I'm Living in a Cartoon Today

Today I am getting a close-up view of those devil vs. angel shoulder conversations you see in cartoons. I ended up on the losing end of a business transaction in which I was Buyer B, patiently waiting to see if Buyer A, who had legitimate "first dibs" on a sale, was going to be able to complete the transaction. Out of the blue today, the Seller sold to Buyer C, despite our scheduled appointment to discuss the sale this weekend.

As if traveling through a Pixar short film, I have carried on conversations with both the little shoulder angel and his nemesis the devil concerning this event. The devil's options are so delicious ... they involve accusations, anger, well-made and deserved points, guilt, shame, remorse, separation ... all those things that should rightly be the result of such a deal as this. The angel's options are far less glamorous at this moment ... they involve humility, acceptance, understanding, a continuing relationship, and trust that God knows what He's doing.

Although I have thoroughly enjoyed the fantasized conversations encouraged by the cartoon devil, they will remain in my head and my prayers tonight will be two-fold ... that these conversations become less tantalizing quickly and that I find comfort in God's will for my life, whatever that may be.

Isabella and Black Thunder

Over the summer, we sold Isabella, Willie's beloved old Jeep Cherokee when Willie bought his new Honda. Andy also bought a new car and instead of selling Black Thunder, his old Ford F150 pickup truck, to Carmax, Gary & I decided to buy it from Andy so that we could use it and lend it to our friends.

Now, one of our buddies needs a truck for his construction business. What a perfect opportunity to help someone and to give Black Thunder a purpose beyond moving the occasional piece of furniture or carrying cases of soda from Costco. Selling him the truck is the right thing to do.

That does not mean it is the easy thing to do. The loss of Black Thunder also marks the end of an era for me ... one more step toward empty nesting and Part Two of parenthood. With the boys, I have now moved from being a full-time manager to a mere consultant rarely consulted. Just as it should be, I suppose.

Farewell, Black Thunder. It's been great!

Black Thunder

Isabella

Weight Watchers Online

Weight Watchers allows you to keep track of your food intake, or points, online. You simply enter the food name, or the calories, fat grams and fiber grams of what you're eating and the nifty Points Tracker determines the number of points you've just chewed up and subtracts that number from your total allotment for the day (a whoppin' 18 points ... for some perspective, a medium-sized apple is 2 points. So is a Rice Krispie Treat. Who in the world would choose the apple?!?).

One of the cool high-tech-y things the Points Tracker does is keep track of foods you eat often. These you can mark as your "Favorites" so that it is easier to include them on a regular basis. As I was inputting my morning Kashi Bar and small banana (3.5 points down the drain), I looked over my "Favorites" list and decided I am probably not doing this right. Here's what's on my list:

Freezer pops - 1 point each

Goldfish - 18 fish for 1 point

Hostess 100 calorie cupcakes - 2 points

Oreo Fun Stix (oh. my. gosh. de-lish & quite Fun indeed!) - 2 points

Oscar Mayer Bacon Slices - 4 slices for 2 points

Popcorn - A whole bag for 2 points

Baked Ruffles - 15 chips for 2 points

Kraft Single Cheese Slices - 1 point each

Tootsie Rolls - 2 for 1 point

Arnold Sandwich Thin Wheat Roll - 1 point

(that holds the cheese & bacon!)

If I eat all of that, I only have 3 points left for the day ... which is conveniently the number of points needed for a delicious WW Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sundae!

Simple Pleasures ...

For years now I have been impressed with my mother-in-law, Betty Mears, and her love of nature. One of the most amazing things that I appreciate and understand better as I get older is how the sight of a beautiful bird can make her entire day wonderful. When I was 25, I didn't get it. Today, I describe the birds at the bird feeder in my backyard to my friend Lori over the phone with great enthusiasm ... and I take pictures of flowers and birds and sunsets all the time. I have created a line of blank notecards that feature these photos called TLC ... The Lord's Creation. Here's some of my recent favorites:

Stone Harbor, NJ.

Jean's backyard.

These water lilies are at the National Arboretum. I was fortunate enough to be able to explore this paradise with my in-laws and Willie this summer.

Also at the Arboretum.

Take a look around. Appreciate the amazing beauty of nature that we all too often take for granted.

High School Volunteering Pays Off

A couple of years ago, for security reasons, our high school installed an actual door bell, complete with an intercom system and a video camera. Now, to enter the building during the day, everyone must ring the doorbell, show their ID to the camera, explain why entering the building is a matter or life or death and wait to be buzzed in by one of the all powerful, all mighty school secretaries.

My third child is now at this high school. I never show my ID or say a thing to the intercom, because when the secretaries look into the video camera to see who has pushed the doorbell, they see me and they push the buzzer right away.

Last week I happened to approach the door just behind another mom who had already pushed the doorbell. She got no response, so I pushed it shortly after she did. Off went the buzzer immediately and in we walked. As we entered the office, one of the secretaries not so nicely told the other mom how the system worked and told her she had to go out to her car to get her ID. Her response, as she pointed to me, was "why doesn't she have to do that?"

The secretary looked at me and said, "Because she's been here forever."

I just shrugged, looked smug and thought, "ahhh, one of the fine perks of volunteering!"

A new morning routine for Kilmer the OCD Dog

As part of my summer routine, I got up, threw on grubby clothes (as if that's anything out of the norm) and walked my sweet mutt Kilmer around the neighborhood. Sometimes we'd walk for 30 minutes, sometimes for an hour. It was good for both of us.

Now that school has started, I have other things to do first thing in the morning, like watch hilarious TiVO-ed Craig Ferguson shows with Kayti. This new morning routine does not mean I don't walk the dog, it just means he has to wait 90 minutes until Kayti hops on the bus before we head out on our daily jaunt.

And yet, every morning for the last two weeks he has bounded down the steps, tapped his nose on his leash and started the bizarre yet endearing circle-jumping at the front door. Denied, he does the same thing when we get to the back door. Denied again he then tethers himself to my legs, staying no more than one foot away from me for 90 minutes. If I sit, his face is in my lap. If I stand, his butt is in my way. If I walk, he nearly kills me with every move.

Then, when Kayti leaves, his enthusiasm rises with each telltale going-for-a-walk sign he sees: She's putting on socks! She's putting on shoes! She's getting her cell phone! She's going to the bathroom! She's getting a poop bag! She's grabbing the leash! And then, he circle-jumps at the door, out the door, down the steps, and down the sidewalk until I say "Sit!" and on goes the leash. Finally.

The Love of Little Things

For as long as I can remember, I have loved little things. Remember Little Kiddles? I had tons of them ... even the Little Kiddles Klub House! I had a huge collection of glass animals, the ones that you can still buy at Hallmark that are attached to little ivory cards. Those animals, along with many other small favorites are still proudly displayed in the type drawer my dad gave me that hangs in my home office:

Well, my love of little things has manifested itself into my latest YMLY product, the Itty Bitty Notepad! These cute notepads are only 3" x 5" and like the larger half-page notepads, they feature fun little pictures and can also be personalized with nicknames, business logos, school mascots, etc. Oh, what fun!

School Cafeteria Seating ... The Agony & the Ecstasy

Memories came flooding back yesterday as Kayti described her 45 minutes of sheer torture thinking she'd be stuck in "A" Lunch without any of her friends. In science class, she sent out text messages* to all of her buddies to see when they had lunch, but got no response.

What agony to stand all alone in a crowded room, searching person after person, table after table, hoping and praying for a familiar face. I still shudder at the thought. I think, if we somehow rated the most stressful social experiences in life, finding a place in the cafeteria on the first day of school certainly ranks right up there for all of us.

After the details of the panic and the texting and the awful science class were all spilt, the ecstasy came in the form of half a dozen of Kayti's good friends who slowly trickled in, all happier to see each other than they ever will be again.

*Just imagine the restraint it took to not interrupt and say "Texting in class? Honey, that's so rude. They're gonna take your phone away one of these days." Thank you Lord, for that restraint.

First Day of School Resolutions

The beginning of the school year is always bittersweet for me.

On one hand, I love having my kids home during the summer ... we play cards, watch movies, eat out (well, that's no different from the rest of the year), and just have a great time together. So when the school bell rings, I am always a bit sad.

Of course, you know the "other hand" side of the story ... it is quiet here today and I have a nice long list of things I hope to get done. Nothing dramatic, mind you, but crossing anything off the list is an accomplishment. (Yes, I admit used to write "take a shower" on my list when the kids were little ... sadly, that one didn't always get crossed off!)

But here's the biggest bonus for me ... the first day of school is way more effective than New Year's Day for successful resolution following-through-ness. This word may be new to your vocabulary, but I am ever so familiar with its antithesis. I have started many a successful diet on the first day of school, and I intend to do the same again this year. I have already walked the dog for half an hour (it was slug-dodge today ... why in heaven's name were there so many slugs on the path?) and I shall drink 6 glasses of water and eat my fruits and veggies before the day ends.

To all you moms out there, best of luck with your First-Day-of-School resolutions!

Here's my sweet Kayti

(and the mutt Kilmer)

on Kayti's first day of

her sophomore year

of high school.

Jean -- thanks for teaching me

how to post pictures.

Hi, Lexi!

Menopause & Teenagers ... Why would God do this?

"Menopausal women often complain of fuzzy thinking, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating; some even wonder if this is the beginning of dementia."

Hence, one of my first questions for the good Lord when I enter the pearly gates: Why in the world would you give us menopause at the same time you give us teenagers and college students?

My children, as sweet as they are, already think I'm an idiot. Now add the mood swings. The incontinence. The hot flashes. No wonder they think I'm nuts ... I am!

Kayti laughs at how often I have to use the bathroom ("Never waste an opportunity to go" is my motto). I wake up sweaty and stinky every morning. I can't remember what I ate for breakfast or what I was planning to do when I got to the top of the stairs. I have a Master's degree and I am a member of Phi Beta Kappa for heaven's sake. And yet, I can't recall the name of the song that Kayti played for me 5 minutes ago ... and, after she said "Okay Mom, now remember this, it's called "Northern Downpour." Got it?" Apparently not.

Way back when, I didn't want to hear about my mother's hot flashes or menopause. That was gross. And so, I have no viable explanation to offer except "You're right. Sorry. Tell me again please." She'll get it one day. I hope I'm still on the planet so I can say, "See? I wasn't that stupid after all."

Kayti

KAYTI

Kayti loves Stone Harbor, music, and movies, but not in that order. Movies come first, especially those featuring her favorite performer, Gene Kelly. She has studied all she can about him, as she does with anything she loves. She'd like to be involved in the movie industry someday ... as an actress, a producer or a critic. I don't doubt one second that she will be successful at whatever she decides to do. Such a proud momma I am!

Willie

WILLIE

Only Willie can pull off this "Jersey Tan." After collecting over a dozen basketball jerseys via Ebay last spring, Willie dedicated much of his sun time this summer to reaching his goal of obtaining a perfect Jersey Tan. I'm not sure Dr. Moreland the dermatologist would find it funny, but he will surely charm everyone else on the planet with his new look. Such a proud momma I am!

Andy

ANDY

This boy has wanted a kayak for several years now ... he got to paddle around the pond last month while we were in Williamsburg. He wants to take scuba diving lessons someday. His classes at Maryland started on Monday ... he's taking 5 classes in the business school ... that's tough but he'll do just fine. He called yesterday to ask if his new red shorts would be okay in the wash ... he's doing his own laundry. Such a proud momma I am!