From Inmates to Playdates

Archive for July 1st, 2009

Wow.

Obviously, when the idea of Thursday Thirteen – The Alphabet edition popped into my head 20 some odd weeks ago, I gave little thought to what might happen when it was time for me to come up with thirteen words that begin with the letter U.

Because seriously?

 Have you ever thought about “U” words?

I will do the best I can to make it to the end, but I make no promises.

Because just between U and me, I’m not sure I can pull this one out.

1. UMBILICAL CORD – Not a lot to say about the umbilical cord except that when our boys were born we collected and banked their cord blood. It was very simple to do and is hopefully something that we will never, ever need. Their blood is currently stored at a blood bank in Florida. We use CryoCell. If you are in the market for a cord-blood company, you should totally consider CryoCell and you should most definitely let them know that I sent you because we can save a year’s worth of storage fees. Just sayin’.

2. UMBRELLA – I purchased a new umbrella while we were in Cuba. I can’t recall ever purchasing another umbrella in my life. This umbrella had bright polka dots and I was in Cuba. I knew that every time I popped the thing up, I would remember our trip to see Guantanamo Bay to visit my sweet McDaddy during the L-O-N-G-E-S-T six months evah. I googlized an image for Totes & Umbrella & Polka Dot but did not find my particular umbrella. What I did find was this fabulous umbrella at haroldfeinsteinstore [dot] com. Have I mentioned that the Gerber daisy is my favorite flower and it is pink? This umbrella would make me happy, even on a rainy, dreary day.

3. UNCLE – My uncle Andy Wade in Rhode Island is a loyal blog reader (hi Wade!) and McDaddy’s uncle Bill (which makes him my uncle-in-law) is also a loyal blog reader (Hi Bill!)

4. UNDERTAKER – Had to include this one just because of the post I wrote last week, What I Learned At The Funeral Home. I had a neat experience with my friend who is an undertaker. I have made him promise to suck out some ofmy muffin top if I ever happen across his embalming table when my time on earth is done. Oh, and could someone remind him to pleasenotwiremymouthshutmkaythankyouverymuch!

5. UNITED STATES – The best country in the whole, wide world. I can’t imagine living anywhere other than the US of A.

6. UP – Disney Pixar’s newest goldminemovie. Up is a really cute movie, however there are some really weird, non-kid scenes. I think this little guy Mr. Fredricksen and his friend, Russell are adorable.

7. UNION – Me and Him? A perfect union if you ask me. (Although I cannot speak for him! and usually don’t give him a chance to speak for himself because I am rambling all the way to nowhere.) Oh sweet Moses. Look at that cutie patootie. I miss him so much!

8. ULCER – I am a worrier from way back. Its a miracle that I don’t have a blue million of these.

9. UGLY – This thing puts the UG in Ugly. I would pee down my leg if one of the ugly things touched me. We saw lots and lots of them on Guantanamo Bay. Really God, why?

10. UNIFORM – This is McDaddy returning from the Dominican Republic last year. Uniform + McDaddy = HOT

11. UTENSIL – It is laughable that I am using the word Utensil in my Thursday Thirteen because cooking is not my forte. I do make pancakes about twice a week though and I use one of these.

So, here’s a question for you, my loyal blog fans. I call this one thing, and McDaddy calls it another. What do you call this thing? I have more than my fair share of Pampered Chef stuff because the girls I run with? They love to cook and they love to party. Cook + party = Pampered Chef. If I were any kind of cook at all, I would certainly be a pampered chef.

12. UNLIKELY – Um, It is unlikely that I will ever have one of these, however, you must understand that I will never stop dreaming and blogging about it. Perhaps you underestimate the power of the blog. After test driving the thing, I have an even bigger urge to go out and buy one right this very minute, because I would look fabulous in it have one. I keep hoping the fine folks at Saturn will drive up and unload one of the suckers at the McResdence. I keep thinking that talking about it umpteenhundred times here at the blog will eventually lead someone from Saturnville right here to Inmates and they’ll be so moved by my unconditional and unquestionable love that they will finally just give me one. Instead, my pleas seem to go unheard. At the very least, they should pony up some coin for all of the free advertisting they get here. I am pretty sure that if they knew how cool I was, they would vote unamously to present me with one because it would be the ultimate gift for a princess who loves the heck out of this little car.

13. ULTRASOUND – Truly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. With both of my boys, I had two non-stress tests each week due to pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and a host of other potential problems. Each and every time I was hooked up to that machine, I watched in amazement as my sweet babies floated in my womb. It was one of the best things about being pregnant.

And that as they say. Is that.

Enjoy your day, folks!

If  you happened to be peeking in the windows at From Inmates To Playdates last night say around eleven o’clock, you might have snuck a peek at this week’s You Capture post and this week’s Thursday Thirteen post.

It seems I was on a slow descent into madness and released both posts just before midnight thinking I was on top of my game.

Then, as I crawled into bed, it dawned on me that it was only Tuesday.

Which means I was way ahead of the game.

Which should have been fine.

But, it was not.

Because my OCD tendencies would not allow for my Thursday Thirteen and You Capture posts to be released a day early. So, I scrambled to get the laptop up and running again so that I could pull the posts from the blogosphere.

So, with all of that being said, you should know that there is madness behind the crazy here at Inmates. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes. I should call this joint A Daily Dose of Crazy. And then some.

Anywho. Moving right along to this week’s You Capture post.

This week’s YOU CAPTURE challenge is Photographer’s Choice.

Oh Internets. I love options.

The possibilities? They are endless my friends.

I wasn’t sure if I should post a pile of random pictures or stick with some sort of theme.

So, I shot. And captured.

And then I ran across these guys and decided I’d let them do the talking for me…..

“No, as a matter of fact I do not like to have my picture taken? Who takes pictures of a camel anyway? Why the smirk?  Read that stupid camel ride sign down there. It will tell you all you need to know about the smirk. These people are making a killin’ off of me.”

 ”250 lbs. Are you freakin’ kiddin’ me?” “Go visit the stinkin giraffe or that stupid ostrich and stay off my tired, aching back!”

“Buzz off, homie. Can’t a guy do his business without the whole world watching?”

“Which one of these pathetic suckers do I want to scare the soup out of? Hum… let me see…. “

“Yo, what’s up?

Have you seen my Crest White Strips?”

“No?”

“Well then do you happen to have a tic tac?”

“Hey you!” 

“Helloooo in there”

“Yes, you! Right there on the end”

“Are you listening to me?”

“Um, I’m looking for a few cute guys. I’ve looked and looked, but so far… I’ve found nothing. I walk around this joint, I strut my stuff, I even stoop to their level sometimes, but really I’d just love to have some company up here. It’s lonely at the top. If you see a tall, dark and handsome giraffe, can you send him my way? Please.”

“Until then, I’ll try to keep my chin up.”

Oh, and the stench you smell in that pretty little Mercedes? “

“Probably from the ostrich. But you didn’t hear that from me!”

“Yessiree, without a shadow of a doubt… my shadow is bigger than your shadow!”

———-

It’s a Jungle out there.

It pays to have your camera ready.

———-

This post is linked to Beth’s You Capture Carnival over at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Next Week’s Challenge: Independence Day and Food

If you were my wedding ring…..

You’d smile knowing that you are my favorite material possession.

You’d be thinking to yourself… I can’t believe I made THE BLOG.

You would have been sad to be separated from me for 8 days when you had to be sized down due to my recent weight loss efforts.

You would wish that I’d be easier on you so that you wouldn’t have to have your prong fixed again.

You’d wonder why I didn’t clean you more often.

You would know that you are special to me because McDaddy presented you on my wedding day and I have hardly had you off of my hand except for cleaning and repairs.

You would frown when I talked of upgrading (upsizing) the engagement diamond [no real worries... I am really attached to you]

You would grin when people mentioned how much they loved you.

You would stick your tongue out at all of the other rings that must sit in the jewelry box and wait their turn to be worn on my right hand.

You’d hate getting caught on things now that you have new, sharp prongs.

You would know how excited I was the day that McDaddy placed you on my finger.

You would wonder why sometimes your metal and my skin caus a reaction.

You would know that I *triple heart* you very much.

You may have noticed that I have an advertisement and bloggy button on my right side bar for Online Poster Printing. I happen to be a sponsored  blogger with Online Poster Printing which means they advertise my blog and I advertise for their site. That also means that they generously host give aways on my blog and offer extra perks to me as the blogger.

They recently gave me a free 16X20 poster print of this picture. It is beautiful and will look perfect hanging in our newly remodeled basement. (Even if it takes me seven years to strip the wallpaper.)

And if you think this little picture is cute, you should totally see it as a poster.

I absolutely love it!

And now, they are offering me 500 free business cards to promote my blog. I appreciate the kind folks at uprinting.com for including me in their blog sponsorship program and for the free bloggy business cards.

Why UPrinting.com isn’t your average printing company:

Blog Sponsorships:
If you are looking to find a sponsor for your blog, UPrinting.com is definitely interested. We offer giveaways, advertising and more for qualified bloggers.

Non-Profit Sponsorships:
The U-Community Program sponsors hundreds of non-profits and education to improve our local communities.

Social Justice Projects:
The UPrinting Kiva account promotes small business growth in developing countries.

Green Printing:
UPrinting supports a sustainable future by recycling, using non-toxic inks, and offering eco-friendly recycled paper stocks for business cards and postcard printing.

Now, head over to Online Poster Printing and check it out for yourself.