Tag: Random

Friday Fa La La

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Earlier this week, when I dropped the boys off at Suzann’s house, I heard Joe ask, “Is Sissy still on vacation?” Suzann looked at me and said, “Sissy went on vacation.” Then she looked at Joe and answered, “Yes.” Because I didn’t know anyone by the name of Sissy, I was confused.

“Where did she go on vacation?” Joe asked. Suzann said, “She went to the Bahamas.” “Where are the Bahamas?” Joe asked. “Let’s get the map out and find it, Joe.” Suzann said, as she walked over to get the large map book.

As she passed me I asked, “Who is Sissy?” Suzann smiled and said, “Sissy is one of the doll house dolls.” She continued talking to me, while getting out the map. “Sissy has many friends in the classroom, and she was having a hard time spending time with everyone, so she decided to go on vacation.”

Joe interrupted, “When will she be back?” Suzann smiled, “I don’t know, Joe.” She answered. “Maybe we can write Sissy  letter.”

As I turned to leave, the kids were gathering around the large map book on the floor. I smiled, happy to know Sissy was getting a much needed vacation and the kids were exploring the world through her travels.

<~~>

Today as I walked to my mail box
I notice the holes in my socks.
I found a letter from you.
Did a ‘Skip to my Lou’
And said, “My husband sure rocks!”

<~~>

I went to the grocery store this week. While shopping for fresh produce, I decided to walk down the card aisle and pick up a card for a friend of mine. I love Hallmark’s Hoops & YoYo cards, so that is where I started my search for the perfect ‘Hello’ card.

Next to the Hoops & YoYo cards were Hallmark’s ‘Saturdays’ cards. As I glanced in the ‘Saturdays’ section, my heart sank. I found several cards labeled ‘Cancer’, ‘Recession’ and ‘Job Loss’. Wow. Immediately, I thought about those currently challenged with Cancer, the Recession and unemployment. And, of course, there are those challenged by other health, financial and life matters. I suppose Multiple Sclerosis, debt and foreclosure cards are right around the corner.

I’m not trying to make light of the cards or the challenges. I mean, I was there to buy a card for my friend, because her Mom is battling Cancer. I think the purpose of cards is to lighten the mood and lift up one’s spirit; yet, seeing the labels left me feeling depressed. In fact, I suddenly needed a mood lifter; so, I picked up one “Hoops & YoYo” card for my friend and one for me. Oh, and I stopped by the chocolate aisle, too.

<~~>

Young love is blossoming. Every day this week, my youngest has asked me to drive by McKinley’s house. McKinley is a girl in his daycare class. Yesterday, when I picked up the boys, Charlie came running out to me. “Mommy!” He exclaimed. “McKinley said I could come over to her house today!”

I looked at Suzann, who was bringing the boys out to the car, and I smiled. She and I have been watching Charlie’s love for McKinley grow for some time now. In fact, we exchanged numbers with McKinley’s parents earlier in the week. Then I looked at Charlie and asked, “Who said you could go to McKinley’s house – McKinley or her Mom?” Charlie said, “McKinley.”

Then Suzann said, “The two of them were discussing it during nap time.” “You know,” she continued with a wink, “pillow talk.”

<~~>

It’s the stuff I constantly seek.
Without it, I do surely shriek
But today I quiet the scream
For tonight I’ll enjoy ice cream
And abstain once again next week.

<~~>

It’s a brand new day, a gift to you.
A perfect time to say, “Woo hoo!”

Do something special, give it your best.
The gripes and the groans, give ’em a rest.

Here’s to your day, decide to be happy.
You’ve got the power, and I’ve got the sappy.

<~~>

Friday: an end to another week.

~ Lenore Diane ~ 2 Comments
Rob and the boys in 2007

This week, Friday ends Father’s Day week. Many shows focused on Dads, including CBS Sunday Morning. During an interview with Bill Gates, Bill said, ‘I aspire to be like my Dad.’ Based on Bill’s comment, I believe it is common boys want to be like their Dads, and girls want to be like their Moms. Makes sense.

Well, I am so very glad I had boys. Moreover, I am so very glad I married a good man. I think I am a good Mom, and I believe I have some admirable qualities. Still, I can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, because my boys are more likely to aspire to be like their Dad than they are to aspire to be like me, their Mom. That’s not to say I don’t have to worry about my actions or the example I set before my kids.

The more I think about it, my boys (assuming they are heterosexual, of course) will probably look for girlfriends that have qualities mirroring me. Hmmm . . . interesting. Oh, and the fact that I will one day – possibly – be a mother-in-law?! Mwahahaha . . . Oh the power!  She better do her best to make me like her.

]::[

Fireflies. Yes, this past week, my boys and I went hunting for fireflies. With the agreement the fireflies would be let go the next day, I told the boys they could keep the fireflies in their room for the night. (Safely contained in a cup with a lid, of course.)

The next morning, the boys woke up and sat around with their fireflies. At some point in the morning, Charlie went to get his milk out of the fridge. While we were eating breakfast, Joe went to the fridge to get his milk. “Why is this in here?” He asked, as he pulled Charlie’s cup of fireflies out off the fridge.

“Charlie!” I yelled, fearing the fireflies met a cold demise. “Why did you put your fireflies in the fridge?” Apparently, when he went to get his milk, he had too many things in his hands; so, he put down the fireflies (in the fridge) in exchange for his milk. I opened the lid and I noticed that most of the fireflies were not moving, though one large firefly was moving slightly.

Because the container had been in the fridge for at least an hour, I was not optimistic; still, in an attempt to ‘defrost’ and save the fireflies, I took the cup o’flies outside and placed it in the sun. Happily, within 30 minutes, the fireflies were active again. And, later that day, the boys let the fireflies go – all still alive and flying.

]::[

Joe and his pet slug

This week, as I drove through various subdivisions, I noticed several kids outside selling various things from their driveway. I saw kids selling water and lemonade, and I saw a group of kids having a mini-garage sale. I remember lemonade stands from my childhood. Seems a rite of passage, trying to make a little change by selling something from your driveway.

As for me, I’ve always been a strange kid. And, my attempt with a sales stand was a pretty good indication of how strange I was as a kid. What did I try to sell? Worms. Yeah, um, I didn’t make any money that day. Hmm . . . I wonder where Joe gets is fondness for worms and bugs? Perhaps he’ll have a bug stand in our driveway one day. May he have better luck with sales than I did.

]::[

Charlie went to the doctor for his 4yr check-up, this week. The poor kid had to have five shots. Five. Before he received the shots, he was asking everyone he saw, “Are you going to give me a shot today?” And, because he was asking the wrong person, the person could answer honestly, “No.” However, when the last nurse left us in the patient room, Charlie became increasingly nervous. “Why are we sitting here still?” He asks. And, then I broke the news to him.

The crying started as soon as he received the sad news. And, he was still whimpering when the nurse walked in the room. My heart ached for him. I remember my childhood shots. I remember starting the tears as soon as I saw the doctor press the button for his assistant. All he had to do was press. the. button. WAAAAAAAH!!!!!

During the shots, I held his hands and tried my best to reassure him he was going to be OK. Seeing and hearing Charlie cry and scream broke my heart. Like selling things from your driveway, seems getting shots is another type of rite of passage. I believe in the immunization practice, and I believe I am doing what is best for our boys. Still. Shots suck, and watching your children get shots sucks more than getting a shot.

Thankfully, the boys won’t get shots again (baring any unforeseen incidents and accidents) until their 11th birthday. Coincidentally, Joe asked me this morning, “Mommy. Will the shots hurt as much or less when I am 11?” Poor kid. His next shot is in 6yrs, and he is already concerned. (He takes after his Mom.)

]::[

While driving to the Optician’s office to pick up Joe’s new lenses for his glasses, we stopped at a red light. Apparently, Joe was admiring the trees along the side of the road.

“Mommy!” He exclaimed. “Guess what I just saw?”

“What?” I asked.

“A caterpillar.”

“You were able to see a caterpillar in those trees?” I asked, wondering how he could see something so small from across the way.

“Well,” he began. “I have eaten alot of carrots this week. Can I have more tonight?”

]::[

Oh me, oh my! What alot of distractions go by!

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Dear Blogary,

My head is pounding, my body is tense and my mind is overwhelmed with random thoughts, anxieties and nonsense. I read a quote this morning, “Don’t tell me that worry doesn’t do any good. I know better. The things I worry about don’t happen.” I find that quote very funny, as I can relate to worrying. And really, I don’t think the quote has anything to do with this post. I’m not sure what my topic is for this post.

Blogary, according to my cycle calendar, I am in the two week crazy period. Perhaps the head is pounding due to PMS. Perhaps the head is pounding due to the overwhelming sense of stress I feel. Perhaps the head is pounding due to the tension. I haven’t a clue. And, when I try to sit in silence, my mind does not cooperate. I am trying to figure out what is getting to me so greatly, but seriously – the voices will not hush.

I had a moment of clarity, as I turned on Good Morning America to watch the cast of Modern Family. I love that show. The chemistry on that show resembles the chemistry of The Carol Burnett Show. Gosh – if Modern Family was a live show, it would be incredible! Perhaps Carol will guest star on Modern Family w/Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence. Oh, they could appear as the “Mama’s Family” characters. ACK. I must Tweet the cast and creators to share my idea.

[Note the sense of ‘urgency’ to share my Modern Family idea with the world. Much like the urge to Google something instantly, when you are curious about this or that thing.]

In other news, or simply because I find it hard to stay on any one thought for a prolonged period of time, I’ve received some feedback from my arguing post. It’s nice to know my posts are being read. In addition, it is nice when folks take the time to express their opinion. Thanks folks! I hope you’ll continue to check my blog and read a post or five. And as always, comments are welcome.

The radio is playing in the background, TweetDeck is open on my laptop and beeping every time a new Tweet is received, my instant messenger application is open and notifying me of instant messages and I have two email applications open and receiving emails. Distracted much? Stimulated much? Is it possible my multi-tasking is a source of the tension, headache and stress? Naaaaah.

Blogary, why do some people boast about the fact that they are able to multi-task? And, why do we feel the need to multi-task? I love writing, yet I find I become distracted by checking the blog stats to see if anyone is reading. I love reading Tweets, yet I find myself replying to tweets with utter nonsense, and then I find myself checking to see if I received a response from my response. My email is open all day – Monday through Friday, and I spend countless minutes/hours refreshing to see if I have received any emails. Multi-tasker or obsessed? Or obsessed with multi-tasking?

Blogary, keep in mind, I work from home. In a feeble attempt to rationalize my many open applications, I mention the fact that my boss frequently uses instant message and email to reach me. But, let’s be honest, the majority of the applications open on my laptop are used for personal reasons. The addiction and distraction is maddening. Happily, I am becoming less and less active on Facebook. I still update  my status, but I don’t actively participate in posts, etc. as much as I have in the past. (Well, not every hour of the day, anyway.)

While I believe the many computer applications I use create a bit of tension during my day, I am also feeling anxious about other things. We received Joe’s paperwork for the Montessori school. Woo hoo! As I type, I have butterflies of excitement in my belly. Then I immediately switch to tension, as I wonder what I will do to ensure we have the money needed to keep Joe enrolled in the private school. I will get a second job, that fact is for certain. But, until I focus on the job search, the anxiety comes and goes fairly regularly.

Much like my eating issues, I find when I panic about us not having enough money, I go through a spending splurge. It’s like the minute you start a diet and crave all the crap in the world. Well, we really need to watch our pennies, and finding restraint to buy the littlest thing is driving me bonkers! And, these are things I would have no interest in buying, if I were not stressed and anxious. Case in point? Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream. Ok. That’s not true. I’d buy that stressed or not stressed. Fortunately, Ben & Jerry’s was on sale today; not that I bought any – or did I?

I should probably hold off publishing this post until Friday, due to the randomness of my thoughts. Meh. I won’t wait. Goodness knows, I’ll have no problem being random come Friday. And, while I am being random . . .

Twitter is truly addicting. Addicting and amazing. I am amazed how celebrities will respond to the ‘Tweets’ from non-celebrities. I have received a few direct messages from folks who are in the public eye. And, I admit, I find getting a direct message from a celebrity is a pretty cool thing. Twitter has a way of bringing folks together and generating a sense of normalcy. Normalcy is not the right word, and really – I find Twitter encourages stalking, to a point. Still, having someone ‘famous’ respond to me about what I tweeted makes me think of them as just another person – no better, no worse. In addition, because I am able to reach out via Tweeting, I feel as though any pedestals I may have had them on are gone, because these folks are just normal folks. Well, Cher is still on a pedestal.

Anyway, I think I am done here. Perhaps I should try to ween myself off some of the open applications each day. Right. I’ll start that the day I give up Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. No worries, I’ll tweet, email, update my status and send out an IM when it happens! Stay tuned.

Love,
Me