GenX grows Up

Can-Dy, Can-Dy, CAN-DY!

2006-11-02T12:54:00.000-05:00

Let the sugar meltdown commence -

Kit-kats and rollos and lifesaver gummies,
Snickers and Crunch bars and gold chocolate money.
Skittles and Milk Duds, that gum up your teeth,
These are a few of my favorite things....

UGH!

NaBloPoMo

2006-11-01T14:52:00.000-05:00

http://www.fussy.org/nablopomo

Yup - a post a day - no matter how stupid. Halloween - OVER, in the can, see ya next year. Christmas - less than two months away from crazy holiday happiness.

I love Christmas - I absolutely love it. It's the one bright thing in the middle of dark days and cold days/nights. I love the lights and the decorations. I love teh cooking and camaraderie. I love the holiday parties and the excuses to shop for all my loved ones. I love the time together decorating and picking out a tree at our favorite place. I love the christmas movies - all the old Christmas Carol versions (the 1938 or the 1951? 51, of course, and then there's the 1984 with George C. Scott) and It's a Wonderful Life, The Grinch and it goes on and on.

If you like to be organized, you can go to the organized christmas website and get it all together. But if you're like me, you'll be running around on the 23rd like a chicken with your head cut off.

And don't forget to google some personalized santa letters for the kids!!!

Moving On

2006-10-11T16:11:00.000-05:00

Some major stuff has been happenin over here. Within the last week, my dad lost his job, my friend lost her baby, and a friend's mom is being checked for cancer. I hung out with a friend from England (and her two kids who were sweet but a little wound up - NOTE: I'm being very kind here) and we went to the pumpkin farm. I drove to Indiana BY MYSELF - no help from another driver and no kids - it was a mixed bag, by the time I got home, I had to lay in bed for almost 2 days straight.

My cat has fleas, thus all of us have flea bites, especially me, around our ankles. They. Drive. Me. (scratch, scratch) Crazy.

I tried to quit my job, but I think they don't believe me. LL puked so he missed another day of school. We were supposed to go out of town this weekend for Big A's job, but he has a deadline, so that might not happen. Phew - I'm overloaded.
This is, of course, in addition to soccer, volunteering, laundry - lots o' it (b/c you know, fleas...), cooking, and all the normal whatnot.

And this crazy squirrel was terrorizing me!!!

Sooo....
As a stress reliever I watch Project Runway. Project Runway, for those of you living in a hole (or without cable, which is the same as living in a hole), is on Bravo on Wednesday nights at 10pm. In case you miss it, I'm sure they will repeat it about 50 times, so no worries about missing that show.

The hook is that they bring in 16 (?) designers and each week they have a design challenge ("Make It Work, People"). For example, one week they had to make an outfit for a jetsetter, and had to get on a plane and fly to Paris and be judged on how well their design withstood the jet and the setting. It rocked.

So tonight is the beginning of the finals - they have 4 finalists, who each get to show at Olympus fashion week. Even if you aren't into fashion, which Big A could wear plaid flannel with flannel lined jeans every day, you could watch for all the D-R-A-M-A. This gay guy, argues with that gay guy, and whoa, that bitchy Angela got in the way. You, know, the interesting part of tv!
So, I'm rooting for Jeffrey or Michael. I do not like Uli - she's soo, Miami (one-dimensional).
But Jeffrey, seriously, he's hardcore. You have to vote for guy who designs fashion AND has tattoos on his neck!

Overload

2006-09-28T12:09:00.000-05:00

The page is blank and my brain is just that... blank.

I'm working on overload and can't form a clear thought. LL is sick today with a fever - yup, a high fever. He always seems to shoot right up there to 103, 104 and hang up there hot and heavy for a day or so. Then it comes down, fast, and everything is back to normal. I'm one of those 'crunchy' types who like to let the fever run it's course without giving medicine, if at all possible. So LL is toughin it out up in our bedroom, watching Star Wars I for the umpteenth time - it's tough to give up a day of school.

Kitty did NOT want to miss school today (thank God! that's a first!) because they were having a 'fluff' party - not what you're thinking, dirty mind!! - they get rewards for being good in class, like extra recess, bringing a stuffed animal, etc. Today they get to wear a costume. Last week, Kitty spent her money to pay for half of this snow princess costume at Target. She looks just like the girl!!

But really, things are pretty crazy around here with soccer practice 2 nights a week, games on Saturdays, and all the other crap we're doing (swim lessons, picnics, travel, volunteering at school, etc.). Meanwhile, Big A is working lots of hours AND trying to get his tude back in line.

Me? Well, I'm excited because I have a friend who's helping me organize my crap. What a good friend! She's helping me go through drawers and cabinets and such and I'm loving it! Sometimes, you need another pair of eyes to say "What are you going to do with all this crap?"

(BTW, notice all the crap behind Kitty in the picture above - it's like that everywhere in our house!! It will take months to get through this - my friend has no idea what she's in for!)

HMM, Monday

2006-09-18T13:32:00.000-05:00

Hi there, blog.

Long time, no write.

Yeah?

I know. I know.

Please forgive me.

Have been fighting colds and trying to give Big A a nice birthday.

Yeah, thanks. I hope we get better soon, too. Kitty is home from school today - a big stretch for her (sarcasm, sarcasm).

What's that? Does she like kindergarten? Oh, Noooo! She does not like kindergarten. It's boring and she doesn't get to make any of her own choices. Life's tough when you're 5. And, yes, as adults, it's hard to remember that we have choices that brought us to where we are in our life.

Yup,... and that brings me to Big A's birthday. I think he wound up having a good birthday in the end - we found $1 sushi at an ultra-trendy, uber hip club where management was hovering over the 'crowd' (I use that term loosely) while we ate and drank sake bombs. It's so rare for us to go out anymore, and I was not in the mood. Usually, I'm the one who wants to go, go, go, but I had worked that day, done a bunch of errands, played after school with kids and taken LL to soccer practice. I was too pooped and for some strange reason was worried that I was not trendy enough to go to this club.

I don't know why I cared about being trendy enough. Really, it wouldn't have mattered anyway. This place was trying so hard. They kept checking to see if Big A was done with his sushi so they could clear the tables and put out the champagne buckets. LAME. Maybe I'm getting too old for this stuff, OR maybe it's the fact that I've never been trendy and never will be and we just wanted cheap sushi. BUT, I think Big A had a good day and the ice cream cake from Cold Stone didn't hurt.

And since I haven't yet included a picture of Big A online - here is one. You're nice looking for a 36 year old man - you're aging gracefully, and I think I'll still keep ya.

Photo Fun

2006-09-13T13:57:00.000-05:00

Ok, today I learned how to upload photos to my blog. Watch out Blogosphere!

We can see New Jersey from here!

Some statue of some Civil War guy, yadda, yadda (well, ok, it was Stonewall Jackson at Bull Run but, I'm a Yankee, I don't care about Stonewall)

Let's all go to the International House of Pancakes! Mmm, Rooty Tutti Fresh 'N Fruity

Um, we passed this building like 3 or 4 times unintentionally - it looked way more interesting in person

Write something witty here....

Kitty says - take the picture before my teeth freeze together!!

Yeah, it's just you. You're eyes must be going.

What? No, the picture isn't small to me...

Why do you ask?

I am wasting time...

2006-09-06T13:22:00.000-05:00

I am wasting time, because I can and then I will waste more time tomorrow until 3:45 when I pick up the kids and then all hell breaks loose!

I'm sitting around, eating fancy chocolates and making myself coctails and lounging in my lingerie, waiting for the knight on the white horse to come by and.... wait, whoa, that's another, very private dream....

er, ahem....

I'm really just wasting time on the internet because my kids are both in school now - one in kindergarten and one in second grade. I'm a soccer mom b/c they are both in soccer too! I drive a mini-van. When did I lose my edge?!! Did I ever have an edge?!!
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We survived the funeral in DC and even managed to have a good time too. My uncle wasn't always the nicest guy, but hey, he loved me, so who cares if he liked any one else! We laughed, we didn't cry, because we don't really do that in my family, but we did eat food. Lots of food. Now I am, as they say in some countries, El-Blurbo! Seniorita El-Blurbo to you.

My kids are master travelers now, having traveled to the East Coast and back a few times now. And, no, we do not use a DVD player in the car for trips. I know we are like the last people to do it, but dammit, if I didn't have a portable DVD when I was a kid, then neither will they! They will suffer with tapeplayer walkmans, just like everyone else who vacationed in the 80s! F**$ progress! (ok, I did let them listen to Crazy Frog on my mp3, b/c OMG, did you know my kids talk non-stop?!! NON_STOP!!! On the way home from Jersey, LL talked for 2 1/2 hours STRAIGHT!!! Yes, 2 1/2 hours. We timed him. And we were at that giggly point when everything was funny and he kept saying "What's so funny? Why are we laughing? This is great! And fun... " and he just. could. not. shut. up. So, yes, I did let him listen to music so my ears could take an LL break before I rolled down the windows to scream "TAKE MY SON, SOMEBODY PLEASE. FOR SALE CHEAP!!!"

Another one bites the dust

2006-08-27T18:52:00.000-05:00

Well, internet, I was going to continue posting about my trip to the East Coast - about going the beach with the kiddos and hitting Toys R Us Times Square and all the other drama. And maybe post about the colonoscopy and how I don't have to have another one for 3 years!! 3 years!! Wow!

.... but, during the night, last night, my uncle passed away. My dad's older brother passed on. And so, this week, the week that LL is starting second grade and Kitty is starting full-day kindergarten, we will be going to a funeral in D.C. for my uncle. My uncle, who always called me sweetie, and even though I didn't see him very often - when I did see him, he was great to me. When I had cancer, he called and made sure I was ok. When my brother died, he came out and gave me special attention. He and my other uncle and my dad would make us laugh so hard, that my mom would literally pee her pants. And, he would give me stuff when I saw him, or take us out to eat.

One time, I helped him pack up his stuff to move from Cleveland back to D.C. and I just had my own apartment. I saw a rolled up rug in the closet and asked if I could have it. He said sure - well, it turned out that it was a $700 rug or something. He didn't mean to give me that rug, so he would always ask for it back and it became a running joke, esp since I've had it for 9 years now and it's in my bedroom and I will never have to give it back now.

Sigh.

Oh, and he was a complete flirt! Used to flirt with my girlfriends when I was in college. It was almost embarrassing. But on the other hand, it was cute and fun. And I liked it.

I will miss having him in my life, occassionally at least.
Godspeed, Uncle Dick.

Ha Ha Funny?

2006-08-23T20:40:00.000-05:00

There has got to be something funny about getting a colonoscopy. There are a wealth of jokes about getting a tube up your butt, finally getting all the s&*t out, etc, etc, etc.

Too bad, I'm too busy rushing to the bathroom every two seconds, and can't form any clear thoughts to get those jokes out. Also, am food deprived (clear liquids, etc.) Have gone to the bathroom three times in the last sentence alone.

My only consolation: Everyone gets them...yup, even you.
Bwah-hah-hah-hah, bwah-hah-hah-hah, bwah-hah-hah-hah, bwah-hah-hah-hah, bwah-hah-hah-hah (evil, dr. evil laugh)

I... Love... New York....!!! Part 1

2006-08-19T19:47:00.000-05:00

I love NYC! I love the beach! I love the boardwalk! I love vacation!

Good times! Just back from vacation late last night - lots of sun, sand, spending tons of money, and seeing friends and family.

First off, we went to VA to see my grandad who turned 91 while I was there. To celebrate, we went to, well, the bar, of course! Wouldn't you go out dancing with your grandpappy? The whole place adores him! The owner, the leader of this band, the bartenders, I mean everyone was yelling for Hank! They shuffled him over the bar and bought him shots. And the young ladies love him! I mean, they were lining up to dance with him - yes, a bunch of young, scantily clad, hot blonds. So, Grandad and I were doing shots of Grand Marnier.

Now, Grandad is a short little guy...shorter than me (I'm 5'2") but he can shake those hips, and down the alcohol. I had to pack it in at 2 am because I'm such a lightweight, but he stayed out until 4am! When all of your grandparents are going to getting ready for bed at 7 pm, he hasn't even started his night. You know none of the cool people go to the bar before midnight.

My birthday is the day after his, so you know, we always have to have a nice celebration.
More about the trip in a later post....
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Days of Our Lives - Is anyone else sick of the whole Jack is gonna die storyline?!! How MANY times will Jack die, then not die?

People!

I mean, I have put up with a lot of crap from this show over the years - Roman is John, John is a mercenary, Stefano's alive, he's not alive, Tony is alive, he's not alive, Marlena has a double, then she's possessed by the devil (just plain skipped a few months of viewing there), Claire is Shawn and Belle's but nobody knows it, yet...., but I digress...

What's the deal with Jack? Frankly, I just don't even care anymore! Just get that storyline over! I'm done with it!

....

But really, what did I miss while I was gone?

Mistakes that make your stomach drop

2006-08-09T19:12:00.000-05:00

Have you ever made a mistake that made your stomach drop?

Yup. I hate that.
Like today, when I sent this one url to some of my friends and family and then one of them emails back to let me know that the website had totally inappropriate info on the website. Ugh. I just hate that feeling. And there's no taking things back either.

I haven't gotten sucked into email forwarding in a while, but there are always ones that slip through the cracks and you kind of think, why in the world would this person send this to me?! Well, today I am on the other side of that. I do not like that feeling. It sucks.

Breathe a sigh...

2006-08-08T19:27:00.000-05:00

Of relief. I'm clear for the next three months!!!!! YAHOOOEEE! YIPPPEEE! TA-TAU!

And now for something completely different.....

I lOVE this game for the kiddos!!!
http://store.cranium.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_8&products_id=902

Ever play??

What's your favorite game?

Block Party and other news

2006-08-07T18:46:00.000-05:00

I should wear a button that says, "I survived the Block Party of '06"

Nah, we had a good time and really there weren't too many mishaps. One fire incident (sorry Brian). But overall it was a success! The fire truck came! The water balloon toss was fun! The bike parade was cool - even tho LL threw a tantrum at the beginning and missed it - Kitty got to lead the way! The heat, oh, the heat. I melted and melted and melted. And today I'm sore, so sore. Overall, it was a success. I'll have to get new recruits for next year.

Other news: Tomorrow I go to the oncologist. NOT HAPPY about going to the oncologist.

It's been three months since my last check-up and this is just a routine check-up, a necessary evil. Tomorrow they will take bloodwork to let me know if I'm still cancer-free.

Yup, cancer. Colorectal cancer to be exact. I guess it's time to tell my story....

On April 13, 2005, I found out that I had a tumor in my colon (yes, I had had bleeding for over a year that I ignored until we were on a decent health insurance plan and my husband had a job after many months of unemployment). Who thinks you have cancer at 30 with no family history of colon cancer? Not I...

May 5, 2005 (I remember because it was Cinco de Mayo and I couldn't drink!) I had an anastamosis or a colon resection. By then, I knew it was cancerous but it took 5 days to find out that I had Stage 3 colorectal cancer. Stage 3 because one lymph node was involved. After my surgery, they didn't see any traces of cancer in my bloodwork but as a 'preventative' measure, the doctors said i would need five weeks of radiation treatments and six months of chemo. 'Preventative' seemed to take on a whole new meaning.

LL was 5 1/2 and Kitty was just 4. When I was their age, it was my GRANDPARENTS who had cancer, not a parent.

Let me just say that I come from a health oriented culture, not that I've always been healthful. So when I was diagnosed, I got advice from literally around the world from friends, acquaintances, anyone and everyone had advice for what natural health tonic/cure/miracle doo-hickey I could take to cure me. And on the other side, I had my husband's family who said to do exactly what the doctor tells you because they know everything and that is the best thing in the world and doctors are all knowing and can spin the world on their little pinkies!

Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little but you get the idea. So, surgery, radiation and chemo. After months of feeling really great after my surgery (because of my new, improved health rituals), I decided to submit myself to chemo and radiation because **I love my kids and I wanted to do all of the best things to help be around for them in the future and some of those things included using both types of medicine - complementary and traditional.

I didn't give in because of the pressure but because I wanted to do the right thing for my family and not just me personally.

And it's been six months since I ended all of my treatments. I'm now in that 5 year window they give you after you end treatments. You know, the limbo phase before you can officially be declared in remission. It's good to be here, I think.

I am a little concerned b/c that's the nature of this beast. I also have had a slight pain in my back on and off. Might be nothing.

So, here's wishing that tomorrow is a good day and that I will be granted another three months.

**(Oh, yeah, in this process too, it was implied that if I didn't take chemo and radiation, that I didn't love my kids. And to these people, I say, You suck! If you imply that, you obviously live in a hole and deserve 50 lashes).

Some things I like:

2006-08-05T18:11:00.000-05:00

My favorite song (as of today!!): Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

My favorite cheese: Drunken Goat Cheese is da bomb!

My favorite reality show: The Amazing Race - tried to get Big A to apply with me but we missed the deadline by a day!!

My favorite thing to grill: Marinated Asparagus

My favorite drink: I'm liking me some Bacardi O3's right now

My favorite chocolate: Lake Champlain Hot Chocolate and Ghyslain (it's a tie) mmmmmmm - fine chocolates!

It's time to eat dinner - I'm starving!!! (can you tell?)

Columbus Clippers....

2006-08-04T22:58:00.000-05:00

Ring Your Bell!

Cowtown AAA Baseball Rules! Cheap and easy.
Yup, we were down at the Coop tonight. It's a decent time. Kitty (my daughter, not her real name tho) was a squirmy little one and Big A only had one beer so he was bored by the 5th inning. I liked going and LL had a good time too. I think it's fun to hang out at the stadium and watch the game. It's more of my culture (Big A would rather be at the art museum). But maybe when the kids are old they won't need as much therapy since we took them to a sporting event/game or two.

On another note, LL slammed his finger in the car door today and screamed like a baby girl. It just so happened that we were at the dr's office for Kitty's well-child check-up. So, they ushered us right into the back room and gave us a block of ice the size of your head to put on his 'wound'. The 'wound' was one finger with a blood blister under the finger nail. The doctor had to baby him instead of taking care of Kitty for her check-up. The way he carried on the rest of the day, you would think that his whole hand had been caught in the door and he wouldn't be able to move it for weeks.

My impression of LL: The pain, the chills (chills???),.... so weak, must just lay on couch and watch tv or maybe I can get the strength to play on the computer... it.... just.... hurts.... soooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, maybe I'm heartless. I'm a pretty touchy feely mom, real involved, but when I was a kid, there was no way i could carry on like that. I would have heard "Toughen up, kid" for the gazillionth time. So, I lost my patience for the drama about the 263rd time he complained that it hurt so baaad. Ok, maybe he will need the therapy!

Kitty, on the other hand, was a real trooper. She got 3 shots and barely broke a tear at the third one. She did deep breathing to make it all better. I'm impressed.

Oh, the Humanity...

2006-08-01T19:08:00.000-05:00

So a few months ago, when LL started his new school, I started volunteering. At the end of the year, the teacher gave me a gift card to Red Lobster.

Yay, Red Lobster.

No, really..... yay.

I'm happy to have any chance to go out to eat, esp when I don't have to pay.

Except where everything is fried and breaded and cheesy and sticky and you feel like you're rolling yourself out of the booth. The cheesy bread and the cheesy dip (why order a meal when there's dip?) and the iceberg lettuce salad. Why not have a margarita?

And the pant unbuttoning. UGH!

As a side note, I DON'T EAT SHRIMP or LOBSTER because it makes me sick to my stomach - more about this in a post to come. But I was weak, am weak. I am a weak, weak soul. All for the sake of a free meal, I ate shrimp. And now I will pay.

How can something so small make such a big problem!!

Oh, the humanity....

The HEAT... Ugh!

2006-07-31T11:42:00.000-05:00

Temperature: 94 degrees
Heat Index: 101 degrees
How long can 2 young kids stay entertained in a/c? um, 5 minutes? max!

For the umpteenth day this summer, we are going to be stuck in our house sucking in freon. And, yes, this is all my fault. To tell you the truth, the kids couldn't care less about the heat outside. As long as they have someone out there to watch them, they're fine. But, if I but step inside for one moment into the air conditioned bliss... all hell break's loose. The drama, the boredom, on and on.

Friday was the pirate pool party for LL. Big whopping 7 year old.

It was fun but tiring! By Saturday, though, I was beat. For some insane reason, we didn't turn on the a/c that day! WHAT? you say. ARE YOU INSANE? you say.

I know, I know. What were we thinking? Big A doesn't like the a/c so on his days off I really try to avoid it. By 8pm I was toast. We walked to this festival that's about 3 blocks from our house.
I came home dripping in sweat and about lost it. And if mommy ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

Soo, in order to keep the peace, Big A complied and ever since then, we've had the blessed coolness on.

Now, how to entertain the kiddos. For some reason, this was the birthday of missiles and firearms (nerf, of course).

Since you don't know, Big A is the biggest pacifist I have ever met. I am pretty close but throw in the occasional water gun and I'm ok. We had the hugest problem when our preschool allowed sword play.

So this is huge.

The cross bow I can work with but there is no way that I can deal with the toy gun. It's totally lifelike and everything. Unfortunately, LL broke it out while I was sleeping Sat morning. I plan to return it but am missing 1 (yes, only 1) of the darts, lost somewhere in the black hole of my house and I can't return it until I have all of the pieces!!!! One lousy orange dart! Bleh!

On a Rant, Mommy style

2006-07-29T13:53:00.000-05:00

So I just read this http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14065706/?GT1=8307 and it's got me a little steamed.
People are outraged because someone is breastfeeding a baby on the cover of this (free) magazine. They think it's 'disgusting' and 'sexual'. One person turned the mag over and another thought it was gross.
And these are all women, people!
Mothers...who had/have babies.... and who think it's gross to feed their child from their body.
AND, God forbid, if they do nurse them, they would NEVER do it in public. Because, you know, babies should be hidden away maybe in a bathroom or car when they eat so that no man could possibly get turned on by it. Because it should be the mother's or the baby's problem if a man really likes watching breastfeeding.
I mean, how disgusting to see a child eat they way children have eaten for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. I've seen some disgusting eaters in my time (hello, Golden Corral, I mean you!) and believe me, when a baby nurses, it's not disgusting.
Alright, so obviously I breastfed my kids. And I don't find it to be disgusting or nasty. I could go on and on about the bennies from breastfeeding, blah, blah, blah.... and really, in the 3+ years I did, no one ever told me to stop or to move. So what's my problem? It's just that articles like these just show how scared people are in the US about themselves and others. They are so scared that saying one thing is 'ok' might lead to a whole other slew of things they weren't prepared to take on so they 'throw the baby out with the bathwater' (pun intended).
Really they need to get off their high horse and join the rest of the world.
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On another note - Thursday was the 10 year anniversary of my brother's death. Ten years. Ten. Whole. Years.
Sigh.
I miss him - I miss that he hasn't met my kids or played with them. That they will never know their Uncle Jim. That they have no natural aunts or uncles. That he hasn't known me for most of my 20s and none of my 30s so far. That he didn't know I had cancer. That he can't help me figure out what to do with mom and dad as they get older. That I can't just laugh with him on the phone or take a vacation to go see him. I miss him. Sucks.
Someday, big bro. I love ya, man.
Peace.