formerly Diane's Addled Ramblings... the ramblings are still addled, just like before, and the URL is still the same...
it's just the title at the top of the page that's new

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Miscellany...

On a Roll

I love to make Ryan laugh. Hard. I find ridiculous ways to do it… I change the words to songs (and often make them rude); I hold entire conversations in rhyme, usually set to a silly tune (which I sometimes invent); I hold other conversations in my Daffy Duck lisp (one of my personal favorites); I break into spontaneous dance (and since we know I can’t dance and I do it in public, you can imagine the effect that has); I employ ‘the laugh’ (which makes me sound like a cartoon character… somewhere between Baby Huey and Roger Rabbit)… all funny stuff. Well, funny to anyone under the age of 12 (who doesn’t embarrass easily… Ryan doesn’t). I expect other grown ups would find me quite afflicted. Which is fine with me. I’m not trying to make them laugh. Anyway, this weekend I was on a roll… I made Ryan choke on popcorn, snort milk out her nose, and pee a little in her pants. It was golden.

She Got Me Back

Ryan got me back this morning. We went out to breakfast and when we left the restaurant, she was walking in the left-over snow along the sidewalk. It was packed hard and pretty much just ice. I said (jokingly), “I hope you fall.” No sooner were the words out of my mouth when BOOM. Down she went. I nearly wet myself laughing (which would have served me right, really, as I’m pretty sure only bad mommies laugh first and check for injuries later).

Inkheart

We went to see Inkheart on Saturday. Anyone who has kids who like the fantasy genre or Cornelia Funke’s books should consider going. It wasn’t exactly like the book (what movies is?) but it was quite good. And Brendan Fraser is yummy (I kept picturing him in his George of the Jungle loin cloth).

Need Your Opinion

I’m considering participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Event Breast Cancer Walk. The DC leg is in October, so there’s plenty of time to train for the 60-mile trek. However, the thing that caused me to chicken out last year (and still makes me very nervous), was the fundraising requirement. Every walker has to commit to raising $2,300… and if you don’t succeed, you have to pay the balance yourself. Yikes. I know it’s not a fortune but I’m not good at asking people for money. What do you guys think? If I register, I’d have a page that would allow for credit card donations (from anywhere in the world)… is that something you all might donate to? It’s such a worthy cause, obviously, and it would benefit women all over the world, not just in the US, certainly. It’s a disease that has affected me through people I love and I want to do it… I’m just not very confident in my fundraising ability. Also, if I do it, I wouldn’t mind having a walking partner who could get to DC for a weekend in October… just sayin’. Let me know what you think.

In Case You Were Wondering...

You know that letter I sent to my brother and sister-in-law? The 'olive branch'...? Well, in more than a week, not a word in response. Oh well. At least I tried.

29 comments:

hebba said...

get a PO Box, send out the word on the blog. (I'd contribute to the cause.) I will say this: when I ran a marathon for Diabetes, the fund raising was much harder than the running. BUT>> if I hadn't made the commitment to the diabetes association, I wouldn't have done the marathon. I would have had to many opportunities to drop out. Go for it! You won't be sorry

J Cosmo Newbery said...

I am not all that comfortable with the idea. Believe it or not I don't have a credit card. True, I could mail off some Australian pesos but something in me wants to give support to the local charities.

Coachdad said...

Great post... I too have a lisp I use with my kids. I think you should go for it with the walk. The PO Box is a great idea.

Maithri said...

Go for it with the walk... Its a great idea...

As for the rest...you crack me up!! I love daffy duck lisps ... "Despicable!! ;);)" and crazy dances everything inbetween...

Ryans very very lucky to have such a cool mom,

Much love, M

Sherri Murphy said...

First- your little curse you put on your daughter...very funny;)

Second- I say go for the cancer walk! I head up a big event like this in our area (a poverty stricken community). Last year we raised $60,000! Huge $$ coming from the people here. Mine was for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, but both are good causes.

And I was wondering about your letter...you STILL did the right thing regardless of their response or lack thereof. They are probably speechless and don't know how to respond. I'd say that you have them doing some soul searching.
But YOU , in the meantime , are FREE.

You are a beautiful soul. That is FREE!

gwenlyn said...

Yeah, go for the walk and use the PO box idea for sure. You are a cool mom and Ryan is a cool kid. Let us know how it goes when she's thirteen! We'll have your back!

Unknown said...

See, I check first and then laugh. I must be an awesome parent.

$2300 is a lot to raise, but I think you could do it. If not all from your bloggity friends, you can always check to see if businesses will sponsor you.

As far as your brother? That's enough effort wasted IMO.

Melanie Gillispie said...

I missed Miscellany! Dang! And you took it! I think I have a card somewhere that you sent me with your quote of the week on it. And, I have this to say: "Diane, you know you know me!" in the good sense for On a Roll... and in the practical sense for In Case You Were Wondering...

HLiza said...

I love the idea of the walk, but I'm just like you..I can get sales but really suck on asking for donation. May be you can think of people who can contribute large amount.. people who you know well and have the same mind about this..then only you decide whether to do it. So sad to say I'm living without credit card here..so anything that have to be paid thru the net is out of question!

You sound pretty much like me..(okay, you are funnier!).. I love to change song lyrics just to tease my kids. I just sang "Farting Queen" to my daughter (to the Abba song Dancing Queen) last night..coz she farts a lot!

Lee said...

A pretty tough way of getting you back - going A over T on the ice!

Blu said...

Personally I think that that they shouldnt set that amount. I also did a walk just a few weeks after chemo for a different type of cancer, we were told that in the UK a third of the people didnt send in their money. I dont use a credit card either, money is very tight for many at the moment. You sound like a great Mum Ryan is lucky. Best wishes Blu

mo.stoneskin said...

Most of my letters get no response. I think it is usually because I insult the recipient's intellect, never a good idea if you want results!

Henry the Dog said...

Diane - mum and me think it's wrong to 'set' an amount. It must put lots of people off. Surely they'd raise more if they didn't set an amount because they'd get more people participating? Bizarre. We would contribute, of course. Mum has lumps all the time, all benign up to now but it is always in her mind as she has to have regular ultra-sounds because of her condition. Are you with paypal? Also, on the letter front. Keep writing. My mum's only remaining brother never corresponds with her either. But she keeps writing to him, letting him know that she's alive and suchlike, not that he seems to care, but mum says it doesn't hurt her to keep writing and holding out that one day he WILL care. He's the only family mum has.

Michelle said...

Yes Diane i definitely think you should do this!!

I would contribute and write about you on my blog asking readers to come here to well contribute!!!

As far as DC in October!!! It may be doable for me if you want a walking partner!! I love DC in October!! Well no i don't, i've only been to DC once when i was 15!!!

You crack me up girl!! Ryan is lucky kid for sure!!!!

Happy Monday!!

Zuzana said...

There is nothing better than a good laugh!;))
I so understand your issues with the fund raising, I am not very good with money. Asking for it or saving it! Period.;))

Finally, there is an award for YOU from ME!;)) Come and get it at my place.;))

♥ Braja said...

Feel free to try and make me laugh any time...I could use one right now....

Heather said...

First of all, you must really and truly be my mother's child after all. She's definitely a "laugh first, check later" person. Like when I fell down the stairs in high school. She laughed the whole way to the hospital. Or when I fell down the stairs in college and she laughed at me over the phone. (See a pattern here? Me and stairs don't really get along.)
Anyway, I think the breast cancer walk is an excellent idea. I think you'll be able to raise the money. It's a great cause.
And I'm sorry your brother hasn't accepted the peace offering yet. Maybe he's feeling bad for his part in all of it? Wishing he had said sorry first? I know... severely optimistic, right?

Sam_I_am said...

Your blog has a huge following, you'd probably be able to do it. Make a blog badge for anyone to donate to place on their blog. I'd do a lot of things for a blog award. :-D

Sherri Murphy said...

My post today may look a bit familiar.

I am sorry.Kinda.

blognut said...

My sister and I are thinking of walking the Chicago area 3-day because both of us lost really awesome people to breast cancer last spring. She and I both lost our mother's-in-law within a couple months of each other. (Believe me, if you knew my mom, you'd know why we became so attached to those ladies.) I would not only give to your walk, I'd put a link to your donation site on my blog.

You will SO collect enough money - I know it. Think about it as 46 people giving $50; I'll bet you won't have any trouble. Plus, you can write a letter to local businesses and ask for sponsors, you'll get some money there too.

About your brother - you did what you could. He'll either come around or he won't, but at least you'll know it isn't on you.

swenglishexpat said...

How weird is that, having to commit to a certain sum? What's the reasoning behind that I wonder? Sounds crazy!

Petra a.k.a The Wise (*Young*) Mommy said...

Definitely do the walk! I know you could do it.

And I love making my kids laugh by doing similar things. And coincidentally, I have also laughed at them falling more times than I can count. But as a result, neither of them freaks out when they fall and hurt themselves and I think that is a good thing.

So really, I am a GOOD mom, right?

Rachel Cotterill said...

I'd happily sponsor you. But I don't promise not to come back & call in the favour later! ;)

Amy McMean said...

I was wondering if you had heard anything back from your brother. at least you tried.

P.S.
My little cousin touched the flame on her birthday cake candle when she was 2. after we stopped laughing her mother checked to make sure she was ok. She was. Just scared. You're still a good mom :)

Anonymous said...

Dang! Now I see that you have your "COPYRIGHT" logo on your site, and since you called me out by name--I guess I'm in trouble, huh?

WHat is your penalty for copyright infringement?

I SWEAR I tried to link to your site first, but couldn't and still can't. I'm that dumb. Believe me, I WANT to learn, but my ADD mind just can't wrap around it.

But I gave you full artistic credit. Does that lesson my sentence?

Have mercy.

creative kerfuffle said...

you sound like an awesome mom! i would have laughed too if one of mine would have fallen; i thought that was a rule? laugh first, check for injuries second?
i think the walk is a worthwhile cause, but i had no idea you had to raise a set amount to do it. that's bizarre. however, i bet you'd have no trouble raising it.
and, as one from a dysfunctional family (and one that extends the olive branch) all i can say is you did your part; you tried. screw them : )

Jenners said...

I would contribute to your walk. Not like 100s of dollars but something. That is kind of scary requirement though. Jeez...perhaps you can do a "trial" run and see how much you have then then register. That would be really scary if you fell short and had to shell out a ton of money .. I mean it is a good cause and all but my goodness.

And I can only hope your brother and sister-in-law are trying to find just the right words and it is just taking awhile. I really really hope so.

Sometimes Sophia said...

You are such a fun mommy, Ryan is lucky. Too bad your brother isn't smart enough to realize how worthy you are as a sister. You did the right thing. Take comfort in that.

That's a daunting amount of money to raise, especially in this economy. I think you should go for it though, since you have quite a bit of time to do the fundraising. See if you can sound out local businesses and groups like Rotary/Lions/etc to see if they will support you. If you can get half from them, go for it. Senor and I will contribute something...

Ronda's Rants said...

My hubby can make our kids and the grandkids laugh with his Donald Duck...I got nothing!
I would walk with you...let me think October in Washington...60 miles...hmmmm still thinking!