Excuse Me...

Have you ever had one of those moments when your in a quandry about how to handle a situation...tactfully? I happened to stop by my Dr.'s office today. Before taking the elevator downstairs, I realized I really needed to pee-bad! So, I headed into the ladies room, chose the first stall, occupied. Chose the next stall, also occupied. Chose the middle stall got in just in time to barely get my jeans down in time and do my thing. (Does anyone else have bladder control issues??) I reached over to grab some T.P.-NOTHING, NADA, ZIP, EMPTY not a scrap to be found anywhere!

So there I am contemplating my options. First, I think maybe I could just pull up my pants and forget wiping-which would be totally gross and disgusting. Nope, couldn't live with that choice. Next, Maybe I could pull up my pants and ditch into the other stall when it is no longer occupied and grab me some T.P. PDQ and hope my undies don't get wet. Nope, also not do-able without someone walking into the ladies room and wondering what in the_ _ _ _ I'm doing, running stall to stall frantically searching for some T.P. while trying to keep my pants on and my undies from getting wet. That would be just my luck! Panic sets in. Crap, I'm running out of options!! Somedays, don't you think that wearing a depends would be so much easier? So, as a last ditch effort, I decide to suck up my pride and disturb my "neighbor" to the right. I say, "Excuse me," "Hello?" I lean over and wave my fingers under the stall to get her attention and let her know from where the voice she hears is coming from. Voice from "neighbor" lady, " Are you talking to me?" I hesitantly reply, (hoping she doesn't think this is going to turn into one of those infamous "airport" restroom rendezvous or that I need conversational company while I do my thing.) "Could you kindly give me some toilet paper? I have none in here." She laughs and passes me a nicely folded mound of wonderful, white, fluffy toilet paper. I have never been so grateful as I was at that very moment to see T.P.! We exchange some laughs and some other pleasantries, I flush, wash my hands, and hope I don't have to run into my "neighbor" in person before I dry my hands. Gratefully not. I once again thank her profusly for saving my hiney, (no pun intended) and leave the ladies room pride intact.

Good, Mom's Gone!

Last night, after telling Todd to make grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner, I headed out the door to a Y.W. activity. Ethan asked where I was going and I told him we were going rollerblading. He seemed pretty happy with my reply and promptly said good-bye.

Well, come to find out later, just as Todd came to give me a good-night kiss before heading off to bed, he told me the funniest thing Ethan had said earlier that night after I had left to go to Y.W. Apparently, after the door slammed behind me, Ethan announced to Todd and Cole, " Good, mom's gone! Now we can burp and fart!" Let me translate: That was code for let's get this party started-it's male bonding time! OH MY GOSH!!!! Is this what happens when I leave home?? I refuse to believe Todd is responsible for that kind of comment coming out of Ethan's mouth-or should I wise up?! What the crap??

Whew! It's All Over!

I'm now officially gallbladderless! Yea! Just wanted to thank with much appreciation, all of my friends (and family) for taking such good care of me and my 3 little men as I've been recovering. From delicious dinners and lunch, to bringing my kids home from school. Thanks for all who called to check up on how I was doing. So thoughtful of all of you, especially at this time of year when we are all being pulled in a million directions. It's nice to know I can always count on my friends when I'm in a pinch...or a stich! Love you all!!

Tis' the Season

Good Gracious, I haven't posted in a long time! Just seems like I've been hit with a ton of commitments and demands, not to mention working at home doing my billing business. Tis the season for craziness I guess.

One of these days, I'm going to get my Christmas shopping done! I always put it off. Shopping-not at all one of my favorite things to do-especially when things are financially stressed. Just knowing with each purchase I'm getting further and further in debt. Ugh! Sound like fun? Not to me. I guess if I were smart, I'd learn to put a little $$ away each month so that when Christmas comes along, things wouldn't be so stressful. OR I could just win the lottery! Ya, right! I guess I should just be darn grateful for what I do have. Like Todd's job. He works in the banking/financial world and we know how stable that industry is right now. Things look O.K. for him but who knows what the future might bring? So, I 'm glad I have enough. No less, no more. Christmas is by far one of my least favorite holidays. Can't stand all of the commercialism. All of the expectations to buy, buy, buy, give, give, give, get, get, get. However, I am a firm believer in the "reason for the season." I'm trying some new ways to have a more Christ centered home this Christmas.

One bright spot was this last weekend. I had the chance to have a "sleepover" with a bunch of my really good friends. We went downtown to the opulent Grand America Hotel and needless to say had a fabulous time together-talking, eating, talking, a lot of laughing and more talking. We did very little sleeping. The next morning, I woke up with abs of steal from all of the laughing I did. I had a great time with all of you!! :) My life would be so lonely and devoid of happiness and laughter without my girlfriends. It was great to take a break from my other roles and just let my hair down and have a good time. I felt relaxed and rejuvenated at the end. (Although, I came home feeling like I had a hangover! Wonder why?!)

Thursday I head to the hospital for a little tune-up. I'm getting my gallbladder removed. It's something I've been putting off for about two years now and I'm afraid I can't put it off any longer. I'll admit, I've been in denial, plus, who has the time for surgery? Nobody told me I would start falling apart when I turned forty. The bright side is maybe I'll loose some weight. No more greasy fries and cheesy pizza for this girl! However, I won't be giving up my Diet Vanilla Pepsi for anything!! My advice? DON'T GET OLD-that's an order!

Allowance-Yes or No???

Cole's writing assignment has me thinking, and I'd love to hear what you think.

• Do you give your kids an allowance? Starting at what age?
• If you don't, why? Do you think you should? Why?
• Do you have them earn it or do you just give them a set amt. each week for doing nothing?
• If they earn it, what do you have them do?
• How much money? Per chore or per day, week, month?
• Do you have some say in how they spend it or do you turn it over to them to decide?
• What is the consequence if they fail to complete the chore(s)?

Just some questions I'm contemplating myself. Did you have an allowance? What are some of the pros and cons?

Kids Say the Darndest Things...

Ethan came home from school on Friday and when Todd got home they were talking about Ethan's day at school. E promptly told Todd that Samantha was back at school today. When Todd asked Ethan why she had been gone, he replied that, "she had her testicles removed." I would have loved to be in the room to see Todd's reaction :) SO-Todd said, "are you sure her name is Samantha? and that she's a girl?" Ethan said, "yes." Well then Todd had to remind E that girls don't have testicles. Ethan got a quizzical look on his face and pointed at his throat and said, "what are those things called again in the back of your throat?" "Oh, yea, they're called tonsils!" I about busted a gut laughing when Todd relayed this conversation. At least Ethan used the correct term-just had it linked to the wrong body part!

One more quick one. So, Ethan and I are in the car coming home from running some errands together. Ethan said, "mom, did you know girls are females and boys are e-mails?" I quickly turned around to clarify what he said, not sure I heard him correctly. Sure enough, he repeated the same thing. I didn't dare to laugh out loud for fear his little feelers would get hurt. Secretly, I about peed my pants! Kids are awesome! I found out later he had been learning about opposites in Kindergarten.

Why Blog?

So, I've contemplated whether or not I wanted to start my own blog. About a year ago my friend, Tera, told me about a blog of another friend we have in common. She said it was all about the trials we all face-it peaked my curiosity. So, I went to check it out, never having read a person's blog in my life. I was hooked! This particular blog's comments on the trials women were going through was heartbreaking and powerful! I spent days afterwards digesting all that I read, stewing over some of the problems my friends, neighbors and people I don't even know were having. Needless to say, it had a profound effect on me. At that time, it was nice to know that I wasn't alone in facing life's trials. There were others. Lots and lots.

Another thing that struck me, was the ability that all of these women had to share-honest and open about everything-the good, the bad & the ugly. This is something that doesn't come easily for me in most situations. I admit, I have trust issues. I guess I've been burned a few too many times. So, I usually play it pretty close to the vest. This brings me to one of the main reasons that I have given in to blogging. It's an exercise in letting go- a little-or maybe a lot. Opening up, sharing and writing about things that are sometimes difficult for me. I'll have to admit, it's pretty uncomfortable. Cathartic? I'm hoping.

Other reasons for blogging? I sometimes feel guilty for reading blog after blog, never contributing my own life experiences for someone else's consumption (not sure they'd want to hear some of them:). I hope there would be something I could say or share that would benefit or help a reader. That would be worth it and so fulfilling. So, I'm commited to giving blogging a try.