Perfect Pucker

Getting that perfect pucker might be a little hard to come by, especially if you suffer from frequent chapped lips. I know one thing, winter is definitely not making these lips any softer. Thankfully though there is a product on the market that we all know and love. I know you already are using it...

Burt's Bees

Yes! That is right! If you have never tried out one of the Burt's Bees products, I urge you to give them a try. I am seriously in love with and highly addicted to them. Each tube of Burt's is an "Earth Friendly Natural Personal Care" product with blends of essential oils, beeswax, and my personally favorite ingredient... peppermint(!) that deeply moisturizes and nourishes the lips. All products are natural and free of harmful chemicals.

Bare Minimum

I LOVE this movie!!! Seriously, it is the most awesome social commentary on icky corporate culture ever. Go watch it again and again and again. In the mean time, I am going to go work on collecting more flair and looking for my red stapler.

The ONLY Reason to Live in MN

Is there anything better than a fresh, snowy day?!

Daniel thinks there is...

He was NOT happy with the cold, fluffy white stuff.

Close to Me

"Mommy, can I sit next to you while you eat dinner?"

I hear this almost every evening. There is much chair scraping as she drags her kitchen chair right up next to mine. After a few moments she asks, "Mommy, can I sit in your lap while you eat?" Her big, soft brown eyes look up at me with a quiet excitement I can't remember ever possessing.

After placing her on my lap, she pauses, wraps her tiny arms around my neck and exclaims, "Oh! Thank you, Mommy. Thank you!" Then she burrows into me, compacting herself into a tiny ball. She squirms as if she is looking for a spot that will position her even closer to me.

If she could, I imagine she would soon ask, "Mommy, can I be back inside you?" These days it is never close enough. Not that I am complaining! I know, soon enough, she will not want me around and my heart will silently break when that day arrives.

Deep Thoughts

Much thought goes into this website...

http://anotherdayanotherword.com/

One Hundred and Eighteen

My co-workers are voracious readers of the daily newspaper.

Often I overhear said coworkers discussing the stories they have read. These stories usually tell a horrific and depressing tale of some far-off place. I usually just nod and stay mute, because in the morning I only have the energy to privately hope that Ed McMahon will come knocking on my door with a big check and a reason to stay home from work. But this morning co-worker said something that got me out of my morning-induced coma.

They found 118 cats in a house in St. Anthony, she said.

One hundred and eighteen cats??!? In the same house?

I have a single cat. And although I positively adore him, living with him is like living with an inconsiderate, do-nothing, mooching, smelly roommate. He constantly begs for food -- frequently waking me up well before my alarm clock -- scratches the furniture *all* the time, jumps on the table to lick our dinner plates even when we are looking, spreads his hair throughout the house like he's some sort of allergen fairy, and has one of the highest stink-to-weight ratios in the animal kingdom. (Seriously, if a fox ever happened by her litterbox even he would demand a deodorizer; and I change that box every bleeping day.)

Oh, and he snores so loudly it measures on the Richter Scale. (Here is where I tell you that I'm the only complex being in this house who doesn't snore on a regular basis; sometimes, the chorus of snoring people and felines form a nice melody; other times they're only slightly less annoying than fingernails on a chalkboard. It usually depends on how much sleep you need that particular night. I won't tell you which one you'll hear when you have to get up at 4 a.m. to calm a crabby child.)

I once left the door open to the outside with my cat standing right there, and actively encouraged him to bolt, but my feline wouldn't budge. Not that I blame him, for this is still Minnesota and until recently it's been near 14 billion below zero outside. No amount of fur on anything could protect a being from 14 billion below zero.

So the thought of 118 cats roaming around my house, begging for food, turning my couch into a heaping ball of fabric and coils and meowing at all hours of the night just gives me the heebie-jeebies. 118?!

Thanks, Kid!

E, my eight year old daughter, yelling down the stairs as I went out the door on my way to work this morning:

"HAVE A GOOD DAY, MOM. TRY NOT TO GET FIRED OR USE YOUR SASSY VOICE!"

Seriously? Alrighty then.

"Stressed"

Major League News

Alex Rodriguez took steriods?! WHAT?!?!?!??

Why is everyone acting so surprised?

Next, they'll announce that bears poop in the woods.

BIG NEWS, FOLKS.

So, A-Rod is willing to broil his liver and play Russian roulette with his health. He's a dummy. He deserves to be publicly humiliated, but he won't be. Not for long anyway. He's made the "watered down" apology, and this will be "news" for 10 minutes, then it will all settle down. Major League "brass" will act shocked for the cameras, but truly, they don't care. Not really. As long as they're selling tickets and filling up the stands, they are MORE than willing to turn a blind eye. Major League Baseball LONG AGO quit being about a simple athletic game.... it's now about the almighty dollar... marketing, advertising, etc. All about the Benjamins.

So sad, isn't it?

The ballplayers from 100 years ago who played for the love of the game (and held down "real" jobs, since they couldn't support themselves playing baseball) are no doubt turning over in their graves....

25 Random Things

I have been overwhelmed on FaceBook by people tagging me to do memes, lists, etc. Some bloggers look down on memes, but I don’t.

I LIKE MEMES.

And I have no problem admitting it.

I don’t always participate in memes or tagged things because, well…they take time, something I am always short on. Besides, if I did partcipate in all of them, then my blog would be nothing BUT a meme. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy reading or writing or receiving them. Plus, to be honest, I am a little long winded for a quick “Meme”, as you can see below.

Still, I find memes an interesting little snippet into the psyche of people who write them. Besides, I wrote most of it a few weeks ago and it comes in handy due to utterly craptastic last couple of days, so this is also like pulling a pre-made meal out of my freezer to feed dinner to my family. I just had to write a preface. Awesome.

25 Random things About Me

1. I love scrapbooking.

2. Peanut butter should be it's own food group. I love it!

3. I hate being scared, so I even mute scary movie previews on television.

4. I LOVE babies!

5. I want to go to South Africa to dive in a cage while Great White sharks swim around.

6. I would love to be a photographer.

7. I procrastinate and don't like that about myself.

8. I am bad at setting boundaries.

9. I want to travel the world with Heidi Tunberg.

10. I can't swim.

11. I have a tattoo. On my ankle.

12. I never thought I would have four children. Possibly two, never four. Thank God for life's detours.

13. I love baking cakes!

14. I love listening talk public radio (MPR & NPR).

15. I struggle with depression and an anxiety disorder.

16. I want to learn how to play the piano.

17. I miss hanging out with my dear friends Jacki Olbekson, Kirsten Herdle, Shawn Westover.

18. It took me 20 years, but I have finally stopped biting my nails.

19. I would love to get lasik but am way too big of a chicken!

20. I have the lowest pain tolerance known to mankind. Who is crazy enough to try to have a baby without drugs?! My best advice -- TAKE THE DRUGS!

21. My dream job would be to drive a MONSTER TRUCK! I am so serious!

22. I am a closet introvert who talks too much.

23. I generally wear a size seven shoe but I think my feet look huge.

24. Someday I want to own and run a small Bed & Breakfast.

25. I am really bad about keeping in touch with friends, even though I think about them all the time.

Pick Your Battles

When E got up this morning and got herself dressed for school, I noticed what she was wearing: a magenta undershirt with yellow stars, tissue thin, white t-shirt, and royal blue sweat pants with a green stripe -- and don't forget the mis-matched teal and pink striped socks. I noticed because I knew they were singing a song and doing a dance at the "Gathering" at school this afternoon, and that I would be there with my camera ... but of course, hoping she would wear a cute purple sweater with khaki pants was out of the question. She was ensconsed comfortably somewhere between "What Not to Wear: Elementary School Version" and "street urchin." However, she was dressed, which was most important, so I decided not to fight it...

Pulling The Cart

Holy canned creamed corn dogs do I hate winter. (Well, doesn't that just sound like a hot mess of something you don't want anything to do with?) Really, I try to be optimistic about it... BUT it is always at the end of this shortest month that I begin to feel itchy in my skin -- cabin fever!

While the days are shorter than the summer says I am craving they still feel endlessly long and tiring. My brain ceases to function and I'm always moody. My family suffers due to my attitude as does my soul (Isn't that dramatic?). I lose motivation and all I want to do is curl up on the couch and read a good book. In a sense I just want to hibernate.

I want to be outside but when I get out there I want to flee back into the warm, ice-free indoors. My attitude is much like a light switch being flicked on and off, continuously creating your own personal strobe light effect. Wheee!!! Isn't this fun. Um.. no, not so much.

Yesterday, I felt in control of things. I got things accomplished and felt rested.

Today? Not so much. I awoke this morning feeling night of the living dead tired. An industrial-sized bottle of children's chewable vitamins being shaken in my face. G's newest obsession. The girl is healthy, I'll give her that. I had been up no less than three times last night and I felt like I was back in some sort of sorority pledge hazing ritual.

I find myself day dreaming about long hours of uninterrupted sleep, warmer days and actually having the motivation to herd us all out into the yard to run off energy (obviously their energy, not mine.) I hate the way I feel right now and yet without the key component of a GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP I don't feel as if I'm ever going to get better. Sleep is a carrot. I'm the dumb ass who is pulling the cart. I'm constantly walking ahead trying to grab that juicy carrot and take a big bite.
I pray I get to take a big bite soon!

When You Put It That Way

One of my pet peeves is my children changing clothes for no reason. Because Heaven forbid they put it away and wear it again ... oh, no. Straight into the dirty laundry it goes.

My mantra is: "Do you think I do laundry for the fun of it???" and my children have had it burned into their little brains at this point in their lives, but still, with no real success.

I noticed G's change of clothes, and was about to launch into my lecture for the million and ONE time, "G! Why did you change clothes before dinner? What was wrong with the outfit you had on? Do you think I do laundry for the fun of it?"

She looked at me, like I was clearly clueless (which if I am, it's only because these kids have sucked every brain cell out of my head) and replied, "Mom. The other outfit didn't match."

Her new outfit??? A white, sleeveless undershirt OVER a long-sleeved black, magenta, orange, light pink striped t-shirt and yellow leggings covered in black swiggly lined-design things with one green sock and one yellow sock.

So, yeah. I guess when she puts it *that* way . . . clears everything up, doesn't it?

Tomorrow is A New Day

I really cannot put my feelings about today into words,

so I guess I will just say...

Yay!

You Know You're From the Minneapolis / St. Paul Area If...

• You wish you were the one who found the winter carnival medallion!
• The phrase “Camp Snoopy” brings back good ol' memories.
• You know what the “Great Minnesota Get Together” is.
• You know how to correctly pronounce the following: Eagan, Mahtomedi, Lake Calhoun, Shakopee, Osseo, Wayzata, Osceola, Chisago, & Vadnais Heights.
• You’ve heard the “Erik the Bike Man” tune before!
• Two words: "snow emergency"
• You look forward to days when the temp is above zero.
• Your mom told you that dinner was going to be "Hot Dish" and not casserole.
• You've seen a head made out of... wait for it... butter!
• The Holidazzle Parade is like the "coolest" parade ever!!!
• You've been to VALLEYFAIR on a school field trip.
• You say "Eh?" and "You betcha".
• You call the University of Minnesota "the U."
• You can go to the Mall of America whenever you feel like it.
• The phrase "everything on a stick" makes you chuckle.
• You drink "POP" not "SODA".
• You can tell the Minneapolis and St. Paul skylines apart.
• You think a short guy named Kirby was and will always be a stud!
• You know that that 694 is the north half of the loop and 494 is the south half of the loop (the same loop).
• You say, "Well, I suppose" when it's time to leave.
• You can distinguish between the following area codes: 612, 651, 763, 952, etc…
• You know the movie "The Mighty Ducks" was filmed here!
• You thought the Ice Palace was amazing.
• You’ve been to the "Minneapolis Institute of Arts" before.
• One word: Prince
• You know who Sven Sundgaard, Dave Dahl and Paul Douglas are.
• You remember going to Como Zoo/Park when you were younger and/or still love going there.
• You listen to or have listened to “The Current.”
• You enjoy the sights of St. Anthony Falls or Minnehaha falls. Ooooh aaahh!
• You can picture what “the big spoon with the big cherry on it” looks like in your head.
• One word: Dinkytown
• You’ve heard all of the debate over the new bridge crossing in Stillwater.
• You know what Paul Bunyan’s Log Chute is.

Guidelines are not Always Helpful

This is a very informative article on how to hug. Love the education. Every body should have to read this and follow the guidelines. I am, of course, kidding -- and I seriously hope this pointless and useless article is kidding too.

Enjoy!

Uber

Yes, I positively loathe Valentine's Day. I am a complete softie and romantic die-hard to the core -- who is married to a well-meaning, but very un-romantic man. So, in celebration of the holiday of love, nothing quite says romance to me like this uber-romantic clip from, yes, "Titanic".



C'mon... you KNOW you're going to watch it. We ALL love the "I'm the King of the World!" scene and this little kiss. Makes my toes curl, it's so sweet.

Lies About Parenting That Everyone Tells You

Sometimes I think anyone who decides to willingly have kids are naive fools. I mean, most people mean well, because the plus side is an amazing human (and in our case, four!) who are pretty darned cool. But seriously, let’s talk about all the crap and lies that no one ever mentions.

• That parenting gets easier. Really?! When is the easier part coming? My oldest is 8 and I don't see an "easy exit" on this freaking highway.
• Babies who are breastfed have unoffensive-smelling poop. I’m sorry, people, but poop is poop! And it all smells.
• Breastfeeding is easy. You are not serious. Although I really enjoyed the bonding experience of nursing, nothing about it was easy or natural. HA-RD! It was difficult to learn.
• Every day is better than the next. In some ways, yes. But childhood is not a progressive thing - it’s this dance that is kind of inefficient at times - you take two steps forward, three steps back, ten steps forward, two steps back. This is most evident in getting babies to sleep through the night. If they ever! Or a toddler to "use their ears" when in the middle of a tantrum.
• Two words:Developmental Milestones.
• Toddlers will stop throwing a tantrum if you ignore their behavior. This is one of the BIGGEST lies out there. Toddlers have the capacity to scream, uninterrupted for HOURS, and I do mean, HOURS!

How about you? What’s not in those blasted books that you never got around to finishing before you had the baby?

Random Things I Wonder About

Does anyone know why they make “child-proof” locks for closets and doors that only take two seconds for kids to figure out before they begin mainlining Tums and bandaiding each other and making really awesome sculptures out of tampons? All of which were on a shelf 6 feet high... which means that someone had to use someone else as a ladder to overcome the first three feet? Hmm...

Does anyone know why reasonably intelligent women like myself never get a clue and just teach the 3 1/2 YEAR OLD TO EITHER COOK COMPLETE DINNERS OR DO THE LAUNDRY? I should just send her to Montessori preschool, like her older sister attended. She won’t be able to read until she is at least 8 but by golly, she’ll be able to cut a block of cheese for her friends and know the names of every tree in my backyard. Of course I would have to get her out of the bathroom closet first. See above.

Does anyone know how everyone in the house manages to be bugged about the condition of the house yet people continue to climb over the Mt. Everest of laundry piling up in the kitchen? (Yes, my washer and dryer are in my kitchen. I do not have a basement and that is VERY unfortunate.) Enough said.

Does anyone know exactly how much longer we will be tortured by Cabinet appointments? I say we just give everyone a pass for everything less than 1st degree murder (unless it was justifiable homicide, of course) and put ourselves out of our misery.

Just random thoughts...

Smiling Proudly

You just finished folding laundry and turn your back for a minute to find your toddler smiling proudly, surrounded by a pile of now unfolded clothes. Your reaction? Shriek? My thoughts exactly.

Okay, I understand that I need to breathe deeply and count to ten, but honestly, I just want to shriek!

Being a parent is the most important job I will ever have, but it’s also the hardest! Sometimes it’s hard to stay positive... (With a family of SIX, do you know how many loads of laundry I need to do each week?!)

Do Not Do This At Home

So... Jessica Simpson has been very busy of late: (a) she's been romancing Tony Romo, which has probably been fun, (b) she performed at a chili cook-off a few weeks ago (...I know. I feel kind of depressed now, too), and (c) she very kindly TOOK ONE FOR THE TEAM and illustrated for us that high-waisted jeans are really not flattering on everyone. Especially not these:

The way I see it, these jeans might look great on you if you have not a single curve on your body, are almost six feet tall and weigh less than 95 pounds dripping wet. On the rest of the free world, these awful things just emphasize Inner-Thighs-Through-Belly-Including-Hips-Flubber, which is not something I look for in my hottest pair of jeans. How about you? I mean, if you just mentally move the waist band of these jeans down about two inches, girlfriend looks 100% better. Right? Am I right?

Guilty Pleasures

This is the Guilty Pleasure Meme. Go to Flickr, search your answer to each guilty pleasure, choose one of the pictures on the first page of the search results, copy and paste the link to that picture into Big Huge Lab's Mosaic Maker (4x3), and create the mosaic. Post your mosaic and your answers for others to see.

Here are my answers:

1. Fave Snack Food - Chips (any kind of chips, but my sinfully fave are sour cream & onion potato chips)

2. Fave Cheap Restaurant - Taco House in St. Paul YUM!

3. Fave Expensive Restaurant - Benihana's, for lack of a more original thought right now.

4. Fave Alcoholic Beverage - Malibu rum and Diet Pepsi

5. Fave Non-alcoholic Beverage - Diet Pepsi

6. Fave Sad Song - Not sure...

7. Fave Convenience Store Item - Peanut Butter M&M's

8. Fave Magazine - Creating Keepsakes (scrapbooking mag)

9. Fave TV Show - House Hunters on HGTv

10. Fave Past Time (pre-kids) - Sleep

11. Fave 80s Movie - Sixteen Candles

12. Fave Way to completely waste time - Hmmm... FaceBook? Blogging? Might be a tie.

No White Lies Here

Today has been an awful day. As a matter of a fact, it has been a horrendous weekend. Thank God tomorrow is Monday and we get to go back to work. I am doing jumping jacks due to my high level of giddiness about NOT being with my husband or children.

I am the *worst* mother in the world for being so excited about not being here... but at least I am HONEST. Do I get any extra points for being honest?!

Hang Up!

I have no idea why, but I love the T-Mobile "butt dialing" commerical. I realize most folks think it's stupid, but it cracks me up each time I see the boyfriend say "Awww... My butt hung up on you. Sorry!"

Darling

As I was searching thru my pictures, it was brought to my attention that I have lots of pics of the children sleeping. I guess that is true... They are definitely the sweetest and cutest when they are sleeping. So peaceful and QUIET. Besides since they never EVER let me sleep, I figure I have to capture a picture of someone resting.
In case you can't tell, I am excessively sleep deprived (going on several days now) and it is positively just about putting me in an early grave. And let's not mince words -- I am CRABBY. My precious two year old said it perfectly this morning when he turned to me and said , "Mommy a crab apple now!"

Parenting 101

Yesterday was one of those days that started out with a broken glass shattered across my kitchen floor and ended with kids antagonizing one another and generally acting like brats.

Yeah. Fun.

Finally, at 7:15, I’d had enough and declared it bedtime. I might have lost my temper just a little bit.

It was like I’d suggested we cancel a Disney vacation with the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth that followed my proclamation. All of the munchkins collapsed into bawling heaps on the floor, just further evidence of the necessity of the early bedtime.

I calmly (ahem!) herded them upstairs and started the PJ/teeth/potty routine.

I got E into bed and then lay down with her as is our habit. We chatted briefly and then I kissed her and got up to leave. As I turned away, I heard a plaintive, "Mommy?"

"What, angel pie?"

"Why are you so crabby?"

I stopped in my tracks and did a mental head slap. The child didn’t even know what she’d done wrong. No wonder she was so upset.

As I went back and explained gently that it was her attitude and tone of voice and the way she was speaking to her sister, I wondered how many times I get upset with her and she doesn’t even know why. Isn’t that like Parenting 101?

When she was first born, I read the parenting books and very intentionally laid out my expectations and the consequences of good and bad behavior and did my best to follow through with firmness and love. With each successive child, I fear that I have regressed into knee-jerk parenting — reacting rather than responding. It’s so much easier to give into my short tempter and impatience when what the kids need is a loving, caring, thoughtful parent. (And unfortunately, I have a legendary, short temper.)

Last night was a wake-up call. I only have one chance. I don’t want to mess it up. It was a humbling experience.

Soap Box

Let me set the record straight right here at the outset, I am not a goodie-two-shoes. I like loud music, I like adult beverages. And when it comes to addiction, I have a long and sordid history with chocolate.

But I am not a national champion or American icon. I am not a role model to millions of children, and even if I were, I doubt my indulgence in Bacardi Raz and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups would bring my image crashing down. Though, I would probably get some flack for eating Peeps Marshmallow Chicks and the occasional Tequila Popper.

So now I want to know... when is it going to be okay for me to tell my children they can look up to an athlete? Ever? Performance enhancing drugs (also widely known as cheating), recreational drugs, infidelity, outlandish salaries and yet always asking for more money... The greed, corruption and excess is not okay.

Hello, Michael Phelps! Work with me.

"Mom? What is that famous man smoking? You always told me smoking was bad but he was good this summer, right?"

"What, Daughter? Oh, that? That's your idol, and that there is his bong."

I can keep my kids from watching trash television; I can keep my daughter from listening to Britney Spears, but now am I supposed to ban them from watching the Olympics too?! Ridiculous.

For those of you who say Michael Phelps is just a regular guy having fun, that's bunk. He is not a pop-star. He is an athlete and he's an American superstar. If he didn't want kids to look up to him, he shouldn't have gone and won eight gold medals. And basically broke every record there was.

I have no patience with this type of behavior. People of all ages who are given the gift of celebrity status, and in the public view, should and must be held to a higher standard so our children can have acceptable role models. Amen. I will step down from my soap box now...

Remember

For those of you who haven't yet seen this, it's fabulous. This is the letter that the Bush twins wrote to the Obama girls about growing up in the White House. It is read aloud by Jenna and Barbara Bush themselves.

No matter how your feel about our 43rd President (who was not my favorite leader), there's no arguing that he and Laura Bush raised two wonderful young women -- full of kindness, warmth and each possessing a generous spirit. Enjoy.

239 Films

Borrowed from a friend's FB entry...

Supposedly if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, paste it in your own blog, word doc, etc. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up and see how you do.

Rocky Horror Picture Show
Grease (x)
Pirates of the Caribbean (x)
Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest (x)
Boondock Saints
Fight Club
Starsky and Hutch (x)
Neverending Story (x)
Blazing Saddles
Airplane
Total: 5

The Princess Bride (x)
Anchorman (x)
Napoleon Dynamite
Labyrinth (x)
Saw
Saw II
White Noise
White Oleander
Anger Management (x)
50 First Dates (x)
The Princess Diaries (x)
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 11

Scream
Scream 2
Scream 3
Scary Movie
Scary Movie 2
Scary Movie 3
Scary Movie 4
American Pie (x)
American Pie 2
American Wedding
American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 12

Harry Potter 1 (x)
Harry Potter 2 (x)
Harry Potter 3
Harry Potter 4
Resident Evil 1
Resident Evil 2
The Wedding Singer (x)
Little Black Book
The Village
Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 15

Finding Nemo (x)
Finding Neverland
Signs
The Grinch
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
White Chicks (x)
Butterfly Effect (x)
13 Going on 30 (x)
I, Robot (x)
Robots (x)
Total so far: 21

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (x)
Universal Soldier
Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Along Came Polly
Deep Impact
KingPin
Never Been Kissed (x)
Meet The Parents (x)
Meet the Fockers (x)
Eight Crazy Nights
Joe Dirt
King Kong
Total so far: 25

A Cinderella Story (x)
The Terminal (x)
The Lizzie McGuire Movie (x)
Passport to Paris
Dumb & Dumber (x)
Dumber & Dumberer
Final Destination
Final Destination 2
Final Destination 3
Halloween
The Ring
The Ring 2
Surviving X-MAS
Flubber
Total so far: 29

Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
Practical Magic
Chicago (x)
Ghost Ship
From Hell
Hellboy
Secret Window
I Am Sam
The Whole Nine Yards (x)
The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 31

The Day After Tomorrow
Child's Play (x)
Seed of Chucky
Bride of Chucky
Ten Things I Hate About You
Just Married
Gothika
Nightmare on Elm Street
Sixteen Candles (x)
Remember the Titans
Coach Carter
The Grudge
The Grudge 2
The Mask (x)
Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 34

Bad Boys (x)
Bad Boys 2
Joy Ride
Lucky Number Slevin
Ocean's Eleven (x)
Ocean's Twelve
Bourne Identity (x)
Bourne Supremecy (x)
Lone Star
Bedazzled
Predator I
Predator II
The Fog
Ice Age (x)
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
Curious George
Total so far: 39

Independence Day (x)
Cujo
A Bronx Tale
Darkness Falls
Christine
ET (x)
Children of the Corn (x)
My Bosses Daughter
Maid in Manhattan (x)
War of the Worlds
Rush Hour (x)
Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 44

Best Bet
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (x)
She's All That (x)
Calendar Girls
Sideways
Mars Attacks
Event Horizon
Ever After (x)
Wizard of Oz (x)
Forrest Gump (x)
Big Trouble in Little China
The Terminator (x)
The Terminator 2 (x)
The Terminator 3
Total so far: 51

X-Men
X-Men 2
X-Men 3
Spider-Man (x)
Spider-Man 2 (x)
Sky High
Jeepers Creepers
Jeepers Creepers 2
Catch Me If You Can
The Little Mermaid (x)
Freaky Friday
Reign of Fire
The Skulls
Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions 2
The Hot Chick
Shrek (x)
Shrek 2 (x)
Total so far: 56

Swimfan
Miracle on 34th Street (x)
Old School (x)
The Notebook
K-Pax
Krippendorf's Tribe
A Walk to Remember (x)
Ice Castles
Boogeyman
The 40-year-old Virgin (x)
Total so far: 60

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (x)
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (x)
Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King (x)
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 63

Baseketball
Hostel
Waiting for Guffman
House of 1000 Corpses
Devils Rejects
Elf
Highlander
Mothman Prophecies
American History
Three
Total so Far: Still 63

The Jacket
Shaolin Soccer
Night Watch
Monsters Inc. (x)
Titanic (x)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Shaun Of the Dead
Willard
Total so far: 65

High Tension
Club Dread
Hulk
Dawn Of the Dead
Hook (x)
Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
28 Days Later
Orgazmo
Phantasm
Waterworld (x -- watched most of it. Did anyone truly watch the entire montorsity?!)
Total so far: 66

Kill Bill vol 1
Kill Bill vol 2
Mortal Kombat
Wolf Creek
Kingdom of Heaven
The Hills Have Eyes
I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
The Last House on the Left
Re-Animator
Army of Darkness
Total so far: Still 66

Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace (x)
Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones (x)
Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith (x)
Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope (x)
Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back (x)
Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi (x)
Total so far: 72

The Matrix
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Animatrix
Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2
Team America: World Police (x)
Red Dragon
Silence of the Lambs (x)
Hannibal
Total so far: 74

Having only seen 74 of the 239 listed... does this prove exactly how much I am disconnected from popular culture? I guess this means that I should stop watching public television or the History Channel and listening to MN Public Radio and perhaps watch more movies?! (Or not. Most movies I have not seen, but want to, cannot be watched when the kids are awake and honestly, by the time they finally go to sleep, I am ready to pass out too...)

Citizens

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful

committed citizens can change the world;

indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

~ Margaret Mead (1901-1978)