The feeding of 8 year old boys

Yesterday was Primo's 8th birthday and we had a few of his friends and our family over for a party. It was an Indiana Jones theme (He was Indy for Halloween), so naturally one must have Indiana Jones food. So remember back to "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" when Indy and Willie eat...eyeball soup and chilled monkey brains. Since these delicacies are hard to come by off of the Asian subcontinent, I had to improvise.

Here we have eyeball cupcakes:


And chilled monkey brain cupcakes.
Don't they look delicious?

Surprisingly, the boys were not as grossed out by the eyeballs as I thought they'd be and the eyeballs all went very quickly. I had a lot of the monkey brains left over, though. Maybe it's because they were full-sized cupcakes. I find that kids have an easier time eating the smaller ones. Maybe that's because they know to stop when they are full. People like me have to re-teach ourselves that. A fun time was had by all, but I was very happy that the party was only 3 hours long and everyone left a little bit early. I am also glad we all had today off so that we could recover!

This is my Primo.

He turns 8 today. He's a wonderful boy. He's caring, funny and smart. He can make his own breakfast. He can pour his own milk. He's at a funny age now. He still wants to snuggle at bedtime and crawl into my lap, but he's getting too large to fit in my lap. He is a delight. Look at that handsome face. Look at that gap-toothed smile. How can you not love him?

Do you know why he is smiling so big in this picture?

Because the day before his birthday, he had the fastest Pinewood Derby car in his den. He's a very proud Wolf Cub Scout. And his dad and I are so proud of him, too. We love him to pieces. He was our honeymoon surprise. And we wouldn't have him any other way. I love you, baby-who's-not-really-a-baby-anymore. May God bless you with a wonderful life!

The Americans are coming! The Americans are coming!

This is Wroxton College. And Scott and I will be there for a week in July. He has to go to workshops. I get to sight-see.

Now to get the passports...

I know Christmas is over, but I just can't help printing this letter that Primo left for Santa on the Christmas tree. It is reproduced exactly as written:

Santa Claws,

You can have any of our candy canes tonight. You can come for extra visits anny time.

from.
Primo

p.s. Did you ever hit yore head on the north pole?
p.s.s. Did you give me a wii?
p.s.s.s. can you bring me everything on my list?
p.s.s.s.s. I need a wii!
p.s.s.s.s.s. you should go on weaht wachers.
p.s.s.s.s.s.s. I've been verry good this year.
p.s.s.s.s.s.s.s. merry crhistmas.

Welcome Quiet Life readers!

After I read Donna's very thoughtful post and read your even more wonderful comments, I commented too and offered to answer anyone's questions. But then I noticed that my email wouldn't show up and then I thought about it and decided my email address wouldn't be so easy to find here. So, feel free to ask any questions about the Catholic Church, Her teachings, and my belief in the comment box of this post. Please bring the same wonderfulness here that you have over at Donna's. I'm happy to have email discissions if you prefer, just shoot me an email at mamagiglio at comcast dot net

It's important to take a stand

I want to talk to all of you about January 21 and 22.

January 21 is Inauguration Day. President-elect Obama will take the oath of office in Washington DC that day, becoming our 45th president .

January 22 is the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States.

While on the campaign trail, President-elect Barack Obama, pledged that one of his first acts as president would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, July 17, 2007). This act would overturn all state-imposed restrictions on the practice of abortion. Most of these restrictions were passed by voter referendum. Not only is overturning these restrictions morally wrong; it is a direct violation of the expressed will of the voters in those states.

On January 22, 2009, the day after President-elect Obama is sworn in, there will be large-scale peaceful demonstrations against the Roe v. Wade decision in Washington, DC and in San Francisco, CA. There are also peaceful pro-life demonstrations planned in state capitals all over the country on January 22.

It is important for those of us who stand for a culture of life to show the President on the day after he is inaugurated that the American people do not want unrestricted access to abortion; that we do not want FOCA to become law. Many Knights of Columbus councils, Catholic parishes, Christian churches and synagogues and temples will run bus trips to Washington and to San Francisco and to your state's capital. If you can't make it to the East Coast or to the West Coast Marches, get to your state's capital and show your state legislatures where you stand.

If you can get to one of the bigger marches, take the day off from work or school, bring the kids, rosaries in hand, and go. Let's make this the biggest March for Life that we have ever seen. Scott and I are taking the day off and we're pulling the kids out of school and we're going to be there.

Let's show President-elect Obama in no uncertain terms what the will of the American people truly is.

Blessed Mother, the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States, pray for us that we might be successful in protecting the unborn millions whose lives are at risk. St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us. St. Michael the Archangel, protect us in battle and pray for us.

For more information about the activities in Washington and elsewhere, please visit Thomas at American Papist.

iTunes meme

Okay, everyone, there are some clues for you down among the unsolved songs. This was fun!!! May be I should do a Name That Tune day every week (only one song at a time though!).

I saw this over at Aimee's blog and it seemed like fun, so I thought I'd try it, too because it's a new year and I'm all about plagiarism stealing content borrowing to make my life easier. ;) But one thing that has bothered me about doing this one is that there are about 2 people who read this regularly, so how long do I give this till I just put the answers up? Am I setting myself up for embarrassment? Will anyone participate in this meme? My insecurity is showing.

Here are the rules: You put your song player (in my case iTunes since my iPod hasn't been charged in ages-don't tell Scott) on shuffle and you type out the opening lyrics (unless they reveal the name of the song). Aimee did 15 songs, the meme originally said 25. We'll see what I feel like doing.

Can you name some? Can you name one? If so, leave your answers (songs and artists) in the comments. Now that I'm done, I going to say good luck. Some of these are HARD! I have kids music in here, too, and one song is not even sung by a real person (well, technically, it's the voice of a real person, but the song is not performed by a human being). One artist appears twice.

Special thanks to SongLyrics.com for being there so I could cut and paste a lot of these words.

January 3: I'll give it till tomorrow night ( January 4) and I'll start putting up some clues. I cross-posted this on my facebook profile. Scott's answers were from facebook. Please don't think I'm all smug and know the answers because if I hadn't written this all up and kept a list, I couldn't get half of them right.

1. But it's all right now. I learned my lesson well. You see, you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself. (This is from the refrain since the opening line gives away the title.) Garden Party by Rick Nelson, kudos to Scott and Marguerite!
   
2. We said we'd walk together and become one in the night. And come the twilight should we lose our way. And as we're walking and your hand should slip away well I would wait forever... "If I should fall behind," by Bruce Springsteen, go on Marguerite!
   
3. Keys cut, three for the price of one. Nothing's free but guaranteed for a lifetime's use. I've changed the locks and you can't have one. You, you know the other two. Marguerite called it: "Star me Kitten" by REM
   
4. Oh Yeah! All right! Are you gonna be in my dreams-tonight? "The end" by the Beatles. Good work, Scott and Marguerite!
   
5. You fell down of course and then you got up of course and started over. Forgot my name of course and then you started to remember. This act's frontman does a lot of side work which has taken a up a lot of his time lately. They have a colorful name.
   
6. (song title repeated 4 times) I don't care what they they say. I don't care what they they do. I don't care what they they say. (Song title) Oh yeah! This is a song from the '70's. Think Rerun and his tape recorder. And The Lord.
   
7. Long time, no see. Showtime for you and me. So fine, so good. We're on the road like you knew we would. First night so long. State of mind: What can go wrong? This group is sometime happy sometimes sad. You just don't know with them.
   
8. (Song title) in the way she moves attracts me like no other lover. (song title) in the way that she woos me. Don't want to leave her now, better believe and how. Yes, Aimee, this is Something, written by George Harrison (which I do have), but my computer picked the cover by Sinatra.
   
9. (song title 2x) You can stand me up at the gates of hell but (song title) well, I'll stand my ground, won't be turned around, no (song title) Aimee gets it again: "I won't back down" by Tom Petty
   
10. (song title in French 4x) Hans plays with Lottie, Lottie plays with Jane, Jane plays with Willie, Willie is happy again. Scott got "Games without frontiers" by Peter Gabriel
    
11. Down the street you can hear her scream, "You're a disgrace!" as she slams the door in his drunken face and now he stands outside and all the neighbors start to gossip and drool. Scott got "castles in the Sand," by Jimi Hendrix.
    
12. I would swallow my pride, I would choke on the rinds, But the lack thereof would leave me empty inside.This is "inside Out" by Eve 6 guessed by Scott.
    
13. I went to a weekend fair, met someone while I was there. We put flowers in our hair and rode the (song title). Marguerite guessed my favorite Dan Zanes song, "Wonder Wheel."
    
14. There are windows on the water Lighting up the silver strand
    Shining on the sea Shining on the sea And the ocean's just a player On an old piano Who repeats one melody Who repeats one melody One of the members of this band (which has a shifting lineup and name) is an unlikely father.
    
15. You'll remember me when the west wind moves
    Upon the fields of barley. You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky... Indeed, Aimee, "Fields of Gold" by Sting, but not the only Gordon Sumner song on the list.
    
16. You'll never see--the courage I know. Its colours' richness won't appear within your view. I'll never glow--the way that you glow.
    Your presence dominates the judgments made on you. This is a song by a girl who's really angsty. And fruity.
    
17. The sun rises to another day. My constitution keeps changing
    'Til it slips away. So I lie awake and stare. My mind thinking, just wandering does anybody care? The group is something to believe in.
    
18. If the night turned cold And the stars looked down
    And you hug yourself On the cold, cold ground
    You wake the morning In a stranger's coat No one would you see (colors in this sentence are a clue to the artist's identity-and it's NOT Charlie Brown. Think insect. ) Yes, Marguerite: "It's probably me" by Sting. Rob is probably kicking himself for not getting that one!
    
19. Everytime I feel alone and slightly blue, that's when I begin to think just what I'd like to start to do. And even though it might not be the kind of thing that's quite your cup of tea, I recommend you pay attention to the little dance you're gonna see.This is your song presented by a non-human. This Song From the Street is (indirectly) about his favorite animals.
    
20. You can dance ev'ry dance with the guy who gave you the eye, let him hold you tight. You can smile ev'ry smile for the man who holds your hand 'neath the pale moonlight. Aimee got "Save the last dance for me" this version by the Drifters
    
21. I've seen the Rolling Stones, forgot about Johnny Rotten, saw the Who back in '69. Saw Bobby Seal talkin' to the Panthers, sayin' just what he had on his mind. Yes, Rob via Aimee guesses "Stand for Something," by John Mellencamp.
    
22. I will be kind won't be so cruel I will be sweet I will be true
    The pains of love you'll quickly learn Are soon to heat and quick to burn. This song is from a solo album of a big-lipped classic rocker who is still on the road.
    
23. (This is the chorus:) Yes, I've finally found a reason Don't need an excuse I've got this time on my hands You are the one to abuse Scott correctly identified "Touch Peel and stand" by Days of the new, which he says, "was on ALL the time when I would be driving down rt. 309 from DeSales to come see" me.
    
24. So long ago. Was it in a dream? Was it just a dream? I know, yes I know. It seemed so very real, seemed so real to me. I'm giving you this one, Marguerite, the name of the song is technically "#9 dream," by John Lennon.
25. Oh, a storm is threat'ning My very life today. If I don't get some shelter Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away. Scott guessed "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones...and is correct!