April 15, 2006

Happy Easter

I know Easter isn’t until tomorrow, but I don’t believe I’ll get a chance to send my happy wishes on the actual day. I hope every one has a wonderful Easter or Passover.

Doug, Dawson and I will be at my parents house tomorrow. My uncles and aunt will be arriving as well. This will be the first Easter without Grandma Alice and I’m not sure how well it will go over. Christmas was very difficult because she had passed on December 6th. I sure hope everyone can get along.

Yesterday, Doug and I both had the day off for Good Friday. We didn’t attend any church services. There isn’t a mass on Good Friday, but there is a prayer service. I feel a bit guilty for not going, but I also know that the Doodlebug wouldn’t have behaved very well. We spent our day as a family, getting errands done and cleaning around the house.

Doug and Dawson got fitted for their tuxes for Chad and Kelly’s wedding in May. Afterward, we went to the park to feed the duck’s. 

The Doodlebug didn’t want to leave the playground. I went down the spiral slide with him and he loved it.

After the park, we went home and cleaned and vacuum our cars. I wasn’t suprised to find mini M & M’s in the seat.

After the cleaning spree, I took the DB for a walk to the grocery store and we got some steaks for dinner. The weather was so beautiful. It was 73 degrees outside.

Doug grilled steaks and I made baby red potatoes. I think I used a little too much EVOO because they turned out delicious! As everything does when drizzled with oil and garlic salt.

I’m a rambling mess today so I’m going to stop blogging before I tell you about other irrelvant things.  Happy Easter!

April 11, 2006

A Tribute to My Gal Pal Bondy!

In our lives, there are few people that we meet that truly make us smile. My friend Bondy is one of those few. I met her the summer of 2005 in a chat room. We didn’t really “meet” on good terms. A particular chatter had been harassing me and calling me vicious names. Bondy was good friends with this chatter and immediately came to his defense when I retaliated against his accusations of me. A few days later, Bondy came to me and said that she didn’t think ill of me because she hardly knew me. I had told her I felt the same way because chatters online are never what they seem to be. Our “bond” (great word choice, don’t you agree?) began that day. 
I learned a lot about her in a few short days. She lives in the Chicagoland area, she works for a law firm, she has a great sense of humor and she loves Classic Rock just as much as I do. I knew after a week of chatting with her that I’d be friends with her until the end of time. 

Bondy is the kindest friend I’ve ever known. She is honest, straight forward and never judges me - even when I’m having one of my crazy panic attacks, she’s always there to tell me to “snap out of it”. I can confide in her about anything. When I’m depressed about my job, she tells me to keep my chin up. When I’m angry about Goofball, she lets me vent without giving advice. When I’m having a “mommy mental breakdown” she tells me to count to 100 and take a deep breath. What would I ever do without her? I don’t even want to think about it. 

My friends in “real time” were very skeptical about my online friendship. They didn’t believe that I could have a “real, true friendship” with someone I had never met. But I knew in my heart that Bondy was as real a friend as anyone else. 

Last March, I went to visit her in Chicago. The first day I saw her, I felt as if I had known her forever. She was real. There is nothing fake about her. Many times we meet pals over the internet and we wonder just how true they are about themselves. With Bondy, I didn’t have to wonder. She was just as amazing in person. 

We had a wonderful time in Chi-town. We went shopping; we went to a gay bar. Yes! A gay bar. And it was fabulous. We’d never had more fun, dancing and talking to other amazing women. (And just for those of you who are wondering - no, neither of us are lesbians.) We discussed our marriages, our children, politics, religion, crazy dreams and ideas. 

We were like sisters. We still are. 

It’s uncanny how alike we are. I always thought that people with common interests would get sick of each other, but it’s not true with Bondy. We are so alike, but we still have differences that make us wonderful. I will always love her for who she is, not who she isn’t. And I know in my heart that she feels the same way about me. 

Love you always, darling girl!

The Doodlebug

Side note - It’s 10:38 a.m. and I have a headache. And I can’t seem to stop yawning. (I just yawned typing the word ‘yawn’.) Even writing the word is contagious enough to cause a…you know.

It hasn’t been very busy at work today. I’ve spent the last 2 hours and 40 minutes reading other blogs and checking out the Doodlebug’s action on the Nanny Cam.

I work for a company that has on-site daycare. It’s wonderful. It doesn’t matter what time of day; I can login, and see my bug toddling around downstairs. He didn’t always attend the Noel Learning Center. When I first went back to work in November of 2004, I had a private day care provider. But since I only needed part-time care, she had to replace my bug with a full time child. When the “Daycare Dilemma” occurred in November of 2005, I knew about the NLC but I didn’t think we could afford it, even with the employee discount.

But, we gave it a shot. I found out the part-time rate was affordable and that I could receive money off my bill by volunteering to clean the bug’s classroom and toy sanitizing. It really is affordable now and Doodlebug loves his teachers and friends. He’s only 18 months old, but the NLC is like a very Early Education school.

The Doodlebug has learned some amazing things in his six months at NLC. He’s almost too smart. I know I’m biased, but he just amazes me. From eating with a fork, to clapping when he does something good, to saying “Uh Oh!” when he drops his toys, to saying “Get Down” when Murphy jumps on him; I’m just impressed. A few short months ago, his favorite and only word was “Puppy”, which he still continues to say at least 100 times a day.

I know he’s growing and changing. I saw him sitting at the table, finger painting, today. He had the biggest smile on his face. I zoomed in on Dawson on the Nanny Cam and saw that his teachers were trying to get him to spell his name. Is that even possible at his age? He tried to say his name a week ago and it came out as “Saucin”. I just love watching his face when he learns something new!

Maybe I have a really brilliant child on my hands. I can see Harvard Medical school in his future!

Walkin’ the Line

I feel tired…

My mother told me if I exercise more, I’ll have more energy and I’ll sleep better at night. My mother who always thinks she’s right. Well let me just tell you, I don’t think her advice is working.

I started walking on Friday, last week, because the weather has been gradually getting nicer. I strap Doodlebug in his stroller, hook Murphy to his leash and off we go down the path behind our house. Last summer I calculated that from my house to Highway HH, round trip, is four miles. Goofball gave me grief saying I’d never complete that route, but I managed to do it atleast seven or eight times.

This year, I’m taking baby steps. Friday we walked half the distance to Porter Road. It’s only two miles, but it felt longer. Murphy had to stop and relieve himself atleast 80 times. And when we pass other pedestrians walking their dogs, Murphy lets out this ferocious bark. I sometimes laugh. He thinks he’s this big meanie but he’s a tiny little terrier. On Sunday we managed to get to Ramble Lane, which I estimate was about 3 miles. My poor calves and ankles were sore after that. Good thing I didn’t go the distance. And last night, we walked to Porter again. I intended to go farther, but the Doodlebug was screaming to go to the park, so I had to give in. It was almost 70 degrees outside. I wore a tank top and track pants and I felt amazing. I swear it’s the sunshine and the smell of Spring.

The thing is, after we walk I go home and make dinner, feed the Doodlebug, bathe him, put him to bed, then read a bit of my book and I feel exhausted. I go to bed early, at about 9 p.m., which is extemely rare for me. But try to get up in the morning, and I need a kick in the tail. I’m groggy, tired and nothing will help but a hot shower and a cup of cappuccino.

I’m starting to think my mother is nuts. I think this exercise is what’s making me want to sleep forever. But I know she’s right, I do need to get my fitness training on track. Otherwise, when swimsuit season rolls around, I’ll be crying like I did last year. I have noticed that since I’ve been working out and watching what I put in my yap, my pants are fitting better, so maybe things are looking up!