Today is my birthday. For the past 30 minutes, after a too long absence from my blog, I have been writing out my story of how this weekend has been one of the best weekends of my life. But all around me the boys are starting to get up one by one, and Hubs is packing the cooler and folding the beach towels to get to the beach. I should get ready too and load up the dishwasher at my brother/sister-in-laws house by the beach, south of the Space Center.
Last week was one of the hardest work weeks ever. Yet it was sweet. Every year, the whole year long, I look forward to the week in June where Hubs takes the boys to Florida ahead of me and I get to be in charge of the TV, I barely cook, I run one load in the dishwasher and clothes washer and do what I want in my own house.
It is always heaven. This year I am at a job that I like but it is also very demanding with announcements every day, processes changing, new clients to figure out, trainings to always take and more. So I worked day and night to be ready for a week off. By the way, Hubs took the laptop which has the bathroom redo photos so the photos of the rest of the bathroom will be posted in July.
A couple of months ago when asked what I wanted to do for my big birthday I said, oh nothing much--I just want to be at the beach and do things with my sister-in-laws as well.
Well, I had no idea what a plan that was in the works. I knew that as typical my birthday is a day apart from Father's Day so I knew that some of the big family was going to be gathered and some gold guy plans were being made as well as surfing. As for us women, I had no idea what was going on but 3 weeks ago, the sister-in-law whose house I am at now, came to Atlanta (with Hubs' bro) on their way to NC. That is when she started to weaver her story that was going to grow and grow and be used successfully to surprise the sandals off of me this weekend.
But all I knew three weeks ago is I was told that most of the sister in laws could make it but not all (there are 6 of us plus a mother in law) but that I was to think of an item that I loved and buy 6 of them (under $10 each) and we were going to share our favorite things such as a small lotion or fave nail polish, etc.
Readers, I was blown away by the celebration that awaited me....a few days before actually turning 50. The plan worked--turns out that my sister-in-law was a hidden actress and it was a great plan to have me drive 8 hours, great with with a glass of wine and that evening there was laughing and crying. It was incredible. I promise....more to come!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Talking in the New Bathroom
Now that it is summer, Hubs and I are still spending an hour at night talking about our day or The Boys. Lately we talk about how the time is flying and how in two short years we will have a high school grad. And how if we thought in the past only as far as getting through high school, how it won't stop--we will be thinking now and talking about how will our Oldest get through the next stage--learning to be on his own.
I realized last night that I need to have a chaise lounge or chair or at least a bench in our bathroom because Hubs gets this second wind after watching TV at night and me doing other things, we then start chatting away in the bathroom and I end up standing by my sink while he showers and I just keep standing there and I told him last night we needed a chair for me.
And then I realized that I never shared photos of the bathroom redo.
The first and biggest impact is the entry. We have a large bedroom and the doorway to the bathroom was ridiculously narrow. To the right of the doorway was our closet, which was large and had a built in, narrow shelf area. You can see in this photo if you look at the ceiling that is where the wall used to be. you can also see the crazy, ugly gold-striped wall paper.
On the floor of the bathroom there used to be carpeting up till the sink area and then it was an off-white smallish tile. Our bathroom of 6 years (for us) was a sight of crazy twists and turns and placement to everyone who ever saw it. Here is the entry now:
The wallpaper was glued to drywall and so every wall came down and was replaced by new drywall. The French doors into the bathroom were painted a brownish paint by Hubs. He was tired of using stain on some other doors and the door trims. So, no more skinny entry up to the double sink.
On the right side of the entry is still the closet but is smaller now but still a large walk-in and it is Hubs' closet. One of my sister-in-laws was aghast to hear his closet is bigger than mine but it is all good because he shares. Hubs is very proud of the closet doors that he stained and his idea to use pocket doors now. Here's his:
I am most amazed at the sink area. I didn't take a before photo. Trust me, it was hideous. The double sinks and counter were yellowish and the counter was some old, manmade material. The vanity was solid wood and so Hubs took it to the garage and stained it much darker. Then we looked into a granite top and decided a less expensive and faster solution was marble tile and trim. The sinks were simple and just $35 from Home Depot. The mirror stayed put but wood, decorative trim was found at Home Deport and Hubs painted it various metallic shades.
Here is our new sink and you can see the frame around the mirror:
Believe me, the sink top in 4 x 4 squares of marble took our handyman only a couple of hours to do and the materials were under $100. The edges themselves cost another $100:
Below is the 28 yr old vanity transformed with some sanding, stain and new hardware, sitting on top of 16 x 16 tiles.
My side of the sink is on the left and now that we have a wide entry leading to the sink area, this is where I need a chair or soft bench. To the right of the vanity is the shower where Hubs gets talkative and I am left standing by the sink engaging in conversation. Next up is the shower and bathtub.
I realized last night that I need to have a chaise lounge or chair or at least a bench in our bathroom because Hubs gets this second wind after watching TV at night and me doing other things, we then start chatting away in the bathroom and I end up standing by my sink while he showers and I just keep standing there and I told him last night we needed a chair for me.
And then I realized that I never shared photos of the bathroom redo.
The first and biggest impact is the entry. We have a large bedroom and the doorway to the bathroom was ridiculously narrow. To the right of the doorway was our closet, which was large and had a built in, narrow shelf area. You can see in this photo if you look at the ceiling that is where the wall used to be. you can also see the crazy, ugly gold-striped wall paper.
The wallpaper was glued to drywall and so every wall came down and was replaced by new drywall. The French doors into the bathroom were painted a brownish paint by Hubs. He was tired of using stain on some other doors and the door trims. So, no more skinny entry up to the double sink.
On the right side of the entry is still the closet but is smaller now but still a large walk-in and it is Hubs' closet. One of my sister-in-laws was aghast to hear his closet is bigger than mine but it is all good because he shares. Hubs is very proud of the closet doors that he stained and his idea to use pocket doors now. Here's his:
Here is our new sink and you can see the frame around the mirror:
Below is the 28 yr old vanity transformed with some sanding, stain and new hardware, sitting on top of 16 x 16 tiles.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
What 16 Year Old Guys Do for their Birthday
So now we are in the first week of summer and Oldest turns 16 this weekend. He has a group of friends who've hung out since 4th grade. He also has a wider group of friends as he is pretty versatile with people and I asked if he wanted to have a big group over (guys and girls) but he didn't want that. A close friend had his 16th in April and the parents drove a total of 6 boys to TN to raft the Ocoee river--that was so fun for them. Our son has received a golf bag, clubs and shoes from us and 5 boys will be coming over for food and then they will play 18 holes and have three golf carts. You have to have a license for those. After that they will sleep over.
Our son doesn't have his license yet and won't until another month. You have to wait 12 months from when you get your permit. Don't even get me started on the driving. There should have been more of it this past school year for practice. I am still not cool in the car. Just the other day we went out to eat after Youngest's 5th grade promotion and Hubs was up front and I was in the back....a wreck. To be fair, if Hubs wasn't with him--let's say Oldest was alone--I doubt he'd get home unscathed.
(We had a fun impromptu night last night: we dropped the 3
of them off at a driving range--they actually wanted to do this
together--and Hubs and I went to a Mexican restaurant. Then we picked
them up and all went to Sonic for 1/2 price shakes. This is Oldest with his new clubs).
So this week he is in driver's ed. If anyone has visions of how it is offered at high school for free you'd be wrong around here. It is $345 for 4 days of classroom work and then next week or so will be drive time. That is at the high school--or you can certainly sign up at a private place which would have more weekly offerings.
Yesterday he misplaced his wallet which has his Learner's Permit in it. It was in the garage all day and Hubs (who is home due to summer so I have no boundaries from anyone during the day when I am working) asked him 5 times to put it somewhere safe. Well, it couldn't be found. The whole house was in an uproar. Finally I suggested he goes to the big trash bin outside and put on some rubber gloves and I pointed out which plastic trash bag was the day before's kitchen trash. And at the very bottom was his wallet. He was impressed that my suggestion proved correct. So yeah, he threw it in the trash. Sometimes there is a dish in the pantry, that kind of stuff.
He is also looking for a part time job. He applied at some grocery stores and some golf ranges. he thinks we are crazy when we suggest a myriad of places as we drive through town. He applied at a Smoothie place where he knows a girl. That mgr asked him to come back with a resume (!!) So I had to help him with that. We suggested that today he stop in to ask again. He thinks we are nuts but maybe a little part of him knows we may have a clue (?) And now he is wondering what he will do if two places at once call him and want him to work. What will he do!
(youngest--he is a mini-Oldest))
Despite the stressful school year and the stressful first week of summer vacay, I treasure my Oldest, who has a keen eye for people and nuances. I tell him we are learning with him every step of the way.
Our son doesn't have his license yet and won't until another month. You have to wait 12 months from when you get your permit. Don't even get me started on the driving. There should have been more of it this past school year for practice. I am still not cool in the car. Just the other day we went out to eat after Youngest's 5th grade promotion and Hubs was up front and I was in the back....a wreck. To be fair, if Hubs wasn't with him--let's say Oldest was alone--I doubt he'd get home unscathed.
So this week he is in driver's ed. If anyone has visions of how it is offered at high school for free you'd be wrong around here. It is $345 for 4 days of classroom work and then next week or so will be drive time. That is at the high school--or you can certainly sign up at a private place which would have more weekly offerings.
Yesterday he misplaced his wallet which has his Learner's Permit in it. It was in the garage all day and Hubs (who is home due to summer so I have no boundaries from anyone during the day when I am working) asked him 5 times to put it somewhere safe. Well, it couldn't be found. The whole house was in an uproar. Finally I suggested he goes to the big trash bin outside and put on some rubber gloves and I pointed out which plastic trash bag was the day before's kitchen trash. And at the very bottom was his wallet. He was impressed that my suggestion proved correct. So yeah, he threw it in the trash. Sometimes there is a dish in the pantry, that kind of stuff.
He is also looking for a part time job. He applied at some grocery stores and some golf ranges. he thinks we are crazy when we suggest a myriad of places as we drive through town. He applied at a Smoothie place where he knows a girl. That mgr asked him to come back with a resume (!!) So I had to help him with that. We suggested that today he stop in to ask again. He thinks we are nuts but maybe a little part of him knows we may have a clue (?) And now he is wondering what he will do if two places at once call him and want him to work. What will he do!
Despite the stressful school year and the stressful first week of summer vacay, I treasure my Oldest, who has a keen eye for people and nuances. I tell him we are learning with him every step of the way.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Middle's Milestone
My Middle Son finished 8th grade this week. There was no fanfare for this at school--although for the students a few weeks ago there was an 8th Grade after school Social with dancing in the gym.
He is growing the most around here physically. Several months ago in the winter I looked in the kitchen and I Seriously got startled wondering who was that man at our kitchen sink. For a second I thought we had a stranger in the kitchen or it was some neighbor's contractor that Hubs typically had asked to come to our house to look and and quote on something:
When he told us at dinner that he was going to stay after school two days a week for this and asked for rides home those days Hubs said, "What is her name?" (heeheehee) When I would pick him up it did seem as if he was the only boy--there were about 22 girls and 4 boys.
A few weeks ago he told me there would be an end-of-season banquet after school and could I sign up to bring a dish. I said sure. That day was hectic as usual and I had to stop work a couple hours early and take Oldest to a doc appt, but first had to drop off the food I made to the middle school, and then go to doc appt and then go back to middle school to get Middle son after his banquet. All the while I was impatient and grumbling inside about how I needed to have been doing work stuff and why did I have to sign up to make food when I should have just sent him to school with a bag of chips.
When we got to the Middle School, I thought I would go in and Middle would be done, so Oldest stayed in the car. I went into the cafeteria and saw those 22 girls and 4 boys and a couple of high school volunteers, two middle school teachers, a high school teacher and about 2 or 3 parents. I saw that the teachers and high schoolers were presenting each student with a paper certificate to each kid and said a blurb about them. At first I was impatient but then calmed down and was humbled by what was going on in this cafeteria.
What I saw in front of me were really good, kind kids and thoughtful, caring teachers. Because you know I bitch about teachers and the curriculum a lot. One teacher then began to hand out extra-special gifts (gift cards to restaurants) to some kids who had reached milestones. She then began to say she had an acknowledgement for someone who was the only 8th grade boy to sign up for cross country (I knew then this was my son), who never complained when she asked him to do something, and helped out with things she wanted him to do with the 6th graders even it was not cool and seemed young for him. She said he has a quiet demeanor and to not forget that a leader does not have to be someone who draws attention by being loud--that you can be quiet and lead by example.
I was so glad that I made it there, unintended to see the end of his social banquet,--such a good reminder of the students and teachers who stay behind after school for each other, and it made my heart swell that other people think of my son as highly as I do. Even if he is often under the radar.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
This Mom is Ready for Middle School
This last year of Youngest's elem school years has been the year where my eyes have been opened to many things. It has also been tough with our guinea pig in high school (he paves the way for us parents learning along with him).
Here are a couple of examples of how I am ready to be done with some elem school interactions.
Yesterday I posted about how Youngest was getting ready to have the 5th grade promotion ceremony. I shared how there is a group of parents whom we know well on the "parents of our son's friends and sports teams" level--for the last 6 years our kids have had countless birthday parties, team sports and school events. These parents have come over and vice versa to pick up kids from sleep overs.
Last night after the promotion ceremony, I saw one of these moms on the road at a red light so I rolled down the window, smiling and casually said, "Hi, where are you guys off to now?" -- knowing that many families including us we off to dinner. It never occurred to me what she said next. She replied, "Oh yeah, I am in the wrong lane but I will be eventually turning left and then we will be at (Name of Restaurant) but we may be a few mins late." So the mom clique is showing up all together at a restaurant. Maybe they know that Hubs is not interested at all in seeing the 5th graders at dinner that he sees all day. That is prob why these interactions are so uncomfortable. They know I am married to a teacher there.
Another example of how I need to move on and focus on other things is I don't sugar coat any more--I have always been very honest if someone asks me a question but it seems more often I say what is in my mind. It may be because at work I deal with clients and have to be very diplomatic and then after work hours I go in overdrive......
Another one of these parents sent me an email the other day to invite Youngest to a b-day party. So that was nice. I have to add that Youngest is very funny and popular despite some loser kids telling him he looked like a nerd the other day. His friends are good kids. She had recently found my own email address and she states this, "Hi, I want to invite Youngest to a Bday party and I just found your email. I sent the invite to your husband's work email. In case he is not good with these things, please have him forward it to you."
So last night I saw her and I thanked her for the invite and that son will attend. She says, "I also sent the invite to your husband's email but I heard your husband isn't good about reading his email."
And I said, "Yeah, he doesn't sit in front of his work laptop during the day at all when he is teaching the students. You have to wonder about the teachers who do see emails right away during the day and reply back right away."
I wanted to include that he leaves for work at 6:30 a.m. and returns most days at 5:00 or 5:30 after tutoring many kids after school for free because the county will go after him if everyone does not do well on the multiple std tests with the biggie one in April and also because he is a male teacher he ends up with the discipline-issue students who are challenging to turn your back on for even five minutes.
You know that adage about how a person can bad-mouth their mother but it is not cool to say anything bad about the mom to that person? Well, you can badmouth my mom all you want--I don't care. But for parents who have no clue about the work that goes into the behind the scenes duties of the teacher (even having to eat their lunch with their students) when there is not a school party or field trip going on, well, it ruffles my feathers.
Today after school is a pool party in a nearby n'hood for all of these kids and since my son is friends with them I will be there (Hubs gets to go to a teacher only party they have organized). I say this is my last post on this subject, but the heat and a Corona or two may be a combination that may add to my menopausal je ne sais quoi bluntness this afternoon.......
Back to what is most important, I was so proud of Youngest last night. I did not get out of control with any tears. However, toward the end, when the principal thanks the 5th grade teachers for their hard work, I did get teary eyed. When you have a school that changes principals and many other aspects year after year, remember it is the teachers that are the glue.
Congrats youngest on a most excellent elem school record, at which you are a good friend to all, and were most patient this year to all who were in the inclusion class in your class.
(It cracks me up that he covered his face but left an eyeball peeking out).
Here are a couple of examples of how I am ready to be done with some elem school interactions.
Yesterday I posted about how Youngest was getting ready to have the 5th grade promotion ceremony. I shared how there is a group of parents whom we know well on the "parents of our son's friends and sports teams" level--for the last 6 years our kids have had countless birthday parties, team sports and school events. These parents have come over and vice versa to pick up kids from sleep overs.
Last night after the promotion ceremony, I saw one of these moms on the road at a red light so I rolled down the window, smiling and casually said, "Hi, where are you guys off to now?" -- knowing that many families including us we off to dinner. It never occurred to me what she said next. She replied, "Oh yeah, I am in the wrong lane but I will be eventually turning left and then we will be at (Name of Restaurant) but we may be a few mins late." So the mom clique is showing up all together at a restaurant. Maybe they know that Hubs is not interested at all in seeing the 5th graders at dinner that he sees all day. That is prob why these interactions are so uncomfortable. They know I am married to a teacher there.
Another example of how I need to move on and focus on other things is I don't sugar coat any more--I have always been very honest if someone asks me a question but it seems more often I say what is in my mind. It may be because at work I deal with clients and have to be very diplomatic and then after work hours I go in overdrive......
Another one of these parents sent me an email the other day to invite Youngest to a b-day party. So that was nice. I have to add that Youngest is very funny and popular despite some loser kids telling him he looked like a nerd the other day. His friends are good kids. She had recently found my own email address and she states this, "Hi, I want to invite Youngest to a Bday party and I just found your email. I sent the invite to your husband's work email. In case he is not good with these things, please have him forward it to you."
And I said, "Yeah, he doesn't sit in front of his work laptop during the day at all when he is teaching the students. You have to wonder about the teachers who do see emails right away during the day and reply back right away."
I wanted to include that he leaves for work at 6:30 a.m. and returns most days at 5:00 or 5:30 after tutoring many kids after school for free because the county will go after him if everyone does not do well on the multiple std tests with the biggie one in April and also because he is a male teacher he ends up with the discipline-issue students who are challenging to turn your back on for even five minutes.
You know that adage about how a person can bad-mouth their mother but it is not cool to say anything bad about the mom to that person? Well, you can badmouth my mom all you want--I don't care. But for parents who have no clue about the work that goes into the behind the scenes duties of the teacher (even having to eat their lunch with their students) when there is not a school party or field trip going on, well, it ruffles my feathers.
Today after school is a pool party in a nearby n'hood for all of these kids and since my son is friends with them I will be there (Hubs gets to go to a teacher only party they have organized). I say this is my last post on this subject, but the heat and a Corona or two may be a combination that may add to my menopausal je ne sais quoi bluntness this afternoon.......
Back to what is most important, I was so proud of Youngest last night. I did not get out of control with any tears. However, toward the end, when the principal thanks the 5th grade teachers for their hard work, I did get teary eyed. When you have a school that changes principals and many other aspects year after year, remember it is the teachers that are the glue.
Congrats youngest on a most excellent elem school record, at which you are a good friend to all, and were most patient this year to all who were in the inclusion class in your class.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
I'm Not As Sad As I Thought About End of Elementary School
This past weekend was full of activities around our youngest son, age 11, a soon-to-be promoted elem school kid.
I am not the best mom about getting my kids or me to needed appts and a couple weeks ago I finally got both of us to the eye doc for an annual visit. he is our only son who wears glasses. Sidenote: at his summer-before-Kindergarten check-up I was told his vision was horrible. Imagine how bad I felt. Turns out his right eye had such poor vision that it pretty much had shut down which is why it looked off-center in some photos. The left eye worked hard to compensate. He got glasses in Kindergarten and after school and on weekends when he watched TV or played video games, we put a patch over his left eye. I am very happy to say that it worked because in the beginning of 4th grade we were told he no longer needed to patch.
This summer he will get an appt for contacts but for now he got "Ray Bans" in black:
He wore them to school yesterday and when I asked if anyone said anything he told me that certain kids told him he looked like a nerd and a geek. If you think that I replied with an age appropriate and politically correct response you would think wrong.
Today I dropped him off at school, for the second to last time. I never took the other two boys to school -- they went with Dad or the bus--but now I have the schedule that allows for it--here he is telling me, "Please, no flash photography."
Then, Saturday morning Hubs and I got up early and took Youngest to the Peachtree Jr. Road Race in Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta. Hubs and I used to live near there in our DualIncomeNoKids days and it is always a beautiful day. Youngests' school has 100 kids who run it and they stay after school and practice for the 2-mile run for 6 weeks prior. He and his friends have run it since 1st grade.
But I have to say I am very OK with this race being a past memory now. I would tell you about the local ladies who left their nearby homes with three kids in $1,000 strollers that almost ran me over in the crowd but you'd think I was really ugly so I won't.
And then Sunday afternoon was his last elem school, team sport--flag football. He really enjoyed it but what got to us is that it is every Sunday afternoon from 2:30-4:30. It was even going to be held on Mother's Day but it rained and then got cancelled. One weekend I enticed Hubs to go without me so that I could get stuff done. I'll do anything for this kid, but I was over the three other moms, whom I have known since Kindergarten, whose boys are all in Boy Scouts but mine aren't, and who ask Hubs questions about school, and who leave me out of their click, as nice as I am, initiating conversations, being polite. Last Sunday was a prime example--I gave Hubs the side-eyed head maneuver indicating there they were in a huddle chatting about what to expect in 6th grade. Readers, it gets better in middle school sports.
Tonight is the promotion! There will be tears. Hubs has to present his 5th grade class and take photos with his own students. I will be sure to grab him for photos with Youngest. Last year a 4th grade teacher told my Youngest that he must think he is special when he told her that I was arriving to get him early and he wanted to go up front. Yes he is very, very special.
I am not the best mom about getting my kids or me to needed appts and a couple weeks ago I finally got both of us to the eye doc for an annual visit. he is our only son who wears glasses. Sidenote: at his summer-before-Kindergarten check-up I was told his vision was horrible. Imagine how bad I felt. Turns out his right eye had such poor vision that it pretty much had shut down which is why it looked off-center in some photos. The left eye worked hard to compensate. He got glasses in Kindergarten and after school and on weekends when he watched TV or played video games, we put a patch over his left eye. I am very happy to say that it worked because in the beginning of 4th grade we were told he no longer needed to patch.
This summer he will get an appt for contacts but for now he got "Ray Bans" in black:
Today I dropped him off at school, for the second to last time. I never took the other two boys to school -- they went with Dad or the bus--but now I have the schedule that allows for it--here he is telling me, "Please, no flash photography."
But I have to say I am very OK with this race being a past memory now. I would tell you about the local ladies who left their nearby homes with three kids in $1,000 strollers that almost ran me over in the crowd but you'd think I was really ugly so I won't.
And then Sunday afternoon was his last elem school, team sport--flag football. He really enjoyed it but what got to us is that it is every Sunday afternoon from 2:30-4:30. It was even going to be held on Mother's Day but it rained and then got cancelled. One weekend I enticed Hubs to go without me so that I could get stuff done. I'll do anything for this kid, but I was over the three other moms, whom I have known since Kindergarten, whose boys are all in Boy Scouts but mine aren't, and who ask Hubs questions about school, and who leave me out of their click, as nice as I am, initiating conversations, being polite. Last Sunday was a prime example--I gave Hubs the side-eyed head maneuver indicating there they were in a huddle chatting about what to expect in 6th grade. Readers, it gets better in middle school sports.
Tonight is the promotion! There will be tears. Hubs has to present his 5th grade class and take photos with his own students. I will be sure to grab him for photos with Youngest. Last year a 4th grade teacher told my Youngest that he must think he is special when he told her that I was arriving to get him early and he wanted to go up front. Yes he is very, very special.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
30 Till Fifty
On Tuesday this past week I had to fly to Houston and back in one day for work. I decided to buy some new flat shoes since I would have a long day, leaving the house at 5:30 am and returning at 10:00 p.m. I decided to buy new shoes (I have stayed out of store since January 1st other than a new coffee cup for me and a new top--both in yellow). I was busy the day before the trip, otherwise I may have flown the day before and worn sneakers. My new shoes that felt Really comfortable at the store with memory foam and all, and look how nicely they matched my big bag:
By 6:20 am walking across the Atlanta airport parking lot toward the terminal, my heels were already sore. By the time I got to my rental car in Houston they were cut. By the time I landed back in Atlanta that night I am surprised I didn't leave drops of blood behind me. After my meeting in Houston I went into a Walgreens and bought Band-Aids. They helped a little. But I was in agony back in the Atlanta airport and took them off as soon as I got outside and finished the long walk through the parking lot to my car.
When I got home I went straight into a bath but I had to handwash my feet as they were too sore to be in the water. I took some photos but I don't want to gross anyone out. Sleeping has been hard but it is getting better.
And I so appreciate working from home except for the once in a while traveling--and I have learned my lesson not to wear new shoes at least without padding in the heel. So, one day here and there traveling (and now I can add Houston to the list of airports with TSA personnel that have touched me) and otherwise I am home barefoot. And braless.
It is almost a year since I was laid off from a job that I had for almost 3 years. I couldn't stand it. I remind myself weekly how fortunate I am to no longer be there and be here instead. There was a 70 year old man who had an office next to mine and every day he ate his lunch that he brought and it included a yogurt such as Yoplait that he ate with a plastic spoon. Every day as he finished his yogurt, he'd scrape the bottom of that yogurt container about 100 times. Scrape, scrape, scrape. I wanted to rip my hair out and yell, "There's no yogurt left!" I would tell the whole family about it at dinner--weekly. They know that noises sometimes drive me insane. Just the other day my Oldest son scraped his yogurt container at me with a side-eyed smile. We laughed and laughed.
This is a monumental year. Hubs and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. Our Oldest son turns 16 in a couple of weeks. Our Youngest son finishes his elementary years and there will be no more sons at school with Hubs. Our Middle son finishes middle school and I turn 50. In 30 days.
I have heard that it takes 21 days of doing something to form a habit. I am going to get some things done in 30 days. Blog more. Take the vitamins I bought. Do the new Shred video I bought. Do one thing for me every day. Hmmm, I'm supposed to take a test in a month and I haven't studied for it yet--have to fit that in too.
I'm cooling my heels today, but tomorrow I start the countdown.
By 6:20 am walking across the Atlanta airport parking lot toward the terminal, my heels were already sore. By the time I got to my rental car in Houston they were cut. By the time I landed back in Atlanta that night I am surprised I didn't leave drops of blood behind me. After my meeting in Houston I went into a Walgreens and bought Band-Aids. They helped a little. But I was in agony back in the Atlanta airport and took them off as soon as I got outside and finished the long walk through the parking lot to my car.
When I got home I went straight into a bath but I had to handwash my feet as they were too sore to be in the water. I took some photos but I don't want to gross anyone out. Sleeping has been hard but it is getting better.
And I so appreciate working from home except for the once in a while traveling--and I have learned my lesson not to wear new shoes at least without padding in the heel. So, one day here and there traveling (and now I can add Houston to the list of airports with TSA personnel that have touched me) and otherwise I am home barefoot. And braless.
It is almost a year since I was laid off from a job that I had for almost 3 years. I couldn't stand it. I remind myself weekly how fortunate I am to no longer be there and be here instead. There was a 70 year old man who had an office next to mine and every day he ate his lunch that he brought and it included a yogurt such as Yoplait that he ate with a plastic spoon. Every day as he finished his yogurt, he'd scrape the bottom of that yogurt container about 100 times. Scrape, scrape, scrape. I wanted to rip my hair out and yell, "There's no yogurt left!" I would tell the whole family about it at dinner--weekly. They know that noises sometimes drive me insane. Just the other day my Oldest son scraped his yogurt container at me with a side-eyed smile. We laughed and laughed.
This is a monumental year. Hubs and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. Our Oldest son turns 16 in a couple of weeks. Our Youngest son finishes his elementary years and there will be no more sons at school with Hubs. Our Middle son finishes middle school and I turn 50. In 30 days.
I have heard that it takes 21 days of doing something to form a habit. I am going to get some things done in 30 days. Blog more. Take the vitamins I bought. Do the new Shred video I bought. Do one thing for me every day. Hmmm, I'm supposed to take a test in a month and I haven't studied for it yet--have to fit that in too.
I'm cooling my heels today, but tomorrow I start the countdown.
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