My forehead is bruised. The country music and Neil Diamond on the CD player is to blame.My ears have finally stopped bleeding. Neil Diamond again. More country music than I can stand in a week was filtered into my brain in under two hours.The GPS system on my father's truck is still in tact. I showed it some mercy.Our trip down south to my MIL's yesterday was uneventful. I valiantly decided not to destroy the GPS system when it repeated told us to make a U-turn for about fifty miles. I didn't feel rejected when my father decided to not listen to me and take my directions but instead use his GPS thingy. I hate those things. I hate having more noise in the car. The beeping. The fact that you trust yourself less and rely on a chip just irritates me. I will never own one. But we made it and I … [Read more...]
It’s That Time Again
It is hard to believe that it was almost a year ago already that I was here. Oh yeah and that the holidays are upon us.In just a few short days we will be sitting down with our families enjoying their company and expanding our waistlines. I for one, cannot wait. This year is a first as well. My parents will be joining parts of H's family to enjoy the Thanksgiving fare together. T.D. will be in great demand. As the only child at this event she will be spoiled rotten. The attention overload will be a feast of its very own and all hers for the taking.I love this time of year better than any other aside from my birthday week I suppose. Because damn that is always a fun time. But is it just me or does Thanksgiving reek of tradition more than holidays? We always ate the same food and for the … [Read more...]
What am I Thinking? I’m thinking No. Not Yet.
I had a dream last night that I was in labor. Labor in some horribly old, mad-scientist looking type of a hospital. I was not supposed to be there. The walls were dripping wet with condensation and the floor was incredibly filthy. I was not going to have my baby there. I was also beyond huge. I could barely walk. When my water broke I looked at H all confused and said, "My leg is wet. Must be the dampness of this place." He looked at me like I was high on the smack. Then my legs gave out from under me. On the filthy, dirt-crusty floor I cried, "I cannot feel my legs! I am numb from the waist down and I haven't even had any drugs yet!" Anxiety? You could say that. I could blame it all on my brief glimpses of My Name is Earl last night or on one simple fact. I'm late. Like 10 days late. It's … [Read more...]
Scattered and Hopped Up on Sugary Treats
Today is one of those days where I question my sanity. Where I wish I had a nanny and a personal assistant to run such mundane errands such as packing my bags, picking up things at the grocery store and doing my daily workout for me. Do they charge by the hour for things like that? It might be worth looking into.I'm scattered, my shoulders are tight and I feel like my head might explode and the sun isn't even up yet. I have no idea how I'm going to structure my day but it better have some running or high paced walking involved or any moment of zen will be impossible to find. I'm off to pack two suitcases. One for me as I'm going to Memphis baby! and one for T.D. she's going to Nana's baby! It would figure that this weekend, the first weekend I'm called away for work, H is as well. I'm … [Read more...]
Pumpkins Scream in the Dead of Night
This is Halloween, everybody make a scene....October 31st. One of my favorite days of the year. I love Halloween for so many reasons. As a kid it was the candy and costumes. As I grew older it was the candy, costumes, and spookiness of it all. Today it's all that, a viewing of 'The Shining' and 'Shadow of a Vampire' along with some seriously silly singing of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. Stay clear of my house. I'm a horrible singer. I've had some good Halloweens full of pumpkin carving, the looting of four neighborhoods in one night, being out in the rain (OK not such a good one) and being a victim of the Bates Motel. Here are some Halloween memories I'm sharing because days like this make me feel all warm, fuzzy and well sharing-like so suck it up because it won't be back until maybe … [Read more...]
And I Was Worried About Princess Costumes
Silly me. Just last week I told my mother it was a-ok to buy T.D. costumes but just NO DISNEY PRINCESSES. I said yes to fairies and would actually rather her wear something off a clearance rack from a Halloween store. Bottle of Ketchup? Sure. Hershey Kiss? That is fine with me. Jasmine from Aladdin? Whoa there! Wait just a minute.I have a rule in our house about toys like this. No princesses, no divas and no queens. I don't like commercialized bedding or clothing either. A Dora t-shirt. Not in this house. I highly discourage people buying this stuff for T.D. for many reasons. First, I think it looks cheap. Second, as if there isn't enough advertising thrown at kids. Why continually have it in my house? I'm getting off track here. I'm really worried about the whole Princess Mentality with … [Read more...]
Crazy Already?
Halloween is a scant few days away. The pumpkins are on the front step waiting to be carved. The candy hidden from desirous eyes and grabbing hands. T.D.'s costume has been tried on and test driven. She is ready to become Lord Vader. In our house the dog is the princess. Princess Leia to be exact. We are a month from Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and two months from Christmas. Yet somehow emails and phone calls have already begun popping up into my inbox and onto my voicemail regarding holiday menus and logistics. IT'S TOO EARLY! Isn't it? Am I being too nonchalant? I love the holidays don't get me wrong but the frenzy for Turkey day is bearing down and I'm already feeling the stress. Puff pastry? I'm in charge of puff pastry?! I HATE making puff pastry. I suck at it and it stresses me … [Read more...]
We are in Mourning
I knew it would happen someday but I just kept thinking, "not in my house, not with my kid." Then it did. It didn't even start off slowly it was just a one day turn around and now there seems to be no going back.Nap time. It used to be a blissful, though short feeling for me, two sometimes three hours. Then H and I had the bright idea to set up her toddler bed. Which by the way it is so not cool to go all judgy on Moms who do things at a different time than you. They do know their own kid after all and if that kid (T.D.) seems ready for a bed DO NOT preach about how "that is why she isn't napping...". It started at Nana's and continued here, it's not the toddler bed. Eesh! Anyway, we got her all excited about a 'big girl' bed and took down the front rail of the her crib. Now it's a nice … [Read more...]
Michael’s a.k.a. Pain & Suffering in Suburbia
Dear Micheal's Craft Store,Or should I be calling you Crafty store? You suck me in each time with the power to persuade me that I really can bake a four tiered cake with sugared flowers and fondant decor. All done by me and my masterful hand. Ha! Your masterful hand. Like a Puppet Master you hold the strings as I glide slowly down the aisles being seduced by your sparkly paste gemstones, beads, and modeling clay. Your bright and colorful displays of silk flowers lure me in making me feel inadequate when I know that no amount of green foam or designer dish will make my floral creation something of beauty. Each time I go in for one thing only and come out with foam pumpkins (only 50 cents!) and fabric paint. You are tricky Michael's. Very tricky. I dream of weddings gone by that could have … [Read more...]
Reduce the Crazy- Project Life Change
So there I was reading all about Project Life Change from some great bloggers and I thought, well what a swell idea but I've already done that. Remember? I quit my job back in January to stay home with T.D. and pursue my writing. A life long dream. What could be better than that?Except for one thing. It's called balance. Coupled with my inability to say no to a writing gig or almost anything else and I am swamped! Swamped with writing for free half the time too. Sure I get loads of free products and that's great! My friends think I'm the luckiest person for all that stuff that arrives daily at my front door. Except that they don't have to review it. I get bogged down in the boxes and using things and keeping such a tight schedule. I have stopped enjoying it. I want to do different things … [Read more...]