This or That Thursday

Hey all you blog fiends! This is the first installment of This or That Thursday. Every Thursday I’ll give you some choices, and you comment on which choice you prefer. You can elaborate why…or not. I’ll also put a poll up so vote there as well!
We’ll start with a simple one that you really don’t have to think about too much…

Coffee or Tea?

My preference is tea. I have never enjoyed the taste of coffee. Ever. I drink hot tea when I’m sick or want to stick my pinky out. I love Fuse Green Tea. I drink that a few times a week. This morning, however, was -10 when I woke up with 30 below wind chill. I will probably make the kids and I hot chocolate with marshmallows soon!

Don't forget to click on the poll at the right!

Tune for Tuesday

Today’s Tune for Tuesday comes from a band that was popular in the late nineties. Third Eye Blind is one of my favorite bands. Their self-titled debut album came out in 1997. It was a huge success with hits such as “Semi-charmed Life,” “How’s It Going to Be,” and “Graduate.” My favorite song from the album is “Narcolepsy.” That CD was continuously playing in my car throughout 1997 and 1998. I saw them in concert in 1998; they were just as good live. Third Eye Blind came out with another album, Blue, in 1999. “Never Let You Go” and another one of my favorites, “Anything,” were on that album. Their 2003 album, Out of the Vein, was not as much of a success as the first two. I own all three albums, and frequently listen to their music. It is rumored that Third Eye Blind will be coming out with another album this year. I would love to listen to some new material from them.
One of their hits from their first album is featured in the Jim Carrey film, Yes Man.
Listen to Jim Carrey sing the Third Eye Blind song, “Jumper.”


Now listen to Third Eye Blind’s “Jumper.” Third Eye Blind rocks!

Golden Globes

Last night I watched the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards. This award show celebrates television and movies, so it is jam packed with celebrities.

Here are some of the night's winners (I don’t have a complete list... Who do I look like, Mario Lopez? And please don’t compare my abs with his…).
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Kate Winslet, The Reader
I didn’t see The Reader but love her.
Best Original Song in a Motion Picture Bruce Springsteen “The Wrestler”
I’m not a Springsteen fan (GASP!), but out of the clips I heard, I did like this song the best of the five nominated.
Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical – Vicky Christy Barcelona
Haven’t seen any of the nominated movies, I need to get out more!
Best Actor TV Series Drama - Gabriel Byrne “In Treatment”
Michael C. Hall of "Dexter" was one of the actors nominated, I want to get that DVD series set to watch someday...
Best Actress TV Series Drama – Anna Paquin “True Blood”
Yay! I so wanted Sookie to win!
Best Animated Feature Film – Wall-E That movie deserved it!
Best Actress in Motion Picture Musical or Comedy - an overwhelmed Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Actor in – Heath Ledger The Dark Knight (he got a standing ovation as the director accepted it)
Best Actress in TV Series - Laura Linney “John Adams”
Best Actor in TV Series Musical or Comedy - Alec Baldwin ”30 Rock” Funny show!
Best Actor TV Series, Mini Series or TV Movie - Paul Giamatti “John Adams”
Best TV Series Musical or Comedy – “30 Rock” Oh Yeah! Tina Fey rocks!
Best Actress TV Series Musical or Comedy – Tina Fey “30 Rock” Sweet! She looked awesome in her dress, too. Funny speech.
Best Actor Motion Picture Musical or Comedy - Colin Farrell In Bruges
Best Actress Motion Picture Drama – a teary eyed Kate Winslet Revolutionary Road
I have to go see that! She had two wins tonight!
Best TV Series Drama – Mad Men (wanted “True Blood” to win…)
Best Actor Motion Picture Drama – Mickey Rourke The Wrestler (Wow!)
Best Motion Picture Drama – Slum Dog Millionaire

The ladies looked lovely tonight. I love seeing all the beautiful dresses and jewelry. (I’ll know just what style to wear at the next ball I attend :0)
Best Dressed – Demi Moore, Beyonce, Evan Rachel Wood, Christina Applegate
Best Accessory - Loved Eva Mendes’ turquoise necklace.
The men looked dapper as well. My pick for best dressed is Kevin Connolly of “Entourage.”


RANDOM THOUGHTS WHILE WATCHING THE GLOBES
That’s Sting? He looks quite different as a brunette with a beard.
How in the world is Eva Longoria walking in that tight dress?
Whoa, haven’t seen Mickey Rourke in a while.
Squeal! Johnny Depp!
Why isn’t Tom Cruise jumping up and down on his chair?
My mom is just like Demi Moore. She doesn’t look her age, and she reminds her daughter not to slouch!
I think Colin Farell just winked at me.
Awww, Kate is making Leo cry.
I’m so glad I can fast forward through this-it’s three freaking hours!
Eh, this award show was not as funny or spontaneous as in past years…

Poetry Friday

I have had babies on the mind lately. No, I’m not pregnant, but I have a few people close to me that are in their third trimester! Tomorrow I am attending a cousin’s baby shower. I’m so excited to visit with the family, and see what cute little things are in store for this sweet precious one. Another cousin that is due soon will also be there. As I write this, a friend could be heading to the hospital for baby number four. I adore babies. I treasured the time I had when my children were newborns. I loved just gazing at them, snuggling them, feeding them. I also remember that anxious time waiting to meet that special little person.
This haiku is for Amy, Liz, and Ginny (plus Megan and MK, too!).

Anxious mom awaits.
Flutters whisper in morse code,
“I’ll be here soon, Mom.”

Below is a picture of me when I was pregnant with my third child, JD. This picture was taken about a week before he was born. Can you tell he was a big baby? 9 pounds, 13 ounces! It’s not just the horizontal stripes that make me look huge in this picture!



Today’s Poetry Friday is being hosted by Picture Book of the Day. Check out the fab links!

I said Good Day!

Yesterday was a good day. I sent out my signed contract to Highlights. They purchased a word puzzle for a future issue of Highlights Puzzlemania. I’m pretty excited to get my foot in the door of such a great magazine. To quote London Tipton, “Yay, me!” (that’s a Disney channel reference).
Last night one of my favorite TV programs finally aired its season premiere. Nip/Tuck is in its 6th season. My husband and I started watching it in its second season. My mother-in-law loved the show, and we happened to watch an episode when she stayed with us after our daughter was born. Later, the FX network reran the first season then second season again, so we started watching it from the beginning (but in its second year).
Nip/Tuck is a medical show with plastic surgeons, Christian Troy and Sean McNamara, as the main characters. They are best friends and business partners. Nip/Tuck does show graphic surgeries (I cover my eyes), but the series is really about Sean and Christian and their messed up lives. This show is bizarre, fascinating, and just plain crazy! I seriously don’t know how the writers can keep coming up with the unique situations for the characters week after week. My hubby and I exclaim, “OMG!” or “No way!” at least once every episode because there is something shocking, disturbing, or overtly racy. It is definitely for mature audiences due to the adult situations and violence that is showcased in most episodes.
What did we think of yesterday’s premiere? Of course, it opens up with the cliff hanger full of blood and gore from last season. We are so involved with the characters after watching it intently for years, we want to know what happens next. There was the usual over the top story line touched with dark humor (Christian’s new puppy is named Lipo). My hubby and I discussed how there is nothing these guys haven’t gone through, but yet the writers think of something else! But we are happy it is back and ready to see how the rest of the season unfolds. Nip/Tuck is still wickedly good.
If you do watch Nip/Tuck, what did you think about the premiere? If not, what show do you HAVE to watch each week?
Here’s a promo clip:

Tune for Tuesday

2008 was a good year for music and concerts. I attended eight concerts this year-Queensryche/Don Dokken, Duran Duran, Blondie, Cruefest with Motley Crue/Buckcherry/Papa Roach/Sixx AM/Trapt, Great White/LA Guns/Nelson, Foo Fighters/Three Days Grace, Buckcherry/Shinedown/Saving Abel, and Smashing Pumpkins. I also downloaded lots of cool songs for my Ipod.

My top 8 rock singles for 2008 are the following:

8. "G.L.O.W." by Smashing Pumpkins
7. "Saints of Los Angeles" by Motley Crue
6. "Love Remains the Same" by Gavin Rossdale
5. "Long Road to Ruin" by Foo Fighters
4. "Human" by the Killers
3. "Inside the Fire" by Disturbed
2. "Afterlife" by Avenged Sevenfold
1. "Pork and Beans" by Weezer

Honorable Mention pop songs are "Disturbia" by Rihanna and "4 Minutes" by Madonna/Justin Timberlake.
What was your favorite song of 2008?
Today’s Tune for Tuesday is "Long Road to Ruin" by Foo Fighters, number five on my list. Foo Fighters are one of my favorite groups. I have seen them in concert a few times, most recently in August for the Harley Davidson 105th anniversary celebration. Pictured are my mom, my sister and I at that concert. If you notice the tshirt I am wearing, you will see that shirt featured in the next video. "Long Road to Ruin" isn’t my favorite song from the 2007 Foo album ("The Pretender" is), but it is pretty good. The video, like many Foo Fighter videos, is original and funny. At the end of the video, the lead singer, Dave Grohl, crosses his hands in front of his face at the ending notes of the song. When we are in the car and hear this song, the whole family mimics the hands when the song ends. You will see what I mean when you view the video.

Check out Long Road to Ruin. Saul Goode!

Polark Picks

Books! Books! I love books! I have always loved to read, and now I, like many of you, share that love of reading with my three children. With three children (ages 4, 6, 9), I read a wide variety of children’s literature. Each child has a bookcase bulging with books in his/her bedroom. We have bookcases in the living room and a basket full of books in two other rooms. Most nights I read a picture book to my four year old, a picture book or chapter of a chapter book to my first grader, and a chapter to my fourth grader. It gives me a little alone, snuggle time with each individual, and I love to hear each child’s reaction to the book. Once in a while, I’ll read a picture book or poetry to all of them at the same time. We have read some new publications and several classics in 2008.

Here are some of my faves of the year:

My 4 year old, JD, is all boy. He loves to rough and tumble, he loves superheroes, he loves cars and trucks. Therefore we have to read the Spiderman, Transformers, Power Ranger thin paperback readers from the grocery store. Not my favorite, but boy, does he love them. I also sneak in my selections, maybe a Dr. Seuss or a Jane Yolen How Do Dinosaurs book from time to time. JD’s new favorite is Pajama Time! by Sandra Boynton. We chant the words together then whisper together at the end. He also now asks me to kiss his cheek each time I turn the page, which just melts my heart! This year I also discovered Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown series. I love the bright, animated illustrations, and JD loves the trucks.
My 6 year old, Lil Missy, has been a girly girl since day one. She is extremely dramatic, loves wearing dresses and skirts (though has been preferring jeans with her sparkly tops lately), and is a bit of a sassy one. And her room is pink, pink, pink! So naturally I enjoy reading the books with the spirited female main character to her. She loves all the Fancy Nancy books (as do I). My favorite is Fancy Nancy and the Boy from Paris. She also enjoys the Rainbow Fairy chapter books by Daisy Meadows. They aren’t my favorite, but as long as she is interested, I’m game. We just started reading the Junie B. Jones series. I started with Toothless Wonder when she lost her first two teeth several weeks ago. Junie B. is hilarious, and I see much of her sass and independence in my daughter. We giggle together as we read through those.
My 9 year old, J-Man, devoured nonfiction. He loves to read about sharks, volcanoes, Guinness World Records. Then he got into a Pokemon fad, and we read as many Pokemon chapter story books as we could find. I found it more fun to read than nonfiction, but I can take only so much of Pikachu. He also read a few Star Wars chapter books-better, but they were geared more for adults. He loves A Diary of a Wimpy Kid, too. This fall I was thrilled when my mom and I convinced him to start reading the Harry Potter series. Once he started reading them, he was hooked! I have never seen him read books so voraciously. We are currently reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix together. We also enjoy the movie together after each book is finished.
My fave books that I read with my kids in 2008 are the following:
Preschool: Smash! Crash! By Jon Scieszka
First Grade: Junie B. First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells (PS So Does May) by Barbara Parks
Fourth Grade: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
All three: Hush, Little Dragon by Boni Ashburn

I’m looking forward to a 2009 packed with more reading and treasured time with my children.