Perfect Moment Mondays with The Tobys

Hello this rainy, wet, and dare I say, dreary Monday. It's just glorious and cozy and so great to finally have winter. I felt cheated out of winter until these latest storms hit the coastline. I digress as usual as the topic that I am to post today pertains to Perfect Moment Monday. I was feeling like I didn't really have any perfect moments to share these last couple of weeks. Most days, (except when I'm in the throes of PMS), I'm pretty darn content with an abundance of perfect moments that are kind of boring. I recognize this is a good thing.

My perfect moment occurred while reading an email from the Maven of Perfect Moments, Lori of Weebles Wobblog. I had nominated Lori for The Toby Award bestowed by our Dear Mrs.Spit to acknowledge our "quiet heroes". I would like to share my nomination that I sent to Mrs.Spit regarding Lori.

Lori is so deserving of this sweet recognition for many reasons. She is an adoption midwife, helping educate and support families through the process of adoption. She teaches and inspires by sharing her stories of growing her family through open adoption.

I appreciate Lori for being a promoter of Perfect Moment Mondays ( http://weebleswobblog.blogspot.com/search/label/perfect%20moment ) which is a blog sharefest on fostering appreciation for our abundance.

Lori is also an avid supporter of the Adoption, Infertility, and Loss Community as seen with her work with Lost/Found Connections and Stirrup Queen sites.

Thank you so much for this opportunity to recognize someone I hold in high regard. Her posts always make me smile and make me want to meet her for lunch or a margarita.

Mrs.Spit posted the Award on Sunday and I appreciated the acknowledgement of Lori and her love and commitment for creating families. Lori, in turn, gave me a most Perfect Moment when I read this email from her this morning:

I replied on Mrs Spit's blog, but let me reiterate that I am so honored and humbled. That the award comes from you makes it even more special.

Thank you so much for really hearing my message. It's what every blogger/writer wants: to be understood and "gotten."

Thank you to both of these kind women for the perfect moments of genuine connection and caring. Thank you also for taking the time to read and I send my best for you to have a multitude of perfect moments!

Eight is More than Enough?

I have been disheartened about the recent news about the birth of octoplets in California with the use of Assisted Reproductive technology.(ART)

The clinicians who initiated this pregnancy are reprehensible and unethical, and did not follow clinical guidelines and standards of care. I fear it will cause a negative cultural mindset against ART.
I am concerned for the children. The mother's pyschological state is suspect at best. She has no means of support for these children, (besides hawking them like a sideshow attraction). It looks like my husband and I, and all the taxpayers of California, just gained ourselves 8 more dependents in addition to the 6 children and the mom too!
When I learned of the news of these octoplets, I was reminded of a billboard on the Flor.ida Turnp.ike that reads, "If you can't feed them, don't breed them."
What were these so called adults thinking?

Updated: I wanted to Thank Annie, Mamma Val, and Mrs.Spit for bringing up the crucial issue of the severe risks to the mother's health in carrying such high order multiples. I was amiss in not mentioning this in my initial post. (Not enough caffeine?) I thank you all for addressing yet another ethical issue pertaining to something that feels like it's out of a science fiction novel.

Observations while driving

These are my observations while driving the highways and streets of Santa Clarita -

People in California can't drive in the rain. They drive too fast, tailgate, and have no clue about how to deal with puddles or skidding. The concept of safe stopping distance is completely alien to the California driver.

I saw a bunch of human skeletons loaded in the back of a truck on the freeway. What would cause alarm and distress in other cities, is just another day of transporting stuff to the film set. I still think it's cool to see all the TV filming nearby. I walked my dog through the local park as the set for the TV show, NCIS, was being "struck" or taken down.

The Department of Motor Vehicles office was closed today, part of the closure of California state offices due to the budget mess. There was a guard posted at the door. Two days a month, state offices are now closed with the employees "furloughed" without pay. Ten percent of their pay to be exact. Their pay from the 6th biggest economy in the world.

What a crazy world.

I should be working or cleaning or something

I should be working or cleaning the house, but here I am with another post, mostly about nothing.

My new I.touch is here, Happy Dance, tap, tap, tap, wiggle, wiggle, and my whole library was restored like a charm. Happy Dance again, wiggle, wiggle, wave arms in air! I'm very pleased to get my upgraded electronic toy, can't you tell? I was looking at some games in their application store, they actually have a Yard Sale and Redecorating Game, how cool is that?

In other news in Sense of Humorville, I have connected with a few close friends from my home town with my 30th high school reunion face.book page. Even though we haven't been in touch for a decade, it's amazing how we just pick up the conversation pretty much where we left off. It's wonderful to connect with these girlfriends and chatting with them is like a comfy pair of old shoes. Not all of the feelings dredged up are all positive, warm, and fuzzy, I've thought about and revisited some very negative and trying times and experiences through this cyperspace pre-reunion. Again, things that haven't seen the light of day or consciousness in a decade or more. Even though I made major screw ups in high school and beyond, they, along with the good stuff, have made me who I am today. It's a mantra of acceptance and forgiveness for my choices. I think it makes me a nicer and kinder person.

I have some blog housekeeping to attend this week including a #6 picture meme from Marvelous Muse Swings and an Honest Scrap award from Amazing Ashley. (I am in the mood to alliterate names today.)

So, regarding much ado about nothing, please let me know-

What should you be doing?
What are you doing the happy dance about?
What makes you a kinder person?
Any blog housekeeping on your horizon?

DeCode Wednesdays

Greetings this beautiful DeCode Wednesday. I am playing along with Zen Ventures today where you post a picture and folks try to identify it or what is unique or different about the picture.

Does anyone recognize the famous land formation in the picture above? Or where they might have seen it before??


It's Vasquez Rocks in Northern Los Angeles County near my home. In addition to being a great place to hike and rock climb, it has also been the setting for many TV shows and movies including Star Trek, Little Miss Sunshine, CSI, and many others.

Thank you for your guess and if you ever are in Los Angeles, please let me know and we can go for a hike in this beautiful place.

Sympathetic Ear, anyone?

I am proud to say that I am usually good natured and even tempered. However, I am human, even more so now, that it is apparent that perimenopause is kicking my a$$ with a fair degree of moodiness, insomnia, and night sweats. I have observed people, (my husband specifically), don't take kindly ever to me having a bad day or expressing negativity. I often feel like I have to edit my negative feelings. My girlfriend puts it perfectly when she said, "Sometimes you just want your husband to just nod his head and say, "Those Ba$tards." I have learned I have to use a disclaimer when I need to vent to my husband, I will tell him, "I don't need you to judge or solve this problem, I just need you to support me and listen." With the disclaimer, Mr.Sense of Humor "gets it" (well most of the time). After almost 16 years of being together and 15 years of marriage, I am still learning about marriage and our relationship. I am still learning guys feel a need to fix things when all that's called for is a sympathetic ear.

Movie and Reunion Reflections

My husband and I saw Slum.Dog Millionaire last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an engaging and suspenseful movie that told the story of how a young man from the slums of Mumbai wins the biggest prize on a game show. This is a wonderful movie that lifted my heart and made me reflect on my own excess of good fortune and extraordinary wealth of my country and home. It is humbling to see the extreme poverty and street children of the third world and how they struggle for the most basic necessities; food, shelter, and safety. My pets have a better standard of living than these children and it's heartbreaking. You can't help but think, except for the circumstance of birth, there but for the Grace of God go I...

I got an announcement that my 30th High School reunion is planned for this summer. I had really wanted to go, but now that the date is set, I'm not so sure. I would love to see all my friends again, but it seems a little overwhelming. The High School reunion has their own facebook page and I've been sending some messages back and forth to my classmates. It's great to connect with some old friends, it's like opening up an old book I haven't read in a decade. I can't believe it's been thirty years since high school and we all still remember each other. (Well, at least most people.)

I have no plans today except to watch the commercials for NFL SuperBowl. I do not like watching sports (Boring!!!), but the commercials are alot of fun. (Usually better than the game.) I have 3D glasses for a few commercials will be in 3D. Pretty cool.

Well, off to fold laundry and tidy up the house before the Big Ad Blitz. Best to you and yours this Sunday.