A Long and Winding Road

Remember when you were a child and something fun or exciting was on the horizon? A vacation, birthday party, or even getting new shoes. The time seemed to go by so slow and it was all you could think about. Sleeping was impossible, and the parents were easily worn out of the twitter. I fondly remember one summer evening in 1977. It was the night before a family adventure, my best friend Laurie was spending the night, and we had on new summer nighties that matched. We could barely contain ourselves so my parents took us for a nighttime drive in the green and white convertible Karmann ghia. The night smelled fresh, the crickets were chirping, and the sky was clear, dark, and twinkling with the August celestials. Laurie and I tilted our heads up and let the soft wind dance across our faces and weave through our hair. The moment took us away to far away places. For half an hour, our hearts and souls belonged to that sultry August night.

Accepting Ourselves

Why, oh why do I have some tendencies that repeat themselves even after complete denial? I am taking to step to accept my tendencies as part of my "character." Black sweaters, white cotton, European kid shoes.....
Yesterday I was combing various places for china tea-cups/saucers for a teaparty. En route to the back of the "big" Goodwill (which is relatively clean) I find myself staring at 3 black Banana Republic sweaters. One was a merino wool turtleneck, one was a cardigan, and the other was a cute longsleeve t-style. Do I need them? noooo, I don't. They were even the wrong size but I fell in love. Tags attached and everything. Luckily I went through a 12 step over it and walked on. It was so natural to stop and look! I firmly believe that there are things in our lives that we seek comfort in....the familiarity of an item. For me, I could have an entire closet of black shirts-long sleeve, short sleeve, turtleneck, crew neck (no v-necks, I don't care for them as much) tunic style, sleeveless, thick, paper thin, and so on. I do not tire of them. In fact, I have a lone red 3/4 length sleeved top in my closet. I rarely wear it. Too bold.....not really, but it stands out too much. I've worn it only a small handful of times. I prefer my black tops. Same goes for white. That could be my second row in the closet. So there, I am no longer going to deny the fact that one cannot have too many black or white items in the closet. I feel better already.

Faster Than the Speed of Light

aka "Thank you for feeding into my PMS, Tri-Met Bus Driver."
Dear hairy driver of bus #75, thank you so much for the 10seconds of anger, followed by a passivist version of a car chase. Seriously, when you blew by me and went through the red light, just to get ahead of ALL the cars lined up did you feel better? Did your boy parts, which are obviously inadequate, get the charge they needed? Well mister, I got a charge too. The way you did that move, which was stupid, made my PMS surface. I had kept it in check all day. ALL DAY! Thankfully I did not have my foot riding the gas pedal, ready to take off, because we would have skimmed each other. Knowing the company you work for, your hind end would have been off scott free and you know this. You most likely did not notice that I continued to follow you...wait, all 22 cars were forced to follow you because you stop about every block......just to find the opportunity to give you the bird. Now, I tell you that I feel quite adequate about myself but it would have really been satisfying to give you mama stink-eye with a nice, firm bird. Lucky for you there was an equally annoying mini-van driving so slow, that getting anywhere near your little driver window was slim so I could only send you muddy mama mojo. I hope you felt it as you drove your bus along the line. In fact, you have a really outdated advertisement on the side of that bus. So there Mister Hairy Bus Driver.

p.s. Mister Hairy Bus Driver, you are also lucky because I know someone that rides that line and she may pay her fare in pennies real soon. REAL SOON, pal.

I am ducking and running now, there is a hershey bar with almonds in the freezer.

Book Club

It has been a long while since experiencing the "ideal" Saturday. Really, what makes an ideal day is so different for everyone. For some, sleeping in is ideal and for others shopping or watching movies all day. No matter what, we all should have a day that makes you flutter with happiness.
My day began simple enough but I knew I might have a real adventure on my hands. I wanted to do a long run and had a time frame to follow. Up early, I met one of my running buddies for loop number one. After she was done I roped Brian into beginning loop two and picked up another friend along the way. She ran with me for a bit then I was on my own. Af first I was leary of the road ahead, but found the peace and quiet a welcome reprive from my long week. Of course I wrote many a blog entries (which have yet been entered, let alone remembered!), replanned my closet, wrote a mental letter to the school district and so on. Trekking back I was anxious to shower and head to book club. Coffee was calling my name.
After parking in front of the cutest house ever, I swiftly made my way to the front door. Quick hugs and hellos then a mug of hot coffee was all I needed to relax and look forward to the next few hours. We discussed The Memory Keepers Daughter. A very thought provoking, yet predictable book. I really enjoyed this book, as it brought a feeling of peace while reading it. It was as if the author intended her readers to take a calming breath and read nice and slow, absorbing the words as the story unfolded. The group was split on the likability of the book.
We savored an onion galette, a fritatta, fresh fruit, scones, crepes, coffee, and of course chocolate and mimosas. It was decadent to say the least. After a 3+hour jaunt outside in the morning, the breakfest and relaxation was all I needed to feel refreshed. It was, in my book, a perfect day.

Women in History

Last Friday was the Women in History day at the elementary school. My friend Ruth and I were the Pankhurst Sisters. I was Christabel and Ruth was Sylvia. We were suffregettes. The day started with an all school assembly followed by classroom visits ALL DAY! There was a nice group of women portraying amazing women in history. We each had to give a 2 minute speech in front of the school......sounds short but it feels long! Ruth and I decided that we had to speak with a British accent for the speech and the classroom presentations. Wow. What a day. My head has cleared quite a bit in the short amount of time following, but it was such a fun and rewarding day coordinated by a really nice woman. The kids at the school were very polite and asked great questions. Kids are truly clever and smart. Ta-ta, pip-pip, cheerio!

Trade Offs

Things That Are More Tolerable After a Few Glasses of Wine


Men's Ice Skating
4 Children, 4 Ice Cream Cones
The Boogey Man, aka: heavy wind making things bang against the window
Other people's travel plans (ie, spouse gallivanting over Italy)
Lillian Vernon catalog
Looking at the school hot lunch calendar
Fox News
Make Me A Supermodel

Eat YOur Heart Out Julie Andrews

These are a few of My Favorite Things (in no particular order)

1) Butter and Cinnamon.
This really is a good combo, especially in the warm form: toast, snickerdoodles.

2)Choice Organic Spearmint and Chammomile Tea.
I buy a box a month and try to limit myself to one cuppa night. I am convinced that I am incapable of a good nights sleep without it. Not that I get a good night sleep anyway, but just imagine how much worse it *would* be.

3) My three seasonal (winter) themed mugs to have above mentioned beverage. I don't share
these, either.

4) Sharepened Dixon Ticonderoga Pencils
Nothing makes a tidy "to-do" list or grocery list like a good ol' number 2.

5) Surf Laundry Detergent. Ocean scent.
Fact: In the throes of uber painful labor with Jake, I had to comment on how much I loved
the smell of his dad's shirt. Consecutive labors were supported with Surf scented shirts
and broad shoulders. Don't mess with the crazy preganant lady.

6) Sharpies. Black, medium point.
No comment. So obvious.

7) ZBeanz Ethiopion Yergacheffe coffee beans.
Fond memories of working the Hillsdale Farmers market and drinking 2-3 cups to keep warm.
This is the best coffee I have ever made, and because I am not known for actually making
coffee (but consuming mass quantities) this bag of goodness has converted me to homebrew.

8) Black.
Many of my favorite clothing items are black. Soft, cashmere-esce cardigan hoodie, running
coat, gloves, shoes, long sleeve t, tunic top, cami. Not many things can be both fancy and
slacker.

9) Chocolate Chip Cookies.
So I have this theory that when you are feeling down, whether physically or mentally, a batch
of chocolate chip cookies will make you feel better. Seriously, during cold season (funny how
cold/sniffle season is year round. hmmmm) my kitchen aid mixer is on overdrive.

10) Trite VH1/Bravo/MTV shows: The Shot, America's most Smartest/Next Top Model,
Project Runway, Make Me a Supermodel.....
Perfect for nights waiting for Thanksgiving pies to finish baking, folding laundry, or laying in
bed with a cuppa or glass of wine realizing just how normal I really am.

11) My running route.
Same ol' same ol' but it's so there for me rain or shine. Plus I can think of important things
like who will get voted off The Shot and not get lost.

12) Baby Clothes
This ones a killer, because I would have a jillion babies simply for the baby clothes. Plus, how
lovely is it to wash an entire wardrobe in ONE load. ONE, I say!

13) Lipsticks and LipGloss
A girl can't have too many and it's instant pick me up.

14) Peonies.
I love these flowers.

15) Fruits and Veggies
Seriously, I love fruits and veggies. Crunch a munch a crunch a muncha. yum!

16) Family and Friends
Dorky to say, but I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't thinking about them.

17) Baby Joggers
Mama's prozac.

Well, there's my list for the day. I must go for now, as I have three loads of laundry to smell and fold, and jammies to put on, and a second cuppa to indulge with my chocolate chip cookie.