Lucky Day! And a little bit of perspective..

What is it about numbers that turns normally logical people into superstitious loons?  That has nothing to do with anything I wanted to say today, but I just had to mention it.  So far all  1/11/11 means to me is yet another snow day and a bunch of white stuff that doesn't want to stop falling.  But we did get this out of it!

In true fashion, I've been lax in my blogging.  I've never been a huge fan of resolutions, I prefer to think of them as...life tweeks?  Among those are doing this more faithfully.  A good portion of the last two years were basically crap, up until about September when we got our life back.  I'd really like to get  back to sharing the good stuff.  :)

One thing 2010 did give me was a big dose of perspective.  We went from the lowest of low to a little better to less better and by the end of the year I would say we are about even.  That's not a bad place to be, all things considered.  When I look back to this time last year, its practically a miracle that our family is still in one piece.  Its taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears.  And trust me, things are not perfect, but that would just be boring, wouldn't it?    

2010 was a huge adjustment with the move, but we've come to love living in Kentucky.  Its different, don't get me wrong.  I regularly get bouts of homesickness and obviously I miss the guys.  But having so much to do is a welcome change.  I am desperately looking forward to spring, and I am not entirely certain I will ever fully acclimate to Midwest winters.  Snow has just become a way of life.  And not seeing the sun will never be ok with me.  Good thing I'm taking a trip to the sunny Southwest soon!

Another huge "life tweek" (that sounds so new age and cheesy..it stays!) is a renewed attempt to get healthy.  Although I am a perennial 29, lets face it.  Not getting any younger.  I've got Mikey on board with me and so far it is really helping.  Doing South Beach type eating, which has not only been very successful for me in the past, but allows us to eat actual yummy and realistic foods.  Tonight we are having a Rosemary Mediterranean Beef Stew.  I'm going to try to use this blog to share recipes/diet progress as well.

We have made ourselves a goal to run a 5K in May - http://www.flyingpigmarathon.com/.  I'm not going to lie, I have zero motivation to go out there in the cold.  Working on an alternative to that, because that is a huge obstacle.  I've been very inspired by some friends that have turned into fitness nuts (you know who you are!) and its become something I want.  I figure I can transfer some of my OCD into good, not evil.

So for now I will close by saying I feel hopeful for the future, thankful for the blessings we have been given and excited for the adventures we will surely have in 2011!

Life version 2.5

Wow.  I knew I was taking a break from blogging but I had no idea it had been so very long.  Sadly, I'm not sure much of real consequence was missed, but I guess that could be considered a good thing.

Today is a beautiful fall day in Northern Kentucky, right now in the 60s, slight breeze, sunshine all around.  We got surprised over the last week with an unusual cold front that had me downright frightened that winter might be imminent.  I wrapped myself up in blankets, shivered and believe it or not, I didn't freeze to death.  I just need to ease into it.  Going from high 80s and 90s to 50s was a little harsh.  I did manage to knit a pair of mittens and start a sweater though, so maybe from a creative standpoint it was a good thing.

First day of the MLB playoffs!  If you had told me last year that we would be living in a town where the team hadn't made the playoffs since 1995, I would have been confused.  But we have adopted this Reds team as our own (let me make this clear: in the NATIONAL League!), made it to quite a few games and become addicts.  No Sox in the playoffs this year, but its exciting to cheer for the underdog.  Game 1 against the Phillies later tonight - we are ready!  Little man has turned into a baseball idiot savant.  Its going to be difficult for him when the season is over and he can't quote the last night's box scores every morning.

I think I forgot the most important development of the last few months.  We are ready to watch the game...in our own place!  We finally escaped!  Going into our 4th week in our new place, a cute little house that we are renting from a friend of ours at work.  Circumstances worked out in that almost divinely perfect manner for all of us.  We were having trouble finding a place and she needed to move in with her ailing father.  We love the house.  We got in just in time to get the little man started in Kindergarden and slowly I am sorting through the pieces of our lives.  We threw out a good portion of our belongings when we left that one place we never lived.  I am continuing that trend.  One thing I learned by not having but the barest of essential possessions for 7 months is that I just don't need all the stuff.  Like I said, work in progress.

Things are finally peaceful.  We have had a really rough year.  It was a touch and go type summer.  I shut down emotionally, which is why I stopped blogging altogether.  Things were...rough.  I ended up spending 2 weeks in New Mexico thinking it would help.  It did.  Unfortunately, you have to come back eventually!  Our move was delayed for far longer than I ever anticipated, but I'm hoping the battles fought and won and all the struggles have just made us all that much stronger.

Now we settle into life again.  Exhale.

Existing

Haven't blogged in a bit.  A full month, actually.  Not that there hasn't been excitement in my life, its just that, well, the excitement is not all that exciting!

I did actually look for, apply for and get a job.  And started.  Still feeling my way around and trying to make it my place.  Part of the problem of working in one restaurant for so many years is that co-workers became close friends and just walking into the building became like home.  The place I worked in the hellhole was never like that.  I'm hopeful the new place will be better.  Everyone is a bit older and most of the servers have been there for years.  That speaks VOLUMES in this industry.  But like I said, still feeling it out.

I am not so happy to say we are still living at the inlaws.  Never in my wildest nightmares did I anticipate being here this long, but circumstances are what they are.  We are now actively looking for a place and as soon as we get one?  Hasta la vista baby!  To say I'm excited would be just a tad of an understatement.  I've never longed for my own space and privacy so much in my life.

And yes, the insanity continues.  Its become almost a joke how often I hear MIL gossiping about me.  Trust me on this one peeps, I absolutely do not do anything so exciting or scandalous enough to warrant the amount of time spent gossiping about me.  I sometimes wish I did!  Most of the time I'm not working is spent hidden in the bedroom.  When we are both off, we are generally not here at all.  Who knew I was so intriguing?

We continue to explore our new place, which is amazing fun.  It is indescribably beautiful here this time of year.  It gets humid, sometimes a bit warm but it is so green!  I told Mikey yesterday that I never realized I had a need for trees in my life.  I do.  I love them.  Maybe I will get used to them and long for the desert?

So for now we are settling in to summer and planning for the future.  See?  Not so exciting.

What to read, what to read?

I love to read.  I've always loved to read.  I was THAT kid, the one that always had a book and preferred to go to the library than almost anywhere else over the summer.  This habit has done me well through life, particularly because not only do I love to read, but I read fast.  Like, superfast.  That was great when I was in school.  I could get through things quickly and easily.  If I have a lot of books lying around at any given point in time, life is grand.  If not, things get ugly.

Case in point.  We are currently residing with my husband's parents.  We moved across country and we are staying with them until we get "established", whatever that means.  What it means to me is that it better be soon or my sanity is forever threatened, but that is a totally different post.

I have a lot of books on my laptop that I will read when hubby is at work and not trying to hog it for himself to farm, read Bill Simmons or chat with his fantasy sports geek buddies.  (We really need two laptops.  Maybe in my rich life?)  When he has the laptop and I don't have anything to read, well, I have been experimenting.  I finished all the books I had in fairly short order after arriving here.  Then I started to browse through the inlaws library.  Hmm.  There was a Patricia Cornwell I hadn't yet read and a couple other mystery/crime novels that were good fun.  Then desperation sets in.  Danielle Steel.  Ugh.  I know my sister and I used to read her when we would sneak the books from my mom in high school.  We thought we were oh so scandalous.

I've since moved on to other forms of smut, oops, I mean "romance" novels.  Nora Roberts is my personal favorite for complete escapism.  So it had been years since I opened a Danielle Steel book.  A-W-F-U-L.  Almost unbearable.  I say almost because of course I read them, I had to read something, didn't I?  Don't get me wrong, I am not a literary snob.  I'll read almost anything if it keeps my interest.  But this is just bad.  One of those experiences where I feel slightly dumber when I finish.  I'm not knocking anyone who enjoys her work, don't get me wrong.  I just remember her stuff being a little more entertaining.  Maybe she's out of original material?  I dunno.

Sound to anyone like I need a trip to Borders or Barnes and Noble stat??

Rest in peace sweet Eva

Not sure how many of you followed her blog or knew her story, but cystic fibrosis warrior Eva passed away this morning after an epic battle. I know her family and friends can be sure she is now at peace after so many struggles.

http://65redroses.livejournal.com/139488.html

Oh, the trouble I've seen

I love being a mom.  I really do.  But there are definitely things that I miss about being childless.  Like right now - I would so much rather be watching One Life to Live or the Mets/Cardinals game.  Instead.. "Snow Buddies".  Sigh.  So much to sacrifice for a few rare moments of peace with the 4 year old.  And believe it or not, he is sitting on the couch, completely quiet and mostly still.  Amazing.

Then there is sleep.  Ah, precious sleep.  If you aren't a sleep person, you won't get it.  I adore sleep.  I crave it. I always have, even as a kid.  My dad was a notorious napper..I blame it on genes.  Giving up sleep, or at least uninterrupted at-will sleep has been one of the more difficult transitions I have had to make as a parent.  I can't wait until my kids are old enough to WANT to sleep in.

Of course I miss my size 4 pre-parenthood figure.  And on the sleep subject (see?  I have a one track mind!) I really miss sleeping on my stomach.  Its not that I can't, I just don't anymore.  I was so trained to sleep on my side after 4 babies that I still do it.

I miss being able to go out on a whim.  I miss shopping without an agenda or plan.  I miss being able to do anything spontaneous, quite honestly.

I miss not having to worry, 24/7.  But alas, that comes with the territory.  I am now a constant worrier.  I come up with ridiculous scenarios about various ills that may befall my kiddos.  OCD much?

Yet, these are the sacrifices that we gladly make..right??  Sure they are!  Although I personally can't wait to be a parent of grown children.  :)

cups and fishicide

I'm missing my littles today.  As I recline on the couch watching "Wizards of Wiverly/Wizerly Place the Movie" (how Bay says it depends on the moment) I wonder what they are doing right now.  The time zone difference screws me up.  Its almost noon here, but for them its probably morning recess.  And I bet its warm, dammit.

I have been talking to them almost nightly lately, its as if they sense my missing them and want to fill me in on their days.  Dilly, or "Orange-y", in particular.  He gave me a near 5 minute lecture this weekend on how if Bay is really serious about playing t-ball it is very important that he not forget to wear a cup.  *snickers* I totally needed a long conversation with a 7 year old about boy junk.  He also sweetly offered to send Bay his old t-ball gear - including his cup.  Um, thanks Dill.  I think we can handle it.  I want to laugh every time I even think about him.  His typical response to anything I tell him is "Oh my god."  Spoken almost in one word.    Dramatic much?

They got new fish this weekend.  Some sort of African fish that apparently eats other fish.  It seems their dad wanted to start fresh in the tank.  I didn't ask.  Sometimes its better not to know.  Dilly thought it was cool.  Logan really couldn't care less.  Cassie, on the other hand, described to me how she took her favorite fish and  proceeded to "free" it, Nemo style, down the toilet, rather than risk fish murder at the hands of the new African fish.  Ummm, ok.  No, I didn't take it any further.  She's going to end up being a vet.  Or maybe a lion tamer.  Either way.  Although she was channeling her inner me, doing her science project on the very last night of the very last day of Spring Break.  Nope, not me!

As long as I maintain some level of knowledge about video games, Logan and I could talk for hours.  He is so calm and so cool.  I love that about him.  Yes, he gets emotional.  But he is such an even-keeled child.  So UNlike his mama.  I won't lie and say that I don't intentionally try to rile him up.  ;)

I can't wait for them to come out and experience this new place.  They are going to love it, its so completely different than anything my Southwest born and bred children have ever experienced.  Just about 2 months.  I can't wait.