Confession: I Love the Soaps

Yeah, it’s true. I have been watching All My Children since I was twelve. Before any of you (and there are many of you out there) get excited and think you can “talk” to me about the soap, don’t. I am six weeks behind. I have six weeks of video tapes to watch. My mother never watched soap operas. I got hooked on All My Children when my parent went out of town for a week and left us with an ABC soaps fan. She watched All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital every day. I sat next to her mesmerized. Affairs, sex, alcohol, money, comas, amnesia, I loved it all! I was hooked!

In high school, as a junior and a senior, I arranged for early release so I could get home in time to catch the last 45 min of General Hospital. Luke and Laura were hot in those days. Everyone was watching. In college, I would watch in my room on my tiny black and white, but I preferred to watch in the student union, on the big color t.v. with the other fans at my school, mostly African Americans. All My Children actually had people of color, including Hispanics and Blacks. One Life to Live had one Jewish person. Other than that, there is just not a lot of diversity in the soap opera world. Anyway, the student union was my favorite place to watch because these fans were always talking and shouting to each other and the t.v. “Don’t kiss her! You know you’re going to get caught!” “He had her mom and her daughter? That’s not cool!” It was so much fun! When I went to England for a semester, I missed four months of my soap. No matter, the beauty of the soap is that you can pick it up again anytime and it will soon be as if you never left!

I never watch them with the kids. First of all, they are too young. Second, I really don’t want them to have this silly addiction. Typically, I watch them while the kids are in school/camp and I’m folding laundry, or trying to declutter. I watch them while I read the paper. I even watch them when I check my email. I will also catch up on them while Gadget Man watches a horror movie in the other room. He’s embarrassed for me. Frankly, I don’t reveal my soap-watching habit to just anyone. After all, they are pretty trashy. But hey, it is no more trashy than many popular prime time shows out there like Desperate Housewives, for example. Anyway, I’m back on the elliptical in the basement now, because it’s gotten too dark at 5 a.m. to walk outside (Yes, I get up at 5 a.m. to work out, when I work out that is!). I’ll catch up and exercise at the same time.

The Banana Splits are Back! A Team Mom Review

The Original Banana Splits

Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la la la la la la. OY! The Banana Splits are back! As a Team Mom reviewer, I was asked to take a look at their new website and brand new songs. Because you are reading this, you can get a sneak preview of them and take your own trip down memory lane at this website: www.bananasplits.com Sit your children down at the computer and introduce them to these fun-loving characters. They can watch music videos, play games and learn corny jokes. The new songs are pretty good, but not quite up to the quality of our family’s personal favorites, Dan Zanes, Ralph Covert , Justin Roberts and Lisa Loeb. The website kept Eva (6) and Charlie (3) entertained for about ten minutes. As for me, I can’t get that song out of my head! Tra la la, la la la la . . .

My Careers are in the Toilet

Click here to see my latest post for Chicago Moms Blog. It is about my teaching license and my attorney’s license. I had to give them both up to be a stay-at-home mom to Eva and Charlie. Do I regret it? No, I chose to stay at home. Do I wish I could keep my career options open? YES!!!

John Edwards Can’t Keep It In His Pants

National Enquirer Broke the Story of the Affair, but He Denies He is the Father

What the heck? John Edwards had an affair in 2006 (or maybe earlier)? What business did he have running for President? What business did he have getting my hopes up that someone with integrity (HA!) and someone who cares for the working class could actually be President? Heads up to you politicians who think you can hide huge slip ups like this in your personal life: Don’t bother. If you choose to be married and then you choose to have an affair, that is between you and your family. However, you may NOT run for public office, especially President!!! Yeah, the typical man is weak when it comes to sexual temptation, but our President should not be one of those typical men! (Oh, and by the way, I don’t expect my Gadget Man to be a “typical” weak man either!) Our President must be exceptional. You, Mr. Edwards, are not exceptional. You are a disappointment and a disgrace. You break my heart, again.

You Know It’s Time to Wax When . . .

Last night, as Eva and I were cuddled on my bed reading Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg, she pointed her finger toward my upper lip. “What are you doing?” I inquired. “Hair,” she replied with a smile. “Yes,” I sighed. “Mommy, do I have hair there too?” “Well, we are mammals, we have hair everywhere. Some of it is just lighter and thinner than in other places.” I answered. This seemed to satisfy her. Silently, I vowed to wax in the morning. Now what am I going to do about the lines around my mouth she so graciously pointed out last week?

I’m in the Doghouse

My friend, Virginia, is really, really disappointed in me because I shared a horrible dream I had with her. In my dream, her son died. Why did I tell her I had such a dream? Well, I’m an idiot. Read more in my post here at Chicago Moms Blog.

Oprah Says . . .

Here is a link to a cool Chicago chick who has been “living Oprah.” She watches the show and reads her magazine and follows all her advice. She is doing this for a year. I wouldn’t say she’s a fan. Check it out for yourself. I’m adding her to my blogroll so I can keep tabs. You go girl!

Hand Over the Controls!

comcast remote control

Ugh! Gadget Man and I are such a cliche. He won’t ever let me hold the clicker to the television. Yes, I know it is called a “remote control,” but I am from a generation where the control was first called a “clicker” and I can’t stop myself from using that term. Anyway, Gadget Man likes the t.v. loud. No, LOUD. Having something blaring so loud it is pounding into my head and chest is not my idea of relaxation. Indeed, that defeats the purpose of watching television in the first place. Last night, Gadget Man would not hand over the controls (once again) and the Blue Ray movie we were watching kept getting louder then softer then louder again. Gadget Man refused to respond to this volume anarchy by turning it up and down as needed. I would have, but he would not let me have it. He treats me like a child. “May I please have the remote?” “No, just relax.” “Please, if you are not going to use it, why can’t I hold it.” “Just relax, will you?” Relax? Excuse me? The t.v. is blaring, I’m worried the children will wake up and I don’t like it sooooo loud. Why should I suffer hearing loss just because he has it too? He simply won’t let me have it. What should I do, wrestle him for it? Last night, when the movie was over, he decided he was going to bed. I wanted to watch a little Dick Van Dyke and I had no idea where the controls were. “Where’s the fu-king clicker?” Ok, so I’m not Miss Manners. “Right here!” He yelled and then threw it at me. It landed next to me on the couch, but I did not appreciate this behavior. Turns out, he didn’t appreciate the way I asked for the controls. Anyway, I was too steamed to apologize and so was he. All I can say is, “Oh, Rob!”

Recycle This!

ABT Electronics, a store well-known for its excellent customer service (I have purchased almost all of my appliances there and have been satisfied every time!) is providing a recycling service to the public. Thank you Abt!  I haven’t used this service yet, I’ve been bringing all my batteries to the Walgreens photo counter for recycling.  Here is the information:

Hours: 2:00-7:00 pm daily (closed Sundays & Mondays)

Abt Electronics, Glenview

Abt Electronics’ new recycling center. . Bring your recyclables to the freestanding building located just west of Abt’s main building.

Free to recycle:

cardboard

styrofoam and polystyrene packing materials

cell phones

batteries

All Sony electronics are free to recycle

They charge the following fees to help offset storage, handling, and transportation costs:

· All computers, fax machines, VCRs, and DVD players: $5

· TVs under 32 inches: $10

· TVs over 32 inches: $30

· Air conditioners: $15

· Refrigerators: $29

Abt promises all equipment and materials are recycled properly

Stop the Violence: Cease Fire

See what I have to say about the violence in Chicago and an organization that is doing something about it, Cease Fire. Click here to go to my article on Chicago Moms Blog.