We all just got back from a week long trip to the beach. We've been home for days but yet I still have a huge suitcase sitting in my hallway fully packed with sandy clothes, shells, flip-flops, and seashells. I think I'm secretly hoping I'll just throw it back in my car and head right on back down for another extended stay. Zeke loves the beach sooooo much. I mean, all kids love the beach, but I really think my kid has saltwater in his veins. When asked if he'd rather go to the boardwalk or the beach, he'll say the beach every time. He loves to stare into shallow areas of water and find any signs of life. This past stay, we collected about a thousand teeny tiny clams, a gazillion brine shrimp, and tons of sea hermit crabs. Sadly, every single one of them died after a day in Zeke's yellow beach bucket. There were BIG tears when he realized nothing was moving around anymore in his bucket. How did I stop the flow? We went and bought 3 land hermit crabs and a nice big cage to bring them home in. The word "sucker" is written on my forehead...I know it and embrace it.
I'm a mixed bag of emotions with the beach. I love relaxing on my chair and listening to the waves, but the water petrifies me. There's so much unknown life in there. Life that I don't want snapping hold of my toes if I'm swimming around in those dark waters. So, I stay only ankle deep in the ocean and enjoy the breezes and salt air instead.
For now, we're pool rats. No more beach for a bit now that Zeke has started summer basketball. I'm going to try to squeeze in a few more beach trips in between basketball games just so that the summer doesn't fly by in a big haze. I missed my baby too much all school year to let these precious summer days whip on by. And if you need to get in touch with us, call after 10 or 11 a.m. We're on summer schedule baby...we wake up when we wanna'!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
It Snot fair
Summer is officially here...or at least unofficially. Memorial Day pretty much signifies the beginning of the warm weather fun for us. Zeke only has a few more days of school scattered out over the next 2 weeks, then it's down to the beach for a bit. I'm ready to chill out and breathe in some salty air. Problem is, Zeke isn't. He's been battling strep throat for a month now. He has been on 2 antibiotics and as soon as he's done taking the course of them, he gets sick again a day later. Today he's fighting a fever of 101 which is completely out of the ordinary for him. He's been lying around for hours now. SOOOOO not Zeke. I feel bad because he's most likely going to miss fireworks tonight with his cousins, the opening day of our neighborhood pool tomorrow, and then recover just in time to head back to school on Tuesday. :(
Friday, May 20, 2011
Mustard and Ketchup Please.
I picked up Zeke at school yesterday, as I normally do. He presented me with a fabulous hand-drawn piece of artwork complete with a tree, tire swing, a big yellow sun, and some birds and bugs. I told him how much I loved it and how great it was. He promptly told me that all of the other boys were allowed to paint theirs...but he wasn't. I asked him why. His response? Because he said "wiener".
:(
:(
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
It is okay after all.
I don't write anymore. And I'm not sure why. There are still so many things to say, so many pictures to post. But I guess the life stuff has gotten in the way. I'll try to do better. I'll try to keep you informed and updated on my insanely fabulous life. I promise. I really do.
So, Zeke turned six since we last spoke. Cue the waterworks folks, because I just can't handle it. He's....so....old. I remember when my nephew turned six and I just thought he was a big kid at that point. MY KID IS A BIG KID NOW. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. I still try to pick him up and hold him on my lap like a baby on occasion...but his legs and arms dangle like jumpropes. It's a shame. It's a shame how fast it goes. But what's the "it"? Everyone talks about the "it" and how it's hard and fun and the best thing you'll ever do. But no one can ever tell you what "it" is. Here's my definition:
It is the smile on his face when he wakes up and knows it's his birthday. It is the hand that still feels kinda' small in mine when he grabs for it as we cross a street. It is the wiggly tooth that he's so proud of. It is the wonder and curiosity in his face as he carefully inspects a smooshed caterpillar on the sidewalk and happily calls the guts on the ground it's poop. It is the joy he feels as he counts down the days to his first real summer vacation. It is the feeling of it being okay that I'm picking up dirty underwear, socks, shorts and shirts that he so carelessly tosses when he's getting comfy under his blankie. It is the feeling that this child will always know that I'm the only mom he'll ever have. It is knowing that my life has a bigger meaning, that I'm a role model and a teacher of life to someone who is a clean slate. It is baking a vanilla pound cake on a rainy Tuesday just because he'll eat half of it that same day....and I'll let him. And It is feeling unconditional love. Love that will always be deep-rooted even when he has his own family to care for. He'll remember that he had a mom who cared enough to hold his hand as he crossed the street, to bake pound cake for him...and let him eat half of it in a day, who picked up his dirty clothes with only the occasional yell, and who agreed that caterpillar guts on the sidewalk was actually caterpillar poop. Or maybe he won't remember. But I will. And that? That's what It is.
So, Zeke turned six since we last spoke. Cue the waterworks folks, because I just can't handle it. He's....so....old. I remember when my nephew turned six and I just thought he was a big kid at that point. MY KID IS A BIG KID NOW. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. I still try to pick him up and hold him on my lap like a baby on occasion...but his legs and arms dangle like jumpropes. It's a shame. It's a shame how fast it goes. But what's the "it"? Everyone talks about the "it" and how it's hard and fun and the best thing you'll ever do. But no one can ever tell you what "it" is. Here's my definition:
It is the smile on his face when he wakes up and knows it's his birthday. It is the hand that still feels kinda' small in mine when he grabs for it as we cross a street. It is the wiggly tooth that he's so proud of. It is the wonder and curiosity in his face as he carefully inspects a smooshed caterpillar on the sidewalk and happily calls the guts on the ground it's poop. It is the joy he feels as he counts down the days to his first real summer vacation. It is the feeling of it being okay that I'm picking up dirty underwear, socks, shorts and shirts that he so carelessly tosses when he's getting comfy under his blankie. It is the feeling that this child will always know that I'm the only mom he'll ever have. It is knowing that my life has a bigger meaning, that I'm a role model and a teacher of life to someone who is a clean slate. It is baking a vanilla pound cake on a rainy Tuesday just because he'll eat half of it that same day....and I'll let him. And It is feeling unconditional love. Love that will always be deep-rooted even when he has his own family to care for. He'll remember that he had a mom who cared enough to hold his hand as he crossed the street, to bake pound cake for him...and let him eat half of it in a day, who picked up his dirty clothes with only the occasional yell, and who agreed that caterpillar guts on the sidewalk was actually caterpillar poop. Or maybe he won't remember. But I will. And that? That's what It is.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Ketchup
I like to make lists. Without lists, I'd still be in the second grade trying to figure out what came after the soft pretzels at recess. I need to know AND write down what comes next. So, in honor of my love of lists, here are a few random ones:
Things that I'm obsessing over lately:
1. trying to grow my nails to a length that I don't think is overly long and gross but long enough that I can peel a Band-Aid off a forehead quickly and effortlessly.
2. Gum. Trident has this new gum out that I love. But as I said to McMahon, there just aren't enough pieces in the pack. I wonder if candy.com carries it yet so I can buy it by the case. It's nice...it's like a white tea/mint gum...very smooth and nice.
3. My feet. I need to get them flip-flop ready. I've been soaking, loofahing, Vaseline-ing...all the proper pampering techniques for getting a soft foot. Soon, I'm going to treat myself to a mani/pedi and unveil these wheels of mine...
4. Our basement floor. We had a lot of water come in our basement a few months ago. I decided that it was time for the carpet to go and for a new flooring option to be discovered. After some thought and research, I decided on stained, decorative concrete. It's an unbelievably cool look if you have a concrete floor....but the floor prep and staining process has been grueling. It's almost finished, I love the look, and I can't wait for it to be totally dry so I can arrange my furniture again.
NEXT LIST...
Things Zeke is obsessing over lately:
1. Basketball, tennis, and skateboarding. He is devastated that our basement has been out of commission due to the fact that it is his basketball court/tennis court/skateboarding floor. It is because of his obsessions that I had to make sure our flooring choice was "sports friendly".
2. Chocolate milk. Still. To the tune of 2-3 gallons of milk/week. :(
3. Buttery rye toast.
NEXT LIST:
Things on our weekend agenda:
1. Friday = going to take Zeke to see Rango with a school friend while trying to fit in a trip to my girlfriend's house to celebrate her birthday.
2. Saturday = Pauly and Zeke going to a special Sixers event where they are allowed to practice with the team. Saturday afternoon will be Zeke's basketball game at the Y where Pauly and I are the winningest coaches the YMCA has ever seen. GO NORTH CAROLINA (Zeke's team)!!!!!
3. Sunday = my Dad's 70th birthday party. Can't wait for some good company and good food for a very special celebration!
Check out my recent pix. Trying to keep my kajillions of followers caught up...
Things that I'm obsessing over lately:
1. trying to grow my nails to a length that I don't think is overly long and gross but long enough that I can peel a Band-Aid off a forehead quickly and effortlessly.
2. Gum. Trident has this new gum out that I love. But as I said to McMahon, there just aren't enough pieces in the pack. I wonder if candy.com carries it yet so I can buy it by the case. It's nice...it's like a white tea/mint gum...very smooth and nice.
3. My feet. I need to get them flip-flop ready. I've been soaking, loofahing, Vaseline-ing...all the proper pampering techniques for getting a soft foot. Soon, I'm going to treat myself to a mani/pedi and unveil these wheels of mine...
4. Our basement floor. We had a lot of water come in our basement a few months ago. I decided that it was time for the carpet to go and for a new flooring option to be discovered. After some thought and research, I decided on stained, decorative concrete. It's an unbelievably cool look if you have a concrete floor....but the floor prep and staining process has been grueling. It's almost finished, I love the look, and I can't wait for it to be totally dry so I can arrange my furniture again.
NEXT LIST...
Things Zeke is obsessing over lately:
1. Basketball, tennis, and skateboarding. He is devastated that our basement has been out of commission due to the fact that it is his basketball court/tennis court/skateboarding floor. It is because of his obsessions that I had to make sure our flooring choice was "sports friendly".
2. Chocolate milk. Still. To the tune of 2-3 gallons of milk/week. :(
3. Buttery rye toast.
NEXT LIST:
Things on our weekend agenda:
1. Friday = going to take Zeke to see Rango with a school friend while trying to fit in a trip to my girlfriend's house to celebrate her birthday.
2. Saturday = Pauly and Zeke going to a special Sixers event where they are allowed to practice with the team. Saturday afternoon will be Zeke's basketball game at the Y where Pauly and I are the winningest coaches the YMCA has ever seen. GO NORTH CAROLINA (Zeke's team)!!!!!
3. Sunday = my Dad's 70th birthday party. Can't wait for some good company and good food for a very special celebration!
Check out my recent pix. Trying to keep my kajillions of followers caught up...
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Pasta for one.
I find obituaries shockingly fascinating. I mean, how can a person live an entire lifetime then be summed up in a 6 sentence paragraph on page 17, section B of the local newspaper? Fascinating, but sad. And even sadder when the departed only gets a sentence or two. Is that it? That's where we end up? Smooshed into a column with a Dave & Buster's two-fer advertisement glaring underneath? How terrible.
I dwell on this today because it's been one year exactly that my friend Shari passed. She left this world way too soon and left a barrage of friends stunned, sad, hurt, angry, and maybe finally believing. Shari being gone reminds me to believe in life, believe in family and friends, and believe that I will be remembered once I'm gone. I don't think I ever believed so strongly as I do today. Is it Shari working some sort of magic on me? Is it the fear of a 5 sentence life summary that makes me believe life must be lived before we die? I'm still not sure, but each day I think I get a little closer to knowing.
Shari probably deserved a whole newspaper to herself when she passed. She was complicated, graceful, loving, devoted, and beautiful. She was a woman who was loved by many and who will never be forgotten.
I thought of you today, S. I was wishing I could meet you at Bucca for some spaghetti and chatter. It's not the same without you here. And I hope that makes you smile up there.
I dwell on this today because it's been one year exactly that my friend Shari passed. She left this world way too soon and left a barrage of friends stunned, sad, hurt, angry, and maybe finally believing. Shari being gone reminds me to believe in life, believe in family and friends, and believe that I will be remembered once I'm gone. I don't think I ever believed so strongly as I do today. Is it Shari working some sort of magic on me? Is it the fear of a 5 sentence life summary that makes me believe life must be lived before we die? I'm still not sure, but each day I think I get a little closer to knowing.
Shari probably deserved a whole newspaper to herself when she passed. She was complicated, graceful, loving, devoted, and beautiful. She was a woman who was loved by many and who will never be forgotten.
I thought of you today, S. I was wishing I could meet you at Bucca for some spaghetti and chatter. It's not the same without you here. And I hope that makes you smile up there.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Strangers in the night.
The first week of the year is strange. I have all these things in my head that I want to accomplish...but I have the same energy level as the last week in December. Blah. How does one get motivated and energized without ingesting near-toxic levels of caffeine???
This week has begun lots more homework in Zeke's world. Homework for Zeke = homework for me. How do people do it that have more than one kid??? I mean, where's the time? Here's how our night went last night:
1. 3:15 - pickup from school
2. 3:45 - get home, get snack, watch tv in underwear (Zeke, not me)
3. 4:10 - start getting dressed for tennis lessons
4. 4:20 - leave for tennis lessons
5. 4:22 - do a U-turn and come back home to get forgotten tennis racket
6. 4:50 - run into the gym for tennis lesson
7. 5:40 - leave gym
8. 6:10 - get back home and try to figure out dinner
9. 6:30 - slap a dinner of soup and grilled cheese on the table and hope for the best
10. 7:15 - get zeke's homework and bring it down to our home gym so he can do it while I'm on the treadmill
11. 7:30 - I'm on the treadmill, zeke's homework is sitting on the floor next to me, but he's playing basketball with Pauly
12. 8:00 - I freak out b/c it's 8:00 and homework hasn't been done, lunches haven't been packed, and teeth haven't been brushed
13: 8:05 - we go upstairs and start homework
14. 8:40 - still doing some online homework
15. 8:50 - shut down computer and force Zeke into the bathroom for teeth brushing and bed preparation
16. 9:05 - put Zeke in bed with t.v. on for "15 minutes" while I pack lunches and watch a little t.v.
17. 9:30 - was so involved in the Real Housewives rerun that I didn't notice it was 9:30 and my kid was still wide awake on a school night watching Spongebob Squarepants.
18. 9:35 - turn off all electronic devices in Zeke's room, say goodnight, and roll on into my bed
19. 9:50 - hear a noise, walk down the hall, and realize that Zeke has logged into his laptop and is playing Club Penguin under the covers
20. 10:00 - back to my bed after confiscating the laptop
21. 10:30 - check on Zeke and find that he's FINALLY asleep
22. 11-ish - somewhere in here I fall asleep
23. 3:22 a.m. - woken up by Zeke holding 4 teddy bears and a king-sized woobie...he wants to sleep in my bed.
24. 3:23 a.m. - let Zeke and his entourage in my bed, try to curl myself up into the tiniest ball of human ever so I can fit in between 3 dogs, the hubs, a 57-lb kid, and 4 teddy bears.
25. 3:30 a.m. - everyone is asleep, I think I'm drifting off myself....and the doves all start cooing.
26. 3:31 a.m. - I'm still awake and start thinking about "stuff": is it considered a murder if I flush all of the eggs that the doves keep laying?, should I try that laundry-thingy that lets you put your colors and your whites all in the same load?, did Zeke eat his lunch that I packed him or did he buy Doritos in the cafeteria and call it a day?, I really need to dump out that huge bag of unmatched socks and do some matching tomorrow, if it snows will the snowblower finally work?, am I getting enough fiber?, blah, blah, blah, blah....
27: 6:10 a.m. - start all over again.
This week has begun lots more homework in Zeke's world. Homework for Zeke = homework for me. How do people do it that have more than one kid??? I mean, where's the time? Here's how our night went last night:
1. 3:15 - pickup from school
2. 3:45 - get home, get snack, watch tv in underwear (Zeke, not me)
3. 4:10 - start getting dressed for tennis lessons
4. 4:20 - leave for tennis lessons
5. 4:22 - do a U-turn and come back home to get forgotten tennis racket
6. 4:50 - run into the gym for tennis lesson
7. 5:40 - leave gym
8. 6:10 - get back home and try to figure out dinner
9. 6:30 - slap a dinner of soup and grilled cheese on the table and hope for the best
10. 7:15 - get zeke's homework and bring it down to our home gym so he can do it while I'm on the treadmill
11. 7:30 - I'm on the treadmill, zeke's homework is sitting on the floor next to me, but he's playing basketball with Pauly
12. 8:00 - I freak out b/c it's 8:00 and homework hasn't been done, lunches haven't been packed, and teeth haven't been brushed
13: 8:05 - we go upstairs and start homework
14. 8:40 - still doing some online homework
15. 8:50 - shut down computer and force Zeke into the bathroom for teeth brushing and bed preparation
16. 9:05 - put Zeke in bed with t.v. on for "15 minutes" while I pack lunches and watch a little t.v.
17. 9:30 - was so involved in the Real Housewives rerun that I didn't notice it was 9:30 and my kid was still wide awake on a school night watching Spongebob Squarepants.
18. 9:35 - turn off all electronic devices in Zeke's room, say goodnight, and roll on into my bed
19. 9:50 - hear a noise, walk down the hall, and realize that Zeke has logged into his laptop and is playing Club Penguin under the covers
20. 10:00 - back to my bed after confiscating the laptop
21. 10:30 - check on Zeke and find that he's FINALLY asleep
22. 11-ish - somewhere in here I fall asleep
23. 3:22 a.m. - woken up by Zeke holding 4 teddy bears and a king-sized woobie...he wants to sleep in my bed.
24. 3:23 a.m. - let Zeke and his entourage in my bed, try to curl myself up into the tiniest ball of human ever so I can fit in between 3 dogs, the hubs, a 57-lb kid, and 4 teddy bears.
25. 3:30 a.m. - everyone is asleep, I think I'm drifting off myself....and the doves all start cooing.
26. 3:31 a.m. - I'm still awake and start thinking about "stuff": is it considered a murder if I flush all of the eggs that the doves keep laying?, should I try that laundry-thingy that lets you put your colors and your whites all in the same load?, did Zeke eat his lunch that I packed him or did he buy Doritos in the cafeteria and call it a day?, I really need to dump out that huge bag of unmatched socks and do some matching tomorrow, if it snows will the snowblower finally work?, am I getting enough fiber?, blah, blah, blah, blah....
27: 6:10 a.m. - start all over again.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Post of the Year
It's January. Already. How'd that happen? Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, and Christmas. Done in an instant. Notice I rank Black Friday right on up there in "holiday status". Can't go a year without it...
Our holidays were nice. I promised myself I'd NOT get sick and I pretty much accomplished that. I may have lived with a headache for a few stretches of time, but the Lupus didn't get the best of me. I'm grateful for that. And for family that seems to understand my limitations. In the new year, I am determined to be healthier and more conscious of each day.
In the spirit of the new year, I want to do a repeat of something I posted last year. It's interesting and thought provoking. Here goes:
2010:
Best Day: the day we flew into the Bahamas to celebrate my 40th birthday.
Worst Day: the day I dropped Zeke off for his first full day of Kindergarten.
Best Decision: to send to his current school and to allow him to do full time Kindergarten
Worst Decision: to ignore the water problem in our basement after a heavy rain. That ignorance led to a problem with mold and caused us to have to rip up carpeting, have a mold specialist come in, and tons more work that is still ongoing that I don't even want to talk about because it still annoys and tortures me to this day.
Best Realization: that I want to start my own business
Worst Realization: that the new Lupus drug that has been approved by the FDA won't be too much of a benefit to me.
Biggest Hope: that I actually get a paying gig this year with my new business
Biggest Fear: getting sicker. But I'm not going to let that happen and will be responsible and timely about all of my doctor's appointments to be sure of it.
People I can't live without: Paul & Zeke
People I can live without: dead weights in my life
Best Fashion Find: a great pair of jeans that I can dress up or down and the uber-fuzzy gloves that Pauly and Zeke gave me for Christmas. Oh, and my new socks. I love socks. And scarves. And purses.
Worst Fashion Find: a bracelet that I thought I loved and now I think it looks ridiculous.
Fashion Obsession: Still purses but moving into socks and jewelry too.
Fashion Hate: tights with Uggs
Best Food/Drink Find: Coke Zero which I desperately want to stop drinking.
Worst Food/Drink Find: - Cici's pizza. The. Most. Disgusting. Food. Ever.
Food/Drink Love: sauteed spinach and artichokes at Bertucci's
Food/Drink Hate: any food with meat and any drink with milk
TV Love: Bridezillas, Jersey Shore, Big Brother, Real Housewives
TV Hate: golf. BORRRRRRRRRRRRING.
Internet Love: petfinder.com
Internet Hate: Twitter (don't waste your time telling me that you're about to take out the recycles. I'm not about to care.)
Best Development: Getting a part time job for about 5 minutes.
Worst Development: realizing that the part time job I was so in love with was a complete waste of my time.
Best Investment: my Tiffany necklace . Love it and wear it most days.
Worst Investment: Most of the toys we've bought for Zeke this year. All he wants to do is play basketball in the basement.
Best Travel: Bahamas
Worst Travel: none. I love travel.
Personal Empowerment: turning 40 and not really giving a crap.
Personal Struggle: letting Zeke grow up.
Best Accomplishment: Zeke and my marriage
Worst Failure: trying to get Timmy healthier. His poor little heart is still really bad.
How I'm Ending This Year: hopeful, scared, determined.
Happy 2011 everyone. May your year be filled with love, laughter and light.
Our holidays were nice. I promised myself I'd NOT get sick and I pretty much accomplished that. I may have lived with a headache for a few stretches of time, but the Lupus didn't get the best of me. I'm grateful for that. And for family that seems to understand my limitations. In the new year, I am determined to be healthier and more conscious of each day.
In the spirit of the new year, I want to do a repeat of something I posted last year. It's interesting and thought provoking. Here goes:
2010:
Best Day: the day we flew into the Bahamas to celebrate my 40th birthday.
Worst Day: the day I dropped Zeke off for his first full day of Kindergarten.
Best Decision: to send to his current school and to allow him to do full time Kindergarten
Worst Decision: to ignore the water problem in our basement after a heavy rain. That ignorance led to a problem with mold and caused us to have to rip up carpeting, have a mold specialist come in, and tons more work that is still ongoing that I don't even want to talk about because it still annoys and tortures me to this day.
Best Realization: that I want to start my own business
Worst Realization: that the new Lupus drug that has been approved by the FDA won't be too much of a benefit to me.
Biggest Hope: that I actually get a paying gig this year with my new business
Biggest Fear: getting sicker. But I'm not going to let that happen and will be responsible and timely about all of my doctor's appointments to be sure of it.
People I can't live without: Paul & Zeke
People I can live without: dead weights in my life
Best Fashion Find: a great pair of jeans that I can dress up or down and the uber-fuzzy gloves that Pauly and Zeke gave me for Christmas. Oh, and my new socks. I love socks. And scarves. And purses.
Worst Fashion Find: a bracelet that I thought I loved and now I think it looks ridiculous.
Fashion Obsession: Still purses but moving into socks and jewelry too.
Fashion Hate: tights with Uggs
Best Food/Drink Find: Coke Zero which I desperately want to stop drinking.
Worst Food/Drink Find: - Cici's pizza. The. Most. Disgusting. Food. Ever.
Food/Drink Love: sauteed spinach and artichokes at Bertucci's
Food/Drink Hate: any food with meat and any drink with milk
TV Love: Bridezillas, Jersey Shore, Big Brother, Real Housewives
TV Hate: golf. BORRRRRRRRRRRRING.
Internet Love: petfinder.com
Internet Hate: Twitter (don't waste your time telling me that you're about to take out the recycles. I'm not about to care.)
Best Development: Getting a part time job for about 5 minutes.
Worst Development: realizing that the part time job I was so in love with was a complete waste of my time.
Best Investment: my Tiffany necklace . Love it and wear it most days.
Worst Investment: Most of the toys we've bought for Zeke this year. All he wants to do is play basketball in the basement.
Best Travel: Bahamas
Worst Travel: none. I love travel.
Personal Empowerment: turning 40 and not really giving a crap.
Personal Struggle: letting Zeke grow up.
Best Accomplishment: Zeke and my marriage
Worst Failure: trying to get Timmy healthier. His poor little heart is still really bad.
How I'm Ending This Year: hopeful, scared, determined.
Happy 2011 everyone. May your year be filled with love, laughter and light.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
It's on like Donkey Kong.
I've been letting my blog slip through the cracks of life. When I started this little journey, I swore I'd be consistent...at least for the sake of Zeke. I want to be able to look back and remember our times exactly the way I experienced them. Pictures are great, but putting the memory into words? Even better. But, alas, life has gotten in the way. It's the everyday that gets in the way, it seems. Same old story. I won't let it happen to my blog though. Even though my life may not be that exciting to most, it's exciting to me. It's fulfilling and happy and, yeah, sometimes annoying. But if it weren't it'd be boring. And for that reason, my blog will live, damn it!
In the midst of all the "everyday blah-blah-blah", I've begun something new...just for myself. Now that Zeke is in school all day (it seems sooooo long that he's gone each day), I found that it was time to figure out just who I was again. I started job-hunting. I found something that I thought would be fun...but really, I wouldn't have been compensated as well as I feel I deserve. I searched some more. And I searched my soul. What did I really, really want? I knew first and foremost, I still wanted to be Mommy. That's my full time job until he's on his own. I swore to his little tiny face when he was just a newbie that I'd always be there when he needed me. And for sure, it's still my priority, gladly. But, I knew I needed something else in addition to Mommy-ness. Something to drive me, use my skills, and make me feel like a contributing member of society again. Pauly and I talked and brainstormed and mulled. And after much deliberation, I think I've sort of just hatched a new baby. It's Beakers. And Beakers will be awesome. It'll be fun for me, fun for any kids that happen to benefit from a Beakers program, and fun to develop. In a way, I'm pregnant again. I'm starting to grow something new...something that has come from deep inside me and has been on my mind for a long, long time. And I'll grow this Beakers baby into something great. Just you guys wait and see.
Stay tuned.
In the midst of all the "everyday blah-blah-blah", I've begun something new...just for myself. Now that Zeke is in school all day (it seems sooooo long that he's gone each day), I found that it was time to figure out just who I was again. I started job-hunting. I found something that I thought would be fun...but really, I wouldn't have been compensated as well as I feel I deserve. I searched some more. And I searched my soul. What did I really, really want? I knew first and foremost, I still wanted to be Mommy. That's my full time job until he's on his own. I swore to his little tiny face when he was just a newbie that I'd always be there when he needed me. And for sure, it's still my priority, gladly. But, I knew I needed something else in addition to Mommy-ness. Something to drive me, use my skills, and make me feel like a contributing member of society again. Pauly and I talked and brainstormed and mulled. And after much deliberation, I think I've sort of just hatched a new baby. It's Beakers. And Beakers will be awesome. It'll be fun for me, fun for any kids that happen to benefit from a Beakers program, and fun to develop. In a way, I'm pregnant again. I'm starting to grow something new...something that has come from deep inside me and has been on my mind for a long, long time. And I'll grow this Beakers baby into something great. Just you guys wait and see.
Stay tuned.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Product Reviews
Being a hot mama blogger (ummmm...what? did i really just say that?) has it's perks every now and then. Certain people and companies want me (well, really, Zeke) to try their products out and give my opinion. So, what it all boils down to is this: Zeke gets a package in the mail every now and then, opens it in a very giggly manner, and plays for some undetermined amount of time with the contents of the package. Now comes my job...I have to give feedback. Did he like it? Was it "dorky, mom"? Was it yummy in the tummy? Or was it REEEEEEEE-jected by my icky, picky 5 year-old? Here are some results from our latest reviews:
Hexbugs: um...hells yeah. Let's just say the little mechanical critters are a go. With Zeke and about 4 of his little friends. They love them. And really, they're just little battery-operated Legos, if you ask me...with a few plastic-y whisker/leggy things on the sides. But, hey, the 5/6/7-year-old crowd thinks they're sweeeeet. So be it. Thumbs up for Hexbugs.
Nature Valley Granola Bars: this one is simple. He ate them. He ate more. And I was totally okay with him eating them since they were a healthy option to chips, cookies, candy, etc. I love a product that gives back to the community when I spend Pauly's hard-earned money on it, so here are some nice details about what Nature Valley will do for all of us if we save our wrappers:
Since the dedication of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872, America’s parks have been visited by hundreds of millions of people who marveled at their beauty, found peace in their wildness and shared their experience with others.
However, these national treasures need care and support to help them flourish. Years of underfunding and environmental problems such as pollution and climate change are threatening our National Park system. To help preserve our national parks and ensure their existence for generations to come, join Nature Valley® and Patricia Shultz, internationally best-selling author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and travel industry leader, to help support the National Parks Project. This year, the National Parks Project will focus on restorative work at Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Biscayne National Parks.
To get involved, simply purchase a box of specially marked Nature Valley Bars and mail in your wrappers to the address below:
National Parks Project
PO Box 450328
El Paso, TX 88545-0328
Nature Valley will not only recycle the wrappers, but will also contribute $0.10 to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) for every wrapper received (up to $600,000 in total). To learn more about the National Parks Project and how you can make a difference, check out PreservetheParks.com today. And don’t forget to visit Nature Valley on Facebook or Nature Valley on Twitter to “Like” or “Follow” the brand. Facebook fans can enter to win a trip, as well as share photos and videos of their summer vacations. All of these sites will also feature updates on the restoration projects, as well as videos and pictures from “National Parks Project” volunteers.
There are many other ways you can enjoy the natural beauty and diverse wildlife of our national parks this summer while supporting the cause. The easiest thing you can do to support the national parks is to experience them for yourself and share them with your family – remembering as always to “take only pictures and leave your footprints.” So grab your backpack, your boots and some granola bars and go soak in the scenery.
Nature Valley provided Zeke (me) and one of my loyal readers a super-nice prize pack of goodies, including some tasty granola bars, a copy of Patricia Shultz's book, and an awesome water bottle through MyBlogSpark. Yippeeeee...we all really enjoyed the package!
Stay tuned for more reviews as Zeke submits his opinions....
Hexbugs: um...hells yeah. Let's just say the little mechanical critters are a go. With Zeke and about 4 of his little friends. They love them. And really, they're just little battery-operated Legos, if you ask me...with a few plastic-y whisker/leggy things on the sides. But, hey, the 5/6/7-year-old crowd thinks they're sweeeeet. So be it. Thumbs up for Hexbugs.
Nature Valley Granola Bars: this one is simple. He ate them. He ate more. And I was totally okay with him eating them since they were a healthy option to chips, cookies, candy, etc. I love a product that gives back to the community when I spend Pauly's hard-earned money on it, so here are some nice details about what Nature Valley will do for all of us if we save our wrappers:
Since the dedication of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872, America’s parks have been visited by hundreds of millions of people who marveled at their beauty, found peace in their wildness and shared their experience with others.
However, these national treasures need care and support to help them flourish. Years of underfunding and environmental problems such as pollution and climate change are threatening our National Park system. To help preserve our national parks and ensure their existence for generations to come, join Nature Valley® and Patricia Shultz, internationally best-selling author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and travel industry leader, to help support the National Parks Project. This year, the National Parks Project will focus on restorative work at Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Biscayne National Parks.
To get involved, simply purchase a box of specially marked Nature Valley Bars and mail in your wrappers to the address below:
National Parks Project
PO Box 450328
El Paso, TX 88545-0328
Nature Valley will not only recycle the wrappers, but will also contribute $0.10 to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) for every wrapper received (up to $600,000 in total). To learn more about the National Parks Project and how you can make a difference, check out PreservetheParks.com today. And don’t forget to visit Nature Valley on Facebook or Nature Valley on Twitter to “Like” or “Follow” the brand. Facebook fans can enter to win a trip, as well as share photos and videos of their summer vacations. All of these sites will also feature updates on the restoration projects, as well as videos and pictures from “National Parks Project” volunteers.
There are many other ways you can enjoy the natural beauty and diverse wildlife of our national parks this summer while supporting the cause. The easiest thing you can do to support the national parks is to experience them for yourself and share them with your family – remembering as always to “take only pictures and leave your footprints.” So grab your backpack, your boots and some granola bars and go soak in the scenery.
Nature Valley provided Zeke (me) and one of my loyal readers a super-nice prize pack of goodies, including some tasty granola bars, a copy of Patricia Shultz's book, and an awesome water bottle through MyBlogSpark. Yippeeeee...we all really enjoyed the package!
Stay tuned for more reviews as Zeke submits his opinions....
Friday, September 17, 2010
And never look back.
No, I'm not apologizing for the looooooooooooooong gap in posts. I've been busy, people. It's been summertime. Summertime means fun time and that equals no time. To post that is. But now things are coming to a screeching halt, so I'm back. Tons of goodies have happened, so I'll do my best to summarize:
1. Pauly, Zeke and I went on an awesome trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas to celebrate my BIG birthday. That's all I'm going to say about just how "big" my birthday was. For now, we'll call it my 23rd. But the Caribbean was amaaaaaazing, the water was gorgeous, the relaxation was primo, and I'm ready to go back. I love collecting those stamps in my passport...
2. Zeke started school. Full time school. Big time SAD for me. I'm still not sure if I'm actually coping or just muddling my way through the empty days. All I know is that I horribly, terribly, ridiculously, insanely MISS my baby boy. I wonder all day every day if he's okay, if he needs me for anything, if he's hungry, if he's thirsty, if he has to go to the potty, if he's too hot, if he's too cold, if he needs a tissue, if he needs a wet wipe, if he bumped his head and needs an icepack (very possible), if he wants me to read him a story, if he wants apples and peanut butter, if he wants to go to the park to ride his Razor Scooter, if he wants to play Club Penguin on his laptop, or if he needs a Band Aid. Mostly I worry that my baby just needs his mommy to give him a kiss and tell him that he's the most fabulous kid on earth and that he's so smart that when he grows up he could most likely rule the universe. Five year olds need that. And five year olds need their mommies. So why is he in school all day? Not sure if that was a good decision on my part yet...(insert lots of sobby, wet tears here).
3. My dove breeding days have slowed. I'm down to one singular dove. After a series of events including the sad euthanasia of the "wacky-legged dove", I'm left with the original mommy dove of the flock. She's a gorgeous ring necked girl who has become quite the talker. I really do love her but fear that she's lonely. It's that teeny, tiny nagging fear in the back of my mind that could very well lead to yet another round of dove breeding if I cave in and get the little mama a "friend". Oh boy...
4. Zeke is playing football and I'm not sure I like it. I'm happy that he's enjoying a new team sport, but the mommy side of me wonders why they call it "flag football"? The kids are tackle-crazed and forget to go for the flags about 90% of the time. And to top it all off, they don't wear helmets. :(
And that's about it. Or at least what I can recall in the haze of what was a super nice summer. I enjoyed each day with my boy, with our friends, and with my hubby. I'll always kinda' remember this summer as the "last one"...the one of innocence for Zeke...the one before he stepped into the cold, cruel, crazy real world of the 9 to 5 grind. There's no going back for him now. But somehow, I don't think he really minds.
1. Pauly, Zeke and I went on an awesome trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas to celebrate my BIG birthday. That's all I'm going to say about just how "big" my birthday was. For now, we'll call it my 23rd. But the Caribbean was amaaaaaazing, the water was gorgeous, the relaxation was primo, and I'm ready to go back. I love collecting those stamps in my passport...
2. Zeke started school. Full time school. Big time SAD for me. I'm still not sure if I'm actually coping or just muddling my way through the empty days. All I know is that I horribly, terribly, ridiculously, insanely MISS my baby boy. I wonder all day every day if he's okay, if he needs me for anything, if he's hungry, if he's thirsty, if he has to go to the potty, if he's too hot, if he's too cold, if he needs a tissue, if he needs a wet wipe, if he bumped his head and needs an icepack (very possible), if he wants me to read him a story, if he wants apples and peanut butter, if he wants to go to the park to ride his Razor Scooter, if he wants to play Club Penguin on his laptop, or if he needs a Band Aid. Mostly I worry that my baby just needs his mommy to give him a kiss and tell him that he's the most fabulous kid on earth and that he's so smart that when he grows up he could most likely rule the universe. Five year olds need that. And five year olds need their mommies. So why is he in school all day? Not sure if that was a good decision on my part yet...(insert lots of sobby, wet tears here).
3. My dove breeding days have slowed. I'm down to one singular dove. After a series of events including the sad euthanasia of the "wacky-legged dove", I'm left with the original mommy dove of the flock. She's a gorgeous ring necked girl who has become quite the talker. I really do love her but fear that she's lonely. It's that teeny, tiny nagging fear in the back of my mind that could very well lead to yet another round of dove breeding if I cave in and get the little mama a "friend". Oh boy...
4. Zeke is playing football and I'm not sure I like it. I'm happy that he's enjoying a new team sport, but the mommy side of me wonders why they call it "flag football"? The kids are tackle-crazed and forget to go for the flags about 90% of the time. And to top it all off, they don't wear helmets. :(
And that's about it. Or at least what I can recall in the haze of what was a super nice summer. I enjoyed each day with my boy, with our friends, and with my hubby. I'll always kinda' remember this summer as the "last one"...the one of innocence for Zeke...the one before he stepped into the cold, cruel, crazy real world of the 9 to 5 grind. There's no going back for him now. But somehow, I don't think he really minds.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Nancy + Albert = Love
I want a cat. Ever since we catsat last month for Kitty Cat Princess Precious Nellie, I've decided that our home can handle a feline friend. So, everyday at some point in the day, I hop on Petfinder.com. Pathetic, I know. I need to stop the Petfinder madness or get an intervention or something...but until then, I'm a Petfinder peeper. I've seen tons of kitties on there that I've loved and lost...a Sphynx named Mrs. Bigglesworth was my biggest love...but now I'm loving this guy. He's very handsome, don't you think?
Really? I'm really talking about Ripa?
Yeah, surprise, surprise...I'm going to give a thumbs up to Kelly Ripa for her latest project: "Splits for a Cause" with Electrolux. I'll be honest and say I'm not ususally a K.R. "fan"...but this time I'll get in her corner and give her a hand...anyone who is supporting cancer research in such a public fashion COULD possibly make it to my oh-so-hard-to-get-on Friend List. :)
So, here are the deets:
Banana Splits For A Cause + Win $25 American Express Gift Card!
Kelly Ripa has teamed up with Electrolux in their Banana Splits for A Cause campaign to support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund this Summer.
Here’ s the deal and how you can help: Right now you can visit Kelly-Confidential.com and create your own virtual banana split. For each day that you create a banana split, $1 (up to a $750K maximum commitment) goes to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund through September 7, 2010. Once you create your yummy virtual banana split you are also entered to win one of the $50 daily prizes and the GRAND prize of a new stand-alone refrigerator and freezer from Electrolux.
But here's the TOTALLY AWESOME BONUS PART of this coolness: my little bloggity-blog here (aka Three's Company) is also giving away a $25 American Express gift card to one lucky reader on behalf of Electrolux. To enter to win just leave a comment letting me know that you’ve created your virtual banana split and what toppings are your favorite!! Yeppers, it's that easy. And who wouldn't like to (pretend) make, (pretend) eat, and (pretend) lick the dish of a virtual banana split??? All the fun and NO calories!!
RULES: This giveaway is open to US residents, void where prohibited by law. One entry. The deadline to enter is July 23, 2010 11:59 PM EST. One winner will be chosen at random. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
*Disclosure: We were given a $25 American Express gift card from Electrolux to write about/participate in this campaign.
So, here are the deets:
Banana Splits For A Cause + Win $25 American Express Gift Card!
Kelly Ripa has teamed up with Electrolux in their Banana Splits for A Cause campaign to support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund this Summer.
Here’ s the deal and how you can help: Right now you can visit Kelly-Confidential.com and create your own virtual banana split. For each day that you create a banana split, $1 (up to a $750K maximum commitment) goes to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund through September 7, 2010. Once you create your yummy virtual banana split you are also entered to win one of the $50 daily prizes and the GRAND prize of a new stand-alone refrigerator and freezer from Electrolux.
But here's the TOTALLY AWESOME BONUS PART of this coolness: my little bloggity-blog here (aka Three's Company) is also giving away a $25 American Express gift card to one lucky reader on behalf of Electrolux. To enter to win just leave a comment letting me know that you’ve created your virtual banana split and what toppings are your favorite!! Yeppers, it's that easy. And who wouldn't like to (pretend) make, (pretend) eat, and (pretend) lick the dish of a virtual banana split??? All the fun and NO calories!!
RULES: This giveaway is open to US residents, void where prohibited by law. One entry. The deadline to enter is July 23, 2010 11:59 PM EST. One winner will be chosen at random. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
*Disclosure: We were given a $25 American Express gift card from Electrolux to write about/participate in this campaign.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Summering it up.
True to form, I've got a lot to cram into this post as I haven't written in a while. It seems that the nice weather pulls me away from the computer screen and out into the vast world of funness. It's all good though, I'd rather be worn out to the bone from enjoying the warm weather than have carpel tunnel from updating my bloggity-blog-blog with boring crap about the kid who picked his nose and wiped it on the shopping cart in front of me in line at Wegman's yesterday. Dontcha think?
Now to cram...stay focused and buckle up...this is gonna be mind-blowing:
So, since the end of May-ish, we've:
-ended preschool for Zeke. He's officially bound for Kindergarten and I'm officially devastated about it.
-Zeke and I have noticed the return of Petey and Rusty our neighbor horses to the pastures down on our corner. SOOOOOOOO happy to be bringing them apples and carrots again!
-the Slip & Slide from Aunt Susan is open for business on our hill in the backyard.
-Zeke finished up t-ball and received his first ever trophy. He brings it everywhere with him.
-we've been to about a zillion birthday parties and Zeke bounced so hard at one he bloodied his nose. Now that's what I call a party....
-we've been babysitting Kitty Cat Nellie for about a month and have completely fallen in love with her. I don't want to give her back even though she does bite me really hard. It's her way of showing love, I think.
-Zeke started and ended Tae Kwon Do simply because I don't want to be running him over to classes 3 and 4 times a week in the summer. I'm not about to commit to that madness.
-swim lessons for 2 weeks almost did me in...but Zeke can now swim in the deep end with confidence so it was all worth it.
-we celebrated Father's Day by taking Pauly out to brunch. We had a nice time and I hope he realized how much he means to us...
-we had a quick visit from Pop Pop Ebs and had the opportunity to see family that we don't often get to visit.
-we daytripped to the mountains again to visit Cookie and Pop Pop. We swam in the lake (well, they did...I don't do natural bodies of water), followed up by a trip to their pool. It was a fun, tiring day.
-we've found some new hiking trails that seem pretty good and have been hiking and biking our old favorites.
And to top it all off, we just booked our summer vacation/my birthday celebration in the Caribbean!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! Can't wait to go!
This weekend is July 4th weekend so it's time to go scout for fireworks. We're gonna' be "that family" that lights off our own fireworks in our yard. Should be very trashy and awesome. Pix to follow.
Now to cram...stay focused and buckle up...this is gonna be mind-blowing:
So, since the end of May-ish, we've:
-ended preschool for Zeke. He's officially bound for Kindergarten and I'm officially devastated about it.
-Zeke and I have noticed the return of Petey and Rusty our neighbor horses to the pastures down on our corner. SOOOOOOOO happy to be bringing them apples and carrots again!
-the Slip & Slide from Aunt Susan is open for business on our hill in the backyard.
-Zeke finished up t-ball and received his first ever trophy. He brings it everywhere with him.
-we've been to about a zillion birthday parties and Zeke bounced so hard at one he bloodied his nose. Now that's what I call a party....
-we've been babysitting Kitty Cat Nellie for about a month and have completely fallen in love with her. I don't want to give her back even though she does bite me really hard. It's her way of showing love, I think.
-Zeke started and ended Tae Kwon Do simply because I don't want to be running him over to classes 3 and 4 times a week in the summer. I'm not about to commit to that madness.
-swim lessons for 2 weeks almost did me in...but Zeke can now swim in the deep end with confidence so it was all worth it.
-we celebrated Father's Day by taking Pauly out to brunch. We had a nice time and I hope he realized how much he means to us...
-we had a quick visit from Pop Pop Ebs and had the opportunity to see family that we don't often get to visit.
-we daytripped to the mountains again to visit Cookie and Pop Pop. We swam in the lake (well, they did...I don't do natural bodies of water), followed up by a trip to their pool. It was a fun, tiring day.
-we've found some new hiking trails that seem pretty good and have been hiking and biking our old favorites.
And to top it all off, we just booked our summer vacation/my birthday celebration in the Caribbean!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! Can't wait to go!
This weekend is July 4th weekend so it's time to go scout for fireworks. We're gonna' be "that family" that lights off our own fireworks in our yard. Should be very trashy and awesome. Pix to follow.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Summing it up.
The warmer weather is here, so things are heating up as far as our "fun stuff" goes. Here are just a few of the things we've done over the past 2 weeks:
-Hershey Park
-a trip to the beach, complete with miniature golf and amusement rides on the boardwalk
-hikes in the arboretum
-t-ball every Saturday morning
-Grandparents Day at Zeke's school
-Day Before Memorial Day trip to the mountains to visit Cookie and Pop Pop at the lake
-Memorial Day trip to Uncle T's house to cook out, make cotton candy, and play in the pool
-play dates in the park
-play dates at moonbouncey places
-end of school picnic in the park
-Kindergarten Orientation at Zeke's new school
-violin lessons
-gymnastics classes
Check out the pix for a visual buffet...
-Hershey Park
-a trip to the beach, complete with miniature golf and amusement rides on the boardwalk
-hikes in the arboretum
-t-ball every Saturday morning
-Grandparents Day at Zeke's school
-Day Before Memorial Day trip to the mountains to visit Cookie and Pop Pop at the lake
-Memorial Day trip to Uncle T's house to cook out, make cotton candy, and play in the pool
-play dates in the park
-play dates at moonbouncey places
-end of school picnic in the park
-Kindergarten Orientation at Zeke's new school
-violin lessons
-gymnastics classes
Check out the pix for a visual buffet...
Monday, May 24, 2010
And then it was dark.
I turn off street lights. A lot. Not on purpose...it just happens. I've read up a bit on this phenomenon and there are crazy theories out there that say I'm extra specially electromagnetically charged or that perhaps I'm an Indigo adult. Both of which are possible, I guess. I tend to just really like my Dad's theory though: he thinks I'm just such a highly spirited, extremely bright person that lights find the need to actually DIM around me when I come near. Phffffft...if only. But, it's true - street lights really have shut off many times when I have driven or walked under them. It has freaked me out in the past but lately I've been thinking that maybe what Pauly says is true: it's just a sign that I'm on the right path. His theory is murky, at best, and even with much prodding over the years, he won't really go much further into it. He just mumbles on about the "right path" stuff a lot.
Now, after watching the series finale of Lost the other night, the "right path" stuff may just be starting to feel a bit better to me. I know that sounds completely ridiculous. I mean, how can a TV show really matter? It's just...entertainment, right??? I've always thought so. And I fully admit that along the Lost path, I became a semi-hater at times. The show got wacky, sidetracked, and loopy in my opinion. Then again, I was always watching it around 10:00 at night when my nerves were shot and my kid was probably still awake and playing his drumset much past his bedtime. Way too much ANNOYING adding up there for me to really like anything. But, in the end, the finale spoke to me. The fact that the Lost friends gathered in the end to travel together for one last eternal journey? That moved me. It jived with my system of beliefs. Because, you see, for me, I can't just move around this world thinking that this is it. That the lady who gives me my change at Wawa is nobody other than a change-giver. I believe we experience each other for a reason. If even for one minute of one day of our lives. And in that minute, I want to be able to leave an impression on that Wawa lady. I want to look at her and smile and say "thanks" and mean it. I want her to think "what a nice girl" when I leave. I want her to feel something other than sick of her job after she has given me my 36 cents back at the end of our bread and milk transaction. And I want to do that every single time I move in this life. Every time. Because every time is an opportunity. An opportunity for me to fill up my circle - the circle of people that will wait for me at our final destination. I want that circle to be full of faces that I remember. Ones that I know I've smiled at before...just to try to let them know that they mattered. That's the path I'm on. And I guess that's why street lights go out. Because I'm on the right path. Thanks Pauly. I think you may be right after all.
Now, after watching the series finale of Lost the other night, the "right path" stuff may just be starting to feel a bit better to me. I know that sounds completely ridiculous. I mean, how can a TV show really matter? It's just...entertainment, right??? I've always thought so. And I fully admit that along the Lost path, I became a semi-hater at times. The show got wacky, sidetracked, and loopy in my opinion. Then again, I was always watching it around 10:00 at night when my nerves were shot and my kid was probably still awake and playing his drumset much past his bedtime. Way too much ANNOYING adding up there for me to really like anything. But, in the end, the finale spoke to me. The fact that the Lost friends gathered in the end to travel together for one last eternal journey? That moved me. It jived with my system of beliefs. Because, you see, for me, I can't just move around this world thinking that this is it. That the lady who gives me my change at Wawa is nobody other than a change-giver. I believe we experience each other for a reason. If even for one minute of one day of our lives. And in that minute, I want to be able to leave an impression on that Wawa lady. I want to look at her and smile and say "thanks" and mean it. I want her to think "what a nice girl" when I leave. I want her to feel something other than sick of her job after she has given me my 36 cents back at the end of our bread and milk transaction. And I want to do that every single time I move in this life. Every time. Because every time is an opportunity. An opportunity for me to fill up my circle - the circle of people that will wait for me at our final destination. I want that circle to be full of faces that I remember. Ones that I know I've smiled at before...just to try to let them know that they mattered. That's the path I'm on. And I guess that's why street lights go out. Because I'm on the right path. Thanks Pauly. I think you may be right after all.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
So?
Have you ever noticed that when you walk to your car in a parking lot, more times than not, the owner of the car next to you will be getting into their car RIGHT NEXT TO YOURS??? Strange but true. Check it out next time you go somewhere.
Just my random thought of the day.
Just my random thought of the day.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
I only have vowels.
A little friendly competition is good for the soul. At least I thought it was. Until, that is, Pauly and I started playing Scrabble together on our iPhones. You see, the battle commenced about a week ago when Pauly got his new iPhone. I've been telling him FOREVERRRR that he needed one, couldn't live another day without one, and was basically a knuckle-dragging caveman toting around the cinderblock he referred to as his cell. Ridiculous. So, finally, he upgraded. And now I've got him hooked on an app that allows us to play head to head Scrabble...day and night. It's simply delicious. I've triple-word-scored him, I've double-letter-valued him on a "Q" (holy moly, that's got to be worth 20 points right there...), and I've slam-dunked a game or two slapping down a few words that I never even knew existed. All the while, the two of us are usually sitting right next to each other, iPhones in hand, fiercely fighting for the next Big Move...all without moving an inch. If that's not modern day togetherness, I don't know what is.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Outside lite.
So lately Pauly and I have really been working on getting healthier. We've been watching our diets and exercising much more frequently. It's been great - we've both lost around 8 or 9 pounds and have become more fit because of our efforts. Besides all of the blah, blah, blah stuff about the weight loss junk that most people would normally say, I've found more things that have made me happy about my recent health sitch. First, most of our exercise has been taking place outdoors. This..is..great. I've never really considered myself "outdoorsy", but I'm totally NOT an indoorsy type either. I'd say I'm a girl who loves to be outside, with her makeup on, hair looking nice, and wearing a pretty decent get-up. I'm okay with getting a bit dirty, but I'll have nothing to do with getting super buggy, overly muddy, too sweaty, or, of course, killing/fishing/catching any type of animal. But the types of outdoor activities we've been doing all fall nicely into my Rules & Regulations, so it's been a blast. We've hiked, walked, rode and yes, wallowed through a few muddy trails. We've found nice new places to exercise and revisited some old haunts that are now back on our list of top places to frequent. All along, Zeke has been right by our side, covering every mile like a little trooper. He hikes and rides right along with us. It's actually pretty amazing the miles he has covered with his little legs. But he too just loves it. And along with an ever-so-slight loosening of my waistband, I'm feeling oh-so-much closer to my boys. I love spending this time with them. There's no sound of television in the background, no music, not much chattering. It's just the three of us out there...on the trails...enjoying each others' silence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
England Slideshow
Fall Fun 2009
I got a lil' bored and started playing around with Zeke's pic...
Check out my slideshow from our trip to Cherry Crest Farm on 11/1/08!
Check out my slideshow from Tyler Arboretum's Pumpkin Days - 10/19/08
A Visit to the Petting Zoo at East Goshen Park - 7/29/08
