My Horizontal Life...pales in comparison!

Woah!

This book was a breath of fresh air! It was super funny and if you love anything about Chelsea Handler it's her quick wit and sarcasm! She's got it going on and I kid you not when I tell you this one kept me laughing all the way through!

It's like the juiciest parts of everyone one of your favorite books all put together in one!

Pick up a copy for yourself! You'll enjoy it and either feel really good or really bad about your sex life...depending on the circumstances! ;)

Enjoy!

Seasons of Change...

It's been a while since I've posted. No reason in particular other than trying to keep up with everyday life. What's been going on with me? Well...where should I start? We're really looking forward to Turkey Day at our house! We get to travel to Atlanta to celebrate at Uncle Derek's house! It's always good to go visit them and the kids absolutely love their cousins Nick and Chris! They are just too cool for school!

I'm crazy addicted to this Swaptree site! It's a sickness...for real! I'm mailing books and getting books at least once a week and it's awesome! I wonder if it will be a fad that will fade like MySpace was for me. We'll see.

I'm trying really hard (and doing pretty good) to remember to take my new Thyroid medicine the Dr. put me on. I have noticed a difference, so that's good. Are you officially 'gettin' on up in the years' when you have to start taking maintenance medication? Oh well...like it matters. Better now than when it's too late.

The kids and I are reading Harry Potter. We read a chapter each night and Hallie is loving it! She's way more into it than Hayden, but he'll come around. The first book is a struggle to get through anyway, but you gotta read it to know what's going on! The two of them amaze me everyday with their knowledge! (Hayden did manage to stump me with some math...but that's for a different blog. I'll try to get that one up tomorrow or the day after!)

We have four puppies left from Jacee's litter! They are adorable! I have three black girls and one black boy left. Any takers? They're cuties! So sweet, huge paws and short hair like a lab. The daddy dog is quite a story too...I'll elaborate more in another blog.

And today, I went through the roughest day at work I've ever had. We went through some layoffs at work this afternoon and when I tell you it was hard, I'm not even scratching the surface on describing it. It was heart wrenching to watch your friends and co-workers pack up their stuff, walk out and know that they won't be back tomorrow. I was lucky to not be among them, but I'm one of the many left behind to make sense of it all. It's hard not to question management in situations like this because you don't have all the pieces to the puzzle. You might think you could have done a better job at this or handled things more professionally or in a better manner, but no matter how you deliver it....it's still the same bad news. I struggle like anyone else to make sense of the decisions, but I hope for everyone's sake that they were decisions made that will benefit everyone in the long run. I'm hopeful that the company will learn to be more efficient through this; I'm confident that some of these folks got a kick start into retirement and perhaps they'll learn how to relax all over again; I'm optimistic that a situation like this can throttle people into something they might never have tried otherwise; and I'm also painfully aware of the economy and how much worry and stress everyone of those individuals is feeling. I feel sad that they're gone...very sad. But, what is life if not a roller coaster, right?

The Balancing Act

It's tough...huh!? Some days I'm left standing in my kitchen, dust cloud settling around me, wondering how I got there. It's everyday events like shuttling to and from school, ball practices, extracurricular activities, housework/maintenance, pets, laundry and add a job (for those that have one) that keep us in a constant state of motion. I wonder if we actually know what it's like to sit still anymore. Gone are the days where the kids play in the yard while the grown-ups hold their rockers in place on the front porch. Air conditioning may have had a lot to do with that, I guess. What happened to the easy breezy days? Not just during Summer time. Everyday shouldn't be a mad dash to make the next big event in our lives. Life happens around us all the time. How much are we actually missing out on by taking it all on? Everything suffers when we stretch ourselves thin. From relationships to job performance - it all takes a beating. All the more reason to evaluate what we've got on our plates and choose what we can do without. With Summer half gone, I realize that I haven't gotten to enjoy much of it. I haven't been the beneficiary to too much relaxation. What I have tried to enjoy has ended up being something that everyone involved wouldn't have chosen...so I tend to bend to the majority. Nevertheless...make the best of the opportunities you have to enjoy life, your family and yourself. This is our only chance to take it all in and I'm going to try and do just that from now on....in stride! What about you?

Time Flies...

Eight years ago today was a Saturday. I was preparing to make the biggest decision of my life (at the time) right here in my hometown.

I've learned so much about myself since the day I said "I Do". Marriage is an ever-changing animal. There are many factors that make up a marriage and I am constantly amazed by how folks make it work. Everyone's marriage is different. Some share loads of laundry while others don't; some marriages have the woman tending to the babies while others have stay-at-home dads. Of all the things I'll list below that I've learned from my eight years I will say that #1 has to be that you can't compare your marriage to anyone else's - NO MATTER WHAT!

The following are from different scenarios that may or may not have happened in my household during the past eight years.

When in an argument with your spouse (no matter the subject) it is not a good idea to utter the words, "Well, your simple mind just can't comprehend this." Nope. No matter how you say it, it won't end up good. Trust me.

When you're trying to get your point across, be sure you've at least pictured a response before you open your mouth. At least then you'll know what to expect. For instance...If you and your spouse are discussing marriage with somone that isn't (married), saying the following is most likely not throwing down your best card: "What you need to do is just find you the ugliest nice person you can find and settle; that's what I did." (Are those crickets I hear in the background?)

Should your spouse lose something of value that just happens to represent the very sanctity of marriage, it might not be in anyone's best interest to inquire as to whether or not they pawned the item in question. Especially if it's during a frantic search of air conditioning vents and sink drains. Not smart - at all.

I have found that raising children is hard work...but it doesn't come close to raising a marriage. It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and even easier to lose sight of how you got there.

I planned a trip for my significant other and I for a spa getaway this past weekend to celebrate eight years of putting up with each other. After a while you get comfortable. There's something to be said for comfort, I think. I mean, ladies, you can wander around in no make up and rollers in your hair and not worry...cause you're married. Guys, you can.....well, we all know what you do when you get comfy...and not worry, cause you're married. That being said, I think nurturing that "first date" feeling could go a long way.

We were "sight-seeing" around the venue and got off the beaten path a bit. My significant other proceeded to do that thing guys do when they're comfy around you....my eyes rolled. "Now if this were our first date, you wouldn't have done that!", I said. (My point here was that after eight years I hope I still give you that "first date" feeling of nervousness.) "If you're looking for first date antics, you're in the wrong place!", he replied. "That's why you get married - so you can be comfortable!" There's truth in both statements, I think. While the comfortable feeling that comes with it is grand, first date feelings are not overrated! It all takes nurturing and it's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget how you got there. You forget who was with you along the way. And sadly, you can forget who you were when you started the journey.

Appreciation is often the first thing to go. I got news for ya'...that ain't good! Keep it out front and use the words, "Thank you! I appreciate that!", as often as you can. We don't think twice about saying something that could hurt the other's feelings...but for some reason we'll go months (or longer) without uttering these words. Think about this...if you're having a party and a guest offers to carry the trash downstairs for you, you wouldn't dare let it happen without a thank you to that person, right? But, on your average Monday evening when supper is going, kids are hollering and dogs are barking it's easy be miffed when your significant other might not think to take it out when it's full. You might ask and they comply...but how easy it is to forget to say "Thanks" when they do. There's the element of expectation there. Don't get me wrong...some expectation is good. But, what if simple thank you's along the way helped make them more frequent. Would that hurt? Not at all. And the beauty of it is that it goes for the guys and dolls!

Learn "I'm sorry". Learn when to insert it into the conversation. Timing is everything. It will only be beneficial to you - I promise.

Make it your goal each day to brighten that person's day somehow. In today's techno savvy world, a "thinking of you" is just a text or email away. Make it happen.

Bottom line...you have to laugh. Everyone else will be, anyway. Life is funny...don't think God sits up there watching documentaries and dramas all day! A little comedy is good for the soul.

Now...go; nurture; act like it's your first date...let me know how it goes!

Happy Birthday, Hayden!

My little man is six years old! May 23, 2002 he made me the happiest person on Earth by making me a mommy! It's the greatest job I've ever had and I couldn't have asked for a better little guy to be mommy to.

As I approached the hospital around 6AM that morning, I was eerily calm. It was as if this was the job I had been waiting for all my life. My labor was mild, didn't last very long and the end result was more than I ever could have hoped for. I can't remember what it was like before I was called mommy...but I'm sure it was boring!

Hayden is my thinker. He's articulate and precise with every move he makes. He wants nothing more than to please others so that they're proud of him and that's exactly what I am! I thank God each day for allowing me the privelege of being mother to such an amazing little guy.

My mom tells me how lucky my kids are to have me as their mommy and my husband for their daddy. In some ways, she's right and I know that.

Truth be told, I'm the lucky one....by far!

The Unsung Heroes!

Leukemia – a word that no mother should ever have to hear. Yet, this Mother’s Day weekend thousands of moms will be dealing with the effects that chemo, steroids and countless other medications have on a little body. And they’ll be most grateful for the day with their angels. I’m amazed at the strength it takes…absolutely amazed. The trials and tribulations that a child with Leukemia goes through are hard to imagine. But, more unimaginable has to be the love of a mother to that child. They have to be the silent warrior for their little one. They have to be the rock of the family. They have to be the one painting the rosy pictures while they quietly fall apart inside. Calhoun County held its 2008 Relay for Life event last night (into this morning) and we were once again able to boast success! We entered into this fundraising year with our sights set on $600,000 going toward Cancer funding and research! As of press time last night, we were sitting at $615,000 with donations still rolling in! I sit in awe of how it all comes together and I love the enthusiasm from all the teams that show up, camp out and raise money non-stop. It truly is a sight to behold! As great as all that is, however, the reason we’re there is for the survivors. The survivors are what it’s all about. To witness countless survivors approach the microphone and rattle off the number of years they have been a survivor is the most moving of experiences. And it drives home the fact that cancer funding and research are winning! Slowly but surely, we’re winning the battle against cancer! My best friends daughter is battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia right now and there is nothing easy about it. I was honored to meet so many caregivers to the survivors who were so willing to share their story of how they never expected to hear the words Cancer or Leukemia, yet they mustered the strength to be strong and supportive to those loved ones in need. As a mother myself, my heart goes out to those mommies dealing with these mountainous issues. I hope for them a restful Mother’s Day filled with warm feelings and happy thoughts.

Just another peeve, perhaps.

I'm riddled with them...peeves, I mean.

• I can't stand lipstick on a cup.
• I hate when someone uses my chapstick and covers it in their lipstick.
• I hate panty lines.

You've heard them all before from me. I stumbled across a new one this evening. It was a wonderful Spring afternoon perfect for T-ball practice. It's a new year; a new team. That means new folks to get to know. That's new parents...new styles of parenting...new little siblings tagging along to the games.

I came across something this evening at practice that absolutely drives me crazy. There happened to be a sibling of one of the players climbing the HUGE pile of red dirt adjacent to the field. It was cute...in a "Joe Dirt" kind of way. ;) He was jumping, playing, throwing, sliding...you name it, he was doing it. The problem, however, came as mama was trying to get "Jr." to listen to her as she told him to "git down" and "git over here" followed by "don't make me have to spank you". She didn't appear to want to exert the energy necessary to make the child mind, so she summons dad over (away from assisting the team in practice) to take care of the child on the dirt mound. What?!!! I'm dumbstruck by this. One of your kids is on the field practicing. Your significant other is putting themselves out there to assist the coaches and little guys in practice. All you have to do is entertain the young one for approx. one hour. That's it! After that, you can dump them both on your partner. What's so hard about that?

Does this drive anyone else crazy?

You gotta hate a double standard...

I'll keep this one pretty short and sweet:

"When Harry Met Sally" (1989) is one of my favorite movies of all time. If you're one of the few on the planet that may not have seen it....go buy it. NOW! It's the best! I love Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as "Sally Albright" is perfect. The way she's so guarded and protective of herself (especially where "Harry" is concerned) is so endearing. Allow me to pose this question to you:

Can men and women be just friends? Why or why not?

I have my own thoughts on the subject but I'm interested to see what the rest of you think. Mostly, I'm interested to see the difference in responses from men vs. women. I think I have a good idea of which direction the pendulum will be swinging, but I've been surprised before! Once all the opinions are in...say, in a few days....I'll revisit the question posed and provide you with my "professional opinion" on the subject.

(I know you're on the edge of your seat for this one...sigh.)

Speechless...it's not good for me.

What do you say?

Two weeks ago she was so excited. Two weeks ago she was on cloud 9! Two weeks ago she was so full of hope.

One week ago she was eating for two when she wasn't nauseated. One week ago she was dealing with big(ger) boobs! One week ago she was tired, but glowing.

Three days ago she was crying. Three days ago she was put to sleep. Three days ago she had her hopes stomped on...again.

Today she is tired. Today she is empty! Today she is sad...

....and I don't know what to say to her.

There are the same old words she's probably hearing from everyone - "It's in God's hands", It's going to get better...just wait", It's better that it happened now rather than later", "It just wasn't meant to be". Or maybe those are just some of the off-colored comments that I've heard. I'm often appalled at the type things that fall out of people's mouths during a time like this. I say fall, because I have to believe they are accidental. I just have to.

My heart aches for her. And I don't dare forget her husband who's been along for this journey the entire time. What a journey it's been, too. They're two of the most precious people I know who deserve nothing more than happiness...in whatever form they choose to desire it. I struggle with understanding why myself...and I'm not even the one directly affected.

Nevertheless, I will push forward. I will do my best to let her know that I'm here - for whatever. I will make sure she knows where I am. My efforts will be limitless. I will be a friend because I can think of nothing else to do or anything else she needs more from me than that.

Take a deep breath, Lori. I'm here if you need me.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder...

Pardon the recent absence. I was much needed on the homefront! It's good to take time to check back in with the family and all that goes on. It can get pretty hectic pretty fast. It'll knock you on your ass if you're not careful! But, I'm glad to be back. During my brief hiatus I learned a few things. I'm a big proponent that you learn something new everyday. Seriously...everyday. It may or may not be anything substantial or worth writing home about, but it's new.

1. I learned that a good friend of mine, Lori, is pregnant. This wouldn't be such overwhelmingly amazing news if it weren't for all she and her husband have gone through to get to this point. She's not too far along...only a couple of weeks probably...and she's already glowing! They're about to experience one of life's greatest miracles and I'm so excited for them!
2. My best friend Kristin just lost her daddy, Mike Cooper, to Cancer. He fought a hard fight and gave it all he could for as long as he could. The best part - he found his peace before he left this world. Read the story of how it all happened...and I suggest you get a tissue or three!
3. I learned (as I have before and will continue to do) that relationships are hard. Whether you're talking about a marriage, a best friend, a parent/child or work related, balancing the art can be tough. It takes lots of hard work, mountains of patience and understanding.
4. I was reminded of how much vacation is necessary. I'm working with a pretty tough deadline at work right now and I'm so looking forward to getting out of town and not worrying about a thing!
5. I re-learned (cause it wasn't like I didn't know!) that I have fabulous neighbors! Seriously...I'll put them up against anyone's. They're just as much fun partying as they are sitting in the driveway putting together patio furniture, or hanging out on the deck in the afternoon. "Home" is so much better with great neighbors!!
6. I learned that I have to take a break sometimes and re-group. Maybe it's just a book and a bath...but a re-group is necessary! It's easy to get caught up in making sure everyone else around you is taken care of. Easy, but not always healthy. Make time to tend to you - you're just as important!
7. I learned, unfortunately, that "Rock of Love" with Bret Michaels is quite possibly the most ridiculous thing ever to grace the small screen...yet I can't make myself change the channel. What a joke...yet I'm mesmerized!
8. I learned/realized that I haven't had my hair cut (not even trimmed) since November 2007 (over four months if you're counting) and that's way too long. I've got to make that a priority this week!
9. I was reminded that if you want something, it might just be as easy as asking. I tend to overthink/overanalyze situations until I end up making them more complicated than they ever started out being. All you have to do is ask.
10. I learned that hard work can payoff from time to time. You can work hard, save your money (or not), make at least semi-smart decisions and then.....you can reward yourself. And you should! You've only got one shot at enjoying this life....you should certainly be willing to take some chances along the way!
11. Finally...I've been reminded that my kids aren't standing still. I have a picture on my mantle of each of them and I was saying something the other day about how I needed to update the pics within each frame. It dawned on me that I was having trouble remembering my little girl that little. In the picture she's about a year old and it seems like eons ago! Add insult to injury by realizing that I'm only about a head and some change taller than my little man and you've got yourself a 'sobfest'.

All in all, the "break from the blog" was beneficial. I missed it, though. It's a great release to be able to tap, tap, tap my way into relaxation. I'm flattered that so many even give a rat's "you-know-what" about anything I have to say...but if you go away laughing I've done my part! So, I'm back on track...and thanks for reading! There's some funny stuff coming up soon!

Tears in Flight!

My job doesn't require much travel for me outside the northeast region of the state. Recently however, an opportunity presented itself for me to tour a printing company that we use and I jumped at it. My trip consisted of two days (one night) of making my way through airports and I must confess: the sense of pride that consumed me as I swiftly maneuvered my way through the countless terminals was a nice surprise. I was more surprised that I ever doubted myself, really. But, after the numerous takeoffs, landings, shuttles and baggage claims I must admit that my book was probably the best part of my trip. What book? Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. As a mother of two/wife of one and full time employee, reading often falls to the bottom of my To-Do. But, one day last week, my mother-in-law gave me this book that she'd just finished and she couldn't stop singing its praises. I'm a jacket reader. If the cover is enticing I'll want to read the book. I'm a huge believer that catching the reader's eye is the first step in drawing them in. Everything from the design to the font used inside - it must have a seamless flow in order to leave the reader satisfied. Your written words might not be enough. I work in advertising - what can I say? Nevertheless, this book held me captive from the very first line. It follows Tully & Kate through their mostly wonderful, sometimes painful, always truthful friendship. I won't turn this into a book review for fear of spoiling it, but I will say this...don't forget to bring your tissues. The tears started on my first flight - from Atlanta, GA to Grand Rapids, MI. The two flights home - Grand Rapids to Cincinnati and Cincinnati to Birmingham - were no better. Overall, I had three flight attendants, four passengers, two ticket takers and one server ask me if I was okay! That's doing some serious crying, right? But, as I said before...it's wonderful. I already have a list of folks in mind to purchase this one for. I can't wait to hear their embarrassing stories of where they were when they got to chapter 20!! I'm always encouraged when I get lost in the characters of a book - reminds me that I can still dream. Here's to hoping you never forget that either!

Blog Buffet - indulge yourself!

February 2008 is just about over...how quickly time flies, huh? I thought I'd recap a couple of interesting things that were thrown at me today...just in time to call February D-O-N-E!

• I came upon this little ditty from one of my favorite blogs, List of the Day. Quite ironic that it goes hand in hand with my blog from yesterday!

• My little boy came downstairs this morning - bright eyed & bushy tailed - and told me, as I lay in the bed lookin' ruff, I'm sure that I was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen! Then he held my arm and told me it was warm. He said it reminded him of pancakes. I'm so happy to be the best looking, most like pancake mom he's ever seen!

• "Wham! 30" happens in my pod at work everyday at 4:30pm. I was astonished to discover today that two charming, yet sheltered, individuals were not aware of who Wham! actually was. I'll save you the script of adjectives I used to describe their tortured selves and tell you that they left with a better understanding! "Wham! 30" Forever, baby! Whoo-hooo!

• My husband is into plants, as you may have read before. He's in the process of getting his tomatoes ready to go in the ground. No, it's not time yet...but he's growing his from seed. He's been catching some flak from some folks for doing it this way. He mentioned that he was going to grow them from seed just to spite the naysayers. "Like you", he said. I reminded him that I never said he couldn't grow them. I just don't understand the purpose in doing it this way. Tomato plants are very inexpensive at the nursery and your odds are better that they'll be a hearty, stable plant once placed in the ground. His response: "That's like going to the mall to get a baby! You don't have the same attachment or love for the plant!" I had nothing else to say. Here's to voluminous production of acidic fruits in our garden and yours this year!

The Heat Is On!

For those that live around here, you already know I'm not talking about the weather in Alabama. Will the cold weather ever end?

No, I'm talking about arguments. No one enjoys them. No one ever leaves feeling validated...at least not that I'm aware of. But, they're bound to happen from time to time. Not much you can do about 'em.

I did stumble upon some interesting tactics to take into battle at Men's Health on How to Fight With a Woman. They're geared toward the guys, of course. But, let's face it, they need them more than we do. Take a peek! Got any better tactics to offer?

Wastin' Away...

I apologize for the ever-so-brief hiatus. I've been sick. Turns out, my flu shot worked after all because that's not what got me down. After four days, several drugs, one double roll of Angel Soft (we never have Kleenex in the house) and two shots...I was deemed to have a bacterial infection - not the flu. That's a win, if you ask me. Another win - that neither of the kids came down with it! Whooo - hoooo! It all started on Thursday and the only time I got out of the bed from then until Sunday afternoon was to shower and use the facilities. Friday morning was so bad that I was bargaining with my mom for a catheter...getting up was that bad! Whatever this was, started out and set up in my lungs and eeeewwwww....it just got worse! So, I ventured out (for the first time in four days) today and headed to the doctor. The wait wasn't bad...they gave me two shots - which induced vomiting due to the fact that I hadn't eaten and my weakened state - and two prescriptions. So, we're good to go! I'll be 100% in no time. I'm tired of fever...I'm tired of the quarantine....I'm tired of Mucinex...I'm tired of boring TV...I miss my kids...and mostly, I'm tired of feeling like I'm putting everyone else in a bind. I'm ready to be me again. Tomorrow can't get here soon enough!

Reasoning...from a 5 year old!

So, most of you are aware of the new 'lady friend' in my little boy's life. Her name is Gabrielle and, from what I hear, she's "all that and a bag of chips!" Still not having met this little chickie, I'm understandably skiddish. I mean, what are her intentions, exactly? Shouldn't this be discussed?

I'm kidding....partly. So, after the inaugural drawing came home introducing Miss Gabby to me, I was surprised to find out that the following week he was comtemplating a "break-up". HE'S FIVE!!!!!!!!!! I arrived to pick him up from school and the teacher tells him to "think about it before he makes any rash decisions." "What's she talking about?", I asked. "Oh, nothing.", he replied. "I'm just thinking about breaking up with Gabrielle.", he finished.

Turns out, after much poking and prodding, that his reasoning happened to be because she cheers for the wrong team. That's right...apparently, she's an Alabama fan. At our household, we pull for the Auburn Tigers (WAR EAGLE!!!!) and he saw this as reason enough that it just wasn't going to work out. He actually told the teachers at his school that his "family won't put up with that!" How hilarious is that? How's that for die hard?

Needless to say, he decided to give her another shot when she converted for him. I just might like this girl after all ;) I had to laugh at this...and I did - out loud, in fact. If only all life's decisions were that simple, huh?

Co-sleeping...it ain't for everyone!

Hayden as a wee little man!

(Definitely an alternative to co-sleeping!)

In the blogosperic world we live in today, it's easy to find a chat room, message board or blog telling you all about how to raise happy healthy humans. My advice (not that anyone has asked) is to do your own thing. You were raised by someone...you are guaranteed to have picked something up from it. The hard part is deciphering the good from the bad and going from there. I bring up Co-sleeping because it's something foreign to me. I don't do this. I never have. I can count on one hand the number of times my son has ever been in the bed with me to sleep - and he was sick all three times. Now, that's not talking about the very young infancy age when he was in the same room right next to the bed and might as well have been in it with me. Those teenie babies need to be near you...heck, they've been inside you for nine months. You can't expect them to let go immediately. But, then your second one will come along - like my little princess - and letting go is exactly what they'll do. From the day she came home from the hospital, she slept in her own bed...for eight hours or more each night. I'm not making that up. She was independent from the moment my water broke. I struggle with issues like this, as we all do. I feel guilty sometimes when my kids (one or both at he same time) come all the way down the 17 stairs in the middle of the night for whatever reason (bad dream, wet bed or daddy's loud snoring) and I march them right back up to get in their own bed. I feel very guilty. I want so badly to throw them in the bed with me and cuddle next to them and hear their little hearts beating. But, the independent/determined side of me wins almost every time. I want them to be independent. I want them to be strong. I want them to be self-sufficient. I expect too much from them, I fear. Now, don't get me wrong. It's not like I can't go back to sleep once they're tucked safely back to sleep. I'm out once I'm back in the bed. It's afterwards...the next morning. I think to myself, "Would it have been so bad to let them crash for just one evening?" "What's it going to hurt to let them fight over who sleeps next to me...so close I can smell their lotion?" Nothing, that's what. It wouldn't hurt one thing. I can speak from both sides of this, I think. I was a co-sleeper with my mom for a long time. I was probably 10 or older before I started taking ownership of my own bed. Different circumstances, however. It was just she and I. No one else to consider, really. If I examine how it all affected me, I must say it was minimal. I am a very independent person...not because my mom didn't let me sleep in her bed, but because of the many other qualities, morals and values that she instilled in me. What it all boils down to, I think, is that there are different choices for different folks. For those that choose to co-sleep with one or more of their kids, they will most likely have to deal with separation issues later in life. For me - one that chooses not to - I'll have to deal with the troubling issue of "maybe if I had let them crash with me, they'd be closer to me." I'm curious about your opinions on this...don't take it as controversial. I'm just interested to know. There's certainly no worry of a right or wrong opinion here. Tell me your thoughts!

Who's That Girl?

My son comes home with a plethora of information in his backpack everyday of the week! I'm overwhelmed each afternoon with junk information, lunch money requests, vocabulary words, drawings, lunchroom menus and weekly agendas. It demands a good portion of my time to pilfer through it all and determine what gets my attention and what goes into the trash file! The drawings always get my attention. From carefully crafted silhouettes of Spider-Man and Super-Man to rockets and football fields...my fridge looks like a mini Louvre (of sorts) and that's fine by me! When else will I have the joy of covering my Frigidaire?

I might have known this one was on its way...the illustrious "girlfriend" picture. So, her name is Gabrielle. I've never met her - not sure I want to, to be perfectly honest. He proceeded to tell me that she gave him a hug when they parted this afternoon. With tears streaming down my face, I expressed interest in this "special friend" - don't give me any grief...it's been a crazy day today! I'll do my best to adjust and accept this new little philly into my world...for as long as she's here, anyway.

Lipstick Jungle!!!

I went to my first "screening" tonight! It was fun! The pilot episode of Lipstick Jungle was worth the energy I exerted to get there!

This show is gonna be great! I urge you all to tune in when it airs February 3rd on NBC. Starring Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price, this show is coming in on the coattails of Sex and the City and it's getting off to a great start. They all three play very successful women that deal with having to answer for their decisions when their male counterparts don't! They are all dealing with their own issues and insecurities, families and fashion.

I think what I love most is Brooke Shields...of course, Lindsay Price - who you may remember from Beverly Hills 90210 as Steve's girlfriend (and later his wife) and the surprise was Andrew McCarthy! I know everyone remembers Mannequin and Weekend at Bernie's.

So, tune in and let me know what you think!

Moments of Truth, huh?

Teambuilding activities are a fun thing for me. You know what I’m talking about…fall back and trust that your ‘crew’ will catch you. Or, pass the orange under your chin to the person next to you – no hands allowed. I love this sort of thing! Call me a dork if you’d like…I’m fine with it. The cheesier the game the better, in my opinion. Bottom line, I want everyone to walk away learning something new about the folks they work with and even learn to appreciate the intricacies. The last time we did this at my office it was my groups turn to come up with a ‘teambuilding’ strategy, I took the approach of getting to know each other a little better. I felt certain that everyone in the office could agree that we take each other for granted because we don’t really know each other away from work. It went well. Learned a little about folks I didn’t know. For instance, there were three folks out of twenty-five in the office that were only children. The twist was that these three were also the only to have tattoos. Perplexing, huh? I thought so. So, tonight this show debuted – The Moment of Truth. It aired after American Idol on Fox. The format is: Lucky guy/girl sits down in front of an audience. They are asked 21 questions (of the 50 questions they previously answered while attached to a lie detector) in front of a few friends and an audience of strangers. They answer these and if their answer on air matches what the lie detector test said they answered previously, they can win money. Neat, huh? It all made me wonder, how many of us would be honest when asked? I mean, if you’re asked a question like, “Have you ever gone through someone’s personal items at work without their knowledge?” I’m pretty sure that everyone would have to say yes and shouldn’t feel uncomfortable about that. It’s human nature…and it’s not like they’re going to ask you specifically who. So, technically you’re safe. Right? But, when the question arises, “Is the reason you haven’t had children because you don’t see yourself with your spouse in five years?” it’s a bit tougher. Especially when he/she is sitting in the studio staring back at you. It poses the question – “Are we honest?” I’m a pretty open book. There isn’t a whole lot that folks can’t ask me. And if it happens to be one of those few things….I’ll elect not to answer you. No hard feelings. I just probably don’t trust you to respect me, my information or my decision. I try not to make it a habit of judging folks. I’ve never been in their shoes. Likewise, I don’t make it a habit of conversing with those that are choosing to judge me. It’s nothing personal…I just don’t have to deal with it. I put enough pressure on myself so I don’t feel like I need anyone else’s. Or, are we honest to a degree? Are we honest to keep from hurting someone’s feelings? Do we lie out of convenience? Do we lie just because we’re pretty sure we won’t get caught? All sorts of interesting questions arise out of this. This show isn’t groundbreaking. It’s been played, in theory, at slumber parties across the world for many years – that’s right! Truth or Dare. The only difference…you have a choice to pick dare and risk having to run around the house naked. Sometimes that might be the better choice…depending on who’s at the sleepover!

Some Days Just Suck!

Ever had a bad day? Don't you hate it when things just don't go your way? Being the type person that enjoys things having order to them, I can't stand it when my routine is jacked up. My husband is currently enrolled at the local university. Each semester brings change on my part. I, being the 'parent primarily responsible for the shuffling of the children', often have a good bit of adjusting each go-around. It usually goes pretty seamlessly - due in-large part to my extraordinary organization skills - usually. Tonight was different. Monday night brings class, so I have to get back in the routine of picking up both children after work (They're at different locations on opposite sides of town.) I'm rarely one to ask for help, so this adds a degree of difficulty. This particular afternoon found me with little gas left. I left destination #1 (picking up Hallie) and headed for the fillin' station. Put my gift card in the pump and discovered I can't pay with a gift card at the pump. You gotta go inside. Well, that ain't workin' so I opted to chance it! Bad idea. I was coasting down the main road toward Hayden with only 12 minutes to get there. It was fine. I was going to make it. (BTW - I should mention, it's bad to be late to his school for pick up. Very bad.) All of a sudden, I felt that feeling in the gas pedal...you know the one. You're pressing the pedal, but nothing is happening. Sigh...I ran out. But, how lucky was I that I was only about 300 feet from the only station on this road? Very! I coasted...literally-stiff steering wheel and all...into the station that has only two pumps. Another nod to the Gods for making the pump I needed available. The stars were aligning. I had 1o minutes to get to him. I tried calling my husband. I tried my mother -in-law. I tried the school to let them know what happened. I just needed someone at the school by 5:30. My luck ran out at the station, apparently. I coudn't get anyone. I was approx. 8 minutes late. Now, I owe extra money for detaining the teachers at the school. They were less than pleasant with me. On one hand, I can't say I blame them. I know they have families to get to and I understand. But, I'm pretty sure I'll be finding other arrangements soon. Nevertheless, we made it home. We had McDonald's because that always makes us feel better. We survived. I've had worse days, that's for sure.