Z is for Zanker

A was going to be for Antoons, but the Z post worked out better for both me and my friend Anton Zanker. Anton Zanker is the creator of Antoons and the artist responsible for http://antoonsiscool.blogspot.com/.

Anton Zanker started Antoons in 2009 but he has been making art for as long as I have known him.  Anton and I first met at a party my sister was throwing.  I just had returned from spending a year at Art School in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Here are some of my favorite Antoons from http://antoonsiscool.blogspot.com/.  If you like them too, consider subscribing to the blog and 'liking' Antoons on Facebook.  http://www.facebook.com/antoonsiscool

AS WITHIN, SO WITHOUT.
   

Image by Anton Zanker, http://antoonsiscool.blogspot.com/

FUN!!


Image by Anton Zanker, http://antoonsiscool.blogspot.com/

YOU CANNOT FORCE FAITH.

Image by Anton Zanker, http://antoonsiscool.blogspot.com/

S is for Sushi

How could my S post not be about Sushi?!  I am in love with vegetarian sushi.  This is another joy in life that I owe to my wonderful husband.

I was hesitant when this cute guy asked me to join him for errands and sushi.  I was / am a picky vegetarian.  I never thought that I would ever like something like sushi.  I did not even know there were sushi rolls that did not have fish in them.  I said yes because he was cute, and my love for sushi and my husband began.

Since sushi is expensive, we usually save it for special occasions.  A few hours after my son was born, and almost two days after I started my labor, my husband brought me sushi in the hospital.  Some of the first pictures of our son involve chopsticks and take out boxes.

P is for Proud Mama

I am one proud mama. My son's school did their fundraiser over the weekend and it was amazing. We did not have to pass around a catalog of junk and pressure coworkers to buy stuff. This year they held a song and dance performance. Not only did we raise money for the school, the children got to put on performances from African American Folk Songs, to Can't Touch This by MC Hammer. I loved it! I loved it so much that I turned into one of those crazy proud mamas.

I admit it. I screamed out for my son after one of his dances while he was leaving the stage. I never thought I would be one of those moms. Apparently, I am. I could not help but let out a loud woohoo followed by my son's name. Maybe I embarrassed him, but more than anything I was proud of him.

Are you a proud mama? What are some things you have done to show your kids how proud you are? :)

O is for Opossums

If all goes well, soon I will be the owner of baby short tailed opossums!  Short tailed opossums are not the standard North American opossum that digs through your trash.  These creatures stay small and only grow to about the size of a mouse.

M is for Massasauga Rattlesnake

The Massasauga Rattlesnake is one of the most beautiful animals I have seen. The eastern massasauga is a very shy snake and although there are small populations in Illinois and Wisconsin, I have never seen one in the wild.

These small rattlesnakes are protected because of their declining population. In addition to losing their natural environment, massasaugas have been hunted and killed because they are venomous. Killing venomous snakes just because they are venomous is a disgusting practice in my opinion.

I hope that we can learn to appreciate these beautiful creatures for the important role they play in our ecosystem.

K is for Kitsch

Who doesn't love kitsch? Oh them? They just won't admit it, but they love kitsch!

I have a garden gnome hiding in my front garden.

My dinner plates are deliciously kitsch. It is actually a mystery as to where they came from. My husband moved them from 2C – the infamous apartment where everyone and both of their brothers have lived. Apparently they just showed up there one day.

These are some of the kitschy things I have. What about you?

I is for ICP!

I is for Insane Clown Posse!

Enjoy my favorite, not safe for work, kids, or normal people songs. :)

Another Love Song - I could kill off some bears and dogs and shit just to make you a fur coat.

If I Was a Serial Killer - If I was a serial killer, I would sleep on broken glass and thumb tacks.  And I would smoke mad crack.

This one is dedicated to my husband who is a dead body man by profession. :)
Dead Body Man - Dead bodies, dead bodies in the back of my van.  All the little kiddies love the dead body man.

I couldn't forget Mr. Happy! - I know this don't make any sense to you but fuck you.  This songs about me exclusively.

G is for Grammostola pulchra

When our son was born my husband decided to get a pet that would grow up with our child.  We are a little strange and did not get a dog or a cat.  My husband picked out a Grammostola pulchra, also known as Brazilian Black tarantula. 

Grammostola pulchras are slow growing and have a long life.  Females can live up to twenty-five years.  My husband thought this would be a great tarantula for our son because they are docile.  I agreed because they are also beautiful.  They grow to around 5 inches and are a silky black. 

My son and his G. pulchra are now six years ago and both are doing great!

This is a picture of two adult Grammostola pulchras mating.

Bom chicky bow wow, Grammostola pulchra tarantulas mating.

F is for Forgive

Earlier today I was reminded of a huge jerk.  This jerk went out of their way to make my life just a little bit worse during a tough time.  I was tempted to get upset again.  I almost let myself feel the drop in my stomach, the tightness in my throat that I used to feel.  Instead of feeling bad or angry, I forgave them. 

It would be egocentric of me to think they would read this post.  I sure have moved on, I can only assume that they have found someone else to bully.  Just in case though, hey douche-bag.. I forgive you.

To everyone who has ever done me wrong, I wish you nothing but a happy life - far away from me!

E is for E-file and Excited!

Today I did my taxes.  My brain is mush so I was going to write a short E is for E-file blog post. 

I opened my awesome random blog and found that I had won an award from Dierdra at A Storybook World.

I am excited to share that I have been awarded the Beautiful Mommy Writer Award!

So today is all about e-filing and being excited!  Stay tuned for more meaningful and thought provoking posts now that I have my mind numbing work done. :)

B is for Babies!

There is one B word that overpowers any other word that might try to squeak in, and that word is BABIES!

My biological clock has been screaming at me lately. It is constantly reminding me that I only have four years and six months to get another baby growing in my tummy. The sickness, the bed rest, and the pregnancy induced hypertension that I experienced with my first child somehow seem not so bad now. What is going on here? Well, this article from Time was pretty accurate.
 

Study: Does having kids make parents delusional?

For now I will just be happy that it is spring and soon there will be a bunch of baby animals. I will leave you with a picture of years past when we had baby box turtles.



Baby Box Turtles



A is for Animals!

This is my first post in the April A to Z challenge. I decided to take a trip down memory lane and write about various animals I have had contact with over the years. The strangest creature I had met before I met my now husband, was probably a rabbit. I happened to fall in love with a biology major, and later married him. My husband has introduced me to an amazing world of animals. Here are a few of my favorites.
 
The following pictures are of black and white bird eater (Nhandu coloratovillosus) tarantulas mating.  Yes, I am posting tarantula porn.  You have been warned!
 
 

Since we are on the subject of bug porn, here is a picture of painted grasshoppers mating.

Lets get away from the boom chic-y bow wow for a second and take a look at another strange creature.  This is a horse lubber grasshopper.

This is an article and picture of my lovely northern pine snake.  I am sad to say that our city has an ordinance banning snakes so she had to go live with a friend.

I will leave you with a picture of my favorite animal of the moment, my sweet dog Ms. Kelsa Cutie.