Back To The Routine....

It's always hard to get back into the swing of things after a holiday weekend. Little One provided a negative running commentary this morning on her feelings about the day. "I don't want to get up. I don't want to go to school. I don't want to eat breakfast. I don't want to brush my teeth."....Well, you get the picture.

The Husband and I headed to the school parking lot late last night to try and start the car that I had to leave in the parking lot last week. Dad's car may have provided me with some good memories in the past...but this last memory made me consider just leaving it there. However, after tightening several wires, it started right up....Many thanks to the 'friends' who said they were actually in line that day and 'would have stopped if they had seen me.' ....Uh, ok, yeah, thanks....However, heartfelt thanks to Mr. J, who kindly picked me up, waited in line for the kids, and made polite conversation, all the while pretending that I had not interrupted his day....
SO happy to be driving my own car this morning. The Husband was kind enough to get those tires on so quickly for me. And for those of you who are thinking that it was some sort of payback for the nose incident...you are most likely correct.

Speaking of the nose, it is much better this morning...but there is agreement among the family that it looks a little crooked. Now The Husband thinks this is because it is still bruised and this somehow "causes shading that makes it look crooked." ...Uh, ok. The Boy just said "You better go to the doctor." I say it is a good thing I am not vain (Husband is belly-laughing at this) because otherwise, the crookedness would affect my mood. I do admit to being happy that I have no appointments today. I also admit to hiding during school drop off this morning....

I went shopping on Black Friday (what does that mean?) with Big Sis and Little One. We actually only made it to one store. Little One found a lovely turquoise shirt with attached necklace which she wore the whole weekend. Big Sis scored a chic animal-print dress which I would wager she is wearing to work today. I came away with a lavatory sign that says "toilette" in french. What I really wanted was a pair of red suede 5 inch platform heels. Little One and Big Sis tried to talk me into getting them, but as I have said before, 5 inches puts me at 6'3...and where do I go these days where I need to be 6'3? I wasn't able to talk myself into them, even at the fabulous sale price...but they are still on my mind today. If I could just come up with a place to wear them...

Lastly, we had a wonderful dinner with BFF friends on Saturday night. So nice after eating leftovers for a few days to go out for a delicious meal. I had to plot out my meal, since the first thing I saw was that the chocolate creme brulee was the "special" dessert for the evening. Everyone said they were going to take a bite...but as it turned out, it was just me and Little one who polished it off....I left feeling like I couldn't move. It was the best dessert I've had in ages...but it also made me feel like I better step up my workouts a bit this week....

So that's it for today. Little One is making her stage debut as an elf in the Christmas play...so I am off in search of a costume...Until tomorrow.....

All's Well That Ends Well....

The turkey was a resounding success. Not as good as The Husband's Italian Meatball Sandwiches, but pretty darn good. Now you might think that meatball sandwiches are a strange addition to a traditional Thanksgiving meal, but for those of you who know us and our last name, you know that this is the norm...

So tonight, the house is once again quiet. The Husband and The Boy have snuck off to the Hawk's game. Little One is watching her Mary-Kate and Ashleigh movie for the 10th time. Big Sis and SIL have gone home to do homework for graduate studies, and The Senior has taken the Tike home to put to bed. This is the lovely, yet kind of sad time of day. In years past, this is when Grandma and mom and I would sit around and clean and talk. But this year, it is just me. The Husband asked me last night why I seemed so stressed out about the meal this year...and I think it is because I miss not having to be in charge of the whole meal. In years past, even if I was doing the cooking, I had plenty of suggestions and advice. But hey, that is the cycle of life. It's my turn to be in charge...it just came too soon for me. So today, we used Grandma's china and mom's silverware...and it was wonderful.

So a few thank yous for today:

1) Thanks to my friend K who is responsible for my successful turkey.

2) Thanks to Big Sis who showed up this morning just when I needed her..and kicked me out of the kitchen after the meal so she could do the cleaning. Thanks and I love you.

3) Thanks to the Son-In-Law, whose humor adds a lot to our family. Your heartfelt, hummed rendition of "Come On Baby Light My Fire" was amazing....

4) Thanks to the Senior for making it over here on time with the Tike. You travelled the farthest...and the strawberry shortcake was yummy. (Little One has had 3 servings)

5) Thanks to The Tike, for taking me on a long walk on the golf course, pointing out things I would have never seen...and warming my heart.

6) Last, but not least, thanks to The Husband for maneuvering though the chaos of the day with good humor. Your sandwiches over-shadowed my turkey...but that was a good thing.

So that is it for today. A lovely day filled with family and good food. If you have your parents still with you, turn to them and tell them you love them. Appreciate them.

Until next week....

Please Let the Turkey Be Good

Well, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I wasn't going to blog today, but I find that the time between 6:00am when I got up to put my turkey in, and the time when I need to actually start my other stuff...is pretty low-key. Now this being my first year cooking my own turkey, I was overwhelmed by great suggestions from all of you readers. I wrote down every single tip, and I figure I cannot miss, right???

The Husband was not thrilled last night when he saw me set the alarm for 6:00am. "Do you have to do that?" he asked. Well, I reminded him that he had said he did not want 'dry turkey'. He asked if I couldn't just "wake myself up". Well, I told him, I could try that, but we might end up eating at Burger King. Anyway, I set the alarm and stumbled out of bed at 6 to start the day. I would like to say I ran with excitement, but that would be lying. I followed the directions that my friend K had given me... her main piece of advice was 'Butter is Queen for the day...No low-fat options." This advice was making me laugh as I piled on the butter. (K, if you are reading this, I didn't just pile on the butter, I mixed the proper ingredients and slit the skin and shoved it in.)
I then debated on making coffee and staying up, but I figured I might as well get a few hours of beauty sleep since my nose is still a mess from the previous night's basketball incident. When I got back to the bedroom, I was sorry to hear that I had hit the "snooze" button instead of the "off" button...so Christmas music was blaring.....Why The Husband did not turn it off is beyond me, but I'll bet it is so he could let me know what I had done. I'm sure I will hear about it when he gets up.

I slept for about an hour, and then I actually smelled the turkey cooking. K told me I needed to baste every 30 minutes, so I decided to get up and get with it. The house is still quiet. The sun is shining. The turkey looks edible. My nose looks better. My family is near. All is right with the world.

So today...as I dispell the myth in our family that I cannot cook a turkey, I will take a moment and be grateful for all of the little things in life.

Until tonight, when I will let you know how the turkey turned out....

On Being Thankful for Flat Tires and Broken Noses...

I hate to be a whiner, but I am going to allow myself to partake in it for a few minutes. Last week, I was driving around the local college campus, when my tire evidently shredded, causing my car to make a sound like Armagedon was here. It was lunch time, so every student was out walking...and staring at me creeping down the street. I quickly called The Husband and he said...and I quote...."Well, the nearest tire place is about 2 miles away. See if you can make it." I hung up on him and began the longest journey of my life. As I crept among the eyes of 20,000 students with my car howling, my tire tread was following me. When I finally reached the tire place, a man named Tommy sauntered out, took one look at my license plate, which for some unknown reason carries the school emblem of The Husband's school, and he said "You can't come in here with those plates." Now he had a smile on his face, but when he saw me start to cry, he backed down and sweetly put my spare on.

Fast forward to yesterday. I'm driving my dad's old car since my car still has the spare on. I'm sitting in pick up line with cars in front of me and behind me, when all of a sudden, my car dies. And I mean DIES. It won't turn over. I quickly call The Husband, who says...and I quote..."Why do you keep calling me with these car problems when you know I am an hour away and cannot help.".....Ok. So I hung up on him and got a guy in front of me to help maneuver my car into the nearest parking spot (of course this was after having to have everyone in line move)

So last night, when we arrived at Grandma's house, I was so happy and relieved to be here. All of the stress just left me, as I sat down to prepare for Thanksgiving. The Boy and Little One ran in and asked if I would run up to the gym with them and The Husband for a quick game of basketball. Why not? I thought. A good family thing to do. So off we went, and started a friendly, yet fairly competitive game. Halfway through the game, The Husband had the ball...and he kept scoring on me. So I decided to actually play some defense. As I stepped forward, he elbowed me in the nose...and I hit the floor. Blood went everywhere, and I saw stars. The Husband said....and I quote...."You got in my face"...... I hobbled over to the side...sobbing loudly....and The Husband quickly reminded me that everything was being taped on the security camera...so I needed to behave myself. No Problem. I couldn't move. Reluctantly, he decided to drive me back to Grandma's house, with Little One along to take care of me. Since we had no ice, he grabbed a bag of frozen peas and I held them on my nose for an hour.

Later that night, after I decided it wasn't broken, I asked The Husband how it looked. "Bruised", he replied. And for maybe the third time since we have been married, he said "I'm sorry." Well, I was sorry too...for being such a defensive whiz during the game. But all's well that ends well...

Until I saw my nose in the mirror this morning. There will be no Thanksgiving pictures of me. But that's ok. We are here...and I am happy...swollen nose and all. Many, many thanks to all of you who sent me suggestions for cooking my turkey. If I am not successful after all of these tips, I might as well just buy one next year...

So until the end of the week, when we will have celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving...with a full heart and a swollen nose...and a thankfulness for everything that life throws my way....

The Pressure To Cook Like Paula Deen

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is 2 days away. Once again, it has totally snuck up on me. Last year, I watched the Food Network for weeks beforehand, and added several dishes to my normal Thanksgiving repertoire. The problem with doing that is that now, everyone has high expectations. When I ran through the menu with The Husband, he asked "Where are your fancy dishes?". Big Sister and The Senior asked the same thing. So now, 2 days before, I am forced to scour my recipe books in order to be more creative. Usually, I just buy a ready-made turkey from the local grocer. This year, I decided to give it a go on my own. I told The Husband I would probably cook it the day before to avoid any mishaps. "NO! I don't want any dry turkey! Just get up and stick it in the oven at 3 am on Thanksgiving." Now, this is the funny thing about The Husband. He has never cooked a turkey in his life (and I don't see it happening in the future)...yet he feels the need to tell me how to do it....

We are headed to Grandma's house for the holiday, which makes me extremely happy. The only downside is the transportation of the animals.....the incontinent, 14 yr old doberman...and the 2 car-sick cats. Though the drive to Grandma's is only about 45 minutes, it will not be a pleasant one.
The Husband came through this morning and said I could "'pick out his clothes for Thanksgiving". ....Huh? I think this was some sort of trick offer. I noticed he had thrown several t-shirts and jeans on the bed to bring along. I will make a bet right now that whatever I bring and suggest he wear .....will not be worn.

Ok, that's it for today. Back to scouring cookbooks. I'm bringing the laptop to Grandma's...but it is always questionable as to whether or not I can "log on". So, until tomorrow, when I will hopefully "be on".

On Remembering to be Thankful and Happy

We began the weekend by seeing a terrific movie. "The Blind Side" was both touching and inspiring. The kids loved it, The Husband loved it, the friend who went with us loved it...and so did I. I love a movie that has the kids asking lots of questions about life. I love when they see examples of people being honorable and courageous. And just icing on the cake that it was a true story.



Saturday I headed to Tennessee with a friend. A roadtrip of sorts to do some unfinished business. My mom's house has to be sorted through...there were closets and drawers to rummage though...letters to be read...memories to pack up and store away...and plenty of tears to shed. The first time I tried to do it, I failed. I took a look around and headed back home, not ready for closure. But with the year anniversary of her death just past, it was time. I loaded my car with recipe books, dishes, letters...anything that made me feel good and connected to mom. My happiest moment came when I happened upon a beautiful coat of hers that I hadn't seen in years. I had remembered her wearing it...and I had loved it. An emerald green vintagey coat with jeweled buttons and a fur collar and cuffs. It had disappeared for years...and I'd figured it was long gone. When I opened the hall closet, I spied something in a clothes bag...and sure enough, there is was. I screamed in joy..and scared my friend to death. I took it out of the bag and put it on...and it was a perfect fit...and in perfect condition. I didn't even cry. Just smiled and remembered mom.



After I finished, I stopped by to see an old friend whose husband had just passed away. She was so happy to see me that it made my day. We reminisced about her late husband, who had been very dear to me. And then in walked someone else...a guy I went to college with, who had also been a great friend. After an afternoon full of reminiscing and tears, it was so good to see someone who immediately patted me on the back, made fun of me, and reminded me of that some good people and times have passed...but there are still good ones ahead. By the time I left, I was laughing again.



On my way back home, I stopped to see both of my brothers. As I've written before...and as corny as it sounds...I have the best brothers in the world. Loving, thoughtful, kind....not to mention VERY funny. I cannot be around them for long and stay in a sad mood.



By the time I made it home, Little One had gone off to spend the night with a friend...and The Boy and Husband had exhausted every fast food outlet, and settled in to watch some horrible movie. Home Sweet Home.



So today, on this week of Thanksgiving.. I am thankful for friends...old and new. For family near and far. For memories, good and sad. And for those at home waiting for me...



And today...a Very Happy Birthday to The Senior, who I love and cherish....I hope your classes are quick and easy today....and I hope the coming year is everything you want it to be...



Until tomorrow.....

On Basketball Practice and The Morning Drop-Off

The basketball practice went well last night. It started off a bit rocky, with The Husband giving instructions on picks and screens. I glanced around and saw some blank looks on the faces of our 9 and 10 year old girls. One little girl had tears in her eyes, but I was relieved to find out it was just dust, and not fear. Two of them leaned over and said to me "What is he saying?" I waited for him to finish his talk on the importance of the pivot foot...and then I quietly suggested that he 'dumb it down' a bit. Afterall, it was the 9/10 Pewee League and not the Atlanta Hawks. To his credit, The Husband took a deep, impatient breath, and went through a slow, thorough review. By the end of practice, I saw many smiles on the girl's faces. I think they had fun and learned a little bit, which is what it is all about. Unfortunately for The Husband, our last year's record of 7-1 may be hard to re-achieve....

Yesterday I had lunch with my 'morning crew". This is one guy and one girl who also participate in the tedious ritual of morning drop-off line at school. The guy has been doing this for 8 years, I think...and the girl for 7. I am the 'baby' of the group, having only been at it for 3 years. Last year, the 3 of us participated in what could only be described as the "Amazing Race". It was a cut-throat daily race to see who could get there first and drop off the kids. As the year progressed, so did the danger of the driving practices. I almost found myself reaching for a helmet and driving gloves after being cut off and "put in the wall" several mornings. Of course I would never do this, but some participants may have actually shoved their young daughters out the door in an effort to win. The guy in the group changed the rules near the end of the year, as men sometimes do when they cannot win. He decreed that it was the first car to LEAVE that was the winner...not the first car there. Well, the danger factor that was involved with this became too much...and the 'Race' had to come to an end before someone was injured...

So this year, morning drop-off is more about discussing what was on TV last night or the latest gossip. The problem is, you start a conversation...then the line moves...and you are forced to dive back into your car, or else be run over. So it was nice yesterday to sit down and chat with the group and finish some conversations. When you have to deal with tired, grumpy kids on a daily basis, it is nice to be able to share a few laughs over it....

And finally, thanks to The Husband for watching the season of Project Runway with me...and with very few smart alec remarks. Last night was the season finale....the final 3 girls put together a runway show and competed for the prize. The husband demanded that I pick a winner...and he did the same. He did this because he knew who I liked...and he thought she wasn't going to win...but she did. I was very gracious in my "winners' speech....

So that's it for the week. We're doing a family movie tonight...and then I am off on a road trip of sorts this weekend...more on that next week....

On Agassi and The Pewee League

I've been engrossed for 2 days reading the Andre Agassi autobiography. I wrote about it a few weeks ago after reading an exerpt about his crystal- meth use. I was disgusted at the time because I thought, here we go again...another athlete/celebrity that feels the need to reveal that they used drugs. But once again, the real lesson learned here is to withhold judgement until you get the real story. Doesn't that seem to be the case more and more as you get older? It's so easy to jump to quick conclusions about people or situations, but the real truth is never that easy.


A friend e-mailed me the other day and said that she had literally not been able to put it down for a week. She warned me not to start it if I had a busy week...but I was intrigued, so I ignored her warning and picked it up. Well, she was right. From page one, it is very "intense". The guy you thought you knew as this brash, showy tennis player has led a very interesting, though sometimes troubled life. The drug use reference is one brief chapter, though the consequences last for several chapters. Without giving anything away, his life has been nothing like any pre-concieved notions that you might have had about it. I'm not sure that there are any lessons to be learned from it, but it is very compelling. And so that is the book review for the week...

Little One has basketball practice tonight. The Husband is the coach and I am the assistant coach. Though the titles were reversed last year, the results were pretty much the same. The Husband's role is much like it is at home...lead and order. My role is much the same as it is at home too....support and explain. Drafting the team took place a few weeks ago. The Husband took on this job with total seriousness. He researched players, made notes and watched try-outs. In the end, he drafted what he felt like was a pretty good team. So....you can imagine the reaction when the league informed him that he was "losing a player and gaining another due to un-foreseen circumstances." The Husband was suspicious right off the bat. He doesn't really believe in "unforeseen circumstances." Now evidently, one of the girls on the team had a sister, and their mom wanted them to play on the same team. As a mom, I totally understand this from a logistics standpoint. But The Husband wasn't having any of it. He immediately wanted to know the differences between the girl that he was giving up, and the girl that he was gaining. Unfortunately, he was losing height and age...This did not go over well with The Husband. Thus began a series of contentious e-mails between he and the rec league...."discussing" the fairness of the whole situation. The Husband insisted that he had been given a "crappy trade"...and the league insisted that...well, basically, this is rec ball, and you take what you get. After a couple of days and a practice, The Husband calmed down and decided that he would just have to do the best he could with what he had.......until he got another call telling him that another girl had been added to the roster. Then it started all over again.

So tonight, as we head to practice, I will be wearing dark glasses and a wig as we sail into practice past the rec staff. The Husband insists that they know his remarks are "all in good humor". I am not so sure...

Agassi's book is entitled "Open"...I highly recommend it. Meanwhile, I'm thinking of writing one about The Husband entitled "Screwed By The Pee Wee League...A Coach's Story"...

Until tomorrow...

Paintings and Pictures

The painting is well under way. I have already moved though several stages...the normal ones I go through in the painting process. Immediately after I get the sketch on the canvas, I love it. I stare at it for several days and compliment myself many times over. I fantasize about how this will be my best painting ever. But I don't begin, thus putting off the inevitable dive in confidence that comes when I actually put brush to canvas. No matter how good the sketch is, the first few days of painting are difficult. Mixing the colors on a palette is one thing, but actually seeing them on the canvas is another. There will always be colors that are incorrect. And once the color goes on, any imperfections in the sketch that didn't show, all of a sudden GLARE. The first few days on this painting were no different. The Boy said "Her face looks weird...wrong color." Little one said "Her eyes look funny." The Husband, who stands in front of it while eating his dinner, said "I'm not sure about the lips. are those right?" WELL NO. THEY ARE NOT! No matter how many times I explain that the the first strokes will always have to be corrected....my lovely family always has to let me know that ....so far......not so good.

Then things shift. A couple of days into it, the colors and shapes begin to take shape. All 3 of my critics run by the painting, and then stop and stare. They then look at me and smile and nod. This is when I know I'm on the right track....So that is where I am this morning. It's moving in the right direction. I'm anxious to get started...so very quickly...

Saturday, I took Little One and headed to grandma's house to meet Big Sis and her friend Lindsey. As I said yesterday, Lindsey is a great photographer, and we had arranged a little photo shoot. I needed some "edgy" photos for a project that I am not ready to discuss. (Wow, isn't that a great tease?) Anyway, I gathered together a group of clothes that are much more...let's say fashion forward...than my everyday school drop-off clothing. My friend and stylist Elizabeth met me at the house, and I thought she was going to cry when she saw the clothes. (it has evidently been awhile since I have dressed in the chic manner which she likes.) I walked out in a mini-dress, boots and leather jacket. Elizabeth literally jumped up and down. Little One stared at me like I was from another planet. Then she smiled. "Ok, let me choose your next outfit."

So for 2 hours and 10 outfits, the 4 of us played dress up and model. It was so much fun watching Lindsey at work. Big Sis was her mouthpiece, stylist and prop-girl, switching out jewelry, makeup and props whenever necessary. I morphed from go-go boots mom, to evening gown diva, to jeans and boots farm girl. Little one was her usual vocal self, exclaiming from time-to-time "Mom! Stop Posing. Look Natural!!! No. Not that smile. Relax!!" If only I would have had her direction back in my modeling days....

Big Sis has just e-mailed the pictures to me this morning. I haven't looked at them yet, but regardless of the outcome, it was a successful day. What can go wrong when you have 5 girls, beautiful clothes and a lovely setting?

So until tomorrow, when the picture on the canvas will hopefully look good, and so will the pictures from the shoot...

Don't Throw it So Hard...

Last Thursday night, The Boy challenged The Husband and Little One to a basketball game. I thought this was a great idea until I realized that I was part of the mix. Evidently, in order to make things fair, I would be on The Boy's team. ("Mom, dad and I would clean your plow.) Now I tried to avoid the game, as I was tired and ready to read my new book. But as he often does, The Boy begged and begged until it was either give in or explode. We were winning handily (no thanks to me) halfway through the game, when OUCH...The Boy threw a bounce pass that took a bad bounce and hit me in the mouth. Having just recovered from the head butt incident on dance night, when his buddy decided to throw his head up while I was putting on his makeup, my lip once again blew up. This time though, I was worried that a tooth might have been jarred loose....but I lucked out. All teeth were in tact. The Boy apologized profusely, and The Husband, ever-mindful of me-instructed him to "throw soft passes to your mom...she's a lightweight." We went on to win the game...and I went on in to find an ice pack.



The next night, The Boy was once again lobbying for a game. My lip was back to normal, and hey, it was Friday night. So I agreed. Once again, The Boy and I were winning, and this time, I was actually scoring some points. Feeling confident, I ran to guard The Husband as he dribbled around. Suddenly...and without warning...he decided to channel Michael Jordan and try a behind-the-back pass to Little One. There were two problems with this. 1) He didn't look where he was throwing it. 2) He fired it as hard as he could. Now, thankfully, it did not get to Little One, because it would have knocked her over. Unfortunately, it hit me square on the face. I think I may have blacked-out for a second, awaking to hear The Husband laughing and saying "Oops...sorry. Why didn't you move?". Now The Boy rushed to my side to make sure I was ok. Little One ran over and kicked The Husband in the shins, shaming him for "hurting mom". Finally, The husband strolled over and patted me on the back. "Sorry hon. Didn't see you there."

Minutes later, after I was again conscious, and we had resumed the game, Little One burst into laughter. "What's so funny?" I asked. "Sorry mommy, but it really was funny when you got smacked with the ball." ......Aren't kids sweet?

Sunday was the big wedding anniversary, but The Husband and I decided to celebrate Saturday night. After a last minute change of venue, due to an in-town football game, we had a lovely dinner at an out-of -town 'bistro'...perfect, because I got a bit of 'fru-fru' food that I like...and he got to keep an eye on the games. All in all, a great compromise....just like our marriage. And so I have to be very serious for a moment and thank The Husband for being himself for all of these years. It's not always easy...but it's always interesting with him by my side. What he may lack in compassion and sensitivity...he makes up for with humor and action. So between the two of us, hopefully, we've got "it" covered.....If he's read this far into the blog this morning (doubtful), I'll remind him that he said that Paris was in the thought-process for future anniversaries.....

And lastly, one of the high points of the weekend was a fabulous photo shoot with Lindsey McDowell.. Lindsey is a close friend of Big Sister's, and a terrific photographer. I needed some 'edgy' photos taken...and I needed to have fun doing it. So until tomorrow, when we will discuss the photo shoot...and I will avoid any further basketball games....

So Much To Celebrate

Well, I am just so happy this morning. For the first time in a week, I am not at logged on at the library or on borrowed time on The Boy's or Husband's laptop. I am on my own, new, fabulous laptop. I can't decide if it feels like I just bought a new car...or the first day of school. Either way, it feels very exciting.
After throwing a bit of a tantrum...and then pouting whenever The Husband pulled out his laptop...it was finally agreed upon that I would research and pick out my own. I haven't felt this independent since I bought my first car. These are the types of decisions that I rarely get to make in this household. My set of decisions involve what kind of cereal to buy or what day Little One needs to go to the dentist. So yesterday, as I went from place to place, researching and trying out different types, I was filled with the joy that only comes from knowing that The Husband did not get to tell me what to do....

Since I had driven an hour to shop for the laptop, I decided not to waste the mall time, as I rarely get a chance to shop on my own. Bouyed by the fact that I would soon be writing to my heart's content, I was suddenly filled with energy...so I did some Christmas shopping. Can I just say that there is nothing better than Christmas shopping early in the morning when nobody is at the mall but you and the mall-walkers...with a cup of Starbuck's non-fat latte in your hand? Ok, let me ammend that...The only thing better is when you know you are going to lunch at your best friend's house...and she is THE best cook in the world....and she has promised to make her famous quiche and creme-brulee. Just the anticipation alone was enough to make my day.

On a side note, I would like the Niece to know that, yes, of course, I perused J Crew. I had carefully studied my catalogue, so that I knew what items to check out...and yes, since I did have a reward card...purchases were made. The cropped khaki pants with the black stripe down the side were even better in person....the lavender ruffle blouse was lovely...and there were a whole new set of perfectly cute t's....but enough of that....

Lunch with the BFF was perfect on so many levels.The afore-mentioned quiche was delicious...the salad, the bread...and oh my gosh...the creme-brulee. But all of that paled in comparison to the conversation, because the BFF is what I imagine having a sister to be like. We covered every subject from kids to Paris to global warming. It was Heaven. Many thanks to her for her friendship...and the creme-brulee.

Last night, as I proceeded to set up my OWN computer...oh the joy of saying that....The Husband suggested that I decide on a place to eat for our upcoming anniversary. I threw out a few places...but he told me to choose..as it is "mostly for me." Just for fun, I checked out what was playing at the foreign-film theater downtown. This quaint little theater shows eclectic films...and you can also eat at the nearby fru-fru bistro. Well...I couldn't believe it.....They were showing Audrey Tatou in 'Coco...before Channel"......and in FRENCH!! ...with subtitles of course....Well, I asked The Husband if he would be up for that night of perfection...and he stared at me with the look that only The Husband can give...which if I translate it, says "You mean you just got a new laptop and you are now asking for me to attend a film with subtitles?"....Now he did not actually say this...he just said "Uh, no". But you know what? ...that is ok. I do not mind going to that lovely little film all by myself . Because you know what, an anniversary is suppose to be a shared thing, right? A celebration of putting up with each other for all of these years....

So today, I'm basking in the glow of typing on a new computer...filled with new ideas.....I feel as if I can now write the great American novel....and if not, I can at least write a riveting article on which produce is on sale at the local grocery store.....................The painting is finally under way, and the weekend is upon us.......And until next week, when I will have celebrated another anniversary.....and I will have this nifty laptop to write about it......

Just Do It

A few weeks ago, I was watching a movie, and as I often do, I noticed the beautiful artwork in the background. I enjoyed it so much that I researched the paintings. For the first time in a long time, I felt the urge to pull out my paints. I decided I would paint something similar to one of the paintings in the movie, but put my own spin on it. I had the idea in my mind for several days, but I procrastinated doing the sketch. This is the same paralysis that sets in every time I begin a painting or an article. The insecurity that makes me ask myself "Can I do it again?"

It reminded me of my first art project in college. As I've said before, I began my college "career" at 16 as an art major at a small liberal arts college. In one of my classes, we were to sketch an idea, and then create the sketch in some kind of media. I was going to sculpt something, though I had very little experience in sculpting. There was a guy in my class...we will call him Bob Valentine (because that was his name). Bob was a 5th year senior. He was a terrific wrestler and football player, and he was one of several "Jersey" boys who were at this school. He was also the most talented artist I had ever met. He sat next to me in drawing class, and as we would both sketch the model for the day, I would be mesmerized by his drawing. From time to time, he would reach over and make a "correction" on my sketch (out of sight of the professor)...and then we would continue. I learned more from his "corrections" than I did from the professor.

Anyway, I decided to do this sketch of praying hands, with the idea of sculpting the hands after I perfected the sketch. But I struggled with the drawing, never getting it the way I wanted it. One evening, I bumped into Bob in the student center (this tells you a lot about my college days) and he took a look at the sketch. He gave me some suggestions, and told me to meet him there the next night. This went on for several evenings, until finally he said to me "What are you waiting for? The sketch is fine. You're putting off the sculpting." I realized he was right. I was afraid of not being able to accomplish what I had in mind...so I just kept putting it off.

After all of these years and many, many paintings, I still get the same feeling. Once I finally sat down the other day and did my sketch, I was very pleased with it. The Boy examined it and brought in his friends to look at it. Little One, who rarely bestows praise, said "Wow, you're pretty good." The Husband just nodded...and a few days later he noted "You know, it's not going to paint itself, is it?"

Well, not it's not. So today, I am going to force myself to put the first brush stroke on the canvas and get it started. Who cares if it's perfect, right? (Well, I do) But at least it will be a start. A reminder that the only way to accomplish something is...like the Nike ad says....Just Do It...

By the way, I did eventually finish sculpting those praying hands. They weren't perfect. They weren't as spectacular as Bob Valentine's project. But I think I made an A-..and I gained a bit of confidence.

So until tomorrow, when hopefully the painting will begin to take shape....

On Being Out of Touch on So Many Levels...

I'm all about my routine. I find a sense of security in going through the same little rituals each day. Nothing OCD or anything, but just a certain comfort level that I get from continuity. So today, I'll admit it. I'm thrown. The Husband carted off my laptop when I when I went to the zoo last week. It was evidently "infected with viruses". But all I know is, it was working. When I returned from the zoo, it was not in it's spot. The "spot" is my little area that is designated as my "office". This is the spot I begin every morning, checking my mail and channeling through the news of the day. The spot where I return after taking the kids to school to write something hopefully creative and inspiring. The spot where I write this blog for the first 25 minutes of my day...
Anyway, I was promised that it would be back today...but when I flipped on the little switch...nothing. I glanced around to see everyone else woring on theirs...The Boy, the Husband...but mine DOES NOT WORK. The Husband was kind enough to call the technician who supposedly fixed it. After a brief exchange of ideas, I heard the dreaded words. "I'll bring it back to you tomorrow." That means another day of being out of touch. Another day where The Husband sends out e-mails that he knows will annoy me since he knows I cannot respond. Not that I want to. I'm in cave mode lately. This is a stage I pass through occasionally when I prefer to remain silent. But still...I like to know I can respond if the mood strikes me.

If you work from home, I'm sure you can relate to this. I leave my mail on every morning for 2 hours. This is the time when I correspond with friends, family and blog readers. This is 2 hours of the day when I don't try and stay focused. I write during this time, but if someone sends something funny, I'll take a break and respond. I look forward to this time of day.

I was a fish out of water this morning. I have a canvas set up in my office. The sketch for the painting is 90% complete. All I have to do is BEGIN. I thought this would be a good day to start it. But I just stared at it for an hour. I just couldn't get going. I organized my paints. cleaned my brushes...all of those little things I do to kill time when I've "got nothing". No creative juices flowing.

Unfortunately, I'm feeling the same way tonight. I don't like to "pre-blog". What I think I am going to write about at night is rarely what I end up blogging about in the morning. So tonight, as I check my mail and write this blog on The Husband's laptop...I feel a little disconnect. To those of you who follow the blog...give me a couple of days to regroup. As you're probably thinking as you read this...I'm off my game. I need my comfort zone....I need my OWN computer....

So until tomorrow...or the next day...when hopefully my computer will re-boot along with my creativity...Who knows...maybe I'll start the painting....

The Big Zoo Trip

22 hours after I boarded the little bus with 9 other parents, to follow the big bus of 50 kids, 2 teachers and 1 principal, I stepped off and back into the real world. It almost felt like it had been a dream...and some parts had been very, very scary....

The ride down was like the high school bus. Guys in the back and girls in the front...except for a few brave women who were willing to listen to the men discuss a magazine cover of Shakira in graphic terms. I felt fortunate to be sitting with the mother of Little One's BFF...she dove into the seat next to me and begged me to stay with her the entire time...ok, maybe it was the other way around. Either way, we chatted and ate our sack dinners and tried to ignore the loud conversation in back...At one point, my friend whispered, "I could have gone my whole life without hearing that."

Earlier in the day, a friend had suggested that I could find airplane bottles of vodka at the package store to add to my sack dinner....However, it was imperative that I be at my best since I was chaperoning, so I stuck to diet coke...

It was dark when we finally reached the zoo, so we dove right into the 'night crawler' activities. We examined swamp water, used night vision glasses to watch kangaroos, and petted chinchillas. The kids had a blast. At the mid-point, we were suppose to have a "snack". I was absolutely starving, having skimped on my sack lunch dinner. Unfortunately, I forgot it wasn't snack time at the Ritz...there were no homemade cookies and tea...but rather watered down lemonade out of an old cooler and a pack of stale animal crackers (get it? animal crackers at the zoo). I tried to get a second pack of crackers, but they removed the box before I could casually sneak over.

Around 10:30, we returned to the big building where we were to sleep. I was a bit discouraged to see that most of us, men, women and kids...would be sleeping together in one room together. Little One and BFF scouted out an excellent spot in the back corner for our sleeping bags. Principal had kindly brought air mattresses for the chaperones, so we set up our area like good little campers, and then went to the communal bathroom to get ready for bed. I was shocked at the sight of several 4th grade girls primping for bed like they were dressing for a party. Of course, they were sleeping in the same room as the boys...but still......I was relieved that Little one refused to brush her teeth and her hair.

After everyone had climbed in their sleeping bags and the teacher had told her amusing bedtime story, light were out. I was so tired. Little One and BFF were already breathing heavy...And then it started. One of the dads began snoring...and not just your normal snoring, but your 'rock the rafters' snoring. Then one of the little girls began coughing...and not soft coughing, but the kind of coughing that sounds like you are losing a lung. And listen, before you think "gee, she should be more compassionate...it's a little girl"....just stop. At 3:00 in the morning, when you are listening to snoring and coughing in tandem...you are allowed to lose a bit of compassion. At 4:00, I cried. Really. I have never wanted to be home so badly in my whole life. Then I reminded myself that there were soldiers fighting wars and homeless people freezing in the streets...and I dried my sissy-girl tears and dozed off for about 30 minutes...

The teacher came in singing at 7:00. I felt delirious..but I knew if I could just hang on, there would be coffee shortly. We dressed quickly...packed our bags and loaded the bus. Then we headed to breakfast. The zoo staff reviewed the eating rules...including how we should not waste food and recycle everything. When they finished their talk, the adults raced to the coffee pot. Then I went to check on Little One. Now usually, she eats 3 bites of a pancake for breakfast. So what had she chosen?? 2 muffins, cereal and juice. I cringed, knowing that she would take 3 bites and leave the rest...and the staff would be glaring....So I did what any self-respecting mother would do...I finished every bit of her left overs.

Stuffed and exhausted, we headed out for our morning tour. We had a terrific guide. Justin was about 25, very knowledgeable, but even more important...funny. The tour was like a good Disney movie...80% for the kids..20% for the adults. From time to time, he would walk back to the adults and tell us something so funny that I would literally belly-laugh. After the tour, we broke onto our groups for an hour of free time. My group wanted to hit the gift shop. This was fine, except for the one girl who had about $50, but thought she had $300. She would bring various combinations of "stuff" to me and ask me if she 'had enough". After much editing, she finally settled on her "stuff". We headed to the meeting area, ate our sack lunches...and boarded the bus....

On the way home, the dads gave a play-by-play of their day...Does anyone ever notice how men can exaggerate their importance in any situation?? ..

Upon returning to the school, I literally said a prayer of thanks. It had been a fun trip for the kids...and I was truly glad to have been part of it...and truly glad to be home....

I didn't get to write about it that night because my computer is on the blink. The Husband offered me his computer to write...as long as I would let him edit......uh, NO. So a day later, I snuck in and "borrowed" it to get this written...

So until Monday, when hopefully my computer will be 'healthy" again...and I will have recovered from the big Zoo trip....

"Field trips Are When You go About 10,000 Miles on a Bus, and You All get Sick." Charlie Brown

Well, the Big Day is here. At 4:00 today, Little One and I will board the bus and head for the overnight trip to the zoo. (Actually, Little One will go on the big bus, and the other parents and I will follow on the short bus...) Now, we are eating our sack dinners on the bus so that when we arrive at the zoo, we can plunge into our activities....The zoo is providing a "snack" tonight and breakfast in the morning. (This will be called the "Overnight Trip to the Zoo Diet").

I know I sound terrible...Little One said "Aren't you looking forward to going?" Well, I am, sort of. I mean, I have no problem with the zoo part...it is just the overnight part that kind of bothers me. I am not just not a camper type of girl. I like my bed. I like my bathroom. I like my privacy. Little One kind of hit it on the head when she asked "Do you think anyone will smell or snore?" The apple does not fall far from the tree....

Now, I like animals...I really do. We have a 14 year old Doberman and 2 cats. The dog is The Husband's (the story for another blog) and the kids each have a cat. But who do we think takes care of these pets? Who cleans up after the totally incontinent doberman? Who feeds all of them at 6:30 every morning? You would be correct if you guessed me. The point is, I love them....even though they annoy me. On another fascinating note, The Husband is what we can refer to as the "Cat Whisperer". Every night around 9:00, The Husband says to The Boy "The cats are hungry for a snack." And every night, The Boy replies "Mom already fed them"....To which The Husband replies "Just do it!" When I ask The Husband how he knows this little tidbit of information, he just says he "senses" that they are hungry. Then he himself proceeds to the kitchen to get a little snack....Maybe there is some sort of analogy to be found here....

So that is it for this morning...I have to pack my flashlight and poncho. A friend reminded me this morning that the kids have more fun when the parents are laid back and let them have fun....This only made me feel sorry for my group....

Until tomorrow, when the blog will have to be written tomorrow night, because I will be on 'safari' in the morning....

If God Were a Liberal, We Wouldn't Have the Ten Commandments, but the Ten Suggestions Instead.......

The election results are in from New York, New Jersey and Virginia. So what do they mean? Well, it depends on who is doing the analyzing. In a real shocker, the mainstream networks are emphasizing the Democrat's win in NY. They are touting the fact that Joe Biden spent 10 minutes there talking to 150 people, while Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Fred Thompson stumped to huge crowds...yet the Dems won.

But they are not talking about New Jersey and Virginia, which were Republican sweeps. Now, you can hear about these on that Fair and Balanced Fox News. And in their defense, they do have their Democrat analysts on trying to downplay the whole thing. According to the Democrats, New Jersey was poorly run by John Corzine (the dem) and that was the only reason for the defeat. Now they don't want to talk about how New Jersey has been a political mess for years, yet the dems have always been in control. They also do not want to mention how President Obama campaigned there for Corzine 3 times in the last week, and recorded those thrilling robo-calls asking for support. In the robo-call, he calls Corzine his "good friend". Wow...if someone is my good friend, I don't chalk up their loss to "doing a pitiful job".

As for Virginia, it's a little more interesting. The Republicans won easily...Govenor, Lt. Govenor, attorney general. Now the Dems (in a real reach here) are saying that Virginia traditionally picks against the party in power in these mid term elections. What they are not saying is that one year ago, the President won Virginia by 6 points...and yesterday they lost by double digits. That is a huge swing in one year. Now the reasons behind this remain unclear.

The most interesting analysis of the night came from that Frank Luntz guy on Fox. He is the fellow who puts together focus groups and asks their opinions. The Virginia focus group was fascinating. Out of about 20 people, 3/4 voted for the Republican. The rest were African-Americans who were very defensive about what the loss said about Obama. A few people said they were trying to send Obama and the congress a message. One guy was trying to send Nancy Pelosi a message. But most of them were just concerned for the future of Virginia and thought that the republican would be a better choice.

I cannot watch the mainstream media on days like today. Their bias is so blatant that any real news is impossible. I also get disgusted with Fox, though. When they come on with the headlines at 7:00am, and there is no mention of NY going to the dems...the bias is no less disappointing. Now granted, if you hang in there, they will bring on some people from both sides to discuss it...but the presentation is transparent.

A good friend of mine likes Glenn Beck. She points out to me that he does a great job finding and presenting things that the major news networks ignore. Because of how much I respect and agree with her opinions, I try to watch him occasionally. But I find him to be so nasty and sarcastic...and toxic...that any real information he offers gets lost in his presentation. He is a bit like the National Enquirer...chances are there is some truth in what he is saying, but since 80% of it is over-stated, you don't know what to believe. Yesterday, Little One and I were watching his show while eating dinner. After a few minutes, she said, "I don't understand what he is saying, but he is mean."...........My sentiments exactly.

Anyway, the 2010 elections should be interesting. Regardless of how laissez-faire the White House tries to act today about their losses, you can bet they are nervous. And on the flip side, even Limbaugh and Beck are going to have a hard time explaining why the NY seat that has historically been republican suddenly flipped. Maybe is was Joe Biden's amazing speaking skills after all. (That was a joke.) The point is, these are volatile, un-nerving times.

On another note, Harry Reid said the healt hcare bill will probably not be passed this year. Fox News said this is a major blow to the President. Well, I hope not. I hope he sees this as a plea from the country to slow down and attack the problem in a more measured way. Let's fix what needs to be fixed and leave the rest alone.

Ok, that's it for today. I know, I know...too much politics the last couple of days....But that's life right? A little of this and a little of that. Tonight I will be packing and preparing for the big Zoo trip. Tomorrow night, I will be sleeping (or most likely not sleeping) in a sleeping bag in a room with 50 kids, 10 parents, 2 teachers and a principal....God help me...

Until tomorrow, when I promise not to discuss any politics.....

"Parents Aren't Really Interested in Justice. They Just Want Quiet." Bill Cosby

A little discussion about some headlines from today's paper...

1) It's Election Day in a few states...New York, New Jersey, Virginia to name a few. If you listen to the polls, it's going to be a strong Republican showing. Not surprisingly, the Republicans are calling this a referendum on Obama...a foreshadowing of things to come in 2010. The Democrats are saying this has more to do with state politics and poorly run campaigns. As usual, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. However, the President's falling approval numbers may be an indicator that his "honeymoon" is over. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. My doctor is a very smart, very informed woman. She is always aware of all of the new, cutting edge health information. Last year, we had a brief political discussion prior to my check up, and she expressed her confidence in Obama. She was ready for a "change". This year, it was her opinion that had "changed". For the first 10 minutes of my appointment, she launched into an in depth discussion about how she was appalled at how the President was "plowing through an agenda that was going to hurt a lot of people." She expressed dismay that he hadn't taken a more measured approach. She was livid that the health care agenda had become so politicized, and she was sure that the 'end game' of helping those who truly need help had been traded in for political gain.
I sat quietly and tried to take it all in. This is not a woman who is concerned with making as much money as she can. This is a doctor who will sit and chat about your health for an hour, and discuss the pros and cons of everything. Her total reversal on things really surprised me.

2) I heard on the news this morning that more and more parents are paying upwards of $100 an hour to hire personal trainers for their children because they are over-weight. I just do not understand this. I mean, I understand having someone teach a child how to workout properly...how to swing a bat...how to score more goals....how to serve correctly.....But please. I think that I, as a parent, can take responsibility for fixing healthy meals, turn off the video games and TV, and send my kids out to play...and throw away the Halloween candy when I notice that they are eating more than a few pieces a day. We have become a country of people who just look for the easy way out. Just pay someone else to take care of the kids. It's ridiculous. And quite frankly, without judgement or malice intended, if you look at the parents who are doing this, you will find in most cases that they are the ones that need the trainers...

3) Ok, on a similar note, you can now buy a GPS system that tracks where your kids are 24/7. As a mother with 4 kids, I can totally understand the feeling of control and comfort that this might instill in a parent. But as the mother of The Senior, let me warn you that there is not GPS anywhere that can keep up with a teenager who does not want to be kept up with. When The Senior was sent to the grocery store, she would indeed go to the store, but there were many stops on the way. My point is, there has to be a trust factor, or all is lost. Having said that, when you, the parent, are the only one abiding by this "trust" rule, steps have to be taken. It's so tempting to become the "helicopter parents" that we keep reading about these days. To micro-manage our kids in order to assure their safety and success. But I am afraid this might backfire...and we might end up with a generation of kids who sit back and wait for mom and dad to take care of everything. The key is always the 'happy medium', isn't it? And who knows where that is? I am determined to try and follow the path of "choice, decisions and consequences" with The Boy and Little One. In other words....you have a choice, you make a decision...and you live with the consequences.

Of course, it is easy to get on my judgemental high-horse when my 2 older ones are beyond all of this....and my 2 younger ones are not yet to the point of no return........Talk to me in about 5 more years....and then have a good laugh at how my opinions have changed....

So that's it for today. It's a beautiful day, much too pretty to sit around worrying about personal trainers and politics.....and until tomorrow, when the overnight Zoo trip is just around the corner....

"There Aren't Enough Days in the Weekend."

I'm pre-blogging today. I know that tomorrow morning (Monday) will be too busy due to appointments, so weekend re-cap will have to happen before the weekend is actually over.

For those of you that asked, The Boy's middle school dance was, in the words of Austin Powers, a "smashing success". The Boy sported his ridiculous blue polyester suit, black glasses and fake teeth. His buddy had intended to be Mini-Me, but at the last minute, his bald cap would not cooperate, forcing him to make a costume change. He decided to be a thief. As I put the finishing touches on his black face paint minutes before we left, he jerked his head and gave me a fat lip. Had the two of them not looked so funny, it might have really hurt. The Husband took a couple of pictures, and we took them to the dinner. They assured me I didn't need to walk them to the door, but I embarrassed them and did it anyway. When they saw several parents mulling around, they relaxed a bit, and I think I even saw a quick look of thankfulness on The Boy's face when I greeted the mom at the door, but didn't go in.

Little One was spending the night away, so The Husband and I decided to enjoy a dinner out. We were both a little quiet, and I imagined he was feeling the way I was, hopeful that The Boy was having a good time. I was wrong. He was reviewing his weekend football bets in his mind.

A few hours later, The Husband volunteered to go pick up The Boy. I quickly accepted his gracious offer, enjoying my book and the peace of the house. But at the last second, I dove into the car, realizing that I might miss out on any conversation about the dance. The Husband just shook his head and stared at me. As we drove up to the school and got in line, we rolled down our windows and heard the music blaring from the building....Hannah Montanna's 'Party in the USA' (The Husband calls this a "teeny-bopper song"????? Isn't that the point?)....Michael Jackson's 'Pretty Young Thing'....and then a couple of slow ones. I felt a little nervous, once again hopeful that The Boy was having fun. The Husband was busy giving his critique of the music, the car line, the weather....etc.....Finally, the kids poured out, and there was The Boy, laughing and chatting away with his friends. As he climbed in the car, he said "Yes mom, I danced with 5 girls...all slow dances....only fast ones with the guys. It was pretty fun. Is there one in the spring?" Well, I was just so happy. It was obvious he had had a good time. I asked who he had danced with, and he listed the girls...some were by choice, some had asked him....and one was out of kindness. I wanted to hug him, but he was too busy making 'guy' jokes with The Husband.
When we got home, he actually said...for maybe the first time ever...."I'm actually a little tired." He sat and watched TV with us.....and all was right with the world.

The next day was all about Halloween. Little One came home from her night out ready to plan her costume. Would she wear boots or high tops? Would her hair be straight or braided? Would she wear one or two gloves?...so many decisions to make. Not so much for The Boy. His only decision was whether or not to wear the entire Austin Powers costume...or lose the glasses and teeth. I reminded him that those were the items that made the costume funny. "Who cares?...I need to be comfortable." The Boy had invited his good friend from last summer's baseball team to trick-or-treat and spend the night. We'll call him Z. Now Z is the star of his school's football team...so he came as...who else? Himself. He wore his football jersey and a big smile. The sight of he and "Austin Powers" was hilarious. As they left, I called out to them to stay in the neighborhood and stick to the sidewalks. The Husband gave me a look that said "Really, can you let them be boys and leave them alone."....So I did. Thankfully, it was The Husband's year to walk Little One and her friends around. This meant I got to clean the kitchen and hand out candy in peace. I wanted to dress up while I handed out candy...but Little One forbid it. The Boy, in all of his sweetness, said "No need to dress up...You can just be Hot Mamma". That's my Boy.

When they all returned (Little One was having a friend for the night too) they dumped the candy on the floor and began trading. The Husband has always insists that he gets a 10% cut, so he took his share. I chatted on the phone with The Senior who was filling me in on the exploits of the Tike, who had gone as Thomas the Tank....all was right with the world.

So this morning, tired after Halloween and the World Series...I decided to stay home from church. I asked The Little One and her friend to act out a passage from the Bible in lieu of Sunday school. They chose The Nativity Story...and proceeded to act out a precious rendition of the birth of Jesus, culminating in the birth our cat...The manger was a trunk, which accidentally crashed close and almost decapitated the cat.....and that was it for the Bible lesson...

That's it for the weekend...I'm filled with relief and thankfulness...and ready for the week ahead, which includes a zoo trip, play rehearsals and more baseball....