Bloggy blog blog...

I am in the mood for a little ramble.  Please skip and come back another day for something riveting or more interesting.

First up: Books.  While the books suggested to me by friends are currently on order, I have read the following two.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 

Elephant

This book was RIGHT up my alley.  I loved it.  Elephants are such magical...I believe I meant to say, majestic creatures, it's almost like reading fantasy.  The descriptions of life on the circus train circa 1930 are wonderful.  I had trouble putting this book down.  A totally satisfying read.

Truth

Plain Truth, by Jodi Piccoult, was also a completely satisfying read in an entirely different way.  Simply put, it was JUICY.  I am a total sucker for this kind of drama...I wish I could say I was a deeper person...or more intellectual.  But, alas, I think I am just simple. 

The really horrible result of reading these last two books is that I did not DO A THING while I was reading them!  I just sat on the couch and read and read and read....I have decided to put off cracking open another one for a few weeks...at least until I get the content written for my website. (www.funlibrarian.com)

Next up: WATER. So, the water thing isn't as bad as I thought...well, I suppose we all develop immunities to these kinds of things.  My bras still smell a bit funny after air drying them and brushing my teeth isn't as awesome as it used to be.  We did figure out that all we needed to do was add a $25 PUR filter to the kitchen tap and now we have good smelling AND tasting drinking/cooking water.  So, there's that.

Moving onto FITNESS: Yeah...well, it's going.  I honestly go to the gym and work my butt off at LEAST four times a week - and that's a bad week.  I usually go five or six times.  BUT, and this is a very large BUTT, we just keep EATING.  We cook for Papabear's parents and they always break out the ice cream...or sometimes Maday makes a cake!  It is TOUGH trying to eat right.  I REALLY have to work at it.  SO, the jeans may feel a little looser, but not by much.  Slow and steady, my friends.  Slow and steady.....

Finally, FRIENDS.  Well, things are looking up.  I've been to a bunch a meetups with two different groups and I like them both very much.  I am just getting to know a lot of people, but it's a beginning...and it's seems to be getting easier, especially when I am recognizing faces at events and people are recognizing me, too.  I've also signed up to host a bunch of things - a pancake breakfast, mini preschool playdates, things like that.  You guys back east know how I love to have people over...now it will be people with their little people - FUN.

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Naptime today...

Nap

Now...I put him down to nap in his bed, all tucked in.  Went to check on him a few minutes ago and here he is, on his bean bag.  He brought over his blanket and cuddled himself right up to the door.  How cute is that???

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Naptime

Here's how yesterday's naptime went down.  While he was cute shown here at 1:30 pm, you should have seen him four hours later trying to leave his cousin's birthday party!  We didn't take out the camera for that.  Enjoy the following. :)

Naptime

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A night out...

It's been a long time since Papabear and I had a night out to ourselves.  The Sabres WON (2 to1 against the Dallas Stars), there was a fight, and a GIANT Chipotle burrito floated around the arena inbetween periods dropping coupons.  Who could ask for more fun?

Chipotle

Our seats were in a private box and we could see EVERYTHING.  The seats were leather and very cozy.  What luxury!

Hockey1

Free soda, beer, chips, hot dogs.  We even got to park on the "Platinum level", which basically meant, "Right by the door!"  It was fantastic.

 

Sorry this picture is so dark, but the ice was kind of bright.

 

hockey2

And where was Littleman?  Getting cozy with his grandparents.  Apparently, he ate two hot dogs, 3/4 cups of corn, and TWO hole pieces of cake.  His grandmother described his BM a short while later as, "the size of Manhattan."  That's my boy!

Cozy1

The two days leading up to our night out, I have to admit, I worried about leaving Littleman.  I was not worried about the quality of care and supervision he would receive with "Papa and Maday."  Not at all.  *I* was having issues with not being there for him in the morning...not being able to kiss him good night.  Why is it so hard for me to cut the cord?

When the moment arrived for us to leave for the game, all my "worries" melted away.  He was happy to be with his grandparents and I could see the joy on their faces, as welI.  I actually was able to feel excitement about going out and NOT having to care for my little guy for a good chunk of hours.  I guess a part of me feels guilty even thinking that...but Littleman certainly NEEDS time away from me...especially now that he's with me all day long.  AND, my hubby and I need to be alone together from time to time.  It's healthy....it certainly felt healthy.  And sleeping in this morning... just the two of us...oh, it was GLORIOUS.  Okay, did I still have to get up at 6:30 to pee?  Yes.  Did I still rise out of bed before 9? Yes.  I can't help it.  I've always been an early bird.  But was it wonderful to read a book over my oatmeal and NOT have Playhouse Disney blaring?   Yes. 

I am in full support of sleepovers at the grandparents.  So much so, I want to go out and get him one of those dorky little suitcases that say things like, "For grandma's house."  Also, after watching all that skating, I want to go out and get a pair of those training skates and take Littleman for a spin at the rink.  We have one in our mall.  Fun!

This weekend we get to celebrate our little cuz, "Nini's" FIRST BIRTHDAY.  Another reason to be joyful.  Hope you all get to have a lovely weekend, too!

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HE PASSED!!!!

HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED! HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED! HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED! HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!  HE PASSED! HE PASSED!  HE PASSED!

My husband is a NATIONALLY CERTIFIED PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT!!!!!!  Need medical advice anyone???  He just found out a few minutes ago.  We are both bursting at the seams with pride...and relief.  FINALLY some good news!

Yesterday was his birthday and his parents gave him box tickets to a Sabres hockey game.  SO, tonight Littleman is sleeping over at his grandparents house and we are going out on the town!  We get to CELEBRATE and more importantly, SLEEP IN tomorrow. JOY oh JOY oh JOY oh JOY.

I am enjoying the happy moments to the fullest. JOY oh JOY oh JOY.  SO HAPPY.  Can't even write coherently. 

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Dark clouds gathering...

I have been avoiding posting this week.  We received some bad news about Papabear's dad.  It is so hard to watch the people I love suffer.  It is so hard to watch my two year old fall in love with his "Papa" and know in a few weeks I'll have some really tough explaining to do.  It is so hard not to know how to comfort my husband.  It's all so hard.

It's so hard to know that my BF is going through the EXACT same thing right now and I am not there to help her and hug her...

I am so filled with love...filled with love for all of these people.  I want to walk around with down comforters and warm chocolate chip cookies and wrap every one up and feed them.  I don't know what else to do.

Frickity frick.  It is COLD today!  We actually had a few snowflakes two days ago.  I am NOT complaining...it's just really cold in my office this morning. 

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Another day in paradise...

Well, at least it seemed like it.  Papabear let me sleep in, then he made me breakfast.  Well, I should preface that I was up with Littleman most of the night due to his howling over second year molar's breaking through...but let's forget about that and focus on today, oh glorious day.

The three of us started here, at the playground down the road from our house.

Tree

It was so nice out, we stayed for almost two hours.  We went down to the creek and threw rocks.  We pet someone's dog. Lost our ball in the thicket.  Walked and basked in the sunlight. AND, we received a phone call from Papabear's other wife, Z, he proposed and is now ENGAGED. Happy day!

 

Next we took a long ride through the "country" to find a diner we heard about in a town called Celina.  Oh boy were we in for a treat.  This town is a REAL "old western" kind of town.  Totally run down, but it had the town square, town hall...all the buildings had the high fronts that you see in the movies of old western towns. Train tracks ran through the place, big grain silos on the outskirts...  The diner was a complete hole in the wall, complete with crumbling interior bricks and sticky floor.  BUT, the service was incredible, the homemade bread and french fries delicious, and the children's lunch was served with a cupcake for dessert.  It had frosting drizzled with chocolate sauce and M&M's.  Littleman nearly fell over with when the waitress brought it to our table.  He looked at me as if to say, "Really?  I am really allowed to eat this????" (We don't let him have M&M's ever, and cupcakes are for birthdays).  He was in heaven.

We took the long way home and on our journey Papabear and I spotted what looked like hot air balloons in the distance.  It was such a lovely day, we decided to just follow the road to find out.  The land is so flat here, you can see ahead for miles and miles.  And lo, and behold, not only did we spy the balloons, we stopped to let Littleman out of the car for a better view and one of them LANDED on the field in front of us!!!!  It was awesome.  Here are the pictures from Papabear's cell phone:

 

Awesome, right?

Littleman and I headed off to the gym for a swim.  He is now able to swim UNDER WATER.  My pride makes me swell like a pufferfish in the pool...oh no, wait...that's actually what I look like.  No worries, I'm working on it.  My spandex are getting a little loose already!

Finished the evening with salad and a blog entry.  Whew!  I'm beat.  I hope everyone had a chance to have a great day this weekend.  If not, here's hoping for the next one...

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Dating all over again...

SO, trying to make friends is like having to hit the dating scene fifteen years AFTER I got out of it.

The scene: Local community center with open gym time for toddlers.  Basically a gymnasium full of hula hoops, playground balls, scooters, tunnels, and other "fun" equipment laid out for the little ones.

The characters: Moms - moms of all ages and sizes.  Moms with their only child, moms with their broods.  Moms who came with their pals, moms who are desperate to meet SOMEONE who is friendly, nice to talk to, and has a kid their child will remotely get along with.

The pick up lines: "So, how old is yours?"  "Mine acts the same way..."  "Where did you get those shoes? I've been looking for ones just like that?"  "How far apart are they?"  "How long have you lived in the area?"

I have to tell you that it's dreadful.  For someone who is so gregarious and outgoing you would think these types of meetups are a walk in the park.  Not so, my friends, not so.  If there are a few moms who already know each other, they seriously size you up.  I'm not joking.  If you are lucky your kid might do nice with theirs and they are forced to let you into their prized little circle.  If your personality can make up for lack of stylish shoes, make-up, and accessories (which is a real thing out here), they might not chew you up and spit you out.  BUT, if you tend to say the wrong thing or find everything funny (I can't help it, I just do) the circle tightens and as soon as Littleman's ball takes him to the other side of the gym, the circle is closed once more.

*Enormous sigh*  I know, I know.  I've only been to a couple of these things and I did actually meet two people who might want to talk to me again.  But I had such a nice group of friends back east.  Such a network of people who loved me and my kid.  I had a best friend right down the road from me.  Starting over is really hard.  It doesn't help when I am 35 pounds overweight and feel about as attractive as an avocado.  (I am working out five days a week...but the results are not over night, as you know, plus the food is REALLY good out here - damn that Tex-mex place down the street with it's chips!)

SO, kids, I am in the dating ring, once again.  The playdate ring, that is.  Wish me luck. 

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Permission to hate me

Today is January 5th.  Today Littleman, Papabear, and I had a wonderful picnic at a playground in short sleeves!  No jackets, I wasn't even wearing socks!  It was 75 and windy enough to fly a kite.  It was wonderful.  The park was full of two and three year old boys for Liam to play with...which he did not do.  He ignored them for the most part and just climbed the rock walls like the little monkey he is.  We stayed for hours and he napped like the dead.  The only thing that could have made this day better would have been a REAL friend for Littleman to play with (it wouldn't hurt if I had a real friend there, too, but when Papabear woke up from his little nap on the picnic blanket he played with us, still....)

It was a really wonderful day.  Loving this "winter" weather.  (Okay, it was 34 degrees only three days ago, but I'll take one of those for a week of 70's!!!)

 

Thing about Texas I do not like: the water tastes and smells funny.  For those of you who know me and my nose well, know that this water thing is driving me INSANE.  It stays on you when you shower (not all day..but long enough for me to notice), on my bras that I air dry...oh, and I can't touch an ice cube out here.  Some restaurants seem to have "good-tasting" ice...but most often my diet coke tastes blechy because it.  Do I know the cause?  No.  I could make some guesses like this is a very dry area and water that has to be canaled in (is that a real phrase) will take on the taste of its pipes and whatnot.  What ever the reason, the filter system needed to get rid of it is too much for us to even consider.  Oh well.  What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?  And I'm not really complaining, things could be much worse.  There could be biting fire ants or black widow spiders in the mailboxes...oh wait, those things are here, too!!!!

 

I'm just kidding...well, not about the ants, spiders, and water.  That's all true.  I'm not complaining.  Life out here in Texas isn't so bad.  It's only been a short while, but so far, so good.

Please come out and visit us if you can.  I will bathe you in bottled water if you wish.

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Super Cool

Papabear's latest creation follows.  Good times!  Also, he was offered an EXCELLENT position today, in a psych practice, not his field of choice.  This evening he received an email from a SURGICAL position - his dream...so, we'll have more details on that soon.  So far, things are looking good.  His exam is the 17th....I need that day to come and go.  Anyway, enjoy the following.

 

Comic

 

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