Forty

Yesterday was Todd's 40th birthday.  He said the sweetest thing at dinner last night.  He said that on his 34th birthday he remembered feeling blue and wondering what his life would be like when he turned 40.  He said he NEVER thought he would have a beautiful (awe) wife and daughter by 40.  He said that is a lot to accomplish in 6 years.  *tear*

Porn

I work at French school.  We often have people bring donated books by for our library.  Last week we got a call from a gentleman who said he had many beautiful French photo magazines he wanted to donate.  The gentleman and his sweet and quiet wife brought the "photo" magazines by.  There were about 100+ of them.  I thanked them and said we would get good use of them in our library.  The wife shot me a funny look...which I didn't understand....UNTIL....I pulled one of the "photo" magazines out.  Whoa nelly.  Porn.  Not Hustler like porn.  But very naked men and women everywhere....but yes, the "words" were in French....but damn.  Our whole staff laughed and laughed.  I keep laughing when I think of the look his wife shot me...and the way the gentleman said, "these are very cherished photo magazines but I needed to get rid of them.  I couldn't bare throwing them away."  Good lord.  The photo magazines are safe and sound in the back closet here...but we keep joking about what to do with them.  The French.  They are very funny.

Name

Enough people have asked me what the name of my blog means that I feel it's time for an explanation. Pantala Naga Pampa is a four-line song by the Dave Matthews Band on the "Before These Crowded Streets" album.


Come and relax now.

Put your troubles down.

No need to bear the weight of your worries.

You let them all fall away.

I have heard two translations to this phrase. First, the phrase is Gambian for "Welcome to our (my) home." It is also translated into "I have a python in my pants" in Indian. The first translation is more appropriate for my blog. However, who doesn't want a python in their pants? Ha.

As far as why Dave named this classic song as he did, the story goes that there was an Indian chef who cooked for the band during the recording of "Crash", who would shout out "pantala naga pampa" for reasons that were not entirely clear to anyone. This apparently cracked Dave up, who would shout it out back to the chef. When the instrumental piece appeared on "Before These Crowded Streets" as the first track, the song needed a name for the CD's track listing. Dave, who may (or may not) have then known what the phrase meant, thought that it would be funny to title the track "Pantala Naga Pampa." And so he did. And so did I.

Coupon

I have a Burger King close to my work.  Generally, I only go there to buy a soda for the road.  Who needs the calories or the stomach ache right?  Anyway.  Last time I was there to buy a soda they asked me if I wanted to buy a coupon book and support this local school.  Sure.  I tossed the coupon book in my purse and forgot about it.  Today I was starving and needed a quick bite between appointments.  I swung into Burger King.  I decided I would get a Whopper Jr (no onions), fry and soda.  Bad girl.  Anyway.  I see that the Value Meal is $3.59.  I show the girl at the counter my "coupon" for a free fry and order the burger and the drink.  She says, "that will be $5.62." Whoa.  I asked her why so much?  A freaking Value Meal is $3.59.  She explains that when I order the things separate it's more expensive...but that is the only way to use the "coupon"....can't do Value Meal price.  OK.  I know it's the lunch hour and no one wants to see me get up on my high-horse...over a couple bucks...but I did.  The manager came over and I explained the situation and how the math didn't add up.  My meal ended up being $3.00....but I am pretty sure it came with a free booger.

Bonding

Ava moved to a bigger classroom at daycare last week.  I was freaked (on the inside).  We just got her settled in the other room.  I didn't want to pull the rug out from under her....again.  She is doing ok in the bigger kid room....and she is really tired by the end of the day.  Today, her teacher asked me if it was ok if she played with Ava's hair as a way of bonding with her.  I said, "hell yes, and you can play with MY hair too....I think we need to bond as well."  She was a little shocked I said that...and laughed nervously.  Oooops.  Oh well, she will get used to me....just in time to have Ava move to a bigger room...and I can shock her new teacher too.  I foresee this behavior embarrassing Ava in a few years.  She too will get used to me.