Blogging at work while on break... One of the GREAT JOYS of the corporate lifestyle... Wish I could be doing this full time but I digress.
So Paul's continuing journey into the land of the unemployed has taken a 4 month toll.
Last year at about this time, he was entering the hospital in status epilepticus, AKA exiting real life for Twitchville. He had 4 Clonic Tonic (AKA Gran Mal) seizures in as many nights.
We took him to the neurologist, who almost did nothing. Paul couldn't talk, couldn't count backwards from 100 by 3's, (a task which is usually easy for him) We found he was having all kinds of different seizures. They changed the drugs he was on, and poof, after a month or two he was ok to work again and then we started to understand the kind of stresses he had REALLY been under at work. He wasn't able to fully verbalize before. Now, a year later and he's been fired by the same jerk who started the trouble. I should send that man an anvil top hat.
I'm sure it'll end up being a win-win situation. Our Hollywood Disney ending hasn't happened yet. We said "I will" several years ago and we are still just trying to take off.
Most people have dreams. Most people have goals they are working toward: They are working toward their degree, their freedom, losing weight I have found that I am stunningly goal-less. I also feel like I'm lacking a spine. I want to publish books but at the same time the security of my current situation is culling me to complacency. That and utter exhaustion. I am on the brink, all I feel like doing is sitting down and sleeping. I don't normally watch TV or movies, and yet my Netflix account is seeing record use from me.
I stopped writing because although I loved reading it and thought it was funny, it felt like a 24/7 bitch session. And people inevitably ended up feeling like my husband was a complete lazy ass loser.
He's not, FYI. I got sick of defending him though. I spent the last 2 years of my life doing that in the court of law. Just sometimes, the lackluster low activity level and lack of stressing about anything gets to me. but it's not actually a bad thing that he doesn't stress out.
The baby learned an evil laugh a few days ago. Lily's been over and so we trade off our nightly television/movie sessions between Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog The Crow and various Disney Sap
Anyway, Dr. Horrible got Paul breaking into fits of maniacal laughter, and in turn, since Tom is in full "Monkey see, Monkey do" mode, we now have a baby with an evil laugh. Which kind of sounds like, "Wahahahahah... (eruption of baby giggles)"
The power went out Sunday evening/early Monday Morning. Everyone in the house made sure to tell me all about it. The kids upstairs, who are very young, screamed. Which woke the pre-teen in my apartment up who asked me, "Mom, what the heck is wrong with the MP3 player and speakers?" (I explained the power was out, which I really would have thought to be self explanatory, she has a fan in her room, too.) The sassing from the hallway woke Evan up, who yelled "Mom, my TV is off." I responded the power was out, he turned over and went back to sleep. An hour later Dan woke up and insisted he HAD to sleep with Paul and I... Add in the dog, with every person who passed within a mile of my window, (here's a hint: US 23 runs about a half a mile away from my window, and can be heard clearly on nights when there is no electricity running.) and you have a three ring circus, BEFORE needing to grocery shop and go to work.
I'll admit, with all of my running around I ended up staying home from work,. It was a risk/reward behavior. If I went in, I was more likely to get myself fired for sassing off at one of the customers. I'm usually pretty easygoing about things now, but yeah, days like that, forget it.
Well something that started as a quick project on break has turned into an epic battle to stay awake after work.
If you haven't done so already, please make sure you see My friend's kickstarter website Andy's CDs
Garon has been a dear friend of mine since the 12th grade. While my parents were going through the divorce, me being alienated from a lot of my friends due to a bad break up and then the start of a relationship between my then best friend and my ex boyfriend. Garon was one of the few VERY close very dear friends that I confided in, and he always made me feel better. He would always tell me "I am going to show all of these people they are wrong about me. I am going to go to LA and I am going to write scripts. I'm going to make it." Anytime he and I talk it's like we pick up where we left off, even though we haven't seen each other in years. One of the things I always told him is that I had faith that he would make it to LA some day, except when it started to look like he was giving up, then I told him "no, I don't think you'll make it." And he said "I'll show you" and had all of his stuff in a moving van a month later. (Somewhat true story! I don't know if it was I who had convinced him to get off his arse and go, but I know he split soon afterward.) He swore he'd never forgive me for losing faith in him. But then we talked. And argued like a feral cat and dog. I don't know if he forgave me or not, but I know it's no longer a big deal. He made it to LA 12 years ago, and he's a much happier person for it.
When he lived here, I would come pick him up every night around 9ish, we'd go to a movie, then around midnight we'd go play tag at an abandon playground, sometimes with friends, sometime alone. I had a crush on him then, but now I think of him like the younger brother I never had. We aren't close anymore, not really. But I promised him that I'd always be there and I'd NEVER give up faith in him again. To this day, I haven't. I won't, either. Garon has proved to me that anything he sets his pen, heart and mind to, will happen.
Garon is one of those people that I look to and I think, "God, what have I done with these last 12 years?" I had some kids, he went out to LA and maybe he didn't make it BIG ,but he's trying.
He's got other cheerleaders now. He's got other close friends who take care of him, but I'm back here in the shadows doing everything I can to make sure he succeeds. Maybe you know him, maybe you don't know him. But he's a very important person in my life, and he deserves your praise and money.
Even a dollar helps. And I'm broke now.
I'm going to take my goalless deflated self to bed now before I become a blabbering fool at the keyboard. Oh, too late.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Music I'm obsessing on this week 6/1-6/7/2011
Yeah, you didn't ask, you're gonna get it anyway.
Previous albums in listed in this section would be, (if this selection had existed before now)
Little Big Planet OST(apparently no longer available for purchase from Amazon.)
Aerial- Kate Bush
Mirrored - Battles
Court and Spark- Joni Mitchell
Songs For Dustmites- Steve Burns
This weeks- (or in some cases, MONTHS) Music Du Jour (Yes I know Du Jour means of the day, but forgive me)
1. Passion Pit- Manners [Vinyl]
Here I have chosen the Vinyl Version of this Album, because YES I remember vinyl. And I think it's cool that a modern band still offers vinyl.
Passion Pit is awesome beyond words. And I don't have to tell you. They exude awesomeness.
I'm sure you're not going to just take my word for it.
This band is tight musically and vocally. Although they do always sing in falsetto, so if that bugs you, you may want to check out one of my other suggestions. Their lyrics are interesting, sweet, lovely and thought provoking.
It is electronic, which is somewhat a new genre for me. This whole album just has a funky GROOVE to it. Michael Angelakos has a beautiful and haunting quality to his voice, and does not look AT ALL how I pictured him. Either case, their music is really unique and should be checked out by everyone.
2. Aimee Mann- Bachelor No. 2
Here I have chosen the SACD version of this album, and should it happen to be mailed to me anonymously I would be eternally in anonymous' debt forever.
The thing about the SACDs that I remember as a kid making the pilgrimage down the 14 steps to my Brother's room in the basement, finding the coveted "Dark Side of the Moon" SACD, sneaking back up the stairs quietly as not to wake the sleeping beast, then popping this sucker into my walkman with headphones and writing in the computer room.
They have the very best sound quality around, they also have this mechanism which is... well very hard to describe. It's a little lift. It has a spindle in the middle. Oh, and the disk is gold.
Anyway, about the actual album now.
Bachelor No. 2, to My ear anyhow, is Aimee Mann's most solid work since her Til Tuesday days. Although she is a fantastic writer, the lyrics of these songs speak to me more than others and I just love this album. It's a great, "I need to do the dishes and I need to clean the house but I do not feel motivated to do so" sort of album. You just kind of automatically move to it. I LOVE this quality in an album. But it's also the kind when you are sitting at home, you can just sit and veg out. The lyrics pull you in and give you a ride to somewhere else. Check it out, but by all means, if you can't afford the gold version, get the cheap one. Strangely enough, this album is ALSO available in vinyl.
3. Death Cab for Cutie- Something About Airplanes [Vinyl]
Again, in vinyl. Pick up a CD or a MP3 copy if you don't have one of those new fangled... whatcha call em, record players! :)
This is Death Cab's inaugural work, originally produced in 1998, it features the Woodland instrument-like vocals of Ben Gibbard, who is both folksy and haunting. This album seems to tell a story to me. I LOVE albums that tell me a story. My favorite artist growing up with Kate Bush, and my favorite album of hers was Hounds of Love. But on that album there's a whole second half called "The Ninth Wave" which is this beautiful confusing story about a woman who falls into the ice and is reborn.
This album, although a very different story, reminds me of that Kate Bush album. It doesn't sound anything like it, but it's so cohesive... it's just really beautiful. Ben could sing the phone book to me and I'd likely be hooked. It's like how Kate can sing the numbers of Pi and keep my attention throughout the whole song. I realize Death Cab just came out with a new album. I do not yet own it. Someone should remedy that for me. ;)
In the meantime, Happy Listening!
2.
Previous albums in listed in this section would be, (if this selection had existed before now)
Little Big Planet OST(apparently no longer available for purchase from Amazon.)
Aerial- Kate Bush
Mirrored - Battles
Court and Spark- Joni Mitchell
Songs For Dustmites- Steve Burns
This weeks- (or in some cases, MONTHS) Music Du Jour (Yes I know Du Jour means of the day, but forgive me)
1. Passion Pit- Manners [Vinyl]
Here I have chosen the Vinyl Version of this Album, because YES I remember vinyl. And I think it's cool that a modern band still offers vinyl.
Passion Pit is awesome beyond words. And I don't have to tell you. They exude awesomeness.
I'm sure you're not going to just take my word for it.
This band is tight musically and vocally. Although they do always sing in falsetto, so if that bugs you, you may want to check out one of my other suggestions. Their lyrics are interesting, sweet, lovely and thought provoking.
It is electronic, which is somewhat a new genre for me. This whole album just has a funky GROOVE to it. Michael Angelakos has a beautiful and haunting quality to his voice, and does not look AT ALL how I pictured him. Either case, their music is really unique and should be checked out by everyone.
2. Aimee Mann- Bachelor No. 2
Here I have chosen the SACD version of this album, and should it happen to be mailed to me anonymously I would be eternally in anonymous' debt forever.
The thing about the SACDs that I remember as a kid making the pilgrimage down the 14 steps to my Brother's room in the basement, finding the coveted "Dark Side of the Moon" SACD, sneaking back up the stairs quietly as not to wake the sleeping beast, then popping this sucker into my walkman with headphones and writing in the computer room.
They have the very best sound quality around, they also have this mechanism which is... well very hard to describe. It's a little lift. It has a spindle in the middle. Oh, and the disk is gold.
Anyway, about the actual album now.
Bachelor No. 2, to My ear anyhow, is Aimee Mann's most solid work since her Til Tuesday days. Although she is a fantastic writer, the lyrics of these songs speak to me more than others and I just love this album. It's a great, "I need to do the dishes and I need to clean the house but I do not feel motivated to do so" sort of album. You just kind of automatically move to it. I LOVE this quality in an album. But it's also the kind when you are sitting at home, you can just sit and veg out. The lyrics pull you in and give you a ride to somewhere else. Check it out, but by all means, if you can't afford the gold version, get the cheap one. Strangely enough, this album is ALSO available in vinyl.
3. Death Cab for Cutie- Something About Airplanes [Vinyl]
Again, in vinyl. Pick up a CD or a MP3 copy if you don't have one of those new fangled... whatcha call em, record players! :)
This is Death Cab's inaugural work, originally produced in 1998, it features the Woodland instrument-like vocals of Ben Gibbard, who is both folksy and haunting. This album seems to tell a story to me. I LOVE albums that tell me a story. My favorite artist growing up with Kate Bush, and my favorite album of hers was Hounds of Love. But on that album there's a whole second half called "The Ninth Wave" which is this beautiful confusing story about a woman who falls into the ice and is reborn.
This album, although a very different story, reminds me of that Kate Bush album. It doesn't sound anything like it, but it's so cohesive... it's just really beautiful. Ben could sing the phone book to me and I'd likely be hooked. It's like how Kate can sing the numbers of Pi and keep my attention throughout the whole song. I realize Death Cab just came out with a new album. I do not yet own it. Someone should remedy that for me. ;)
In the meantime, Happy Listening!
2.
Monday, June 6, 2011
How I survived several weeks with a sinus headache.
Well, the past few weeks have been interesting and busy. I usually do not schedule more than 2-3 events on any given day for fear that I will not make said events. So my average day of dropping Evan to the bus, the other kids and Paul to Nana's, then taking myself to work are about max on what I'd like to do per day.
Well, apparently the insanity bug hit me somewhere in there.
I decided somewhere in there that I was superwoman or something.
I hit the brick wall, the big huge brick wall of life in the form of an allergy attack.
Not just a normal one, but the "have a constant headache for 2 weeks running" sort of allergy attack.
And I did all my normal things at first. The Neti Pot and massive amounts of vitamin C (2000 MG per day, or as much as you can stand to listen to that album. Which for me was about .001%)
Memorial Day came up in there somewhere, and we were away on vacation, which interrupted things, but I wasn't really feeling the headache those days. It was still there but I was willing it away by sheer power, force, remember, I am SHE-RA! Ok, so I'm not... but lets pretend for a moment I am.
I mean, on our vacation I rode a horse named Belle, who was all white like She-Ra's horse. However, I regret to say only resembled "Swift Wind" when she farted. I suppose to be fair we'll say I didn't really "ride" her so much as lead her on a horse drawn carriage. And when I say "lead" it was more like she already knew the route and struggled the whole time against me to try to pass her friend horse Bud, thinking, I suppose that she was in a race for the final apple at the stables.
And previous to that, I did find a lost little boy, grant you, the lost little boy was MY little boy who had wandered off looking for his big sister Lily and myself. But hey, I wasn't worried. I mean we were on Mackinac Island, it's not like the kid could get off of the island without me. *sarcasm* The important thing is that we were all reunited, and I had to resist the urge to kill him.
I climbed Castle Rock, that should count for something. Yes, it was stairs, but Christ, have you seen those stairs? By the time I got to the top my vision was blurry and doubled, and there was a fog around the whole scene, (and no, the horse wasn't there so I couldn't say it was her "Swift Wind" at all.)
Oh, and transporting 3 children 4 hours to the straits and 6 hours from Tahquamenon Falls... that should count for something.
Ok, so the baby didn't come with us, he stayed with his Nana who graciously offered to take him for the weekend.
Anyhow, back to the attack of doom!
Yeah, so the headache on Monday came back as we came down south. I think it's the pollen honestly.
Tuesday was bearable, although it got progressively worse at work. I forced myself to go swimming in the morning, just a few laps to keep myself in shape before work and I think it helped.
Wednesday came and I felt like utter crap. I went swimming again, but this time i brought the husband, kids and friend. I still felt like utter crap. I'm allergic to chlorine I don't know how this fact always seems to escape me in the summer, so I was a snotty mess by the time we left the pool. My friend's son developed blisters from the amount of chlorine used in the pool. Evan ended up being late to school over that whole rigamarole. We went to my in laws. I felt like I could be upright but I didn't really feel up to much else. The next day came and I still felt like crap. I got a doctors appointment so that I could get a work excuse.
They gave me a new nose spray, which did help considerably. But Friday the gunk moved into my lungs and caused me to be feverish all day. I don't think I got out of bed except to call the doctor and beg that they extend my work excuse.
which they did, EVENTUALLY, but only after 2 calls.
Saturday I woke up feeling Pseudo-human. A far cry from She-Ra, but it was going to have to do.
we went over to Nana's, because that's what we usually end up doing around here.
Set up the tent to sweep it out, then had to tear it down in a hurry due to an approaching thunderstorm. Oh and of course an epic squirt gun fight between me, Evan (my 6 year old) Paul and My brother in law. (Who said I cry when I'm squirted in the face with a squirt gun... which I would like to address by going on the record and saying "No, I do not!" Neener Neener :P take that Uncle Mike.)
The kids stayed over at Nana's that night, Paul and I went to frozen yogurt then came home exhausted. Paul attempted to make me tea, then fell asleep while it was steeping. I woke up at 4am expecting to find him next to me, when I didn't I panicked. He fell asleep on the couch, I found him frantically shaking the sleep out of his head while he washed the egg poacher. Then we had a relaxing morning that went into the mid afternoon quite by accident.
Then came the epic idea. The beach!!!
So, we go and retrieve the kids from Nana's house, (begrudgingly, they wanted to go to Mocha Mountain)
I never thought I would have to BEG any child of mine to go the beach, but the major selling factor was "There will be beach volleyball!" and somehow this appealed to the boys. Away we went.
We got there in the heat of the day and parked in the furthest possible spot, not by choice but because it WAS the only spot. We hiked in, sun blocked up and began our decent into the water, or at least the two oldest boys did. Mom and Dad set up the blanket, snacks, and the baby tent. (Dad has been unusually helpful recently, I don't think he likes all the public attention/ridicule.)
There are only like, 2 maybe 3 people in the world that will get why this is funny and one of them lacks the memory of the original event...
Eugene, Kitty... I went to Silver Lake for the first time in 16 years... and THIS time, I did not manage to get horribly lost! I did not end up on I-96! And I did NOT end up at a rest area several miles from our house. This should be commended.
We did very nearly bring home a pet turtle who tried to swim up my and Tommy's swim suit. He was a very cute little turtle, but ultimately he belonged in the lake.
The kids wanted to bring him home so badly. Nana said he can come visit them via the creek that runs next to her house. That is, if he can find the way.
Well, apparently the insanity bug hit me somewhere in there.
I decided somewhere in there that I was superwoman or something.
I hit the brick wall, the big huge brick wall of life in the form of an allergy attack.
Not just a normal one, but the "have a constant headache for 2 weeks running" sort of allergy attack.
And I did all my normal things at first. The Neti Pot and massive amounts of vitamin C (2000 MG per day, or as much as you can stand to listen to that album. Which for me was about .001%)
Memorial Day came up in there somewhere, and we were away on vacation, which interrupted things, but I wasn't really feeling the headache those days. It was still there but I was willing it away by sheer power, force, remember, I am SHE-RA! Ok, so I'm not... but lets pretend for a moment I am.
I mean, on our vacation I rode a horse named Belle, who was all white like She-Ra's horse. However, I regret to say only resembled "Swift Wind" when she farted. I suppose to be fair we'll say I didn't really "ride" her so much as lead her on a horse drawn carriage. And when I say "lead" it was more like she already knew the route and struggled the whole time against me to try to pass her friend horse Bud, thinking, I suppose that she was in a race for the final apple at the stables.
And previous to that, I did find a lost little boy, grant you, the lost little boy was MY little boy who had wandered off looking for his big sister Lily and myself. But hey, I wasn't worried. I mean we were on Mackinac Island, it's not like the kid could get off of the island without me. *sarcasm* The important thing is that we were all reunited, and I had to resist the urge to kill him.
I climbed Castle Rock, that should count for something. Yes, it was stairs, but Christ, have you seen those stairs? By the time I got to the top my vision was blurry and doubled, and there was a fog around the whole scene, (and no, the horse wasn't there so I couldn't say it was her "Swift Wind" at all.)
Oh, and transporting 3 children 4 hours to the straits and 6 hours from Tahquamenon Falls... that should count for something.
Ok, so the baby didn't come with us, he stayed with his Nana who graciously offered to take him for the weekend.
Anyhow, back to the attack of doom!
Yeah, so the headache on Monday came back as we came down south. I think it's the pollen honestly.
Tuesday was bearable, although it got progressively worse at work. I forced myself to go swimming in the morning, just a few laps to keep myself in shape before work and I think it helped.
Wednesday came and I felt like utter crap. I went swimming again, but this time i brought the husband, kids and friend. I still felt like utter crap. I'm allergic to chlorine I don't know how this fact always seems to escape me in the summer, so I was a snotty mess by the time we left the pool. My friend's son developed blisters from the amount of chlorine used in the pool. Evan ended up being late to school over that whole rigamarole. We went to my in laws. I felt like I could be upright but I didn't really feel up to much else. The next day came and I still felt like crap. I got a doctors appointment so that I could get a work excuse.
They gave me a new nose spray, which did help considerably. But Friday the gunk moved into my lungs and caused me to be feverish all day. I don't think I got out of bed except to call the doctor and beg that they extend my work excuse.
which they did, EVENTUALLY, but only after 2 calls.
Saturday I woke up feeling Pseudo-human. A far cry from She-Ra, but it was going to have to do.
we went over to Nana's, because that's what we usually end up doing around here.
Set up the tent to sweep it out, then had to tear it down in a hurry due to an approaching thunderstorm. Oh and of course an epic squirt gun fight between me, Evan (my 6 year old) Paul and My brother in law. (Who said I cry when I'm squirted in the face with a squirt gun... which I would like to address by going on the record and saying "No, I do not!" Neener Neener :P take that Uncle Mike.)
The kids stayed over at Nana's that night, Paul and I went to frozen yogurt then came home exhausted. Paul attempted to make me tea, then fell asleep while it was steeping. I woke up at 4am expecting to find him next to me, when I didn't I panicked. He fell asleep on the couch, I found him frantically shaking the sleep out of his head while he washed the egg poacher. Then we had a relaxing morning that went into the mid afternoon quite by accident.
Then came the epic idea. The beach!!!
So, we go and retrieve the kids from Nana's house, (begrudgingly, they wanted to go to Mocha Mountain)
I never thought I would have to BEG any child of mine to go the beach, but the major selling factor was "There will be beach volleyball!" and somehow this appealed to the boys. Away we went.
We got there in the heat of the day and parked in the furthest possible spot, not by choice but because it WAS the only spot. We hiked in, sun blocked up and began our decent into the water, or at least the two oldest boys did. Mom and Dad set up the blanket, snacks, and the baby tent. (Dad has been unusually helpful recently, I don't think he likes all the public attention/ridicule.)
There are only like, 2 maybe 3 people in the world that will get why this is funny and one of them lacks the memory of the original event...
Eugene, Kitty... I went to Silver Lake for the first time in 16 years... and THIS time, I did not manage to get horribly lost! I did not end up on I-96! And I did NOT end up at a rest area several miles from our house. This should be commended.
We did very nearly bring home a pet turtle who tried to swim up my and Tommy's swim suit. He was a very cute little turtle, but ultimately he belonged in the lake.
The kids wanted to bring him home so badly. Nana said he can come visit them via the creek that runs next to her house. That is, if he can find the way.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Sanity
People keep asking me how I "tick", how is it I remain sane enough to continue functioning on a pseudo normal level.
So here are a few things I do when I have time to help my sanity remain intact.
First of all, and I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm mentioning it again: it's just that important.
Hypnosis CDs from Dan Gordon, the best Hypnotist EVAR.
This is reserved for times of extreme stress, like this weekend, after the wedding, the birthday party, my daughter telling me some things about her life at home, Paul's two seizures, yeah, this was a CD sort of weekend.
But other things I do?
Well I am blessed to live in Ann Arbor, land of the free, home of the strange.
So, when the going gets tough, the tough have Tea, at Teahaus
Then go smoke a Hookah.
Hit the Hot Tubs
Travel near and far. I like the UP, but it's a long drive, I do enjoy Gallup Park which is an alternative a few minutes from my house, and the kids like it because the play structure there is very unique. They also have canoeing, which isn't terribly exciting to children my kids ages, but it is for older kids.
Sometimes just taking a walk and getting outside of your headspace is very beneficial to your sanity.
Also, in order to keep stuff together as far as family functions, especially for those who's memories give out at random I like to use Google calendar , which will text you when you are getting ready to miss things.
A supportive family and friend network who is willing to help, their your friends and family, don't be afraid to ask when you really need them.
Monday, May 23, 2011
To sleep perchance to dream... of sleeping.
Well, this was a super long weekend.
Ok, so int actuality it was very short. Almost too short.
Saturday we went to a wedding, it was also Tom's birthday. Sunday was Tom's birthday party.
I should have known how things were going to go this weekend.
First we got a call from the camp ground, we are going on vacation next weekend like half of the world.
They asked if we wanted lake front. After the past few months? HELL YEAH.
We only went to the reception, getting children to sit still at a wedding is much like getting them to load the dishwasher.
While at the reception, I got an IM from a very dear friend from my past, asking frantically "Are you ok?" It was Saturday, (Apocalypse Day for those who have been trying to forget) so I just assumed it was his Jewish worry gene kicking into over time which it does from time to time. I IMed him back saying "yes, we are all fine. I'm at a wedding right now though, we'll chat later."
Then Dan and Evan played the spinny game on the dance floor. Evan let go of Dan, Dan went flying head first into the dance floor. He got a huge bruise. After that, (and much discussion about how the cars were going to be laid out, about 3 or 4 different times) decisions were made. My in laws took the kids, we took my brother and sister in law home, (they were in from Chicago, not Uncle Mike, our Nanny extraordinaire. He's not married for all you single gals out there looking for a kindly man to watch their kids.)
Eventually we decided to go home, we made our way to the car. Took part in the sort of conversation that you just bear witness and agree. (Because even the most successful business folks need others to believe in them, and we've never STOPPED believing in them.)
I got everyone home in one piece. Sunday, I got up right at 8, (because you know, with the smaller children gone I could have actually slept in a little...) I had told my in laws I'd be there at 9am. I tried to wake Lily, NADA, I tried to wake Paul, same result.
I shrugged. I can't leave them alone with one another due to previous agreements, I needed ONE of them to come with me. So, 10 passed around and I finally got them both awake, dressed and out the door.
Got a text that the tent I was eyeing went on sale.
Got to my in laws at 11, 2 hours past when I was supposed to be there. Oh well.
We had forgotten to eat breakfast today, so in our running around trying to get everything ready for the micro-party we had for Tom at my in laws, Paul had a seizure. Tonic clonic (Gran mal), may have hit his head on the toilet, bad seizure.
He came to and went to bed. The party went on. The kids, Meg, Apollo (her son who is a day and a half older that Tom) and Keegan (who is 6 months older than Dan) All had a great time with squirt guns and sharing baby food.
We were fed, I checked on Paul, he was fine.
By the time cake time came, Meg had to go and Paul came to again. (we'll leave out the part where Meg and I put up the new tent I had bought and the kids rolled it around the yard, ASSEMBLED.)
Paul came down for cake, picture were taken, all was fine.
Paul was running around with the kids in no time and then BLAM! Another Tonic Clonic. An ambulance was called, as was Lily's father who had to come out to Ann Arbor.
and tests were run, and nothing was decided... ya know, the normal thing
They said his levels were on the low end of normal, his blood sugar was low, his temp was not really staying stable...
Finally they let him come home. And now here we are... and I have an appointment for Tabbers in a few hours at his doctors... UGH, why did I sign up for this gig again? :)
Ok, so int actuality it was very short. Almost too short.
Saturday we went to a wedding, it was also Tom's birthday. Sunday was Tom's birthday party.
I should have known how things were going to go this weekend.
First we got a call from the camp ground, we are going on vacation next weekend like half of the world.
They asked if we wanted lake front. After the past few months? HELL YEAH.
We only went to the reception, getting children to sit still at a wedding is much like getting them to load the dishwasher.
While at the reception, I got an IM from a very dear friend from my past, asking frantically "Are you ok?" It was Saturday, (Apocalypse Day for those who have been trying to forget) so I just assumed it was his Jewish worry gene kicking into over time which it does from time to time. I IMed him back saying "yes, we are all fine. I'm at a wedding right now though, we'll chat later."
Then Dan and Evan played the spinny game on the dance floor. Evan let go of Dan, Dan went flying head first into the dance floor. He got a huge bruise. After that, (and much discussion about how the cars were going to be laid out, about 3 or 4 different times) decisions were made. My in laws took the kids, we took my brother and sister in law home, (they were in from Chicago, not Uncle Mike, our Nanny extraordinaire. He's not married for all you single gals out there looking for a kindly man to watch their kids.)
Eventually we decided to go home, we made our way to the car. Took part in the sort of conversation that you just bear witness and agree. (Because even the most successful business folks need others to believe in them, and we've never STOPPED believing in them.)
I got everyone home in one piece. Sunday, I got up right at 8, (because you know, with the smaller children gone I could have actually slept in a little...) I had told my in laws I'd be there at 9am. I tried to wake Lily, NADA, I tried to wake Paul, same result.
I shrugged. I can't leave them alone with one another due to previous agreements, I needed ONE of them to come with me. So, 10 passed around and I finally got them both awake, dressed and out the door.
Got a text that the tent I was eyeing went on sale.
Got to my in laws at 11, 2 hours past when I was supposed to be there. Oh well.
We had forgotten to eat breakfast today, so in our running around trying to get everything ready for the micro-party we had for Tom at my in laws, Paul had a seizure. Tonic clonic (Gran mal), may have hit his head on the toilet, bad seizure.
He came to and went to bed. The party went on. The kids, Meg, Apollo (her son who is a day and a half older that Tom) and Keegan (who is 6 months older than Dan) All had a great time with squirt guns and sharing baby food.
We were fed, I checked on Paul, he was fine.
By the time cake time came, Meg had to go and Paul came to again. (we'll leave out the part where Meg and I put up the new tent I had bought and the kids rolled it around the yard, ASSEMBLED.)
Paul came down for cake, picture were taken, all was fine.
Paul was running around with the kids in no time and then BLAM! Another Tonic Clonic. An ambulance was called, as was Lily's father who had to come out to Ann Arbor.
and tests were run, and nothing was decided... ya know, the normal thing
They said his levels were on the low end of normal, his blood sugar was low, his temp was not really staying stable...
Finally they let him come home. And now here we are... and I have an appointment for Tabbers in a few hours at his doctors... UGH, why did I sign up for this gig again? :)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
I want a cigarette
So, for those of you who follow my Buzz, twitter or Facebook feeds, you know I witnessed a beating this evening.
I am not going to give details, I do not know these people. But I did call 9-1-1, and the police were amazingly fast.
The lady seems no worse for wear, shaken up, but no worse for wear. The dude ducked into some apartment, but wasn't smart enough to keep himself concealed there, he poked his head out when he thought I wasn't there, I saw him. I told the dispatcher. Then waited for additional squad cars to appear. They sent 3 total.
I kept thinking of a few friends of mine that have been beaten in their past, I thought of my past. I thought of how I would have liked it if someone had stepped in when things happened to me. I thought of my daughter and my sons and how if someone was beating one of them I would want someone to step in. I walked out without my shoes knowing my feet were going to hurt. I didn't know if the guy was going to come after me. I don't know that he won't come after me if he sees me walking down the street.
I didn't think twice.
The point is, every life is one that should be taken into account. You can't just sit back and do nothing. You have to go out there, you HAVE to observe, no matter how painful, no matter what flashbacks you see in your head. It's gonna make you cry, let it.
Because, if you see someone being beaten, they do not necessarily have the strength to call the police or to tell anyone what's going on. People who are being abused are afraid. This is how their abuser can get away with it.
So if you see it going on, you call the police and you stay close by until you get to talk to them. They need to know. And yes, the lady I saw may deny everything. May say I must have been seeing things... but she may not, this may have been just the break she needed to get away from whomever it was who was beating her.
But the fact is, on the quiet nights when she thinks "it never happened and I'm crazy." She can think back and say "She saw it, she watched it all happen, and she cared enough to call someone for help."
And sometimes, that's the one thought that keeps a victim from falling into a deep depression, or worse.
I am not going to give details, I do not know these people. But I did call 9-1-1, and the police were amazingly fast.
The lady seems no worse for wear, shaken up, but no worse for wear. The dude ducked into some apartment, but wasn't smart enough to keep himself concealed there, he poked his head out when he thought I wasn't there, I saw him. I told the dispatcher. Then waited for additional squad cars to appear. They sent 3 total.
I kept thinking of a few friends of mine that have been beaten in their past, I thought of my past. I thought of how I would have liked it if someone had stepped in when things happened to me. I thought of my daughter and my sons and how if someone was beating one of them I would want someone to step in. I walked out without my shoes knowing my feet were going to hurt. I didn't know if the guy was going to come after me. I don't know that he won't come after me if he sees me walking down the street.
I didn't think twice.
The point is, every life is one that should be taken into account. You can't just sit back and do nothing. You have to go out there, you HAVE to observe, no matter how painful, no matter what flashbacks you see in your head. It's gonna make you cry, let it.
Because, if you see someone being beaten, they do not necessarily have the strength to call the police or to tell anyone what's going on. People who are being abused are afraid. This is how their abuser can get away with it.
So if you see it going on, you call the police and you stay close by until you get to talk to them. They need to know. And yes, the lady I saw may deny everything. May say I must have been seeing things... but she may not, this may have been just the break she needed to get away from whomever it was who was beating her.
But the fact is, on the quiet nights when she thinks "it never happened and I'm crazy." She can think back and say "She saw it, she watched it all happen, and she cared enough to call someone for help."
And sometimes, that's the one thought that keeps a victim from falling into a deep depression, or worse.
No pacifier? No problem!
On the way home this evening Tom decided to do his best impression of a Velociraptor. I will tell you he makes a convincing one. He's got the shriek down, I'm surprised he hasn't shattered the windows of our car.
We forgot to bring a pacifier with us from Nana's house.
I did not bring the iPod to put on soothing music, (because if VelocirapTOM can be calmed by anything it is classical music) all we were left with were the unattractive choices of (a) one of Dan's Mario toys - which he guards as though he were Fort Knox and Mario was made of gold, (b) Evan's Backpack which in general makes a poor chew toy, or (c) Mommy's nearly 2 month old Android phone.
Naturally, I chose the phone.
I mean, it's got a protective case on it. It's chewy, its (mostly) waterproof...
and so, I picked the least obtrusive app I could, the news and weather. I left it on weather and handed the phone to Tom.
and he sat, and he stared at it. He stared at it nearly the whole way home. You could almost see the wheels in his head turning.
"What am I gonna do with this?" he thought.
Then he discovered something, if he waved it, it was as though the light coming from the phone bent in dancing waves, either that, or he knows that this phone is a much sought after toy of his older brothers. He sat there, waving it at them, making it dance, until we rounded the corner to home, and I told Paul, "The amazing thing is, he hasn't even tried to put it in his mouth!" Dan asked me if he could play Youtube videos on my phone after Tom was done. I wanted to say yes, but at the same time I was kind of relishing the baby giving him the "in your face" victory phone dance. I should mention here that I am by far the youngest of 3 children.
Yeah, Paul was right, I shouldn't have said anything.
He put it in his mouth. The phone is no worse for wear, but yeah, the top of it was a gloopy, baby slobbered mess.
Go, youngest baby, GO! Extract your judgement upon all other rival babies!
Ok, so my husband, (middle child in every sense of the word) wouldn't agree. Saying "That isn't fair, Mommy, every kid should get a turn." Let 'em use your phone, dude... The Mama phone is ONLY for the youngest... or people who were formerly the youngest... erm... I guess that's everyone isn't it?
The following are merely my views, if you don't agree, don't post here because I don't care and I'll erase any trolling or flaming responses made. You don't have to agree with me but lets follow kindergarten rules, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all.
Saturday is the Apocalypse, says some old dude.
I am due at a wedding that day, and it's my youngest son's birthday. I'm sorry, Jesus, you're gonna have to wait, I'm booked up solid until 8pm at least. I can't give you your Tarot reading or help you pick gemstones, dance around a bonfire OR do yoga with you until at least 9pm. According to some old dude, 6pm is the time you're choosing... But if you wanna do any of those fun things we planned on for that post-apocalypse-strava-ganza we talked about a while back. It's Garon's birthday, too. You're gonna have to wait until the next day before you put Cali into the ocean. Garon's too good a guy and has worked too hard to NOT see his 31st, besides, it wouldn't be fair to let me suffer through my 31st and not make him suffer through his.
I've got too many former classmates and good friends over in Cali. You're just gonna have to "Atlas" that sucker up until they all get off the island. Hope you brought lunch, and a fan, you're gonna be there a while.
As for me and mine, Jesus, I'm not concerned. You aren't bringing me or my family up there with ya. Not without a fight. My kids are scientists. They wanna see how the world works and the sterile streets of heaven are no place for scientific children. NO mud puddles, no worms, a complete lack of gross and icky. They live by the golden rule, because the truth of the matter is when you have 3 siblings, you HAVE to be nice to all of them. Otherwise the others team up on you and you end up with gross and icky in your bed. My dear Jesus, we have far too many dirty diapers around these parts to not live by the golden rule, otherwise the golden rule becomes a golden shower from the baby!
We have far too much work going on down here, we are still figuring out all these crazy ass puzzles that you and your Pops put down here how many ever years ago.
So Jesus, the Pagan rite to make you a Wiccan can wait. The visit to the Synagogue and the Mosque and the Temple, too. You can skip out on the Interfaith Community Centers, but do Jesus, do visit those who are in it for their own gain. Do visit those who are worried only for their finances and not for the rest of humankind. Do make them understand the error of their ways. Let them see and understand Karma really IS a well, Female Dog... bring those "Christians", who wear your religion like a hat, with you because we sure as hell don't need them down here. Let 'em live up in heaven, let them have the good life and let the rest of us "suffer" down here in our perfectly imperfect world. We like it here. And let us all understand the meaning of Peace and Love for ALL HUMANKIND NOW.
As for me, I'm going to bed. I'm gonna rest easy knowing that on Saturday everything is going to be exactly the same, I'm gonna be woken up a minimum of 3 times overnight and I'm gonna stumble to my husband's cousin's wedding half awake and hope that I do not snore during the ceremony.
We forgot to bring a pacifier with us from Nana's house.
I did not bring the iPod to put on soothing music, (because if VelocirapTOM can be calmed by anything it is classical music) all we were left with were the unattractive choices of (a) one of Dan's Mario toys - which he guards as though he were Fort Knox and Mario was made of gold, (b) Evan's Backpack which in general makes a poor chew toy, or (c) Mommy's nearly 2 month old Android phone.
Naturally, I chose the phone.
I mean, it's got a protective case on it. It's chewy, its (mostly) waterproof...
and so, I picked the least obtrusive app I could, the news and weather. I left it on weather and handed the phone to Tom.
and he sat, and he stared at it. He stared at it nearly the whole way home. You could almost see the wheels in his head turning.
"What am I gonna do with this?" he thought.
Then he discovered something, if he waved it, it was as though the light coming from the phone bent in dancing waves, either that, or he knows that this phone is a much sought after toy of his older brothers. He sat there, waving it at them, making it dance, until we rounded the corner to home, and I told Paul, "The amazing thing is, he hasn't even tried to put it in his mouth!" Dan asked me if he could play Youtube videos on my phone after Tom was done. I wanted to say yes, but at the same time I was kind of relishing the baby giving him the "in your face" victory phone dance. I should mention here that I am by far the youngest of 3 children.
Yeah, Paul was right, I shouldn't have said anything.
He put it in his mouth. The phone is no worse for wear, but yeah, the top of it was a gloopy, baby slobbered mess.
Go, youngest baby, GO! Extract your judgement upon all other rival babies!
Ok, so my husband, (middle child in every sense of the word) wouldn't agree. Saying "That isn't fair, Mommy, every kid should get a turn." Let 'em use your phone, dude... The Mama phone is ONLY for the youngest... or people who were formerly the youngest... erm... I guess that's everyone isn't it?
The following are merely my views, if you don't agree, don't post here because I don't care and I'll erase any trolling or flaming responses made. You don't have to agree with me but lets follow kindergarten rules, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all.
Saturday is the Apocalypse, says some old dude.
I am due at a wedding that day, and it's my youngest son's birthday. I'm sorry, Jesus, you're gonna have to wait, I'm booked up solid until 8pm at least. I can't give you your Tarot reading or help you pick gemstones, dance around a bonfire OR do yoga with you until at least 9pm. According to some old dude, 6pm is the time you're choosing... But if you wanna do any of those fun things we planned on for that post-apocalypse-strava-ganza we talked about a while back. It's Garon's birthday, too. You're gonna have to wait until the next day before you put Cali into the ocean. Garon's too good a guy and has worked too hard to NOT see his 31st, besides, it wouldn't be fair to let me suffer through my 31st and not make him suffer through his.
I've got too many former classmates and good friends over in Cali. You're just gonna have to "Atlas" that sucker up until they all get off the island. Hope you brought lunch, and a fan, you're gonna be there a while.
As for me and mine, Jesus, I'm not concerned. You aren't bringing me or my family up there with ya. Not without a fight. My kids are scientists. They wanna see how the world works and the sterile streets of heaven are no place for scientific children. NO mud puddles, no worms, a complete lack of gross and icky. They live by the golden rule, because the truth of the matter is when you have 3 siblings, you HAVE to be nice to all of them. Otherwise the others team up on you and you end up with gross and icky in your bed. My dear Jesus, we have far too many dirty diapers around these parts to not live by the golden rule, otherwise the golden rule becomes a golden shower from the baby!
We have far too much work going on down here, we are still figuring out all these crazy ass puzzles that you and your Pops put down here how many ever years ago.
So Jesus, the Pagan rite to make you a Wiccan can wait. The visit to the Synagogue and the Mosque and the Temple, too. You can skip out on the Interfaith Community Centers, but do Jesus, do visit those who are in it for their own gain. Do visit those who are worried only for their finances and not for the rest of humankind. Do make them understand the error of their ways. Let them see and understand Karma really IS a well, Female Dog... bring those "Christians", who wear your religion like a hat, with you because we sure as hell don't need them down here. Let 'em live up in heaven, let them have the good life and let the rest of us "suffer" down here in our perfectly imperfect world. We like it here. And let us all understand the meaning of Peace and Love for ALL HUMANKIND NOW.
As for me, I'm going to bed. I'm gonna rest easy knowing that on Saturday everything is going to be exactly the same, I'm gonna be woken up a minimum of 3 times overnight and I'm gonna stumble to my husband's cousin's wedding half awake and hope that I do not snore during the ceremony.
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