Mundane Things
Why is Mommy so tired? I need a vacation so Joaquin and I can spend more time at the library riding up and down on the elevators. We did that on Sunday. I'm guessing we rode for a good ten minutes at least (it is only five floors). People got a kick out of his excitement. Wouldn't it be great if we all got that excited doing such mundane things as riding elevators? I think we should start again. Next time you get on an elevator, say "Whee!" You'll be surprised at the looks you'll get. Okay, maybe you won't.

Here are some pictures from Jacqueline's birthday party on Saturday. Joaquin was the only kid who didn't pop his balloon animal. He kept it until Mommy accidentally popped it on Tuesday while demonstrating her balloon animal reconfiguration skills. (I'm keeping my day job.)

Happy Birthday, Jacqueline!

Where's My Doughnut!?
"The 17-year-old had received and eaten a free doughnut from Krispy Kreme, 7501 Peach St., about 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The teenager stepped back into line and asked for another free doughnut...When a Krispy Kreme employee refused to give him one, the boy left. The teen returned a short time later with a McDonald's bag covering his head, with eyeholes torn out so he could see. He stepped back into line and asked for a free doughnut. When he was refused again, the teen fell to the floor, flailed his arms and legs, and demanded a free doughnut." [via crabwalk.com]

Yikes! I'm just worried that I'm gonna be seeing Joaquin pull something like this when he gets older. Let's work on our coping skills, 'kay.

Addle Minded Tidbit
Have you ever taken your car's remote and tried to open the elevators at work with it? Uh, me neither. (I just hope nobody saw me.)

Kids R Great!
One of the best things about having a child is that you have a good excuse to buy some of the cutest junk. Mommy has been buying a lot of junk lately, maybe it is because I've been working so much. Here are some of the cuter items:



The first item is an ALEX Toys tub toy from Totshop's ALEX Boutique. I love the differently patterned balls which are about the size of a tangerine. Joaquin has been sticking the little hoop, which uses suction cups, to everything from walls to the TV--everywhere except the bathtub.

The second item is also from Totshop. It is ALEX Toys toothpaste animals. I could hardly contain myself when I put the toothpaste into the holder. I got the duck, of course. The head replaces the screw cap on the toothpaste tube and toothpaste squirts out the mouth. Fun for kids of all ages! By the way, I had never ordered from Totshop but I've found it to be a pleasant experience and received my order in 8 days.

Mommy loves Halloween and has been wanting one of those Fisher-Price flashlights for a while. When I found the pumpkin at Lillian Vernon, I knew it had to be mineJoaquin's. The size is just right for little hands and it is not too heavy. It makes a Halloweeny-noise when you press the button the the handle. They have a cat and bat too. I enjoyed my LV shopping experience too.

The Baby Clothes Make De Man
So one day Tio E. took a look at Joaquin and told me that Jeffrey Dahmer's mother dressed him in crazy outfits when he was a little boy. He said he saw a picture of him with this giant bowtie. How he knows this much about Jeffrey Dahmer, I don't know, but why'd he tell me that? Was he implying that if I continue to dress Joaquin like I do, he's gonna turn into a serial killer? A lady killer, maybe. Serial killer? Nah.

This is a picture of Joaquin as he is typically dressed. I think its the hat. Guys seem to hate it, girls usually love it.
(Click image to see bigger.)



More Stuff To Do On A Thursday Night
Joaquin's daycare had an open house this evening. We got to talk with the teachers about him and he played a little. It was very enlightening talk. These ladies see so many kids and have so much experience, they are great source of information. For example, I mentioned that I was going to take Joaquin to the doctor because I didn't think his speech was developing as it should. They gave me this blank stare and said they thought he was just fine, there are others who are a little slower and some that are a little faster, just depends on the kid. And they said to let them know what comes of the visit to the doctor, just so they know. This was so comforting to hear. I'm gonna have to bend their ears a little bit more.

Do you know what urban babies and their parents do for fun on a pleasant Thursday evening? They go to the grocery store parking lot and ride their kid around in a shopping cart. We eventually ventured indoors to get a few things. If you hadn't noticed, most grocery stores have these shopping carts with little cars attached to the front so that kids can sit and pretend they are driving. I'll have to get a picture of him in it. He had a blast.

Incidental Tidbit
It fascinates Daddy that Mommy can remember her library card number--all fourteen digits--but cannot remember to pay the bills.

But It's Late
Mommy just asked Joaquin if he was ready to go night, night. He said, "No, thanks."


I've written about Joaquin's distaste for music. He's getting better about it, but here is a picture from around September, 2002, Jacqueline's party. Notice how everyone is dancing and having a good time? Notice my kid? (The big guy is Cousin Joseph.)

Happy Birthday, Joseph!
Joaquin had a major fit when we sang "Happy Birthday Joseph." He even bit Daddy. I think he got mad because he doesn't know the words.

Picture Day
Picture day is Wednesday at Joaquin's daycare. They sent home a form with a place you can leave comments for the photographer. Mommy wrote: Joaquin doesn't sit still, doesn't look at the camera, doesn't smile on command. Good luck.

Is that negative? I just wanted to be honest. Daddy says that if they can even get Joaquin to look at the camera he's buying the deluxe package.

Another Tidbit
After about four days, Mommy just figured out that I've been using body wash on my hair. I remember when I used to read labels.

Room And Maybe A Doghouse For Rent
Joaquin is watching Clifford, The Big Red Dog right now. I swear he hasn't watched it for several months. Then, suddenly, he remembered we had it. Then, I found this via halfgeek.net:

$600 - Take a step that is new... room for rent.

One room available in stylish Santa Monica apartment.
We recently lost our roommate, and we are looking for a man that is willing to put up with two girl roommates. You must be able to cook, be prone to wacky misunderstandings, and willing to explore your feminine side (will explain later).

Apartment is late 70's style... modern arched doorways, somewhat thins walls (missing one wall, but working on it).. comes furnished, although most of the family room furniture is slightly worn from fumbling antics of previous roommate.

Nice neighborhood, friendly people, close walk to Regal Beagle.
If you would like to check it out, please call 555-2354 or send application to

Mr Furley
32 Palm Lane, Apt 1
Santa Monica, CA 90232

or, just come take a knock on our door... ask for Janet or Chrissy

Craig's List

I know I didn't know him, but it still makes me a little sad. I thought that was a nice little tribute so others must feel the same way.

Mommy wears her red dress, red dress...
So we had a wedding to attend today. Mommy wore her recently purchased dress. As we were getting dressed, Joaquin woke from his nap. He sleepily walked into our bedroom and saw me all dressed up. "Mommy!" He exclaimed as he ran over to me to touch the flouncy skirt and pantyhose. "Oooh, poody," he kept saying as he was rubbing the dress and my legs.

It occurred to me that he's never, in his nearly three years on the planet, ever seen me in anything other than pants. He's a skirt chaser for sure. That, or a skirt wearer, in which case I'd rather not discuss it anymore...not that there's anything wrong with that.

I'm In A Fall Frame Of Mind...
Even though it is still pretty much Summer here in Arizona, I made a few Fall-y adjustments. Let's see how long before this one get's on my nerves. It's already looking a little busy to me.

The names and places in this story have been changed to protect the guilty.
*Gulp* "My name is Joaquin and I am a kleptomaniac." "Hi Joaquin!"

We went to the mall this evening. Mommy bought a dress for a wedding tomorrow and thought I'd mosey into the jewelry department to get a little bauble to wear with it. The store had a huge sale on tons, I mean TONS, of jewelry and it was all laid out at just the height where little hands could get to it. Mommy found her bauble and was looking for someone to pay for it.

Meanwile, Joaquin ran to all the racks and proceeded to throw earrings and necklaces off of them with both hands as fast as he could. He looked like a machine pulling the stuff off of the racks. I'm still looking, thinking, where's the blasted clerk, we gotta hurry and pay! Daddy was behind him scampering to pick them up and put them back as fast as he could. Finally, someone took my money and we high-tailed it outta there, just as the store was closing.

When we got back to the car, I went to fold up the stroller and I noticed something shiny in the basket on the bottom. Yikes, a pair of earrings. I looked further and noticed a velvet box, double yikes. Fortunately, there was nothing in the velvet box. I stood there for a second with the ill-gotten goods in my hands, staring at the store, contemplating whether or not to go back. I couldn't, they were closed.

Now my dilemma, should I go back to return the item or just write it off? I swear on my CampFire girl beads that in my entire lifetime I have never stolen an item from a store. Now all that has been tainted by an innocent looking two year old. Next time, I hope he as least takes something I like. (Kidding, just kidding!)

Anybody here seen my old friend John?
As if we needed another reason to hate September 11, we learned that John Ritter died yesterday. This makes Mommy so unbelievably sad. Yes, lots of other great talents have died recently, but the only other celebrity death this year that saddened me the way this one did was Richard Crenna who was appearing on Judging Amy when he died.

Ever since I'd first seen John Ritter on Three's Company, I'd decided that I wanted to marry him...or someone with a nice smile who was gentle and playful and could make me laugh like him. I'm sorry I will never get to meet him or again be entertained by this talented actor as he plays JD's dad on Scrubs or any of the other work that he's been doing. I'm sad because the voice of Clifford The Big Red Dog is gone forever.

P.S. An interesting little factoid I found was that John Ritter studied at the Harvey Lembeck Comedy Workshop for four years. Harvey Lembeck is the guy who appeared as Eric Von Zipper in those Annette Funnicello and Frankie Avalon beach movies that my cousin has been so reluctant to buy me. I was sad when Harvey Lembeck died too.

More Tidbits
Grandma may have never tasted a cracker w/peanut butter, but she is the one who got Mommy addicted to Ritz Chips. Yum. It would appear that she's hep to new things afterall.

I cried as I was looking through old digital pictures of Joaquin tonight. He has changed so much over the last year. I really miss my baby. I guess there could've been another reason I was crying...look at the date.

This is Joaquin at around 11 months. Look at those leggies!

(Click image to see bigger.)

Tidbits
How can it be that in all of Grandma's seventy years, she had never tasted a cracker with peanut butter on it?

Working all the time
Not really, but I couldn't think of a title. Mommy has been working parttime for about two years. I've worked at the same place for almost 14 years. I'm getting paid less per hour than most of the other tech support staff there even though I've been there longer than all except one. I haven't approached the boss for more money because I like working parttime and I'm afraid he might require me to return fulltime.

My point? Oh yeah, I have increased my hours from 20 per week to 30 while working on new desktop deployment and I am exhausted. I swear I'm running six hours a day. Joaquin doesn't like it either. Nearly every day he says "No 'chool (school)." or "No teato (teacher)." I'm really feeling bad about that. I've been spending a little more time when dropping him off so he gets acclimated but it doesn't seem to be enough. He's okay when he gets home, but some days he has acted up (tantrums) at school a little more than usual. I may have to check the books on this one, I don't want him having "abandonment issues" and c'mon, is 30 hours THAT much more than 20?

You wanna see some pictures of a kid with "bad-boy hair"?

On the day these pictures were taken, Joaquin was really "acting-up." His hair pretty much looked bad when he woke up in the morning. I kind of thought it might be indicative of what his attitude was going to be like on that day. I think that is where the term, "bad hair day" came from. It doesn't mean your hair will look bad, it means you will be bad, your hair just told you.

Happy Birthday, Miguel!

We had a birthday party for Miguel to attend this morning. At 11:00 AM. This morning. Saturday. At 11 o'clock. A.M. At first, we thought, who gives a party at 11 AM? You know what? It was great. We had a little pizza, played a few games and still had time to do stuff afterward. Joaquin may just have his party at 11 AM too. (I can just picture my family passing out.)

Pictures of Joaquin from Miguel's party today:

(Click image to see bigger.)

1) Playing basketball, of course.
2) Playing skeeball, discussing the "rules" of the game.
3) Yeah, Tia is that good. (The machine broke and was spitting out yards and yards of tickets.)

In other activities, Mommy picked up her new glasses today. So what if they are from the men's side of the wall? All the ladies side had were wire glasses and mommy needed Buddy Holly style because, you know, she has an almost-three-year-old and those delicate wire ones would have been bent by the time we got home. So I got these. If I could have found goggles like the basketball players wear, I would have gotten those instead, but they didn't have any.