March 24, 2010

Sunshine Days

I spent three days cleaning my house. It’s so great to have things in order. It only took five months. I’ve been attached to Owen (or he’s been attached to me) since he was born and some of my other responsibilities have been ignored. I think Spring fever has hit us hard. Even Dawson cleaned his room without being asked. That just made my day.

Speaking of Spring, temperatures a slowly creeping into the 60s and by next Wednesday we should have a beautiful 65 degree day. The best part is that Spring break starts Monday and I’m eager to get the kids outside to enjoy some sunshine.

While the weather was somewhat warm these last few days, I took the kids and Murphy on some walks to the park. Murphy was so happy to be on his leash and investigating the smells along the bike path behind our house. He must have peed on every tree from our back yard to the playground at Little Plover River Park.

While I was getting over a cold, Doug took Owen outside and they sat on the deck and watched Murphy chase squirrels and birds. Owen loves the sun. I noticed he was less fussy and went to bed half and hour earlier than usual. More sleep for Owen means more sleep for me. It’s a win-win.

I’ve also made an effort to spend more time with Dawson. Since Owen depends on me for everything, I’ve had to sacrifice my time with D. He’s been acting up to get my attention by running around the house and teasing the dog. I try to read more books to him at bedtime and to take him on “special errands” (to the post office or grocery store) with me. He likes the time, too, because he can talk to me about school and other things and I have a better time paying attention when Owen isn’t fussing or demanding my time.

We are so ready for school to be over so that we can spend our mornings at the park and hae picnics in the back yard. And of course, I’m looking forward to grilling season. I’m eager to have a grilled steak. It’s been a long winter.

What are you looking forward to these days?

March 2, 2010

Tuesday Without Mommy

I have so much to do.  I’ve been accepted into the Health Unit Coordinator program at our local technical college and now I must complete some informational sessions and online webinars before registration day in April.  I’m going to attend classes in the evenings and some online, so I imagine they are using a combination of in-person meetings and online media to get these pre-admission things out of the way.

Once I complete this year long program (beginning this fall) I will then be working towards an Associates Degree/Bachelors Degree combo.  I’ll be in school for at least 3-4 years depending on how heavy my work load is.  This depends on what I can handle while still working part-time and being a mom of two.  I’m starting to wonder what I’m getting myself into, but I am super excited to finish my degree.

I took a lot of detours throughout my life.  I wouldn’t change a thing because this path has led me to being married to a wonderful guy and having two adorable sons, but I sometimes kick myself for not completing my education a decade ago. I’m only slightly worried about juggling it all.  I’m definitely not Super Woman.

This morning my husband is off work and he has generously offered to hang out with the children while I get things done.  I’m finally using a gift certificate for a massage that I’ve had for a few months, and then I’m going to spend some quiet time at the library, reading and completing some online things I’ve had on the back burner for over a week.

I think Doug feels guilty for leaving me last weekend.  I’m milking it for all it’s worth.

I’m going to have some free time today!  I can hardly contain my excitement!  I hope the boys can survive a Tuesday without Mommy!

December 31, 2009

New Year’s Eve, Past and Present

My husband and I don’t go out on New Years Eve. Not since we had kids, I mean. He says it’s “a night for amateurs.” Also, all the crazies crawl out of the woodwork on NYE.

When my father was still in the bar business, he had a New Year’s Eve party every year. He bought a few cases of champagne and made sloppy joes and appetizers for his customers. He gave his regular bartenders the night off, and Doug and I would work the party so that everyone could have a good time.

Every year, people that did not regularly patronize our establishment crashed the party for the free food and champagne. One couple in particular comes to mind. I can’t remember their names, but we called them “The Toothless Wonders” because both husband and wife were missing several front teeth. Doug would joke that they must have gotten into a drunken brawl one night and knocked each other’s teeth out.

The NYE party was not the first time I had to wait on these people. In college I was a waitress at South Point, my aunt Kelly’s 24-hour diner, and this couple would come in for a cup of coffee and stay all night because we offered free refills. They never ordered anything else. They never left a tip. The Toothless Wonders were the epitome of freeloading.

On New Year’s Eve in 2003, the TWs came in right before the party was scheduled to begin. I think the man’s name might have been Dennis, and her name still evades me, but for the sake of this blog entry, we’ll call her Wanda. They secured two bar stools closest to the food table, and Dennis slammed a wad of singles on the bar. Wanda ordered two tappers of Miller and lit a Basic, full flavor cigarette.

“What’s on the menu tonight,” she asked. “Sandwiches or somethin’?”

“Barbecues,” I told her. “And there will be taco trays and cheese and sausage, too.”

“We didn’t eat all day for this,” Dennis told me.

I remember laughing to myself. I’m imagined they starved themselves all day just to make sure they’d get their fill that night. The couple was never dressed very nice. They seemed to wear the same clothes all the time. Dirty jeans, worn out shirts and sweaters, and worker’s boots, despite the fact that neither worked. They lived off SSI and food stamps, and I think Dennis was receiving disability, too.

They were usually very polite, that is until they had a couple beers and began shouting and rudely bumping into other customers on the way to the bathrooms. I didn’t dislike these people, I just found them to be kind of creepy.

On this particular night they were strangely quiet. Mostly because they were constantly refilling their plates and slamming Millers like shots of whiskey. Speaking of whiskey, Dennis decided after the midnight countdown he would like two shots of Kessler. I poured the shots and rang $5.50 into the register.

“Five-fifty!” He yelled. “I’ve been robbed!”‘

I worked throughout the night, tending bar, refilling the food trays and making sure everyone was having a good time. As I was emptying ashtrays into the garbage can, I turned around to see Dennis and Wanda making out by the jukebox. I nearly puked. Customers began to notice it, too. Everyone was uncomfortable with the PDA. I didn’t want to be the one to break up their intimate moment, so I made Doug go over to them. I don’t remember what he said, but The Toothless Wonders stopped sucking face and sat back down.

The rest of the night was uneventful, save for the local lush falling asleep at the bar. This, I could handle.

“Joe! No sleeping on my bar. I don’t drink in your bed!” I hollered.

“Well, ya could if ya wanted to,” Joe slurred.

New Year’s Eve is definitely a crazy night I’m sort of glad I’m too tired to party all night. It’s amazing what becoming a parent does to your social life.

This New Year’s Eve is a quiet one. Dawson and I watched a few episodes of Spongebob. Owen fell asleep in my arms. Doug is listening to old Bob & Tom shows on the radio. Maybe I’ll switch over to ABC for the ball drop in New York City. If I’m awake at midnight, I mean.

Happy New Year! May 2010 bring you much luck, love and happiness!

October 13, 2009

Happy Anniversary!

Here’s to eight years, (soon-to-be) two kids, a dog, a house and more fun than one could ever imagine.  Love you, forever and always.