7/15 Home, and do I choose to clean or do laundry? NAH! Gwynn and I went to hang at Sue's pool...Margie was there too with the kids. I did feel a little out of the tattoo loop, though! HA!

-Cheryl

Been a while as I have been on VACATION in Ocean City, MD, so I am going to update with my 3 favorite beach shots only...forcing myself to choose is hard, but I will do it! Of course they are out of order, so read backwards from the top...perfect beach day, first day feet in the ocean, and feet arriving over Big Assawoman Bay in OC, Maryland. WooHoo! LOVE the beach!

-Cheryl

Wednesday, July 15.
A little let down that no letter from my camper came today. Was glad that Margie and Cheryl were coming over with their kids. Was nice to sit poolside with drinks and laughs.

Tuesday, July 14.
Yes, my feet are in this picture somewhere. Today I emptied my daughter's bedroom and combed through every drawer, shelf, bag and purse. She is an unbelievable pack rat! We finished after SEVERAL hours (with a quick trip to the Oswego P.O. for a break). Tomorrow we have to go through her shelves and books, but that doesn't look TOO bad.

Monday, July 13.
This is the first and last time my feet will be shown in sneakers. Had an appointment this morning for a stress test and needed to wear sneakers to run on the treadmill. I know I would have done MUCH better in my LLB whale flip flops! But there was something about liability or whatever. Anyway, all is good for another year. Had an awesome afternoon with my girl. Out to lunch at Friendly's (location of pic) and then shopped! New books, new Veras and some new shampoo! No word from Camp...no news is good news! All in all a great day.

Sunday, July 12.
Dropped Ethan off at camp at then ran like the wind to my car, not looking back. I felt like when I dropped him off at preschool and ran, only he was chasing after me. We are both filled with nervous excitement about the week. I hope that as the hours pass tonight, excitement wins over the nervousness.

Saturday, July 11.
Finalized packing for Ethan's week long trip to camp. Took him to Walmart to get more socks, shorts and some fun travel size stuff. He seems excited. We'll see what tomorrow at 5pm brings!

Friday, July 10.
Vacuuming the pool. Finally feels like summer, so maybe someone will actually swim. Right now the birds are the only ones using it. The swallows are the ones messing up the pool. I told Ethan to get his gun out. Don't think Dave was as happy about that idea.

Thursday, July 9. How sad that today is my first day in the pool, and not even really "IN". Just floating. I don't swim in 74 degree water. Oh well, if not anything else it was nice to see the sun and float with my girl!

Wednesday, July 8.

Took the kids and the dog to Fort Ontario for a picnic lunch and a walk around the fort. The sun stayed out long enough to be hot in a sweatshirt. Decided that we need to go back sometime WITHOUT the dog and tour through the fort. It is FREE during the week!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Leaving the Oswego Hospital parking lot after blood work for me and the kids. 10:41am and I have the HEAT on! It must have been only 60 degrees. Hit Dunkin' and then we headed out to the plaza for some fun shopping. If you look closely, yes, that IS an ice scraper/snow brush on the floor of the passenger side. Hey, ya never know! Zoom ahead less than 10 hours, we learned that both kids have cholesterol levels over 200. Our pediatrician called from home after hours to let us know. Both kids were upset. We will make some conscious changes in diet, but unfortunately, I think they have inherited Dave's gene for this. To be tested again in December.

Monday, July 6.
Kind of a low key day. Finished SUMMER BLOWOUT and started on LIFE'S A BEACH. I thought the cover was totally appropriate for this summer! Check it out!

Are they mine? Or Cheryl's?

Oh My. Well...I guess I had been so stressed out at the end of the school year that I completely forgot about my wardrobe of flip flops. I have been wearing my new Vera flip flops and loving them...and then I have an old pair of LLBeans that I keep on the deck to slip on to take care of the dog, or laundry or whatever. So tonight I was browsing the LL sale and saw these cute flip flops. They seemed strangely familiar. But I couldn't remember whether I recognized them because I owned them already, or because Cheryl has a pair. I could picture her black lab flip flops...and wondered if I was just thinking of hers, or did I have my own? Yes, yes, I think I do. But, what is on them? Certainly NOT black labs! Hmmm. And if I do have them, where the heck ARE they??? So I dug through the foyer to only find the sandals I had been wearing to school all last month. Then I went to the bedroom closet and looked in there, really not even knowing what I was looking for! Then I spotted them! My blue whale flip flops!!!! There they were! And also a pair of plain brown that I think Cheryl may have in black. Or do I, too? Wow. Things are bad when you can no longer remember what you own and what your friend owns! So now I guess I won't order these cute pomegranate flips...seeing as how a year from now I won't even remember them!

Sunday, July 5.
Took J to the Oswego parade. I wonder every time I go now, what is missing, and why they aren't anything like they were back in the 1970s, when I was a kid? Where are the floats? All the bands? The guy with the machete in the jeannie pants? And have all the guys on the little motor bikes died out? Needed to ponder all this over ice cream at Bev's with my feet in the lake.

Saturday, July 4. Annual fireworks gathering at Cheryl's. This year the fire pit and sparklers were the big hit, especially with the boys. The fire pit was nice, seeing as how it was only like 50 degrees.

Summer has begun with our annual 4th of July bash (didn't really FEEL like summer ie. fire pit was for fun, but also NEEDED, and Sue's fuzzy slippers) and I am reminded of the good 'ol "Bauer Family BBQ" every year on "Guiding Light." That was MY soap, back when I watched soaps. It was also my mom's and my grandma's. It is going off the air this year after like 70 some years. Soaps are just a thing of the past, I guess. Sad that my daughter won't be into them. Oh well, at least we'll still carry on with a 4th of July BBQ of our own.

-Cheryl

I think that each day, when I Swiffer the wood floors, I could weave a new dog from the fur I accumulate. You SHOULD kiss my "still in need of a pedicure" feet, Lucy!

-Cheryl

Friday, July 3. Spent the day at nephew, Gavin's 1st birthday party. Learned that they don't plan for him to be the baby of the family for long. Was a little shocked by this news.

Thursday, July 2
The day was very busy. Woke to an empty house which felt wrong for a day with such a full agenda. Went to my Aunt Mary's funeral. Lunch with family after. Picked J up from camp, Ethan had a Dr. appointment. Made a last minute decision to try to catch the Fair Haven parade at 7. It is like reverse trick or treating. You stand there while they throw piles of candy to you. Or at you may be a more accurate description.

Today's installation is a joint venture...we were at the Fair Haven 4th July Parade. Funny you might say, it doesn't look like a parade, but it really was...just with a LOT of LONG PAUSES!

-Cheryl - the one falling over in the brown sandals

and Sue - the one looking uber-cool in the Vera Bradley flip flops and funky pedicure!

SO, had a nice day shopping...again. Of course with all the RAIN, what else is there to do? Was out weeding the front garden and got chased in by rain, so we went to Lowe's and got a few more Adirondack chairs and one of those backyard firepit thingies. Got home, and then the evening cleared up like crazy! I mean, I appreciated the nice evening and all, but a DAY with some SUN might be nice too.

-Cheryl

The last day of June brought shopping and dinner out with my bestest buds, Nancy and Kathy. The day was a rainy mess, so the kids and I set off to North Syracuse for sandal shopping, then I shuttled kids home, and returned to Lock 24 in B'ville (reference knees:) for dinner. Kathy and I continued on and I dropped mega cash at Barnes and Nobel...a fine, fine day!

-Cheryl

Tuesday, June 29. Unfortunately, the day never made it much past sitting around in my robe with coffee, the expensive pets, and either the TV or a book. I am really ready for summer to happen ANY time now!

Monday, June 27
Are pets REALLY worth it? $45.50 at the vet today for 1 month of Advantix for the dog, 1 month of Advantage for each cat. I mean, come on. Maybe I should get one of those little OFF clip on fans and just make them stay within a 2 foot radius of each other and clip it to the one in the middle? We'd make it the whole summer on $12.

Summer brings WORK! Already, in just four days without "real" work, I have gotten more done at home, joyfully, than I have in like a YEAR! The top shows reorganization in the bathroom...HOW can I have SO MUCH MAKEUP AND CRAP? Second question, how can I have so much expired medication...I feel like I go through it rather periodically, yet today I threw stuff out that expired in 2006! I know I have gone through my stash several times in the past THREE YEARS! Oh well, it probably is in some way connected to where and why socks disappear in the wash...

The second pic shows my kids RAKING! For some reason, I can get them to mow and rake with minimal grumbling. If you look closely at my knees, rain was JUST starting, so the project was dropped rather abruptly, but still...I am highly thankful for my great kids!

Good day today...

Cheryl

Sunday, June 28. Spent most of morning relaxing on the deck in the sun with Claire Cook's SUMMER BLOW OUT while Dave tore around doing yard work, gardening and laundry. Pretended I was on a real vacation.

Saturday, June 27
Second day of summer vacation. Good thing this involved only feet, as my hair is still VERY purple and I am not up for permanently recording it in any way.

Sue's TOTALLY going to one - up me with the first "Foot Shots" of summer, so I had to get back in the game with my "Memorial Day Weekend in the St. Lawrence Knees!"

-Cheryl

Well, I am in the every other month blog pattern, but happy to say that I am feeling MUCH better than our last update.  The Caribbean, I have learned, restores the soul for a frozen Upstate New Yorker...not a lesson I will soon forget.  Yep, Tim and I took an amazing trip, sans children, to Puerto Rico over April break, and I will tell ya, it was so good, and so needed!

We have been back for 2+ very busy weeks, but I am still living in a Caribbean state of mind, apparently, as I have been happy, and well adjusted, handling life's stresses with ease.  I don't know if I can attest all of this to our trip, but it sure seems like an interesting coincidence.

The above pic was taken at our resort, the Hilton Caribe San Juan, and I like to title it "View From the Rounder Deck."  They had these amazing cushioned lounges and if I hadn't had that itch to see the sights, as well as a need to eat and such, I just might have spent the entire vacation there!  (my white girl skin would've had issue too...whew, that sun was WONDERFULLY intense!)  They did have waiters to bring drinks and such, so hey, I might have been able to swing it!  It was truly a sight!  I had never stayed anywhere like that before and I am ready to do it again!  Highly recommended - and the Caribe Hilton IS the disputed home to the first Pina Colada so a piece of history in and of itself!  Had a few of those - yum!

As I reflect, I feel a Top 10 coming on...it was such a great trip, and there are things I just never want to forget, so here goes...

10.  Travel agents are good.  Once we chose where to go, and decided to book with an agent rather than on our own, stress disappeared.  We got a good deal, at a difficult time to travel, and we didn't have to WORRY!

9.  You can get to the Caribbean in half a day, so leave early, and have a half a day to relax on the beach as soon as you get there!  We arrived at 2 or so and were on the beach by 2:30 sippin pina coladas!  Heaven to leave Syracuse in 30 degree weather and end the day in shorts!

8.  I worried about the weather prior to going, as the Weather Channel had showers listed daily.  Showers only happened one day, and they were heavy, but brief.  It is what the tropics are...it rains, but then it is over.  As one guide book put it, unless there is a system parked over the island, rarely does rain spoil a whole day.  Then there was the WIND!  It was windy everyday and I had to employ my Sarah Palin clip, which I threw in just for the beach, pretty much everyday, everywhere!  HA!  The breezes were wonderful, though, making 85 degree weather and intense sun comfortable.  Loved it, even if I DID have to have bad Palin hair.

7.  San Juan is so old, so rich in history, and poking around in the old city for two days was probably my favorite part of our trip.  It reminded me a lot of New Orleans, and had some French flavor, along, of course, with its strong Spanish influence.  We learned so much about this place that is literally a part of the United States in its own unique way.  We had never traveled to the Caribbean, or to Europe, or to any foreign country aside from Canada, and traveling here felt like "Foreign Country Lite."  We got a real feel for what it is like to navigate a place where the people generally speak a different language, but rudimentary English was a given and the money was the same!  What more could you ask for an entry level travel destination!  We commented on this a number of times, feeling a little lame in our inexperience, but oh well, you can only move ahead!

6.  And speaking to that point, another of my favorite parts of our trip, was both of us having the realization that travel is such an important part of life.  We were walking around the resort, having just gotten back from a day at Bacardi, and Old San Juan, and a wonderful dinner at Raices restaurant (Mofungo - plantain with steak and chimmichuri sauce - yum again!) and Tim said, "You know, I could care less what we do the house, but we HAVE to be sure to put money away to be able to do THIS more!"  We have always gotten away, and done simple trips together.  We've traveled with friends, and family a lot, but this was like the honeymoon we never really took for us.  We need to be sure not to wait another 15 years to do something similar, AND we need to be sure do do something like this with our kids.   It was beautiful, restorative, eye-opening, indulgent, and wonderful and I want them, sometime in their young lives, to experience what it is like to escape. 

5.  Should you go to Puerto Rico, there is so much to see.  We stuck pretty much to San Juan, and saw the beach, as well as the Bacardi Factory in Catano, Old San Juan, and El Morro Fortress - WOW.  We had thoughts prior to going that we wanted to see the El Yunque rainforest,  but even on a small island, getting there and around would have required a whole day, and cost a bit, so we saved it for another time.  Also, there are mountainous regions, and coffee plantations, and more arid areas, and bioluminescent bays, and caves, and so much more.  I want to return, and see some more things, but I am also happy that on our final day, our "free day" we didn't opt to run off to the rainforest, but instead to the beach and to each-other.  It made for a wonderful final day.  Save a day for JUST you!

4.  Getting around was a riot too, and a full experience of the trip unto itself.  In Puerto Rico, they don't have a great public transit system, and I am sure the locals do it differently, but we relied primarily on the Tourist Taxis.  They were a little pricey, but each ride was such a story!  When you got in these vans, each was tricked out to the driver's taste, baseball parifinalia, bobble head Jesus', you name it!  I swear one driver was burning incense!  They drive like maniacs in bumper to bumper traffic, and rely heavily on their horns, so  you have musical accompaniment to boot!  One guy nearly mowed down two vagrants on an off ramp, but hey, he HAD blared the horn at them!  Each driver is "on script" to an extent and you are welcomed to Puerto Rico, but then some chat more, and some chat less.  One spoke to us endlessly about his love of Puerto Rican food, especially the pork and meat, but then explained he was vegan - HOW on the VERY meaty PR diet I have NO idea!  He then went on to tell us all kinds of homeopathic ideas he employed in his life, including the fact that he used hormones in his bellybutton!  HELLO?!  Still, the cab rides were SUCH a feature of the trip!  Later in the week, I was, just for kicks, pricing out our cab rides, I decided they were equivilent to an amusement park admission, in a way.  And, they had fun, entertainment, and a thrill seeking quality to boot, so hey, I decided to sit back, take it in, and at least TRY to relax and enjoy the ride!

3.  El Morro fort is a sight to see, and walking in a place dates back to the 16th century really can't be described.  It puts the continuity of life in a perspective.  Then there is walking to the farthest point out on the fort and reaching your hands to the sea...it feels like you are at the end of the world...never done anything like it, but boy am now on a quest for my next fix!

2.  Learn a lesson from the makers of Bacardi...each time they encountered problems, they moved on and made better rum.  Bats as a symbol?  I hate bats!  But to find out that they have the signifigance in Spanish culture to stand for family, prosperity and good health?  Maybe our bat/rabies shot family venture in 2001 was not all for naught.

1.  And my final thought - just GO!  To Puerto Rico, or wherever!  Just GO!  Part of why we went was a moment where Devin, our 11 year old conscience, professed, "You guys always TALK about stuff and you don't DO!"  Well, we DID, and boy am I glad, and I am ever so ready to do it AGAIN!

Gracias Puerto Rico, Gracias,

Cheryl

See Bella here?  That is how I feel lately!

It has been forever since I have written. It has been a long, cold winter, but we really lacked in snow days, school wise, and otherwise.  Usually, and you can see this pattern in the blog, I have creative bursts in the winter; left stranded home, I need to write.  This year, weather has stunk, but the creative boost never came.  Why?  Facebook could be one reason/excuse -Ha!  Or maybe it is Twilight. Forging my way through all four tomes in quick succesion and thinking WAY TOO MUCH about teenage vampires COULD be a time sap, but I think it is more.  The question I find myself pondering a lot lately is where did MY time go?  I am feeling sapped of energy, of enthusiasm, of tolerance for many things.  Most of my frustration is a familiar one,  annoyance with familiarity itself.  Same job, same crappy weather, same problems, same same same. Spring will hopefully bring some renewal, as it is much needed.

And as an update, my guitar sits relatively unplayed, but lessons have been secured starting this Thursday.  I am just feeling I must "put it out there" again, to push myself.  Part of the lagging is fear of failure for sure.  My last musical foray, playing the flute, is about to become permanent...rental fees have put me $500 into the instrument, so at this point, about $100 more and I own it!  Am I even good?  No. I mean, I'm not bad either, but I have only made my way half way through the beginners book.  I do enjoy it, and it'll be there when I have time again.  Music has always been vitally important to me, and I played all through Jr. High and High School, and sang in College/Early Marriage.  (speaking of, I miss singing IMMENSELY, but that is a topic unto itself - remember singing is like running is like singing in so much as convenience...topic for another pensive Sunday) Getting back to "doing" music feels natural as breathing, but as an adult I just don't have as much time and, sadly, I want to be RIGHT.  When do we lose, or maybe not lose, but lessen, our ability to tap into that "try something new" attitude of childhood?  When do we start to fear?  More questions to ponder.

Speaking of music, we also got a piano this winter and Gwynn has begun lessons.  Music certainly restores the soul, but let's look at the intention of the music in my household.  My flute, essentially, was begun to help Devin start to play the trombone.  A piano arrived at my home, and lessons attained immediately for Gwynn, while my guitar sits and waits.  Maybe that is where my energy and creativity has gone of late, to helping, helping, helping a hell of a lot. Look, even, at what I do for a living.  I feel sapped?  WONDER WHY?  Always helping others, an energy sap, for sure.  

So, as much as I feel like Bella, holding on for dear life, falling into the abyss, circling the drain of sameness, perhaps I should look at things differently.  I AM holding on, and I AM taking some leaps, but they are what they are.  The chances I am taking right now, are the ones I am taking in order to enable my children to grow.  Perhaps I need to examine a phenomenon that is fully my life right now...I am in "pause" mode.  We were joking around at dinner and I said something like "I want to be a chef when I grow up,"  and Devin quickly retorted with "Yeah, but I get to go to college first!"  It was just a joking exchange, but it said so much.  My life right now is highly frustrating as it is ALL about others, it is all about maintaining the choices I have already made, but there is beauty in that as well.  I am helping my children grow...talk about something that is all about holding on and taking a big leap!  It'll be over, too, before I know it, I know, I know, I know...it is the time.  Just hold on.

-Cheryl

OH, and I ALMOST FORGOT!  I kind of feel like I have to put this "out there" to keep myself honest.  Many, many people got "Guitar Hero" for Christmas.  Many, many people want to be a rock star.  I got an acoustic guitar, and I want to be Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music."  Yep, that's the honest truth.  Even made the kids watch the WHOLE movie with me, again, this year.  (They both really like it too - HeeHee!) Now I have the Sunday Grumpies New Year Resolution, AND the exposed "I want to learn to play guitar" New Year Goal.  Yikes!  2009 is gonna be a tough one!

-Cheryl

Just feel like ranting for a while...last night before the end...back to school tomorrow after a wonderful Christmas.  I don't like Sundays anyways, but Sunday at the end of vacation is even worse.  It makes me sad too, to not like Sunday.  It isn't Sunday's fault, but I am one of those people who dreads the end instead of enjoying the moment.  

Today started out OK, as Tim took the kids to Sunday School.  I relaxed, hung out in my cozy robe, caught some Food Network, drank my coffee and read the paper.  I thought that, perhaps, the Sunday grumpies would pass me by, but alas no.  Something kicked in and I was angry at the world, annoyed at the fact that we chose to do "nothing" with our day. ( mind you we had a big dinner out/hockey game the night before...doing "nothing" was JUST FINE, in theory, at least last night ) I was on a rampage to finish jobs I had wanted to finish over the break, and to start new ones for the new year.  Yep, I was a joy to behold from about 10-4, and goodness knows, it could've gone longer, but at 4, for some reason, it was almost like a switch, and I decided I was DONE.  I settled in and watched (and LOVED!) the "Tinkerbell" movie with Gwynn.  Then I had a glass of wine, and cooked a yummy dinner.  I talked with Tim, watched some football, and "baked" some freezer chocolate chips.  Right now, I am settled in front of my computer, having just redeemed some iTunes gift card $ for Idina Menzel's CD, "I Stand."(really want to go to New York,  see WICKED this year, with the kids!)  I am, truth be told, a little proud of myself.

I am not one for big sweeping New Years Resolutions, but I am feeling one coming on.  Maybe, just maybe I could harness the Sunday grumpies this year.  Maybe, just maybe, I could stay more in the moment, rather than worrying my days away.  It sure would be an improvement, for me and my family.  Time will tell.

-Cheryl

After a beautiful, unexpectedly extended weekend, I finally feel a connection to this Christmas season. Every year, around Thanksgiving I participate in one of those email surveys about whether you prefer gift bags to wrapping paper, what your favorite Christmas special is, and what you find most annoying about the season. For me the answer is always, WORK. I never feel truly prepared when I have to try to squeeze in all of my Christmas preparations with my regular weekend chores and errands. And it becomes difficult not to see Christmas preparations as just that, another chore or errand. Lost are the days of childhood anticipation and excitement, which I can still vividly recall.

As I blogged about back in the winter of 2007, God gives us what we need, because he knows what we need. We just need to be open to seeing these things as gifts from God. On Thursday I was to have an annual Dr. visit and had planned to do some errands following the appointment. At the very last minute the office called to cancel, due to the dr.'s illness. After briefly being let down and annoyed at the thought of a wasted sick day, I took a deep breath and saw it as a gift. I could now just focus on Christmas and the things I wanted to get done. Then on Friday, the gift of our first SNOW DAY. A day to put my children on the bus, run to the store for baking supplies before the storm hit, and begin some cookies before my children were safely delivered back home to me via the best bus driver on earth. I honestly felt euphoric, as I had cookies baking, Christmas music playing and a yummy lunch planned for my kids.

Later that night on Dateline, I caught the Reverend Rick Warren promoting his new book, The Purpose of Christmas. I listened and made a mental note to whip it in the cart the next time I was at WalMart.

A snowy Saturday followed and I spent a good part of the day in my bathrobe watching a marathon of What Not to Wear. I managed to have an outing later that evening with my son to get some groceries at Wonder Walmart where I saw Rick's books and as promised, whipped it in the cart, under the justification that it was a Christmas gift for our 85+ year old family friend whom I never know what to get. I figured I'd better just look through it at home to be sure it would be "her". Tonight I sat and read the book from cover to cover and decided that yeah, she'd like it.

I have never really lost touch with the true meaning of Christmas, and often get mad at myself when I get lost in the commercialness of it all, or get my children too much. But I do know why we celebrate it and am very much in touch with Jesus at this time of year, especially. Recently, in church, we had a guest priest. His homily was very comical as he talked about what we can do to be more in touch this season. He gave some tips. I won't bother to go into full detail, but he closed with having us watch for a Christmas sign. Some little tiny aha moment that connects you with what is real. A sign from Jesus if you will. He shared his sign as he'd already had his moment. He suggested that while we wait in long lines at stores, that we let someone get ahead of us who has MORE in their cart...as a gesture of kindness. A few days later as he was running from St. Mary's in Oswego to say mass in Hannibal, he stopped at the IGA for a coffee and the cashier was very slow..and he was afraid of being late. Suddenly, as he stood waiting to pay for his coffee, a woman came up behind him with a full cart of groceries. He laughed out loud knowing that he was supposed to follow his own advice and offer to let her in front of him. It was really a funny story and I held on to that waiting for my moment.

Last week at my house was VERY stressful and I was wondering how I was going to make it through. I knew that I needed to just focus on my kids and make it a happy week for them despite the pressures that were surrounding us. I gave up my annual Christmas BOOK CLUB celebration to be the mom I needed to be for my kids...and to try to keep some normalcy at home. While doing some errands in Oswego while Jillian was at dance, and trying to focus on the little things, like my Dunkin' Donuts coffee...I saw it. My little Christmas sign. A fully suited SANTA CLAUS driving a Centro bus. That was it. I started crying right there in the P&C parking lot. God was telling me to keep it all in perspective...that I am doing the right thing...and that it is going to be a Merry Christmas for my kids, therefore for myself too.

So the purpose of Christmas is love basically...and I really want to just focus on that for these next few days. Merry Christmas everyone!

12/19/08 - A snowday in December!  WooHoo!  Certainly goes under the file of "These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things!"  Sue and I both spent much of the day singing the Spongebob classic..."It's the best day EEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRR!"  I even spent the day, and I mean ALL of it, in my jammies and robe!  Thank You Thank You Thank You!

A shout out to Nancy and Kathy...my other girlfriends for life!  ( does this make you feel better, Kath?  I love you, like I love Sue, like I love you!  GET IT?  HeeHee!

Thanksgiving 2008

So another long awaited holiday comes and goes. I was looking forward to this one because it was the first Thanksgiving that I was not hosting at MY house in at least 7 years. Mom was dying to do it in her new house, thus giving me a very relaxed outlook on this family gathering. I should have known better.

We knew months ago that 1/3 of us siblings would not be in attendance. They planned their second annual family vacation to Georgia to be with friends. So that left the remaining 2/3 of us, plus our spouses and children. I had spent the week joking with the available one, that he would probably have to "call in sick" or that the weather would be too bad for them to make the 2 hour trip north. I secretly hoped that by joking and setting it up, it would not happen. I should have bought a lottery ticket I guess. By 9am the email came, that the wife and toddler were ill. Then, we get the call that Dave's parents were also sick and would not be going. I knew it was going to be rough.

So, knowing a new outfit always can get you through, I pulled out a new Christmas outfit for Jillian. We had planned to bring the dog along so that was Ethan's "accessory". As long as everyone was all gussied up, I decided I'd try to get some pictures for the annual Christmas card. I had to start by reminding Ethan that I have not dressed him up and dragged him to a photographer since he was Jillian's age...and that the matching outfit I pulled out of his closet he only had to put on long enough for me to take pictures in. He was NOT happy. As the picture is worth 1,000 words, LOOK at his face! But then, the dog came into the scene and it all changed. REAL smiles...REAL laughter...REAL fun. For the kids that is, not the DOG.

As it came time to go, we did decide to give the dog a break and leave her home. She'd been up and running and playing all morning, and the photo shoot really did her in. By 1pm she was ready for her crate and a NAP. Ethan agreed that we did not need to bring her. I was secretly hoping for a BREAK from the dog, so I was thrilled to crate her and run.

As for the actual Thanksgiving gathering....can we just say YAWN, yawn? My kids were BORED to death....and I just kept wishing it had been at my own house. Mom was frustrated and disappointed and said I could do it next year. Fine, but I told her that it will be planned around when everyone is AVAILABLE, not only 2/3 of us. I had been the one pushing for the Sunday BEFORE to celebrate....but mom insisted it be on THE DAY. Not that people couldn't have been sick that day too... but at least we'd have been starting with better odds!

The day did finish with me making my photo cards and uploading them to Walmart to pick up at my leisure tomorrow. That has always been MY relaxation...doing my cards over Thanksgiving break. They did turn out darn cute...and I can't wait to see them!

May I just state that I am having some OCD as of late?  Obsessive Cullen Disorder.  OK, I stole that off a fansite, but the fact that I have been ON said fansite is the confirmation.  I just finished the second of the Twilight series, New Moon, and I truly had to restrain myself from running to the bookstore TODAY to buy Eclipse.  I am a 37 year old wife, mother and teacher and I am obsessing over teenage vampires!  Issues!  I had to take the dog out the other night, and started thinking "what if Edward walked out of the hedgerow right now?"  Same could be said for driving along the country roads today to the grocery store.  I was perusing the cut cornfields, half expecting to catch a glimpse of a pack of werewolves.  It is so funny, almost reminiscent of when I came home from Alaska and was constantly on the outlook for moose in recessed secluded areas along the road.  At least that was based in REALITY!  I am completely sucked into the fantasy world of Forks and LaPush and I don't want to come back!

-Cheryl

"The Pink Elephant in the Room"

Bought another Vera Bradley...this time a bowler in Pink Elephants off of eBay... $30 with shipping...great deal.  Yet, I am wondering why?  As if I need it.  You know what, though, it is getting me through today.

Our fall has been really, really insane.  It seems when school started all hell's fury was unleashed on our home.  We've gone from summer's peace and serenity to a perfectly fine car that we couldn't get to pass inspection due to some emissions crap, then was an electrical short in our kitchen, next a persistent bee's nest in our second floor soffet.  Finally, at least we hope, there was la piece de resistance, a 41,000 gallon water leak that culminated in digging up our entire side lawn.  Amazingly, I stayed fairly sane through most of that, and tried to be supportive of Tim who really dealt with the brunt of it, but it seems my time for the stress has finally come.

Today started with an overwhelming morning at work, learning about not one but TWO very good and useful, but very cumbersome data/statistical/testing oriented computer programs.  The information, interesting, the problem, when am I going to use them, and where is the TIME?  Time, always the issue, for everyone, yet I had to endure yet another discussion where my principal went on and on about supporting our "new mothers" at work.  I mean, I get that like a BAZILLION people had babies at our tiny school last year, but where is the love for the old mom, eh?  How about the people caring for aging parents?  How about people struggling in whatever way they are struggling at the time in their life they are at; sickness, marital trouble, personal difficulties we might not even be able to begin to imagine.  If we're to support one, shouldn't we support all?  Then came a rushed visit to my classroom to check in with my student teacher and be sure she, and my sub, would be OK for the day - can't just leave a teaching job, you know?  Someone has to actually DO YOUR JOB in your absence.  All was well, so it was off to grab Devin and hurry to Oswego for some lunch and the dentist.  Little did I know, my next test awaited me.  

We got in the car and Devin unloaded, as he so often does in the car...free to question, comment and confess while we both stare ahead, safe to reveal without the emotional hurdle of eye contact.  He let me know that I was sure to kill him as he screwed up his morning work, again, got a 45% on a math homework, (who GRADES homework anyways?  aargh!), got a 1 on the riveting fire safety essay I am sure he was so excited to write, and got moved to the front of the classroom.  This admission turned into an all out parenting session where we discussed every and all things that were bothering him, and came to some solutions I think, as we lunched.  Feeling better, I went to my purse to grab the appt. card for the dentist and double check our 1:40 time, only to find that the appointment certainly is scheduled for 1:40 - but it is 1:40 NEXT THURSDAY!

Yeah, that was my day.  How, you might say, does this connect to pink elephants though?  Well, isn't being overwhelmed the order of the day these days, all around?  Is stress the big pink elephant in the room that is always there and rarely addressed?  Oh, we give it lip service alright,  but then we carry right on, plugging away at our jobs, returning home to our rarely restful evenings, parenting our overly pressured children.  Some kids weather today's pressures just fine, some don't, and we don't get to choose the kids we get.  Some adults handle their stress just fine, some don't, and we have to do the best with who we ARE.  Hopefully we get a little support along the way, but we might not.  We may just be out there on our own sometimes, and to that end we have to muddle through.  We have to find our ways to get through our days, and I will admit, that today, that email saying I WON a pink elephant Vera made my day a little bit better.  At least Vera is out there and on my side, by my side even, and over my shoulder, getting me through the stress of my days.  I guess I need to say, thanks, again, Vera.

-Cheryl

"Strange Kind of Love" by Love and Money

GO BUY THIS ALBUM ON iTUNES. Yeah, I just did, and you all know I have a PROBLEM, but I HAD to have this. This is MY album. It was purchased in the Fall of my senior year of highschool, while on a short shopping trip with our foreign exchange student Tarja. She implored that I must buy it as it looked interesting and I just needed to try it out. It was bya group called LOVE and MONEY after all, and what else was anyone in the 80's looking for? She was really good at talking me into anything, pushing me to do anything, pushing me off a cliff, but that is another story. Anyways, I purchased the TAPE and it lived in my 1980 powder blue VW Rabbit for the next several years. It was surely the soundtrack of that car, along with Stevie Nicks "The Other Side of the Mirror", an obscure non Lindsey Buckingham Fleetwood Mac album called "Behind the Mask", and two or three mixed tapes, literally labeled Car Tape, 1-4. It is a great album, and certainly worth some more detailed commentary, but here is why I mention it TODAY. I finally found it on iTunes! I have looked for it for years in CD form, and haven't found it. It is available on amazon, but only from other sellers. I mean, I had it on tape, so I wasn't desperate, but still. I am so excited to have this piece of ME in mp3...hey, that's kinda catchy.
Must go listen and drift back.
-Cheryl

...so I guess I will have to rename my alter ego. "The Friday Night Alcoholic" perhaps would be better named "The Saturday Morning Caffeine Craver," or perhaps even "The Saturday Afternoon Iced Coffee Consumer," as here it is 1:36 pm and I am finally getting to write. I blame school starting and frustratingly getting in my way of my living my LIFE. Jobs, aargh, can't live with 'em, can't quit 'em, need the paycheck to support Vera Bradley habits, etc. etc. etc. Anyways, last night was the first Friday night of the first full week of school and what started as an excitable evening where I had all kinds of plans for what I wanted to do with "my time" turned into me, in a sleeping bag, on the couch. I didn't even make it to the end of "What Not to Wear." First it was pizza for dinner and a beer, then it was relaxing and playing with the pup and the kids, then it was bedtime routines. When 9:00 rolled around, I cozied up on the couch with a second Dundee Wheat beer, and my buds, Stacy and Clinton. For whatever reason, I got chilly...probably the body shutting down, putting its own sad party pooping plans into place. Tim bought a mummy style sleeping bag this week, for an up coming Cub Scout camping adventure, and it was out on the computer room couch. I grabbed it, climbed in, zipped up and checked out. There was no way around it, the minute I was in I was down for the count. It is sad, really, how much of our leisure time we really have no control over. The past week and a half have been consumed with work getting started again, but our evenings have been usurped as well. Extracurriculars have begun, for the kids and for the adults, and any "issues" in life, which in the last week and a half have included a gas tank issue standing in the way of a car inspection, a persistant bee's nest, and a rather expensive water leak, fortunately OUTSIDE the house, have to be delt with somewhere between 4pm and total collapse. I have been reading Loving Frank, as Sue did earlier this summer, and it is easy reading, but mentally very hard, thought provoking. It is all about the affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney, and it brings up so many questions about choices, committment, creativity and needs. I want to sit and consume the book and be able to think, but again, the past week and a half, reading has sent me off to dreamland even quicker than said sleeping bag. I know things will slow down, or at least become the norm. Our bodies will adjust to more activity, more stress, more work and less sleep, but I want that adjustment to be done NOW. I want to be happy to reach the weekend for reasons of fun, not just reasons of replenishment. It'll come, I know, it always does, but I need to have patience, I need to read Frank, and most of all, I think I need some more iced coffee...
-Cheryl

...and am feeling a return of "The Friday Night Alcoholic" tonight having completed our first full week of school, thankfully.  These daily reasons to drink inspire me.  More to come, post consumption of my Dundee Wheat Beer.  After all, with their tagline being "Be Unclear," what more could you ask for in Friday Night Pontification, or in a Friday night beer?

...I'm feelin' a blog comin' on!

Yep, that was the quote of the evening as I nearly drove off the road in rage.  

We headed to a movie today, and you know, it is not enough that when I go there I have to endure myriad previews, now so professionally referred to as trailers, that give away the essence of every damn movie I might want to see.  No, now I have to endure everyday advertising as well.  Today's offering was that damn JCPenney's ad, glaring down as me from the big screen now, that rips off one of my, and all children of the 80's, favorite movies, "The Breakfast Club."  There they were again, the jock, the rebel, the prom queen, or at least this generation's lame representation thereof, decked out in their JCP Back to School frocks.  "Nothing new, just new people doing it" a la Grandpa Colby came to mind.  He was, apparently, a wise, wise man.  Simple Minds' "Don't You Forget About Me," remade by some millennial emo band hummed, cloyingly, in the back of my mind the rest of the afternoon.

Fast forward a few hours and we were singing along with the radio on the way home, and I flipped by a station playing a VERY familar song.  Hey a ma ma ma...Life in a Northern Town...it sounded somewhat right, but no, it was a COUNTRY VERSION!  I mean, REALLY!  I did nearly careen into a ditch with the sad realization that, apparently, my entire youth is destined to be ripped from me and remade so a new group of people can claim it as their own.  I ranted, I raved, I threatened to drive my entire family into a lake, which was, quite literally, a mere 10 miles ahead.  Then, even with the country twang evoking in me images of waving wheat as opposed to abandoned factories and lake effect, I found myself singing along.  Tim mentioned that there are, after all, northern towns in the midwest, and maybe they just want to be heard, or perhaps, in some small way, understood.  

I came home, I downloaded off iTunes, I followed along, and I felt a blog coming on...

Sigh, I am a lemming after all.

-Cheryl

(and for anyone who wants to know, it was remade by the band Sugarland, along with Little Big Town, whom I LOVE - less country, more Fleetwood Mac.  Check them OUT!)