A New Day

I felt like I should take a minute to post some brief thoughts about the other night's election. I'm feeling a bit patriotic at the moment, so pardon me for that. I think that we definitely live in some tumultuous times, and this country is in serious need of a change. Could Barack Obama be the answer we've been looking for? I'm really excited to find out. We've known for a few weeks that our dear republican party was going to get squashed in this election. I have been reading articles and researching debate topics in an effort to educate myself about Obama's stance on many important issues. He doesn't plan on doing things the way they've been done in the past, and the thought of change has made me nervous. But last night I found Obama's acceptance speech to be really inspiring. And how amazing is it that our country could finally put aside all the hatred we've felt in the past and elect our first African American president? This day is destined to go down in the history books!

Happy Halloween???

I have to say that I saw this cartoon and I first thought that it was SO funny. Then the reality set in, that its not funny, its sad and true. In fact I have been looking for a house here for my mother in law (who knows if she will actually come BUT at least I know that I have done my part) and most of the houses that I have seen are all short sales or foreclosures. Its not a random house its several on the same street. Not "that" neighborhood that you wouldn't drive down at night. Its the gated communities too! It's an epidemic here in Florida. I am sure elsewhere as well, but its not right!

At any point in time that could be anyone of us, so lets pray that in 2009, with a new president will bring us new hope, new economy and new opportunities!

-Peace!

Mean MOM

So it seams at this present moment that I am a Mean mom. Words that I thought I would never hear, hoped that I would never hear. I know parenting is hard, but the hardest part is not knowing if your doing a good job raising your child. You want to teach them right from wrong, good from bad and yet the irony is that you will NOT find out if you have done a good job until they are much older.

I promised that I would not hit my child, teaching her that I will not be a hypocrite. If I teach her not to hit anyone, how can I hit her. I teach that Karma is something to think about. For every wrong choice, comes a consequence. For every good choice comes something positive. Is this the right way to go? I honestly don't know. As I am writing this, my daughter is in timeout and cried herself to sleep!

I just have to believe in what I was taught as a child and hope that there is no timeline where those values become extinct.

Slick Willie

There are many things on my BUCKET list that I have yet to do, but yesterday I got to cross one thing off. "yeah me".

I picked Nicolette up at school, and off we went to Ft.Pierce, (for those who are not from Florida, Ft.Pierce is the next town up from me). It's not the nicest, or safest town for that matter, but this area is great. Many little shops and the Saturday's farmers market is always nice. But yesterday what calls us to go was none other than former President "William Jefferson Clinton". Did i say "yeah me"

He was speaking at a rally for the Florida Democrat's, and we gladly stood in 90 degree weather waiting to get a chance to see him. Nicolette and I got there at noon. Packed a picnic lunch and bathing suits and planted ourselves in line and had a blast. Bill, as I like to call him, wasn't to speak until 2:45 so we had a lot of time to relax and eat.

The crowds started building and at one point I looked behind me at the line and there had to be several hundred people behind us. When they opened the gates, we headed in and we were in the second row!!!! How fantastic this was. Truly something so insignificant to some, but so memorable for me.

One last time " Yeah Me "

Tea for Two

What a beautiful way to spend the day. My daughter Nicolette invited her friend Megan over for a tea party. It makes me wonder... Did I have tea parties at 4? I know that I love tea, but at 4 did I?

Anyways, while going to visit CC and Arthur in Vero the other day, Nana and I HAD to check out the new boutique in Vero, and low and behold I found the cutest tea cups and saucers for the "tea party". My only wish was that there were more, as they only had a set for 2.

As Nicolette and her friend giggled and chatted, tears swelled in my eyes as Nicolette proclaimed to me that " this was the best tea party ever". Hearing this makes you think that you did something right in a world that everything seems to be going wrong.

It wasnt about the newest WII game, or going to the movies. It wasnt about spending that day watching TV, it was just two girls having fun drinking tea, being silly little girls and this Mom couldnt be happier!

Vero Saloon

I see spurs a jingle jangle jingle. Here at the ole Vero Saloon, you have Deputy Arthur and his sidekick Nicolette, trying to keep one good eye on the folk of Vero beach. I hear that they have a reward for two wanted women "Annie O" and her sister "CC Keating", two of the most feared criminal masterminds this side of Okeechobee!

Don't try to be hero's. If you see these two, remember "keep your cards in your hands. Don't put down, so they can't build off of you". (private private joke).

Oh, Arthur let me ask you this............ and this, and this... wink, wink

The Lawn Crew

My daughter is much like her dad and so little like me, but I wouldn't change a thing. She has the cutest things that she likes to do. She can be such a girly girl at times and then equally a tomboy too. This I admit is like me. I love perfume, champagne mimosa's and all things pink, but give me a pair of gap jeans, baseball hat and wife beater t-shirt and I am just as happy.

So, when Nick is doing his "handy man" things like installing a new screen for the sun room she is there ready with her "tools". When Nick is cleaning out his truck or going to the shop she is ready and waiting for him before he can ask her to go. And when he cuts our lawn, she loves, I mean loves to go on the machine with him and help out.

Since I think this is so cute, and will no doubt be used as blackmail when she is 16, I decided to share with all of you!

Peace-

Claudette

A wonderful end to a difficult day

I came home tonight from taking Nicolette to karate, for her belt testing. To see if she learned her "dragon form" cata. She passed and she know will be a gold belt. So excited about her accomplishment! Anyways, I come home after this difficult day and walk into my kitchen and found these flowers. I, having no clue why they were there asked Nick "who's flowers are these" and he said so warmly "these flowers are for you, to remember your friends the right way".

I can't tell you how much that this meant to me. It's not that I haven't had flowers given to me from Nick before, because I have. But for some reason today, these flowers meant the world to me!

So, thank you Nick for your act of kindness and thoughtfulness.

Patriot Day

I woke up this morning knowing what day it was. Hoping this year would be a little easier, but it's not. You can not turn on the radio with out hearing people describe what they saw or heard on this day. You can't turn on the TV without seeing the towers on fire, or collapsing. It's not fair.

I am all about remembering today, and the people that were victims, but can we do that with out being morbid. I know what I saw, I know what I heard and I know what my friends who were in the building said to me before they died. To think about that is hard enough never mind seeing the towers on every television channel. That does not help us remember, it just makes us sad knowing what they were going threw for their last minutes on earth.

I guess everyone grieves in there own way. Today, and every year on this day I think about my friends and I tell myself a funny story about each of them and it brings a smile to my face, even if it only last for a moment, but I know that they would want me to be smiling for them!

Rest in Peace my friends, rest in peace.

Just being "Corny"

We have this on going joke regarding Corn Dogs with our Friend Ms. Mary or as she would call them KERN DAWGS.

While we (Nana, me, Nicolette) were driving the other day what do we see but the Giant Corn dog. So me being me, I turn around and start yelling to the dog and ask if we can snap a picture. All the while I have almost peed my pants laughing.

I guess if we can't take time out to be silly, why bother living! Laughing is the best feeling ever!

- Peace

Claudette

The Wonderful life of Dieting

A Beautiful Friday night, the first day in 2 weeks that it had not rained. We (Nicolette & I ) decided to go to the much anticipated car show. Because of Karate and bad weather its been so long since we have been.

At the car show I got a lot of complements on my recent weight loss, so that made me feel great. On the other hand, Nana, myself and Nicolette went to Lorenzo's Pizzeria for dinner. I, thinking that I could handle myself (still wasn't eating solid food) with the ever so enticing aroma of one of my favorite things PIZZA! Did you hear me, I said Pizza. With this being said, I have attached a photo of myself at Lorenzo's.


I must say, that although I would have sold my soul to the man with the horns and pitch fork (aka the Devil himself) if given the chance but luckily chance was on my side.
Common Excuses for Breaking your diet

But the doughnut was calling my name.

But it was my birthday, so I had to eat the whole cake.

I had to get the bitter taste out of my mouth from eating the so-called dish, so I had an ice cream.

If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.

If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are canceled out by the diet soda.

If you fatten up everyone else around you, then you look thinner.

Cookie pieces contain no fat -- the process of breaking causes fat leakage.

Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of preparing something. Examples are peanut butter on a knife making a sandwich and ice cream on a spoon making a sundae.

Only eat things that have been broken into pieces; that way, all the calories fall out.

Chocolate is a vegetable. How, you ask? Chocolate is derived from cacao beans. Bean = vegetable. Sugar is derived from either sugar CANE or sugar BEETS. Both are plants, which places them in the vegetable category. Thus, chocolate is a vegetable.

Bearly survived Alaska

My folks are back from Alaska, and had a great time. Now they are planning the new trip/adventure to the Panama Canal. They don't leave until April, and I fear that it will take the Nana that long to get ready for it.

School is back in session today, after only attending one day last week. Hopefully all goes well, thus far it has so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Nothing else all that exciting to write about. Its been kinda quiet, ohhh I haven't had coffee in something like 25 days, I also have lost about 22 lbs. (No, not from the coffee). As you know I have (again) stopped eating meat. I think its been like a year and a half., but not sure. I have been eating mostly organic and just trying real hard to fix my ridiculous stomach, so that maybe, just maybe one day I can go back to eating some of my favorite foods.

Short list of things that I would love to eat:

POP CORN
Pistachios
Tomatoes with the seeds
Cucumbers with the seeds
Cashews
strawberries
Kiwi's

I think that's enough, it's making me hungry. At the present time, I am not eating much of anything to do my "master cleanse" to get my stomach in shape. I will let you know the final outcome, when it happens!!

Ciao

Fay Fay go away

This tropical storm was a pain in the butt. The winds weren't that bad, but the flooding was! We had a river in the front of our house. There were people canoeing by. All is well, we survived, but no school again today. Thus far the kids have already missed two days of school and this is our first week!

Let's hope that this is the last of it.

MODERN TECHNOLOGY!

I am back..... Computer was down and out again. It seems like a month, but its only been a week. Lots to talk about. The Nana and pop pop are back. They had a great time, and now are planning a new trip to the Panama Canal (shameful plug coming) SO if anyone is interested in tagging along let me know. They will be sailing from Ft.Lauderdale thru the Canal and into San fran on April 26th.

ok, back to me. Nicolette starts school on Monday, so excited for her, and so sad for me. It's only Pre-k so its only from 8:30 till 11:30 that's not too bad.

We went to open house today and she had a great time. They have an indoor jungle-train and waterfall, tree house and all kinds of great things for the lil peanuts to play with. How come they didn't have this stuff when we were kids?

Well, another storm is rolling in so before my computer dies again, or I get struck by some electric shock, I am shutting down.

Peace

-Zila

Forgive me Nana for I have sinned.

It has been approximately 22 years since my last confession.

OK, so here i am driving to your house to collect the mail and check on the house (we had another bad storm come through town) etc. I am en route when the next thing I know, I am at the window of our beloved Dunkin Donuts. Without even thinking I blurt out "medium carmel iced coffee, cream , 2 sugar". I wondered how I even got there. It was all a blur. The car was on autopilot I surmised.

Then, as I hold the chilled container that holds what I can only describe as liquid gold, I take a long sip (much like a smoker that takes that beloved drag of a cigarette) that seems to last forever. Then it hits me, the familiar friend that I have been missing. I am ecstatic. But as quickly as that feeling hits me it is gone equally as fast.

Good bye feeling good, HELLO guilt. How could I have gone without you? How could I knowing that you were feeling the same emptiness. Each day on board the cruise ship, having to settle for something less than perfection? I am ashamed.

Well, I was ashamed until I took another sip!! Then all over again, that warm and fuzzy feeling of content that only dunkin's coffee could give.

The cycle continues, the guilt with pleasure after every sip. Now for the first time I truly understand that saying "Guilty Pleasure".

So Nana, what do you say a few Hail Mary's and we're good?

PS. Is there a local chapter of D.A. (dunkin's anonymous) in Port Saint Lucie?
oxoxoxox

A long week

It's been one week since I have had the pleasure of going to Dunkin Donuts. Although my wallet thanks me, my mouth does not. I have been dying to get my hands on a Medium Regular cup of Coffee...If and when I start getting the shakes (much like a junkie needed his/her fix) then I might consider going, but knowing that Nana has no Dunkin's in Alaska I will feel rather guilty going.

Out with the old!

There are 16 more days left until the first day of school. I guess Florida starts a little earlier than most states. I guess it's because of the heat, but I am not 100% sure. So, today we spent the whole day going through Nicolette's clothes and taking inventory of what is needed.

Conclusion- She needs SOCKS.

Yup, I have been slowly accumulating clothes here and there, somewhat like a squirrel gathering nuts for the winter. And to my pleasant surprise we only need some socks. :)

I did manage to take away 2 large garbage bags of clothes to send to the goodwill, and her closet actually looks organized. For how long will it stay that way, Who knows. But for now, I can't help but smile at the progress we made today.

PS. the Nana countdown is 7 days and counting

"ALL" Aboard, except the parents

A conversation that I have had a few times with different people from time to time, is the subject of children flying without parents. The other day when I was at the airport with my folks, there were 12 children traveling to Seattle alone. Some might have had siblings, but no adult and certainly no parent.

I am not sure why this bothers me so much, but it does. I just can't imagine placing my child on a plane alone to visit a grandparent or whomever, knowing the history of the airline industry. Cancelled flights, delays, emergency landings, etc.

I have a hard time with all of these scenarios, let alone a child. I think of all of the "what if's" and I get that sick feeling in my belly.

So, that leads me to another point, or apology.

My sister got invited to a party in Maine for her best friend. I said that she should go, and that I would watch the kids, she could just go overnight and come home. She politly passed on the offer, and OF COURSE what did I do... Continued with MY reasons why she should go, not paying attention to the underlying reason why she didnt want to.

She didnt want to travel without them incase something happened. I know only to well this feeling as I last year was to travel for my job to St.Paul, and had a panic attack while boarding the plane, and couldnt get on. Needless to say, I never made it to St.Paul and lost my job. BUT I did make it home safe, and that was the most important thing to me. So, I get that 100%, and as i said before I am trying to "talk less and listen more".

So, knowing two parents who dont want to travel without their kids, how is it that many can and do?

I would love to hear the otherside of this conversation to get a better perspecitve, maybe I am missing something.

The Silent Treatment

I find it amusing that at this age, I am still subject to the ever so deadly "silent treatment". Do i deserve the treatment? Perhaps. But I actually don't see the point. As if I really mind the peace and quiet! Ha. It's been several days and my husband has decided that I am not worthly of his words! Double HA HA.

However, last night he needed someone to pick him up... So who did he call... YUP, he actually had to put his tail between his legs and call ME.. HA HA HA.

So, I did what any good wife would do... GLOAT.

Hardy Har Har Har.

Lost & Found

No need to worry. I guess in Alaska things are a little slower than here. The folks were at the Hotel, but I guess it wasn't in the system yet. SO, they have been found!

A few gray hairs later, but they are found!

Sending out an S.O.S

Poof and they are gone.

After I successfully dropped my folks off at the Orlando Intl Airport last night for there "Great Alaskan Adventure" they have manage to have quiet the adventure already.

Cancelled flights, missed connections because of bad weather, and now for the last 4 hours I HAVE NO IDEA where they are.

Apparently they managed to get to Fairbanks, (several flights later)but have not checked into the hotel, which is all of 10 minutes from the airport!

The great Houdini could learn a little something from this disappearance act.

I will keep you posted!

Northern Lights in Port Saint Lucie Florida?

You know that feeling when something is calling you to do something? Driving you to get up and go for some reason? Well, about 5 minutes ago, hearing some normal afternoon thunderstorms I was Beckoned outside.

To my Delight this is what was calling me....






Now, believe this or not my mom and I were talking about wether or not she was going to see the Northern Lights while in Alaska, and I mentioned that was one thing that I wanted to see, to experience being that close to what some might call "heaven".

Seperation Anxiety

I wake up this morning and realize that tomorrow around this time, I will be taking my folks to the Orlando Intl Airport for the beginning of their Alaskan Adventure.

I am both excited and sad. Not for reasons of Jealousy that I am not going, more like what am I going to do without you know who... The NANA. I have made a list of all the things that we (Nicolette & I )are not going to do without her.

1. Go to our favorite spots

a. Dunkin Donuts
b. Any boutique this side of Florida
c. Wal-Mart
d. Publix ( apparently we are not eating while she is away )

2. Do our Favorite things

a. go to the movies
b. go to Breakfast with the Blue hair Ladies
c. go to beach
d. go to sprinkler park

I guess Nicolette and I are just going to sit home and just be pool potatoes!!!!

Nana, for the love of Mary GET HOME QUICK!

Plastic Surgery Pro or Con?

I say...... drum rolls please..... C'mon, anyone who knows me well enough can figure this one out. I am Pro.

Let me explain why.

OK, I had my first and only child to date at age 34. That means whatever elasticity that would have, should have been in my skin moved out long ago. Hence, the sagging skin on my belly that slightly resembles the flap under your front door, (the one that is used to keep out drafts). You know it moves with you and against you at the same time. An ugly site on both the door and myself.

Also, I have stretch marks that are wider than the grand canyon and lets not kid anyone here, what am i suppose to do with them? Can't bring them in for "show and tell". So i say "Gone with them". Slap some happy gas mask on me, knock me out and make me come out looking like I was 18. Well, MAYBE not 18, but you get my point.

So, here we have it...confirmation of sorts that I am vain!

Yup. Won't spend $25.00 on a new dress for myself, but will save all my pennies to be on an episode of Nip/Tuck.

Let's hope my doctor is just as hot as Julian McMahon.

I am in the KNEED of a Knew KNEE!

OK, OK, call me what I am.... a GIMP. The other day I was on the bed, and zigged when I should have zagged and twisted my (already BAD) knee so much that you actually heard a loud POP.

As tears swelled up in my eyes, I tried to suck them back in as to attempt to be brave for Nicolette as she was looking as scared as if she saw a ghost. I did manage to squeak out "Mom's ok hunny, just moved the wrong way", and ever so slowly limped out of that room, to another and let those tears jump out from my eyes on to the floor.

Now, several days and advil later, the pain is still there, especially when I manage to move just the right way and send this unbelievable JOLT of pain up my leg and to my back. I guess I will attempt the holistic approach a little longer before I put my tail between my legs and go to the Doctor who will undoubtedly give me a handful of drugs and push me out the door and lure his next victim in!

If there are any mystical forces that happen to find my blog, please, please , please send something my way!

V for Validation!

So, today was an ironic one. Earlier this morning my mom, AKA "The Nana" was talking to me about my blog. She said that she liked it, but thought that it would be better for me not to say "fuck" or "the F word" is how she explained it on my blog. I, chuckled and kindly responded "well ummmm... Yes, its there and is going to stay there. That's the whole point of my blog. To have the freedom to write what I am thinking, and not sugar coat it".

I tried to explain that point, and I hope that I did so with regard to her feelings. Of course you want to be able to express yourself, but also do not have to be rude getting your point of cross. So, Nana I hope that I didn't hurt your feelings when I was explaining why I was going to keep being Me.

So, the irony here is that I got an email from a reader (that will remain anonymous, for the sole reason that I think if she wanted her comments to be know then she would have posted on the blog. So, to give her privacy I will leave her name out) that appreciated how I wrote my blog. The honesty behind it, the fact that I was for real, AND liked that I was able to say Fuck... because that is how when all of our guards are down, we as a nation can get our point across.


So, I have been validated! I can be me, and people get it. I, am happy!

Thank you!

Dark Cloud

Caylee Marie Anthony..

I don't read the newspaper, or watch the news for many reasons, but mainly because it's never is GOOD news, its always something that I would rather not see. Case in point. As I am getting online, I see this story from here in Florida, one of what seems like many these days and I am saddened beyond belief.

How can a mother not report her 2 year old daughter missing? Obviously she has something to hide. How can she sleep at night? How could she lie about her daughter being at friends?
I can't ever understand how someone can hurt children, their own child. I know that animals, savage animals can harm their offspring, but Humans? Every ounce of us is suppose to protect our own, protect them with our own lives if need be. Then we read about these Mothers or Fathers who do these things and have no remorse. What is wrong with them.

When you choose, and yes CHOOSE to be a parent your suppose to love, and live for your children. If not then don't have any. Children don't choose to be born, remember that. If you can't be that parent, the one that puts everyone, and everything second and your child(ren) first, then don't have any. It's not suppose to be this way. How many more children have to go missing, or are going to be harmed by their parents?

Look at this child, how can her mother have something to do with her dissapearance? This beautiful girl could be with her grandparents that love her, but no. Her mother chose otherwise.

Although, at this point I think its hopeless, I am hoping that some miracle happens, and she is found safe!


The full story is below, just click the link.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,386576,00.html

Karate Kid part 12

Tonight my little peanut got her first stripe on her white belt. Its very cute to see her in all her glory doing her "dragon form" for Sempi Brian. She might fall now and then trying to perfect the side kick, but she gets back up again and tries her little heart out.

I have to give kudos when do, and she has a bunch of gusto in her 3 ft frame.

So, tonight I sit and watch in amazement at her accomplishment that might seem slight to some, however it means the world to her (proud) Mom.

I love you Nicolette!

Claudzila + PMS = RUN FOR YOUR LIVES

Ok, Ok. Could it possibly be that bad? HELLLOOOOOOOO, if you know me that answer is real simple. Yes, Yes, OH mother Mary yes.

It's funny, because you don't mean to snap, yell, cry whatever, it just happens. The moment that its over you feel like the biggest ass there is. I, normally try to be quiet when I get my period, because I know that on a normal day I am sometimes a bit much, so Claudzila hormonal, OMG there is no help.

But sometimes, its unforeseeable, and unpredictable so I apologize in advance for myself.

Lets hope that menopause is better! Everyone, please pray that it is, or god help you all!

-Claudzila

It's a boy!!!!

We adopted a SOLDIER.. I know I fooled some of you on that one.

After sending letters through varies caveats, such as Cracker Barrel, car shows etc. I found out you can adopt your own soldier(s) and make a difference directly.

I will be sending letters, food, games, dvd, toiletries and a whole host of things if anyone wants to help out great. You can email me and I will tell you how to donate or just send the stuff to me and I will send for you.

I am also donating my photography services to any families of soldiers that are currently serving over sea's (that are in my area of Treasure Coast Florida). It would be my honor to take family portraits for free, So email me if interested!

Remember, FREEDOM ISN'T Free, you must thank a soldier for that!

TRUST NO ONE, EXEPT FAMILY

That's all I want to waste my time saying on that subject!

(i am catching up on 2 weeks worth of Bullshit that ya'all have missed)

The Computer Age

So, I was one of those people who said, " I will never rely on Technology". I vowed I wouldn't need a computer, a cell phone, ipod and portable DVD players.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE WRONG.

I have had no computer for 2 weeks, and I think I might have actually had a slight breakdown.
I could not communicate with people, could not check my daily celebrity gossip fix on TMZ and People.com. I, for once was out of the loop on the fact that "Nicole are you really even pregnant Kidman's" childbirth happened like 4 days ago. 4 DAYS AGO. How could this be? I was desperate for something, so like a crack addict, once I got to my sister's house in Orlando, I sat down, fingers shaking with withdrawal and type in my words,

www.gmail.com AHHHHHHHHHHHH back to normalcy.

That should answer some peeps questions, "where have you been" and my answer as subtle as always " I have been in hell".

Florida's first people.....

Ok, I have a serious problem here.. I am actually shaking as I write this. I called the Nana and had to hang up the phone because I realized I was WAY to upset to talk about it......

So, what Has me so enraged????? Take a look at the banner on the boat, it says "Hispanics Discovered Florida".. Ponder this thought, how can you "discover" a place that is already populated by a thriving culture? Many tribes of Indigenous people who had lived for centuries CONTENT in their culture, but of course the arrival of the "European" explorers would bring changes that would irreparably damage their lives! Diseases brought by these strangers decimated the unsuspecting Natives, the banner doesn't say that.... DOES IT, Nope....

We have taken just about everything possible from the Native Americans, and now we are writing them off? Erasing them from history, to sell some car plates, I DO NOT THINK SO.

I, am protesting this completely! IT FUCKING WRONG, every bit of it. Hispanics did come here, no denying it, look around, you can't. BUT YOU WERE NOT HERE FIRST, and if you did discover FLORIDA, why are we speaking English as a primary language?

Tomorrow is "D" day

So, some of you know, and other's do not. My niece Alexandra has been quiet ill. We know some of the problem, but not the underlying cause(s).

She has been on (and off) some medications for the last 4 weeks. What the Dr. was thinking is that we know what is going on, but lets try the least evasion, most common cure for that problem FIRST and then get into the other, more evasive shit.

Well, tomorrow she goes in to tell him that the medication has not work, and therefore I have labeled tomorrow as "D" day. Solely because we don't know what happens next, and I have to admit I am going crazy wondering what is going to happen next. My mind is racing in all kinds of directions, and then I think :

1. I am not the patient, nor the parent for Christ's sake...

2. GET OFF THE INTERNET and stop drying to investigate the "causes"

3. Are you making it worse by constantly asking "how was the test today..."

4. SHE IS ONLY 15

Then, I calm myself down, and say that I have all the confidence in Lexi's (nickname) Dr. He is the CHIEF pediatric Nephrologist in the area, so other than Dr. House he is the man we want on our team.

I will learn something by 2-ish, so I will be sitting by the phone and I will let all my dedicated readers (all 2 of you) know as soon as I do.

Also, please try thinking that "positive postulates can work miracles" because we really need one!

the GREEN MONSTER

So, my daughter is a self proclaimed tree hugger. Yes, at four years old, and NO it doesn't come from me. For example I am told on a regular basis the following rules per my daughter.

1. do not pollute, EVER (not even gum, MOM)
2. do not smoke it kills mother earth and your lungs
3. Do not flush when you pee, only poop (if its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down)
4. When brushing your teeth you do not need to run the water, MOM!
5. Turn off all the lights when not using them, MOM
6. Pick up all the trash (not just ours) at the beach

Gee, i think that's pretty much it, but I am sure I am missing something. Oh yeah, duh Recycle!

I actually love the idea that at her age she is very aware of her environment, immediate and global. However, when we are in public and she is yelling at the lady outside the store for smoking, I have to politely remind her that some people just do not care as much as she does, and although I think what she is doing is wonderful, some might find it a bit intrusive.

So, we are working on a fine medium so we are all happy and living peacefully together (cue in some 60's hippies music).....

Going Ghetto!

So, I spent the day with my friend and her kids, helping her move into her lovely new house! Then, I get home only to find that I have nothing in the fridge........After a search and discovery mission, I manage to find the following ingredients.


1 can organic diced tomatoes
1 pint organic mushrooms
1/2 bag baby spinach (organic)
fresh garlic ( i some how always manage to have this in the fridge)
1 box lasagna noodles
red pepper flakes


you see where this is going.... I manage to make a very tasty, edible meal from this, however it was totally ghetto. I took the lasagna noodles and broke them down to pieces like you would be making a Mosaic tile masterpiece, No two pieces the same.

I think that I will name this dish, Mosaic Madness....

My Lil Chef Nicolette helped out a lot. She said she needs more spinach for her Karate lessons tomorrow night. She is so funny to watch in class. They have the kids doing push ups, and all kinds of things, so she is running around the house everyday practicing. I will post some pictures when I sneak my camera in the studio.

Ciao for now,

Chef Claudette & Lil Chef Nicolette

Sundays=REST

Today= woke up, cleaned closet, ate sushi, cleaned kitchen, made dinner, now bath and bed. I hope that tomorrow deems more productive for anyone who actually reads my less than stellar blog.

Man vs Woman-Equal or not....

I think that its a fair question, but I think that the answer is very subjective... There are many factors in that equation. (High-school Calculus nightmare's come to mind....)

If, I were asked about my life, and would Nick and I be considered equal I would say "No" we are not equal because I feel Physically he works harder than I do, but I do more in other area's of the life.. So one can argue the point that realistically we will never be equal. The trick however is to be a "whole" together.

Is it possible, well I don't know. I know the notion sounds wonderful, that we all can except each others strengths and weaknesses, but human nature isn't as compassionate. We as a human race are more of search and destroyers than planners and builders. So, all this less than physically equal girl can do is wait and see what happens next.

SUMMER Colds Suck

How is it even possible to get one? Well, my mom had "the sniffles" the other day, but insisted that she wasn't sick........ I am going to try to paint a picture of how she looked when we saw her the other day.... HER NOSE was as red as these words, but still insisted that she wasn't sick.


Here's the nana, relaxing at the park, she didnt want to walk the boardwalk, because she wanted to save that prime bench location, not that she was too sick to go.... I LOVE U NANA!!!

I don't care much anyways, we are hardly sick with colds in this family. So a sniffle now and then is ok. But I have a whole host of ailments, the most annoying is that I can not eat meat...... I know its better that way, better for my body, especially since my dad had colon cancer and I am at a higher risk of getting it........ but my GOD, a filet cooked perfectly is HEAVEN..... So, I guess for now, i will have to rely on my fond memories of me and my meat.... OMG, that sounds gross, but I am not going to edit it because it was how I was feeling at the moment, and I am not going to be one of those people who have to make sense all the fucking time.

Summer is here...... Let the madness begin

So, here it is. Children are out of school for the FIRST official day, and what do I do? Go to all the places that ALL these children with pent up energy go..... But I am not complaining because of course, I have the most well behaved child on earth.

We first go to the library because it is Thursday and it is story day. I, expecting a zillions children was ever so disappointed when (again, this is the first day of "no school"), My brilliant, eager to learn child was the only one there. NO SHIT... We had to wait for 15 minutes for 2 other children that weren't even there for story time to start. But it was fantastic.... My daughter (Nicolette) some time ago, (she is 4, so it cant be all that long ago) decided that she is going to be both an animal and a human doctor. So, with this in mind of course we had to find books on the Human body etc.

I, excited at the notion that My daughter was going to be a DR., was soon taken back to reality when my daughter began to say " mom, is this the boy's JOHNSON?" yeah, at that point i thought, does she really want to be a doctor or is she that clever that she knows this book would have that picture.... OH, by the way, it wasn't a Johnson, and there is no naked pictures, she, as I have mentioned is brilliant and has found a way to PUNK me....

So, after this we grabbed a pick-a-nic (as my mom "the Nana"* calls it) at SUBWAY and went to the water sprinkler park at Jensen beach. However, this time there were all those crazy kids that I thought would be there, and to be honest only one child out of a zillion were annoying to both myself and the Nana.

Later that evening while Nicolette and I sat and had dinner, she said that today was the BEST day, and then started with her unusual questions ( i have to list a few because again at 4 who asks these questions).

1. So mom, What is it like to be a grown up
2. What was it like to have me in your belly
3. When Am I going to have babies

Then, as soon as these "grown up" conversations start they end with her putting on her favorite blue high heel shoes and pretending to be singing on "American Igol" (no spelling error she says it that way)

Now, we are getting ready for bed, and she is picking out her bedtime tea. Bedtime tea! Does anyone else thing that I am living in a some what Twilight Zone?

Other people's blogs

I will promise you this, if you post a comment on my blog I will post it. Even if it is a negative one, I will put it on for everyone to see. Why am I telling you this? well, someone that I know, has a post and I said something that apparently hit home, because of course it was NOT POSTED.

I don't get people like that...whats the point? I guess some subjects are off limits... UHHH then why do you post them?