My Super Bowl

This is what I wait for all year. And let me tell, I am always going to watch with TiVo from now on.

Things I loved:

• Amy Adams singing number. "The Happy Working Song". I immediately got up and put in a load of laundry.
• The number from "Once". Heart breaking.
• Daniel Day-Lewis. His acceptance speeches are always so sweet and heartfelt.
• Diablo Cody. So sweet. And I don't care what Blackwell will say, she rocked the leopard. It was original and so obviously her.
• Jon Stewart. I was ROLLING with laughter.
• Javier Bardem. And Marion Cotillard. And everyone who was so obviously sincere in their thank you speech.
• Jon Stewart bringing Marketa Irglova back onstage so she could give her beautiful acceptance speech.
• The montage of all 79 Best Picture winners. It will totally help with my quiz playing.
• Frances McDormant being so obviously thrilled for her husband's triple win. You could see them making happy faces at each other during Scott Rudin's speech.
• Katherine Heigl being so gorgeous and so nervous during her presentation.
• The blessedly short acceptance speech from the honorary winner. Remember when Warren Beatty wouldn't shut up?!?!
• Jennifer Garner's, Amy Adams', Jennifer Hudson's, Cate Blanchett's, Nicole Kidman's, Renee Zellwegger's, Katherine Heigl's, Laura Linney's, Hillary Swank's, Helen Mirren's and Miley Cyrus' dresses.

Things I hated:

• Jerry Seinfeld presenting as The Bee Movie bee. I mean, seriously? What?
• Heath Ledger getting no mention besides a glimpse of a slide. Though I did love Daniel Day Lewis including him in his Golden Globe acceptance speech.
• Tilda Swinton using her acceptance speech to make fun of George Clooney. Yes. He did some bad movies. But now he is nominated for a higher award than you, so what what!?!
• The mind numbing presentation from the head of the Academy. I know they have it every year. I know I hate it every year.
• Regis Philbin.
• Rebecca Miller's, Marion Cotillard's, Cameron Diaz's, Ellen Page's, Tilda Swinton's, Anne Hathaway's, and Jessica Alba's dresses.

So, all in all, more ggod than bad. What did you think?

The Loves of My Life

My mother always bought us treats for Valentine’s Day. In the days when we were so far below the poverty line that WalMart seemed like luxury shopping, we would get tiny, waxy boxes of candy, each one with a different cartoon animal on the front, painstakingly picked to match each of us four children. I would eat my 3 pieces of awful chocolate slowly, making them last as long as possible.

I had an aversion to commitment during my high school years, and so always found myself single on this most glorious of romantic holidays; I never really was upset by this. I was enveloped in love, and I knew it.

Eventually, my sisters and I would be each other’s valentines. We would pick gifts we knew the other person would really enjoy, such as a cute shirt or a really awesome bag; one time I even found an umbrella shaped like a duck’s head.

Jason is chronically unromantic. For my birthday, his big surprise was mating the socks so I wouldn’t have to. Valentine’s Day is not something he is going to excel at, no matter how much I wish. That is ok; I love my knight, though his shining armor is more jeans and ratty t-shirt; his steed a computer desk chair instead of a white horse.

Because this day is not just about the love for your partner. It is about love for your family, your friends, your children. Take advantage of this day to tell them how glad they are in your lives.

And, dear special internet friends, I want to say this: Thanks for reading. Thanks for being out there. Thanks for writing about your lives and letting me read them.

Happy Valentine’s day to you and yours.

I Was Thinking About Writing This Even If There Wasn't A Contest.

One of the blogs I read constantly, but am way to shy to comment at, is Oh My Stinkin Heck. A smart, funny woman who shares not only her computer wisdom, but also holds contest for beautiful prizes-she is the kind of woman I want to be. I am drooling over the charms she is giving out for her current contest, so here is my little entry.

Ash is a wonderful girl. She is sarcastic and strong, and is raising two beautiful girls to be the same way. She writes of her body image issues so beautifully and honestly.

I have always been on the big side of the Scale. Even as a thin girl, I was a bigger thin girl. I never really paused to consider that my struggle may be the healthier one. When you see a slender girl, you assume she is okay with who she is; how can she not be? She is what you want so desperately for yourself.

Ash is fighting to accept herself. Something most women can never do.

Thanks, Ash. I am right there with you. We'll climb this mountain together.

What is it they say about timing?

Hey, remember when I thought I was pregnant? Yeah, well, I wish.

It turns out my body was going crazy. My liver and intestines were inflamed. I was in pain constantly and I could barely keep anything down.

After going to the doctor three times in less than a month, he finally admitted he had no idea what was wrong with me, and sent me to a gastro-internist. (Gastro-entorologist? Gastro-neurologist? I have heard it a dozen ways.)

That doctor as given me blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, and a colonoscopy. Apparently, I studied too well, cause I passed them all with flying colors. They found nothing I have an endoscopy scheduled for the 18^th.

Don’t get me wrong, I am very glad they haven’t found any terrible thing in all the tests they have run. But after nearly 3 weeks on the couch and continuing pain I am barely controlling with a myriad of pills, I would like to know what the heck is wrong with me.

So I guess I am not going to be having a baby right now. I am a tiny bit heartbroken. Ok, maybe a lot heartbroken.

I want to end on a high note. I want to give you a ray of sunshine, cause I am not a puddle of mess, I really am ok. I am not even depressed, really, and my little family is wonderful.

But I want more to let my brave face down for a minute. I want to release into the world the fact that I am furious at my body. I have been betrayed by the body I try to be so good to. It hurts me physically, and doesn’t stop there. It keeps from me the thing I want. And retaliation would hurt no one but myself.