Wordless Wednesday - Clutter...

 
Hmmm... I think I should clean my desk, apparently I'm collecting cats...

Wordless Wednesday brought to you by the lovely ladies at
5 Minutes For Mum. Thanks ladies!

Post it note Tuesday - Motivate!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay... My, Oh, My, What a Wonderful Day!

 

Plenty of sunshine headin' my way... Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

I slept!

I was on my PC until about 2.30 am when I realised I was just kinda staring at the screen. So I thought I'd go to bed and watch some Prison Break.

(My newest scrumptious show. That Wentworth Miller... Now THERE'S a man I could go all Cougar Town on... Rowl!)

I am also a Tattoo aficionado. I've got a few I designed myself... I'll post them sometime. So that just gives this picture a double thumbs-up, with a big helping of MWAH from me!

It was about 6.30 am, and I was drooling watching away, when I felt this weird sensation in the back of my eyelids. You know that gritty feeling where you aren't sure if you are going to cry, sneeze, or your eyeball is going to pop out onto the floor? Yeah, that one.

It was extremely uncomfortable, and I found that the only way I could stifle it was to close my eyes for short periods of time. To help lubricate them, or something to that effect. (I guess being open pretty much non-stop for days will do that.)

So I closed my eyes...

The next thing I knew, it was light outside. I looked up at my bedroom clock (the one that has been mocking me for the past week. Hey clock. Yeah you. I wouldn't leave town okay? I know who you are, and I know where you live!), and it said....

10.37 am.

(Well... It didn't ACTUALLY say that, I mean, that would be crazy sleep-deprived talk. Right...? Pfft... Talking clock.)

OH. MY. GOD. You don't realise how GOOD sleeping is, until you CAN'T do it. Four-and-a-half hours of pure bliss.

I no longer feel like walk-on-razorblades-around-me-no-loud-noises-turn-that-bloody-light-off-it-burns!,Vampire-Mummy.

I no longer look like crazy-white-faced-eye-popping-out-carrying-a-suitcase-underneath-my-eyes, Zombie-Mummy.

Now I look like this!

Note BIG smile. And pink. Lots of pink. I like pink when I'm happy and well-adjusted. (Just in case you hadn't noticed.)

 

I'm BACK... It's party time people!!!

Dear G...

 

This is just a quick post dedicated to a dear friend that I have made on here.

This is a person who has helped my through some rough patches. And always been there for me when I needed a boost.

They are going through some troubles, and I hope that they will soon come out the other side, smiling, stronger for it.

Goodbye G.

I will miss you dearly.

And I will be there for you, when - and if, you come back.

Always,

Writers Workshop - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

25th March 2010

It's that time of the week again, and I am happy to be participating in Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. This week I'm choosing prompt number two, because it couldn't have come at a better time for me. I find myself saying this over and over more often than not lately...

2.) “I need all the help I can get and if repeating something healthy and inspiring to myself several times a day helps, then I’m going to do it!” -What affirmation makes you feel better? WELL THINK OF ONE.
(inspired by Shanna from Smiles, Miles, and Trials)

She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When I wake her up in the morning for school and she grunts at me in some unknown Neanderthal language, pulls her doona over her head and rolls over - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she stumbles out of said bed, half-an-hour later bleary eyed and dishevelled, and shrieks at me "Why didn't you get me up sooner? I'm going to be late for school!" - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she climbs in the car after school and answers my polite, "How was your day?" with another grunt - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she spends HOURS locked in her room on the phone with her friends, only coming out to forage for food or ask for money - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she waits until the morning of, to give me a school permission form to sign and produce 1 squillion dollars for said event - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she forgets to hand in her Immunisation consent forms to the school on time and misses out on the FREE needles, therefore costing me ANOTHER squillion dollars to have the shots done by the doctor - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she takes 2 HOURS to wash 2 plates, 4 pieces of cutlery, and 3 pots - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she sits zombiefied in front of the TV to the point where I have to put a mirror under her nose to see if she is still breathing -  She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she tries to smuggle MY make-up and high heels on her Year 7 camp - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she screams at me, "You don't understand, you're old!" And, "IT'S MY LIFE!" - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she gives me the silent treatment for not letting her post photo's of herself in HER BIKINI on Facebook - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she spends 3 HOURS in the bathroom, then comes out looking exactly the same, and GLARES at me for asking what she's been doing all that time - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she won't eat because she thinks she is fat - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she cries for no reason - She is a TEENAGER, it is NORMAL.

When she turned her face away as I went to kiss her goodbye for camp...

She is a teenager. It is normal.

TAG - YOU'RE IT!!!

Ok so it seems there are SO MANY fun things to to in this little world that I affectionately call the BREAOVERSE, (or for the uninspired, the blogoverse - pfftt!), that I am a little overwhelmed.

How does one keep up with it all? AND be good parents and spouses, and little worker-bees, and PEOPLE at the same time? (That is assuming, you HAVE lives. Unlike me. Who doesn't. Because I'm just kinda boring and... well... blah. Seriously. And I'm not a very good mum either. Well in the kinda way that, King Kong wasn't a very good Monkey. Y'know what I mean... As in I'm too big, over-protective, climb tall buildings with small women in hand, and I make Tomika dance for my amusement and then throw stones at her if she doesn't succeed. Umm... Okay. Now where was I? Right.)

SO. Aside from: Supah Mommy's - Post It Note Tuesday, 5 Minutes for Mum's - Wordless Wednesday, Mama Kat's - Thursday Writers Workshop. And the constant SELFLESS AND GENEROUS Award giving. There is also games which involve kinda chain-like tagging of other bloggers with a challenge.

I happen to have been challenged to play, for the first time mind you, by the wonderful Gregory J from Day to Day, and Living My Life, Whatever (who, if you don't already know, I have a MASSIVE teacher-student kinda crush on. But don't tell his wife ok? It's a secret just between me, him, you guys, and the rest of the World Wide Web).

Today's challenge is this:

1. Go to your first photo file and pick the 10th photo in it.
2. Tell the story behind the photo.
3. Tag 5 other people to do likewise.

Okay.

So I went to the first photo folder I have of photo's I personally took, which only dates back to 8th March 2008, (because before then, the photo's I have on my PC are from other people... I was too cheap to get a digital camera!), and I came up with this...

Which is TOTALLY stupid right?

So I looked through the folder further, I figured I could cheat, I mean, who would know?

And the best I could find is this...

APPARENTLY, I had NOTHING WHATSOEVER better to do that day than take bloody photo's of my damn CAT under my messy bed! (Note the cow slippers in the background. They even moo. Seriously. Shit-hot huh?)

So I thought to myself, "Self. That can't be right. Surely you MUST have an earlier folder, with some photo's of umm, your DAUGHTER perhaps?"

So I looked further.

SUCCESS! I had wrongly dated a few folders, so I proceeded to correctly name them, and happily started to peruse the contents.

The result?

GOD-DAMN-IT!!! What the hell? (Hey I WARNED YOU I was boring!)

So I have decided, upon much soul-searching, to settle with, not the 10th photo in the first photo folder, but the first photo in the 10th folder. You may NOT agree with my choice, but... Bugger it!

I think this is hilarious!

And the story behind it?

We had just gotten Milkshake on Boxing Day, (long story involving a MEAN-AND-NASTY man who told 10 year-old Tomika that he was going to THROW HIM OUT THE CAR WINDOW, if she didn't take him. Yeah, you heard. Ass-hole much?), this was taken about 2 weeks later. He wasn't settling in well because we already had Boofie, who is VERY territorial. She bullied him mercilessly (she would sneak up behind him, swipe him at EVERY opportunity, and jump out at him from behind things), and I thought it was absolute side-splitting entertainment. (If you don't know already, I am VERY easily distracted.)

This photo is actually a total fluke I took where I lay in wait for Boofie to do her thing. I just couldn't help it! It was so funny. I didn't actually think I was going to be able to capture her in the act, but I just happened to click the shutter at precisely the right moment and WA LA! Instant masterpiece.

HOWEVER, as you can see, I still had nothing better in my diary than to follow my cats around with my newly acquired camera. Pathetic huh?

OKAY! So now to tag some others to play.

I nominate:

• Marfmom from Musings Of A Marfan Mom, she is a special lady with a lot on her plate. I'm hoping this will lighten her day up!
• Linds from A Dollop Of My Life, who is a photographer, and also has a GREAT web-page design site called Designs by Linds. I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with.
• Jane Ug-LBC from Adoption of Jane. She claims 'This Blog is not for the Politically Correct. I am an equal opportunity smack talker, I tend to offend Everybody.' I LOVE IT!
• Anna From Little Reminders Of Love is a MASSIVE cutie. Her blog is so much fun to look at!
• Jayde from Jayde's Little Corner, is a busy Mum, with a MENAGERIE that makes me feel a little better having my own zoo going on. Let's see if she will slow down long enough to actually DO THIS!

Okay. So I'm done passing it on, and I'm actually tired now. Tomika is at camp for the next few days, so I don't have to be up at 6am to get her ready for school. I might just be able to get some sleep!

Here's hopin' for a miracle. Wish me luck!

Wordless Wednesday - I Tawt I Taw A Putty Tat...

 
I did, I did taw a putty tat!

Wordless Wednesday brought to you by the lovely ladies at
5 Minutes For Mum. Thanks ladies!

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post... Part 2.

 

To my regular readers. I'm TRULY sorry for what you are about to read...

 

These little gems were on my Anonymous has left a new comment on your post..., umm... post.

I think you're missing the point.
That's not what I meant by it. (Referring to this comment I assume...)

I meant: you seem to write it in such a way - and often! - that all you want is sympathy ('poor me') from posting posts such as the one you did yesterday.
Do you not get enough sympathy from home (so that you need to get it from your blog)?
Oh wait, didn't you mention that your cousin tells you to "suck it up princess"?
Sounds like good advice.

Posted by Anonymous to Brea's Befuddled Brain at March 23, 2010 11:49 AM

AND

It's interesting that you didn't approve my last comment - something hit home, eh?
And I know there are a lot of comments you don't approve...
You need to take the good with the bad - perhaps address the issues? 

Posted by Anonymous to Brea's Befuddled Brain at March 23, 2010 2:41 PM

Dear 'Anon',

Whilst I sit here greatly enjoying your diligent throwing of stones from your glass palace, I feel that we have come to the intimate point in our relationship where I am comfortable telling you a few secrets...

First: I approve EVERY comment. I am not afraid of them. They are just words on a page. Sticks and stones, and all that. I moderate my comments simply because I choose to READ them before they are published. NOT censure them. If you have sicc'ed your cronies on me I feel obliged to let you know, they are very naughty and not doing their job. (The only UN-APPROVED comment I have is from a lovely lady that comments regularly, and the software seems to have stuck... BUT I digress!) If I have not approved your comment in a timely manner, my apologies. Unlike you, I am not living my life hanging on your every word. You are quite welcome to give me a call to talk about... Oh wait.

Second: I know where you live. Seriously.

MMWWAAHHHAHAHAA!!!

Being as self-absorbed as I totally am, I stalk myself.

Ever heard of StatCounter.com? Here, just in case it's not self-explanatory enough and you can't find it, I gave you the link.

It's a very clever little gadget, I recommend you look it up.

However, please feel free to continue. I am considering starting a new page here and calling it, 'Dumb Things Spineless Anonymous Commenter's Say'. Or how about simply, 'Stupid People'?

You, of course, shall have the starring role. (If I can spare the time from writing about me that is.)

That might assuage your feeling that this blog is NARCISSISTIC.

Which it ABSOLUTELY is.

Love Always,

Brea x x x

That is all.

An Award, for me? Again? WELL OF COURSE!!!

I've done it again, I came first in a beauty contest and won $10. Oh, wait. That's another game...

My totally self-indulgent butt has been given another Award.

Oh how GREAT AND WONDERFUL I am. How you LOVE ME.

Of course how could I not win? I am TOTALLY the obvious choice. Being as I am the BEST and all!!!

Okay, now I'm going to be serious... (Oh who am I kidding?)

The clever and oh-so-wise Gregory J from Day to Day, and Living My Life, Whatever, has AGAIN nominated me as one of his selections for the Happy 101 Award.

This makes me HAPPY 101 times. Plus 4. (Because I do things in groups of 5.)

There are again rules that I will follow with MUCH happiness.

Here they are:

1. Thank the person that awarded you in a new post.
2. Put the award on your sidebar.
3. Name 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass this award to other bloggers who make you happy.

1.     Thank you GregoryJ! I LOVE you, I do. (Hope your wife

        doesn't mind my infatuation!)

2.     Sidebar = Done.

3.     10 things that make me happy... Aanndd... GO!

• MY daughter Tomika.
• MY family.
• MY friends.
• MY cats.
• MY blog and all MY bloggy friends that I have made.
• MY books.
• MY bed.
• MY cooking.
• MY favourite TV shows.
• ME. (Of course!)

4.     Play 'Hot Potato' and pass it on!

In my position as SUPREME BEING AND RULER OF THE BLOGOSPHERE, I hereby award this commendation to the following people:

• GregoryJ from Day to Day, and Living My Life, Whatever, is SOOO supportive. He makes me happy in an I've-got-a-secret-crush-on-my-elder kinda way. (AND Yes, I am aware he already received it, but I'm breaking the rules. Because I can. Because I'm ME and I'm MAGNIFICENT.)
• Giving Her All She's Got always has a NICE comment or two to say. She loves her doggies, like I love my cats. Her posts make me happy in a smiley-fluffy kinda way.
• Kat from 2010 - Year Of Miracles is refreshingly blunt. She makes me happy in an in-your-face kinda way.
• Kellyansapansa is a woman on a mission. To get Married! Her blog makes me happy in a totally-overjoyed-for-her kinda way.
• Jessica over at La Fin Dumond Farm is absolutely hilarious! Her ramblings make me happy in a laugh-uproariously-til-a-little-pee-comes-out kinda way.

So that's it. My Top 5 adored blogs.

If you're not included, I don't love you any more.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post...

 

I just got this Anonymous (naturally), comment on my 'Lately I don't sleep.' post.

"Wow, your blog is really self-indulgent."

Ya think?! That's kinda the point!

Hilarious!!!

Lately I don't sleep.

Lately I don't sleep.

When my BPD goes on a 'high', my brain is ON 24/7 and I can't stop it.

So... I don't sleep.

I've tried everything. Sleeping pills, Valium, Xanax... Herbal remedies. Nothing works. My BPD meds are SUPPOSED to take care of it for me, but they don't.

So... I don't sleep.

Do you know what it feels like to go for days without sleep? To have your brain going on and on, and over and over things you can't change. Every minute of every day... And every night.

During the day, it's kinda okay. Cope-able. But at night there's not much to do except THINK.

I can't watch TV, because it doesn't capture my attention enough to stop the thoughts going round and round in my head. Reading is useless. I find myself re-reading the same sentence over and over without registering what I've seen. I couldn't even tell you the subject of the book I'm reading. I've always got about 5 books on the go, trying in vain to find ONE that will distract me, even for a minute, from the nothingness.

So... I don't sleep.

After a few days of sleeplessness, you go numb. Nothing makes an impact.

Only Tomika breaks through. She reaches down through the quicksand of my mind and drags me back.

So for her, I make an effort. I make her food. I drive to and from school. I help with her daily problems.

I smile.

Lately I don't sleep.

I am prejudiced, and so ashamed...

Yeah okay so I did it. I succumbed.

I bought the Sookie Stackhouse, (or as you may know them, TrueBlood) books.

It started quite innocently. I was wandering through Target, browsing the book section (as I am often known to do), TOTALLY immersed in the plethora of literature surrounding me, when I smacked straight into this older lady, nearly tackling her to the ground.

We thrashed around for a bit, gaining our feet back, me apologising profusely, when I realised I had knocked her MANY books straight out of her arms.

I stumbled around uselessly, trying to pick the books up for her so she need not do it, when one of them caught my eye.

It was this one.

The lady kind of looked at me sheepishly and said that it was her new, 'Guilty Pleasure'.

"I'm a strict 'Twilight Saga' girl myself", I told her (ever the loyal fan). "It would feel like cheating on a lover."

Then she (quite brusquely, I must say), asked me the most interesting question.

"Did you read 'Anne Rice'? Watch 'The Lost Boys'? Enjoy 'Charmed' maybe?"

It was like she was in my head!

"YES!", I said. (Kinda loudly I suppose, another shopper startled a bit...)

"Then where's your dilemma?", she asked. "Just because you love one book - or a series of books for that matter - in a certain genre shouldn't prejudice you from appreciating something new. If anything you should embrace the differences, and acknowledge them for what they are. Damn good writing!"

With that she took her books, and walked away.

I bought the whole set.

***Drumroll*** - And The Winner Is... ME!

The TOTALLY wonderful and handsome Gregory J from such blogs as Day to Day, and Living My Life, Whatever, has selected little ol' me as the recipient of the Beautiful Blogger Award.

Yup. Me. Who'd a thunk it?

♪♪♪Go me, go me, go go, go me!♪♪♪ *insert silly dance here*

You like me. You really like me! No, really... You like me?

My FIRST award.

(Quiet down there people, you, in the back, shhhhhhh!)

NOW:

"I'd like to thank the Academy... My Parents... I love you MUM! Tomika... my brothers... my cats... the creepy guy down the street who looks at me through an inch of curtain every time I walk past... my chemist... and who could forget the team in hair and make-up *snif* I'd be NOTHING without you... I love you guys!!!"

"And I'd like to send a special THANK YOU out there to Gregory J, without whom I would not have this here golden statuette 200x200px virtual award. Thanks darl!"

*cue music...*

Okay, so apparently there are some rules and whatnot that I must now follow... Semantics I say! But follow I shall. A good girl I am. (Did I seriously just sound like Yoda?)

Here they are:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 8 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic!
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

SO:

1.     Done and I mean DONE!

2.     Seven things huh? Hmm...

• I am practically a recluse. If I am not with Tomika doing something I spend most of my days inside. Mostly on this damn PC!
• When I had my Breast Reduction in early June 2009, I had a terrible car accident 10 days afterwards and my stitches burst open leaving me with horrific scars.
• My biggest weakness is ebay.
• I read. A lot. Like, A LOT a lot.
• My favourite guilty TV show is Charmed. I was DEVASTATED when it finished up. (I still watch the DVD's over and over... Shhh.)
• I am a fantastic cook.
• I can sing.
• I used to be a bloody good dancer.
• I HAVE to do things in groups of 5. (Hence my cheating and BOTH these lists being 10 things long.)
• I am a *little bit* of an X-Box junkie. 

3.     Do unto others... With pleasure!

• Amethyst Moon over at Life, Music and Laughter deserves this. She always has a song in her heart.
• Mommy Drinks Because You Cry, CONSTANTLY makes me laugh, unless she makes me cry, or feel bad, in a good way. It's ok because I get it. We are two Motherless Daughters, working it out as we go along.
• Tammy at A Red Neck Diva's Kitchen always has something yummy on the menu.
• The Farm Chicky in the Boondocks of Farmers Wife is sharp as a tack. Don't let those overalls and the straw in her hair fool you!
• JadeLD from Now That I'm No Longer 25 has some AMAZING photos to share. She is one talented woman.
• True Confessions of a Single Mother features the lovely Raine. She is blunt, to the point, honest, and I love her.
• Kristi from Live and Love... Out Loud is just... Beautiful. Nuff said.
• If you are looking for blurting out laughing at the PC screen so that the people around you think you're crazy, you HAVE to visit parentingBYdummies. I have SOO much to learn...
• Shari is a 'perimenopausal parent of preschoolers and an epileptic pug', you can find her at Earth Mother. Watch out though, she's not afraid to get dusty.
• And last but certainly NOT least, I am going to give this award to the beautiful and inspiring Carly from Tune Into Radio Carly. She is just......??? I have NO words to describe her courage and strength. 

4.     Contact the bloggers I picked... You mean I ACTUALLY have to talk to these suckers? WelI I guess sacrifices MUST be made in the name of art.

Hey you, yeah you on the list above. Consider yourself STALKED!

Writers Workshop - The Best Day Ever!

18th march 2010

Once again it is time for me to stretch my wings and delve into Mama Kat's ever-so-insightful prompts to show off my writing prowess. I have chosen prompt number one this week. Just because it was the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE, and I would re-live it over-and-over if I could.

1.) If you had to relive a day in your life what day would it be?

I was late, really late. And I was shitting myself. Deep down I just KNEW how it was going to turn out.

I raced in the door, apologising profusely, the receptionist smiled condescendingly and gave me a form to fill in. When I finished, she said, "It'll be a while, take a seat."

I sat down and looked around, tense as hell.

There were others waiting there too, and they were in the same differing states of apprehension.

Finally I was called in to the office and I faced a panel of experts. A PANEL. They reinforced the fact that I was late, and I nervously said I knew.

They talked to me for a while, asking me a mixture of surface and personal questions. How did I handle responsibility...? What would I do if...? And so on...

They explained their professional position, and their personal opinions, and asked me what my thoughts were.

I said I was pleasantly surprised, appreciative of their feedback, and that I would get back to them.

I floated out the door.

After being told by countless 'experts', it would NEVER happen...

I was PREGNANT!

My Toe Is A Pirate...

 

The big toe on my right foot is a traitor.

It is, at this very moment, engaged in an act of Mutiny against the other toes. The whole foot actually. And being that it is SUPPOSED to be the Capitan of the set, the one that lays down the law for all the other toes, I am fairly certain this is NOT a good thing...

It is either trying to convert the others to it's way of thinking... In which case I'm in six different shades of shit. And my toes are going on a holiday without me. (Which I'm pretty sure I don't want.) Because I need my toes, don't I? (I mean I don't need them like I 'need' a bourbon... That's just silly, there's need, and there's 'need'... Savvy? Priorities people!)

Now I'm no Anatomy major or anything, but aren't the toes kinda important? Y'know, to keep you upright and all? (Not like after that bourbon or seven, but for-real upright. Like when you're sober and shit.) (Do you think, if you had no toes on one foot, you'd just walk round in circles...?)

OR it's pulling this weird reverse-psychology-do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do crap... In which case I'm going to have to get a Toe Therapist. (And I hear they are expensive!) Because I'm the boss of this foot toe-baby, and it's about time you knew it!

It is currently infected from an in-grown toenail, and looks, well, just YUK . (Just turn away from the other four toes, that's just nature unfortunately. I have NOT been blessed with attractive feet. Not by a long shot.) (In fact, you might wanna skip those photos altogether... I'm just sayin'.)

 

ALSO... It would be remiss of me not to mention the PAIN that is currently associated with having no choice but to USE something that you need every moment of every day, due to the fact that it balances you and shit...

Oh! And there's also the oozing pus.

Lovely.

SO... Owing to the fact that I have a Mutiny on my hands (feet?), I have decided that I have absolutely NO choice in the matter.

It will have to walk the plank.

I'm afraid there's nothing else to it...

Maybe I can get Johnny Depp as 'Captain' Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean in as a replacement...

AND if I'm lucky I can train my Sparrow-Toe to say things like, "Savvy?", "Do us a favour... I know it's difficult for you... but please, stay here, and try not to do anything... stupid.", "Funny ol' world, innit?", "Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?", "And really bad eggs.", and "Why is the rum gone? But, why is the rum gone?!" at regular intervals.

Hmm... Johnny Food-for-thought.

***I'm a MASSIVE Pirates stalker... Is it too obvious???***

Wordless Wednesday - It's a hard-luck life...

 
It's SOO hard being a kid...

Wordless Wednesday brought to you by the lovely ladies at
5 Minutes For Mum. Thanks ladies!

HELP!

Ladies and Gentlemen of the blogosphere.

Brea's Befuddled Brain for once isn't just a cute name. My brain is VERY fuddled, and it/I needs your help.

I have been asking around the 'touchable' people I know, and I am getting the same old tired answers that I get every year.

So I put this to you, dear, dear readers...

Tomika turns the big 13 in a little over a Month and I have NO IDEA WHAT TO DO FOR HER BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

I originally had the (what I thought was) BRILLIANT idea of hiring out a Hotel suite for her and 5 of her GIRLfriends (with me safely ensconced in one of the rooms of course!), BUT the few Hotels I have contacted within my price range have said HELL NO they won't have 6 giggling teenagers in a room for the night, even with me in the room.

(Interestingly enough, just to appease my curiosity, I called one of them back, and told them I wanted the suite for 7 Women for a Hens night... And did they have 24 hour room service to deliver alcohol to the room AND would they mind if I got a stripper ~ They didn't mind. Hmm... I know which I would rather!)

I don't want to take them to the movies (boring), out for dinner (done, and double boring), or anything that smacks too much of childhood (embarrassing!).

Oh... And... THERE AINT NO WAY ON GODS GREEN EARTH THAT I AM HAVING THEM AT MY PLACE!!! (I'm just sayin'.)

So, any ideas on what I should do?

What would YOUR perfect 13th Birthday Party be...?

(I wonder if she'll still let me take photos like this of her once she turns 13? (He he!))

Or will they all have to be like this...

My PRE-teen, is going to be a ACTUAL-TEEN.

SHIT SCARED ANYONE?