This. That. The Other

* I really should have titled Isaac's birthday post "There MIGHT Be Cake". I feel an opportunity was completely lost.

* I went to my first writer's group meeting the other night. And, lo, I have much to say. Which I will. When I get over this "I'm a giant loser" feeling I'm feeling.

* Charlie Sheen is crazy, right? I mean, he has to be. It's quite the show he's putting on, in any way.

* When I see a slightly famous blogger whine about being misunderstood SO OFTEN, I kinda want to smack them. And then I immediately wonder why I'm such a glutton to still read.

* We had Isaac's birthday party last night. It was a lot of fun and I think everyone had a good time (I hope!). We rented a local theater and ate and chatted and watched the holy cow snowstorm blow in about 6+ inches of snow.

* I recently made a new friend. I met her husband last night. I'm trying not to be too overbearing, but I just really like them both. And so happy to have met them! Yay new friends!

* I read an article by Mark Bittman (you all know of my love of Bittman...) about McD's "oatmeal". It's kinda renewed my passion for all things anti-McD's not felt since watching Super Size Me...

*I REALLY hate it when my son calls me "Mother". Grates, it does.

*
(two door cinema club, what you know)

It Seems Repetitive. But Necessary.

A few weeks ago, I had hurt my knee and Isaac asked if I would like him to make me some toast (in addition to the eggs he had made me). I faked whined and said, "Yes, please. I'll love you forever!". Isaac laughed and said, "You already will love me forever, so we'll call this a bonus round.".

And that's how I view Isaac. He's my bonus round. The best thing that's ever happened to me. My love and my best friend. He's also 35 today. It's tough, sometimes, to remember meeting him, when he was 21 and I was 23. It seems so long ago. And other times I simply cannot remember a time he wasn't in my life. I think that's as it should be.

Happy birthday baby. I love you.




(pocket full of sunshine, natasha bettingfield: I'm so stinking funny! This is just for you, babe.)

Week in Pictures...A Day Early

Friday - a pick from last week too good not to share: Sammy's momo army coming to life (or maybe he just has a cat problem...)


And waiting for the Brian Regan show to start


Saturday - SNOW!

And these white blobs? INDIVIDUAL FLAKES. It was crazy fluffy snow...


Sunday - Sammy hanging out


Monday - the week's groceries (inside the sacks we have apples, grapefruit and red leaf lettuce...)


Tuesday - I did NOT pick up the camera. I lost my motivation somewhere in the afternoon. So I sat and did nothing but clear out my tivo folder. Because the motivation had been high before this, my house was clean and the guilt was minimal. Thankfully.

Wednesday - A lego kind of day...(wait. EVERY day is a lego kind of day around here...)



(evangeline, the icicle works)

I Can See That

A month and a half ago (or so) I read an article about the healing power of girlfriends. It described research (and I'm totally going from memory, here!) when women are in the hospital, visits from girlfriends promoted healing. It wasn't the same with family visits or when the man was a patient, his friends didn't have the same result. For whatever reason, it was unique to the woman / girlfriend relationship.

About a week after I read this, I went to my friend Lora's house for "knitting night". It ended up being just the two of us that night and I was secretly glad. We had both been having a trying week. We both needed to vent. We both just needed to talk to a girlfriend. And, while I don't know about Lora, I left that night feeling lighter. Feeling hopeful. Feeling better. And my mind immediately went to the article I had read.

Nothing against my husband, but his tendency is to immediately fix what ails me. While a noble and gallant trait, it's tough to just complain. Vent. Cry that my life is sometimes harder than I could possibly imagine. Sometimes I don't want a fix. MOST of the time I don't want a fix. I usually just want to be heard; validated. While I know this isn't exactly the same as promoting healing after a surgery or illness, I appreciate the similarities. After a night with my girlfriends, I just feel better. My concerns are less. My OCD doesn't seem as acute and my anxiety is all but gone. So if that is how I feel, not 'ill', I can only imagine healing after a serious illness. Or while going through treatment.

I know I've been on a "my girlfriends mean a lot" kick this past year, but seriously. The older I get the more I rely on them. They fulfill a completely different role in my life than my husband. I read of a woman recently who views close girlfriends as a hindrance to other relationships in her life (immediate and extended family). And while I understand her view, I also felt sorry for her. I felt she was missing out on one of life's GREAT joys. And perhaps being a little short-sighted. While I believe familial relationships important, I don't think they are the be all-end all, either. I believe the more you open your life to other relationships and VARIED relationships, the better off you will be.

And, well, if nothing else, I figure with my hypochondria, the girlfriend healing should come in handy at some point!


(no you girls, franz ferdinand)

First (Top) 5 From My IPod

Put on shuffle, these are the first five songs that come up to play. This should be fun...or frightening.

1. Close to Modern - The French Kicks: I have nothing to say. The French Kicks...I always like them when I remember to listen to them.


2. Rome (live) - Phoenix: Phoenix is one of those bands that I like, but always think I should like MORE, but don't. Until I listen and find myself singing along.


3. For Your Babies - Simply Red: Not one of the top 5...


4. Nothing's Impossible - Depeche Mode: I actually had to let this play through. It's on an album I don't listen to a lot. But, you know, it's DM. How bad could it be?


5. Into Tomorrow - Paul Weller: The only one of the 5 that I LOVE. I miss listening to Weller. I should put him back into rotation a little more. I miss him. Sniff.


Whew! Nothing horribly shameful. I was worried for a second that something would pop up to make my sister shake her head!

The More Things Change...

An old friend posted a link to his blog the other day. This is a friend I had lost contact with and I was happy to have some way to get a glimpse of his life, now. While we have been facebook friends for a few months, he's not as prolific a poster as some and while it was good to get a tenuous feel for where he was now, I was definitely curious about more. So I was happy to see a blog link. But, then, I'm ALWAYS happy to see a blog link...

So as I'm clicking through, the first thought in my head was how much he and his wife look exactly the same as they did the last time I saw them...about 15 years ago. And then I start wondering how much I've CHANGED and not stayed the same at all. I think I look similar, but...I'm not sure. The next thought was his writing was so very 'him'. You see, when we met in college, we used to have long talks about movies and the (lack of) merit of Star Trek. Ok, so maybe the "lack" part was MY argument. When I moved and he married, we continued our friendship via letters. Actual handwritten letters full of movie recommendations and daily life. (gotta love the days pre-email and internet. i'm old, people!) And so I have a real touch stone for his voice and he blogs in that exact voice. It was nice, actually.

And then I started wondering. He looks the same. He sounds the same. Is the person we were in college, essentially, who we are? Do we grow and mature through life just THINKING we've changed when, in reality, we are just older versions of the same? Without even thinking, I would say I've definitely changed in the ensuing years since college. And that hasn't really changed with all this thinking! But my core - who I TRULY am as a person - my 'voice', if you will. Maybe that hasn't changed so much. Maybe I'm still essentially the same, so that if an old friend started reading, it would be much like a pause in the conversation instead of missing pieces.


(we could send letters, aztec camera)