Growing up with a father from Wisconsin, you constantly hear about 3 things: snow, cheese, and the Green Bay Packers.

So, my whole life I thought I was a Packer fan. But in August 2008, Packer quarterback Brett Favre signed with the NY Jets (and later to the MN Vikings). I  realized I was actually a Brett Lorenzo Favre fan. Screw the Pack.

I am a huge fan for many reasons, but it has very little to do with football.

Of course he is one of the most amazing quarterbacks of all time, but come on guys, this isn’t ESPN, it’s a mom blog. I’m not here to rattle off sports statistics.

As a mom with 2 boys (and a woman with a heart), it goes much deeper than that. I already know Morris and Bronson like sports and it is inevitable that they will look up to an athlete. I hope as my boys get older they will respect and appreciate Brett Favre not only for his athletic greatness, but for at least one of the following:

He’s passionate about what he does. The average career in the NFL is 3.5 seasons according to the NFLPA. Brett just completed his 19th season in the League. He has even retired twice and came back to the game.

He’s a family man. His wife Deanna (his college sweetheart) is often seen at the games. He constantly mentions how she is such a driving force in his life. They have 2 daughters, Brittany (21) and Breleigh (10).

He’s honest. He always tells it like it is and is very candid. He commands his press conferences/interviews with his Southern humor and charm.

He’s humble. He’s a gracious winner….and loser. Credit is given to his teammates and opponents. I am amazed to see how much time he spends at the end of a game hugging the opposing team. You can even see him chatting up the other quarterback and coaches for extended periods of time. 

He has an amazing work ethic. I already see how young kids want instant gratification with little time or effort put in. He holds the record for most consecutive starts by a quarterback at 285 games!!! Who in the world plays 285 games straight? That’s more amazing than having perfect attendance all 12 years of school. Brett is known for triumphing amid adversity. Some of his best games were played while seriously injured or coping with personal tragedy (such as the passing of his father, his mother's home loss during Hurricane Katrina, and his wife's battle with breast cancer).

I have grown up with and gone to college with many guys that played in the NFL and they all have nothing but nice things to say about Brett Favre. In any profession, the opinion of your co-workers goes a long way.

But the other day, I had the opportunity to meet this great man and now I can voice my opinion.

My friend Gayle got tickets to see Brett (we’re on a 1st name basis now) on the Tonight Show and invited me to attend with her. After the show, we’re escorted to the Green Room. When Brett comes out, I feel a sense of calm. I forget he’s one of the greatest football players and feel like I’m back in high school. He’s so humble and down to earth, I’m taken back to my high school days after the game. It’s like he just came out of the locker room and I still have my cheer leading uniform on. I almost blurt out, “should we head to McDonald’s or Taco Bell?”

He's so gracious and charming. He was visiting LA to take his daughter to see Miley Ray Cyrus and is traveling with his mother-in-law and Priest, both of which we meet. I can easily relate to their humble down home attitude. They're from Mississippi and I'm from Georgia, instant connection! lol. 

After conversation and picture taking, his Priest orders me to turn my back to Brett (I thought the Priest was gonna do some kind of Catholic ritual since Brett had just taken a photo with me, to wash away all the bad sins or something...lol). But I feel something pressing on my shoulder, and it's Brett autographing my jersey!!!!!!!! I joked with the Priest that I thought he was about to bless me or something and he said, "I just did."

And he was right. It was such a blessing and a joy to meet Brett and see that he is everything and more that I thought he would be. And I hope our 15 minute interaction has inspired him to come back for his 20th season in the NFL and win Super Bowl 2011!!!

Ok, so I know I have been neglecting you guys. I have a good reason (excuse). I am in the process of moving.

We all know what a PITA moving is. On top of that, I didn't have internet service for SEVEN days (gasp). Now I know what it's like to be Amish. 

Anyway, I promise I'll be back up and running soon. And I will be a happier Nora (with a lot to say). 

Thanks for your patience. You don't have a choice.  :)

By now, we realize that tattoos are mainstream. They're not just for truckers and Hell's Angels.

Tats are cool.

Moms are letting the world know we are proud to be parents and getting inked up with our kid's names.

Moms with tats are waaaaaay cool.

Check out these celeb moms and their kiddie tats:

Heidi Klum has her husband, Seal's name and the first initial of her children on her forearm.

Julia Roberts has the name of her 3 children on her lower back.

Angelina Jolie has the geographical coordinates where her children were born or where she adopted them.

...and a host of others, all very meaningful to her. AJ rocks!

Victoria Beckham surprisingly has many tattoos with various meanings. She has hubby, David Beckham's initials on left wrist; five stars representing herself, her three sons, and her husband, on lower back; Hebrew text, from the Song of Songs, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine," on neck and upper back, and the date she and her husband first had sex on her wrist.

When I was a freshman in college, I got my first tattoo....it hurt.

A couple months later, I pierced my upper right ear lobe....it hurt.

About a year after that, I pierced my navel....it hurt.

Notice a pattern?

Finally, I discovered the joys of shopping and my rebellious stage ended.

Speaking of shopping, the other day I decided I deserved a new necklace and ventured to a local jewelry store. As I admire the  baubles and trinkets in the window, I am subliminally beckoned towards a colorful yet classy storefront....hmm, a tattoo place.

It caught my eye because my neighborhood is pretty cookie cutter, entertainment industry professionals or white pickett fence families. I'm basically the riff-raff of my hood.

I wander in and meet Howard Teman. I have no idea I'm talking to a guy that has tatted numerous rockers and celebs. He graciously answers all my questions and even tries to entertain Bronson with the tattoo needles. Just kidding....about the needles.

I had been wanting to get a tattoo for a while and after chatting with Howard, he made me feel really comfortable and patiently helped create just what I wanted. Besides, a tattoo was much cheaper than a diamond pendant.

So, here's the deal. It had been about 12 years since I last got a tattoo. I figured in that time span, surely modern technology had revolutionized the tattoo industry and it was now a painfree procedure. I watched as a young female was relaxing while Howard finished up her 3 hour long tattoo that covered half her lower back. She didn't have a complaint in the world. She happily invited me over to admire her new tat. It was cool.

My turn. So far the procedure was still the same.

-pick your design

-stencil it onto your body (sort of like those wash off tats kids get at birthday parties)

-fill it in with the permanent ink (and needle)

Easy enough. Howard showed me the new needle and sterile equipment. He throws some James Brown on (because I said I wanted to hear somthing funky, ok, I was thinking more along the lines of Snoop, but whatever). Then it happens....I realize modern technology has not changed a dayum thing with the pain of the needle. It probably doesn't help that I chose the wrist, the body part loaded with sensitive nerves.

I instantly wonder how the previous customer sat through 3 hours of this...oh, I'm later informed she took 2 Vicodin prior....NICE. Where's my painkillers?!!? Luckily I pop an Alleve that my sister had. More for peace of mind, because in that short time span, it really didn't do jack. lol

Nonetheless, Howard is great assuring me that I'm doing well and earns extra points with me when he says "women definitely take the pain better than men....especially moms." Oh yeah!!

Finally we're done. Here's the finished product:

I'm not in the Mob. It says "Mo" and "B"-the nicknames for my sons.

Howard is making sure my pimp smack reflex isn't activated.

The artist at work.

OOOOOH....I told ya'll it hurt. Some places more than others. Forgot about the ulna and radial nerves. 8 years in the medical profession for nothing!

If you're in Cali, make sure you go see Howard. He's funny, nice, has great prices, lets you pick your own music to relax to, doesn't moan and grown if you change your tat design/font a zillion times....and didn't call me a crybaby not once!

Here's some Friday morning handsome to kick your weekend off.

My boy Bronson....always happy as long as he's eating or drinking.

People love dogs.

People in LA LOOOOOVE dogs.

It's not just Paris Hilton or something you see in movies. LA people really love their dogs as if they were their first born child.

Jesse James and wife actress Sandra Bullock recently lost their 9 month old Pitbull, Cinnabun. The couple offered a $2,000 reward that was later incresed to $5,000 for her safe return. They also enlisted the help of a pet finders, Find Toto, to help. Think of this group as an Amber Alert for animals.

Jesse tweated about their missing dog and got over 17,000 responses.

After "Cinny" had been missing for a little over 3 weeks, she was returned by a stranger to his bike shop, West Coast Choppers. 

I only speak on this because when I first moved to LA 11 years ago, I couldn't believe the human attraction to dogs here. I thought it merely another one of those cliche Los Angeles things like men over 45 marrying a 20 something yoga instructor.

I would huff and puff each time I saw an Angeleno exchange saliva with their little Fe-Fe or tote little Snookum around the mall in a rhinestone sweater and 14K pooch collar via a designer carrier. It was quite funny.

Then...a few years later I got a dog.

I have never been a "dog person".

In fact I really don't like dogs. I only liked mine.

I actually get annoyed when people's dogs come up to me and sniff, lick, stare at me. BUT, I loved my sweet Buster. And as I bonded with my gentle giant, I quickly understood the magical connection between man and dog.When he died some years ago, I cried my eyes out. I even got a new watch to help ease the pain and take my mind off the loss of my buddy, but it only helped for a day or 2. The Cartier powers that be could not mask my devotion to dear Buster.

I couldn't believe how attached I was to my 4 legged friend.

Some people chastised Jesse and Sandra for offering a $5,000 reward and their massive efforts to retrieve their lost pup. I totally understand that you can't put a price on happiness. Congrats to Jesse and Sandra for the safe return of their  "baby".

Now, don't get me wrong. I still don't like dogs, if one of those annoying yappy pups comes up to me while I'm eating a salad at a cafe, I'll probably kick it or talk about the owner when they leave. But I really am happy for Jesse and Sandra.

Buster with 10 month old Mo

What a sweet face!!! I still miss my Buster.

Sometimes going to extreme measures with kids is necessary. On occasion, simple answers carry very little weight. Kids need a detailed dramatic picture to get through their hard heads.

Example:

Me: Mo, please don't put those legos in your mouth.

Mo: Why?

Me: Because I asked you not to....(he takes it out but does it again 2 minutes later)

Me: Mo, please don't put those legos in your mouth.

Mo: Why?

Me: I don't want you to choke...(he takes it out but does it again 2 minutes later)

Me: Mo, please don't put those legos in your mouth.

Mo: Why?

Me: Because they can get stuck in your throat, close off your esophagus, put a strain on your bronchial tubes, then I have to call 911, find a babysitter for your brother while we rush you to the hospital, spend hours driving in circles trying to find a parking place. Then you will have to get numerous painful shots, you will probably start bleeding, blood will gush out everywhere, ruining your new favorite Star Wars shirt, get all gross in your hair, we'd have to wash your hair (and I know how much you hate that) and you could DIE!!!!!!

He spits the legos out and hasn't put one in his mouth since.

Sometimes you have to go to extreme measures.