Author: Lenore Diane

I am married. We have two boys, two dogs, and two cats. I am on the Oxford Comma team. I look forward to my first large cup of coffee, black, every single morning, and I look forward to that second large cup of coffee, still black, every single afternoon.

Friday Frenzy

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

.:: Lent in August

You’ve heard the marketing ads, “Christmas in July!” Well, I am going to celebrate “Lent in August”. Monday I started my ice cream fast. I am going 40 days and 40 nights without consuming ice cream. And, I am afraid. I am very afraid.

A year and a half ago I weighed 147 lbs. And now? 165lbs. 165. That is utter craziness! However, this normally flat chested girl must admit, I quite enjoy feeling a little bounce of the boobs when I walk. I should start running to increase the bouncing action. But um. No. That won’t happen. And, sadly, when I lose the 15 pounds I seek to lose, the slight bounce I feel when I walk will be flattened. (Still only an ‘A’ cup, many would call me flat chested now. But, a flat-chested girl can dream.)

So, as of last Monday, no more ice cream for 40 days (well, 34 days now, but who is counting? Yeah, that’s right – me!). The shakes have started. And, I am not referring to milk shakes. Wish me luck, please. Wish me luck and weight loss, with a side order of movement. After all, the weight won’t come off easily, unless I get off my every growing butt and move it – move it – move it.

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.::Flowers

I took Charlie with me to the grocery store this week. As we passed the floral department, he asked if he could get some flowers. Thankful he wasn’t asking for ‘junk’, I was happy to oblige his request. He picked out a cute $5.00 bouquet, and he has enjoyed it all week. Cute kid.

As is often the case, when one child gets something the other child makes a similar request. Joe asked if I could take him to the grocery store one day, so he could buy flowers. Normally, I would have brushed off his request, if only to discourage the “he has one – I want one” mentality. However, Joe added, “I can use money from my piggy bank to buy the flowers.” Smart kid.

I did take Joe to the grocery store, and he spent several minutes trying to decide the best way to use his money. Though not every selection was within his ‘budget’, he realized the smaller the bundle the lower the price. Eventually, he decided on a small pot of Parade Roses for $3.99. Frugal kid.

Not too shabby. The pretty flowers he purchased will last longer than the bundle Charlie picked. In fact, provided Joe cares for the flowers, the roses may last for years to come. Good kid.

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The Imposter, by sekiyoku

.:: Discomfort

This week proved challenging for me with regards to my virtual world. Virtual friendships were called out for the awkwardness. The unspoken feelings. The obvious yet unacknowledged dislike. I needed to bring it to light, for my own sanity. I asked questions, and I received answers.

I have often heard the phrase, “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to”, and this week I learned, first hand, the importance of such advice. I also learned the truth in Maya Angelou’s thought, “The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”

For the most part, I am an open book. By flipping through the virtual pages of this blog, one should quickly realize I share a great deal about my life. My openness may create discomfort and annoyance for some, while others may find it refreshing. I share, because if I keep these thoughts to myself, I will go insane. By the same token, I share, which places a large target on myself. I mean, it’s not hard to attack my character flaws, when I list the flaws (in alpha-order) for you.

My writing is my outlet; and those who know me best have come to accept and expect it from me. Over the years, in fact, those who know me best have encouraged me to write. (Though maybe they wish I wouldn’t be so forthcoming with everything in my life.)

This is me. All of me. Like it or not. I don’t claim to like everyone who crosses my path, nor do I expect everyone who crosses my path to like me. However, I do my best to play nice in the sandbox and always be myself. And, I hope you will play nice, too. If you don’t like me, that is fine; please just move on along, remove me from your life, and let’s continue down our own separate path. And please, to avoid confusion, close the door behind you. Thank you.

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Facebook: My Crazy Starts Here

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Before you read any further, please note: I over-think things.

How is this for crazy: Facebook feeds my curiosity, egotism and paranoia, while simultaneously leaving me feeling bored. Though I log on to Facebook daily, I find my interest waning. The lure of this social network is losing its luster. I long for the days of handwritten notes, direct emails and instant messages. I long for the days of actual friendships, not virtual ones. And yet, through the waned interest and lost luster, I continue my Facebook feeding frenzy.

Curiosity. I enjoy looking at pictures on Facebook, especially recent pictures taken while my friends, family and relatives were enjoying the summer in Amherst Shore, Nova Scotia. [Hurry up, Ms. Jill! I’m waiting!!]  And, I enjoy keeping up with relatives and friends living out of town. Facebook makes it easy to stay in touch with a friend, who’s Mom is battling cancer. I try to make her smile each and every day, by stopping by her ‘Wall’. One day, I’ll actually show up on her doorstep. She knows this, too.

I became addicted to Facebook the instant I joined. Logging in to see who was online, what was taking place in the lives of others, who said what to whom, etc. I became so addicted, I would snap at the kids and Rob, if they interrupted me. So, in an effort to save my family (and myself), I actually had to cut the Facebook-cord for several months. However, with my family’s permission, support groups, and threads, I was able to reactivate my account and step back into the Facebook zone safely. Hmm… I started eating ice cream on a regular basis after dropping Facebook the first time. Could it be? Did I replace my Facebook addiction with ice cream? Dun dun duuun! I digress.

Curiousity and Egotism. I seem to spend more time on Facebook clicking the reload/refresh button to see if anything interesting has been posted on my Wall or included in the News Feed. I’m curious to see if someone responded to my comment about something said by someone else in response to another person’s comment about this, that or the other; or, did someone just “Like” my comment about something said by someone else in response to another person’s comment about this, that or the other? Oh, and here’s an interesting article, I must share; after all, if I find the article interesting I am certain others will find the article interesting, too. Inquiring minds want to know. Right? I must click ‘refresh’ one more time.

I’m genuinely interested in my Facebook friends, but after you’ve said hello, found out how folks are doing and checked out the photos, what more is there? It’s as if Facebook reaches an uncomfortable silence of sorts. The real friends are off interacting in the real world, while the virtual friends are left hitting ‘refresh’ and ‘reload’, looking for interaction and waiting for updates. As I have already admitted, I spend time clicking ‘refresh’ and ‘reload’. And, as I have already noted, I over-think things.

Paranoia. You find yourself chatting with the same group of people over and over again, when suddenly the frequency is reduced. You become concerned that you may have said something to upset someone in the group. However, this is Facebook, and you don’t truly know all of your Facebook friends. What do you do? And, why are you becoming obsessed – yes, obsessed – about people you don’t really know?

You don’t want to risk upsetting the apple cart by unfriending a Facebook friend or two, because that is not proper ‘virtual friend’ etiquette. Then again, you’re not invited to their reindeer games, so why stick around and see the fun that is had while you’re not around? And yet, you find yourself wondering why you aren’t invited to their reindeer games. You begin to feel your friends have excluded you and/or dislike you, but why? Wait. Why even let yourself feel this way when you don’t know the virtual friends of Facebook? Paranoia.

This past weekend, a friend of mine shared how a Facebook friend of hers posted pictures from a trip they had recently taken. The rub? Her Facebook friend was only a few miles away from her house, yet the friend did not stop by or let her know they were in town. Humph. That stings.

Expectations exists within true friendships. Friends expect their friends to be there for them in times of need, celebration, etc. Facebook seems to cloud the meaning of true friendships. Some Facebook users hold their Facebook friends to the same standards they hold their ‘real’ friends. Some Facebook users simply enjoy the ability to be a fly on the wall of their many Facebook friends. And, of course, there are other types of Facebook users who enjoy it for what it is – but what is it? And, what makes Facebook better than handwritten notes, personal emails and instant messages?

I enjoy Facebook. I do. And, there are people I’ve connected with on Facebook that I may never see again in the ‘real’ world, but I enjoy hearing from and seeing them in the virtual world. Plus, if you are having a bad day – just update your status and let folks know. The number of Facebook friends that will visit your Wall and try to lift your mood is an amazing thing to watch and experience. Plus, when it’s your birthday, assuming your birthday is listed on Facebook, your Wall becomes filled with birthday well wishes. My curiosity, egotism, and paranoia will continue to be fed by Facebook, but I think I am overdue for making a greater effort to find sustenance through the real world.

Access to the Teacher’s Lounge

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

I watched as he picked up the menu and extended his arm. Gone were the days where he could read the beer list with his arm bent. I smiled, and I welcomed him to my world. Yes, Rob and I have reached the age of seeing things better from a distance.

As a kid in elementary school, I remember being fascinated with what I imagined was taking place behind the teacher’s lounge door. If I happened to walk by the teacher’s lounge when a teacher was either entering or leaving the room, I would do my best to peek inside, hoping to get a glimpse into the private club. Ever curious, I find myself drawn to the ways and the world of adults. To me, growing old is getting like getting an all-access pass to the teacher’s lounge

In 1982, John Cougar Mellenkamp released the song ‘Jack and Diane’. The lyrics of the song included, “Hold on to 16, as long as you can.” The lyrics continue, “Changes come around real soon make us women and men.” When that song was released I was 13 years old. And, I remember thinking the 3 yrs I had before turning 16 would take forever. Finally, when I turned 16, I listened to the song again, celebrating the fact that I now had access to an exclusive club. Well, maybe not that exclusive.

Growing up and growing old brings with it many experiences. As a kid, I marveled at the aging process; now, I find humor in the fact that I am experiencing first hand what I found fascinating as a kid. I held on to 16 as long as I could, but really – the age of 16 hasn’t got anything on other older ages. Sure, not every age-induced experience is pleasant, but I’d much rather experience growing old than miss it entirely. Now excuse me, I am going to see how many gray hairs I can find on my head. Yes, I am looking forward to getting gray hair.