Every so often something touches me so deeply that I find myself composing a letter in my head. Some of these letters are complimentary, some are critical and others are just things I would like to say to those I am unable to say them to, for various reasons.
Today I found myself composing many letters as I drove home in the rain...
Dear Prima Donna Tailgater in the Lexus SUV: Is it really necessary to be that close to everyone you drive behind? Is there some emergency or are you late for a mani/pedi? You actually had me trying to remember what was in the back of my van that could become ruined if I slammed on my brakes and allowed you to rear end me and pay for repairs to my van and massages for me 3 times a week? Be thankful the kids' trombone was back there.
Dear WXLO, 104.1 and Kiss 108: I listen to the radio from approximately 8:15 - 9:30 AM and from 2 - 3:15 PM Monday through Friday. Yes, I am a channel surfer. Would it be possible for all of you to refrain from playing Adele songs or "Moves Like Jagger" during that timeframe or at least from all playing them at the same time? I might like those songs more if you played them less. Thank you.
Dear Grandmas Rahn and Tilleman: I miss you. You would love my children, and they would have loved you. I'm sad that you weren't able to know each other.
Dear Mrs. Raymond: You were mean, and I still think it's funny that my sisters and I dragged the big tree branch across the street so you would have to move it before you could go to work. Were you late that day? P.S. You were also lame to rat us out.
Dear Mel: I miss your beautiful self, your smile, your laugh, your outward beauty and most especially your inward beauty and our talks. You will forever be remembered and loved by so many. P.S. Remember the hockey fight? And Arty and Martha's Jack and Jill?
To my Girls from Worcester: I honestly believe that Boston Billiards, Rack 'n Rhythm and ShBooms went out of business because we grew up.
Dear Murdock High School: Remember that year when a large number of seniors failed English and had to each pay $300 for a summer packet they needed to pass to get their diplomas? Well, while the students are also to blame, rumor has it that their teacher wasn't properly certified to be teaching that particular class. I kinda feel that you should split the summer packet bill with us. I'll be watching the mail for my check. Please include extra for pain and suffering, mine, not my child's.
Dear Eddy: Thank you for volunteering your time and helping out with Winchendon Pop Warner. You have no siblings or parents associated with the organization, yet because you enjoy the game of football, you gave up your time that you could have been hanging with your friends or working or chilling to help the youth in your town develop as football players. Proud of you!
Dear Doctors: When we as parents bring our sick children in to see you, it is because we have already tried the home remedies and feel that something is wrong that requires a diagnosis and a prescription. When you tell us they have a "virus that has to run its course" and suggest the same over-the-counter medications, we leave there minus a co-pay and plus a sick child. Could you make up some diagnosis, I don't know, maybe copaytakingitis?
Dear Police Officers: I realize you are not all guilty of this, and maybe you can tell your friends (over coffee perhaps?) that it really isn't cool when you put your lights on so that you can speed or go through red lights or stop signs, and then once you're 10 feet through, you turn them off. It's a slap in the face to those of us whose cars don't come equipped with the special blue lights that allow you to ignore traffic signals.
Dear Overweight People: This may seem harsh, but it's been burning at me since my days of working retail at Lerner in the mall. If you need to ask for a knit miniskirt in a size 18, you really shouldn't be wearing one.
Dear Mountain Dew: Please bring back the commercials of the cool and fun-loving teens all hopping into the bed of a pick-up with their cooler heading off to the rope swings in the woods. While I don't like your soda, I always thought those people looked like they were having a great time.
Dear Former Boss: Thanks for firing me for not proofreading your work when I had no clue what you were trying to say in your big corporate lawyer language. At the time I thought it was really unfair, but after getting past the fact that I had no job and lost my apartment and had myself and my child to support with no idea how, I ended up at a temp agency which placed me at a printing company doing a job in which I had no experience and a job I would have never applied for had I not been desperate. That printing company was where I met my husband so thank you. P.S. Watch out, though, because if I ever see her, I am telling your wife that you eat the healthy lunches she makes for you for breakfast and then you go out for lunch with clients and bill them for a lunch meeting.
Dear Becky S.: I'm sorry for fist-fighting you. I've creeped on your FB wall, and you are very pretty now.
Dear Buzzkill Bob: Please let your wife come out and play one of these days. I miss my BFF.
Dear Drama: Thanks for the compliment on my eyes today. It was such a refreshing change from your usual comments on my appearance.
Dear Gerardo's: Your cannolis are Fabulous! Keep up the good work. And nice sales technique telling me it was cheaper to get a 1/2 dozen than to order them individually. Right on 'cuz 6 individual ones would have been $7.50 but the 1/2 dozen price was only $7.25! Now that's a good deal! P.S. you should put that on a coupon: order a 1/2 dozen and save 3%.
Dear Mom and Dad: Thanks for the great example you gave me and my siblings on a good marriage and good parenting. You lead by example, and continue to do so as you face each day side by side, in good times and bad. I love you.
Dear Dad: Please continue to write Mom love notes at Christmas and Valentine's Day and her birthday. We girls like to read them and cry.
Dear Debbi: When you think of feetie pajamas or baby hamsters, do you remember when I put a baby hamster in your feetie pj's and superglued the zipper shut? Do you think that's funny yet? If not, sorry I brought it up. How about hypnotizing you in your sleep to say "I love George Handy" or "Choo choo" while wearing the train engineer hat? No, not funny yet, ok, I'll give you some more time. Maybe as much time as it will take my chipped tooth to heal after you hit me in the mouth with a clog.
Dear Cathi: I still have the felt bookmark you made me that says "I am very sorry" in alphabet pasta letters. It now says "I am ery sorry", but I have kept it all these years. Thanks for being in the hospital with me when I had Jake and for understanding when I said I had back pain like John McCanus and for not getting mad when I threw the ice chips.
Dear David and Julie and Jake: I will ONE DAY find out which one of you called me a whale at Myrtle Beach when I was 8 months pregnant.
Dear Dentist: Thanks for saying that my wisdom teeth had to come out because my mouth wasn't large enough to support them (some people would be surprised to hear that I DON'T have a big mouth) and also for telling me that I would still be pretty after you fixed my tooth.
And last but not least, Dear Oncologist: My Dad is very, very special and means alot to so many people. He is a Dad, a Husband, a Grandpa, a Brother, an Uncle, a Friend, a Pastor and a spiritual mentor to many. I know sometimes at work, we have off days where we kinda slack off and don't give 100%. There should not be any of those slack-off days when my dad is scheduled to see you. Please be reminded that my sister is a nurse at the same hospital where you work and that I work for a medical malpractice attorney. These should not be considered threats but just informational tidbits so you can get to know all of us better. We love Dad, take the best care of him and help him make the best decisions. It is a privilege to know Dad, and we have let you into our circle of trust. Take good care of him for us. Thank you.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Thoughts About Mom - UPDATED by my children
Thoughts About Mom, as Answered by my Children
So yesterday, I posted a Facebook quiz where I posed questions to my children and posted their answers. I have asked them the same questions today, and while some answers are the same, many are different. I think the answers have grown, as they have, and their answers are more mature (well some of them). Today my cherubs are 19 1/2, 11 1/2 and 9 1/2.
Here are the questions and their answers:
Here are the questions and their answers:
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Allie: Don’t care what other people say
Nathan: Woot Woot
Jake: no drinking right?
2. What makes mom happy?
Allie: when her kids don’t fight
Nathan: when children get along
Jake: watching me play hockey
3. What makes mom sad?
Allie: when the kids fight
Nathan: when kids fight, and Jake doesn’t listen to her
Jake: when I’m ill-mannered
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Allie: when she tells me jokes or a funny story from the past
Nathan: with funny jokes that she tells me when she talks
Jake: by making corny jokes or trying to talk gangsta
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Allie: she didn’t have sleepovers only once a month, and she had a huge space between her teeth
Nathan: very good but sometimes would make fun of people and once wrote Debbi + the devil about my auntie and that was very bad
Jake: a scholar
6. How old is your mom?
Allie: 40
Nathan: that’s a question I don’t like to answer often, cuz you really want to enjoy life, but I think 41 or 42, cuz I remember one year she was 40
Jake: 39
7. How tall is your mom?
Allie: I would say 10 feet
Nathan: Well, I’m about 5’2” so I’m gonna guess about 5’9”
Jake: 5’ 6”
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Allie: watch Dance Moms and Jerseylicious with her daughter, that’s me
Nathan: spend time with the family or her friends, maybe even both
Allie: Don’t care what other people say
Nathan: Woot Woot
Jake: no drinking right?
2. What makes mom happy?
Allie: when her kids don’t fight
Nathan: when children get along
Jake: watching me play hockey
3. What makes mom sad?
Allie: when the kids fight
Nathan: when kids fight, and Jake doesn’t listen to her
Jake: when I’m ill-mannered
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Allie: when she tells me jokes or a funny story from the past
Nathan: with funny jokes that she tells me when she talks
Jake: by making corny jokes or trying to talk gangsta
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Allie: she didn’t have sleepovers only once a month, and she had a huge space between her teeth
Nathan: very good but sometimes would make fun of people and once wrote Debbi + the devil about my auntie and that was very bad
Jake: a scholar
6. How old is your mom?
Allie: 40
Nathan: that’s a question I don’t like to answer often, cuz you really want to enjoy life, but I think 41 or 42, cuz I remember one year she was 40
Jake: 39
7. How tall is your mom?
Allie: I would say 10 feet
Nathan: Well, I’m about 5’2” so I’m gonna guess about 5’9”
Jake: 5’ 6”
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Allie: watch Dance Moms and Jerseylicious with her daughter, that’s me
Nathan: spend time with the family or her friends, maybe even both
Jake: spend time with her precious children
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Allie: go on dates with my dad
Nathan: I have no idea cuz I’m not around and cuz I never ask and I’m sorry for that
Jake: crossword puzzles and cooks
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Allie: being pretty
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Allie: go on dates with my dad
Nathan: I have no idea cuz I’m not around and cuz I never ask and I’m sorry for that
Jake: crossword puzzles and cooks
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Allie: being pretty
Nathan: (laughs) let’s see…it’s either talk about family for comedy or for TV show, for example, like a TV show talking about your family or a comedy act cuz she’s really funny
Jake: greatest mom ever
Jake: greatest mom ever
11. What is your mom really good at?
Allie: singing
Nathan: My mom is very good at taking care of her family
Jake: cooking and helping her kids
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Allie: knitting
Nathan: I would say singing, but that would be offensive, so I would have to say, sorry to say this, but you’re not very good at trading your laptop with me
Jake: nothing
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Allie: something like a lawyer, I keep saying lawyer, cuz you say you are lots of times
Nathan: she is like the 2nd lawyer, not really a lawyer, but does the lawyer’s work (this from the child who comes to work with me often)
Jake: paralegal
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Allie: whoopee pies
Nathan: Combos and salad
Jake: chicken broccoli alfredo
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Allie: when she earns money from work and if she gets a promotion
Nathan: how caring and loving she is and she really encourages me
Jake: she’d do everything in the world and more just to make me happy
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Allie: this is a hard one, can I skip it?
Nathan: Socora (apparently this is a tough girl from Naruto who likes Soske, LOL)
Jake: wonder woman? hahaha
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Allie: watch movies, lay down and have popcorn
Nathan: many, many things
Jake: laugh together at other people’s flaws
18. How are you and your mom the same?
Allie: face, hair, both like Dance Moms and Jerseylicious and we both like
Nathan: hair, eyes, like to sleep in and stay up late, like hockey, both funny
Jake: smart and funny
19. How are you and your mom different?
Allie: She sings good, I sing bad, different eyes, she’s older, I’m younger and she always wears make-up and I don’t.
Nathan: she likes salad, and she is addicted to Combos. I like video games, she likes sleeping, I also like sleeping but not as much. She has work, and I don’t but I want work instead of school. I have 2 lizards, she doesn’t, but she really does cuz she takes care of them. Ya, you get the point.
Jake: she has kids? Idk, lol
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Allie: when I’m sad, she rocks me and tells me that I don’t have to be sad and tells me reasons why
Nathan: just the bond
Jake: she treats me so well
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Allie:
Nathan: casino
Jake: Olive Garden
23. What frustrates your mom the most?
Allie: when everyone isn’t listening to her and screaming and yelling and fighting
Nathan: when kids don’t listen, for example when Jake leaves and she says he can’t
Jake: insubordination
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Thoughts About Mom, as Answered by my Children
Back in March 2009, when I was new to Facebook, there were some quizzes going around. My favorite one was one where you posed questions to your children and posted their answers. This still makes me laugh, almost 3 years after the fact. Keep in mind the ages of my children at the time of this quiz: Jake was 16 1/2 and in high school, which was not his favorite place to be; Nathan was 8 1/2 and Allie was the young age of 6 1/2.
Here are the questions and their answers:
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Allie: I love you
Nathan: I love you too
Jake: How was school?
2. What makes mom happy?
Allie: kids listening
Nathan: when her children listen
Jake: good grades
3. What makes mom sad?
Allie: people disobeying her
Nathan: when her children don't listen
Jake: when I don't do my work
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Allie: tickling me
Nathan: tickling me
Jake: when she falls
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Allie: I don't know
Nathan: ooooh, that's a hard one...I'm thinking...played with her other sisters?
Jake: very pious
6. How old is your mom?
Allie: 30 (she's my favorite!)
Nathan: 36
Jake: 36
7. How tall is your mom?
Allie: tall
Nathan: 2 feet and 36 inches
Jake: 5 feet 5 inches
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Allie: play with me
Nathan: I know it's not clean the house...doing her math puzzle book?
Jake: spend time with her children
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Allie: she just sits on the couch and watches TV
Nathan: clean the house of course
Jake: cleans
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Allie: because she's beautiful (did I mention she's my favorite?)
Nathan: for being the best jewelry seller
Jake: rock band singing (this from the kid who kicked me out of his "band" b/c we didn't win a tour bus)
11. What is your mom really good at?
Allie: Uno
Nathan: cleaning the house and making food of course (of course LOL)
Jake: cleaning
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Allie: matching games
Nathan: playing video games
Jake: making me a grilled cheese sandwich
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Allie: working
Nathan: she gets calls and orders
Jake: sells jewelry and answers phones at the law firm
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Allie: big shells
Nathan: spaghetti and meatballs
Jake: I don't know (take me out to eat and find out)
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Allie: I don't know
Nathan: buying me video games
Jake: she's smart
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Allie: Tinkerbell
Nathan: The Incredible Mom but not green
Jake: I don't know, Miss Piggy?
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Allie: watch TV
Nathan: go to my hockey games
Jake: drive around places and laugh at funny looking people (ya, we do, so what? It's funny)
18. How are you and your mom the same?
Allie: we have the same hair color
Nathan: we both have blonde hair
Jake: we have the same humor
19. How are you and your mom different?
Allie: she's big and I'm little
Nathan: She's a girl, I'm a boy; She has green eyes, I have blue eyes; She's tall, I'm little; She's married, I'm not
Jake: She does her work
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Allie: Because I'm her kid and because she loves kids
Nathan: she lets me do different kinds of sports
Jake: she tells me
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Allie:Yellowstone Park
Nathan: Florida
Jake: Olive Garden
23. What frustrates your mom the most?
Allie: kids not listening and when she says don't put on your snowpants and you do
Nathan: when her kids don't listen
Jake: misbehaving children
Here are the questions and their answers:
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Allie: I love you
Nathan: I love you too
Jake: How was school?
2. What makes mom happy?
Allie: kids listening
Nathan: when her children listen
Jake: good grades
3. What makes mom sad?
Allie: people disobeying her
Nathan: when her children don't listen
Jake: when I don't do my work
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Allie: tickling me
Nathan: tickling me
Jake: when she falls
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Allie: I don't know
Nathan: ooooh, that's a hard one...I'm thinking...played with her other sisters?
Jake: very pious
6. How old is your mom?
Allie: 30 (she's my favorite!)
Nathan: 36
Jake: 36
7. How tall is your mom?
Allie: tall
Nathan: 2 feet and 36 inches
Jake: 5 feet 5 inches
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Allie: play with me
Nathan: I know it's not clean the house...doing her math puzzle book?
Jake: spend time with her children
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Allie: she just sits on the couch and watches TV
Nathan: clean the house of course
Jake: cleans
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Allie: because she's beautiful (did I mention she's my favorite?)
Nathan: for being the best jewelry seller
Jake: rock band singing (this from the kid who kicked me out of his "band" b/c we didn't win a tour bus)
11. What is your mom really good at?
Allie: Uno
Nathan: cleaning the house and making food of course (of course LOL)
Jake: cleaning
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Allie: matching games
Nathan: playing video games
Jake: making me a grilled cheese sandwich
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Allie: working
Nathan: she gets calls and orders
Jake: sells jewelry and answers phones at the law firm
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Allie: big shells
Nathan: spaghetti and meatballs
Jake: I don't know (take me out to eat and find out)
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Allie: I don't know
Nathan: buying me video games
Jake: she's smart
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Allie: Tinkerbell
Nathan: The Incredible Mom but not green
Jake: I don't know, Miss Piggy?
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Allie: watch TV
Nathan: go to my hockey games
Jake: drive around places and laugh at funny looking people (ya, we do, so what? It's funny)
18. How are you and your mom the same?
Allie: we have the same hair color
Nathan: we both have blonde hair
Jake: we have the same humor
19. How are you and your mom different?
Allie: she's big and I'm little
Nathan: She's a girl, I'm a boy; She has green eyes, I have blue eyes; She's tall, I'm little; She's married, I'm not
Jake: She does her work
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Allie: Because I'm her kid and because she loves kids
Nathan: she lets me do different kinds of sports
Jake: she tells me
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Allie:
Nathan: Florida
Jake: Olive Garden
23. What frustrates your mom the most?
Allie: kids not listening and when she says don't put on your snowpants and you do
Nathan: when her kids don't listen
Jake: misbehaving children
Friday, February 3, 2012
Fun Friday!
My co-worker and I like to celebrate Fun Friday, each and every Friday. Fun Friday means wearing jeans to work, eating good stuff (which means bad stuff) all day, and smiling and laughing and just having a good time and not allowing anything or anyone to ruin it.
Today's Fun Friday started with me replacing my 2 front tires, something that I've been needing to do for weeks as my tires resemble those on a Big Wheel with no tread whatsoever. The slightest bit of snow has me struggling to drive up even the smallest of inclines, so it was time. So this morning I paid a visit to my friends at Tire Warehouse. They are my friends because between me and Jake, we should have reserved parking in one of their bays. Instead of being down at having to spend money on tires, I put my best Fun Friday smile and attitude on and walked to the desk. First of all, I got to call my boss and say I'd be late, and going in late to work just starts Fun Friday off on the right foot right off the bat. So as I got to the desk, I was armed with my receipts from former tire purchases in hopes of taking advantage of their wonderful warranty because in case I didn't mention, I am a frequent customer who replaces tires in much the same way that my oldest child replaces cell phones. So I opened with, "I need to replace my 2 front tires, and I believe they are under warranty if you could check for me." My Tire Warehouse friend checked the computer and found that I had purchased 2 tires there in 2011 to which I informed him I had also purchased 2 other tires at another time at the Worcester location and asked if that was coming up on the computer. He smiled, thinking he was getting out of the warranty and said that Worcester's records don't show up on their computer. "Well," I answered with a smile of my own, "it's a good thing I brought my receipt with me then," as I pulled my secret weapon out of my pocketbook. Suddenly, now my tread is being measured on my 2 front tires, the mathematical formula is being put to use on my 2/32 worth of tread that is left. (No lectures please, I KNOW I shouldn't have been driving on that but Big Wheels were always fun). I was given $69.95 credit for each of my 2 front tires. So even though I did have to spend money on something boring like tires, I look at it more as saving $140 ~ see, that is the Fun Friday attitude.
Fun Friday continued when I got to work and prepared my breakfast of chips 'n dip and sat down to log onto my computer. My email contained a funny joke, my Facebook had a message from a friend I haven't talked to in awhile, I had a new friend request from a fellow hockey mom, I had another funny joke posting about how the Giants are going to win the Superbowl. Then an interruption...a potential new client called. I talked to the client who also understood Fun Friday and thanked me for all my help with her questions. As I hung up the phone, I noticed dip got on the phone so I opened the desk drawer for a napkin and saw the Swedish Fish that I had brought in earlier in the week and couldn't find. A good Fun Friday find, for sure. Then I decided to check the status of my tax refund which is scheduled to arrive next Friday. Fun Friday then got kicked into overdrive as I saw that the refund was actually deposited into my account today! So glad the IRS celebrates Fun Friday, too.
And now, as I finish my last chip, it's time to start our Fun Friday talks of what we are going to order for lunch. Fun Friday lunches are the best! We ignore the places nearby where we get soups and salads from, we ignore the leftovers and sandwiches brought from home, and we splurge on calories and cost. Last week's Fun Friday became a 2 hour field trip to Olive Garden so that will be hard to top, but I am sure we can figure out some special treat.
Enjoy your Fun Friday, and don't let any Debbie Downers or Buzzkill Bobs or Moody Marys take it away from you!
Today's Fun Friday started with me replacing my 2 front tires, something that I've been needing to do for weeks as my tires resemble those on a Big Wheel with no tread whatsoever. The slightest bit of snow has me struggling to drive up even the smallest of inclines, so it was time. So this morning I paid a visit to my friends at Tire Warehouse. They are my friends because between me and Jake, we should have reserved parking in one of their bays. Instead of being down at having to spend money on tires, I put my best Fun Friday smile and attitude on and walked to the desk. First of all, I got to call my boss and say I'd be late, and going in late to work just starts Fun Friday off on the right foot right off the bat. So as I got to the desk, I was armed with my receipts from former tire purchases in hopes of taking advantage of their wonderful warranty because in case I didn't mention, I am a frequent customer who replaces tires in much the same way that my oldest child replaces cell phones. So I opened with, "I need to replace my 2 front tires, and I believe they are under warranty if you could check for me." My Tire Warehouse friend checked the computer and found that I had purchased 2 tires there in 2011 to which I informed him I had also purchased 2 other tires at another time at the Worcester location and asked if that was coming up on the computer. He smiled, thinking he was getting out of the warranty and said that Worcester's records don't show up on their computer. "Well," I answered with a smile of my own, "it's a good thing I brought my receipt with me then," as I pulled my secret weapon out of my pocketbook. Suddenly, now my tread is being measured on my 2 front tires, the mathematical formula is being put to use on my 2/32 worth of tread that is left. (No lectures please, I KNOW I shouldn't have been driving on that but Big Wheels were always fun). I was given $69.95 credit for each of my 2 front tires. So even though I did have to spend money on something boring like tires, I look at it more as saving $140 ~ see, that is the Fun Friday attitude.
Fun Friday continued when I got to work and prepared my breakfast of chips 'n dip and sat down to log onto my computer. My email contained a funny joke, my Facebook had a message from a friend I haven't talked to in awhile, I had a new friend request from a fellow hockey mom, I had another funny joke posting about how the Giants are going to win the Superbowl. Then an interruption...a potential new client called. I talked to the client who also understood Fun Friday and thanked me for all my help with her questions. As I hung up the phone, I noticed dip got on the phone so I opened the desk drawer for a napkin and saw the Swedish Fish that I had brought in earlier in the week and couldn't find. A good Fun Friday find, for sure. Then I decided to check the status of my tax refund which is scheduled to arrive next Friday. Fun Friday then got kicked into overdrive as I saw that the refund was actually deposited into my account today! So glad the IRS celebrates Fun Friday, too.
And now, as I finish my last chip, it's time to start our Fun Friday talks of what we are going to order for lunch. Fun Friday lunches are the best! We ignore the places nearby where we get soups and salads from, we ignore the leftovers and sandwiches brought from home, and we splurge on calories and cost. Last week's Fun Friday became a 2 hour field trip to Olive Garden so that will be hard to top, but I am sure we can figure out some special treat.
Enjoy your Fun Friday, and don't let any Debbie Downers or Buzzkill Bobs or Moody Marys take it away from you!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Lots of Miles, Lots of Thoughts
Each work day I drive 50 minutes to work and 50 minutes home from work. During that time, I often find my mind wandering to some very random thoughts. Many times these thoughts are not in sequence or connect with a previous thought, but just pop into my head and make me wonder...
Do people driving by me while I'm singing think I am in a band practicing my latest number or a hopeful American Idol contestant practicing for my big audition? Why do I hear more rock music on WSRS than WAAF lately? When did I become old enough to like WSRS? Why do birds only sit on the Ararat St. sign on 190 and not the one 100 feet before it or 100 feet after it? Why do people always cut me off when 190 becomes 290? Why am I never caller 14 to win things on WXLO? What am I going to have for lunch today? Did I take anything out of the freezer for supper? Maybe I should call home and ask Jake to take something out? How did my parents ever let me drive home alone through the night from South Carolina with no cell phone when I was 18? How did they sleep at all during the night while I was driving? Am I being ridiculous to ask Jake to text me when he gets to Haverhill, 45 minutes away from home? Will my hair be white or gray when I get old? Should I cut my hair? Why can't I remember this song on the radio? Oh yeah, "Rumpshaker", who sings it? Why does it make me shake my rump? Why do I know every word? Why do I still like this song? Why does it remind me of afterparties at Jeff Daigneault's? I miss ShBooms. I miss my Worcester friends. I should call Amy tonight. Maybe we can go out for our birthdays. What would I wear? Where would we go? Where do people our ages go in Worcester to have fun these days? Why do I always feel old and overdressed at dance clubs now? When did I become "the lady" instead of "the girl"? You know, like when you're in a store and a child bumps you, and the mom says, "Say sorry to the lady". When did I become the lady and not the girl? Will my girl, my daughter, still look like me when she's older? Will she get married and have babies someday? I loooooooovvvvvveeee babies. Will my sons get married? Will my daughters-in-law hate me because their husbands, my sons, are so used to having Mom doing everything for them? Should I teach them how to do laundry, how to make basic foods? HA HA, remembering when I made macaroni and cheese for the first time by myself, followed all the directions, drained the macaroni in the collander in the sink, put the collander back on the stovetop, read the next direction of adding milk and butter and added them, right into the collander, right on the stovetop, letting it all drain out into the gas burner, into the stove. Oops... the directions really should say to put the macaroni back into the pan before adding the milk and butter. Who came up with directions and original recipes? Who decided to mix such and such, taste it, and name it? Who comes up with names for streets? Why does every town have a street named for at least one kind of tree? Maple? Elm? Oak? Pine? Birch? What trees didn't make the cut? HA HA, remembering the one year I got a real Christmas tree, put it in the back of my pickup truck and drove across Worcester to the designated spot to drop off old Christmas trees, got out of the truck, no tree in the back anymore LOL. I liked my truck, I thought I was so cool in that little pick-up truck. I liked four-wheeling, and I was good at it. I've never ridden a four-wheeler, ATV or snowmobile, and someday I want to try that. I hate being cold though so maybe I should skip the snowmobiling. Man, it's hot in here, the kids are right, I do blast the heat in the car, maybe I should turn it down, then I'll be too cold, I'll just leave it on and open the window a crack. It never fails in the parking lot at work that someone always turns for the one open spot at the top of the lot before I can get there, and then I end up in the back of the lot. Oh well, it's the only exercise I do all day, I guess I can handle the extra 50 feet, how lazy am I? Oh shoot, forgot to roll up the window, back in the car, turn the key, roll up the window, shut the car off, lock the door and off to work. Hope there's a good song on the radio on the way home so I can fool other drivers into thinking I'm an aspiring rock star. Yeah, right, in my mini-van, that's what they think...
Yeah, random thoughts...anyone else do this? Yes or no? Circle one.
Do people driving by me while I'm singing think I am in a band practicing my latest number or a hopeful American Idol contestant practicing for my big audition? Why do I hear more rock music on WSRS than WAAF lately? When did I become old enough to like WSRS? Why do birds only sit on the Ararat St. sign on 190 and not the one 100 feet before it or 100 feet after it? Why do people always cut me off when 190 becomes 290? Why am I never caller 14 to win things on WXLO? What am I going to have for lunch today? Did I take anything out of the freezer for supper? Maybe I should call home and ask Jake to take something out? How did my parents ever let me drive home alone through the night from South Carolina with no cell phone when I was 18? How did they sleep at all during the night while I was driving? Am I being ridiculous to ask Jake to text me when he gets to Haverhill, 45 minutes away from home? Will my hair be white or gray when I get old? Should I cut my hair? Why can't I remember this song on the radio? Oh yeah, "Rumpshaker", who sings it? Why does it make me shake my rump? Why do I know every word? Why do I still like this song? Why does it remind me of afterparties at Jeff Daigneault's? I miss ShBooms. I miss my Worcester friends. I should call Amy tonight. Maybe we can go out for our birthdays. What would I wear? Where would we go? Where do people our ages go in Worcester to have fun these days? Why do I always feel old and overdressed at dance clubs now? When did I become "the lady" instead of "the girl"? You know, like when you're in a store and a child bumps you, and the mom says, "Say sorry to the lady". When did I become the lady and not the girl? Will my girl, my daughter, still look like me when she's older? Will she get married and have babies someday? I loooooooovvvvvveeee babies. Will my sons get married? Will my daughters-in-law hate me because their husbands, my sons, are so used to having Mom doing everything for them? Should I teach them how to do laundry, how to make basic foods? HA HA, remembering when I made macaroni and cheese for the first time by myself, followed all the directions, drained the macaroni in the collander in the sink, put the collander back on the stovetop, read the next direction of adding milk and butter and added them, right into the collander, right on the stovetop, letting it all drain out into the gas burner, into the stove. Oops... the directions really should say to put the macaroni back into the pan before adding the milk and butter. Who came up with directions and original recipes? Who decided to mix such and such, taste it, and name it? Who comes up with names for streets? Why does every town have a street named for at least one kind of tree? Maple? Elm? Oak? Pine? Birch? What trees didn't make the cut? HA HA, remembering the one year I got a real Christmas tree, put it in the back of my pickup truck and drove across Worcester to the designated spot to drop off old Christmas trees, got out of the truck, no tree in the back anymore LOL. I liked my truck, I thought I was so cool in that little pick-up truck. I liked four-wheeling, and I was good at it. I've never ridden a four-wheeler, ATV or snowmobile, and someday I want to try that. I hate being cold though so maybe I should skip the snowmobiling. Man, it's hot in here, the kids are right, I do blast the heat in the car, maybe I should turn it down, then I'll be too cold, I'll just leave it on and open the window a crack. It never fails in the parking lot at work that someone always turns for the one open spot at the top of the lot before I can get there, and then I end up in the back of the lot. Oh well, it's the only exercise I do all day, I guess I can handle the extra 50 feet, how lazy am I? Oh shoot, forgot to roll up the window, back in the car, turn the key, roll up the window, shut the car off, lock the door and off to work. Hope there's a good song on the radio on the way home so I can fool other drivers into thinking I'm an aspiring rock star. Yeah, right, in my mini-van, that's what they think...
Yeah, random thoughts...anyone else do this? Yes or no? Circle one.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Laughter is the Best Medicine
They say laughter is the best medicine. I don't know if that is true, but I will agree that it can lighten a somber mood and take one's mind off of their sadness for a little while.
My children often ask what they were like when they were younger (younger than their current ages of 19, 11 and 9). Sometimes they want to know about their birth, sometimes about their toddler days and other times they just want to hear funny stories about times that I remember perhaps a little better than they do of their earlier days of life.
Yesterday was one of those such days, and I shared funny stories with them, and now I will share them with you, hoping to bring a smile to your face, make you chuckle a little bit and just to lighten a mood.
Jake was my funny guy, and actually still is. I recalled when he was about 4 and we lived in the heart of the city of Worcester. We went to the grocery store one day, where we were clearly the minority. As we were in the check-out line, and I was putting the items on the conveyor belt, I happened to notice a very tall African American man behind us. And then I heard it...my son's little voice asking "Do you play basketball?" The man chuckled and answered, "No, but I get asked that alot because I am so tall." And then I heard it again...my son's innocent and honest comment, "I didn't ask you cuz you're tall, I asked you cuz you're Black." Fortunately the man found that to be very funny. I did not.
As happens sometimes when you are a single parent, you end up bringing your child everywhere you go. One day, Jake had a snow day and needed to go to work with me. On the way home, as we were walking to the car, we passed a Dunkin' Donuts. I had promised him a doughnut after work if he was good, and so we stopped. He got 2 chocolate doughnuts and ripped into one of them as soon as we left the downtown store. As we walked up Pleasant Street, I could see ahead that there was a man rifling through the trash can. Jake noticed him too and asked what he was doing. In my most politically correct manner, I told him that unfortunately there are some in this world who don't have homes or food and that this man was probably one of those people who was looking for something to eat. That answer sufficed, and we kept walking up the hill. Jake decided he only wanted the one doughnut and threw the other into a nearby trash can. As we approached the man up ahead, I grabbed my child's hand and then I heard it...my son's little voice saying "If you are still hungry, there's a chocolate doughnut in the trash can down there." The man pulled his head up and looked at us, no expression on his face. I grabbed the little hand a little tighter and tried to get him to walk faster when again I heard it...my son's little voice saying "My mom said you are homeless and have no food so I just wanted to tell you about the doughnut." So I picked him up and walked a little faster.
And I saved the best for last...it was an unofficial company habit for some of us to go to Cactus Pete's after work on Fridays. One Friday, Jake joined us. We sat at a table with a co-worker Julie and a supervisor, who I will call Mr. L. This particular Friday it was quite busy, and Jake needed to use the bathroom. The women's room line was long, and no one was letting us cut, even though I said it was for my son. So I allowed him his first visit to the men's room. I told him not to talk to anyone and to do what he had to do and then come right out. Some time went by, probably not much time, but it seemed like a long time to me, and men came out of the bathroom, but not my little man. Finally, out he comes, and we go back to the table. The first thing he said was, "Did you see that man with the blue shirt on?" My heart jumped into my chest as I quickly answered, "Yes, why?" That's when I heard it...my son's little voice saying, "He had a huge private." Ahhh, yes, apparently the first visit to the men's room for a little boy who lived only with his mother had been quite an eye-opener. Fortunately Julie and Mr. L. found that to be funny. I was a bit embarrassed.
Nathan is my sensitive, caring and loving 11 year old, and although he is that way now, he was a little different when a toddler. He went through an angry coffee-table clearing, chair-throwing, biting stage as a toddler. He also went through a swearing stage, where anytime he got upset about something he would swear, almost as if he had Turrett's. There was one such day when we were in WalMart, and he bent to pick something up. As he stood, he bumped his head on the conveyor belt. I knew enough not to mention it and to just let it slide, but the cashier did not and probably thought I was the worst mother ever to not be addressing his hurt. Her mistake...As she said with deep concern "Honey, are you okay?", I cringed and for good reason, as the response was "Shut your mouth b*tch." Yes, he got picked up and carried out of the store immediately. We didn't go back there for a while.
But now Nathan is wonderful, and there is no sign of that angry little boy. He cares about other's feelings, and is a good big brother to his sister. A few years ago, I did my annual assessment of myself and decided it was time for a diet. As I announced that to Nathan and Allie, Nathan started crying. When I asked why, he said that he didn't want me to change. I thought that was so sweet, until he finished his sweet comment with "We like you fat." Another time, I was downstairs in the morning getting ready for our day and waiting for the kids to wake up, when Nathan came racing downstairs yelling my name. I thought something was wrong and turned to ask "What's the matter?" He said, "Oh never mind" and turned back around. I asked what that was all about and was told, "I had a dream you were skinny. But no, still fat." as he ran back up the stairs. Keep running, buddy, keep running :)
Allie is funny and sarcastic, but she is so cute that her sarcastic comments make me laugh, most times. When I ask her to do too many things at once, I get answers like "I still haven't done the 1st thing. I'm not a octopus, you know." Sometimes I catch her rolling her eyes when she doesn't get the answer she wanted. Sometimes when she wants to fill her (and my) entire weekend with sleepover after sleepover, and driving her or her friends all over the place, I remind her how I was only allowed one sleepover a month when I was growing up. Once she answered, "Well, maybe if I had 6 sisters like you, I would have people to play with at home." Point made, Allie, who's sleeping over this weekend? Ya, she's good.
So I don't know if laughter is the best medicine, but just writing this made me smile. Hope it lightens or brightens your day as well.
My children often ask what they were like when they were younger (younger than their current ages of 19, 11 and 9). Sometimes they want to know about their birth, sometimes about their toddler days and other times they just want to hear funny stories about times that I remember perhaps a little better than they do of their earlier days of life.
Yesterday was one of those such days, and I shared funny stories with them, and now I will share them with you, hoping to bring a smile to your face, make you chuckle a little bit and just to lighten a mood.
Jake was my funny guy, and actually still is. I recalled when he was about 4 and we lived in the heart of the city of Worcester. We went to the grocery store one day, where we were clearly the minority. As we were in the check-out line, and I was putting the items on the conveyor belt, I happened to notice a very tall African American man behind us. And then I heard it...my son's little voice asking "Do you play basketball?" The man chuckled and answered, "No, but I get asked that alot because I am so tall." And then I heard it again...my son's innocent and honest comment, "I didn't ask you cuz you're tall, I asked you cuz you're Black." Fortunately the man found that to be very funny. I did not.
As happens sometimes when you are a single parent, you end up bringing your child everywhere you go. One day, Jake had a snow day and needed to go to work with me. On the way home, as we were walking to the car, we passed a Dunkin' Donuts. I had promised him a doughnut after work if he was good, and so we stopped. He got 2 chocolate doughnuts and ripped into one of them as soon as we left the downtown store. As we walked up Pleasant Street, I could see ahead that there was a man rifling through the trash can. Jake noticed him too and asked what he was doing. In my most politically correct manner, I told him that unfortunately there are some in this world who don't have homes or food and that this man was probably one of those people who was looking for something to eat. That answer sufficed, and we kept walking up the hill. Jake decided he only wanted the one doughnut and threw the other into a nearby trash can. As we approached the man up ahead, I grabbed my child's hand and then I heard it...my son's little voice saying "If you are still hungry, there's a chocolate doughnut in the trash can down there." The man pulled his head up and looked at us, no expression on his face. I grabbed the little hand a little tighter and tried to get him to walk faster when again I heard it...my son's little voice saying "My mom said you are homeless and have no food so I just wanted to tell you about the doughnut." So I picked him up and walked a little faster.
And I saved the best for last...it was an unofficial company habit for some of us to go to Cactus Pete's after work on Fridays. One Friday, Jake joined us. We sat at a table with a co-worker Julie and a supervisor, who I will call Mr. L. This particular Friday it was quite busy, and Jake needed to use the bathroom. The women's room line was long, and no one was letting us cut, even though I said it was for my son. So I allowed him his first visit to the men's room. I told him not to talk to anyone and to do what he had to do and then come right out. Some time went by, probably not much time, but it seemed like a long time to me, and men came out of the bathroom, but not my little man. Finally, out he comes, and we go back to the table. The first thing he said was, "Did you see that man with the blue shirt on?" My heart jumped into my chest as I quickly answered, "Yes, why?" That's when I heard it...my son's little voice saying, "He had a huge private." Ahhh, yes, apparently the first visit to the men's room for a little boy who lived only with his mother had been quite an eye-opener. Fortunately Julie and Mr. L. found that to be funny. I was a bit embarrassed.
Nathan is my sensitive, caring and loving 11 year old, and although he is that way now, he was a little different when a toddler. He went through an angry coffee-table clearing, chair-throwing, biting stage as a toddler. He also went through a swearing stage, where anytime he got upset about something he would swear, almost as if he had Turrett's. There was one such day when we were in WalMart, and he bent to pick something up. As he stood, he bumped his head on the conveyor belt. I knew enough not to mention it and to just let it slide, but the cashier did not and probably thought I was the worst mother ever to not be addressing his hurt. Her mistake...As she said with deep concern "Honey, are you okay?", I cringed and for good reason, as the response was "Shut your mouth b*tch." Yes, he got picked up and carried out of the store immediately. We didn't go back there for a while.
But now Nathan is wonderful, and there is no sign of that angry little boy. He cares about other's feelings, and is a good big brother to his sister. A few years ago, I did my annual assessment of myself and decided it was time for a diet. As I announced that to Nathan and Allie, Nathan started crying. When I asked why, he said that he didn't want me to change. I thought that was so sweet, until he finished his sweet comment with "We like you fat." Another time, I was downstairs in the morning getting ready for our day and waiting for the kids to wake up, when Nathan came racing downstairs yelling my name. I thought something was wrong and turned to ask "What's the matter?" He said, "Oh never mind" and turned back around. I asked what that was all about and was told, "I had a dream you were skinny. But no, still fat." as he ran back up the stairs. Keep running, buddy, keep running :)
Allie is funny and sarcastic, but she is so cute that her sarcastic comments make me laugh, most times. When I ask her to do too many things at once, I get answers like "I still haven't done the 1st thing. I'm not a octopus, you know." Sometimes I catch her rolling her eyes when she doesn't get the answer she wanted. Sometimes when she wants to fill her (and my) entire weekend with sleepover after sleepover, and driving her or her friends all over the place, I remind her how I was only allowed one sleepover a month when I was growing up. Once she answered, "Well, maybe if I had 6 sisters like you, I would have people to play with at home." Point made, Allie, who's sleeping over this weekend? Ya, she's good.
So I don't know if laughter is the best medicine, but just writing this made me smile. Hope it lightens or brightens your day as well.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Learning from Dad
This week my Dad learned that a spot on his pancreas, originally identified as a cyst, was actually a malignant tumor. He also learned that some other spots on other organs, initially thought to be of little concern, would now be biopsied as well. He also learned that the tumor on the pancreas was wrapped around 2 veins, and inoperable and that he would need to begin radiation in hopes of killing the cancer, shrinking the tumor and/or keeping it from growing and spreading its nasty little germs. Sounds like a pretty crappy week, right?!
So I wait hours before I call him and finally think I've composed myself enough to have a conversation in which I am going to comfort him, tell him how much I love him and how much I'm praying for him and trust that God will heal him. The phone rings, once, twice, a couple more times, and his voice mail picks up. I felt a little better because I was sure I could get out a sentence or two on his voice mail. Ahhh, nope, not possible. So then I had to call my Mom and tell her to tell Dad not to listen to the message because I'm not the composed comforter I had hoped to be and instead am his blubbering daughter.
So the next morning on my way to work I feel ready to call. This time Dad answers, and the minute he answers with his cheerful voice, I ask, in my shaky voice filled with tears, how he is. He answers by telling me that he is fine, he really is fine, even if my sisters and I don't believe him. He then tells me that God has a plan for everyone, we don't know the plan and don't always understand it, but God has a plan and a purpose for everyone. I tell him that I don't want God to take him away from me. And he honestly answers that he isn't ready for that either but that we all have a time to go and that God is in control of our lives and the plan for our lives.
He then tells me about a conversation he had with his pastor friend who gave him a sermon to read about how not to waste your cancer. This is what my Dad wrote on his Facebook wall about the sermon.
I am trying to be positive, trying to have the peace and faith that my Dad has, and praying constantly for healing. The practical, worldly side of me knows what cancer means and what cancer does, and I hate not being able to reach into my Dad's body and pull out every bit of the poison that cancer is. I want to fix it, control it and make it all better for him and my family.
I will try to learn from my Dad, to listen to him, to learn from his example and to trust that God does indeed have a plan for each one of us, and a purpose for our lives which we may not always understand or see. Who are we to question God's plan for our lives and for the lives of those we love? In the meantime, while I'm learning, I will pray for my Dad, pray for his healing, pray for his courage and his strength. I will pray for the doctors, that they will know what they're doing and that they will do it well as we entrust them with our Dad. I will pray for my Mom and my siblings and our children that we can offer support and encouragement to my Dad and to each other. And I will thank God for this wonderful man that is my Dad, for the man he has been, for the man he is and for the man he will be. His example, his faith, and his peace are to be admired and followed. As my children have said on more than one occasion, "Grandpa works for God, and Grandpa is best friends with God." Who better to have in your corner than God? Who better to have as a BFF than God?
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
So I wait hours before I call him and finally think I've composed myself enough to have a conversation in which I am going to comfort him, tell him how much I love him and how much I'm praying for him and trust that God will heal him. The phone rings, once, twice, a couple more times, and his voice mail picks up. I felt a little better because I was sure I could get out a sentence or two on his voice mail. Ahhh, nope, not possible. So then I had to call my Mom and tell her to tell Dad not to listen to the message because I'm not the composed comforter I had hoped to be and instead am his blubbering daughter.
So the next morning on my way to work I feel ready to call. This time Dad answers, and the minute he answers with his cheerful voice, I ask, in my shaky voice filled with tears, how he is. He answers by telling me that he is fine, he really is fine, even if my sisters and I don't believe him. He then tells me that God has a plan for everyone, we don't know the plan and don't always understand it, but God has a plan and a purpose for everyone. I tell him that I don't want God to take him away from me. And he honestly answers that he isn't ready for that either but that we all have a time to go and that God is in control of our lives and the plan for our lives.
He then tells me about a conversation he had with his pastor friend who gave him a sermon to read about how not to waste your cancer. This is what my Dad wrote on his Facebook wall about the sermon.
My Dad is the godliest man I know. His faith and his relationship with God leave me wanting more, and make me feel ashamed for questioning how God could allow something like cancer to affect my Dad. My Dad has devoted his whole life to working for God and to reaching people for God so that they too may have the special personal relationship that he enjoys with his Saviour. Why would God want to take one of his greatest workers from the earth? And when that time comes, who am I to want to hold onto my Dad's ankle as God calls him home to Heaven?
I am trying to be positive, trying to have the peace and faith that my Dad has, and praying constantly for healing. The practical, worldly side of me knows what cancer means and what cancer does, and I hate not being able to reach into my Dad's body and pull out every bit of the poison that cancer is. I want to fix it, control it and make it all better for him and my family.
I will try to learn from my Dad, to listen to him, to learn from his example and to trust that God does indeed have a plan for each one of us, and a purpose for our lives which we may not always understand or see. Who are we to question God's plan for our lives and for the lives of those we love? In the meantime, while I'm learning, I will pray for my Dad, pray for his healing, pray for his courage and his strength. I will pray for the doctors, that they will know what they're doing and that they will do it well as we entrust them with our Dad. I will pray for my Mom and my siblings and our children that we can offer support and encouragement to my Dad and to each other. And I will thank God for this wonderful man that is my Dad, for the man he has been, for the man he is and for the man he will be. His example, his faith, and his peace are to be admired and followed. As my children have said on more than one occasion, "Grandpa works for God, and Grandpa is best friends with God." Who better to have in your corner than God? Who better to have as a BFF than God?
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
Romans 5:1-5
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