Pho Vinh in Orlando, Florida

Pho Vinh in Orlando, Florida located at 657 Primrose Drive is the very best in Vietnamese cooking.  I have been going to this restaurant since each one of my children were born and before then.   Its a wonder quaint restaurant with the best staff.  Of course I have my favorite waiter.  I love the woman that owns it and we are treated like family, which hell since I have going there for more then 24 years, and I have tried the rest and will only go to the best, I might as well be family.........

 

Dreaming......

Things in life worth fighting for are made more special because of it.....we have dreams....we dreamed when we were younger.....maybe meeting our prince charming.....or being rich beyond our dreams.......we might have dreamed of being a firefighter or a police officer.......what were your dreams when you were younger.....what do you still think is in your reach.....dreaming is free in life......its capturing those dreams that can cost you.....are you willing to pay the price to have your dreams come true......because it could be very costly......so are you willing to pay the ultimatum  price to obtain those dreams.......some will say they will pay whatever it takes to make their dreams come true......some will be willing to sell their souls to obtain those dreams......

So what are your answers honestly to yourself on what you would do to make your dreams come true.......

Mothers Day 2012

It's Mother's Day on May 13, 2012 and I just came back from breakfast with my family.......right now Lonnie is sleeping from a overnight shift.....Jason is at work......Patrick is on the computer in Jason's room.....and Vincent (not my biological son, but he calls me "mom") is going out to treat his own mother to lunch and such......one child missing from this scene and that is my oldest who doesn't think my mothering skills are any good anyway......and even though I don't want to sound cynical this blog will very well sound like that to who reads it......so if you don't want to read it "STOP" right now.......

As a mother of three boys you have to remember that as a woman you have to deal with the reality that they are boys......so you have to strong like a man while keeping your identity as a woman......but I was able to do that because I lived knowing they would go out into the world as men....and even though you don't want to believe it you know that the world would judge you on their character by what you turn out into the world.....I have to say now in the year 2012 that is far from the truth.....I have three sons.....one not speaking to me or I to him.....why because he may have made me proud in some ways.....his character isn't what I raised him to be.....I have the other two.....they aren't perfect.....not by any means.....but they are people with character.....

Character is defined by this: 
1. The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
2. The distinctive nature of something.

The word "distinctive" is used a lot......is it distinctive for a mother to want the best for her children.....I would say "yes"......do we do the best....hell no....as a mother we lack on things.....we aren't perfect......and never could be.....we are defenders of our children.....we are protectors of our children.....and that is "distinctive".....but once they grow up....and leave the nest they can take their upbringings and throw that right out the window......

I tried to give them the one advice that was important to me.....and that was "family".....family should always come first.....not your friends....not your self but family......they can get married and extend their family......it is only suppose to make it bigger and stronger.....but its not like that in this family......because of that one person and his actions.....his character.....my character is sometimes in question......and it should be......

but family is important to me and always will be.....and when you are in pain from one of your sons......you pull away that distinctive nature as a mother......and that is why I don't care to much about my oldest son.....he made his choice and I plan on following along with it......because there is nothing else I can do......two of my sons know what "family" means......its a dysfunctional way of life for us around here......full of ups and downs.....full of love and fights......but its about "family"......

and one son forgets that.....constantly.......so as a mother have I failed.....PROBABLY......in some people's eyes......but in my eyes I am still going to be me......strong and happy to be that.....I am going to watch my two sons that are still speaking to me to come into their own.......I am disappointed in the character my oldest has displayed......I don't like him A LOT of the times......but he's family.....out there in the world making his own.....right now at this moment would I hold out my arms to take him in.....NO....harsh but true.......he and I are poison to each other......and that happens to......but his actions define my actions toward him.....nothing can be done.....


So its a Happy Mothers to me and I love that I get to spend it surrounded by "family" that love me no matter what.....because I have love for them......no matter what.....and I mean that.....because even if they aren't what you want they are loved.....maybe not "liked" but loved.....your childrens "characters" can not define your motherhood.....it is up to them to remember to be good to people and to always love family........

A Moms Bill Of Rights.....

I found this in WhattheFlicka.com

We declare these things to be self-evident, that every mother, whether she works in the home or out of the home, has certain inalienable rights. That these rights be granted unto her the moment she becomes a mother, with no additional need to justify or prove herself worthy to receive them.
These rights include, but are not limited to:

• The right to sit in silence at least once a day – even if that silence is earned by locking oneself in the bathroom with a pair of Bose noise-cancelling headphones
• The right to order pizza after a long day of work/errands/mommy taxi duties
• The right to leave emails unanswered, laundry undone and dishes unwashed in order to catch the series finale of Desperate Housewives
• The right to ignore her children when they call out for a glass of water/another book/just one more song at 2am
• The right to feel beautiful just the way she is – and to be reminded of such on a regular basis
• The right to take as much care of her own needs as she does the needs of her family and friends
• The right to end a long day with a bowl of cereal and glass of wine rather than a healthy, balanced meal
• The right to splurge on herself on a regular basis – even if it’s just a new lipgloss from Target
• The right to surround herself with female friends who make her feel complete
• The right to feel worthy just the way she is – not 10 pounds from now, after the next promotion or after her kids stop peeing in the bed
• The right to choose to be a mom FIRST, but not a mom ONLY
• The right to say no to the 50th round of hide-and-go seek
• The right to laugh at herself and remember to not take life too seriously
• The right to try again tomorrow

Anthony's Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant

Located at 851 South SR 434 in Altamonte Springs, Florida has a very well done calzone.  I have been on the hunt for a decent Italian restaurant and I decided to give them a try....

The calzones are what I am into at the moment....I had the Meatlovers and tonight I am trying their special calzone.  Usually I don't like to have a calzone because they are to doughy for me.  And even though it is still doughy I find that they do generously stuff it with the ingredients also.  I do have to try the pizza's and the pasta dishes though and will work on that in the months to come.  Hopefully we will have a long relationship because I am getting tired of oriental food, chicken wings and hamburgers.  So to all that read this I hope I found a decent Italian restaurant.......  

Loyalty

So while I was shopping with my son Patrick I had a conversation ....I asked him does he think I am loyal....he said, "you are to loyal to the wrong people"....

I asked him for examples....these are his examples....you are to loyal to Gary and he isn't loyal to you....you allowed Gary to get away with treating you like crap and he shouldn't....you did everything and beyond for Gary and you keep allowing him back to treat you badly.....you are to loyal to Dan when you ask me if I want a relationship with him....I don't and that is my and I want you not to worry about that as my mom because it will always be my choice and he creeps me out and Karen does too....why would someone come to my job and think leaving me a phone number to call my dad is okay...it creeped me out and I had to sit down for at least a half an hour to calm down (when I asked him why I didn't know about that till now - he said I would have gone off because he got scared and creepy about it)....I still remember what they did to me and I want you to stop asking me if I want to contact him....because I don't...and you think it's loyal to Dan or me to ask every once in a while if I want a relationship with him....and you take on the guilt that I don't speak to him but it wasn't your fault...I feel its my fault I allowed them to do what they did....you are to loyal to your mom when she isn't a nice person to you....she is nothing like you as a mom and I see it....I understand why your loyal to her but you shouldn't be.....now you are asking me if Gary calls me as a brother and the answer would be "no" and I don't expect him too.....so are you going to take that on to as your guilt.....Gary was to busy putting me down and the life I want to live....he is mean to his woman and to you....remember I lived on the other side of the wall and heard how he talks to his woman.....mom you basically left us alone after we turned 18 years old....you only bother us when we mess up your things or want the area's where we live cleaned but we live in your home and should show you respect....you ask Jason or I to take the trash out we do....Gary did nothing for you after he turned of age but use you and you are to loyal to him....and for anyone to say you try to run their lives is wrong because you give advice, you listen and then you step back....when we were young you made us follow your advice....you changed that up when we turned 18 and then allowed us to make up our own minds....you were loyal to Kayti and even gave up Krystina and contacting her because it hurt Gary's feelings....but as I see it Kayti should have been in contact and allowed you to at least see Krystina on FB.......she blocked you out for what reason.....I bet you anything it was because of Gary.....so you recently got to see her FB and got to see Krystina......you were so happy.....and then I bet you anything Gary made sure you got blocked again......and if it wasn't him then Kayti did it and that doesn't show you any loyalty from either of them......you gave Kayti what she needed when Gary wouldn't.....you spoke highly of Kayti and stuck up for her......and even though you gave in to Gary for loyalty....Kayti shouldn't have allowed that to happen.
you are to loyal and you need to stop sometimes....and I love you....

he said one more thing.....he said he doesn't know where I learned loyalty with what I was surrounded by....but stay the way I am because he likes my loyalty.....


****WOW ASK PATRICK ONE QUESTION    -LOLOLOLO

Patrick Birdsong

Patrick Birdsong (my youngest)

Patrick Birdsong you are the nicest human being to me in the world…..sometimes in the past I have always wondered if you were to nice…..and I wondered if you would ever speak up to yourself….but right now today I want to say “way to go”.  You have found your voice….you are great to hang with and I adore your sense of self.  You know who you are and don’t care what others think….you work hard and never have a unkind word to say….you have opinions and I admire you for that.  You see people for who they are, even if it is your brothers, step father, mother, or your father.  You know what is right and what is wrong.  You know people should never be cruel and you aren’t that way at all.  The nicest thing you did was acknowledge you see how your older brother is to people he supposedly loves and you see how your grandmother treats me sometimes and you are sympathetic instead of saying “you’re stupid to even take care of her.”  You know loyalty is for family no matter what and you know families can get into fights but should always stick together.  You have plans and god I really hope that it all works out for you and you get to go to Japan.  I am rooting for you from the sidelines.  You took the time to look and investigate and now you have a plan….you didn’t allow anyone to tell you that sitting around is a waste of time….you took your time and now you have a plan in your head….and the new year is when you want to go after those dreams….

You cause no pain for anyone and love everyone around you….you might not like them but you give a damn….you still have chosen not to contact Dan and talk to him….but for what he did to you in the past I don’t blame you….you have to make that decision….you chose not to go out and socialize and play your computer but again like Jason that is the signs of the times isn’t it…..I want you to pursue your dreams and make them all come true….I want you to keep your sense of good will and to allow love into your life when you are ready.

I thank you for coming to my rescue and caring enough to sit with me and encourage me and talking to me when I am having a bad day….I love that you never put me down for “helping others”, you have kindness and you do voice your opinions when you know I am wrong….you allow me to be me and I think I have always allowed you to be you.  You have sympathy for people and love in your heart and whoever has you for a partner will be the luckiest person in the world.  I know you won’t allow anyone to run over you, but I was worried about that in the past….because you were so quiet.  But you’re not anymore are you….

Love your mom 

Jason Birdsong

Jason Birdsong (my middle child)

I wonder sometimes how many times we have butted heads and yelled and screamed.  But somehow I admire you for standing up to me.  I am not easy, "I like things they way I want them, I like to be shown respect and I want the best for you."  What is funny is that sometimes we don't get along and I worry about you staying on the computer so much and not having any kind of social life....but to me that is the sign of the times....you are about to go to school and become a truck driver and its a good profession for you and it will take you all over the country, something I know you would enjoy.  I will never put you down for being you and enjoying your life and doing what you want to do....and you are still young that you can change your mind.  I am happy that you don't settle down with a girl yet and you want to make something for yourself before you decide to settle down and that way you have something to give to a girl....I don't agree with the young woman that is in your life at the moment, because she doesn't seem to stick around to support you and I hope that when you have something you don't settle for her because of this.  I want you to meet other woman and make the right choices in life, for yourself and I am able to voice my opinion and even if you don't take my advice it's nice that you at least listen to me and give me that chance to voice my opinion.

  I want to say that you are a nice human being Jason and I like what you have become and what your future might hold for you....I like that we fight and at the end you still come to me to say hello and don't ever put me down for any of my choices in life....I like that you don't treat woman badly and love with your heart and that you don't ever worry about other people putting you down....I love you for not putting me down because I am uneducated....and I know that if you went through your education you would never put me down....I love you for sticking by your decisions in your life making your mistakes in life and not blaming anyone else....I love that you won't settle down with a woman till you know you have something to offer them....I love that you allow me to be me and I allow you to be you...I especially like that when we do have a discussion or a fight you voice your opinion and then you allow me to voice mine (of course that works when we are having a discussion and not a fight).....don't change Jason, be proud of yourself no matter if you work at a hamburger place or become a truck driver....work hard find loyalty in people and surround yourself with people that are willing to say "go for it".  I love that you have dreams and a plan in life that will make you happy and the hell with everyone else around you....I love that you are you and don't allow anyone to change that.....fight hard love even harder and don't ever put people down for their choices in life.....if you accomplish what you want out of life through life experience or education remember you had to have parents that worked hard to give you that through their own hard work and sacrifices......we didn't pay for your school but I hope the little we did you acknowledge and appreciate.......and I know you do appreciate that.....allow yourself to be you before you give to a young lady....accomplish what you want to be so you can be a better person to the one you want to share your life

Love you mom

To All Parents

When I was younger family was everything in the world....you didn't have children showing disrespect for their parents....especially when the parents raised them.....clothed them....and feed them.....if they achieved more then the parents then those parents took pride in them and was the ones that always bragged on them to friends and family....you didn't have children that were so disrespectful and mean....they respected their heritage and wanted to make their parents proud....they cared about their upbringing and kissed their parents every time they were together or gave a hug...children were brought up to love their church, their community and looked out for each other....the ones that left and chose another path by turning their backs on family were always thought about....but it was a silent agreement that they would not be mentioned or were the black sheep of the family....that was way back when....

Now a days this is how I see it....kids don't give a damn about making their parents proud of them....they live in a home wanting desperately to leave their upbringing thinking being out on their own would bring them more then living in their home with parents....parents want to see their children succeed and almost always bend over backwards to try and give their children a leg up on the world...maybe because they didn't have that leg up from their own parents....but then the children turn on those parents and don't realize or acknowledge their parents for the sacrifices they made for them to have that chance....parents are not known to really turn their back on their kids...but give second, third and fourth chance in life....and the kids still spit in their faces and their upbringings....children are meant to grow up and make their own choices in life....they are meant to get a better educations and to  do something with it....but they are not meant to walk by their parents without kissing them and saying "I love you"....they are not meant to ignore them and act like they don't exist or that they are ashamed of them....they are meant to be polite and interested in their own parents background and to learn from their own parents mistakes....

As parents we raise them....we try so hard to love them... we may love them....yet we don't like them for many reasons....so why try and try....all they want to do is use you for what you may have....the little help you can give them....but why....we worked hard....we did our best....and if our best wasn't good enough....then let them go....we will never stop thinking about them....that's a given....but there should be no guilt that you could have done more....its their choice to live their lives and not speak to you....and it could be quiet that way....and you could do what you want in life....and not hold your breath every time they come in and wonder if they will even speak a kind word to you....what they are missing is more then you are missing believe me....the more family you have behind you the more success you can achieve with them standing behind you....the curse is this....we as parents can not do anything about it....your children have a mind of their own....that is what you raise them to do....what they do with that is their own choices....they can look back on their own lives and throw their nose up in the air and say oh well....and when you die they may come to pay their respects....but do you really want to be their shit at the bottom of their shoe....do we have to have guilt because they think you are crap and close their lives off to you....

Parents stand up for yourself....you may have five children and only one turns out to be the one to treat you like that shit at the bottom of their shoe....but you still have other kids that give you that kiss....that will never put you down for their upbringing....so losing one will be on your mind but what can you do....they want to turn their backs on you their own grandparents or their siblings and their parents.... that becomes their choice and takes the guilt away from you....pray for them....smile when you think of a moment that you shared with them....but give them up as they did you....they don't want you....they don't want to acknowledge you....it hurts....its mean....but in the long run they are the ones losing out....you are living the life you deserve....its up to the parent to make their own lives after raising the kids....you will find that the world is open for you also....and the children will learn that the parents were the ones that gave them the foundation of their lives....especially when they have their own children that will end up doing what they did to their own parents....believe me you will hear the words they speak about you even when they aren't around....you will hear that they don't give a shit....you will hear that they have struggles....and you may even hear that they called you worthless or that they have some regrets....but hang tough....live your life....enjoy your freedom and the others around you....let them fulfill you with love and strength....I promise it will be all worth it....there is absolutely nothing you can do for them....they don't want you and lets get a reality check....we are done with the job of raising them....wish them the best...but watch fate take over....and until they make it right they will never have true peace....and that is the curse right there.....