Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Sunday September 30th, 2001

Summer 1984 - you will find I am willing to post embarrassing pictures of myself when it comes to the memory of my mother. The shroud of vanity is lifted in her honor.


Today was a quiet day for you.

Not so much for Gram and I. The culimination of the 4 months prior were wearing on both of us. Things were said that have since been forgiven, but at the time were necessary for both of us.

She was losing her child - something a parent should never have to do.

I was losing my mother - something I was only allowed to have for 30 short years.

I wanted more.

I wanted you with me at my wedding.

I wanted you to hold my hand as I gave birth for the third time - because that is what you did.

I wanted you to know your grandchildren.

I wanted you to grow old - not die at 54.

I became very protective of my daughter role, and felt it necessary to remind people that their loss was important, but that they would never understand the magnitude of my loss. None of them had lost their mother.

I still protect that. It is sacred to me.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Seven years ago today...


Seven years ago today SciCom sent you 30 yellow roses (I bet if they knew pink was your favorite rose they would have sent it instead) to celebrate your 30th Anniversary at the company; no matter that you hadn't been able to work since May.

Seven years ago today Mantha, Jim, Bruce Gram and I had birthday cake in your room. We opened gifts - including a Pooh Bear blanket that she still sleeps with - celebrating Mantha's 4th birthday. You slept through the whole party, we tried to wake you, but you were too tired.

Seven years ago today you reached two milestones you promised yourself you would. Your "to do" list was as short as your time left with us.

The last item you never knew came true 1 year and 9 days later. He was due to come on your D day, but he waited until the time was right.

Seven years ago today we knew your time was short. So we savored every moment like it was your last.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Happy Birthday Mantha

You are right, you are a big girl now, but don't forget, I have bribery! Lucky for you, most of those pictures aren't digital and I don't feel like scanning them tonight!

You were the best baby. You wanted mom all the time as a newborn, and I loved it. We spent the first 4 weeks sleeping on the sofa, and then one day you decided it was ok to sleep in a bed, mine of course. Before I knew it, like it was old hat, you slept for the first time by yourself, and the independence started.

Grandma was so proud of you. She called you her Tinkerbell. She would have done, and did most anything for you. She even waited until after your 4th birthday to say good bye. She didn't want it to be a birthday you always remembered in a sad way. I know she misses you as much as we miss her.

This has always and probably will always be my favorite picture of you. It is so whimsical. Just like you are. And it is beautiful. Just like you are.

This was your last birthday as an only child. Just a few short weeks later you became a big sister. This was that "secret, we weren't supposed to travel" last weekend at the cabin with grandma and grandpa before your brother was born.

Caught red handed. Sneaking candy before Easter Dinner was your modus operandi, but the camera does not lie, and you were caught!

You hated that I made you wear your hair curly for your first dance recital. I thought it was adorable, but ever since I have not been allowed to repeat the look.

You hate this picture, I don't.

You and your big sister. Most of my bloggy friends don't know about Alex yet, but I couldn't keep her out of your birthday post when this is your favorite picture.

And this was the one that took us much of a half hour to get right because we traded off holding the camera. It was a sad day for me because you were leaving me for a month, but amazingly, the time flew by quite quickly.


I hope you have a wonderful birthday, and that year #11 is whimsical, and beautiful and wild and happy for you! I love you baby!

Not Me Monday Part II




Its that time of week again. Please join in if you wish! If you post Not Me's please link either back to me, or link to MckMama, the Queen Mother of Not Me Monday!

I did not just eat a whole crap load of whirly pop pop corn all by myself at 9:00 pm.

I did not clear out any of the kids' movies on our DVR to make room for more of mine. I didn't do it. Nope...

I did not get uber upset jealous when my husband informed me I was not included in party planning for someone I had already planned on having a party for (and no, its not you, we wouldn't do that to you when you asked us not to).

I did not eat red meat, dairy and carbonated beverages all weekend when it is all explicitly against my Urologists orders. Nope, that wasn't Prime Rib last night, it was a very well masked slab of Tofu.

I did not use my womanly wiles excuse of pain (which wasn't an excuse) to convince my husband to make the 2 hour drive to get Mantha.


I did not put off two minor bills this week so I would have some extra cash to buy more supplies for my jewelry to not actually make anything from them. Ooooops.


I did not breathe a sigh of relief when I wasn't asked to teach 5th grade Religion this year. And I did not admit that we haven't been to church more than once a month for a very long while to one of my uber religious friends today. Nope, I didn't. (I smell an intervention coming people).


And I certainly did not start these on Sunday knowing full well I would end them tonight, nope, there is still Monday - time for Cheetos for breakfast, and birthday cupcakes (for Mantha) for lunch!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Silly stuff on a late Friday night...

Everyone seems to be doing it, so I thought why not, its not like I am doing anything else right now...

Circa 1966 Circa 1968



Circa 1974 Circa 1976



Circa 1990 Circa 1994

Scary thing is I think I was wearing 1966 just two short years ago.... eeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkk... (1976 actually looks a little like that picture of my mom in my side bar.... hmmmm...)

And 1994 - well that could have been my photo. S.C.A.R.Y. My what big hands I had!

Want to check yourself out? Go to: http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

How many more days...

In the hopes of keeping this very politically neutral...

How many more days can we afford to wake up in the morning and see another headline screaming immenent doom?

What the hell is happening to this country? Maybe that is the answer. Maybe Hell is happening to this country.

Do the people who are fighting over what to do about it, and those who are falling apart realize that they need to take a long hard look in the mirror?

Why do we, the struggling citizens of this country, ALLOW the people we voted for, the people who are supposed to represent OUR BEST INTEREST make decisions that place us further behind the 8 Ball?

How many more days can we survive at the rate we are going? How many more days do we have to bail out bad business practices and poor investment decisions?

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Happy Birthday Dear


Your rockin it in those Carhartts and fur hat (not!), but my dog is adorable here so well, hopefully everyone will look at him and not you! :) Love ya babe!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Mckmama and Stellan are in need of your prayers again

Things have been going so well that we all have held out hope that God heard our prayers and made his plans for Stellan the same as Mckmama's and her entire Mckfamily.

But today in her post "Be patient child I am not finished with you yet", she revealed that Stellan is again in dire need of support and prayer, and and more importantly, is in dire need of divine intervention should he be allowed to live on this earth with his wonderfully amazing family.

Something you will find enchanting about Mckmama is that even in her need, she still finds time to share the good things in her life. So please, if you would be so kind as to think of them, maybe say a prayer and visit her through the link above and read, patiently, through the entire post.

I believe in God. I may not always be a good Catholic, but I do believe in the power of prayer.

Thank you!

While you are thinking about them and saying a little prayer for Stellan, can you also say a little extra one that the biopsy Mckmama is having in two weeks is not pre Cancer - or God forbid, Cancer - and pray that the cyst on her ovary is nary more than a bothersome nothing (this she wont know until Stellan's birthday on October 29th).

More "Not Me's" ON Monday

I did not lay in bed until 7:15 while the kids got dressed.

I did not get in the shower at 7:35 knowing we needed to leave at 7:50.

I did not decide while in the shower that I would just put on pj's and take the kids to school and then come back and get dressed.

And I did not come back with the plan to get dressed but instead got online and read more "Not Me's" on Mckmama's blog!

Nope, not me!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Not Me Monday

I eluded to this earlier, and also placed a button on the right side bar. MckMama over at mycharmingkids started something last week that she intended as a "get it off my chest" moment, and it turned literally into as she puts it a "carnival" of "not me's".



So in true creative (almost 32 weeks pregnant and Stellan is rockin') fashion, she decided to make this a Monday staple.

So why do it Sunday? Well, she has a busy day tomorrow, and well, we are all so dedicated that we are stalkers committed to being at her side at all times, so well, its time! :)

Not Me Monday - 1st Edition:

I did not just take my laptop away from Jim so I could check on MckMama, and all of my other bloggy friends.

I did not spend all day today in my pj's - cleaning a little here and there, but mostly just sitting around hanging out in the internets.

I certainly did not spend all day indoors when it was beautiful outside - re watching old DVR events, I just did not!

I did not go to the cities on Friday and spend money on things I didn't need, barely wanted, and clearly should not have purchased while telling Jim that he was on a tight budget this weekend.

NO, I did not!

I did not for the 3,631,483 time think about starting a diet this week and then eat 4 pieces of garlic bread for dinner.

I did not not order that testing kit my doctor asked me to order almost a month ago and do it this weekend. And I will not call tomorrow and reschedule my appointment with him so I can buy myself some more time. (side note: if I don't do it soon I have a feeling he will be knocking on my door as he already threatened that "this time" I had better follow his recommendations or I will lose my kidney. I did not ignore his idle threats and procrastinate again... nope, I did not!).

I did not ask my husband if I could go to an Arts Grant Writing seminar on Tuesday instead of making him some wonderfully fabulous birthday dinner complete with cake, slippers and a pipe (well ok, I did not just over exaggerate that a titch).

I will post more tomorrow as I just realized I did not make the kids' lunches yet, and I need to do that so I can go to bed.

So your turn!

If you decide to participate, would you be willing to go visit her at mycharmingkids and add your name to the list of "Not Me's"?

Updated:

I did not hang my grandmothers oriental rug over the deck rail all day and then bring it in without vacuuming it first.

I did not just discover that several species of multi legged creatures came in with the rug.

I will not admit that I am A.f.R.a.I.d. of all things multimorethanfourlegged.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Dad, when you tuck me in

Can you close my window?

Because I don't want to hear the darkness.

Great minds, and resignations

Funny that I was pondering how to put to words this post, my pal Fad posted that she too tendered her resignation this morning.

Last night the conversations went from bad to "what the?" - and not with the usual suspect. This time it was the nearly 11 year old.
----------------------------------------------------------

Set the stage:
Band sign up was last night. At 8 o-idontthinkso-clock. I became privvy of the time when at 5:15 I received the note that she brought home from her teacher telling me that your assigned time is September 16 at 8. Um ok, thanks for the notice, and um, nope, not coming at 8. I have very solid, very good, no excuses just the facts ma'am reasons.

1. Big Brother Finale
1b. Biggest Loser
2. Bed time for babe's

Do these teachers not understand bed times? Do they not know what a nightly routine is? Do they not understand the prime time lineup (which BTW, NBC, please read the TV Guide before you schedule a 2 hour Biggest Loser during my Big Brother. Not a good move NBC, not a good move!)?

I know, it sounds like I put TV before my child, but really I did not. I instead marched my double wide booty and my nearly 11 year old into the band room and demanded brazenly that my case be heard sat quietly in the corner and listened to the rules, and then herded like the other cattle into the gymnasium to purchase/rent the instrument my darling, loves me more than her own life, daughter says makes the most amazingly beautiful sound of all the woodwind instruments - the Oboe.

As we wait, and wait, and wait (which I discovered while waiting, nearly half of those in attendance didn't get the notice that they had an assigned time, and came when it started because they, like me, had "other things to do" between 7 and 9 last night - uh huh, we parents all get the Prime Time schedule. We all read TV Guide. We know where its at!) and finally get up to the table to make our rental/purchase, I find out that the music company DOES NOT RENT OBOE's! Oh no, they don't rent them! Do you know why? Because that lovely piece of musical dreaminess costs.too.much.to.rent!

Who'da thunk that the most obnoxiously sounding instrument is the most expensive instrument to purchase. To the tune of $3,265 (I think the one he was trying to see me one made of gold - funny that it is made of wood...).

THUD!

(brief pause to administer smelling salts)

Ok, I am back (you do realize this is only setting the stage for the incident that caused my mommy demise right? Ok good!).

So I sit down in the chairs to recover talk to my darling, loves me more than her own life, daughter to explain the annnual mom's cost of living increase I didn't get this year, the dance lessons I just paid for, and the birds and the bee's (ok not them, but I needed more effect), and ask one last time "are you sure you want to play the Oboe?". Yes mom in that sweet little tone only an almost 11 year old can exume was her response.

So back to the line we go. And we wait, and wait and wait (because now the 6:30 crowd has arrived). Finally our turn, and Mr. Music Man says to me, "I forgot to ask you if Mr. S told you the school owns an Oboe that you can rent".

THUD!

(brief pause to administer more smelling salts)

With a bright and beaming smile I say, "no, you did not ask me that the last time I stood here in this Godforsakenlineforeternity we spoke, I will go talk to him". And without pause, I exited my spot in line - I bet you can guess not for the last time this night - and returned to the band room which has now flooded with the 7:00 crowd, to wait in another line to talk to Mr. S about this illustrious Oboe he forgot to tell me he had for rent with my daughters name already assigned to it!

So we get through that pleasant converstation, and as we walk out of the band room with less of a load out of my pocket - I will take the $30 a year rent over the $3,265 purchase price any day - only to hear - "Oh, Mrs. N, did you happen to purchase her Theory and Music Books and Music Stand from Mr. Music Man yet?"

THUD!
(brief pause so I can regain my composure - forget the &*^$#@ smelling salts)

Yep, back into that line. The one that now occupies the remnants of the 6:30 crowd, intermingled with the now entering 7:00 crowd.

Finally, back to stare Mr. Music Man in the eye. You see, the poor man kept getting stuck with me. Not because of bad luck, no no, it was kharma man, all kharma. Don't do the job right the first time, well then, try and try again!

Books and stand in hand, worn out soles from walking back and forth, and a smile now permanently frozen in a stage of fakeness on my face, almost an hour and 40 minutes later, we are walking out of the school (so much for that half hour it was supposed to take).


Before I return to the actual story, in that first 5 or so minutes we were in the band room, Mr. S told us that the kids wouldn't actually start to play - or even take home - their instruments until October 6th.


----------------------------------------------------------------


Back to the regularly scheduled program:


Ok, so we get home from the aforementioned party and there are a few things still on the list of chores for the nearly 11 year old. Just a few. Things that would take less than 10 minutes total if she put her mind to it (I hated that phrase when I was her age, but I am the mom now, so I kinda like it).


But she had her own agenda.


Her agenda included setting up her music stand, her music books, and finding the perfect chair to sit upon while practicing her pretend air-Oboe.


And those other things (which included letting the dog whose bladder is now near exploding out) were forgotten.


And then she went to bed.


And those other things (which still included letting the dog whose bladder is now near exploding out) were forgotten.


But not before she hand delivered a pleasant little note to my lap and stomping back into her room.


I believe the words: "I can't take it anymore... I have been waiting three years to tell you this... I am a big girl now" actually spilled out of her pen and onto the paper.


I knew it was a cry for attention, but before acknowledging it, a small and silent bwahahaha snuck out. And then the man of the house read it. And a very large belly roll snuck out of him.


So on played the 9:00 revelle - in perfect pitch and tone, on my pretend air-trumpet.


And from around the corner came the darling nearly 11 year old. Mad as the devil on a cold MN winter day!


Why was she mad you ask? What was the letter about? It was because we are always yelling repeating ourselves in sometimes raised voices that she didn't do this, or she needs to do that, or did you get your homework done? What do you mean you have no homework? Did you let the dog out? Did you feed the cats? Do you have to wear that again?

You know, the usual suspects of parent retoric.
So we sat, and we talked. We worked it all out she and I. We are women, we roll that way. A little catty, then all love for mankind.


Until the evil ogre step father re-entered the room. And a new list of "did you do this? you had better do that! and don't think I didn't see you do what you thought I didn't see you do!" Because you know, he was helping right? Um, yeah, not so much....


So now that game starts all over. And now she adds to her "your a bad mom list", the fact that I let the evil ogre step father pick on her so much. Which I don't. But I try to keep that battle for after she leaves the room. So she stomps off, and he walks away, and now my peaceful Prime Time evening is ruined because I have pieces to pick up and battles to wage. And its only 9:30...


By the end of the night, I had posted my resignation as mother and goddess of all things beautiful and shiny in our home on the refrigerator for all to see. And then an equally as lovely resignation was posted on my now a slumber evil ogre adoring husbands forehead.


And out the door went my peaceful plan of staying home all.alone.this.weekend. Because this morning darling nearly 11 year old daughter informed me that she had no intentions of camping with the evil ogre step father and the perfect little brother this weekend.


Sigh. That means I also get doggy duty this weekend (hehehe I said doody). I wonder if he will be able to read "I quit" if I put a slice of peanut butter coated bacon on the note?

Sunday, September 14, 2008

My favorite time of year...


I love Fall.

I love the beauty in the colors.

I love the crispness in the air that brings cool fall breezes.

I love that this afternoon I curled up in two fleece blankets, listening to the cool rain fall outside my open window. If it had been any cooler, we would have lit a fire in the fireplace.

I love Fall.

....and admittedly, I love Winter too, but don't tell anyone!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Remembering

I am sure Blogland is lit up with everyone's story of that day, 7 years ago. Some will be first hand experiences - right there in the eye of the storm. In a front row seat to one of the most devastating historical events of our existence here on this land we call the US. Some will be reminded of the circumstances for which they heard the news.


But we all share one thing in common. We all survived the events, and have all lived with the ramifications. Heightened security everywhere we travel. Passport laws preventing us from visiting our neighbors without proper documentation. Paranoia over skin color, religion and attire. Prejudice and damnation without justification. A war that seems to never end. Oil prices that climb, and the need to become more fuel independent (this I think would have happened even if 9/11 hadn't).


Nothing will ever be the same.


I have three very distinct memories of that day.


I remember driving into the parking lot at work and hearing about the "accident" of the first plane. No one in the office had yet heard. Within a few moments of starting the conversation someone shouted "another plane hit the other tower". The rest of the day was spent in front of a television.


My best friends family was on a plane from MPLS to Pennsylvania that morning to attend a funeral. When we heard a plane crashed there too I was beyong consolable. Their plane had been delayed leaving the airport here for mechanical reasons, and once finally in the air, was one of the many planes that was forced to ground early. They spent 3 days in Ohio too afraid to go any closer to NY.


My mother by this time was near the end of her time on earth. Most days she was comatose, non respondent any more than a watchful eyes, wimpers and throat clearing. No voice from which to speak. But on this morning, the news that was in front of her brought something back - if only for a few moments. It would be one of only two times in the next three weeks that I would hear her voice (the last time was the night she died).


My grandmother sat watchful by my mothers side from nearly the moment we found out she would not survive this time. I think it gave them both some peace. It healed some wounds. It provided a mother time to grieve for her daughter, and a daughter to accept love that she had long thought had faded. It also gave my mother a voice that day.


As I was in the middle of making panicked phone calls looking for my best friends whereabouts I was interrupted by my assistant telling me that my grandmother was on the phone, and she sounded upset. I remember thinking to myself, oh God, please not now. I am not ready and I am already emotionally worn. Don't let today be the day I remember for the rest of my life as her last day on earth.


My grandmother was distraught, but not because my mother was worse, more because my mother was speaking. And she was unconsolable. She was worried about Bruce. Bruce was in the Army - working at Holman Field in St. Paul - with Blackhawk helicopters. First responders to anything local that needed military aide. She was afraid he was going to war and she would never see him again. She was the first person I heard that day mutter that word.... "War". The one person I thought I would never hear speak was the one that first put that notion into my mind. I tried for quite some time to make her understand he would not leave her. Not now. But she needed to see it, feel it, know it.


Bruce was unreachable that day - for obvious reasons - so I left work and sat by her side waiting for his call. He showed up late that night. You could see the worry on his face. I knew it wasnt for himself, but rather for his fellow soldiers. He reassured her he was ok, and he wasn't leaving her. At peace with it, she settled back into her silence.


Eventually his men left. He retired right before they did.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Where did that smile go

You ask? Its on vacation! The grumps have moved in for a short time, but I promise they will be gone soon! Even perpetually happy people must have their bad days!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

You had a bad day...

Ok, maybe not you. But I did.

I have been having a bad week.

Things that are hard to look past.

Conversations that needed to be had.

Issues that still aren't resolved.

And the other party is pretending there is nothing wrong.

Am I wrong to not want to let this sleeping dog lie? Or shall I leave it for now and hope for the best?

A question I will have to sleep on.

Thanks for listening (nay, reading)!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Two awards from my pal Heidi (blushing)

Heidi over at Minnesota Mom is giving me all sorts of love today! She has given me to awards that I hope I can live up to... Some days my cynicism gets the best of me, but luckily she sees through my naughtiness and sees mostly the nice! Thanks Heidi!

The Awards

These awards were passed on to her by Esther:


Thank you Heidi! And ditto!!

And Johanna & Joanna:


Thank you Heidi! I have a motto - if you smile, no one will know you are really: mad, sad, crabby - whatever. So smile - they uses less muscles than a frown and don't cause wrinkles in bad places!


The "Smile Award" has some rules - but they are easy - if you are already smiling, you have already passed the test! Heidi asked that the people who receive these awards visit the awarders (not a real word? I don't care, I'm smilin' so I can make a few mistakes!).

Now, the characteristics for the Smile Award are:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times–we are all human).
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes. (hey I just met that characteristic! Whew!)
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world. (I don't know if I met this one...)
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids.

There are rules attached... Here are they are:
1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator (
The Babblings of Mere).
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must choose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award (see above). (not sure if I met this one...)
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

I am choosing to pass these awards on to 5 very special bloggers (you will find they are five of my favorite haunts). As to not pick favorites among them, I am going to list them in the order they appear on my RSS Feeds this morning:

1. A woman after my own heart. She has been through more in the past few months, yet still held strong to her faith. She has brought thousands - and yes, I mean thousands - together to not only rally for her and her baby, but also to rally for a greater cause - MckMama at My Charming Kids is very worthy of both of these awards!

2. I just met Katie at Overflowing Brain this week. But she is addicting and inspiring. At 25 she has been through so much more than anyone that age should have to. She is cynical like me - which makes me adore her even more - and she is very open about it. That makes me smile! She already has me on the edge of my seat as I watch hurricanes come marching in like ants in a storm (I'm sorry, but I now have the song in my head).

... clearing mind of "the ants go marching one by one..." ...

Ok, back...

3. This next blogger is new to my bloggy haunts, but I cannot get enough of her! Her humor, and her love of her boys makes me smile, and makes me giggle uncontrollably! She also lives in a really rockin' area of this country - Serena at Zip & Tizzy will make your day - and the pictures of her boys (usually hidden by something adorned on their heads) will warm your heart.

4. Jessica at Thoughtful Reflections makes me think. Sometimes harder than I want to. Sometimes in such a humorous way that I nearly pee my pants -what is it with White Vans anyway? She can get really deep, or she can be a wealth of knowledge. Sometimes she is just really funny.

5. Fadkog over at For A Different Kind of Girl - well I stalk her. And I adore her. She is naughty, and biting, and naughty, but oh so nice. And she says it like it is. And the love for her boys and tool man - unmeasurable (double e intended). Her writing style blows my mind. She makes me smile, and that is what is all about.

So there you have it. I have quite a few others that I would like to give these to, but since it said 5, I will follow the rules laid before me.

And if I could "backs" these awards, I would give them back to Heidi - but since someone beat me to the punch, instead I will leave her with this:


Friday, September 5, 2008

30 Seconds

30 seconds is all it took.

All it took to bring tears to my eyes.

And a wave of memories rush over me at once.

Maybe because it has touched my life so closely.

My mother.

Myself.

My aunts - two of them.

My friends - countless.

People whose names I know well.

People whose names I may have never heard.

I stood up to Cancer.

Did you?

Will you?

It took only 30 seconds for the tears to flow. It took only 30 seconds for the memories to flood.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Name that body part


Name that body part...
(I will hook my scanner up later, but for now you will have to revel in the beauty of this art work via my phone)
ADDED FOR CLARIFICATION:
This was created on the first day of kindergarten in art class. And yes, when asked what that extra line was, well, Jadon's response was as you could imagine.
The best/worst part... his favorite girl is also the daughter of his new art teacher - and a class mate.
My troubles have already begun!


First day!

Today is the first day of school! WAHOOO!


Today was also the first time I have not taken a picture of Mantha with her new teacher. She is starting 5th grade and was all worried that the class bully (who seems to always end up in her class...) would see us and make fun of her. So instead I settled for an outdoor shot as we bolted out of the house on time for once!
The poser and the kindergartner!


I did get one of Jadon with his new teacher though... He won't be let off the hook until he is at least in middle school (which here is 4th grade).

Check out the Thomas lunch bag - he was so excited to bring "cold lunch" to school today. He didn't speak one word to Mrs. R. when we went for conference on Tuesday. The ice breaker today? His Thomas lunch bag.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

1 Month



In one month it will be 7 years.

It feels like yesterday.

It hurts like today.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Ooops!

For two weeks now I have been working on a blog for a club that some other yo'cals and I started almost a year ago. We have had a website, but since I am the webmaster, and don't like to update it, I decided I would do a blog instead. The blog can list upcoming musical and theatrical acts just as easily as a website - but at a bazillion times faster updating, and easier access.

So I worked on it. And I launched it. And I built some "search engine optimizations" on Google, and I published and emailed everyone and their 3rd cousin all about the club's new blog.

...and then...

Two weeks later I discovered it was listed under my personal profile for this blog...

... d'oh ...

The other blog has alot of my personal information on it, including phone numbers, addresses, and nearly my name-rank-serial number.

Attached to a blog where I talk about my kids by name.

Talk about throwing ANY sense of anonymity out the proverbial door.

Needless to say, I have removed "that blog" from my profile. I do not want to have to rebuild it from scratch, so until I figure out how to transfer it from my existing email/user information to something else (does anyone know - can I just add myself as a new manager with new log in information, and then remove my old self?) its only going to be public to those who know about it.

Bummer.