AMomTwoBoys

I needed to find a photo of myself for something (AWESOME -details to come soon) and so I spent my morning looking through THOUSANDS of old photos. Lots from my wedding, some from college, a few from my honeymoon, a bunch from my childhood.

It was fun. It made me smile. And laugh. Some made me cringe. But, oh well

I thought I’d spend some time scanning the good ones so I could share them with you.

I know, I know. Today is your lucky day.

Anyway, I used to work at a fancy hotel and on big holidays we would have this animal actor/wildlife company come out and guests would take pictures with the animals. It was fun. We made friends with the people, so I was lucky enough to get to spend time on their ranch a few times.

It was awesome.

(I also posted over at Aiming Low today. It really IS your lucky day!!!)

I just made a phone call that left me shaky and nervous and feeling generally kerfluffled.

I’m having my Mirena removed on October 6th.

Not because I’m going to try to get pregnant (I promise,  honey!).

But because I’m pretty sure it’s making me CRAZY IN THE HEAD.

And, as we’ve discussed before, pretty “blah” in general.

So, the little sucker is going to get yanked out (OUCH!) and I’m going to cross my fingers that all the side effects I’ve read about are real and are causing my issues.  Because if I go through the next few months without Mirena as ridiculously hormonal, bitchy and uncomfortable as I’ve been lately WITH it, SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO.

Keep your fingers crossed for me, please!

Oh, and send wine.

I always try to get my sister to guest post, or really, start her very own blog.  She’s pretty damn clever.  But she’s “too busy.”  Until, of course, I take a debate we’re having the Twitter.  And when she finds out she’s winning, she decides it’s time to write a post for me.

So, here you go:

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I have a confession to make. I love the Imagination Movers.  I’ve been in the closet about this for the past month or so, and I can’t live a lie anymore.  I’ve gone through the motions of rolling my eyes whenever my son asked for an episode and I’ve spent plenty of time trying to stave off the inevitable request for the CD in the car.

Then the other day I started my car without the kids in it and did not notice that the Movers CD was playing until I heard myself singing (at the top of my lungs, ahem,) “Red and blue make purple. Purple is blue and red!”  I was embarrassed by this at first, but it got me thinking about some of the lyrics to my favorite grown up songs, and I realized that the Imagination Movers’ lyrics are no stupider than anything else I listen to.

For example:

“All the little ants are marching. Red and black antennae waving.” – Dave Matthews Band

“There is unrest in the forest. There is trouble with the trees. For the maples want more sunlight and the oaks ignore their pleas.” – Rush

“Shiny happy people holding hands. Shiny happy people laughing.” – REM

“If you want to destroy my sweater. Hold this thread as I walk away.” – Weezer

“If you try to knock me you’ll get mocked. I’ll stir fry you in my wok.” – Beastie Boys

“You had to sneak into my room, just to read my diary. It was just to see all the things you knew I’d written about you. Oh so many illustrations.” – Morrissey

OK – that last example doesn’t quite illustrate my point, but it makes me smile every time I hear it, and lots of Morrissey’s other lyrics are pretty silly, so it should count.

Anyhoo, last week my husband saw me on the Amtrak website and assumed I was looking at prices for a potential visit to NYC.   I blushed a little (a lot) and confessed that, because the Movers shows in Maryland are already sold out (and because I thought Will would be REALLY excited to see them, obviously), I was looking into getting tickets to the show in Wilmington, DE.   A 90 minute train ride from DC.  In the middle of a Wednesday afternoon.

I haven’t been to a concert in years, and I am more excited about this one than I should be.   I’ve seen clips of those parents at the Wiggles shows dancing around and I’ve mocked them mercilessly.   But really, dancing around and singing “hot potato, hot potato” is way dorkier than dancing around and singing “The roosters, the roosters, the roosters are tired!” along with Smitty, Scott, Dave and Rich, right?   The Beatles sang about a “yellow submarine” and no one is embarrassed about singling along to that.

So I am hereby embracing my new favorite band, and while I’ll try to only play the CD when I have my kids in the car with me, I’m not making any guarantees.  Any kids group with an album titled “Juice Box Heroes” is a winner in my book, anyway.  Delaware, Movers – here we come!

If you’re here I’m assuming you know me.  Maybe not, you know, personally, but you know OF me.

You might know I have two boys (duh) and I like wine.  And I don’t like to clean.  And I love, love, love cooking.  But I hate doing the dishes after.

Along with all of that, I love to eat.  I know you’re shocked.  The problem is that I love to eat food that’s not exactly healthy.  Honestly, healthy isn’t even a term that enters into my vocabulary on a regular basis.  Sorry, mom.

A few weeks ago I wrote a letter to Cooking Light.  I admitted my failure as a Cooking Light wannabe chef.  And they saw the wisdom, beauty and depth *cough* in my writing and asked if I’d take a look at the magazine’s redesign and share my thoughts with you.

Not one to say no to anything that’s even remotely food or wine related, I jumped at the chance.

It’s like they’re challenging me.

And they had me at hello.  I mean, LOOK at that pizza!

And then they immediately lost me with the “The Carb-Lover’s Guide to Great Nutrition.”  But, hey.  Can’t win em all.

Anyway, they debuted a few changes this month, and I have to say, I’m STOKED about them.  September’s issue is packed with awesome features:

• There is a photo of EVERY recipe.  If you’re like me, that’s a big deal.
• There are even MORE recipes than usual.
• There is a “Feed 4 for Less than $10″ feature, which is awesome in more ways than one.
• Wine pairings.  Wine!  And they’re affordable!  Enough said.
• They’re challenging Rachael Ray too with their with their “SUPERFAST 20-Minute Meals.”

They even tell you which brand of bottled Tomato Basil Pasta they picked as best tasting.  Which will save you the time of making your OWN.  And you won’t have a ton of clean up to do!  Come on, I KNOW it’s not just me!

I love Cooking Light because you’re still allowed to eat things like “Warm Cranberry-Walnut Brie” and, I kid you not, “Bacon Mac,” but you’re getting a lightened version that still tastes good.  Maybe not AS good, but good.

I kid, I kid.  The Cooking Light recipe’s that I’ve made before, when I’ve actually followed them ingredient list, have been awesome.  And in the coming weeks and months, I’ll be picking a few recipes a month to make and I’ll share my adventures with you!

You can bet that the Bacon Mac is on my list of items to try.  Along with Watermelon Bellinis and Pain Perdu and Chocolate Hazelnut Bark and…the options are endless.

I’m so excited!  I get to cook!  And eat!  And be healthy about it!  The only thing that could make this any better would be if Cooking Light also did my dishes.  Now THAT would be awesome.

No, really.

I posted over at Aiming Low today.  It’s called “I’m Only 3 Weeks Late”.

You are welcome.

I grew up in New York state.  About an hour outside Manhattan.  It’s a beautiful town that is home to many of NYC’s police and firemen.  I spent many days driving over Skyline Drive paying close attention so I’d be sure to catch a glimpse of the NYC skyline.  Of the World Trade Centers.

They were always just so impressive to see.  Rising up out of nowhere.  I remember being in New York one day specifically because we visited them.  We walked underground between the two and, as a young girl, I was so amazed that I was underground (!) between two massive buildings and there were restaurants (like Sbarro!) and shops.

I have no idea what else we did that day.  Maybe a Broadway show.  Maybe a visit to Rockefeller Center.  Who knows.  I only remember being SO impressed by the World Trade Centers and that underground Sbarro.

Now they’re gone, and they took over 2,500 people with them.  Along with the 266 people on the four planes that crashed and the 125 people who were killed at the Pentagon.  Over 3,000 children lost a parent that day.  I know a few of them.  I’ve met more in the 8 years since.

I grieve for the people who died that day.  I grieve for the families and friends who lost loved ones.  I grieve for the rest of us, who lost…something.  Even if it’s not something we can put our finger on.  It’s significant.  And it’s worth acknowledging.

We will not forget.  I certainly haven’t.

*photos from my family archives*

As I’ve talked about here a time or two, we’ve had some issues with Dylan staying in his room and sleeping.

In a desperate attempt one night I thought I would take advantage of the CD player in his room.  I remembered that when he was born we’d been given some lullaby CD’s.

Lullaby CD’s that hadn’t seen the light of day in a good 3 1/2 or 4 years.  So I dug them out.

YAY ME for actually knowing where they were!  But not really, because the dude appropriate daddy lullaby CD I was looking for was suspiciously missing from it’s case.    Dammit.

So I was forced to do something that made my husband shudder.  I put on the Celine Dion “Miracles” CD.

And he freaking LOVES IT.  He asks me to put it on every night.

I’m not kidding.  Every night he says “Can you put my wullaby on?  Make sure it’s the old one.  Not the new one.  The OLD one.”

Because one day, in an attempt to save him some despair when he’s in college, I bought a different lullaby CD.  And he refuses to listen to it.  FLAT OUT REFUSES.

So say what you will about Celine Dion (and I’m sure you will in the comments) but that bitch has gained me more than one good night’s sleep.

And while watching her sing in person (yes I’ve done it, and yes, I’d do it again) kind of makes me want to stick a fork in my eye, she DOES have a lovely voice.  And some of the songs on that CD (like Come To Me) make me tear up every damn time I hear them.  Even at 3 in the morning.

Or, especially at 3 in the morning.

**Updated before it’s even posted**

I just put him to bed, and I shit you not he asked me to put on the “new wullaby.”  It’s like he KNOWS.

Let me start off by saying that at the onset of writing this my intent is not to write a partisan post telling you all how wonderful President Obama is.

This isn’t about HIM.

It’s about US.  About us as Americans.  As people.  As parents.

The ridiculous nonsense that has erupted over the President’s intended speech to America’s youth has left me kerfluffled.

Kerfluffled, speechless and, quite honestly, disgusted.

When I first heard about the speech, and the intended listening boycott proposed by some members of the Right, I rolled my eyes and chalked it up to another stunt intended to gain headlines and put another chink in the armor of the Left.

And then I started thinking about it.  And I found myself supremely annoyed by the entire situation.  Because, REALLY?  You’re going to tell me that the President is going to concoct this elaborate scheme to indoctrinate America’s youth into socialism or communism…or WHATEVER, by speaking to them about staying in school, all the while sending subliminal messages about socialized healthcare and bailouts and voting for Democrats and becoming Communists?

That’s CRAZY TALK.

Crazy talk that normal, everyday American folk are LISTENING TO!

And BELIEVING!

And OH MY GOD, MY HEAD IS GOING TO EXPLODE.

And even though I was supremely annoyed, I wasn’t going to talk about it.  Because I didn’t think there was any way I was going to be able to post about it without a lot of CAPS and swear words.  Clearly I’ve failed at one of my goals.

But then, the text of the speech was released.  And I read it.  You can read it here.  And I could NOT keep my mouth shut any longer.  Because it’s inspiring.  It’s brilliant.  It’s NOT AT ALL PARTISAN.  Not even a teeny, tiny bit.

And I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer.

Because if you keep your kids home today so that they don’t hear what the President has to say about the value of an education and the importance of staying in school, we can’t be friends anymore.

If you want to keep your children from hearing thing like this:

Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.

Or this:

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.

And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.

The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.

then you’re not someone with which I have anything in common.   It’s as simple as that.

There’s just no way around it.

It’s not about President Obama.  It’s not about brainwashing your children.  It’s not about turning America into a socialist state.  Even though that’s what some people will have you believe.  That’s another post for another day (I’m looking at YOU Gl*nn B*ck and YOU R*sh L*mbaugh).

It’s about encouraging your children to the everything they can be.  It’s about INSPIRING America’s youth to BELIEVE again.

To believe in themselves.  To believe in their peers.  To believe in their parents and elders.  To believe in US.

If that’s not something you can get on board with, I have no room for you in my life.

I was reminded of the fact that a year ago yesterday, we were at a Dodger game with the Spohr Family.

One year.  Not that long ago, time wise.  In the grand scheme of things.

But now?  It was a whole other world.

Because today marks another anniversary.  The five month mark of a world without Maddie.

Five months.

My heart hurts every day for Heather and Mike.  But today, I find it harder to breathe.  My chest is tight.  My eyes fill with tears.  I think about what they’re going through and feeling and it knocks me over.  The depth of their loss is staggering.

We won’t have opportunities like this again.  But Zach will grow up knowing Maddie.  Because even though she’s gone, she will always be loved.  She will never be forgotten.  She will always be a part of our lives.

We miss you, Maddie.  We love you.

Zach turned 2 a couple of weeks ago.  It occurred to me that I can’t remember the last time we had a day alone, just the two of us.  At least, not since he’s been old enough to interact.

So when Dylan started his three day a week Preschool schedule, I thought I’d take advantage of it and use it as an opportunity to spend some quality time with Zach.

So the plan is that every other week, Zach and I will stay home on Wednesday and DJ and Dylan will head to Santa Barbara on their own.

Today is our first day.  Dylan thought it was pretty awesome that he was going with daddy alone.  He told me to be sure to tell Zach that he’d left already, otherwise Zach would think he was still here.  Collectively now…AWWWWWWWWW.

Zach slept an hour longer than normal.  It’s like he KNEW he wasn’t missing any fun.  Now we’re watching The Wiggles and drinking milk.

Later, I think we’ll play trains and possibly go on the swings.  IF it’s not ridiculously hot outside.

I’m excited to see what he’ll be like on his own.  FOR AN ENTIRE DAY.

We usually get along pretty well, so I think we’ll have a great time together.