I'm an idiot with an iPhone

Apparently, obviously, I have no clue how to work my new phone.  Like, really no clue.  I had no idea WHY I wasn't getting emails unless I clicked the little "Mailbox" button.

Venture to Settings, Mail....ah.  It was on manual check for email.  Well who the heck set the default to MANUALLY check email?  Does anyone actually ever choose that setting voluntarily?

Umm, no.  Hello, last time I checked it's the 21st Century and we all pretty much can't live without email and instant gratification once we hit the age of 9 (I'm giving Thor an extra year here.)

Can we not even go to the place where the iPhone manual is an absolute joke?

Look Apple, I luv ya.  I big ole freaking HEART you.  I love my Mac, my iPod I couldn't live a day without but really, let's make a manual that actually has information inside it.  Not pictures and a a two sentence ditty about a function I already know how to use.

You wouldn't believe how long it took me to find the iPod on the thing. (I know, not one of my better days...)

Don't even get me started about AT&T not having coverage at Great American Ball Park.  You know the little TweetUp event I was at Tuesday night when the Reds clinched the NLC Championship?  That little event with like 400 people?

It's not much of an event when you a) have no coverage and b) can't access Twitter because you have no coverage.  Not much of a TweetUp MeetUp when you can't read where everyone is.  Apparently there was a whole Pre-Game meet and greet someplace with name tags and everything and because I had no coverage I missed the whole freaking thing.

Meh. (thank you Captain Dumbass for introducing me to that expression.  It's my most overused.  And I love it.)


I did sit next to the nicest Tweep.  I know she was a RedsTweetUp person because at the end of the night she gave me her name tag as an exchange of Who Am I?  (rub salt in the wound a little more cause I didn't get a name tag!  I didn't get to the event!)


So I am bummed that I was too much of an idiot to verify all the details before I left the house.  I didn't figure that I would not have any coverage at GABP (hey, if T-Mobile and blackberry can do it with gusto, why not AT&T??)


Honestly.  I hope AT&T stops by and Apple for that matter because I'm sure I would love my phone even more if I could understand how the whole thing works.

Meh.

What have you gotten recently that made no sense to you?  Have you ever flipped out because you didn't have network coverage somewhere?

Pictures and details of last nights Reds victory and in the post below or link is here.  I'm in a double post kind of mood...

I can only say THIS

I was there.  This hasn't happened in a decade.  The Reds are going to the playoffs as the NL Central Champions.

Most awesome night of my life.  Nuff said. 

What did YOU do last night?

Random Tuesday Thoughts: It's all about hair, food and ho-ho's

Come one and come all!  It's Random Tuesday Thoughts time.  Link up at Keely's.



So as always there's a million and one things sitting in the reader and I'm avoiding reading writing blogs like the plague. It only reminds me I haven't done crap-ola with my own work in forever.  And that I really really need to get it in gear, finish editing, keep writing and get this WORK out the door.

Bleh.

I don't feel like it.  Right now I'm all caught up in schtuff and baseball and hockey season is here and....the excuses keep on coming.  I also got this on Saturday:

But I got the 3GS cause I really didn't like the way the 4 felt in my hand.  I like the rounded versus the squareness of it.  Plus it was a hundred bucks cheaper.  I'm cheap.  I admit it.

It's not helping me do anything but waste time on Twitter, which I didn't really need help with anyway.  It did come in handy when I went to get a haircut yesterday.  I could read the news while I was waiting.  Total time saver.

I went with brown lowlights instead of the blondish highlights I had previously.  Umm, I'm really not so sure about that.  For a very low maintenance person like me, this may have been a big mistake.  (And for the record, wth is the difference between lowlights and highlights, other than the PRICE?  This is only the third time I've had the whole haircolor in a salon thing done.  I'm so virgin at it. I'm all "Whatever YOU think is fine!")

Of late I'm really into comfort food.  I made ratatouille Monday.  I may make goulash tomorrow and the day after may just call for chili and I'm pretty sure a dose of blue cheese mac n'cheese should be in there somewhere.  All I want to do, apparently, is eat.

It was 90 on Friday and yesterday it was 52.  Could you please make up your mind already Miss Weather?

I reloaded my Starbucks card.  Oh yeah, stupid move.  Now I have even more incentive to drive to Starbucks.  Did you know they also have an iPhone app for Starbucks?  I mean really, do I need to make pretend drinks on my phone?  (apparently yes, because I downloaded the app and made myself a drink.  It did not however magically appear at my side.)

Speaking of magic, who else is EXCITED about the next Harry Potter movie?  Huh huh???  The wait will do me in and it's only about 6 weeks till it gets here.

I'm going to the Reds game tonight for the first ever RedsTweetUp.  A gathering of other geeky minded Reds baseball freaks like me who all Tweet about baseball.  They even sold special tickets so we can all sit together in the same section.  Hmm, now that I think about it, it's a bit weird. I guess they don't want us mixing with the regular folk.  (All in all, probably a smart idea...)  Either I'll be watching the Division Champion Reds plays the lowly Houston Astros or I'll be watching the Hopefully Division Champion Reds take the title. (Cardinals have to lose Monday night for Reds to clinch or the Reds have to win the game against the Astros.  Since I write these posts in advance I don't know which it is yet.) I will be watching the Reds play FOR the title.

Phillies win 4th straight NL East Division Title.  Oh Yea.

You think I bore you with baseball? 

Hockey season has started.  Just wait. Go Flyers!

I have a bunch of interesting/thought provoking/brain numbing newspaper/magazine articles in my "To Do/Ideas" bin on my desk.  Maybe I'll get to one of them this week and give you all something worthy of reading.

Recent conversation on Twitter between me and another mom:

@mayaREguru Ho-Ho's. It's what's for dinner. Bought them for the kids but they're mine now! Muhaha
@BlogMamaAndrea Don't mess with a mama and her ho-ho's. That didn't sound right did it?
@mayaREguru  no not right but totally awesome!

It didn't come out correctly then or now, did it?

Chick was whining about not getting a third snack so I sent her upstairs to play. After crying and then singing she is now silent.  Either she's up to something or she fell asleep.  Proving once again if I ignore her long enough, she will leave me alone.

Until next time, be fearless and go see Keely.  I hear she doubles as a Super Ninja Warrior.  That may be just rumor but...I wouldn't turn your back on her if you know what I mean.

Doctors lie. Oh, my aching foot.

I had surgery on my heel once upon a time.  I really didn't blog way back when I had this going on. The blog was a brand new baby (and my baby was still nearly a baby back then at 4).  It did throw some serious incovinece into my lfe.  It was lots of fun having my parents and MIL take it in turns to have to babysit not only my kid but me.  Because I a) Couldn't drive since it was my right foot. b) Couldn't stand on my foot for three weeks (and longer till I could drive) c) Couldn't navigate stairs to save a dang with crutches.

I did however devise a fairly awesome system of getting from the kitchen around the island and into the breakfast room with a cup of coffee (having lots of counters really saved me.)  I am proud to say I only fell twice with the crutches and both times involved stairs, so that really can't be helped.  I was the model patient.  I didn't stick hangers down my cast.  Or pencils.  Or rulers.  Oh, be sure, I thought about it.  A lot.  When you get an itch inside a cast, you'll claw it off with your bare hands if properly motivated.  I was never that motivated.

So why was I in a cast for three weeks and a walking boot for three more (which also included being in the boot while on a house hunting trip in Germany)?

I had a cyst inside my heel.  All I know is that it was painful, and annoying, and made me tell my kid more often than not that mama's boo-boo foot hurt and I could not chase him around the yard.  The doctor said in order to remove it (which may or may not solve the problem) he would cut into the area right beneath my ankle bone and drill a hole into my heel and take it out.  Sounds awesome, huh?

So I did it.  I underwent the knife-o-la two days after Christmas circa 2005.  It only took about an hour I think and was an outpatient thing.  I was resting happily drugged up in my own bed by mid-afternoon.  By the next day I was struggling to wait out the every six hours for pain pills.  I really don't know what I was thinking.  Honestly and truly, I've never had pain like that before (and I've given birth...).

Eventually pain subsided and it became just annoyingly numb but I was told it would go away with time along with the swelling and the scar.

Fast forward five and a half years.

I'm typing this while wearing shoes.  In the house.  A no-no.  But because said foot hurts so freaking bad I'm forced into trying to offer it some support.  Which doesn't really work but makes me feel like I am doing something to solve the problem.  The scar has finally faded into something I'm not embarrassed by.  (A bright red welt across your foot looks awesome with heels a cocktail dress, just FYI.)  The pain is back and the foot still has numbness around the surgery scar.  I know that is not  a normal thing.  The pain is miserable.  It feels like someone is drilling inside your heel 24/7.  Even when you're resting the foot, it still hurts.  I have a 5k to run in a month, I don't have time for this.

The pain and actual cyst were things I knew might come back.  It's the numbness that really ticks me off.  There's no quicker way to send me flying across a room than for the kids to hit just that spot on my foot.  I don't even touch that spot on my foot.  If you hit it just right it'll send shock waves up my leg.  Shock waves of pain.

I'm no MD but I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to still be happening.

The big problem is what do I do now?  The pain is back and worse than ever.  But I don't think another surgery is gong to fix it.  It took three x-rays, wearing a walking boot, a cat scan and a contrast mri to even figure out what was wrong with my foot the first time.  And that wasn't a 'fix-all'.  I don't know what to do now.  I can't afford to be laid up without the ability to drive for another six weeks (if not longer) unable to care for my kids or take care of things around the house.

Give me your opinions.  What would you do?  Suck up the pain and keep going?  Or go back to the doctor and listen to their (sage) advice, even if it means another surgery?

In the blink of a webpage it all went poof

Someone recently told me "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Wise words.  Wise words.  Apparently, I'm not very good at a lot of things and now we can also add listening to the list.

Because it wasn't broke and I *fixed* it anyway. 

Do you like the new look on the blog?  Me too.  It came with a pretty Tough To Swallow price though.  You see, when I spent an afternoon recently playing with the header, mixing up the background and reorganizing all the widgets, something went kafooey.  It wasn't until this morning that I noticed exactly what went kafooey.

Every blog comment since 3/26/10 went kafooey.  As in vanished. Disappeared. Never to be heard from or seen again kafooey.  I have a lot of words for that, none of which would be proper to say on this here blog.

Due to this I decided I should start drinking heavily. 

If I move to Singapore, take in fifty stray dogs or get the coveted iPhone, you can be sure of one thing:

I'm never changing this blog again!

Take pity on me.  Leave a comment.

Random Tuesday Thoughts: I velcro'd a Monkey's Butt

It's Random Tuesday. If you don't know what it is, you've been living under a rock, go see the fearless leader, she's our SuperHero...don't know many more ways I can say so just Click It.  The UnMom.



Last week the family and I went to a Reds game.  Before the game one of the pitchers, Bronson Arroyo, was sitting outside with a guy playing guitar...giving a free concert.  Arroyo can totally sing.  I ordered his cd and it came in the mail.  Completely love at first ears.  I kid not.  Go to his site and listen for free, then buy it!  Not bad for someone who also kicks butt at pitching!

I got to test out Junior's Cheesecake thanks to 1-800-Flowers a few weeks ago.  Oh so yummy!  It was delicious and didn't last long around here.  If you have a need to order something yummy for friends, family or yourself you should definitely go to 1-800-Flowers and look up getting a Junior's Cheesecake; it's heaven in a box!

This falls under the category of something you might like, so I'm sticking into Random Tuesdays to spread the word.  It's tomorrow!!

Designers Stewart+Brown Talk Eco Fashion 9/22: “Wicked Fresh! Wednesdays” Live Video Chat Series Finale

Participate in the LIVE online Q&A with Karen Stewart and Howard Brown and Get a Chance to Win One of Two $250 Stewart+Brown Gift Cards

When: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 – 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m. EST

Where: Hosted on Tom’s of Maine Facebook page -www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine – via the Live Chat tab

What: Tom’s of Maine “Wicked Fresh! Wednesdays” live video chat series with Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, founders and designers of the pioneering sustainable clothing line Stewart+Brown. Get the insider fashion scoop about their fall fashion tips, balancing entrepreneurism with family, how they source their fabrics and much more.

I checked out a book from the library called "Get A Life That Doesn't Suck" by Michelle DeAngelis.  It has a picture of a straw stabbed into a lemon.  Don't know what the books even really about other than not having a sucky life.  Cover totally sold it though.

One thing I hate about the local library is when they say they have a book online, but when you get there...it's nowhere to be found. Always happens.

Every night about 5 I get all dizzy (I don't know what that's about but I'm sure not enjoying it).  On Sunday Chick was playing with my hair while I was sitting on the floor.  I actually had to lay down.  She put a pillow under my head, covered me with a blanket and gave me her pink fluffy dog to sleep with.  Then she brought me a lollipop.  This kid rocks.

I literally velcro'd a monkey's butt yesterday.

Have you listened to any good music lately?  I'm currently in love with Sara Barielles's new cd, Lifehouse, Matt Hires and the soundtrack to The Last Kiss.  Other popular iPod pop ups are On the Rocks (All the Above), Jurassic 5 (with Dave Matthews - Work It Out) and The Band Perry (If I Die Young).  What are you listening to? (I haven't played Pearl's iPod Predict's The Weekend shuffle in awhile.  I may have to do that this week.)

Thor got himself three minutes of fame on Friday.  You can see it over here: Better Off Red.  (He'd be thrilled if you clicked through!!) FunkBlast.

Again, I'm already all randomed out.  I have to stop trying to write these in advance, late at night, while watching baseball.  On that note, I don't know what I'm going to do when the season ends.  Take up basket weaving?  Oi.

If you want even more Random go see Keely at The UnMom.

Let's get sleepy

I've made no secret of my inability to sleep lately, either here or on Twitter.  For the record this is nothing new for me.  I've been afflicted with sleep problems since I was a teenager (and probably long before that).  One thing people don't tend to know about me is that I hate taking medicines of any kind.  It's not a huge surprise then that I've waited eighteen years to finally see a doctor about my sleep issues.  I mean, it could have cleared up on it's own...just give it time.

I started with some sleep med that is the generic for Ambien.  Two weeks of good, then less good sleep.  By the time the last week of the pills had arrived I was waking in the middle of the night, occasionally unable to fall back asleep.  A sleep med is not supposed to allow you to do that.  You should sleep and sleep all night.  I contacted my doctor and she decided we needed to get all up in sleeps face and gave me Ambien CR.  The ongoing ordeal with the insurance company to pay for said medication is a whole other post in itself.

But here's what's happened in the four nights I've taken this new Go to Sleep and Stay Asleep medicine.

Nights one and two were fine.  I fell asleep very quick after taking it and stayed asleep.  Let me back up a second and say I read every single word on the Caution sheet.  From the top of the fine print to the bottom of the fine print.  Some of the cautions and warnings included the following:

Some patients taking this medicine have performed certain activities (eg sleep-driving, making and eating food, making phone calls, having s*x) while they were not fully awake.

I'm sorry but that is the funniest caution I've ever heard of.  And, I didn't believe it either.

Until night number three with Ambien CR.  I awoke about three am, confused, thinking I had not yet fallen asleep, and seeing the world like I was looking through a kaleidoscope. 

I have never taken any kind of drugs other than those prescribed, but if that in the middle of the night experience was anything like dropping acid...I kinda get why people do it.  Stupid and dumb but woah, it was...trippy.  (pun intended)

Let me say that I am not eager to repeat the experience, just that it was kind of wild.  I did fall back asleep again within minutes.  Thankfully, when I awoke in the middle of night four, no flying unicorns or dancing rainbows were involved.  But it does make me pause and wonder why after only two days the magic Sleep all night pill isn't working.  Am I really that resistant to it?  Me who hates even taking Tylenol?

It's distressing to know that the sleep that people talk about getting may never be something I'm going to experience again.  Who knows though?  After all, it's only been 18 years...there is hope.

Do you sleep at night?  What do you do to catch some zzz's?

Another Fashion Victim Recap

Awhile ago, quite by accident, I wrote about products I saw in magazines that were highly over priced for what they were.  Anyone remember the $249 ion hair dryer?  And the dress with $9,000 feathers? After that one post, another magazine came in the mail and I again felt compelled to impart my wisdom on the ridiculousness within it's pages.

Well, it's time for another edition, this time inspired by the Wall Street Journal, that serious work of all papers.

Serious except when toting a $1,295 shirt on the front page of the Personal Journal page.  The shirt is from Donna Karan Internationals new Look 6 collection, a whimsical tuxedo-esque shirt with a plunging neckline, long cuffs and frilly ruffles.

For that price it also better babysit my kids, cook dinner, fold the laundry and send me on a tropical vacation.  Three out of four, that's all I ask.  The price quoted is not the runway price, that's flat out retail price if you were to walk into Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus and gobble it up.  Let's face it we all have that kind of change for a white shirt don't we?

I admit, I like clothes like any woman does.  And I like nice clothes. While my closet may be littered with tops from Michael Kors and a couple cocktail dresses from White House | Black Market, there's plenty of Target mixed right in.  I appreciate a good bargain on my designer-ish clothes, never, ever pay full price and only buy those that will last me many seasons (in other words no feathers).

There are even more ridiculously priced products out there though and let's get right to pinpointing them.

Up first is a very Is it a slip, is it a dress, who on earth put that together? dress (?)  I don't know exactly.  You be the judge of what it is.

From Vogue's Spetember issue, Givenchy dress p. 641, $4,770 Feel the bargain love.


The next one, I really can not figure out.  The campaign itself was kinda cute, Monsters Inc themed.  I like that movie.  But why you would ever wear these furry blue mittens is completely beyond me.

(so you can blend in with Cookie Monster??)

I know it's hard to focus on the mittens with all the other stuff but that's what I'm trying to do. J. Mendel blue-fox mittens $680 Vogue Sept. p. 682

The next one I do feel somewhat bad making fun of.  The coat's designer, Alexander McQueen committed suicide last year.  A very tragic way to end what was apparently an unhappy life.  The clothes do however speak to the 70's, a trend I can not and will not EvAh get behind.  Plaid+Polyester=Hideous

McQ by Alexander McQueen jacket, $845 and Organic by John Patrick trousers, $485. Blech.

Maybe you regularly dress like this, maybe you don't.  But I can't see the bargain or the value in any of these pieces, not at those prices. (And some of them not at any price...)  One of the funnier items is the Yves St. Laurent iPad case (not pictured)....for $795.  If I'm not mistaken (always a possibility) isn't the iPad like $495?  That would make the case more expensive than the product it protects.  So, do you buy a case to protect the case that protects the product?  (We're moving into ridiculous territory here.)

Until the next Fashion Report, as always let me hear your own ridiculous bargain item stories.  I love  a good laugh every now and then.

From now on this is the way it's going to be

I've realized as I said earlier in the week that plugging products is not my forte.  I'm not particularly enjoying writing reviews for pretty much nothing in return except the occasional product.  While free stuff is nice...it's not been worth losing followers and comments over it.  Reviewing free stuff: That's not what My Blog is for.

So, from now on, this is how it's going to be...

Picture credit here

If you have a product that you think my readers would like, that's great.  I'm more than happy to offer you ad space on my blog for proper payment (blog layout restructuring coming up after the weekend). But I'm done giving away my time and thoughts for free.  If you want to pay me with actual crisp dollar bills (twenties preferred but fifties work too) then send me an email and we can talk.

If not, then I'm not interested in giving people something for nothing.  I value me a lot more than that.  A lot of this has come about after reading several posts from, ironically, dad bloggers.  Apparently they get asked to hawk free stuff too.  You can find those posts here DadsHouseBlog and Clark Kent's Lunchbox.

They are not the only bloggers to have blogged on the subject.  Nor should they be the last.  I'm done selling my blog soul for nothing.  If there is one thing I have learned besides that, it's that companies should never underestimate the power of a blogger.

Haven't they heard?

We're taking over the world.

 *No offense intended to those who DO have promotions/giveaways on thier blogs.  It's just not me.

Review: Scotch Brite Greener Clean Sponges

One of the mnay booths I had a chance to visit at BlogHer included Scotch Brite.  The booths do tend to blend together after two days of non-stop swaggalicious fun but Scotch Brite stood out in my mind for several reasons.

One, they asked us for our best eco-friendly household cleaning tips and recorded them.  That's win-win because half the best ideas for keeping things clean come from other people.  If you want to see some of the videos from the event you can go to this link Scotch Brite BlogHer.  Let me know which tip you found most helpful!

The second reason Scotch Brite stood out in my mind was the incedible Greener Clean Biodegradable Expanding Soft Sponge.  Don't know what I mean?  I filmed it for that exact reason.



I really loved watching it expand.  It was just like watching Sea Monkeys.  Even better the sponge was fantastic for cleaning my dirty sink.  In fact I haven't decided which product from Scotch Brite I like the best; the natural fiber Non-Scratch Scour Pads,non-scratch Scrub Sponge, or the Absorbent Sponge.  I love that they are natural fiber and eco-friendly.  Scotch Brite is making a difference by using natural and recycled materials and you can too!  Remember to go eco-friendly bring your own grocery bags to the store, recycle trash items like cans, glass and plastic bottles and cardboard.  Every little bit can make a big impact!

What tips do you have for recycling and cleaning that you would like to share?  Leave them here!

It's Random Tuesday Thoughts Day Sing A Ma Jig

And I don't have a post pre-prepared like usual.  Weird I know! I'm in baseball mode so no one here wants to hear about that.  So instead I invite you all to go see Keely at The UnMom. She keeps me on my Random Toes and NOW she also gives unsolicited advice.  Pretty awesome huh? Anyway, the badge of love and lets get moving:



So all I've been reading about in every magazine (Philadelphia, Bloomberg, WSJ) is how colleges rank and who they accept and yada yada yada.  And then they get to the tuition....and here's where I die a  slow effin painful death.  Let's just say Thor's a genuis so he's set for scholarships.  Chick, sweetie, you better work on your golf skills hun, cause that's how we are getting you kids to college.

My previous college, the then Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Philadelphia University) charges $38, 302 a year.  And that's one of the cheap schools!  Haverford tops out at $52, 606  You'd be tickled pink to know U Penn only charges you $47, 638.

Scholarships kids, scholarships.

I don't want to think about college for them, I have enough trouble figuring out paying for me.

I keep promising the Sing-A-Ma-Jig I got at BlogHer so here you go:



You want one don't you?

I hired a babysitter for Chick tomorrow so I can take Thor to the baseball game.  I don't know who's more excited, me or him.  We haven't done a Mom and Son thing in forever.

Does anyone know how to transfer itunes from side of a Mac to the other?  All the music is kept on CP's side and you would think I could access it from my side but no.  I can't.  Makes me insane.

I slept last night.  For those of you who follow my Twitter stream you'll know what a big deal this is. SeVen Hours  SEVEN HOURS.  Granted it took a prescribed pill to get me there but Seven Hours.  Felt like heaven with a pillow.

There are groceries to buy and things to umm, do so go see Keely and get your Random on.  Every Tuesday, rain shine sleet or hail (even when she's on vacation!).  The UnMom.  Be like Nike and just do it.

Softlips Review and Giveaway

The arrival of fall means a lot of things, changing colors on trees, cooler weather and an influx of dry lips!  But with Softlips you don't have to worry; they've got you covered!  I love Softlips products and was a fan even before I got my review pack.  If you search my house you'll find Softlips everywhere!  Here are the main reasons I'm falling in love with the new Softlips PURE line. 

Softlips PURE 100% Natural lip care products, which includes tinted lip balms, glosses, an exfoliating lip polish and a moisturizing lip butter, all of which are free from preservatives, phthalates, sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, and gluten, and not tested on animals.

With all the extra things that go into products these days, it's nice to know I'm not adding even more just by protecting my lips from the elements.  I have a hard time now figuring out which one to wear because I'm in love with all of them.  Softlips PURE comes in a variety of flavors and tints including Shell Pink, Natural Honesty, Coral Charm and one of my favorites, the Lip Polish in Organic Coconut and Sugar.  My lips feel all shiny and soft after I use the Lip Polish!

Softlips and I want you to experience the new PURE line too!  You can win a great prize pack of PURE products.  Here's what you need to do: (one entry per item)

1. Leave a comment on my blog 
2. Follow me on Twitter @BlogMamaAndrea
3. Follow my blog

The giveaway is open only to US readers and ends Tuesday, September 21 at 11:59 PM Eastern.  Good luck! (CLOSED)


Winner is: Lucky number 13 - Katie!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:13Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Fan flops and flips

Bear with me if you will because this isn't specifically all about baseball.  It's about fans in general.  The situation has to do with baseball fans but I think it can go across all sports and all fandom.

Reds fans are twitchy.  They lose one game and it's all doom and gloom.  The sky is falling.  They might as well turn off the field lights.  Forever.  One pitcher throws an admittedly bad few innings (and blames no one but himself by the way) and already the "fans" are calling for them to be traded into oblivion.

To which I can only say...

What's up with that?

Have you ever been a Phillies fan?  Have you ever seen how horrible they can be?  Do you think Phillies fans wench and moan?  Absolutely.  They do it with amazing style.  In fact, I don't know another sport that has as awesome of a Wench and Moan fan base than Philly sports.

But at the end of the conversation there is always the phrase "We'll get them the next game!"  Because Phillies fans are true fans.  That's what fans do.  They step up and say yeah, they were crap this game but we still love them.

I haven't really seen a Reds fan yet that does this.  Do I think the recent meltdown in the 9th when we needed one single strike to win the game was cool?  (Not only did we not get a strike, the Pirates drove in three runs...to win.)

I did not think that was cool.  In fact, it greatly sucked.  Am I still believing in my team?

Absolutely.  Because I am a fan.  My job is to support the team and that even means supporting them when they don't win a game.  How else can we expect them to climb out of the hole and perform if they don't get any fan support?

Just as you need run support and field support you also need fan support.  I'm not on a 'bandwagon' for the Reds.  If you're on a wagon, you can always fall off. 

I am a Reds fan.  Win or lose.

What team do you support?  Do you know people who have this kind of attitude (about anything)?

Not enough to be one cohesive thought...

Next month I'll be jetting off to Idaho to see my parents and my sister and her family.  I saw my parents this summer in Kentucky but I haven't seen my sister in nearly two years.  That's definitely far too long but with life being what it is...it's not easy (nor inexpensive) to travel these days.  Everyone's schedules are so complicated.

This will be a solo trip for me and it is reminiscent of my trip a year and half ago to Idaho.  When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer I flew from my then-home in Germany to Idaho for a week.  Not long ago I underwent my first mammogram because of my elevated risk of breast cancer.  I'm still waiting for the results but I have no (real) reason to believe they won't turn out to be just fine.  But thinking about all of that...I miss my mommy.

Let me pull out my woobie and start sucking my thumb...

                                                                             

Recently, I read this post over here at DadsHouse about blogging and PR.  What is my blog worth?  You'll have noticed that of late I've been doing a lot more giveaway's and reviews (ever since that expedition to BlogHer).  It's both a blessing and a curse.  I'm getting some free stuff...but what am I really selling?

It's not the products I'm questioning but rather what is the purpose of my blog?  Am I writing to review products and promote the economy?  (Lure you into buying...stuff.)  Or is this blog really about writing for me?

I would have say this blog is for me and not about pimping out products.  Plenty of blogs do both successfully but I don't think I've become one of them.  I have wondered if the somewhat sudden downturn in comments and visits has to do with all the promotions I've been doing on my blog.  Should this be a promotions free zone?  I do have a specific reviews blog and usually mostly sometimes I remember to move the review posts there after a certain time period.  I've been slack of late on that.

If I made my blog and my reviews separate would that make you more likely to tune in here?

                                                                         

Of course there's that other blog I write.  And despite my desire to make that into something, I will continue to write it because it makes me happy.  If people also want to read it, then all the better.  If some company or team wants me to represent them and send me to games and stuff, you can click the Email tab and send me your request. *wishful thinking*

I read about being a virtual assistant the other day over here at Chris Brogan's site (the post is really about finding work and thanks to CK Lunchbox for the link).  Wouldn't that be a nice job?  I'd love to be a virtual assistant.  If you know someone who needs one, Email Me!

Chick and were watching Thomas The Magic Railroad (Alec Baldwin and Thomas the Train, ugh!) and I couldn't help wondering what image we are projecting to our kids.  In the opening five minutes you have this picture perfect Main Street with a juggler in a phone booth and a little boy walking down the street carrying a fish bowl.  Yes, those things can be seen everyday in my own XYZ town. *sarcasm*  I get that it's a movie, and an older one, but what ever happened to at least trying to be realistic?  Imagine being a kid and seeing this as what life should be like and then finding out It's.So.Not.

Talk about disappointment.

So this post is one uncohesive jumbled thought.  The pictures have zilch to do with anything, I just needed something to break up the topics and *** seemed far too ordinary for me.

What's jumbled about in your head these days?  Should this be a review/giveaway free zone?  And how funny is that last picture? (That was a Tweet on the official St. Louis Cardinals Twitter account.  A mistake and one that no longer exists but soooo funny!)

Let's get healthy! Cystex and Pedia Lax Gummies Review

Recently I had the chance to review two great products, Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex and Pedia Lax Fiber Gummies for children.  Since both products deal with health I'm putting them together in one easy to find post!

At first I was a little skeptical of trying the Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex.  I like cranberries but in such a concentrated liquid form...I wasn't so sure about the taste.  Good news, it tasted fine and it turns out it's even better for you.  Cystex is gives you the benefit of drinking eight glasses of cranberry juice in just one tablespoon.  Did you know drinking cranberry juice can help reduce your chances of getting an urinary tract infection?  Now I don't have to chug back eight glasses of juice to have the same results!  The complex can even be added to a hot or cold drink if you prefer a more mild flavor.  The complex is a blend that also contains D-mannose (from cranberries), bromelain (from pineapple), inulin (a prebiotic) and vitamin C; which all add up to good health.  The Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex is available at drugstores and retailers nationwide.

Pedia Lax Fiber Gummies for ages 2-11 are a relief to every parent who's ever had kids who are super picky eaters!  My kids are among those super picky eaters.  Now I don't have to worry if they're getting enough of what they should be thanks to Pedia Lax Fiber Gummies which supply them with 6 grams of fiber.  Simply taking 3 gummies a day ensures that they are getting enough fiber in their diets to stay healthy.  And they taste great too!  They are sugar free and provide the equivalent of 21 spears of asparagus.  Nothing like eating your veggies when they taste and look like gummy bears!  Pedia Lax Fiber Gummies are available nationwide at retailers like Target and Walgreens.

Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies “Keep Kids Moving” Sweepstakes

Exercise, along with a balanced diet, helps provide the foundation for a healthy, active lifestyle for every child. August 27, 2010 through November 30, 2010, visit www.fibergummies.com to enter the Pedia-Lax^® Fiber Gummies “Keep Kids Moving” sweepstakes for a chance to win one of six prize packages, including a $1,200 gift certificate to the online bike store www.Bikes4Families.com  , Nintendo Wii’s and other great games/activities!

You’ll find more details and official rules at the Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies Web site.

What do you do to keep you and your body healthy?

This is what it's really like

Awhile back I had the opportunity to interview a sports beat writer from Philadelphia, Kevin McAlpin.  It was great.  He was really nice (and didn't laugh in my virtual face when I asked silly questions).  But I need all of you to click over to The (Virgin's) Guide to Baseball and leave some comment love.  Please.  He's a real writer and a really nice guy and I don't want to look like a schmuck if no one comments.  So comment.  Tell your friends to comment.  The best thing is that it is not all baseball talk.  It is about what it's like to have writing about a sports team be your job.  While this writer doesn't travel with the Phillies...a whole slew of them do.  162 games a year, 90 or so on the road...just imagine.


PLEASE! Go and read! (shameless begging...I'll mention you in my will...etc.)


So, yesterday while I was making dinner, the doorbell rang.  Thor told me it was E from down the street.  I told him he could answer the door (you can't see the front door from the kitchen).  I thought she was asking him to play.

How naive am I?

She was soliciting donations for the school walk-a-thon (for which Thor will solicit a $35 check from me with a grumble and a shake on Friday morning.)  Most - okay - everyone had donated five bucks.  Eh, I'll give her five bucks.  I wrote my name on the form, wrote down five bucks...

...then asked the dumbest question in the world.  Do you need the money now?

Of course she does...

What do I have in my wallet? $20's.  Of course I only have $20's for the first time in the history of history.

When I handed her greedy little paws the $20 she said "Sw-eeet!"  Yeah, I'd say that too if I just handed over $20 that had no intention of ever going near a child's hands.  Sigh.

This means I'm up a tree because now ALL the kids are going to come knocking looking for their $20.  They're going to expect giant sized candybars at Halloween too aren't they??

The only consolation I'm taking from this is that the next person she goes to will see that the City-Snob-Who-Never-Goes-Outside gave more than any of the rest of the neighborhood! HA!

Not my proudest moment but I'll take it anyway...

Have you ever accidentally given far more than you intended to?  Please tell me about it and make me feel better!  (And go over and leave a comment over here too!)

Random Tuesday Thoughts: One Dead Fish

It's Random Tuesday Thoughts time!  Join Keely at The UnMom for lots of Random Tuesday Fun.



My teams lost yesterday.  That kinda stinks. I had this to say via Twitter:

BlogMamaAndrea Me: "Those boys need a spanking!" CP: "And you're more than willing to give them one?" Me: "Yes!!" #reds 4 #rockies 5 in the 5th

about 4 hours ago via web

Yep, and that would have worked too.

I read this article in Philadelphia Magazine by Richard Rys last week and was completely sickened by what's happened to Old City.  Old City used to be where I went in college for First Friday's (art gallery showings the first Friday of every month) and then Italian food.  It's supposedly becoming the Jersey Shore of Philadelphia.  One restaurant owner was quoted as saying she couldn't tell the regular people from the hookers.  That's really, really sad.

The best line from the Green Zone with Matt Damon:

How do we know we're not walking into an ambush?
We don't. Put your F-in game face on.

I feel the same way every time I go to Walmart.

Thor's beta fish died last night.  I'm amazed it survived that long.  It had been with us since May? June?  I thought he might get upset but his only words were "Well, it only had a 14 day guarantee mom."  Right you are my son, right you are.

I found a library receipt from 8/06/05 in one of my books.  I've saved it (consciously).  It was the first time I read the first Harry Potter book.

I've also kept my traffic ticket from the Polizei.  I have no idea exactly why.  Fond memory maybe?  Eh.

As always, it's also Tuesday's Terms.

That's all the Random I have time for.  If you like Random then head over to see Keely at The UnMom for more.

Have you checked your breasts lately?

Normally the topic today wouldn't be one I would really get down and dirty about on my blog.  But this is important enough to warrant some In Your Face Talk.  Breasts  As some of you who have been reading me for awhile know, a year and a half ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  That ugly freaking C.  After radiation, she's fine (and I'm praying will continue to be fine.)

But because of the "First Degree Family Member" designation, it was recommended that I have a mammogram before the usual 40 year old mark that is recommended.  I'm only 33.

I'm unique though.  Rare numbers just love me.  When Thor was born I was (unknown to me because I was - literally - comatose) diagnosed with placenta acreta.  I actually met someone at BlogHer who not only knew what that is but had it too.  This condition (essentially the placenta becomes a tumor and you hemorrhage) only happens to 1% of women...and those women are usually over 40 and have had more than one pregnancy.

I was 24 and on my very first pregnancy.  Basically, I had to have a hysterectomy in order to save my life.

Back to breast cancer.  Because of my other rarity, my GP said my lifetime number for breast cancer jumped from the average woman's 3% to 17%.  SevenTeen Percent lifetime chance of breast cancer.  It doesn't seem like a lot in the realm of 100% but it's a significant amount over the normal 3%.

And I am anything but normal as most people know...

So yesterday I had my very first mammogram.  I feel like I should get a gold star sticker or something.  An I Loved My Boobies Today! sticker or something.  Really, wouldn't those be an awesome campaign tool?  The event itself was under twennty minutes (if even that!!) and yes, it was uncomfortable in the they-pinch-and-squish-your-girlies kind of way.  But it was nothing that I couldn't handle.  The tech fully explained everything to me and I felt completely comfortable with what she was about to do.  As comfortable as anyone can be when they are have undressed at 8:45 in the morning and haven't been allowed deoderant, perfume or any kind of scented lotion...nothing makes a person more aware of how they smell (or don't smell) than that.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month of course but there is no reason why YOU shouldn't get checked out now.  When October comes wouldn't it better to say that you've already had your mammogram?

I dare all of you to get your mammogram, find out your number and be aware.  For those innocent males who read this post today, encourage the women in your life to be checked.  Aunt's, mothers, sisters, wives and friends!  Save your life!  Get checked!  Now!

Let's be British: If you heard it for long enough you'd do it to.

I was recently told that my speech is very British in style, which did not come as much of a shock to me.  I spent 3.5 years living in a place where all I heard was a) German or b) Germans speaking in British English (and yes American English and British English are amazingly...different.)

So why wouldn't I pick up some quirks?

For example, I say 'quite' quite a lot actually.  I also say 'actually' ala Bridget Jones a lot too.  My speech lilts up at the end of sentences on occasion and I am fond of using traditional old fashioned British words.  If you let yourself, you could learn to like the way I speak. 

My accent is another source of humor for some people.

I'm from the West Coast.  I really can't help it if I say ru-oof for roof and lie-berry for library or that I used to say pop instead of soda.  Other amusing terms include Eye-talian (which I make a concious effort not to do, fyi).  Really, let's pick apart little ole me and make fun (obviously people have nothing better to do.)

Now my accent also includes a distinctive Southern twang on occasion since moo-ving to Ken-tuck-ee.  Add in that I speak really fast with a Philly accent on top of it too.  I'm officially coining my accent as British-Valley-Girl-East-Coast-Southern.  No wonder I never got feedback from that Australian accent finder thing I did last year.

I'm simply unique.

Do you have an accent?  Do other people think you have one?  What words do you say that earn you amused looks?

Hillshire Farms! Go Meat!! Review and Giveaway

Mmm.  Meat.  Who doesn't love meat?  I love Hillshire Farms meat.  When I was offered the chance to review some great lunch meats from Hillshire Farms, I jumped at the chance.  Since both of my kids are back in school (and I want to avoid the unhealthy school-offered options) a great sandwich is the way to go.  I found myself salivating over the options at the grocery store.

Smoked Chicken Breast?  Brown Sugar Ham?

I got both and invented my own sandwich which definitely tickled my tummy!  For my first sandwich I compiled all my ingredients on the counter: Hillshire Farms Brown Sugar Ham, 100% whole wheat bread, Colby jack cheese and, an unusual touch, buttermilk ranch dressing.  I don't do boring sandwiches.

Sandwich two was just as yummy and here's the photo evidence:

Pictured: Hillshire Farms Smoked Chicken Breast lunch meat, whole wheat bread, provolone cheese and warmed sweet bbq sauce.  I actually had to make another sandwich when it came time to write this post because I just didn't feel the first picture was quite good enough....

Hillshire Farms also provided me with LunchTime Tips! and at first I thought how hard could it really be to make a sandwich?  As it turned out I learned quite a bit about things that had never occurred to me before.  I'm going to share my favorite informational facts and tips from Hillshire Farms on making lunch the best it can be!

o Our premium quality lunch meat is made with no by-products or artificial flavors

I didn't know that!  But in my house that is one quality I strive for because my kids have special dietary needs!

• Hillshire Farm is offered in a double-sealed, re-sealable tub that is designed to lock in freshness and great taste. No package keeps lunch meat fresher, longer

Another awesome feature!  I love the tub!  I wash them out and then use them for Barbie clothes or crayons.  That's helping the earth too.  (If I could, my only complaint is that the meat is all folded up inside the container.  It's probably just my OCD tendency but I hate that the meat rips apart when you try to take some out.  But it still tastes fantastic!)

Freshness Tips:

• To keep sandwiches crispy and delicious, place a single layer of premium quality lunch meat on each slice of bread, then spreading the condiments on those. The meat creates a barrier between the bread and the rest of the ingredients.

• The Fresh Squad suggests insulated lunch bags as the best choice for school lunches. Some insulated lunch bags are equipped with freezer packs. If not, try freezing juice boxes or reusable bottled waters instead of adding freezer packs. The boxes or bottles will thaw to provide a refreshing beverage and keep the sandwich fresh.

• Be sure to choose the right bread for your sandwich. Keep in mind that the more moisture in the fillings, the drier and denser the bread should be. Breads with thick crusts work perfectly, or swap your regular bread for flour tortillas, bagels, English muffins or pitas. Grill or toast the bread to add crunch and flavor.

 I love these ideas.  And Hillshire Frams wants to give you the chance to put these tips to use with their lunch meats!  Here's what I'm giving away courtesy of Hillshire Farms:

TEN Coupons for a free product from Hillshire Farms (set amount per coupon)

I'm going to pick three lucky readers to win coupons for Free Meat! The grand prize winner will receive FIVE coupons, second place winner will receive THREE coupons and third place winner will receive TWO coupons!  All winners will be drawn at random.

Here's how you can enter: (one entry per item)

1. Leave a comment on my blog.  Tell me what you love about Hillshire Farms or give me a lunch tip of your own!
2. Follow me on Twitter @BlogMamaAndrea
3. Follow me here at Blogging Mama

The contest runs from now until Tuesday September 7, 2010 at 11:59 eastern and is valid for residents of the US only.

Good luck everyone and Goooo MEAT!