Fiddledeedee

My bloggy friend, Shalee, did this meme recently. And it appealed to me. Mostly, because I thought I could put it together as I watched the presidential debate. While hitting myself in the head with an anvil. Because I can multi-task, my friends.

Here are the rules:

• Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following questions.
• They have to be real places, names, things. nothing made up!
• You can’t use your name for the boy/girl name question.

1. What is your name? Fiddledeedee

2. A 4 Letter Word: Fack. It’s a word that my son made up. And hollers whenever we frequent the library. Or church. And is the reason I often wear a disguise at the library and church.

3. A Boys Name: Fred Flintstone - Yabba Dabba Do

4. A Girls Name: Frances Farmer

5. An Occupation: Fashionista (what I would be if I wasn’t constantly associated with Stretchypants.)

6. A Color: Fuchsia

7. Something you wear: Fringe. (See #5)

8. A Beverage: Frappacino

9. A Food: Fried _________ (insert favorite food of choice) If you’re from the south, anything can be fried and be considered a food. Just sayin’.

10. Something found in the bathroom: Furballs. Don’t ask.

11. A place: Fort Worth (my place o’ birth)

12. A Reason for being late: Forgetting that I have 3 children.

13. Something you shout: “FREEDOM!” As I peel out of the driveway, while leaving the children in the care of Fiddledaddy.

Okay, I tag all of y’all.

Mr. Random Number Generator selected #44, Missusdew, as the winner of a copy of Lisa T. Bergren’s new book, The Busy Mom’s Devotional.

The response to this giveaway was nothing less than spectacular. Which tells me that we all are looking for a little more of a Godly focus in our lives. And I’m at the head of the parade on that one. Tripping over my baton.

I explained in the original giveaway post that this book is geared to have the reader spend 10 minutes a week working through each devotion. For 52 weeks. Let me be really clear about this. Any relationship takes work. And for a good, lasting, solid spiritual foundation, you certainly need to devote more than 10 minutes a week.

The idea that Lisa has in this book is a really excellent one. It’s a great jumping off point. Bite sized Biblical truths, that are applied to our everyday busy lives. I’ve taken this week’s devotion, that I spent 10 or 15 minutes on Sunday afternoon, and used it in every facet of my day since then. I’ve been going back to the scripture often.

Everything worth while takes work. From losing those last 15 pounds of baby fat (especially when the baby could lift me off the floor), to digging myself out of that black hole of despair I slip into every flipping day now and again.

Wish there was a magic pill. But there’s not. Oh, believe me, I’ve looked. I JUST WANT TWO PILLS. ONE TO MAKE ME THIN, AND ONE TO FILL ME WITH UNTOLD JOY. Is that really so much to ask?

The journey God lays before is often NOT easy. For a reason. The work we put into it shapes us as women. And strengthens us. As I often mutter under my breath, “What doesn’t kill me will only make me stronger. Blah, blah, blah.”

I oughta be Herculean in my estimation.

But I’m not, I’m a weenie. But, I’m working on it. Being, you know, less of a weenie.

Join me on Mondays for the Busy Mom’s Club. We can muddle through a weekly devotional together. We’ll laugh, we’ll cry, we’ll snort coffee through our noses. It’ll be great. I’ll share what God is doing in my life, and I want to know what He’s doing in yours. Don’t worry. You know I’ll be keeping it very un-preachy.

Also, tomorrow, Friday, I’ll be posting the most popular “Six Unimportant Things” photo. It has something to do with a deck of cards. And Brad Pitt.

Antique Mommy, from whom I was separated at birth, tagged me for this meme. I will now share 6 unimportant factoids about myself. Because I don’t share nearly enough about me on the world wide web.

I mean, it’s not like I would ever admit that I actually bit into a rock, thinking it was chocolate.

Or let me freak flag fly by talking openly about my cramp issues. Which, btw, until recently, would have killed any mortal man.

Or discuss my cuss jar and how I will be able to fund ALL of my children’s college tuition from the profit. When I know good and well that members of the pastoral staff at my church read this blog. And yes, thoughts do count.

Or brag about eating an entire column of Oreos in one sitting.

I would never be that open…..

What?

Oh.

Nevermindthen.

Here are 6 unimportant facts about me. In no particular order of unimportance.

1.) In high school, I wore bell bottom jeans that measured 18 inches around at the bottom of my matching jean platform shoes.

2.) Donny Osmond put his arm around me when I was 11. He was 13. They called it puppy love.

3.) When I have been knocked up pregnant, people cannot hide their disbelief at my hugeness. I bring new meaning to the term “great with child.” Small children have stopped and pointed. The elderly and infirm have offered up their seat to me. Entire zip codes have been dedicated in my honor.

4.) I use to play poker with Brad Pitt.

5.) I played a hot box girl in the musical “Guys and Dolls” at a Los Angeles theater. Despite the fact that I only sing at gunpoint. And not in any recognizable key.

6.) I pledged Sigma Kappa Sorority at the University of Texas in San Antonio. Where I earned a BA in BS.

I am in possession of photographic evidence to each of these 6 unimportant facts. If you don’t mind losing another 30 seconds of your life, leave me a comment letting me know which of the above facts you would most like to view. If any.

I will then publish the picture of the evidence which garners the most votes. For clearly, I have nothing left to hide.

If you have not participated in this meme, consider yourself tagged.

If you’re here from The 5 Minutes For Mom Blog Party, WELCOME!

I look for any excuse to entertain. Soon, very soon, I’m holding a bonfire in my front yard. And you all are invited. The fuel for said bon fire will be:

1) One very soiled with stuff you don’t even want to know about High Chair.

2) One very stinky, broken diaper genie. Stinky diapers included.

3) One barcalounger in a color that is no longer recognizable. Stained with breast milk and more stuff you don’t want to know about.

4) 36 Barney VHS tapes. Assorted titles and subject matter. If I never see another purple dinosaur again, it’ll be too soon.

5) One crib with a precarious railing.

6) One very used Medela Breast Pump that is the reason I now always wear my glasses when turning on anything electronic with settings. After nearly 3 years, I still have not recovered from that faux pas.

Bon fires are frowned upon in our neighborhood, and I’m sure a Hazmat Team will show up. The more the merrier. Bring a stick, some weenies, and marshmallows.

Nearly every single day is a party here at It Coulda’ Been Worse. We gather around the proverbial coffee pot to talk about serious subject matter like popping pimples, projectile poop, menopause, cramps, frogs, and the state of our hair roots.

Not necessarily in that order.

The comments section can be more fun than the actual post. Because I have the most awesome commenters this side of the blogosphere. They are a hearty bunch that have a high gross out threshold. A necessity. And why I heart them.

And if you’re hungry, I host a recipe swap called Saturday Stirrings. On Saturdays. Go figure. (pun intended)

So, pull up a keyboard and get comfy. I’m glad you’re here.

I saw this meme over at Aimee’s The Mother Load (a blogger I’ve recently discovered and she is very funny, btw) and I thought it was a hoot. And I’ve got a reunion coming up. So since I’ve been stumbling up and down Memory Lane as of late, I thought I should do it. A test to see what I remember.

I always was lousy at tests.

1. Who was your best friend? My senior year, is was Kimmy Crist. She was the only girl brave enough to go see “Carrie” with me. She could make me laugh like nobody else. I completely lost touch with her after graduation. I often wonder where she is in life.

2. Did you play any sports? Good grief, no. Most of the girl sports at our high school involved some type of running. Did you ever see the episode of “Friends” where Phoebe runs? Well, I’m certain that episode was based on my running abilitites. I resemble an off kilter windmill when getting from point A to point B in a hurry.

3. What kind of car did you drive? I drove a 61 Lincoln Continental 4 door convertible. Once. After that unfortunate incident, I mainly was entrusted with my dad’s old ugly puke green International Pickup truck.

4. It’s Friday night. Where were you? Sadly, babysitting. Saving up for a Doobie Brothers LP, I’m sure. I was one of those girls that everyone trusted to care for their kids. And I was an excellent babysitter. I wish I could find someone like me to watch my own children now. For a whopping $1.00 an hour.

5. Were you a party animal? No. However I did develop a fondness for mad dog 20/20 my senior year. During one of my many “really stoooopid” phases.  Reason #256 why I will homeschool my kids through high school.

6. Were you considered a flirt? I don’t think so. But I did have a different boyfriend nearly every season. I liked variety.

7. Were you in the band, orchestra or choir? None of the above. I was a drama geek.

8. Were you a nerd? Absolutely not. I was a drama geek. Big diff. I wore a lot of black, and spouted text from Sylvia Plath whenever possible.

9. Were you ever suspended or expelled? Goodness no. Never even sent to the Principal’s office.

10. Can you sing the fight song? No. And not just because I only sing at gunpoint. I simply don’t remember it.

11. Who was your favorite teacher? I had two. Mr. Marion Sweatmon, my senior drama teacher. And Mrs. Judy Burgess, my typing teacher.

12. What was your school mascot? The John Marshall Rams.

13. Did you go to the Prom? No. I broke up with my seasonal boyfriend just before prom. Or did he break up with me? Details.

14. If you could go back, would you? Not on your life.

15. What do you remember most about graduation? My parents bought me a 76’ Pontiac Astre on graduation day. They surprised me with it when they picked me up after graduation rehearsal.

16. Where were you on Senior Skip Day? I don’t remember having one. And I wouldn’t have done it.

17. Did you have a job your senior year? Yes. I worked as a “disco model” for Bealls Department Store. There were three of us that traveled from store to store each Saturday to model the clothes up on a platform, in front of the store, while dancing to the tunes of Donna Summer. On a 45 player. And then we would do the “robot” and freeze, while the next gal danced.

I cannot believe that I just publicly admitted that. Okay, the answer to #8 is now “yes.”

18. Where did you go most often for lunch? Fargos Pizza. With my buddy Don. I would get the small cheese pizza and a Dr. Pepper. It gave me the strength to get through English.

19. Have you gained weight since then? Let’s see. 30 years, three kids, and 289 bags of Oreos later, um, a little. I think I was a size 3, maybe less. Now I’m an 8. If I don’t breathe.

20. What did you do after graduation? Attended the University of Texas at San Antonio. Got a degree in Psychology. Became an actress. Then a painter. Then a mom. Now I blog. All a natural progression.

21. What year did you graduate? I graduated from high school in 1978, the year of polyester and the Farrah flip.

22. Who was your Senior Prom Date? Nobody. And I didn’t miss it at all.

23. Are you going/did you go to your 10 year reunion? I went to my 10 year and my 20 year reunion. My 30 year reunion is next summer. And yes, I’m going. And I’m going to look good, even if it kills me.

While some of my classmates are now empty nesters, or even grandparents (gulp), I may still be sporting a diaper bag.

But clear the floor if anyone starts playing a Donna Summer song. I’m just sayin’.

Please feel free to play along!