Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

This is about as good as good as it gets for snow in the NC Piedmont in December.

This great little holiday sketch is becoming as necessary as re-runs of Rudolph! Love it!!!!

I am not one that is usually down for snow, but right now I WANT it.....I NEED it! I want a snow day off with Little Boy! So......ice......snow.....sleet....whatever it takes to close the local schools....and that ain't much.....bring it on!!!!!!

When I need somebody there's nobody to call. When they need me, my phone rings off the wall. (If I Had No Loot by Tony, Toni, Tone in 1993) (I am in such a bad mood and sooo need a day off.......)

This is Little Boy's current favorite after school DVD, "Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!" . And even though it does get tiring to watch every single day (no exaggeration there) it really is a great show for educating children about the holiday practices and rituals of various religions and cultures. The DVD specifically spotlights Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa but it also briefly mentions Ramadan and Three Kings Day. It features children who talk about their favorite parts of their family's holidays, sing songs and even show games they play like Dreidel. I tell you I have learned something myself! Several of the children give heartfelt statements about love and respect and tradition in their holidays. It's very touching. But my favorite quote is the kid who says he likes Christmas because "you get to spend a lot of time with your family and you eat a lot!" Is there any more truth than that?

I heard this song this morning and I thought about the past week...... ~the sad anniversary of John Lennon's violent death ~the planned picketing of Elizabeth Edwards' funeral by those Westboro fools ~the stupidity of the Wikileaks mess (and yes, it is stupid) ~and the general douchery of people all around all of us every day (countless examples....I can't even get started) And I thought........ why can't we all just take a page from Elvis just this once? I mean....it's the holidays!

No matter how you felt about her husband, her politics or the sensational tragedies that marred the later part of her life, the fact is that Elizabeth Edwards was a rather elegant lady. Through all of the difficult moments she endured right in front of the cameras, she managed to hold her head up and conduct herself with a great deal of grace and respectability. My heart breaks for her young son and daughter as well as her young adult daughter. I wish them support and warmth in the coming days and years. Rest in Peace, Elizabeth. And thank you for your service to our state and our world.

Have you ever done something that you just felt ashamed of afterward? Like, it was fun at the time, but then a few hours or days later you just felt gross? That's how I feel the day after I spend an evening watching Bridezillas . Why do I do it every week? I'm asking myself this as I experience my Monday morning Bridezilla guilty hang-over. Why? Is football really that boring? Why don't I just read a book? Or pumice my feet? Or dust my Willow Tree figures? Or stand in the freezing cold outside admiring my Christmas deck lights? Why do I invest myself in these women? Why do I watch the same episodes that I've seen countless times? Why do I actually know their names? (BTW.......Alex, Maria, Erica, Megan and of course, Karen are the worst ones ever.) I think I actually know and the answer doesn't make me feel that proud either. These jack-ass women make me feel good about myself. Yeah! I said it! When I watch this show I can congratulate myself on many of my...

It has been a while, so I wrote over here this week . I wasn't really trying to be deep.....just something I kept noticing everyday.

Designer Christmas trees ? Couldn't be from anywhere else but the NC mountains! As long as some of the cash makes it back to the farm, I'm all for snotty NYCers putting down this kind of jack for a holiday "experience".

AIDS has been part of our lives for over 30 years now. We have come a long way.....in treatment, medicine, testing, and general understanding of this illness. But there's always more work to be done. Just because people living with the disease are living better does not mean the fight is over. We should still be striving to educate people on how not to be infected and how not to pass the disease on to anyone else. We should not lie down to this disease like it's just another plight on our world. Condoms are free at any local health department. You can also buy a 3 pack of Trojans for less than $2 at Wal-Mart. Testing is also free. And anonymous. There is no reason to get AIDS anymore and no reason to spread it. There is every reason to take care of the people who live with it daily. Think you're in a marriage or long-term relationship and AIDS isn't a part of your life? Think again. You should be in constant conversation about the trust and monogamy of you...

Little Boy's current favorite household obsession? Being covered with clothes fresh from the "driver". As soon as I take the clothes out he runs to me and says "driver?" Sometimes it really is the little things that keep Little Boy happy....

Lately, Tyler Durden describes my life better than anyone. If you've never read Fight Club , you need to. If you've never seen it, you need to rent it. Or own it. And even though I will still probably struggle (like most) to get out from under the bullshit of economic status, I am still happy that I crawled out quicker and less scathed than most. You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you're satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you've got your sofa issue handled. Then the right set of dishes. Then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you. This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time. If you don't know what you want," the doorman said, "you end up with a lot you don't." "It's only after you've lost everything," Tyl...

I saw this movie a few years ago when everyone was buzzing about it, and I didn't really like it that much. But this book......wow.....I cannot put it down. I think I basically like everything I've read by McCarthy including The Road and All the Pretty Horses , but now I think I'm going to just have to read everything he has ever written. With the holidays now upon us, I will also have to resort to my favorite comfort read Like Water for Chocolate . I read it pretty much every year at Christmastime as my retreat from the holiday madness and it never disappoints. AND it's one of my few novels that I house with my cookbooks......you'll just have to read it to understand!

Thanksgiving 2010 Food, wine, tv, games, relaxation, pajamas.....a lot to be thankful for!

I was recently talking with one of my buddies who shares good taste in music about different kinds of music from different times in our lives. I don't seem to listen to them much anymore, but there was a time when D.M.B was on heavy rotation with me. A lot of folks came to like D.M.B. much later on, but I was in love with them from Remember Two Things . Sheesh, I loved that album. I had it on cassette. I wore it out. Under the Table was also pretty fantastic. Really fantastic, actually. The first time I saw the band was in 1994 and then there were many shows after that. I feel like I have kind of outgrown them now.....the shows, the music.....I'm not even really familiar anymore. But I still know what my favorite tunes are. So here goes the Friday playlist. I will jam on back to 1994. See you there..... My D.M.B. Faves (in no particular order) Warehouse The Song That Jane Likes I'll Back You Up Crush Lie in Our Graves Jimi Thi...

I have officially finished my Christmas shopping. This is news from the girl who said she was NOT buying Christmas presents this year except for the children...and that should have been all of two kids. But as I tried to spread my message of "let's all not buy gifts this year......" I realized it was just not going to happen. Oh, well. As I continue to navigate the perimeters of my "life after divorce" I realize I just have to keep finding what works for me and my boys. New traditions, new ways of looking at things, new places to go.......etc. I think this year I am actually excited about holiday decorating, fun new adventures, parties, and yes, even the gift-giving. Scrooge be damned!!!! I have to admit that I'm actually pretty excited about my Thanksgiving week/weekend this year too. And that's funny because it's never been a holiday I cared too much about. (Maybe it's in my genes or my college education ? Story for another time......) But yo...

I recently purchased Charlotte's Web for my niece's upcoming birthday and decided to renew my own affinity for it by re-reading my own copy from my own shelf. What a beautiful book! It is just filled with so much spirit and love and humility and full of lessons for adults and children alike. There have been a few updates.....television specials and movies featuring famous voices......but you just can't ever beat the book.....the original classic by E.B. White. Leafing through those old pages and the familiar illustrations just really took me back in time. I remember checking this book out repeatedly from my school library. It was so dog-eared and loved. I think someday my own copy will be the same as I hope to share it with Little Boy someday. But I also think it will always have a lot of love from me!

Yesterday, songs by The Beatles finally became available on I-Tunes. So what was the biggest seller? I Wanna Hold Your Hand ? In My Life ? Sergeant Pepper ? Oh, no. It was Here Comes the Sun . A great song by a great artist, great guitarist and very interesting man. You know how we all remember specifically when certain famous people die? Princess Di.......Elvis......Michael Jackson? Well, I remember when George Harrison died. I still feel like he made the world a little greater with this music both with The Beatles and afterward. And it's further proof that Little Boy has great taste in music......

Currently, life revolves around a timer. And the potty. I know that Little Boy and me and several other people will be sooo glad when life no longer revolves around a timer. And a potty. And diapers.

Crowders Mountain State Park North Carolina November 2010

Sheesh! To say it hasn't been an easy week is a big understatement. I am missing my boy while he's away with his dad. I've been Christmas shopping and realizing how tight the monies are this year. I've had a few things in our culture that have gotten to me this week (see previous blogs from this week). See here's the Friday Playlist. It is meant to invigorate. Remind you that you can do it. You can overcome. You can come out on top. Just press play and learn to fly again...... Lean to Fly by Foo Fighters Alive and Kicking by Simple Minds Do Ya by E.L.O. It's the End of the World as We Know It by R.E.M. Today by The Smashing Pumpkins Dance Tonight by Paul McCartney (with my apologies about the post title) Fighter by Christina Aguilera Don't Stop Believin' by Journey All Fired Up by Pat Benatar Little Fighter by White Lion Take Hold of the Flame by Queensryche Fight the Power by Public Enemy I'm...

After getting totally annoyed with the douchebagery that has become Facebook and the fact that I'm really missing my son this week, I turned to my good ole comfort past time......reading. I have been on and off reading this fabulous book which I won from Skirt! (thank you very much) and actually learning something. It even made me want to do some study on a woman named Lorena Weeks. Lorena Weeks was a woman who successfully sued the very powerful Southen Bell telephone company in Georgia in the 1960's. There was even a film recently made about her! There are so many good things to learn out there in the world if you just log off from the mindless social networking and conduct some study in other places. That's what I gonna do right now!!!! BTW, that post title references the School House Rock series as well as a great song by The Clash. Take a break from social networking and check that stuff out too!!!!

A few weeks ago, I went to a Halloween party. It was fun. It was sedate. The usual suspects. Some friends and some people I hardly knew or didn't know at all. We had some food and drinks. Stood around the fire. Chatted with some people about this and that. We had fun. We got tired. We left early. Last week there was a terrible car accident on my sister's road . It's a bit of a dark and windy road. It has way more traffic than where I'd choose to live. She was shook up in telling me about seeing and hearing the accident especially once she knew that someone died in it. It turns out, the guy that died, was one of the people standing around the fire at the party. I never even got his name at the party. I heard him talking about politics and listened with mild interest. He seemed to also know a lot about military history and I recall a vague discussion of digital camoflage and how it doesn't show up (or does it?) on radar screens. He wore these weird sh...

It was soooo nice driving into work this morning in the daylight! (I have one of those white/blue collar kind of jobs that requires an early start!) So for that reason, I love the end of Daylight Savings Time.....for the moment. At first, it will be great. I will enjoy getting into my jammies at 6 pm and having the extra snuggle time with my boys. Some nights I may even go to bed by 8:30 or 9.....heh! But then after a while, like all things, I will get tired of it and miss the long well-lit days. Sigh. It's so hard keeping a girl like me pleased!

There is one great thing that happens when a movie like For Colored Girls is made. It opens up a whole world of discovery for poetry and artists that your average person probably isn't familiar with. After posting this morning, I had to grab up one of my anthologies this afternoon to read all I could about Ntozake Shange . I feel inspired now to find her poem's interpretation on stage somewhere because from what I'm reading in the reviews.....that is really the way to see it. But I also wanted to share a few other artists for your consideration...... Nikki Giovanni . Aaah. I referenced her work sometime back on Skirt! and got some great comments. Her style, her words, her views. All of it. She's just fantastic. I love For Saundra for the capturing of the moment that was 1968. But I also have a huge affinity for Beautiful Black Men for the pop and groove of the words like lyrics and it's capture of the beginnings of the Black is Beautiful movement. Amir...

For Colored Girls is going to be one of those painful movies. Just like Precious was a painful movie. And probably so was The Lovely Bones . Any movie about the hurt and pain of women hurts. They are hard to watch, but always so sincere and true. And I rarely see any of them. I did. At one time. I really wanted to share in the experience of women. Some of it was my experience and some of it was not. I wanted to be in it.....with all the other women. So for those reasons I have seen: The Color Purple Woman Thou Art Loosed SherryBaby The Accused If These Walls Could Talk (Parts I & II ) And these were all great movies. I learned from them. I cried with them. They kept me up at night. And I so believe in the power of movies....they way they can touch you and teach you in a way that other mediums can't quite reach. You come away from something when you see a powerful movie. Being a big fan of indie and made for cable films I could recommend these too: The Woodsman H...

Halloween 2010: 2 hours of "fake" tattooing that many peeps thought were real. 10 minutes of time for E-Roc to get dressed and then squirm the rest of the night. 2 parties. Stop in the middle to McDonald's and an employee who admired my ink. Fun with friends. Beer for E-Roc. Red Bull for Becky. Very long shower at the end of the night watching red dye and various inks swishing down the drain for Becky. An overall great night and lots of fun...... Becky as Kat Von D. With tattoos of my own choosing. But I did have the stars and lightning bolt just like Kat. E-Roc all prepped up. He was embarrassed to even walk to the car. But the outfit was made complete by the silver chain single diamond stud. Both, he borrowed from me.

It is so rare for me to have a Saturday to myself. So once Little Boy's dad picked him up this a.m. I couldn't help but getting semi-started on my beauty regimin for the evening's festivities. Painting my nails was something I could do early. But it was harder than I thought once I realized I probably haven't painted my fingernails in 10 + years. (Toes? Totally different, btw.) So then I opened up the false eyelashes just to see what I would be dealing with later in the day. Uh.....how? What? How do it work? I have a feeling I won't be using these as I can't quite figure out how to apply them or how not to look insane with them on. I guess I am not cut out to be a very beautiful woman......or a drag queen. Oh, well. I'm way more looking forward to the tattooing later today. Stay tuned......

Anybody that knows me knows that I don't DO scary. I don't DO gross. So I get left out of a lot of the movies this time of year. Big deal! I don't like being skert! And I will save my rant here and just refer you to this old post of mine that will basically tell you that if you like all that icky stuff there's something a little bit wrong with you. So if you're a big pansie like me, here are two movies you may enjoy and will make you feel like you fulfilled your Halloween "scary" movie quota: The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and Young Frankenstein . Both are fun and cute and you could even watch them with your kids if you wanted to. And I don't care if you think I'm boring or a baby. I will have pleasant dreams tonight while you are plagued with night terrors caused by Saw 3-D! Nighty-Night......

It's a damn good thing I have a man who understands me......and my hair! Because according to this know-it-all , men don't dig women with curly hair. Hmmm. Another reason to be glad I'm not dating. But, wait! I seem to remember a time when I was actually dating that I didn't feel the need to change everything about myself. Was I the only one? At what point did dating turn into a cut-throat relentless job application? Didn't it used to be a simple method of weeding each other out until we found the one we were REALLY looking for? Or wasn't it also just supposed to be for fun? Two people enjoying each other's company in a shared activity? All I can say is, if this is truly what single women are out there experiencing (and I don't altogether think it is) then you have my sympathies. But I still believe there's some nice guy out there that won't require you to own your own personal straightening iron. I just feel it in my heart.....

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You pigs are super cute. But I will still enjoy your tasty bacon..... (P.S. Can you believe I took such a kick-ass pic?)

This is the dog that E-Roc and I are looking after this week. He is waiting for me to get in bed and cuddle him in this pic. He is pretty durn cute. And it's a good thing. Because he talks waaaay too much at night. So I am very much tired today.

You've got to trust your instinct, And let go of regret. You've got to be on yourself now, star 'Cuz that's your best bet. (All Mixed Up by 311)

It would be very easy for me to write a post for every single time I go to Wal-Mart, but I don't really want to be one of those bloggers! I'm glad to say that while I have made many trips to the store that E-Roc considers that downfall of small business that most of those trips are fairly pleasant. I always expect Wal-Mart to be crowded, loud and full of annoyances. If you know that going in, you just can't be offended, peeps. I don't think there has ever been an occasion that I have visited the big W without seeing someone I know. That's the Small City/Big Town I live in. What can you do? A few weeks ago I saw one of the L&D nurses who helped birth Little Boy. I went over and talked to her. She seemed genuinely touched and surprised that I would remember her. Are you kidding me? You helped me squeeze that big ole Charlie Brown head out, my friend! You have a permanent place in my memory! I have seen many old "friends" in Wal-Mart. People f...

This recent case has been so upsetting to watch unfold especially when it's right in my backyard. How many times do we have to watch kids be hurt, murdered, disappeared? The thing that really bothers me about this one is that lots of people seem to be coming out of the woodwork to attest for how bad this girl's home life was. Why didn't they speak up then? On Tara Servatious this week, she was quick (as always) to blame DSS. But the caller on the line with her (a relative to Zahra) said she and others had called DSS multiple times. This relative said when DSS came that Zahra, fearful of her step-mother, always lied and that the step-mother trotted out her song and dance too. No kidding? As a student and one-time social work professional, I can tell you that those professionals can only do with PROOF......what they see and are told. They can have tests run, photograph scars and ask countless questions. But if those people being interviewed lie, there isn't much ...

I so enjoyed seeing Ali MacGraw on Oprah yesterday! It's always great to see stars of the past make their rare appearances, so we can all be reminded of what Old School Hollywood used to be. And seeing her also reminded me of my childhood....particularly, the kind of women I found to be beautiful when I was first discovering the beauty of women. I know there's a whole psychology behind this, but I always admired women who I thought I kind of looked like or who I might look like when I grew up. I loved Ali's sleek black hair. She seemed so simple in her beauty. And yesterday I happily noted that she still is. Most people love her for "Love Story" but I have always been partial to "The Getaway". My mom introduced my sister and I to great movies! Jaclyn Smith was my favorite of "Charlie's Angels" but to be honest I loved them all. I had a (Barbie) doll of Jacklyn wearing a pink evening dress. Aaaah..... Who didn't love Catherine ...

The debate on Bob and Sheri got especially heated this morning, and I thought it was gggrreeat!!!! It wasn't really a new argument....the same old who has it tougher working moms vs. stay at home moms. I didn't get on the air, but did call in to put my check mark in Sheri's column. That's why it's great having a blog......I'll just speak my mind here! Argument 1 I was a SAHM for 7 years with Little Boy. It was fantastic! I was able to see him off to school every morning and pick him up every day. I had time to spend on my home, my yard, personal friendships, yoga classes, volunteering and even furthered my education. While Little Boy was at school and husband was at work, I did all my chores and commitments and settled down in the evenings to enjoy my family. I was given money by my husband, and because he had a good job I never sweated how the bills would be paid. Argument 2 I was a SAHM for 7 years with Little Boy. It was really hard. I spent A LOT...

I just can't wait for Halloween when I transform from this: To this....... All with the help of my favorite tattoo artist (Sharpie pen artist) E-Rock! Okay. I'm probably not gonna look exactly like Kat, but it is gonna be a hoot trying! Stay tuned for pics.....

Just a simple trip to a pumpkin patch at one of our local churches proved to be successful for Little Boy and Mommy. Sometimes no planning and no expectations make for a great day. Mommy needs to remember that......

These recent comments are getting all kinds of attention right now. Long-time yoginis are never shocked when these ideas are expressed because well....it's kinda true. Yoga does take you to new heights. Is that a bad thing? I have practiced yoga for over 3 years now. I have practiced it in various local gyms and studios . I have gone to classes in churches and rec centers. I have sat beside practicing Hindus who prayed before and after class. I have sat beside nice Christian ladies who discussed the pot-luck at church last week. Here's what I've come up with..... Yoga, like many activities, is viewed in many ways by many different people. For some, it is good exercise and a means of stress reduction. For some, it's a fun activity with a social component. For some, it is an extension of their religious practice with far-reaching meditative goals. For some, it is a small component of their overall mental and physical health regimen. For me? It's all of th...

Oh, October! You have finally arrived! Probably one of my favorite months of the year! You bring crisp leaves and crisp temps, let me turn my AC off (finally), and provide all kinds of outdoor activities and the smell of pumpkins on the breeze. You make fun parties and festivals the must-do activities. You bring my favorite holiday and favorite man's birthday. You turn my humble state into the best place to be on Earth and make me reminisce of all Autumns past. I love you October! You are the best! Welcome, welcome back............

I could not really begin to explain how this playlist got crafted in my head this week. I guess the best explanation is to blame my I-Pod. I think of a song....dial to it.....sing along....another one pops in my head.....I dial again.....the progression doesn't always make sense....it just happens! I guess you could best call this a little bit hip-hop/dance/R&B......whateva! (BTW, Little Boy is now saying "whatever!" in a very cute sing-songy kind of voice. Since he's not an obnoxious teenager yet, it's very cute!) On with the list....... Hip Hop Lives (KRS-One featuring Marley Marl) Empire State of Mind (Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys) Telephone (Lady GaGa featuring Beyonce') Paper Planes (M.I.A.) and the inspiration for the title of this post Turn Off the Light (Nelly Furtado) Day 'n' Nite (Kid Cudi) Ms. Jackson (OutKast) Move Your Feet (Junior Senior) Sexy Boy (Air) Swass (Sir Mix-A-Lot) Umbrella (Rihanna featuring Jay-Z) Cars With the Boom...

I did something I never thought I'd do last night. Well....two things. First, I watched my inaugural episode of Dancing with the Stars. After all these years of hearing what a great show it is from friends and my sister, I gave in. But I hafta say, this is the first season that had a cast I really wanted to see dance. I mean, c'mon, The Situation? Margaret Cho? Michael Bolton? How could I not? So I'm shocked that I watched and even more shocked at how much I liked it. Halfway in I started yelling to my boyfriend (far from this spectacle in the other room) that I could see why people liked it so much. Seeing celebs out of their element and vulnerable (but not in a trash mag caught without make-up kind of way) is very sweet and fun. You can tell they're really trying hard and you can easily see which ones are having fun. So after my initial drive-by just to see what's up.....I realized I was digging it. So I guess I actually did three things last night I n...

I recently realized one of the best things about being "less involved" these days (aside from the obvious ability to sidestep a good bit of annoyance and aggravation) is having more time to read! I can't even describe how nice it is too look at the odd afternoon or evening and say "wow.....I don't have any chores to do.....I think I'll read!" I recently finished Elie Weizel's Night and yes, I'm embarrassed to admit it took me this many years to get it read. It's such a moving book, and one I should have read a long time ago in school. I quickly finished Anita Shreve's Testimony . And I do mean quickly.......I read this book in 24 hours! And sheesh I read and love everything by Shreve, but I think this was the most engrossing I've come across ever. I have since moved on to Richard Wright's The Outsider and am loving it as much as his Native Son which I tackled last winter. I feel so bad that it took me this long to discove...

Before..... During......... Still during...... After....... Honestly, one of the best shows I've seen in a while. The Pixies looked great, sounded great and seemed to be having a good time together. E-Roc and I had so much fun together and were really happy when we moved up higher in the auditorium and had about 4 full rows to ourselves! I danced and screamed and felt my voice start to crack around about "Hey" but managed to hold onto it through "Gigantic". The graphics on the screens behind the band were fun and creative, and I just really dig that kind of thing. Black Francis can still scream it out with the best of 'em and everyone in the band was tight and on their marks. The crowd response was great, and we even saw some friends on our way out at the end. A truly great night of music and fun in Charlotte, NC!!!! And p.s., it's totally okay that Kim didn't call me. She is still the most rockin' chick I know!