That's a Derby winning name, for sure!

Me to 3-year old: So what are you going to name your new (toy) horse?
G: His name is Run With the Beats!
Me: Have you ever been to a place where the horses run around in a circle to see who is the fastest?
G: No.
Me: Just checking......

Why Am I Here?

That is a good question. Because time to type out my thoughts is not in great supply. I'm the mother of a three year old. 'Nuff said. Yet here I am.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. Some good, some sad, some manic, some dark. I had a high school reunion not too long ago and someone who hasn't seen me since graduation said, "I can picture you now with your cool hairdo. Always laughing with mischief in your eyes."
My heart skipped a beat. It has been too long since that was an accurate description of me.

I've had SUCH joy in the past 3 years. My Beanie McWeinerson is a marvel. She shines with happiness and takes my breath away with her intelligence. The first thing I told her after she was born was, "I have waited for you for so long." I didn't tell her about her father coming home drunk, stoned, and belligerent the night before. I have continued to not tell her what a miserable excuse he is for a father, partner, and dare I say it, a man.

"Hatred eats the soul of the hater, not the hated." Alice Herz-Sommer, Holocaust survivor

I know she's right.

I know that my failed relationship with a shitty man hardly compares to very real horrors in this world.

I know I am relieved to my core to be free of him.

I know he isn't worth the energy it takes to hate him.

I know that many kids don't have an involved, decent dad and Beanie McWeinerson has so many people on her side, that she will thrive in spite of him.

I know a lot, apparently.

So get on with it then. Show them how it is done.

Tell All Your Single Friends,


Smitten is coming back. Fasten your seat belts.

Sometimes I Tweet

I find myself with little to say these days. So I'm saying it on Twitter.


If I recoup my long wind, I'll be back here.

Tell all your single friends, 140 character constraint is no excuse for sloppy punctuation.


XO, JamieSmitten

Snow Days

Depends on who you ask, of course, but it looked like about 10 inches to me.


The boys were very happy with their winter wonderland.



Pullo found that Boom poop is even better when it is frozen -- here he is digging for it!



He has such a sweet face, despite the poopsicle breath.


The brothers, ever vigilant.



Tell all your single friends, we're living in a winter wonderland (until the ice arrives).


XO, JamieSmitten

Rat Bastard

My hatred of rodents is well-known.

Therefore, I try to live my life in such a way that rodents never cross my path. To each his beady-eyed own.

And then SOMEBODY moved in. Somebody with a cavalier attitude towards rodents:

"Baby. There are mice everywhere. Just because you can't see them..." "Whatever. You already had mice, so me dropping one piece of dog food did not cause this." "Ha Ha Ha. Look at all the mouse poop."

Yes, Somebody thinks that mice are just a fact of life. Un-unh. No way. Not here. So, I keep reiterating my mouse-free mantras:
Don't spill dog food! Don't leave the garbage on the back porch -- take it out to the can!

and Somebody ignores me.

Saturday morning, I take the dogs outside for a little backyard romp after breakfast. I get the snow shovel ("Could you put that away since the snow is long gone?") and start shoveling the mountains of poo from the dogs.

The dogs who keep running up onto the porch and sniffing around the garbage bag.

So I call them back down and go back to shoveling. The dogs run back up on the porch and suddenly, out of the bag opening ("Can you remember to tie the bag closed when you take it out?") explodes an 8" long (not counting tail!) rat who leaps off the porch, runs crazily at me, and then cuts a hard right into the bushes. Where he is chased by Boom. For the record, Pullo stayed on the porch just looking tough.

I screamed. Somebody came running out of the house in his underwear. And then started laughing when I explained the horrible event that had just occurred.

Tell all your single friends, obeying anti-rodent rules is MANDATORY for all.


XO, JamieSmitten

Merry Christmas!

Outtakes from this year's Christmas photo!


Tell all your single friends, silly hats + puppies = holiday fun


XO, JamieSmitten

Where I'm Going

Hauppauge, New York.


In 4 days.


Not. Soon. Enough.



Tell all your single friends, the last 4 days are the hardest!!!!!


XO, JamieSmitten