Archive for July, 2009

Getting to Know Me: Bag o’ Meds Edition

posted by Momo Fali on July 20, 2009

These are my meds. Don’t harass me and ask you to give you good stuff, because I don’t have anything like that.


These are my prescriptions for asthma, insomnia, migraines, sinus problems, womanly stuff (is too a medical condition) and anxiety. You try having a kid who almost died twice and see if you’re not a little anxious. Hearing words like “bacteria” or “swine flu” send me into a complete tizzy (is too a real thing).

My son actually tried to outdo me once. This was his collection during one of those aforementioned near death experiences. He is always trying to compete with me! That boy is such a one-upper. I have no idea where he gets it.


I have tried to go without my medications. I’m currently on a no-sugar diet to help control my headaches, I have tried St. John’s Wort and Melatonin for insomnia, and my mom once put me on mega-doses of vitamin C to try to ease my breathing problems. FYI…if you try mega-doses of vitamin C, be prepared for your colon to hate you.

Though if you’re colon does end up hating you, I think I have something for that.

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Getting to Know Me: Bed-Head Edition

posted by Momo Fali on July 17, 2009

This is me in the morning. You screamed, didn’t you? Because of my insomnia, I’m both a night-owl and an early bird. You would look bad too.

Note the oily skin, black circles under my eyes and the surly expression which stays until I’ve had a cup of coffee. Thank you, God, for electricity and for whoever had the idea to grind up coffee beans and run hot water over them.


Ironically, back in the 80’s I tried to get my hair to look like this…only with bigger bangs. Thank you, God, for curling irons, teasing combs and Aqua Net.

Tell me boys and girls, do you get up early or stay up late. Or, if you’re a sorry sucker like me, both?

Getting to Know Me: Insomia Edition

posted by Momo Fali on July 15, 2009

A week from tomorrow I am leaving town to attend a conference in Chicago. I have a scholarship that pays for my conference pass, and I didn’t think my 11 year old car would make the six hour drive, so Chevy is sending me a 2009 Tahoe. Then one of my roommates went and won a prize from Johnson and Johnson and is paying for our room. If I were Napoleon Dynamite this would be the equivalent of shocks and pegs. I am “Lucky!” Were it not for my my bar bill, this trip would be free.

One of my roommates is flying in from Oklahoma and I already know two of my roommates from a very ill-fated meet-up last year. But, because I spent most of that night in tears, hiding in the bathroom and fielding calls from the ER, I don’t feel like they really know me at all.

I thought I would dedicate a few posts to the three of them. It’s a little something to help them see who they’ll be singing karaoke with.

First of all, I am an insomniac. I have a horrible time sleeping because I lie awake thinking about things like a fellow blogger’s son who is in the hospital, or the fact that I just told my roommates that I would sing with them when I am actually completely tone deaf. I used to take Ambien, until I got addicted to it, but I was able to convince my doctor to give me a few pills to help me get through this trip.

Only problem? It makes me hallucinate in between taking it and actually falling asleep. Night before last, I went on Twitter during that time period…you know, because I had to test the Ambien. (Mom, Twitter is a social network where you can tell people what you’re doing in 140 characters or less. You can check it out…if you ever get a computer.)

So roomies, here are some of the things you’re in for. I give you my Ambien tweets…

Where I talk to my husband about a deer that I never saw – Am telling my husband the story about the deer from the other day that I TOTALLY remember. He says, “None of it happened”. Foiled by Ambien!!

I nod off, the first time – MomoFaliStarted typing a blog post, fell asleep and woke up to a screen full of “b’s”. Hai Ambien!

I hallucinate, the first time – Let’s just say there’s some Kung Fu Panda up in here…and the movie isn’t even on.

I nod off a second time – Just tried to send an 1133 character update (it was blank, as I fell asleep with my hand on the space bar). Twitter is so picky!

I hallucinate a second time and misspell the name of the most famous ship…ever – There’s some Kung Fu Panda/Titantic stuff going on in my house and my daughter keeps talking about swim lessons (but she’s really in bed).

I make up names for far away lands – A place called Ambeinland would have streets paved in silver and all the chocolate and beer you can eat. And, comfy pillows.

I finally come to my senses – And spekaing of comofy pillows. Goodnight.

Wide Load

posted by Momo Fali on July 13, 2009

I will never claim to be a petite flower. I am 5’10” and have palms that make Meadowlark Lemon look like an extra from The Wizard of Oz. Also, you know you’re old when the first basketball player that comes to mind is Meadowlark Lemon.

My seven year old son does not take after me in the height department…yet. Because of his small stature and his medical issues, some of his gross motor milestones have been reached much later than typical children. It is sometimes impossible for a seven year old to do something that is normal for his age when he is the size of a child who is four.

One of the things he’s had trouble mastering is swinging on our swing set. He isn’t big enough to hop on the swing himself, so he has always just made do with swinging on his belly.

But, day before yesterday I talked him into giving it a try. I promised him that even though his feet don’t touch the ground, he would be okay if I put him on the swing and stood nearby. After I pushed him a few times, I could tell he really loved it. I explained the concept of “feet out”, “feet under” and he took to it immediately.

A few minutes went by and he said, “Mom, I want you to swing too!”

I smiled. “I wish I could, buddy.”

He continued…feet out, feet under…then realizing his mom’s size is also not so typical, he said, “But, we would need a bigger swing. Maybe you could use that brown one.”