MultiTasking

I hope you are doing well this Friday. I have been doing my usual mish mash of multi-tasking things - work, household, kids, husband, and pet duty. It's a good thing I can never sit down and have lots of energy.

Work is good and I am in the process of applying for my 9th, that's right, 9th nursing license. Due to the nature of my job working with families all over the U.S., certain states require a nursing license from their specific state. I am just darn happy to have a job and colleagues I enjoy and learn from, good pay, and alot of autonomy. Very happy, especially in this economy where friends and neighbors have lost jobs and are struggling to find work.

I am in somewhat of a state of pleasant shock after attending a presentation by high school students with our oldest son last night. The high school students answered questions and talked about how to make a successful transition to high school. I am really pleased and delighted with the principal of the high school and the poise and accomplishments of these students, both upper and lower classmen. Academic and extra curricular student life were addressed including social pressures and bullying. I am relieved about our son having a safe and enriching environment for school that welcomes parent involvement. I can't believe he is starting high school next fall. How the HELL did this happen? I swear I just started the kid on solid food and Now, He is Taller than me!

Tomorrow is our puppy's First Birthday! Happy Birthday, Charley Barley! Shh, please don't tell him, but we got him a few presents. (He's a power chewer and goes through toys very efficiently.)

I am also looking forward to a date tomorrow with my husband. We are going to see Slum.Dog Millionaire and have dinner, Together! Just the two of us grownups.

I am trying not to have an existential crisis with my closets and garage. (We have no basements or attic spaces in California.) They are in serious need of major purge/straighten sessions but I can only tackle a little at at time. Ack!

After lunch today, my cousin and I are taking a hike at Hart Park. It's a beautiful and warm day and I'm going out to get some exercise, sunshine, and laughs, oh- and of course, visit the bison herd there.

Best to you for a great day and weekend too.

Getting Jersey at the Oral Surgeon's Office

Last week, I went to my three week post op appointment of getting my 4 wisdom teeth yanked out, (I mean, surgically excised), with my very concientious oral surgeon. I was in line to sign in at the "window" of the doctor's office behind a woman who looked like she was about 60 y/o. (In other words, old enough to know better!) She started a very contentious exchange with the receptionist over the nature of her appointment with the surgeon. This woman was adamant that "Why in the world" did she need to Consult with the surgeon, she needed her tooth out, and he needed to take it out, Today! Right Now! She fussed and fumed for a minute until my New Jersey roots and longtime life as a RN came out and I said to her, "Look, you Do Not Want to Go to a surgeon that will do this procedure without a consult. That is unless you want an infection or other complications." She opened her eyes wide and said, "Really?" "Yes, really." She sat down suitably chastened. The doctor's staff look relieved and appreciative of my inability to hold my tongue. Some people! They show more patience towards home improvement and car repairs than they do their own health and wellbeing.

Successful Party

"Hey, go pick on somebody on your own Size!!"

Thank you all so much for your Birthday Greetings to our son. It was a very fun and energetic party for his 11th birthday. The kids had a blast jousting, bouncing around, and drinking and eating large quantities of junk food. My husband and I actually got to sit down and chat with a few of the parents. Both the boys said it was a great party and there is no harsher critic than a 13 y/o, so I will take that as an unqualified success. Our dog, Charley had the time of his life in the bounce houses and playing with the kids all day. He is quite the friendly host. He didn't want to wake up this morning for his walk, he was zonked.



This party completes our troika of entertaining. (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthday Party, gee, that's a lot of pots, pans, and dishes!!). The smiles and enjoyment of the children makes it all so worthwhile and memorable.

11 years ago today

Eleven years ago today, we welcomed our second son into the world. Sometimes I look at him and I can't believe he's mine. I then realize, he's not mine, he is so much his own person. A kind, compassionate, smart, funny, and talented young man, a loving son, brother, and friend. I am so proud of him and thankful he is part of our family. He makes me laugh when he practices the piano "in the buff" and whistles while he does his homework. He answers most questions with the answer, "Good".

"How was school today?" "Good."
"How was soccer practice?" "Good."
"How are you doing after wiping out on the bike ramp?" "Good."

He pronounces "Hotel" like "Ho-Towel" and loves tortilla chips with cream cheese. He always ends up wearing his condiments, especially after eating ketchup.

His dad and I love him more each day. His older brother too.

Swag Shoutouts in Blogland

Who says The Sun.dance Film Festival has all the swag? The celebs should check out these delightful give aways from my blog buddies:

I just received two Preppy Travel Mugs I had ordered from Monogram Chick. They are just beautiful and I am so happy and proud to give these gifts to my friends. I clicked over to her blog to thank her and she is hosting a give away of this great travel mug. So, please join in the fun if you would like to tote the hot or cold beverage of your choice in this stylish mug. We can both win a great mug if you let her know I sent you, thank you so much.



Got a case of the blahs? Dear Annie is hosting a give away of goodies to chase away the mid winter blues. It will be a basket of warm and wonderful delights to soothe the senses. So, please stop by her "Writer's Lair" if you would like a chance to win.



And last, but certainly not least, my dearest Ashley is a talented artist who makes personalized signs and is giving away an eye catching one at her blog. Again, please click on over if you would like to check this out.

I really enjoy and appreciate their creativity and generosity. I hope you will too.

Blog Housekeeping/Virtual Baby Shower

I am woefully behind in some very important "blog housekeeping" including the acknowledgement and dispensing of some cool awards from a couple of new blog acquaintenances, Tara at Too Much Information and Maricris at Zen Ventures. They are both warm and engaging bloggers and I am happy for the opportunity to get to know them through their blogs and receive an award from each. Yowzah!

I am new to blogging and the ideas of Blog Awards, Memes, feed burners, visit counts, etc. (Can't you tell I'm a newbie by my layout? Some folks have a layout that rivals Homes and Gardens Magazine. I tried a snazzier layout btw, but it was too distracting to my slightly ADD self, I just couldn't cope. Call me simple minded if you like, when I'm ready to rock out my digs, I'll let you know.)

Anyway, I am very flattered to receive any acknowledgement and was thinking this would be cool to do IRL. Give someone a button (like the one they wear on their collar) and tell them, "I think you're Great". Now on to our virtual awards-

The first award, The "Encouraged" Award, is from Tara. The "Encouraged" Award is for bloggers who encourage and support each other. This acknowledgement from Tara means alot to me. Tara is a sweet, smart, and devoted mother of a very special young lady, Chloe, who in turn inspires me. This award shows how bonds can develop across cyperspace through our comments and posts. Thank you so much, Tara (and Chloe). I find all my bloggers very encouraging and want to acknowledge and encourage all who stop by to please "grab the button and go". (Well, you could leave a comment and you don't have to just go, I mean you could stick around as long as you like...)




This next award is from Maricris of Zen Ventures and it is a quartet of awards including:


The Proximity Award
One Lovely Blog Award
Lemonade Award
Friends Award

The rules for this delightful assortment of awards is that there are No Rules, No Instructions, again just please help yourself.

Last, but not least, I would like to invite you to a "Virtual Baby Shower" for a long time blog friend, Kimbosue who is expecting her first child with her husband, Dean, this spring. Kimbosue is very special, funny, and kind and is the reason I got off my bum and started a blog. Please click over to "Kimbosue's Baby Shower" blog if you would like more information or if you have ideas or input. I thank you and I'm very privileged and delighted to play hostess to my friend and hope you can join us.

What's New with You?

A bloggy friend, dear Mrs.Spit asked what's new with her readers, so because I am absent of any profound philosophical thinking, I thought I would shamelessly steal this topic for today. So here goes, this is what's new with me:

It's raining here, Yeah!!!! Yes, this is a wonderful thing in a desert climate that only gets 12 inches of rain per year (frequently less). Relentless sunshine and cloudless blue skies can be boring. It is wonderful to hike the local mountains and see the seasonal streams and wildflowers after the rain.

I took a hike yesterday at "The Beast" in Whitney Canyon, part of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. I went with my cousin and a friend and we had a great chat in addition to doing the "butt buster". (Super steep climb that tightens the buns like no other exercise.)

Also, yesterday I had to give our dog, Charley an "emergency bath", he rolled around in some incredibly foul and horrible excrement, probably his own. He smelled so bad, even the 13 y/o boys were complaining about the dog's noxious scent.

I have some shopping to do to get ready for our youngest son's 11th birthday party this weekend. We are having about a dozen boys and dozen grown ups over to celebrate and enjoy the "Jousting" and the "4 in 1 Bouncehouse". Plus, a cookout with hamburgers, hot dogs, and my husband's incredibly delicious Con Queso Dip. I am making a Red Velvet cake with buttercream frosting, (birthday boy's request.)

I have to muck out my house, I mean, clean my house before the party. Thank goodness for a cleaning service.

Oh, yeah, I have to work to pay for all this! So, off to work I go, to solve the world's problems one patient at a time.

So, what's new with you?

Participant in History

I was moved to tears many times during the Inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President of these United States of America. (Including when I first saw Arethra Franklin's hat, or was that an escaped float from the parade?)

I was touched by seeing all our living retired Presidents and the outgoing President provide an honorable and peaceful transition. I told our boys how incredible and special this is, to have a transition of power without bloodshed and that this is not taken for granted across our southern borders in Mexico. Tears streamed down my face when I felt the impact of an individual who was considered "3/5" of a human when the U.S. Constitution was written, now holds the highest office in the land, well, it took my breath away. Anyone who has felt the sting of prejudice for any reason (and that means everybody) has reason to celebrate the election of a Biracial Commander In Chief.

It is wonderful to be part of this challenging and celebratory moment in history. It's been a long time since we as a nation's people or citizens of the world celebrated together. It seems that the only things that have united people have been disasters, like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina. We do have disasters on our hands, the financial meltdown, healthcare crisis, environmental degradation, you name it. But I felt a lightening of these burdens as I felt a sense of togetherness and hope for a better day.

Lincoln's Inauguration Meal

Greetings on Inauguration Day of the 44th President of the United States. Today, I am participating in a Bloggy Inauguration Tour sponsored by Muse Swings. I hope you enjoy the tidbits and treasures of history about the U.S. Presidential Inauguration. Thank you for stopping by.



Menu of Lincoln's Inaugural dinner

Barack Obama will be sworn into office on Tuesday -- just weeks before the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Obama's inaugural theme, "A New Birth of Freedom," has, fittingly, been drawn from his fellow Illinoisan's Gettysburg Address, and he's supposed to be sworn in using Lincoln's own Bible. The inaugural menu is based on what supposedly were some of Lincoln's favorite foods, and even the inaugural china is a replica of that used in the Lincoln White House. Despite these connections, let's hope that Obama's inaugural meal does not duplicate Lincoln's first, which turned into a food fight.

Lincoln's inaugural committee had planned a lavish midnight buffet for the inaugural ball: terrapin stew, leg of veal, beef à l'anglais, foie gras, pâté, cream candies, fruit ices, tarts, cakes and more. The venue was the Patent Office, which had two spacious halls for dancing and dining. The buffet was set out in a corridor where patent models were displayed.

When the grand supper was announced, after several hours of dancing, the crowd rushed the table and people began grabbing, pushing and stuffing themselves shamelessly. In a matter of minutes, the sumptuous buffet was a shambles -- as were several of the patent exhibits.

From the Los Angeles Times

Whirlwind Weekend

My husband and I had a wonderful weekend away at a wedding in Fallbrook, California. The wedding was officiated by the bride's grandfather who received a mail order ordination specifically to perform the ceremony. Every time I hear the marriage vows recited, it reminds me to renew and refresh my vows and that marriage is a work in progress. I think Kevin and I are doing great after almost 16 years together, we still make each other laugh and are there for each other.

It was a beautiful wedding with a stunning bride, handsome groom, and spectacular setting. The food and music were delightful and the only "downer" was watching the bridal party and their friends get really drunk and perform simulated sex acts fully clothed under the guise of dancing. Believe me, I am so not a prude. I mean I grew up during the 60's and 70's, worked Emergency Room at a big hospital in Ft.Lauderdale, in other words, I am not easy to shock. I just think there is a time and place for everything, including lap dances, (like a strip club), not a wedding.

I hope you enjoy the pictures, the weather is even better than it looks. (Sorry if you are freezing your buns off, I would trade you some degrees if I could.)




The bride was ferried across the lake before and after the vows on a pontoon boat.

It was a lovely day and Kevin and I were happy to share in our friend's joy at his daughter's marriage.

Wedding in Fallbrook

Hello and I wish you a wonderful weekend. My husband and I are off to Fallbrook in the middle of Nowhere in San Diego County. We are attending the wedding of the daughter of one of my husband's partners. I realized I am now old enough to be attending the weddings of children of my peers, that's kind of cool. I haven't been to a wedding or away with only my husband for a long time, so this should be a treat. Especially since the weather is absolutely gorgeous here, sunny, warm, and gee, it's enough to make the folks freezing their buns off want to come and visit! I have a great dress to wear that does not require the wearing of uncomfortable undergarments. Also, I am delighted I don't need to shop for anything for my outfit. Life is good when you get to wear a comfortable bra and shoes and still look Hot for your honey!

Here's to your comfort and hotness always,

Martha

I.pod Anxiety

I am experiencing a little I.pod anxiety. You know, that sinking feeling when you are without your favorite electronic gadget? I love my I.pod nano even though it's three years old (I am very loyal that way, it works perfectly, who needs anything else?) Well, apparently I do, because for the holidays, my hubby got me an I.touch. This is one cool gadget, it's the I.phone without the phone (which I hear is kind of a pain.) The I.touch can play music, (of course), watch videos, surf the web, send Emails, click on a map photo of your friend's house at the beach, really cool stuff. I was love, love, loving my new toy. Until I found out it was the First generation, not their most recent generation, which contains a Built In Speaker and double the battery life. So, off to the internet vendor it goes to be exchanged for the Newest I.touch. I will keep it for a long time, so I might as well get the most recent configuration, right? I sure do miss my new gadget and hope to get the replacement soon. I am worried about recopying my library (Again!!) and all the potential data download headaches. I used to joke about people dependent on their Black.berries, but I get it now.

Disclaimer: This is Not a Paid Endorsement. Gee, I wish, I need to tell Apple Corp. if Bono isn't available, I will be delighted.

Comings and Goings

Charley the dog and the smallest Pack Leader, Abigail.

This past week marked two anniversaries that impacted my life greatly.

Last weekend was the 4 year anniversary of bringing our cat, Abigail, home from her foster home. She was a rescue kitty left with her sister in a box at a pet store about 50 miles away in southern Los Angeles. She was fostered by Cats At The Studios, a cat rescue organization organized by people who care and find homes for the strays that live on the grounds of the Studios. Abigail is a Tuxedo Manx; very sweet, smart, and affectionate to her family and her dog, Charley. It takes her awhile to warm up to new people, but she is very friendly when she does. She is my best bud, and I feel so lucky she has come into my life. Our oldest son named Abigail after a cute and sassy girl character from the Cartoon, "Kids Next Door". It suits her. To own and care for pets is a necessity for me and my well being. Especially a cat, a Manx cat named Abigail.

A few days ago was the 11th anniversary of my Grandma Rose's death. She was 95 years young and one of my best friends. She was sharp and funny until the day she passed and I celebrate and try to emulate her in the way she conducted her life. She was and continues to be a source of unconditional love. She showed me what it is to struggle, overcome, and succeed with her journey as a divorced mom, career woman, and a true and abiding friend to not only me, but to her son, my Dad. Thank you, dear Grandma Rose for all your love and gifts, they have not gone unbidden.

So, by the circumstance of the calendar, I celebrate the flow of unconditional love in my life, both human and feline. I'm a lucky woman indeed.

Lost in Austen and Never Coming Back

I have been enjoying watching the "Lost in Austen" series on TV these last two nights. Elliot Cowan was very haute (smoking hot!!) as Mr.Darcy in this miniseries, a most worthy successor to Colin Firth. I don't watch much TV (yeah, right), but the TV I most enjoy is from the UK. In addition to this wonderful mix up of the Austen novels, another guilty pleasure of mine is the BBC show, "Hotel Babylon". This show is so addictive it should come with a warning label.

The Lost In Austen show reminded me of how much I love Jane Austen. To me there are three kinds of people in the world; those who adore Jane and all her work, people who live in remote tribes yet to be discovered by Western civilization, and the unenlightened.

My wonderful husband indulges my passion for All Things Austen including getting me this Jane Austen Action figure last year for Christmas. I mean, doesn't every forty-something female want her own literature hero action figure?



My Darling hubby again, exceeded all expectations with this year's lovely gift of my very own "I<3 Mr.Darcy"!! What a guy!!


Thank you for sharing in my Austenmania and my best to you for a little indulgence of your fancies and whims, especially if they include Mr.Darcy, Oh My!!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!! House all to myself!

The Hallelujahs and collective sigh of relief are heard and felt not only in my fine, suburban tract home, but all across the Santa Clarita Valley as the Winter Holiday break of 3 weeks is Finally over and the KIDS ARE Back in School!
It was nice to let them sleep in and not nag them about homework, but it will also be nice not to nag them about hanging around the house and playing with electronic gadgets nonstop. The quiet is blissful, even the dog who adores his boys, seems relieved for some downtime.

Please stop by Weebles Webblog for more Perfect Moments this Monday, thank you.

Eat, Pray, Be a Man

I was talking on the phone with my Uncle Bud who is almost 83 years old. He is my only Uncle and holds a very special place in my heart. He always makes me laugh and think at the same time, my favorite kind of person. I don't get to see him as often as I would like, but I do enjoy our phone chats.
His parents and grandparents came to the United States from Eastern Europe one hundred years ago to escape the pogroms of the Russian Tsar. My great grandparents spoke Yiddish and my Uncle was conversant in this language as a teen. My uncle is not religious, but he is spiritual in a way forever touched by his World War II service in an infantry tank who liberated the death camps of Dachau and Treblinka in Europe.
My dear Uncle was telling me about a conversation with his grandfather (namesake of our youngest son) where he was describing what the term "Ess, bench, sei a mensch" ("Eat, Pray, Be a Man" in Yiddish) meant for him. Greatgrandfather said that with the uncertainty of never knowing when your home was going to be raided, or never knowing when you might eat, or pray again, or be able to practice a kindness, that you must fully take of these moments and savor them.
I found so much power and a gift in this simple, humble phrase because of this shared context. I appreciate my Uncle Bud for telling me this story and I will make sure to give this gift to my children and family. I am reminded how blessed I am, we all are, to be able to provide for our families, worship (or not) as we choose, walk down the street unaccosted, and be able to find some peace on our path.
I am also reminded of the power of language and how wisdom and love can reach across generations and time.

One Sentence Post Saturday - Singing as a Dead Celeb

You know you are becoming unhinged when you can amuse yourself singing "Matchmaker" from Fiddler on The Roof as the late, Great Katherine Hepburn.

Chaos of Clutter

I have enjoyed many different types of careers within my nursing career including 12 years spent as a homecare nurse. I like caring for patients and families on their turf. I learn so much about a person from their environment, it is an extension of their personality and often, pathologies. One memorable case really opened my eyes to the obessive compulsive disorder of hoarders.

This dear, sweet elderly woman lived alone in a 1200 square foot California bungalow with two bedrooms and a bathroom. I will have to take the fact there was a second bedroom on faith as the house, except for a narrow pathway, was unpassable. There were old newspapers, junk mail, catalogs, paper bags, and all manner of detritus stacked up on every available horizontal surface. It was a canyon of stuff leaning up against the walls in the hallway and the kitchen. Only one half of the stove top was accessible as the other half was covered with pots, pans, dishes, and trash. The patient had a double bed of which a narrow section was open for sleeping as the rest was covered with more newspapers, magazines, craft projects, and stuff. It was amazing as this woman was adamant nothing get thrown out. Needless to say, the house was a huge fire and safety hazard, especially for an elderly person with limited mobility. I worked with the community Fire Department and Social Worker to address this extreme situation. It was heartbreaking to see this, especially how distressing this is to the hoarder. It truly is a mental illness requiring professional pyschological assistance.

I am not a fan of tchtokes (knick knacks in Yiddish), but I enjoy art and have a few collections of things that are meaningful and bring me joy. I have to work hard to keep the clutter/mess monster at bay. It seems to be unavoidable fact of civilized life that stuff will creep into my living space. I have learned a few things so my house doesn't need an intervention from the city including:

I sort mail at the recycling bin, try to keep junk mail from entering the house.

All the stuff like bills, statements, important paperwork, I try to follow the mantra, "Handle paper only once". Which means, I will sort it, file it,or act on it, not bury it with the magazines and forget about it. No, no, no. Well, that's my goal anyway, my reality, well, Flylady I am not. Not even Flygirl. More like Penguin Waddle girl...

Anytime I get something new, like a new kitchen gadget, I will get rid of a something else in the kitchen. Or if it's a new pair of jeans, I will donate a pair of pants or other clothing (doesn't even have to be mine, could be the kids). This is based on the input/output system where your house is a closed system and if you take something in, you must also eliminate something, kind of like a living thing. Pretty cool, eh? We always keep a box in the garage for donations and just put them out there as they become redundant or outgrown, etc.

I plan for purging stuff on a semi regular basis or when the mood strikes. I like to enlist the boys in cleaning out old stuff when they expect an influx of new stuff like before the holidays or their birthdays. Our youngest son cracked me up when he brought me his old bathrobe to donate to Good.will after getting a new one for Christmas.

The mood to clean struck recently(like a blue moon, not too often) to clean out some closets and donate pillows and blankets to a local animal rescue, New Leash on Life. I was inspired also by the Blanket/Clothing Drive sponsored by AntiBloggedy which has a cool prize if you are struck with a mood to straighten and donate to a worthy cause in your community.

I appreciate the opportunity to clean up my act and do something for someone else too. Thank you and I would appreciate any tips you have to keep your environment or life more streamlined and peaceful.

CHAOS = Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome

Ghost Story

I answered a meme awhile back and listed having a ghostly experience as one of my random things. A bloggy buddy of mine, Lori requested more information, so here is my story.

I was a camp counselor as a teenager for many years in rural Indiana. This girls’ summer camp was located on the banks of the Little Miami Whitewater River. In addition to the cabins on the bluff overlooking the river, there was a former large hunting lodge used as the mess hall, dormitory, lounge, and infirmary for the camp. It had been added on to in a haphazard fashion over the years and had interesting hallways with windows facing other rooms.

I was in the infirmary of the lodge alone early one bright summer evening; at least I thought I was alone. I heard footsteps down the hallway and went out to look and even though I could hear the footsteps just a yard or two away from me, there was nothing. The steps came closer and closer and then a shaft of frigid air passed right through me (literally took my breath out of my body and away) and the steps continued. I hightailed it out of there.

The Little Miami Whitewater River has experienced severe flooding several times in the last century which unfortunately resulted in the loss of many lives. This included the area surrounding the camp and the campfire stories told of a cabin filled with campers being washed away into the boiling and black water during a storm. I don’t know if it was one of those poor, restless souls come to visit me or something else, but I won’t rule out the possibility.

4th folder 4th picture Tag

I was tagged by dear KimboSue for a Photo Treasure Hunt tag where you
1. Go to the 4th picture folder on your computer.
2. Post the 4th picture in that folder.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag 4 more people.

This is a picture of my oldest son taken a couple summers ago in our neighborhood pool. Yes, there is a child underneath that hair.

I would like to tag

AntiBloggedy
Rambler
Are You Kidding Me?
Dairy of Wicked Step Mom

Four is a sacred number in many cultures and religions including the Zia tribe of New Mexico, The Four cups of wine drunk during Jewish Passover, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. We have many examples in biology and nature. The four chambers of the human heart, a four leaf clover, hmm, it's wonderful to meditate on this and I thank Kimbosue for helping remind me with this fun Tag treasure hunt.

Perfect Moment Monday - Kvell

Hello, and I am back in the saddle again for the Perfect Moment Monday Round Up led by dear Lori of Weebles Wobblog. (Such an adorable blog name).

This perfect moment occurred several weeks ago and it is the kind of moment that makes a parent "kvell". (Yiddish word meaning to beam with pride and pleasure.) I know my husband sure was when he came home from a Los Angeles Clippers basketball game with the boys. My husband, K. and our two sons, along with about two dozen Cub Scouts and grown ups attended a game at the Staples Center as part of a Cub Scout outing. A fellow Scout dad works for the basketball team and arranged to have eight boys act as color guard, i.e. carry the flag for the opening ceremony and National Anthem. Very cool. The Scout Leader drew eight names out of hat and our son, S. was chosen. One of the younger boys who wasn't chosen really wanted to participate and apparently had a major meltdown over it while still on the charter bus. S. volunteered to let this little boy take his place. The little boy's grandmother told S., "No, Thank you, he needs to learn that he doesn't always get his way." (Wow, way to go, Grandma!)

When my husband came home and related this story, I joined him in walking on air. Our son was matter of fact about offering his place. His compassion and kindness created a perfect moment or Mitzvah for his parents. (Mitzvah is another Yiddish word meaning good and honorable deed. Gee, I didn't know this was also going to be a language lesson today.)

Our son, as the oldest boy in the color guard, held the flag during the ceremony and was high fived and fist bumped by quite a few of the players. I venture to say, that was a perfect moment for him.

Thank you for allowing me to share this perfect moment, that is part of the joy.

New Year's Resolutions - NOT!

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, for me, it isn't a powerful agent for change. The closest I got to a New Year's resolution was last year after the retail excess that is Christmas motivated me to quit using plastic shopping bags. It was easier than I thought and it felt good to cut down my bag consumption from 350 bags a year to about 50 bags. I like the idea of creating change to be other-directed, in this case, for our landfills.
So in the spirit of my non resolution, I am going to continue to work on being kinder and more forgiving of myself because I am learning it all begins with me. I anticipate and will work to create this for myself and those in my life. I think the key to this is to foster an attitude of appreciation which is something I have sorely lacked this holiday season. I have acted like this holiday was something to be endured instead of enjoying it. So after gaining this insight, I "caught myself" feeling appreciative for:

My dear Brother in law and sister in law who visited us last night and said that next year they want to share the holidays with us which we haven't done for many years.
My mother who can be challenging to be around was very concerned and calls daily while I recover.
My husband who has been working his butt off taking care of me, the house, and the family forgives me when I am a grumpy bi+ch.
Feeling better and more human everyday after going 4 rounds with the oral surgeon. (Note to those anticipating oral surgery, it hasn't been that bad, Really!)

"Patience is the gift you give others, Tolerance is the gift you give yourself."

Glass Jaw

I thank you all so much for your well wishes and empathy.
I think wisdom teeth extraction is alot like mining only with smaller tools and I was probably nuts to do it without being put to sleep. After working in surgery for seven years, anesthesia is much more frightening than the procedure. So as I recover, I certainly have developed a new appreciation for solid food. I never thought eating chocolate pudding would be BORING! I am craving anything with a crust which is strictly verboten. I have developed a keen understanding of the term, "glass jaw". I don't recognize the inside of my mouth anymore, it's a whole new world. I wish I could blame this silly post on painkillers, but they make me sick and sleepy so I am doing just fine with Vitamin "I" aka Ibuprofen.
I just wanted to thank you all so much for your support and I hope you enjoy something chewy, scrumptious, and solid, like a crisp apple or juicy steak, or lobster, or OMG, I am torturing myself. Back to the ice bags and insanely stupid TV.