On the Pre-Middle School Dance Preparations...

The note came home a few weeks ago. The middle school dance would require a coat and tie this time. Now, as much as The Boy had enjoyed the last dance...he balked at this. And besides, he and dad had tickets that night for his beloved Atlanta Hawks game. He was torn. I actually could have gone either way on this one, since I seem to be having trouble letting go lately...However, The Husband's 2 cents was that he should go to the dance. He left it up to The Boy, who said he would "let us know".

A few days ago, The Husband pressed for an answer. The Boy still waivered. The deep, dark answer seemed to be hidden at school somewhere because he kept saying he would find out at school. No, it wasn't date based. No "dates" allowed. Finally, he climbed in the car after baseball practice one day and said weakly "I guess I'll go to the dance."

Ok, since he did not have a jacket, The Husband suggested he wear one of his. Knowing better than to argue, I just went and retrieved one of his jackets and put it on The Boy. He is a big kid...but not that big. The next day, I set out to find a jacket. The Boy is in that 'tween' stage...so this wasn't easy. He has a school trip to Washington DC coming up in a couple of months, so I needed something appropriate for that, too. I finally found a beautiful Calvin Klein jacket and a very cool shirt to go with it. When The Boy came in that night, I had him try it on for dad. The Husband thought it might be a bit snug. I disagreed...I like that sleek, fitted look. The Boy had no opinion...he was watching a game. When The Husband heard the sale price for the jacket, he suddenly felt the fit was just fine.

Today, The Boy came in tired and grumpy from baseball practice. His braces were killing him due to yesterday's adjustment. His MLB fantasy baseball draft was due to take place in minutes. He was hedging again....did he HAVE to go to the dance , he asked? Well, it was up to me. The Husband was not around to say "Of course." ....Now it was my turn to be torn. I could let him stay home....and we could draft our teams and watch the Hawks play on tv. He would have jumped at that. But I reminded myself to do the right thing. Sometimes you have to give a little push. I sent him up for his shower and laid out his clothes......And then I saw it....the security thingy was still on the shirt! How could I have not checked that? Oh no. The wonderful GQ look was down the tubes. When The Boy came in, I apologized...he looked at me with glazed eyes. "Can't you just pick another?" ....Well, of course I could. And I did. And he looked so handsome. The Husband wasn't home to tie the tie, but The Boy wasn't fazed. He would recruit a chaperone at the dance to do the honors.

A few minutes later, his ride was here. I had reluctantly agreed to let him ride with a friend. The mom knocked on the door and he was off. I just couldn't help it...."Can I get a hug?"....He strolled back over and gave me a bear hug and whispered "Love you mom"......Once again I said my little prayer..."Please let him do that just a little longer..."

We get to do the pick up tonight....I hope he has fun...Until tomorrow....

On De-coding the Family.....

You know those days as a mom when you fall into martyrdom? When nobody seems to do things the way you want them done? Of course, that is the key in itself, the arrogance of thinking that everything has to be done your way. On the other hand, as a mom, you're pretty sure your way is the right way, so you feel entitled to moan about it when it is not done your way.

I have fallen into this line of thinking lately, having been sidelined due to health issues. Strict orders from the doctor not to do certain things has meant a little reassigning of duties in our household, and after a bit of turmoil about this last night, I feel it is my duty to construct a "key" in case someone ever has to step in and take my place. This may seem a bit precipitous, but you never know....and there are things that must be understood in our household.....The following can be considered the "code"....

The BOY:

1) Have you done your homework? This question must be asked in every possible way to extract every possible answer. You must list every subject. You must ask if it is complete. You must ask when it is due. This may take several minutes.
2) Is your bag packed for baseball practice? Again...not as simple as it sounds. You must go through each item...Pants, jersey, cap...and of course, the ever challenging question of is it actually in the bag? or is it spread out over your floor...those little details...
3) Have you made your bed? This is an easy one.."yes" only ever means that the comforter and pillow are actually on the bed.
4) Have you been on your computer? This one is extremely multi-faceted. He will come back with "when?"...."who, me?"...."My friends are on all the time".....you must push on....

Little One:

1)Are you wearing your hearing aids?...This must be very specific..'.yes' can mean they are in the bookbag...or 'yes' can mean "I had them in yesterday"....
2) How did you do on that test?.....This will be met with "What test?"...."I did fine"...and finally, "Are you gonna be mad?"
3) Please put on something nice.....This is the tricky one. You will be confused when she comes down the stairs in baggy gym shorts and dirty t-shirt. Don't be. You will send her back up at a minimum of 4 times. You will finally be happy with the turquoise jeans and the plaid shirt...this is the "compromise" outfit.
4) Don't be confused by the slamming down of the pop tart onto the plate in the morning. The translation is "You are a bad mom because you did not fix chocolate chip pancakes."

The Husband:

1) What is your schedule like?....Ok, if you have asked this over the phone, hold the phone away from your ear...for some reason, this question gets met with a lot of cursing...
2) Could you please take out the trash?.....Ok, if you are asking in person, leave the room. This gets met with a lot of cursing.....oops, did I already say that?
3) Do you have any cash?......Ok, this one is very tricky. If you are on the way to the hospital for tests, he may give you some without asking...otherwise, be prepared for "What did you do with the cash I gave you last week?"...Of course, this will tick you off, so be prepared for the fall out. Better to just hit the bank....
4) Why did you take The BOY to Hooters?....This depends on which Hooters he has attended. The latest response was "everyone there was 65". Don't push it. You both know the truth. He just "likes the fried pickles"....(I never said I wasn't naive)

Addressing Big Sis and The Senior is impossible. These two have had years of practice in the art of avoidance. They are masters. Suffice it to say that "I'm spending the night with Liz" NEVER meant I'm spending the night with Liz.

Now, you the reader might ask what the key is to me? I would answer that this is my blog, and I can write what I want. But the following are a few hints:

Me:

1) Have you fixed dinner yet?.....The answer to this depends on whether or not I want to go out or not....pretty simple...
2) Is that new?...Please...any woman knows that there are many shades to the answer to this question. Out of the bag or box means not new. Out of the car means not new...If I've tried it on, it's not new....
3) Are you mad at me?....................I cannot even get into this one.
4)It is 10:00 at night and I just remembered I have a project to do. Can you help me?....ok, stand back and let me yell for several minutes, and we'll get to work.
5) Would you mind depositing these checks? ..............of course I mind, but I'll do it.

Ok, that's enough for today. You get the picture. I think I'll print this out and save it. If anything ever happens to me...this may be helpful....

So until tomorrow...back to fashion...

On Kind Words and Broken Hearts

As I mentioned last week, I went in for a minor heart procedure on Thursday. Having been through these type of things over the last few years due to what The Husband calls a "bum heart", I usually take them in stride. But for some reason (possibly the thought of a tube being stuck up my major artery into my heart to take pictures), this one had me stressed out. But I had great faith in my doctor, and after trying to talk him out of it for a few days, I finally agreed. He claimed it was the only way to see if there was yet another problem with my heart. As I packed my bag Thursday morning, I was extremely nervous and emotional. The Husband, who generally avoids hospitals at all costs, had to take me and remain, due to the seriousness of the test. Now, this was adding to my stress, because I knew he dreaded it too. The Husband was not in the room for the birth of our children This was by mutual agreement. He didn't want to see it...and this was fine with me. So you can imagine how he felt about being part of this test. But he was very supportive, pointing out only 6 or 7 times how he had had to change his schedule around to accommodate me. ..

When we got to the hospital and were set up in a room, The Husband began to conduct business by phone, speaking so loudly that everyone on the floor could hear. This could have been embarrassing, but in my frame of mind, it actually made me laugh.

As discussed in previous blogs, I'm severely private. But I have to say, this was one time when I realized that support and love from friends and family was so helpful. One of my best friends, K, had said just the right thing for several days. The Niece had been her normal sweet self. Big Sis and The Senior had offered help and encouragement. Another friend had offered to pick up the kids if needed, which put my mind at ease. And an acquaintance from one of The Boy's baseball teams was a nurse in that unit, and she called the morning of the procedure to offer support. She was there when I got there, and she was helpful, supportive and kind to me all day, constantly checking to see if I needed anything. I was struck by how good it felt to have the support, instead of just "going it alone" as I usually try to do.

Every person that I came in contact with that day made the experience easier. From sweet Devon at check-in, to the funny tech who put in my IV's, to my nurse Treva who made me feel like I was her only patient. Even in the procedure room, everyone was kind. The young anesthesiologist was funny and sweet. He explained everything to me, sat with me while I was being prepped, offered to put on any music I wanted, and reminded me that once he gave me my "tequilla", I wouldn't care about anything. (He was right.) When my doctor came rushing in, his kind and comforting demeanor (plus the tequilla) made me relax. Once I was medicated, it was actually interesting to watch the procedure. Once he had inserted the tube up into my heart, a camera began taking pictures, and I could see my heart. The good news was...no blockage. The bad news (Always a little scary to hear "ok, there it is") was that I had what is nicknamed a "broken heart". As he finished up, he walked back and grabbed my hand, explaining that I had experienced a "faux heart attack", and that he would be able to give me medication to heal it. He added, with a wink, that I desperately needed a trip to Maui. I agreed, but maybe Paris instead...

The next 5 hours were spent flat on my back. In order to keep the artery from bleeding, you must remain still. This was not problem for me, as I am always thankful for any opportunity to sleep. The Husband stayed to make sure I was fine, and then took off to take care of the kids. I hadn't told them about the procedure, because they have inherited their mom's tendency to worry too much. Later in the day, the kids called to check in. I was so happy and thankful to hear their voices...and even happier to hear that I was allowed to go home later that night.

The morning of the procedure, Big Sis's friend A. posted on her facebook status that she was going to try and smile at everyone that day. Just random kindness. That night, I got to thinking about how much small acts of kindness mean in life. A kind word, a smile, a hug...you never know how much it might mean to someone. That day, every kind word and action that was directed my way was so special. It was the difference between a terrible day and a bearable day...

As for the procedure, it's very strange that I had been joking about loss and sadness being the cause of my heart problem...and in the end...that is probably not far from the truth...

So today, and this week, as I take it easy, I am so thankful for all of the kindness that has come my way over the last few days. From the encouraging words, to the flowers and cookies, to the help and love......Thank you.

On Teaching The Boy to Clean...

Over the weekend at Grandma's, I decided on a new tactic. Instead of waiting until the last morning to clean, I would have The Boy and Little One help me a little each day. This would spare me that awful feeling of waking up the last morning with bags to pack and a house to clean. One of the lovely things about going to Grandma's is that it is always in order. I make sure when we leave that the next time we come, walking in will feel like walking into a hotel. In fact, sometimes I go there and just clean in between visits just so it keeps that "perfect" feel.

When I was working full-time outside the house, I use to have a wonderful housekeeper who kept our home spotless. Now that I am home, I feel that should be my responsibility. Therefore, our home is not spotless....more like "lived in". It is always clean, but with 2 active kids and a husband who loves to create his own little oasis on the couch at night (diet coke cans, pretzel boxes, socks, shoes, computer, newspapers....the list goes on and on)....it retains more of a "lived in" look.

Anyway, back to the story. When I told the kids my idea, there were collective sighs. Cleaning is not high on either of their lists. Little One is actually a stellar little worker, inheriting that gene from her Italian Grandma. Nobody could clean like Grandma. If I assign a task to Little One, and tell her it must be perfect...she is fully capable of doing it. Now...The Boy is another story. Let me say up front that he is not a slob. He is always clean himself, and he likes his surroundings to be clean...however, he likes his mom to do this for him. But if called on to make his bed, he can manage to make it look made (comforter pulled up to top..pillow flufffed). However, the bathroom is another story. I was determined to teach him how to do it. We started with the sink. I showed him how to spray the disinfectant around and wipe it out. His first problem was that he does most chores with one hand in his pocket. I explained this would be a "2 handed " chore. Next we moved on to the toilet. I showed him how it was done...and he shook his head violently. "I just can't do that". Fine, I called to Little One, who came running with her supplies and accomplished the task in a few minutes...giving The Boy her best "boy are you a loser" look. Finally, we did the bath tub, which did not seem to gross him out as much. I left him to do the floor himself after a brief explanation. I went to clean my own room, figuring I would have to come back and clean behind him. But when I returned...lo and behold....it was sparkling. There stood The Boy with a big grin on his face, proud of how clean that darn floor was. "Not bad" he said. Well, what do you know? I told him next week we would learn laundry. I tried to explain how these skills will be helpful in college. " I'll just live at home and let you do it" he replied. "Or get my girlfriend to do it" he grinned. Uh oh. College? Girlfriend? We were going down a road I wasn't ready for .....

As we prepared to leave Grandma's, I was happy that everything looked so good..and especially happy that it had been a joint effort...I even saw The Boy throw his clean clothes in a drawer...miracles do happen...

So until tomorrow, when I will need to make an effort to get this house in the same shape....

On Big Sis's Big News...

I waited until today, Valentines day, to talk about some really happy news. Congratulations to the Big Sis and the SIL! They are going to have a little bundle of joy next fall. This will be the luckiest little bundle in the world, as he or she will be blessed with a wonderful mommy and a terrific daddy.

Big Sis has been waiting for me to blog about this for several weeks, but I was hesitant to shout the news too soon. First of all, I had to wait for her to tell her friends....and then I needed to wait for her "Face Book blast". This was a question we pondered for a few weeks. How early is to early to "blast"? For me, the incredibly private, semi-cautious, overly quiet mom...later was better than sooner. For the vivacious, bubbly, outgoing Big Sis...sooner was better than later.....but in this case, we both agreed that maybe waiting though 2 doctors appointments was a good idea. So last week, when the doctor listened to the the little heartbeat and announced everything A-OK...it seemed like it was time.

Big Sis has been spared the worst of the 'morning sickness" so far. Some evenings, it rears it's ugly head for a few hours...just enough to remind her that she is pregnant. But overall, she feels good. And she looks terrific.

Names have been discussed already. Little One seems to think this is her domain. She feels the right to veto any name that she doesn't like...or even those that seem "weird". Last night, she vetoed one name because she said it sounded like "underpants". Now if you read this blog, you know Little One has hearing issues, but there is no way this particular name sounded anything like "underpants". Upon further discussion, she noted the it just sounded like a "geeky" name. Ok, that's better.

The Boy usually greets these type of announcements with caution...as if they are going to somehow impact his life in a negative way. But this time he was excited, only adding that he really "needs it to be a boy".

I'm happy to become a Noni for the second time. The first time, when The Senior became pregnant...you will understand why there was worry and pause. Would she be ok? Would the partnership last? Would she finish college? In other words, the first 50 questions had nothing to do with joy or excitement. But those are the times when we are reminded that God knows the plan, and we don't. The Senior has been a wonderful mommy. The partnership didn't become a marriage, but it stayed a co-parenting friendship. She will graduate this spring... And best of all, we were blessed with the Terrific Tyke, who has brought so much joy to all of our lives....

So today, on this lovely Valentines Day, I am thankful for all of the love in my life, and for all the love that is to come this fall. I can't imagine anything more wonderful than a baby Big Sis or a baby SIL...

On Matters of the Heart...

I love Valentines Day. It has always been one of my favorite days. I don't know why. My mom never even recognized the day. I don't think my dad ever even bought my mom a card one time. But each year, when the pink and red heart day comes around, I am filled with excitement. Even the years when I was alone, ie, without a significant other, I still enjoyed the cards and candy. I always made my own valentines, which was probably more to do with lack of money early on, but later, just out of enjoyment.

My first Valentines Day with The Husband came early. We had only been dating about 2 weeks. I didn't expect anything from him...though I did get him a card. Imagine my joy and surprise when I climbed in my car after work to find a cute little bear with a heart that said 'I love you'. Now there was no card with it, so I guess it could have been from someone else. But knowing The Husband, I knew this was his discreet way of being sweet. Being co-workers, it was important to keep our relationship out of work. The Husband had told me that there was a loop-hole that made our dating "ok"...we actually worked for different companies...but still, we had agreed to keep it quiet. (I also did not know at the time that The Husband still had a 'semi-girlfriend' who probably would not have appreciated him giving me a Valentines gift. This information would cause a short "break" in the following weeks...) Anyway, The Husband has continued to give me wonderful Valentine Days over the years. No matter what he does, it is always thought out and loving.

This year, there is some irony about heart day. Over the last few years, my heart has decided to "break" a bit, both physically and emotionally. A particular abnormality shows itself, and I am forced to go through a series of humiliating tests in order to show my doctor that the complication of the abnormality, "imminent death"...is not , in fact, imminent. However, in my own mind, and denial, I have linked these periods to emotional heartache. I read an article the other day about how doctors have come to acknowledge that a heart can truly "break" due to sadness. I convince myself from time to time that it is the amount of loss I have experienced over the last few years that has cause my heart to complain. This last "episode" I tell myself, could well be due to The Dog passing. Anyway, next week, my doctor will knock me out so that he can go in and take a peek at my broken heart. Just the thought of this makes me feel like fainting...even more than usual. But the upside is that knowing what you are dealing with is always better than not knowing. So I will depend on my brain, and not my heart, to carry me through this little ordeal...

So today, I will look forward to Valentines Day. I had been content to just be at Grandma's house for the Big Day. But The Husband instructed me to pack the big bag that was hidden in his closet...and not look inside. So the day may be even better than I thought....

Until tomorrow...

On Snowless Snow days....

A stroke of luck. The kids are off of school today. Snow is threatened, but not here. Unfortunately, I did not know this until I sat in the school line (by myself) for awhile this morning. I listen to the national news in the morning, not the local news, so it never occurred to me that were closed. As we sat in line, The Boy began to realize that there was no school. His sense of joy and happiness was only slightly marred by the fact that he had the only mom who did not have the info. As always, he was kind, if annoyed. Because you know, he could still be in bed. Little One on the other hand, is always ready to let me know that I am always out of 'the know".....

Anyway, the good news is that the weekend at Grandma's house became a bit longer. We ran home and packed up for the long weekend. The Husband kindly ran to the house before work to turn on the heat and hot water (and whatever else he has turned off...). Now, even though we will only be there a few days, my car looked like it was packed for the beach. I have no idea why. I was highly edited in my packing....but when snow is threatened, games, movies and books must be brought along.....The kids were actually excited, which I did not expect, because they are at the age when friends trump weekends with the family. But for some reason, they were up for it. We threw the cats in the car, crossed our fingers, and headed out.

As usual, stepping in Grandma's house is a lovely feeling. No chores, no stress....This is definitely my Valentines day gift...The Husband is off the hook for anything. I brought several books that I want to read, and Little One and I headed to Blockbuster, where she picked up several movies she has been wanting to see. I grabbed a couple of french movies that I have been dying to see. The Boy brought along his computer, DS, PSP and Wii....he will watch ESPN with dad and be in video-heaven all weekend.

Just a warning...I am in my perfect little writing room today, and I am in a writing mood, so I intend on making up for the many days lately that I have not had the time to blog. Beware those of you who have this shot to your e-mail....I may get carried away today...

Until tomorrow, when I may not move from this chair all day...

On Getting a French Little One....

Well, I've been off for a few days. Just too much going on to write it down. The latest news in our household is that we are going to have another Little One soon....no, not a baby...a Little French One. The local Montessori school was looking for families to host some french children in May for a few weeks, and I volunteered. I might have done this before discussing it with The Husband, so many thanks to him for having such a good reaction.

Little One is so excited about the prospect of this "french sister". She has been working on a packet called "All About Me" to send to our prospective child. This will tell her all about Little One. It tickles me to see Little One construct a certain picture of herself. She is very good at self-editing. Only certain pictures will do. They all must be flattering and lovely. Detailed descriptions of the cats must be concluded, after all, this will be VERY important to our visitor. Her self-drawn picture of our town includes our house, UGA (university) and her school. She feels no need to discuss mom or dad or brother...these are minor details...

We received an e-mail this morning from the child's mom. I loved her immediately. She is a blogging-horto-culturist who comments on how floral design affects fashion...I believe we were separated at birth. The Little One's name is Leila....My Little One thinks that name is just so beautiful, though not "overly french"?? The french Little One mainly speaks french, which is no problem for me...but my Little One is a bit worried about this. I explained that she is bi-lingual, which means it will all be fine,

So begins a few months of letters and e-mails and skyping between the 2 Little Ones. This should be fun. I love new experiences. When I was in high school, I desperately wanted to do the french exchange program, but my over-protective parents would not dream of it. Well, this is my chance to re-live that. Though I have travelled through France many times, this will be new and different. Even The Boy is semi-interested. At first he said "That's all I need"....as if he would be personally responsible for everything...but then, he calmed down and asked the important questions, like "What does she like to eat?"...

So today, as we begin the preparations for her visit in a few months, Little One and I are filled with excitement,,,

Until tomorrow...The Boy's school conference is today, and I sense "issues".....

On Not Getting a Ticket....

I was all set to write on the WSJ article about which stars sell the most clothes, but that will have to wait until next week. The following encounter has trumped any fashion talk today...



I was headed out the door to take the kids to school today when The Husband reminded me that I needed to take his car. He had kindly offered to get a couple of new tires put on my car (This offer coming after I had a total tire blowout after he had assured me all was fine...nevertheless). I don't drive The Husband's cars very often. I'm not allowed to drive the porsche...and I do not hold this against him. I wouldn't allow me to drive it either. But today, the kids and I climbed into the Honda and took off. It was absolutely pouring down rain and still dark...it was Little One's day to pick "leaving time"...and she picks "crack of dawn".....So there we were at 7:20, driving and talking. We pulled off the backstreets into a merging lane, when all of a sudden, the state trooper behind me (I had seen him) flashes his lights. Well, crap.



I quickly pulled over and waited. "What did I do?" I asked The Boy. "No clue", he replied. Little One whispered "Are you going to jail?" ......The Boy laughed and said "Ooh, dad is really gonna yell at you!" Sadly, this was the exact thought going through my mind. However, I crossed my fingers and hoped I had a break light out or something. I rolled down my window, and the trooper trudged over in the rain with a really mean look on his face. "I WAS TRYING TO GET YOU TO PUT ON YOUR LIGHTS."......Ok, well you don't have to yell at me. "License please." I handed it over and murmured "really sorry".



Little One, who needs to learn to restrain her temper, started talking about how "dumb" he was. The Boy was strangely quiet, only mumbling "We're gonna be late." I sat there lecturing myself not to cry...though I felt like it. I was already planning my explanation to The Husband, yet I was also shallow enough to hope that no friends of neighbors were seeing this....although I was a bit comforted by the fact that I was in The Husband's car and it was still dark...giving me a bit of "disguise"...



A few minutes later, here came the trooper again. He walked up, took off his glasses and sighed. "Ok. I'm mad at you because you made me get wet. I had already made up my mind to give you a ticket....But...if you will promise to put your lights on.....I won't."........He didn't smile, but he looked like he might, so I said "Thank you so much", and flipped on my lights. Since we were at the worse possible place as far as trying to pull back on to the road, I hesitated until The Boy said "MOM GO...and be sure your lights are on!" ....Little One rambled on about how "dumb" the policeman was, and frankly, I was feeling the same way, so I refrained from my motherly duty of correcting her.



The thing is.....here it comes......I didn't even know you could get a ticket for not having your headlights on. I mean, I should have had them on, and it was still a little dark and rainy....but I was just wondering why he didn't stop me on the side roads and just tell me. As we pulled away, I said "No need to even mention this to dad.".....The Boy shook his head. "MOM, How come when I make a bad grade, and I beg you not to tell dad, you say you have to. I guess next time I make a bad grade, we don't have to tell him either."......Busted. And not only busted, but embarrassed.



All's well that ends well. We made it to school without further problems....and I did call and tell The Husband about it. "Did you tell them you weren't used to driving my car?" he asked. Well, no I didn't, because I did not know if that would hurt or help.....



Anyway, I feel very fortunate to have "gotten off"....kind of lifted my spirits on a gloomy Friday...SO



Until tomorrow....

Finishing the Fashion List

It was lovingly pointed out to me by The Niece this morning that I never finished the fashion blog. I am so off my game this week. Too many distractions. But without further ado...here we go. I believe we left off at item 6....

6) Gold metallic Sperrys....Ok, back in 'the day', these were called 'Boat shoes'. They have come in and out of style so many times I cannot count. I have never owned a pair. As I have said before, the only flats I ever wear are boots.....however.....I LOVE these. I think it is the metallic that makes them so cute. I would wear them with skirts and shorts. But I am torn between these and the suede McAlister boots. These look like old-fashioned hush puppies, but a bit more cool. I'm going to need The Niece's opinion on this, since price will prevent me from buying both.

7) The Minnie Pant....I love these pants! The ankle length is so flattering (they are called the 'magic pants" in the catalogue because they look good on everyone. They have a real french look...I would wear them with my ankle boots because that is the look I like, but I can see them with flats too. If The Husband didn't read the blog, I'd tell you that I already purchased these....and the following......

8) Ruffled Vest.....Ok, as you get older, you definitely have to balance out 'cool' with 'appropriate'. I am constantly editing my wardrobe to be sure that I don't look like I'm trying to dress like Big Sis or The Senior. But having said that, occasionally I just have to go for it.....the "Minnie pants" with the darling Ruffle Vest seem to satisfy my "chic" craving without going overboard. The vest can be belted or not, and once again, I would wear it with almost anything....

9) Vintage Denim jacket......I was not allowed to have a denim jacket in middle school or high school. My mom thought that only "hoods" wore these. (I do not know what the current equivalent for "hood" is....all I can say is that the kids that wore jean jackets back then all smoked and skipped class....and none of them were forced to wear pigtails by their mom...) Anyway, once I was buying my own clothes, these became a staple for me. I even bought one with a beautiful pastel bird on the back during college....what the heck was I thinking? Now, I like the ones that look kind of worn and cozy. I wear them with everything...skirts, dresses, you name it....It kind of gives a yin and yang look. The newest ones are cropped, and they are cute. But I think you have to be careful with proportion.....I think the normal length is more versatile...

10) Crystal necklace.......I love to look at these in the magazines. When I use to merchandise, these were the pieces that would really make an outfit pop. But to be honest, for me, they do not translate well into reality. I have to wear jewelry that is comfortable. I cannot wear anything that is heavy or too bold. Of course, this is totally a personal thing. Some people carry these off so well...and this necklace is the perfect show piece if you are that person....

Ok, that's it for today. I'm going to stick with the fashion theme tomorrow. The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article this morning on which "stars" sell fashion the best....I'll have to give my 2 cents on this...

Until tomorrow...

"If There Ever Comes A Day When We Can't Be Together,Keep Me in your Heart. I'll Stay There Forever.' Winnie the Pooh

Little One was home from school yesterday. I went up to wake her up for school, and she began to cry. I hesitated....then I heard her stomach making funny noises. Could be hunger...but I couldn't take the chance. A memory popped into my head of a young 4th grader (me) who got sick at school one day. My mom determined it was nerves...so she brought me home, cleaned me up....and sent me back. To this day, I can remember putting on my yellow jumper, which by the way I hated, and crying at the thought of my impending humiliation. I do remember apologizing to the boy who sat in back of me. This particular boy was a good friend. He had nicknamed me "Ork" ....this was the sound he envisioned the bird who I was named for making....I can still remember his sweet words of reassurance: "It's ok Ork. Just don't do it again." .....You'll understand why he remained a good friend all through high school...But I digress....



I tucked Little One back in and let her sleep. After dropping The Boy at school, I came home and worked on a painting for a few hours. Little One eventually appeared on the stairs with a small grin on her face. "I'm really hungry. Can I have the left-over cheeseburger?".....Ok, so those stomach sounds were probably hunger. At least she'd have a day to rest. Little One is easy to have around on these days. She is content to watch game shows and entertain herself while I do my thing. Around noon, I suggested a trip to the bookstore. You'd have thought I said we were going to Disney World. She ran upstairs and put on her "outfit"....leggings with shorts over them, tank top with a shirt over it...and cowboy boots. (no yellow jumpers for Little One). We made our way to the bookstore where she picked out several good books. Later, as we headed to pick up The Boy and grab her homework, she leaned up and gave me a kiss...."I love you. I like being home with you." A sob caught in my throat. Little One doesn't like any show of emotion...so it was not a good idea to burst into tears at his moment. 'Ditto' I replied.



Last night as I tucked her in, I teased her. "I don't care how much your stomach is growling in the morning...you have to got to school." She grinned and said "Darn it! I was hoping for another day." This morning, there were no tears. She hopped out of bed, dressed, ate 2 waffles, and styled the hair into her newest "do". As I grabbed my keys to leave, she ran over and gave me a hug. "I'll miss you today". This time, I couldn't stop the tears. And she didn't even fuss at me....



So this morning, as I sit here on this rainy day preparing to paint, I miss my Little One.....



Until tomorrow...