon so we can chat without chaos. To which I look forward to…the eyes. OMG

So now here I sit about to leave work with three nights to myself…with nothing to do. No dates… No cuddling... Not even a good conversation to be had. Woe is me, right? Nah. I could have put some energy into it…however I am not in a rush at the moment. I am content.  I do yearn for that intimacy that QTmama describes in her blog. Yet, I am tired of energy wasted without reward.  Feelings of guilt left from empty sex. The reward to me is that one who gets me...and I am ready for that reward. Until then…I’ll just go to my sister’s house and let her cook for me. Then I'll go set it off at the gym. 

www.SeminoleFlorist.com

Mark your calendars!

This week is Make Someone Smile week!

Who do you know who in the most need of a smile this week?

• Family members
• Someone who is sick
• Residents at nursing homes
• Sick children
• Someone celebrating a special occasion
• Someone who works very hard for you?

I'm sure you can think of at least one person who needs a smile this week!

I am singing. Don't tell me you don't know Conway Twitty? For shame! Be still my Nashville-lovin' heart! Expose yourself people! No, I mean to different music. Oh gosh, not looking forward to the google hits I'll get off that one!

So, I have missed you guys! Yes, I am fine. Yes, the hand is fine. Still sore. Looks like I wacked a nerve pretty good, but all is well. So, what happened? Well, let's just say that if you are flinging, yes, flinging boxes under a curtain make sure you are fully aware where the support stud is and avoid it at all cost. Me, I had never heard that piece of advice so I wanted to enlighten you all so that you will not be in the same predicament as me! Thanks for all the get-well soon comments, messages, emails, and tweets. And a huge muchas gracias to my awesome friends and guest-bloggers. You guys rock!

So much has happened I don't even know where to begin. 

I thought I would tell you about how in the midst of not being able to have full function of my hand last week I:

• almost killed a certain mortgage broker who continues to want to get paid for doing no work whatsoever. No, I wouldn't have really killed him. Torture? Still considering it if he doesn't shape up! His secretary is in for it too if she doesn't return my emails ASAP. I realize I am now the customer who will not let them rest, but they did it to me with their lack of communication and their desire to take boatloads of our cash with no real customer service or work ethic.
• went to see The Dark Knight with Hubby, Rosy and B-Man and successfully cemented my admiration and undying love for Christian Bale. If Heath doesn't win an Oscar there will be a public mutiny.
• (almost) successfully helped throw a surprise superhero themed party for Rosy. We kept the secret from her up until the moment that she was brought to the party place and she saw Mae's car. I find this even more comical and ironic because Mae in her ultimate desire to plan the perfect party specifically covered incognito parking with all the guests, and it was her car that gave it away. 
• almost cried in church, no not due to injury, but due to this song. Have loved it for a long time, but the girl who sang it was so good.
• was so excited to learn that my friend Hilary has started a blog! Go welcome her to the blogosphere! She is and will be a great read!
• had this conversation with Hubby in preparation for Rosy's party, which is indeed worthy of note: