The Twin Connection

A couple of weeks ago I asked Aron (below, left) if he felt seasick. He told me no and asked why. I said, “Because your twin brother is on a cruise right now, and aren’t twins supposed to be cosmically connected?” He called me an idiot, and rightly so.



Did you know identical twins have the same DNA? So you could do a paternity test and not know which twin was the father of a kid. Freaky. But their fingerprints are different.

Aron and Eric have taken the Switching Identities thing a little farther than just pulling one over on girlfriends and teachers.

A couple of years ago Aron had to travel to Canada a lot for work. Every damn time he tried to get into the country he got detained because his brother had impersonated him once, which is a federal crime. They’d pull Aron out of the Customs line and take him into a room and ask him questions.

Fraternal twins MAY have some hereditary deal on the side of the mother (whew, I’m safe), but identical twins MAY BE an anomaly (or “freak of nature,” as I like to call my husband). Age has a lot to do with ending up with fraternal twins, and this article says sometimes if the guy is a twin you may end up with twins. Oh, crap.

When Do You Stop (or Start) Having Kids?

I have to copycat FishMama over at lifeasmom.com on this one since it seemed to be one of her biggest comment-getters.

It’s no secret that I’m a Kid Freak. I’ve always wanted a big family. It doesn’t hurt that I have relatively easy pregnancies and deliveries and that I get pregnant just by Aron giving me a certain look (yes, THAT’S how babies are made … now you know). It’s such a personal decision for every person.

I hear a lot of women say they decided their family was complete after they had an especially difficult pregnancy or delivery. Some weren’t so fond of babies or kids in the first place, so one kid is all they can handle. Some have 10 and would happily welcome another.

If you are done having kids, how did you decide to stop (or was it decided for you)?

If you aren’t done, how come?

If you don’t have kids yet (and want one), when do you think is the ideal time to start a family?

Chocolate Freak

What does it say about me that I am content and happy when I have chocolate in the house, hidden from the kids or not? It’s like Chocolate Valium. Individual Dove chocolates are my “dolls” (for those of you young-uns, see Valley of the Dolls).

That I look forward to the day after Valentine’s Day so I can race over to Target to buy Dove hearts at half price?

That the day after Christmas at the grocery store I drooled over a 5-POUND Hershey bar that was ½ off (originally $35)?

That I wish some company made chocolate pens, chocolate books, chocolate pillows, chocolate-covered French fries?

Yes, I know I’m headed for Diabetes-ville. That’s why I’m enjoying my sugar while I can. My grandma had to go off chocolate for many, many years because the doctor said the caffeine made her heart race (“poor woman”, we cluck our tongues, shake our heads and say).

Click here to see the caffeine content in chocolate versus tea or coffee or soda.

Do you love chocolate? What’s your favorite chocolate thing?

Enjoy!

P.S. I joined Weight Watchers (for the, ahem, THIRD time) back on the 20th so I’ll let you know how my chocolate addiction goes. Is there a 12-step program for that? Click here to read a review of the new sugar-free Dove chocolate, which you know I will be trying to find ASAP. And how do you get a gig reviewing chocolate? Count me in!

P.S. Dove has chocolate parties now. I just sent an e-mail to try to set one up. They'd better bring on the sugar-free stuff or there will be bloodshed.

Lord Help Me, I’ve Been TAGGED

I’be been Tagged by April over at The Crazy Green Cheapskate. I’m supposed to write 8 random things about me:

1. I’m an only child who was born in Germany.

2. I sucked my thumb until I was 30.

3. I didn’t get chicken pox until I was 17 and that’s why I think the chicken pox vaccine is a bunch of crap. Just keep your kid hydrated, watch their fever and you’re most likely good to go.

4. I used to go through men like tissues.

5. When I met Aron I jokingly jumped his case for double-dipping his tortilla chip, but I think he just thought I was a jerk (with nice legs, he says).

6. I love Nip/Tuck even though it’s a dark, dark, bad, evil show and I would probably never get plastic surgery.

7. I’ve been nursing for 7 ½ years straight.

8. When I’m on the treadmill I pretend I’m a runway model-in-training to kill the time.

Now here are the RULES for this tag:

1. Each blogger starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.

2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog post about their 8 things and post these rules.

3. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose 8 people to get tagged and list their names.

4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged and to read your blog.

5. For the recipients, leave a comment for the person who tagged you, so they can go and read your answers.

I'm Tagging:

Tresa from Triumphs, Tests and Tales, Told by Tresa because I know she’ll probably hate this!

Chris from Miss Chris … This is My Opus because she’s a digiscrapper.

Capello from No Appropriate Behavior because we used to work together a long, long time ago.

Debbie at Three Weddings because we went through some crazy crap together.

Annalyn at Venter’s Bureau because I love a woman who can gripe.

Jessica at Life as Mom because she’s a fellow writer and my like-it-or-not mentor.

Aimee at Journal of a Momma because she is cool.

Scary Mommy because I stumbled upon her and would love to know her answers … check out this post where she talks about putting her blog into book form for her kids.

More, just because I can't help myself:

The Glamorous Life of a Hausfrau, written by the Evil Twin's Wife (you gotta love that name! ... and she has a recipe blog, too.).

Christen at Nifty Things because we're eHow buddies.

Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I keep forgetting to do this review, so I’m just gonna slap it together and make it half-assed as only I can do (although I do include links to a rockin' review and also some trailers). Sorry, and you’re welcome.

I compare this THREE-HOUR epic (a sorely overused word, but it fits here) to Forest Gump. Only the female lead (Daisy in Benjamin Button) turns out to totally come through in the end and proves to be a strong woman.

Everyone thought I wanted to see this movie so I could check out Brad Pitt, but he’s not really my speed (although he’d be the ideal person to hook up with since he clearly loves children!).

You gotta love an original idea (based on a SHORT story by F. Scott Fitzgerald), when there are so many crappy movies out there these days. A guy aging BACKWARDS? Don't get me started.

I recommend it to chicks especially. Here’s a better review and some trailers.

Bottom line: I give this movie 8 ½ Dove chocolate hearts. For me, it was a 4-Kleenex movie as well.