End of Day One With No Social Networking Sites

The end of day one is near and I have to say, I did it. I did not log on to any of my sites after I said I wouldn't. It wasn't easy, but I have not checked my Facebook, MySpace, or SkiSpace. I haven't checked on the Elvis page, or the Russian Tortoise page, or the hiking page. Not-a-one baby!

I am checking my regular e-mail though, especially because a friend e-mailed directions to her house and there are important "real" life things going on there, as opposed to the "computer" life stuff of people on the internet. When I say "computer" life, I mean people who have befriended me on the social networking sites and through various posts, I know a whole lot about them as opposed to "real" life people who I hang out with in real life.

The only Facebook stuff I looked at was when someone commented on a note I posted about not looking at Facebook for a week. The comments automatically go to my cell phone as a text message. I don't know how to turn that off, so I am not counting those and I will read them on my phone, but that is it. I will say, though, it about killed me not being able to comment back. Just leaving them with their comment and no reply. It felt rude, but not rude enough to give up on day one. Oh, my phone is old and not fancy so I can't look at much on it. So, I can't cheat using my phone.

I have to say that I didn't realize how often I looked at those pages. I was thinking earlier today that I usually log on in the morning, and then a few times throughout the day, when I get home, after dinner, and before bed. I came home today and automatically headed straight for the computer, but then, whoops! remembered I wasn't going to log on, so I put my stuff down and went and hung out with my kids. They both commented, "Hey mom, aren't you going to check your computer?" Geeze. Really? My kids thought it was weird that I was hanging out with them instead of being on the computer. That is just wrong.

They are both in bed now and it is the first time tonight I even turned the computer on, and I have to say that tonight was cool. I gave them my full attention and we watched some show about an international Chocolate Championship. It was awesome. Or, maybe I was just really interested as I was trying to keep my attention away from the computer. But, it was fun hanging out with them and not getting up to tell the world what I was doing or see if I had any new messages. I also realized that for a while, I didn't care what anyone else was doing except us and as of right now, I still don't. If a close friend is doing something important or life changing, I hope I would be on the call or text list. If not, then I guess we weren't that close to begin with.

Ooh, just now my daughter got out of bed and said, "I thought you said you weren't going to check any of those computer pages." I said, "I'm not. I am writing about it, but I haven't checked it."

To summarize day one of my week with no social sites: Tonight was fun and I think I am now more than ready to start my week. It made my kids happy and I had fun, so that is a trade off I am willing to make. The kids said they were glad and they had fun tonight. It doesn't get any better than that. :)
2010 Cindy Breninger

Quitting Social Networks for one Week. (Maybe)

Well, I think it has finally happened. I think I have finally over done it with social networking sites. I have never been one for Twitter and don't like it. I signed up a long time ago, but it was not for me. As for Facebook and MySpace and SkiSpace and and and....the list goes on and on of the sites I am on, and well, I need a break.

I think one reason I like those sites is, well, there is always something going on. Something is always changing, someone is posting something, it is always moving. Nothing is better for curing boredom than moving and changing things. I think I am addicted and it is time to put a stop to it.

As of today, I am going to take a one week break from all those social networking sites. All of them. I will check if anyone writes me an e-mail, but other that than, I am not going to look at what people are eating on their lunch break, or what cute thing their kid said to grandma, or what funny movie quote they are posting. Nope. Not going to look at the minute by minute updates and posts.

I will just sit here in seclusion by not logging on. I won't do it. Not for a week. One week of having no idea what is going on outside of my little space in life.

UPDATE:

It has been about 10 minutes since I last looked at one of those sites and I am starting right now. Wish me luck. To be honest, it is killing me not looking. I want to peek, I really do, but I won't. I think I am addicted so I am going to see if I can go a week. I keep writing as I am stalling and hoping I can keep myself occupied so I won't be tempted to peek. Ok, I am tempted, but won't do it....:)
I will keep ya updated.
2010 Cindy Breninger

All phone calls to my work. Why do I even have a phone???

"Hey mom, I just wanted you to know that the cat just puked all over the rug - and she puked up a sticker!"
"Hi mom, I wanted you to know that Brandon got in trouble at school - and I didn't!"
"Hi mom, ummm, I "accidentally" kicked Brandon because he sort of tripped me and I might of hit him, but he should be in trouble because he tripped me, right?"

Yep. These are phone calls I received while at work. Someone, please remind me - why do I even have a phone???
2010 Cindy Breninger

Borrowing From Bloggers

While googling my name earlier today, I discovered that several other people have been copying and pasting my stories and using them in their blogs. Now, it is flattering to think that someone actually likes something I have written - and likes it enough to re-post it - but it would be even more flattering if they would let me know they are doing that so I can see where my stories are going.

If you use my stories, please let me know. I don't know the "rules" of blogging or "borrowing" from other bloggers, but out of common courtesy, please let me know. If you feel compelled to send any monetary donations to me, well, those would always be welcome. ;)

Take care and it is kind of cool that people like some of my stuff. Like I said, it would be even cooler if you let me know. Thanks! :)
2010 Cindy Breninger

Ahhh, brotherly-sisterly love.

My daughter just walked into the room and said to her brother, "Ya know, if we were both toys, you would be on the Island of Misfit Toys and I would be under the tree!" And then she smiled and walked out of the room.

If that's not love brotherly-sisterly love, I don't know what is. Kids. I tell ya.

2009 Cindy Breninger

It feels good to be validated. Red Beats Blue. Duh!

I take a lot of grief from my friends for being able to pick the winning team of any sporting event. Doesn't matter what sport, just as long as I can look at their uniforms and can pick the one with the colors I like best. This works MOST of the time, not all, but MOST of the time and it annoys my friends because they will have stats and all that blah-blah boring stuff, but my color picking system beats them all.

I once worked in a place with about 125 guys. The guys would use stats to pick their teams in the weekly football pool. I will tell you right now that I know nothing, or as little-as-on-purposly-possible about football. Bores me to tears. Anyway, the guys thought they would take my money and run because they knew the "stats" and I didn't...sooo wrong! hehe

I ended up picking the teams by asking the guys, "Umm, what color is this team? What about this one? What are their helmets like?" and so on and so on. I ended up winning every single week. And to top it off and tick them off even more, they had a Super Bowl party that I attended. I couldn't tell you who was playing, and really don't care and didn't care at the time, but I did end up picking the winning squares for all four quarters. hehehe Ok, that last part about picking the squares had nothing to do with the colors, but I did pick the winning team because of THEIR colors and won that part too! That ticked everyone off. Hey, I can't help it if they didn't listen to me...

Well, again, I get a lot of grief from my friends because MOST of the time the RED team will beat the BLUE. Not ALL the time, but MOST. But, since my friends think I am crazy, even though I have a great record for picking the right team, imagine my surprise today when I opened the Sports section of our local newspaper and right there in printed word for the entire world to read, it said, "RED PREVAILS OVER BLUE". Well, duh! What else would have happened??? Sheesh. The RED team almost always beats the BLUE team. It feels good to be validated and to see that in print. Oh sure, scoff all you non-color-picker-people want. Scoff away. I will keep going on the colors and you use your stats and let's compare at the end of the season, shall we?
Cindy Breninger 2009

A Phillies/Red Wings Fan in California...Hear Me Out.

I am a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, and the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Been a fan of both of these teams for over 30 years. I often get asked two things about why I like these teams. Question Number One: Since neither of these teams are anywhere near California, why did you become a fan? And, Number Two: Are you are bandwagoner since the Phillies won the World Series last year and the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup last year?

I was born, raised, and currently live in California and have lived in northern California my entire life. The only time I have been to Philadelphia was on a cross-country trip with my family when I was five. I don't remember it. I don't think I have ever been to Detroit. I moved all the time as a kid and never once lived in a city with a professional sports team. I live in a smaller town near Sacramento and we have the Sacramento Kings as our sports team, but I don't like basketball so wouldn't call myself a fan. With that said, I don't have a home town team as I have never lived in a home town with a team and never lived anywhere long enough to call someplace home. So, I never had a hometown team to root for.

I am guessing on the year, but around 1978, I would have been 7, going on 8, I saw the Phillies play. I thought they were the best team ever and said they were going to be my favorite team. Sometimes that is how it happens. We would sometimes travel to San Francisco, which was a few hours away, and go to the Giants games. I do like the Giants, but just not when they play my Phillies. I loved when the Phillies played and would often get popcorn thrown at me for cheering when the Phillies would get a hit, or the Giants would get a strike. Apparently the home team crowd takes offense to that stuff. (hehehe)

That same year I heard a Red Wings game on the AM radio in the car with my parents. I liked the name and that was all it took. Plus, they ended up winning the game I was listening to, so I knew I made a wise choice. Oh, California is not a big hockey place. Some people in the bay area go to the San Jose Sharks, and LA people go to games, but some of the people up north, well, not even sure if they know we have hockey or what hockey is.

I wear a Phillies hat on hot days and I watch every Phillies or Red Wings game I can. I annoy my friends by often randomly mentioning that the Phillies are the World Series Champs and the Red Wings are the Stanley Cup Champs (Oooh, last season was great! It was fun to be me! haha) and I hope for a repeat this year. The way the Phils are going, and with the Red Wings thisclose to winning the Stanley Cup AGAIN, my hopes are high. I know close to nothing about football and basketball and am ok with that because I don't like either sport.

I often pick teams to win by their colors. Yes, laugh all you want, but it works a good percent of the time. I pick the red team over the blue and people say that that doesn't work. Kinda funny that last year the Phillies and the Red Wings both won - huh, they both wear red. It is not a fool-proof system, but when it does work, I like to point it out. (point point point)

Sometimes it is hard being a Phillies/Red Wings fan out in California. Or, even on the internet. The guys in the Phillies group give me grief about liking a team from Detroit and the guys in the Red Wings group can't figure out why I like a team from Philly. I just do and it really gets to some people. It also gets kind of lonely being a fan of two teams all the way across the country. When the Phillies won the Series, well, my son and I were the only ones highfiving and jumping around as no one else cared. Doh! Same with the Red Wings. Double Doh! Oh, the Mets (Rivals of the Phillies) one and only fan in CA happens to be my mailman. He hates the Phillies as much as I hate the Mets. He said he almost didn't deliver the two Phillies World Series DVD's I ordered. He said they "Almost got lost in the mail." Typical Mets fan. I did ask him if he wanted to borrow the DVD's, he flipped me off and went about his route. I put a little Phillies sticker near my mailbox and I am sure he enjoys that very much.

So, for over 30 years now, I have been a fan of two great teams that I just picked randomly a long time ago. I love their players, their colors, everything. I have stuck with them through good and bad. I can usually count on the Red Wings and don't worry too much about them as they tend to win a lot. But for 28 years without a World Series win, the Phillies about gave me an ulcer. My 10 year old son, who is also a Philies fan, grew up with, "Well, honey, there is always next year...He heard that every single year of his life." But, not anymore! Whoohoo! Thank god they finally won. I about wanted to smoke a cigarette when they did win as I was so excited! It was awesome! And I don't even smoke! ;)

P.S. If some people still think I am a bandwagoner, well, after 30 years I think I just might qualify as a fan, so I am going with that.
2009 Cindy Breninger

If You Are A Black Widow, Don't Get Married!

My ten year old son and his buddie were talking about black widow spiders. They wanted to know why they were called black widows. I said the black part was because of their color, and the widow part was because after the woman spider makes a baby with the man spider, the woman then eats the man spider and then she becomes a widow when he dies.

Both boys were quiet, or shocked, and they decided that it was mean of her to kill the male. But, after thinking about this awhile, one of them had an idea about what the male spiders should do, or what he would do if he were a black widow spider, it went something like this:

"Ya know, if I was a black widow, I would just hang out and be friends with the girl spiders. I wouldn't marry one or have babies or anything. I would just be a black widow spider who has lots of friends who are girls and I wouldn't get married and I would say no to making babies! I think that would be the safest thing to do." Hehehe. Kids kill me.
2009 Cindy Breninger

Are you stupid or a cheat? Please Stop Letting the Fans Down.

Lately, it seems, more and more baseball players have been caught using steroids, supplements, or hormones that they should not be using. I don't know much about that stuff, but I do know that certain things have been banned and everytime a player uses a banned substance, he is breaking the rules. One would think that the players were told what they could and could not take, so, with all the information they were most likely given, why are the players still taking them?

I have a hard time with this ignorant "I didn't know it was banned" defense. With all the rules saying what the players can and can’t take, it seems that someone, be it the doctors or players, should be smart enough to figure this out and look at the list to see if a substance is ok to take. If they had a question as to whether or not they should take something, they should get it in writing from their higher-ups to verify if it is ok to take or not. If not, don't take it. If ok, get it in writing, guys. Seems pretty simple to me. If it was my job and was told about a substance that was banned, or I had questions about it but was still unclear, and then I took it anyway putting my job in jeopardy, that would make me an idiot for taking it, or a cheater. Same with these guys.

These players that do this are either really stupid for taking things they are not supposed to be taking and putting their careers and names on the line because they "didn't know", or were trying to cheat. Which is worse? Being really stupid or a cheat? If I was paid the amount of money some of these guys get paid, I would definitely know what I could and could not take, especially if it meant losing my money and reputation. Some of these guys appear to be either really dumb and so do their doctors for putting them in that position, or they are cheaters. We may never know which. This is disheartening as my son and I are huge baseball fans. (Go Phillies!) My son and I look up to these guys. When one is caught with the banned substance, well, that makes the player look like an idiot or a cheater and makes us feel stupid for looking up to someone like that.

It is sad because some great players’ names will forever be tainted. We will never know if they were great players, or if steroids, supplements, or hormones made them great. Could they be just as great if they never took any of this stuff? Who knows. Are they they are just cheaters who got caught? Again, who knows. Either way, it is sad and such a let down. Guys, please, knock it off. I would like to keep you on your pedastal and think you are smarter and better than that. Please stop letting your fans down. Just stop it.
2009 Cindy Breninger

Smile and Say Thank You

If a child opens a door for you, please, please, please smile and say thank you. Those two words show the kid that you appreciate that he or she went out of their way to do something nice for you.

To walk through the door and ignore a kid who is standing their holding it open for you, well, that is just rude. Please don't be one of the rude people. Saying thank you really does make a difference. Trust me, I have two kids and they tell me about this stuff.

Thank you in advance.
Cindy Breninger

P.S. Adults, if another adult opens a door for you, use the same smile and say thank you approach. It shows you appreciate the person not slamming the door in your face, which is always better than the alternative.

Some advice to the stoner in the car next to me on the freeway this morning

Some advice to the stoner in the car next to me on the freeway this morning,

If you happened to be on the freeway this morning and were driving to work...no wait, you probably don't have a job, so let me rephrase that, if you happened to be on the freeway and were driving to the Quickie Mart for some munchies, read these words:

LEAVE YOUR BONG AT HOME. Really.

Yes, I saw a classic this morning. This stoner person was steering with his knees while holding a bong and lighting it while driving down the freeway. Too stoned to notice the COP in the next lane WATCHING HIM. Well, too stoned to notice until he got pulled over, anyway. hehehe. Some days it must be fun to be the police.

Stoners, do what ya gotta do AT HOME and I could care less. It doesn't hurt me so I don't care, same goes with drinking. But, get stoned or drunk and then get in your car and drive on the freeway where you could kill my kids or me? I hope you end up in jail. Don't get behind the wheel of the car. Duh. Maybe it is the mom in me, but pul-lease. Don't be lame. Just stay home and save us all the worry of being killed by you.

But, I did get a good laugh by the surprised look on the guy's face when that cop "mysterious" appeared. So thanks for that.
Cindy Breninger

F You Diabetes

I know I have written about this before, and most likely will write about it again, but when I have to live with it every morning, every noon, and every night, well, it is kind of on my mind a lot.

I am talking about Diabetes. In plain English....Diabetes sucks. Totally. I hate it and I want it to F off.

But, putting all whining aside, I have Diabetes, I must deal with it and must live with it whether I want to or not. I can't take a day off, I can't forget about it, and I can't get it out of my body as it just won't leave.

I can control it most days, but days like today, even though I have eaten the same things as yesterday, it reminds me that it is still around and not a damn thing I can do about it. Pisses me off, actually.

I could eat the same thing every single day for a week and be just fine. Then today, same food, same everything and the diabetes has to let me know it is here and can kick my butt anytime it wants to. So annoying.

So, right now I feel like there are ants crawling around under my skin. Like, I wish I could take out my blood and clean it out and put it back all free of sugar. It is irritating. The worst is that I know what is coming in a few hours: I will feel extremely tired, almost like I took a sleeping pill and I will want to take a nap. My vision gets blurry and my brain feels kinda fuzzy. Not a good feeling being that I am at work for a few more hours. But, once the rollercoaster of highs and lows start, it is hard to get it back to normal.

So, I am writing this out of frustration, beats yelling at co-workers. So, F you diabetes for not letting me forget about you. F you for kicking my butt anytime you see fit. F you for just irritating the heck out of me and F you for making me so tired it is hard to work. Thanks.
F. You Diabetes.
There, that feels better.
Cindy Breninger

Gay People: From a kids' point of view

My kids and I met up with a friend for lunch yesterday. The man is handsome, funny, nice to my kids, charming, has a ton of friends, and just an all-around good guy. Oh, he is also a gay man.

I did not tell my kids he was gay before the met him. I don't put much thought into if a person is gay or not as I really don't care. I judge people on the other traits, such as the ones I listed in the above paragraph.

Well, my kids and I met my friend for lunch. At first they were shy, as they are when meeting any new person, but soon enough, the kids were over being shy and they were betting each other if they could put ice down their own backs. (Yes, I have weird kids, that's no secret...let's move along).

We had a really nice lunch. When we were done eating and in the car, I asked what they thought of my friend. They both said he was nice and funny and they thought he and I should go on a date. I laughed a little and then asked them, "Did he seem any different to you? Any different than any other man?" They both said no. I asked if he looked or acted any different than any other person. They both said no, but they kept saying he was really nice and he should ask me out. I was laughing and then I told them, "My friend you just met is gay. He is a gay man. He likes guys the same way mommy does." I let that sink in not sure what their reactions would be.

My kids were quiet for just a second and then one of them said, "Oh. I have never met anyone who is gay. He was totally nice and normal." I asked what the thought a gay person would be like and they said they didn't know. They said that some people make them out to be mean or scary and he was neither of those. They wanted to know why some people were so afraid of gay people when they are just like us, only they like the same people as themselves. Good question kids.

Then one of them asked, "So, how come he can't marry someone he loves even if it is another man?" Huh, another good question. Both of my kids thought it was lame that my friend who is a nice, charming, handsome guy couldn't marry a man if he was in love, but that I could.

I am not sure what my kids thought a "gay" person would look like or act like, but after meeting "one", I think they now know they are just like you and me. They just happened to be attracted to the same sex. Big flipping deal. If my kids can see it is not a big deal, why can't adults? What are people so afraid of?

Oh, and to all of you who think kids will be ruined or hurt or whatever by finding out about "gay" people. Well, news flash, my kids were just fine. They hung out with one, talked with one, and well, they were just fine. No cooties or anything.

They actually were bit bothered at the way some adults were trying to make gay people out to be bad or scary. So, for those of you who want to shelter your kids from two people in love who want to get married, no matter the sex, you are not doing them any favors. You are instilling in them a fear that when they meet a gay person, they will wonder what YOUR problem is. Just something to think about.
2008 Cindy Breninger

Rain, Rain, Go Away. Come Back.....NEVER!(Unless you are snow!)

I didn't really want to ski in fresh powder anyway.....that would be silly. Give me melty slush with a few rocks poking out any day. Feels great when that rain hits ya in the face, especially when mixed with a bit of ice. Yep.....

.......NOT


Cindy

P.S. Apparently my moods are dependent upon the snow levels....

If it snows later today or tonight, totally disregard this post.
:)

Proud or upset...let me think about it.

Kids. How can two kids that came out of the same person (me) be soooooo different from one another?

Take for instance my son. He is 10 years old and a self-proclaimed momma's boy. He listens to what I say and actually thinks I am pretty smart.

Then there is my daughter. She is 8 going on 15. She is the complete opposite of her brother. Enough said.

I took the kids skiing on Sunday so I could give them another ski lesson. My son listened to everything I said and is turning out to be a pretty good skier. He can stop, turn, go, and even tried a little jump.

Real quickly here, I ski about 20+ times a season, and have since I was a teenager, so I sort of know my way around a ski hill.

I have taken the kids skiing several times and every time while my son listens to my instructions, my daughter, well, doesn't. She acts like am nuts, and then totally ignores everything I just said and goes down the hill like a bonsai crazy girl. I worry about her because she does not know how to stop or turn and I don't want her to get hurt - or hurt someone else.

Well, I came up with an idea on how to get her to learn. On Saturday night, I found a video on the internet, with a person who is not her mother, teaching the basics of teaching kids to ski. My daughter watched it and said, "Oh, that's how you turn and stop...." like it was the first time she had ever heard of those things. Ok, it was EXACTLY what I had told her and shown her fifty bazillion times before but since it wasn't me, suddenly she understood. Please don't mind the bald spot from where I just pulled out my hair.

Well, back to Sunday. My daughter was at the top of the hill and we were watching my son turn and doing everything I had taught him. She said he was good, but all that turning seemed boring as it just slowed him down. I told my daughter that she needed to learn to stop and turn before I would take her on the bigger hills for her safety and other people's on the hill. She said, "But mom, I know how to stop. Watch..." and before I could say anything, she put her little skis together parallel and jammed down the hill.

I watched her as she stayed in a straight line all the way down. I mean she was flying down the hill as she didn't turn, or lean, or tilt, or anything, just straight down - flying. When she got near the bottom, she sort of leaned back (good thing I make them wear helmets) sat on her butt, slid, and then eventually stopped. I raced down to make sure she was ok and she said, "See Mom, I can stop just fine!"

I think she should be a racer as all she needs is a hill and a straight line. I told her again she really needed to learn to stop and she said, "Mom, if the other people would just get off the hill and let me go as fast as I wanted in a straight line, I wouldn't have a problem! I could go fast and you wouldn't have to worry." My son was annoyed with her and said, "If you had listened to mom, you could stop like a normal person." She said, "If I skied like you, then it wouldn't be fun as I wouldn't go fast. Boring!"

I don't know if I should be upset that she didn't listen to a word I said, or proud that she is one of the fastest little kids on skis I have ever seen. Let me think on this a while...
2009 Cindy Breninger

Not Ready for Normal! 11 More Months and Counting!

Hi all!
Well, can you believe the holidays have come and gone? Didn't they just start? I feel like I was just getting into them and poof! they are done and over. I am back to work and everything is back to normal. Boo. Blah. Boring.

Really. The holidays are over. Bah-hum-bug. I am not ready for life to be back to normal. No, I'm not crazy (at least I don't think so...hehe) but I really enjoy the holidays and wish they could last a few more months, like maybe into June or stretch it into July. Just when I was getting in the swing of things, the clock hit 12:01 am January 1, 2009 and the holidays were over and life went back to how it was.

The part I miss the most is not having Christmas music on the radio. I am kind of a geek as I love Christmas music and one of the local radio stations played it 24 hours per day from Thanksgiving until Christmas. My kids would get in the car and we would sing along and be happy and smiling and all Christmasy. Now it is just regular old non-Christmas music. Whatever. Boring. One can never hear "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas" too many times....just not possible.

Oh, since I don't have a fireplace, I bought two, get that(???) TWO yule-log DVD's. That means that when I hit play on my DVD player, a yule-log appears on my TV. This is so exciting and totally makes me happy. Oh! Not only does it have one yule-log scene, but between the two DVD's, there are five different yule-log scenes! EEEE! Oh! And I can get it where the fire cracks, or doesn't crack; there is music, or there isn't music; OR BOTH or NEITHER! Does it get any better than that I ask you???All, the long, rainy Saturdays I sat and read next to my lit Christmas tree while having the yule-log with crackling and music....I miss those days. Sure, I could always put the DVD back in, but without the Christmas tree, it's just not the same. Trust me on this.

Well, my tree is down, the decorations are put away, and my yule log DVD is turned off. Welcome to the new year. I hope it is a good one for all. And, if you are like me, only 11 more months to go until the tree goes back up, the music gets turned back on, and the DVD is back in. :)
2009 Cindy Breninger

Have...You...Had...The...Sex..Talk...With...Your...Kids?

Have...You...Had...The...Sex..Talk...With...Your...Kids? Pretty uncomfortable, eh?

My kids are at an age where they have been asking a lot of questions. I believe in being honest with my kids, upfront, and would much rather they get the information from me than from other kids at school.

Talking to them seems easy enough in my head, but gawd, in reality, having to explain the boy parts and why they do what they do and what will happen to girls in a few years...not sure why, but it embarrasses the hell outta me.

I try to keep things scientific and just think that I am explaining how an elbow works or a foot or something - a body part is a body part. Right? Riiiiiiiight. Not when it is THE BODY PARTS.

Anyway, this is kind of a new thing in my house as the kids are getting older and while I try to act all nonchalant about it, my insides are about dying of embarrassment. But, as a parent, I will do what I have to do, even if it doesn't always work on the first try. Take for instance the other day....

The other day, one of the kids came home and out of the blue asked me, "Hey mom, what's doing it?" I about died as I tried to keep a straight face and ask where said child heard that. (I am not going to write which kid said it, as they would kill me if they found out.) The child said, "Well, some kids were talking about "doing it" so I was just wondering what they were talking about doing. So, what's doing it?" Oh man, did NOT see that one coming!

I tried my best to explain as little as I could, but still tried keep the child happy and feeling like they had learned something. And yes, the word sex came up. I explained in kid language that in order to have a baby, two adults would have to have sex. I kind of left it there and did not explain what sex was. I think I mumbled something about two people in love and have they have sex and then can have a baby. I was so nervous I don't remember a lot of what was said. Anyway, the child seemed happy and left the room, thank god.

The next night I was going out to dinner with a friend and I joked to my kids and asked, "Do I look sexy?" in a joking manner and twirling around showing off my outfit. The same child seemed bothered and jumped out of the chair and said, "Mom! You are not sexy! And you had better not come home with a baby! Sexy people have babies so you are not sexy and don't bring home a baby!"

Hummm, I think I am due for another talk....

2008 Cindy Breninger

RIP Ellie Nesler

To Ellie Nesler,

As a mom, I totally get what ya did, and would have done the same.

Type II Diabetes. A Day in the Life.

Type II Diabetes.
Let me be the first to say that I can't stand having it, but knowing I can't change that I have it, I am trying to learn to control it.

I don't have health insurance, so I don't have a doctor I can talk to. All my information has been from other people who have it and have been cool enough to share their knowledge with me. I am not going to write anything medical or anything close to medical, just my own account of what Diabetes feels like.

This is for those of you who don't have Diabetes, but know someone who does. What I want to write about is what it feels like in my body when the sugar or insulin or whatever it is, is "off". I say off, because I don't know the real term. Sometimes I just say "out of whack" as that seems to sum it up how it feels pretty well.

When my sugar is too high, I get antsy. I feel like there are ants crawling around under my skin and I want to take out my blood, clean it, and put it back in. It annoys me like crazy. It hurts in my kidneys and is just a constant pain. I also get extremely tired and crabby. My kids will attest to that. I get shaky and my vision gets blurry. Things that are normally easy, suddenly seem very hard and seem like they would require more energy than what I have left in me. Almost like being awake for 24 hours, or just being really sick, just feeling exhausted and everything seems difficult. I try really hard not to let it bother me, but after about a half hour of feeling like there are bugs crawling around under my skin and being tired, well, my cheerfulness gets the boot.

We all know that what goes up must come down. Same with sugar or insulin. When it crashes, or drops, or whatever the term is, it feels like an elevator that goes from the top of my head, down to my feet, and takes all my energy with it. It sucks. I get dizzy, lightheaded, tired, and just "out of whack".

Right now it is high and I don't feel right. I am annoyed and wish I didn't have this. I am trying to keep a good attitude as whining won't change anything. (But, sometimes it does help.) So with that said, that is my day right now. I wish I could somehow fix this as it is irritating as all hell. But, I can only try to control it, which I am trying to figure out every single day.

The weird part is, if I ate the exact same things that I did yesterday, and even though I was fine yesterday, today the Diabetes might say "screw you" and mess with me today and make it go high or low. That is the part that sucks. Every day is like trying to figure out what will work for the current day. Bug!

Ok, I am off my little soapbox now. Huh, whining does seem to help a little. ;)
Cindy Breninger
www.adayinthelifeofcindy.blogspot.com

Please Give to the Needy. No Tennis Bracelet Will Be Turned Away

Hi all,
I am just checking in to let you know I am still alive and kicking, just been busy. That silly "life" stuff just gets in the way of my little blog writing sometimes.

But, things are going along ok. No complaints. My baseball team, the Phillies, won the 2008 World Series (After waiting 28 years of my life for that win and it being their second championship in 126 years, I just can't say it enough and am super happy); my hockey team, the Detroit Red Wings, won the Stanley Cup AGAIN (Whoohoo!); and a ton of new pow-pow dumped in the hills so I have lots of fresh stuff to ski on. (I can never complain about too much snow...ever.)

Overall, things are not bad. Kids are healthy, I have a roof over my head, a job, food, my skis and my season pass, and enough gas to get to the ski resorts. Other than that, can't think of anything else that I need.

Well, wait a sec, I can think a few necessities that I need. These necessities would be stuff like, say, a new diamond tennis bracelet or diamond necklace, but other than that, can't think of a thing I would need. Oh wait, maybe a few extra hundred dollar bills, but that is it. Done. Finito.

Oh shoot, did I mention I need a few diamond rings too? And maybe a new car? How about an all expense paid vacation somewhere? No? I didn't mention those? Well, if you have any of those things left just sitting in the corner gathering dust, you just get yourself in the holiday spirit and give them to someone in need. (That would be me) You could kill two birds with one stone. You would get rid of those unwanted tennis bracelets and hundred dollar bills, and I would make sure they went to a loving, needy home. ;)

Have a great holiday season!

P.S. I was out on December 1 for Cindy's Christmas Song Game. My kids made it till the 6th or 7th. Whatev...there is always next year. Happy holidays! :)
Cindy Breninger

&^*$^#% Stupid Chestnuts! I am out!

Flippin' Chestnuts is on the flippin' radio and not more than five minutes since my last post. I am out. I got dinged three times. It is December 1, and I am officially out of Cindy's Christmas Song Game. Jeeze. Ho ho ho.

Update on Cindy's Christmas Song Game - Day 1

Oh bug. If you read my blog, then you might know about my annual December Christmas song game called Cindy's Christmas Song Game. If you do not, let me give you the long version short:

Starting December 1, of every year, pick three Christmas songs you DO NOT want to hear. If you hear one of your songs - over three seconds of the song - then you get dinged and only have two songs left. The object is to make it to Christmas day without getting dinged.

Sounds easy? Right? Riiiiiiight.

This morning my kids and I wrote down our three songs and happily got in the car to go to work and school. We all share one song in common, White Christmas, and we thought we would be safe for a few days.

Well, the Cindy's Christmas Song Game gods were not having it. First thing on Monday morning, December 1, 2008, (today) we got in the car, turned on the radio and BAM! White Christmas came on. The kids and I looked at each other in amazement and started cracking up. How in the heck could we be dinged first thing on December 1? Jeeze!

Oh, to make matters worse, I heard my second song, Little Drummer Boy, at lunch. That is usually my reserve song as I rarely hear it and it is usually the last song to get dinged. So, getting dinged with that one only leaves me with Chestnuts. Doh! Not starting off to a very good start this year.

I would love to hear how you are doing. I hope better than I am. My kids were smart about it this year and picked songs like Silent Night and The Christmas Canon. Who EVER hears the Canon??? Sneaky, but smart. Jeeze, now I have to go home and tell those two that I got dinged twice today and watch them snicker and giggle. Bug! hehe
Cindy Breninger
2008

Cindy's Christmas Song Game (REPOST)

It's almost that time of year again....Holidays, ornaments, giving, presents,and all the good that goes along with this time of year. I love the holiday season. I love almost everything about it, everything, that is, except three certain Christmas songs.

When I was ten, I went to the mall with my mom to buy Christmas presents. While waiting in one of the mile long lines to pay for our presents, I heard White Christmas, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, and Little Drummer Boy. There was a guy behind me who was whistling the songs along with them. Nothing sounds worse than a Christmas song being whistled. Drove me nuts.

The next store we went to, we ended up in another mile long line, and we heard the same three songs! Uggg!

The third store we went to, we ended up in yet another mile long line, and we heard the same three songs again! I vowed from then on, I never, ever wanted to hear those three songs again, especially while standing in line buying presents, and hence, Cindy's Christmas Song Game was born.

This game does not start until December 1 of every year, and it goes until Christmas Day. The rules are simple, and since it is my game, they are not to be broken, bent, twisted, or anything else, unless express written permission from me is granted; but, it won't be as I don't allow anyone to deviate from the rules. The goal is to make it to Christmas without hearing your three songs. If this happens, you win. If not, you lose.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. Pick three Christmas song you do not want to hear from December 1 until December 25.

2. If you hear one of your songs, whether on the radio, the television, a commercial, the mall, the post office, the grocery store, if your in-laws put in a holiday song CD that they randomly decide to play, or anywhere else, when you hear your song, you get dinged and are down one song. If you hear over three seconds of any of your songs, THREE SECONDS ONLY, you are dinged and that song is out. No second chances. None. And yes, it is appropriate to loudly exclaim, 'I got dinged!" People may stare, but who cares? You got dinged and they have a right to know.

2. Once you hear your first song, it is kind of a warning and you are on notice that you only have two songs left. Laugh now, but it gets stressful. You might be fiddling around with the radio and think, "I hope I don't accidentally click on a station playing a commercial with one of my songs." Or, "What if some carolers show up and sing one of my songs?" Or, "I hope the car next to me isn't blasting one of my songs." Or, "What if I hear it in the grocery store? The dentist's? A friend's house?" See? Stressful.

3. Once you have heard all three of your songs and been dinged, you are out. Done. Total loser. Don't feel bad as I have been playing this game going on 27 years and once was out on December 2 - not my best year. Only once have I made it Christmas Eve only to have my now ex-in-laws play a CD, unknowingly, with my last song. Doh! Dinged. Out. Loser. I have only made it once in 27 years if that tells you how difficult this is.

So, any questions? I am putting this up now so you can all get a head start and think of your songs. Pick good ones as once you pick them, you cannot change until the next year. I will re-post this on December 1 for a reminder. If you get the kids involved, they are awful and will make sure to point out your songs, just in case you missed one of them. Helpful little buggers, aren't they? So, anyway, you have a few days to think of your songs so write them down and no cheating!
(c)2007 Cindy Breninger All Rights Reserved.

Straight and Against 8. Cindy's Soapbox

Straight and against 8.

As my kids and I drove by the peaceful NO on 8 rally yesterday, my kids asked me, "How come you can marry any of those gay men at the rally, yet they can't marry each other?"

Good question...

Essentially, I could marry and divorce 100 times to gay men and straight men, and no one would care. Yet, gay people just want to get married to each other and some people act as if hell is freezing over. I just dont get the fear they feel. What are people so afraid of???

I have a fear, as I am afraid of lakes, so I just don't go near them. So, with that being said, if you are afraid of gays getting married, don't marry a gay. You say you're not afraid but just don't agree with gays getting married? Again, don't marry a gay, but don't stop gays from marrying other gays.

It won't hurt you or your marriage, so have a heart. This just doesn't sit well with me and disgusts me.

To all those who want to "protect the children", MY 8 AND 10 YEAR OLDS KNOW ABOUT GAY PEOPLE AND ARE JUST FINE WITH IT AND EVEN THEY FOUND THIS TO BE UNFAIR...huh.

Prop 8. Only One Penis Per Household, I Guess.

I was just thinking that I, a straight woman, could legally marry a gay man and no one could do a damn thing about it. Or a straight man could marry a gay lady and no biggie, or a gay man could marry a gay woman. But, heaven forbid if two, loving, gay people wanted to get married and enjoy life together.

Basically, I guess it comes down to anatomy. I could marry a woman-beating, child-rapist who is in jail for murder if I chose because he has a penis and I do not. That seems to be the only requirement. Only one penis per household.

Huh...But because two people have the same anatomy, they are shunned and forbidden, even if they are church-going, law-abiding, loving people. I work for a divorce attorney and this marriage being sacred between a man and woman crap is such a crock.

I don't know why I am so bothered by this, but I really am. It is so unfair and unjust and ticks me off.
Cindy

Two tins cans and some string is all I need

Well folks, times are a changin'. Something happened last night and it just keeps happening and I can't stop it no matter how hard I try. I want it to stop or slow down, but it just won't. This "it" I am referring to is technology. The older I get the more I realize just how much about technology I don't know. The more I realize I don't know, the more I don't want to know what I don't know.

My cell phone died yesterday and it was sad day. I was looking at my phone at lunch and the screen halfway blanked out. About an hour later the entire screen was gone. Dark. Done. Dang. Just when I was finally getting the hang of all the features on my phone, it goes and dies on me. I only had it about two years and I did not want to have to start over with another one. Doh!

The kids and I went to the phone store and started looking around. I wasn't looking for anything too fancy as I would never figure it out. My eight year old was off playing with one of the "fancier" phones, and by fancier, I mean that it had all kinds of buttons that were more than just the numbers zero though nine, and of course the talk and hang-up buttons. On one of the "fancy" phones, the whole thing sort of flipped to the side and then on the inside in a secret compartment, it had an entire mess of buttons and whistles and I believe it even had a kitchen sink. Way too high tech for some of us. Ahem cough cough.

The part that kills me is, I couldn't figure out how to open the fancy phone, yet within about 10 seconds, my daughter, who is eight, had somehow managed to open the thing, find her way around it, and was playing a game. How did she even know it had games? She is only eight and can figure this out, I am sooo not eight and couldn't even figure out how to open the thing. Oh gosh, it is exhausting!

I think technology is complicated and I feel that I am so far behind that I will never catch up. I am going to buy two tin cans and some string and whaalaaa! There you have it. Now that is my kind of phone.
2008 Cindy Breninger

Breast Cancer Walk. I Will Keep Walking

P.S. from my other posts. I really miss having a mom and wish she were here and these walks were unnecessary. (Wasn't she just so cute?) With that said, she isn't here and they are necessary, so until they find a cure, I will keep walking in the hopes of saving some other 16 year old from losing her mom.....
2008 Cindy Breninger

The Phillies win the Pennant!!!

Yes people, yes! After patiently waiting that last 15 years, last night my beloved Phillies (baseball for you non-sports fans) finally won the NL Pennant and are headed to the World Series! Thank you Dodgers. HAHAHAHAHA







As a lifelong Phillies' fan, I can't tell you how excited I am. I wish you could feel how much excitement I am feeling, but since you can't, just imagine the best thing ever and how happy you feel. Now double that feeling and that is how happy I am. Whoohoo!




I am driving my friends nuts because I won't shut up about that fact that the PHILLIES ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES. I totally don't care that I am driving them nuts because I have waited 15 years for this and nothing is going to make me any less happy, (or obnoxious as one person pointed out) so today is my day to enjoy and enjoy it I will.






Just so you can see the Phillies, I posted some pictures. Enjoy them. I love my Phillies and am sooooooo happy!





P.S. A little baseball smack talk for y'all. To all you Mets fans out there, I give you a big resounding HAHA! Same to the Dodgers fans. HAHA! Oh, they would be the first in line to say that to me, so it just feels soooo good to be able to say it to them. One more time and say it with me, HAHA!



Cindy Breninger 2008

When I Grow Up, I Want To Be A...

When I Grow Up, I Want To Be A...

The other day my son was telling me that when he grows up, he wants to be an astronaut. After we talked about that for a little while, he sincerely asked me, "So, Mom, when you grow up, what do you want to be?"

I about choked on my water I was drinking when he said "when you grow up", but his question got me to thinking. WHEN I GROW UP, I WANT TO BE A...Hummmm, the only thing I want to be, and have always wanted to be, is a ski bum. Yep. Great aspiration in life, I know. But it's true. Oh, stop snickering.

I am a legal secretary and have been for a long time. I enjoy the work, my bosses, co-workers, and have no complaints. But, if I had a magic wand and could do anything I wanted...SKI BUM IT IS!

My son asked what a ski bum was and I said, "Well, a ski bum pretty much travels around and skis all day, every day. No worries. No problems." Of course as an adult, we tend to think about the realities of being a ski bum, such as where would we live, eat, you know, stuff like that. But in my head, in my little dream job, I would just ski all day, every day, have no worries, and no problems. That's it.

Now, where do I fill out the job application?

Windshield Wipers Better than Chocolate?

Sometimes it's the simple things in life that bring us so much joy. Simple things like diamonds and chocolate cause joy, but I am not talking diamonds or chocolate, I am talking windshield wipers.

The other night it rained for the first time in about eight months. Since I haven't washed my car in about that same amount of time, when I turned on my wipers, dead bugs and old leaves got smeared all across the windshield and I couldn't see. I had to look through a gross splatter of green and yellow bug goo. Totally gross, I know.

The wipers were about two years old and did a horrible job of removing any of the dead things from the window. They did such a bad job that I only had one small, rainbow arch of clean to look through. I had to kind of scoot forward and hunch over just to look out the window. Not safe driving like that at night in the rain, so I decided to venture into an auto parts store. Let me be honest and say that I hate auto parts stores. I don't know what any of the parts are for, don't know what to do with them, and most of the time there isn't anyone to help find what I need. I try to avoid these places at all costs, well, except on a rainy night when I need to drive.

When the kids and I arrived at the auto parts store, the first thing I noticed was the smell. It was like oil and rubber and just yuck. My ten year old son, on the other hand, walked in and stopped in his tracks with his little nose smelling away. I think if they could bottle that smell, he would buy it and wear it as cologne. He even made a comment that it was his favorite smell.

Anyway, there was only one guy behind the counter and he had a huge line of three people. By how fast he was moving, I could tell they were going to be there for several days, so I had time to find some wipers.

Now, here is my message to the wiper maker/packaging people: Please put them by brand of car (or is that make? Whatever), year, heck, even color of the car would be helpful. Anything. Help a girl out and tell me what wipers will fit my car. Instead, they have them all listed like, 43A, 24B....what does that mean???? I was standing there clueless and confused until some random customer came over to help me. Apparently you have to look up the kind of car and the year in a book that hangs on a string, and then find the number that corresponds to the number on the wiper box. Easy? Sounds like it, but there is more. Did you know that wipers come ONE TO A BOX??? What good does one wiper do me? Oh, not only that, but the left and right, or passenger and driver, or front and rear wipers, all have different numbers. I can't believe how much trouble it takes just to buy windshield wipers.

Well, I finally found the right ones and luckily the guy who helped me was nice enough to go out in the rain and put them on for me. I was kind of in a bad mood as it took me forever to figure this out, and I had two tired and hungry kids, and I just wanted to get home.

The kids and I got in the car and I turned on the wipers and SWOOSH. OH MY GOSH, they wiped the windshield clean! No more dead bug goo, dead leaves, streaks...just clean and clear. SWOOSH. Oooh! There it went again! It made it all clean and clear again! SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH! I was so excited because after two years, I could finally see out of my windshield without scooting forward and hunching over. Suddenly, all was right in my world. The next day the weather had cleared up, so, just for kicks, I turned on the wipers with the soapy water that is in the car and SWOOSH SWOOSH - no problem-o! Crystal clear.

Ok, so, I am amused more easily than others and I realize this. But oh my gosh people, I just can't tell you how excited I was to see out of my windshield. Was it better than diamonds or chocolate? No. But it was close.
2008 Cindy Breninger

The Pedometer, 10,000 Steps, and Me

TEN THOUSAND steps? Did I read that right? To lose weight, it is recommended that a person walk TEN THOUSAND steps PER DAY? PER DAY...TEN THOUSAND steps. That, to a self-proclaimed lazy person, is A LOT of steps.

My son and I both got pedometers the other day and thought it would be fun to see how many hours it would take us until we hit the goal of TEN THOUSAND steps in one day.

When I got off work yesterday, I picked him up from school and we decided to compare steps. I told him I had walked almost TWO THOUSAND and then dared him to beat my number. I was pretty sure of myself...and then my son told me his number. His number was THIRTEEN THOUSAND. Yes, you read that right, THIRTEEN THOUSAND steps by five o'clock. My smug little son looked at me and said, "Well mom, you better get walking. You only have eight thousand steps until your goal, and only ELEVEN THOUSAND steps until you catch up to me!" Snicker snicker snicker.

I went home that night and started walking. And walking. And walking. I walked until it clicked over to the TEN THOUSAND and then I sat down and didn't move. I didn't move mainly because ONE: I didn't want to; and TWO: I didn't think I could. TEN THOUSAND STEPS. Are you kiddin' me?

My son ended up walking over SEVENTEEN THOUSAND steps yesterday and he wasn't sore, he wasn't tired, he wasn't anything. He was just fine. I hate pedometers.
Cindy Breninger
2008 All Rights Reserved

PINKTASTIC! BREAST CANCER WALK

In August, 1987, I lost my mom to breast cancer. I was 16 and learned first hand how cancer can, er, does affect a family.








For the last several years, my sister, our kids, and I walk the breast cancer walk in memory of my mom. Our little group dresses up for the walk every year. We pile on the pink. There is no such thing as too much pink in our group. Last year, or maybe the year before, a lady walking near us said, "You girls are PINKTASTIC!" Yes we were!











I can count on one hand, plus a few fingers from the other hand, how many people I know with breast cancer, and well, that is just too many. So ladies, let's be pinktastic and continue to be pinktastic until there is a cure and we no longer have to walk. Pile on the pink and let's hope a cure is found soon!
2008 Cindy Breninger
All Rights Reserved

2008 JDRF Walk in Sacramento

My kids, sister, niece, a few friends, and me, all woke up very, very, very early this morning and headed out to the capitol to begin the 2008 Juvenile Diabetes walk. This was the first JDRF walk I have participated in and it was a great walk.

We walked behind a group of about ten people who were all dressed as pirates. They had pirate bandanas, swords, everything. One of the "pirates" was pushing a young boy in a wheelchair, his group was walking for him. Since we were behind the group of pirates, I had plenty of time, or 3.5 miles, to read the backs of their shirts. Printed on their shirts was a pirate map. The "treasure" was the cure for diabetes. How cute is that?

Walking hand in hand with my kids, I kept thinking that that little boy could have easily been mine, or any one of our kids. With that thought, I hope they find the "treasure" soon. Those kids deserve it.
Cindy Breninger
2008 All rights reserved.

Following my blog

Hi all,
If you would like to follow my blog, please click on the link to the left. Thanks!
Cindy

Parenthood. Never A Dull Moment

"Go to your room and do not come out until you learn how to smile!"

Oh lordy, lordy, lordy. Those exact words actually came out of my mouth over the weekend and were directed at one of my kids. How did we go from "Say Cheese!" to that? Easily. Take one tired child who doesn't feel like smiling and mix in one over-eager picture-taking mom, and wha-laaa! Before you know it, the next words out of your mouth will be, "Go to your room and do not come out until you learn how to smile!"

Parenthood. Never a dull moment.

Cindy Breninger

If you oppose gay marriage...

DO NOT MARRY A GAY PERSON.

End of Story.
I am really having a hard time trying to find the problem.
I am straight, but have lots of friends who are not. I want them to be happy.
Humm.
Cindy

Juvenile Diabetes Walk 2008

Hi all,
My sister, my kids, and my friend Tonya will be walking in the Juvenile Diabetes Walk on October 5. Tonya's son, Josh, has Juvenile Diabetes and so do a few other kids I know; I am walking for them. Here is Tonya and Josh....
If you would like to donate to the walk, here is the link:

http://walk.jdrf.org/

Under the Donate to a Walker, enter my name, Cindy Breninger, and the team is Help cure Josh, Amanda and the rest. Tonya is kicking my butt in donations so even if you want to donate $5.00, it would be appreciated.
:)


If you would like to tag along and walk with us, please let me know.

:)
Cindy Breninger

Oh gosh, I just realized that I spelled my sister's friend's name incorrectly. It was not Amie, but Amy. Her funeral was so beautiful, which is fitting for a beautiful lady.

I won't go into too many details about her funeral, but one part that really touched me was at the end. She said she wanted to have a celebration, like a party. When the sevice was over, everyone was given a balloon as we were leaving the church. There must have been about 200 balloons.

As the minister counted down, Three....two...one, we all simultaneously let go of our balloons. What a beautiful sight to have been standing under 200 balloons as they drifted up in the sky. Very beautiful. That image will stay with me forver and I know the memory of Amy will stay with so many. :)
Cindy Breninger

The Best Thing Ever. Thank you!

OhmygawdBecky...I have seen it! I have seen the Best Thing I Have Ever Seen. Ever!

Earlier today while I was running an errand, I kind of stumbled across what I am calling a slight miracle, or dare I say, the end of the rainbow? Yes, I do dare say!

I was driving around and there, like a scene from a movie, I looked over to my left and I swear, rays of light were beaming down upon a KFC/A&W combo restaurant. Uh-huh. Take a moment to let that sink it. A KFC/A&W combo restaurant. The best part is that it has a drive through. I flipped a U-Turn and entered.

Oh man oh man oh man. They had two menus to choose from, two menus! One for KFC and one for A&W. I could order something from both places at the same time if I wanted, and I wanted...and I did.

This got me to thinking, what could possibly be better??? Ahhh, my two personal favorites, Carl's Jr./Taco Bell. Can you imagine? My mouth waters just thinking about it. Or, what about Jim Boys/Subway. A taco and a sub at the same time and place? Lovin' it! The list just goes on and on....

Ahhh, I have now seen the Best Thing Ever...Thank you whoever made this wonderful thing. Thank you.

Cindy

Only 23. RIP Amie.

My sister's friend, Amie, passed away this morning. She had cancer. She was only 23.

Only 23, that is so young.

I didn't know her very well, but was fortunate enough to have met her. She was funny, a true smartass, and she made me laugh. It was impossible not like her.

My heart goes out to her friends and family.

I know this is cliche, but give your kids that extra hug. Life is short.

Only 23........

Summer is Dragging

Ahhhh man, this summer is dragging. I am so ready to head up the hill and put on my skis. But, that might be a bit lame with no snow and all. I'm just saying....

:)
Cindy Breninger

Think snow.

Warren Miller Ski Movies-Heed my warning!!!

Last night I watched a Warren Miller ski movie. I am strongly advising anyone who loves the snow NOT to do this in the summer. It about killed me as I was sitting in the 100 degree weather watching all that beautiful snow and skiing and more snow and more skiing....UGGG! Don't do it! Look away, change the channel, leave the room!

This morning my feet were itchin' to put on my ski boots, but since I thought I might look a bit silly running around the office in them and they didn't really go with my work outfit, I took them off and put them back in the closet.

Wait! I mean, riiiiight, like I would put them on in July. Pffft. Silly. Who wears ski boots in July? Ahem cough cough.

Anyhooo, if a Warren Miller movie somehow ends up on your television set in the summer: Look away, people, look away!

Ugggg.
Cindy

A little something-something

Hi all,
Here is a little something-something the Sacramento Bee put in today's paper. My kids are excited because their names made it in.
Cindy

I am better the second time around. Really. Look it up.

Hi all,
Well, things are definitely better around here since the last time I wrote. The last time I was on here, I was feeling horrible and I have a reason; my sugar was out-of-whack. (Thanks Diabetes). When my sugar is out-of-whack, as I like to say, I just don't feel like myself. Not cool. Things just aren't right and until I get it back to normal, I am just bugged.

When that happens, sugar out-of-whack, I tend to write and it makes me feel better. I write what I am thinking, feeling, or just about whatever happens to be floating around in my brain. I believe the legal description for my must-share-everything-with-the-world-or-I-might-bust is called TMI, or Too Much Information. Really. Look it up.

Once I get to typing, words come spouting through my fingers, onto the keyboard, and up onto the computer screen for your reading enjoyment. Sometimes, it may not be so enjoyable, but nonetheless, it is there for you to read, and I feel better; it is a win-win situation from where I sit.

I hope you all are having a great day and I will be back spouting more of my ramblings very soon. I hope you enjoy. If not, re-read what I wrote as I heard it might be better the second time around.
2008 Cindy Breninger
All Rights Reserved

Presley - Cheeky Little Bugger!

Well, we have now had our new kitten, Presley, about a month. I have never been a fan of the furry things, but this little guy as grown on me. Maybe because he can fit in the palm of my hand...





...or is just so darn cute. Not sure why I like him, but I do.
Well, except this morning when I woke up, rolled over, and boom! there he was. He was IN MY BED...

Not only did he sleep in my bed without asking, but when he woke up, he stretched and then rolled over and about pushed me out of my own bed...









Cheeky little bugger!

2007 Cindy Breninger
All Rights Reserved.

Sometimes it is Ok to lie to your kids. This truth stuff is overrated!

Sometimes, I am starting to think, it is ok to lie to your kids. Usually, I am very honest and open with mine, but recently something has come up wherein not only will my poor son possibly be scarred for life, but it has made me re-evaluate this whole "truth" stuff.

Where I live, the weather has been hot. I mean HOT with a capital H.O.T. The TV weather people have been saying it has been around 105 degrees. But, what they really mean is, it is more like 175.

I am very pale and always have been. I go from white to pink and then fade back to white. I rarely have a tan as I work all day in an office and I hate being in the heat. I would rather do just about anything than have to suffer outside when it gets hotter than 85 degrees. The bad part is, I am pale and there is a very real possibility that I might glow in the dark. The worst part is, I want to wear shorts, but I don't want to blind the neighbors.

I don't really mind being pale as it means I haven't spent my time being hot. But, with the weather being so awful, I have been getting sunburned way more than I should. This got me to thinking: How could I get some color and spend the least amount of time in the heat? Awww, yes, indoor tanning. (Side note: I am not promoting indoor tanning, just saying I have gone a few times and might go a few more. I know the risks and have decided to try a few anyway.)

When you tan indoors, you can either wear a bathing suit or go, ummm, nooodie. I choose the latter. My kids have been going with me to the tanning salon, but they stay out in the lobby area and have no idea what is behind that door I disappear through.

Once behind the little door, you get down to whatever you want to wear, or not wear, lie in the tanning bed, push the start button, and wha-laa, insta-tan! It seems to be working for me as I am usually a shade of bright white, but now am more of a cream color.

Well, let's get back to why I have been rethinking my position on telling kids the truth. Yesterday, my son and I were running some errands, I went tanning, and then we stopped in at a pizza place to get a pizza to go.

I was flipping through a magazine when I noticed my son had a very serious look on his face. He was looking at my feet and my arms when he asked me, "Mom, when you tan, how does it get through your clothes?"

Me: "Ummm, how does WHAT get through your clothes?" I asked still looking at the magazine.

Son: "You know, the tan rays? When you go in that room and come out with a tan, how do they get through your clothes?" He was serious.

Me: Humm, I guess I never told him about this and didn't really want to discuss it in a pizza place, so I just kind of nonchalantly said, "They don't go through your clothes." Then I went back to pretending to read my magazine and hoping he wouldn't press the issue any further. He pressed.

Son: "If they don't go through your clothes, then how does the tan get on your skin and not just your feet?"

Me: Thinking he is never going to drop this until I tell him thought, "Ohhhh, crud," while fidgeting with my collar, and bracelet, and not making eye contact.

Son, "Well?" he said still waiting...

Me: "Well, ummm, when I get in the tanning bed, I, ummmm, well, ummmm, I don't wear any clothes."

He was speechless and shocked! His mouth literally dropped open. He couldn't talk. He just sat there, mouth to the floor, totally grossed-out. I think he had a visual of his mom lying there with no clothes on and I am sure he wanted to get some soap and scrub that image right out of his brain. Poor kid.

He thought about this for a short while, but I think he thought I was kidding because he said, "No. Really. You HAVE to wear clothes. You are a mom and moms wear clothes! Now, how does it REALLY get through them?"

Me: Gawd, where is my pizza? Can this pizza cook any slower? "Well, ummm, son, ummmm, no, not while tanning. Most of us go noodie." I thought that by saying noodie instead of nude, it would have lessened the gross out factor, but judging by my son's face, I don't think it helped.

Son: "Riiiiight mom. That's a good one. No clothes. Uh-huh. Sure. Right."


Ding! "Order number 20..." Whoohoo! Our pizza was ready and I was saved by the bell.

My son asked me again in the car and I again told him. He still didn't believe me, but I bet he is going to use the industrial size bottle of soap on his brain tonight. Poor kid. Dang, I am thinking this is one of those times I should have lied.
2008 (c) Cindy Breninger
All Rights Reserved.

Cinco De May-Oh, is it like Cinco De My-Oh???

So yesterday I was walking out of the grocery store with the clerk who was pushing my cart when an elderly lady who was walking into the store saw a sign for Cinco De Mayo. The elderly lady looks at my cartpusher girl and asks, "When is this Cinco De May-O?" She said it like "May...Oh", not "My-O".

The clerk deadpanned looked at me and then turned to her and said, "It is in May." The lady then asked, "Yes, but when in May?"

The clerk and I didn't say anything but instead looked away and pushed my cart outside. The minute we got outside, we both lost it and started cracking up.

So, everyone, have a great Cinco De May-Oh! I do believe it is sometime in May!
Cindy Breninger

Don't Pee On the Rug!

Wow, what a crazy couple of days...but crazy in a good way.

First, my kids were both sick for a week, and then one got better and the other got pneumonia. We found out he had it on Wednesday. Having a kid with that is scary and nerve racking and will result in many nights of little sleep.

Then on Thursday, my sister called and said she was on her way to the hospital as her water broke. Oh, she was pregnant and well, going to have her baby.

I went to the hospital about 3:30 pm on Thursday and then we waited...and waited...and waited until 4:32 am Friday morning. Let me tell you, watching someone being born is crazy - crazy in a good way. One minute, she was in her tummy, and the next, she was out and breathing and a little person. It was just so cool. It was crazy, incredible, and everything good all in one. I am so happy to have a new niece, who is super cute! Both mom and daughter are doing great. :)

Oh, the kids and I also somehow ended up getting this on Saturday...



His name is Presley (We also have an Elvis, so the name fits. Plus, being a huge Elvis fan, how could I NOT name him that???) He is sooo cute and friendly and adorable!

I think it is cool to have a new niece and a new kitten in the same weekend. I can't wait to watch my niece grow up and see what kind of a person she becomes. As for the cat, well, I just want him not to pee on the rug.
2008 Cindy Breninger

I Thought Wrong

My nine year old son is pretty sick today. He and his little sister were both out of school all last week with fevers and throwing up. She feels better...I thought he was feeling better...I thought wrong.

Turns out my little guy has pneumonia, an ear infection, and some asthma problems and is not only not feeling better, but is feeling worse than the worst he felt last week. This is his ninth day of being sick. I wish I could trade places with him; and I would in a second, if only that were possible.
Cindy Breninger
2008

I need a vacation

The other day I was at work frantically typing something that had to get out yesterday while also answering the phone when a client approached my desk. Instead of saying, "I will be right with you," I looked up and said, "Hi, can I put you on hold for a moment?" I need a vacation.

Cindy Breninger
www. adayinthelifeofcindy. blogspot.com