Raising a Prodigy

Yes, my daughter is a genius, but that's not what I'm talking about. I've posted before about the foreign language Brandon and I speak: movie/TV lines. It is becoming apparent that our legacy will continue at least with our daughter.

She is a 'Friends' fanatic, much like myself. We have all the re-runs scheduled to record on the DVR from all the stations that play them. We will spend a lazy Sunday watching all 10 episodes. I know, it's our Momma-Daughter guilty pleasure.

Months ago we were at my folks house playing Euchre. Someone flubbed up dealing and stuck their hands out on the table. Lilly's first response? "Identical hand twin!" she says with the inflection and everything! (In case you don't remember the episode, Joey is in Vegas and finds a dealer that he believes is his identical hand twin; a trait he believes they will make millions of dollars from.) We were so proud, giggling at her keen wit and proper use of the line. My parents looked at each other puzzled.

Tonight Lilly and I were joking around. I was teasing her for something and giving her a hard time - the usual at our house - when she popped out with, "Whatever dude, you kissed a guy!" Yes, another 'Friends' quote and it was hilarious! I laughed so hard I had to text the conversation to Brandon. She is such a kick. I can't get enough of her!

So if my sweet little daughter happens to be spending time with you and she comes out with some weird, off-the-wall quote, think back to those 'Friends' episodes you watched as a teenager - it might trigger a memory!

Be Happy God Damn It

Do you ever have days where you just can't snap out of a funk? Everything is irritating, your family is annoying you and no matter how much you try there's nothing you'd like better than to rip some asshole stranger up one side and down the other for not moving their f-ing ass when you've said excuse me 3 TIMES!?

Today was one of those days.

Things I like: Christmas, vacation, leisurely breakfasts, snow falling all day long, shopping, coffee, games, swimming, my family (most of the time), Leavenworth, Christmas lights, merriment and cheer, roasted chestnuts, Zots, fires burning in the road, Christmas carols, Italian food, Christmas ornaments, Santa, the joy on my kids faces when they do the chicken dance in the snow with strangers, Coke, getting my meal comp-ed when food & service are both bad, Father Christmas eating in the same restuarant as us.

Things I don't like: not sleeping well, feeling rushed to get out and do something, not finding a place to park, yelling at children to act happy, being rushed through stores, feeling responsible for someone else's experience, my kids bickering with each other, my son crying over losing a game, the way festivals are organized, constantly having to repeat my expectations to my children, rude strangers, overpriced & gross Italian food, children whining, bad driving (especially in the snow), bad service in restaurants, going to bed early.

Some of the "joy" part of the day

Being one who loves movie quotes, this is what today reminded me of:

"Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse."

In case you don't know it, that's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I LOVE that movie.

Nik