Random Rambling on a Lazy Saturday

I, for the life of me, couldn't pick a name. So, I'm going to let you do it. Well, I'm going to let you help. Pick your favorite. I think I grabbed almost all of the names that were submitted.

Thank you to Mommy Pie, Seeryus Mommy (multiple times!), Laura, and Ashlee for submitting names. I'm really sorry if I missed one you suggested.

But, all you have to do is submit your entry. Poll will close next Friday.

Thanks for your help & participation.

Now, tell me, how are you doing on your assignment? I'm glad we took care of ours yesterday, because wow. Today, Not the Momma and I - we feel like crap. He's got a sinus cold (isn't this #5 since we've lived here?). I, however, am dealing with issues of a more feminine nature. Is that too much information to put on the blog?

Little Monster is playing Lego's with Daddy on the couch while we watch a movie that is entirely inappropriate for anyone, let alone an 18 month old. Our plans for today: Nothing. We are going to sit on the couch and watch dumb movies, litter Lego's around the house so that we can step on them later. We will eat donuts. We will do nothing that requires effort, or getting dressed, or being conscious. Because otherwise I have to change the title of this post. And that is something that would require effort.

Friday Fun -- An Assignment!

Today's Friday Fun is a little bit different. There will be no quiz today for you to take, instead I have an assignment.

We bought an aquarium membership over Memorial Day Weekend, but we didn't stay long because the place was packed. Packed in like sardines. (heh heh, get it, Aquarium, Cannery Row, Sardines? -- Okay. Lame, I know.) Fast Forward to today. We went to the Monterey Aquarium and Cannery Row today. Today it wasn't busy and we had a great time. Little Monster had fun touching crabs, rays and all different kinds of kelp. The whole place is nice, and extremely child friendly. They have several places that are designated 'play' areas with things to climb on, touch, and learn with. Little Monster loves the place now, but he'll only grow to like it more as he gets older and can actually interact with the 'interactive' displays.

My favorite parts of the day:

• When Little Monster pushed the button that made seal sounds. It was just a little bit loud, and scared him. His eyes got big, and he ran around behind me and hugged my legs. Yeah, I'm sadistic like that.
• Not the Momma's favorite part was when we held him in a concave dome so he could feel like he was 'in' the tank. He got a little freaked out and held Not the Momma so tight that the scratch marks are still showing on his arm. We think he was upset about it because it was the only area where he couldn't touch the glass. So, he was worried we were going to 'drop' him in with the sharks.
• When Little Monster pushed the button that made whale sounds. It wasn't nearly as loud as the seal. But when he heard the whale songs, he started imitating them. And continued for the rest of the trip. He does a mean whale song, that kid.
• The look on Little Monster's face when we walked into the entrance, and he saw the fake whale suspended from the ceiling. His hands went up in the air, and his face had a look of "wow!"
• Watching Little Monster discover how to put a cylinder through the appropriately shaped hole in the baby/toddler area of the "Splash Zone."
• Okay, so really, watching Little Monster discover everything was a real treat. The look on his face for most of the day was one of complete awe. He kept waving and saying "hi" to the fish. He did not whine or complain once, even though we delayed his lunch by about an hour, and he was in his stroller for much of the time.
• Right. Now. Little Monster was so tired from the day, that when I put him down for his nap, there was no argument. He rolled over onto his tummy, stuck his tush up in the air, and fell asleep. What better reward for a busy morning is there?

I do have one gripe. The place wasn't that busy, but there were 'hot spots' of activity. The main ones being the touch tanks. I get that the touch tanks are cool, so I know there are going to be lots of tween-aged kids running around touching things. That's what they're supposed to do. But, parents, you could keep an eye on your kids, and make sure they aren't being too pushy. That isn't my gripe. My gripe is with the ADULT that elbowed my son and I out of the way so that he and his wife could touch a starfish. In the children's area. Where the tanks were set low enough that Little Monster could touch them himself, without having to be held up. Dude, there's an adult sized one downstairs, and this is the kids area. We had to leave before I embarrassed myself and Not the Momma, because it was all I could do not to say something to him about how rude it was to elbow an 18 month old out of the way so that he, a grown man, could touch a starfish. Oh well. We are members. We'll go back next week and touch a starfish. Or, we'll touch one for free. Outside, in the real tide pools. So there.

Back to the whole "fun" part of this, though. Are you ready for your assignment? Either this weekend or next, be a tourist in your own town. Find something you've never done, a museum, or park you haven't visited, (or at least somewhere you haven't been in a while) and go there! Take a lunch, relax and have a good time. Then, tell us what you did. I'd bet there are lots of places, right in your hometown, you've never visited. Places you've been meaning to go but haven't because you were busy, or the weather wasn't good enough. No excuses. You have two weeks. Get to it!

Runza. Runza. Runza. I love Runza.

**Disclaimer** I have NOT been paid to advertise for this company. I just love them. And some people admitted to not knowing GASP!!! what a Runza is. So, I'll enlighten you. Because I love Runza. I love them
<---------------------------------this much--------------------------------->

Not the Momma and I grew up in Nebraska. I'd like to think of it as the Heart of the heartland. It was a great place to grow up. Safe, small, yet big. You could be a kid without too many worries. One of the things I LOVED to do on summer afternoons, or sometimes after school, was to walk to the Runza that was near our house. I would save my babysitting money just for those trips.

Onion rings, not too salty, just a tad sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.



The fries. Extra crispy on the outside, but hot and soft on the inside. Salted to perfection.



It was always a pain to decide which ones to get. I don't remember when, but someone, (pure genius) decided to add "Frings" to the menu. A combo of the two. Pure. Heaven.

Then, there's the pièce de résistance, the Runza. I prefer mine with cheese, but there are tons of way to get them. Plain, with Swiss cheese and mushrooms, Italian style... the list goes on. Sometimes, they even spice it up and add different, seasonal recipes.



Pretty much everything there is good. Handmade. Everyday. (If that isn't their slogan anymore, I think it used to be.)

So, if you're traveling anywhere near one of these yellow dots (If you're traveling I-80, you are):


You should stop. You can tell them I sent you, but they won't know who I am. They might look at you funny. So, instead don't ask what a Runza is. It's a combination of some seasonings, burger, and cabbage, all baked into a bun. Don't ask about the nutrition content. It's fast food. Just eat it. And enjoy.

AND NOW you should go to http://runza.com/areyouarunzaticquiz.htm to take the quiz. I scored a 72. Because, the questions are unfair to those who have no choice but to move. I answered the questions as though I still lived in Nebraska though. So, I cheated a bit. I, my friends AM a Runzanatic. But then, after reading this, did you wonder? That is the "Friday Fun" part of this whole thing. But I had to explain it. Want to know what would be even more fun? Going to Runza. And eating until I'm sick. That would be more fun. So, You Nebraskans! GO! Have a bite for US!

Now that I'm DROOLING uncontrollably into my keyboard: Hey, uh, Runza? Can I get my commission now? How about 3 dozen frozen Runza's shipped to me? Yeah, that will be great. You're welcome for the advertisement!


All photos are borrowed from Runza.com.

WhoA!

Doogs, seriously. I did NOT delete you from my reader. I still have 107 blogs in it. I got rid of some news feeds, and the earthquake feed. I got rid of feeds that I find I click "mark as read" on. I got rid of the blogs that weren't full feed, and that never caught my interest enough to actually click through. :) I love you guys!

So, you're safe. I promise. I love my doogs. I'm not dumping you.

Settle down. Because tomorrow. TOMORROW, I have the MOST scrumptious blog ever written. I am so excited about tomorrow's blog. My mouth is watering as I type this. You're all going to want to get on the closest mode of high speed transportation and head to the heartland of America when you read tomorrows post. At least I did when I wrote it.

Weeding

I spent some time today 'weeding' my reader.

I hated to do it. But people, I've got to have a LIFE, or else I won't have anything to blog about. There's nothing more boring than a blogger who can only blog about blogging. So I did it. I clicked 'unsubscribe.' I feel a little better for it.

I'm still going to share the love with all my doogs. But folks, unless I really really loved you, and you don't share all of your bloggy love to those of us using a reader, You might have gotten the axe. (Not really.)

I feel like a mean and cranky person today! Seriously, I just got rid of some ooooooold pages. Ones that rarely posted. I wouldn't get rid of YOU! But getting rid of the blogs that don't post brought my subscriptions down to a very manageable. 107. Don't tell my husband about that number. Please don't. He'll die.

**Updated**
This post sounds way mean. I'm sorry. I didn't unsubscribe from you. I really didn't. I promise! I unsubscribed from someone else!