Day 130 - Happy Monday is not an Oxymoron

An oxymoron (plural oxymorons, or sometimes the Greek plural oxymora) (from Greek ὀξύμωρον, "sharp dull") is a figure of speech that combines normally contradictory terms. They appear in a variety of contexts, including inadvertent errors such as extremely average, deliberate puns like same difference, and literary oxymorons that have been crafted to reveal a paradox.
~Wikipedia~

****

Today we are shaking up the list a little. Below is a meme I enjoy reading (The Monday Minute) but have never participated in. Today, I start participating. The meme creator has dedicated his efforts to helping a devastated mother and a sick child. That seemed like reason enough for me to participate but add to that this lovely woman’s story, her stunning monkey, her use of the term Pixie (queue pulled heartstrings) and I simply HAD to participate. I ask you, my 18 stalkers, please visit this site and add your prayers to those of the others. If you are so inclined my soft hearted, squishy stalkers, read her story and when you’re finished being all weepy, grab her button. The reward for your trouble, besides confirming your squishy status and this spiffy button, you can have a little fun and fill out your first meme. Come on now....I know you wanna. (what is a meme? Click here.)

Thanks Mama-Face for turning me on to both these sites. I stole one of them off you some time ago :)








Monday Minute Meme
Today's Monkey Minute.


1 - How old do you act?
I act my age unfortunately, though I dress like I'm 20, write like I'm 12, and feel like I'm 80.

2 - As far back as you can remember, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A dolphin trainer. I'm a mom...same thing.

3 - If you were to write a book based on your life, what would the title be?
Um, A Life of Gratitude. Yeah, that...

4 - What's something that you do that's considered "childish" by most?
The list is very long so I'll do the top: 1) I chew my nails and pick my nose 2) I cry at Disney movies 3) I can throw a good 2 year old's temper tantrum. 4) I love to splash water 5) I'm a tease 

5 - The last question isn't a question. Write a story of a time of when you or someone you know overcame great adversity. My story is written and not worth telling again so I will direct you here and here. They are far more interesting and heroic than I.

****
 

Today I'm grateful for:

a happy Monday morning. Even given the fact I had a mammogram this morning.

biscotti. 110 calories and high speed internet access.

learning patience. It's a work in progress.

a good workout. My first since Friday Morning. I experience something very new for me last night. Restlessness. After 2 days of not working out my body needed to move. The man was amused and the hamster was freaked out. On a random side note and in the "odd things I think about when running sprints" I REALLY need to get a sports bra. Currently the puppies are flopping around like dead fish on a dock. If I don't get one SOON the puppies will become shar pei's minus the cute with double the droop.

the word mugwump. It's fun to say and it's fun to label yourself one and see all puzzled questions. I am a mugwump. I used to be a liberal but I'm recovering from the wounds nicely. However, I did lose my ability to see party lines. I think the affliction is permanent therefore I am a mugwump. Want my vote? Earn it.

no piles on Wilson. Do I dare to hope?

being someone’s favorite. It's not who you'd expect and that makes it all the more special.

life stories. We all have one, they are all different and they are all brilliantly beautiful. The older I get the smaller I feel. Some may think that a complaint but it's not. Feeling small means I'm less involved in my own life and more involved in life around me.

the absolute faith that God is the orchestrator of all life stories. He is the beginning, the middle and the end. Oh, and the visual of him in a tux & tails waiving a conductors baton with face radiating glory and long what hair whipping about as he moves. Hmmmm, wonder if my giggles mean I'm gonna get put in time out as soon as I cross heaves gate. Hey, I'm OK with that as long as the big guy lets me in.

Believe it or not, I took no mother's day photos

I will repeat one from last year

Classy no?

Tuesday Gratitude

OK, so the hamster the Pixie pulled out of the Alien hamster transporter last night was defective. It leaked. BIG TIME! I swear to you the Pixie walked him and he made a puddle and a pile. I got home and walked him and he "marked" at least 12 blades of grass and no sooner did I bring him in than he booby trapped the wood floor directly in front of my bedroom door. The man found it with his sock. Not 5 MINUTES LATER I'm feeding him dinner and the Pixie reports another puddle found on my dining room carpet. I feed him, walk him, he makes ANOTHER 12 puddles, I bring him in and he pees on my foyer floor while looking at me as if to say "What?" *mutters, sighs, whines* All told, from the time I got home to the time I shoved him back in the transporter he added 5 puddles and one pile to the landscape of my home flooring. I will say that at least this leaking alien hamster eats. Little bugger ate his weight in kibble last night. Guess my worries over his lack of appetite were unfounded. Good news about the leaking hamster, this one slept through the night and I didn't hear a Yip out of him.

What Mystery Date did we pull from the Alien Hamster Transporter this morning? *insert drum roll* The Good Boy Alien Freak Hamster. Seriously. I walked him this morning and he produced a several puddles and a pile in less than 5 minutes, sat at the door and waited for me to remove his leash, played like a good boy while I rode the stationary monster and was an all around good boy for the 2nd morning in a row. This morning he followed me into the bathroom when I went to take a shower. Normally he sits on the edge of the garden tub and tries to drink the water and not fall in. This morning however, he didn't. I showered not thinking anything of the missing voyeur until I pulled back the shower curtain. That's when I saw him. Taking his two front paws, shoving my underpants under him and humping away. My first reaction was to snatch them away and yell "Quit it you freak!". As I hurriedly dried my feet as to not end up a sliding heap on my bathroom floor a memory came back to me. The one where the BFF told me of her puppy Calvin eating a pair of her underpants WHOLE. Seriously, whole. No nibbles or chews but whole. Then yakking them up in a phlegm encrusted pile on her bedroom floor. At this memory all I could do was laugh. I reached down and rescued my underpants from further molestation and put them in the hamper. The hamster following me with a bark as if to say "Hey, I was playing with that!" At least the Alien Hamster Freak started my morning off with a good laugh. I needed it too after finding out I still weigh 192.2 for like a full week now. *sighs*

Today I'm grateful for:

Alien Hamster Freaks. They are always good for a laugh and at least don't leak.

my life. Last night my friend Natalie and I were talking about how good life is right now and 2nd chances. Seriously, I would not trade my life for any Supermodel, Actor or Rock Star. God has designed my life just for me. Once I got out of his way and started living the life I was intended to live, it blossomed. Screw the rock stars, they don't have a hot prince charming in chocolate brown, a Garden Pixie or an alien hamster. They got nothin on me. *makes an odd rock and roll hand gesture*

My little book. It seems destined to be ignored by Oprah but that's OK. My Kittens, my Mom, loved family members and random strangers are getting inspired and uplifted by it. That's enough for me. I think it's time to retire the query letter. Yes, I admit, I am giving up very easy but I'm content the way it turned out. It was never about getting famous or rich, it was always about the fulfillment of a promise.

Connor's health. I know, just KNOW with all my heart that he is going to be just fine. They will unblock his little heart and his Momma will get to hold him and love him and squeeze him and begin his journey to physiotherapy in health, safety and joy. I have faith enough for us all.

being a superhero. I love my job.

my warm bed on a cold night. If you add my mans snoring, you have sleepy time bliss.

the visual of Calvin yakking up a pair of Kelly's underpants on her bedroom floor. I'm sorry but that's funny right there. I don't care who you are. *snorts* I'm still giggling and it got the hamster out of trouble. The rule in my house is if you can get mom to laugh, it's a "get out of jail free" card. It works for hamsters too.

my yellow sharpie. I have not had it on my list for a while but it's never far from reach. With it I color the freaks happy, I coat my cape with Teflon, I turn housebreaking a new puppy into the Adventures of Roy the Alien Hamster, it turns mean ol’ cages into Alien Transport Devices, it makes snores into lullabies, it finds the beauty in grey skies, it makes inanimate objects into pets and so much more. My yellow sharpie is the magic infused in my life and I'm forever grateful for the gift of imagination that allowed me to find it.

my family & friends. They are the ink that fuels the yellow sharpie.

my man. Just cuz I wanna.

Who else do you know that gets to watch Pixies at Play?

My life rocks.

Monday Gratitude

Morning Ladies!

Thus far it's been a good day. Work is slow, specially for a Monday and the freaks are once again in hiding, the boss is going to be in court all afternoon, I started my work out & diet today, so over all, it's surprising what a good mood I'm in.

Today I'm grateful for:

growing baby bumps. Kelly indulges me and lets me rub hers. She's a good daughter. I miss the other baby bump but I'm grateful to hear my future grandspawn is doing well :)

house closings. Kent's house closed and now there are funds for the future spawn. Whoohooo!

Names. My girls are extraordinary at naming. Jackson, Reed, Connor, and Brutus. Great names girls!

successful photo editing. The light sensor on my good camera is going but for the night crawl Brutus worked brilliantly. Unfortunately, he's a dirty little bugger and deposited a ton of noise onto my images. It took me 1 full day + a little to clean up the bulk of the photos. I still have about 10 to do. All that aside, I managed to remove the noise and was left with images so extraordinary, I'm left wondering who took them.

Goal 1 complete. The stationary beast was mounted and ridden hard this morning.

goal 2 in progress. Thus far I have not cheated from the diet and I am not hungry.

goal 3. This one's gonna be tough. I need to squeeze in a palates work-out in before the BFF comes over for dinner and I have to manage to eat steamed salmon w/ veggies for dinner while feeding everyone else shrimp and rice. The man hates it when I eat different from the rest of the family.

the man. He's going to let me eat what I need to eat and feed him what he wants to eat. I have faith there will be no issue. He loves me and wants me happy.

Shank. Yes, the little bastard told me I now weigh 195.2 but I know I will NEVER, weigh this much again. I am reversing the trend NOW. Shank and I will get along from this day forward. He will give me good news or no news and I will not crush him with the man’s sledge hammer.

water. With water I can fake out my brain and make it think I'm full. Got to love self delusions.

God. He gave me an attitude adjustment in church yesterday and it's sticking.

knowing I can do it. No more whining. I'm owning it, I'm changing it.

waiting for Oprah to call. No, really, she will.

emailing my query letter to 10 agents. Let the rejection begin.

That's my list for today ladies. Nothing spectacular but it's all mine. Some are book worthy, others just are. Today's just is but still managed to make me happy and connected. Hope you two are having a great day.

Love you,
Me

Jacksonville, FL Night Skyline.

Have I mentioned how much I love my city?