My father was a simple man...cereal for breakfast, work before fun, meat and potatoes for supper, the evening news on TV.
He always seemed happy. He worshiped my mother. He never complained, even though he worked construction in the Florida heat day in and day out, making peanuts for money. I don't recall him ever taking a sick day. Every year he spent his Christmas bonus on me.
He couldn't sing...but that didn't stop him; he sang me to sleep and sang me awake. He let me give him a real haircut when I was 8 years old and opened a pretend barber shop in my playroom.
With my dad, what you saw was what you got. He showed me what it means to honor your word. If he said he would, he did. He never let me down.
To me, he was safety and stability. He didn't sugar coat the truth or lie to make the hard times easier (but he did make the hard times easier).
My father wasn't my friend - he was my dad. He was the cornerstone on which my childhood rested.
Now a haircut isn't just a haircut, and the simplest things in life bring me the greatest joy. Thanks, Dad.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
stop the insanity
Argh…I had so many random to-do’s swirling around in my brain, I just had to get it all down on paper. Now I’m going to post my thoughts here for safe keeping (the paper copy will be lost and forgotten at the bottom of my purse in no time).
I have a short break coming up from July 30th to August 10th. In that time, there are some projects I want/need to tackle. In no particular order…
-purge guest room (soon-to-be my son’s room) closet
-Magic Eraser wall spots (toddlers are messy!)
-clean between oven and cabinets and fridge and wall (the thought of all the crumbs down there drives me crazy!)
-clean out oven
-design and order photo yearbook (part of anniv gift)
I’m sure I’ll think of more to add to the list!
Our 5th anniversary is coming up on August 4th, and instead of receiving “things” from Matt this year, I’d rather him do some stuff for me around the house. It would be great if he could work on some of these projects, which are beyond the scope of my knowledge and abilities…
-spackle and paint hole/chip in bathroom wall near tub basin
-spackle and paint hole/crack in bedroom door
-steam clean living room carpet and couch
-clear out coat closet/install shelves for storage
Ok, I lied, there are a couple “things” I want as well…
-new bathroom curtain
-new throw pillows for living room couch
Finally, I have a “wish list” for Xmas and my birthday (which isn’t until February of 2013). I always go blank when my hubby asks what I want for either occasion. I figured I should save this list so I’m prepared next time!
-peel and stick tiles for kitchen
-rustoleum kit for kitchen countertops
-new curtains for sliding glass door and windows in kitchen/living room combo (we have boring white curtains right now)
-new lamps for nursery and living room
Ah, I’m experiencing a sense of control now :) Considering I’m more of a planner than a doer, here’s hoping I can actually check some of these items off the list!
I have a short break coming up from July 30th to August 10th. In that time, there are some projects I want/need to tackle. In no particular order…
-purge guest room (soon-to-be my son’s room) closet
-Magic Eraser wall spots (toddlers are messy!)
-clean between oven and cabinets and fridge and wall (the thought of all the crumbs down there drives me crazy!)
-clean out oven
-design and order photo yearbook (part of anniv gift)
I’m sure I’ll think of more to add to the list!
Our 5th anniversary is coming up on August 4th, and instead of receiving “things” from Matt this year, I’d rather him do some stuff for me around the house. It would be great if he could work on some of these projects, which are beyond the scope of my knowledge and abilities…
-spackle and paint hole/chip in bathroom wall near tub basin
-spackle and paint hole/crack in bedroom door
-steam clean living room carpet and couch
-clear out coat closet/install shelves for storage
Ok, I lied, there are a couple “things” I want as well…
-new bathroom curtain
-new throw pillows for living room couch
Finally, I have a “wish list” for Xmas and my birthday (which isn’t until February of 2013). I always go blank when my hubby asks what I want for either occasion. I figured I should save this list so I’m prepared next time!
-peel and stick tiles for kitchen
-rustoleum kit for kitchen countertops
-new curtains for sliding glass door and windows in kitchen/living room combo (we have boring white curtains right now)
-new lamps for nursery and living room
Ah, I’m experiencing a sense of control now :) Considering I’m more of a planner than a doer, here’s hoping I can actually check some of these items off the list!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
numbers and you
I watched the movie 1408 over the weekend. It wasn’t extraordinary, but it did exceed my expectations. I even shed a tear once or twice throughout the film!
The movie is about an author, who specializes in the paranormal, who decides to stay in a supposedly haunted hotel room for one night so he can write about his experience.
The room, 1408, is on the 13th floor (it’s numbered the 14th floor, but physically it is the 13th floor). Notice that room numbers add up to 13 as well: 1+4+0+8=13.
I won’t spoil the fun, in case you decide to watch the movie. I will say that King’s (the movie is based on a novella by Stephen King) play on numbers got me to thinking about the significance of numbers in our lives. It’s a concept that has been swimming around in my mind a lot lately.
You see, for as long as I can remember, my favorite number has been 22. There is no real reason for this. I’ve just always loved it. My birth date is 2/12/82—lots of 2’s—so maybe that’s why.
Anyhow, my husband’s “favorite/lucky” number has always been 11. My husband was captain of his hockey team in high school, and 11 was his assigned number. Now, get this…22 was his best friend’s jersey number (also my lucky number!). My husband’s best friend committed suicide almost 17 years ago, long before my husband and I met.
Matt, my husband, and I met in a general AOL chat room in 2005. We were living in different states at the time. His AOL account was created on 2/12/2005 (remember, 2/12 is my birthday!). My AOL account was created on 1/11/2004 (remember, his lucky number is 11!)—exactly 1 year, 1 month, 1 day before he created his account. Feeling any goosebumps yet? There’s more.
Matt and I had our first child in 2010. Evan was due in December, but my water broke 10 days early. Evan was born on 11/22/2010. Again, there are those numbers…11 and 22. I am also fairly certain my husband's best friend committed suicide on 11/22 (I still need to confirm that).
What, if anything, does it all mean? I think about it a lot. I feel a deep connection to my husband’s friend, even though we’ve never met and never will meet.
I started to do a little research on ‘psychic numerology’ and I discovered something known as the “life path number.”
You can calculate your LPN by adding your birthday together, until you are left with one [1] number.
For example, my birthdate is 2/12/1982, which adds up like this: 2+1+2+1+9+8+2=25=2+5=7
My number is 7. According to http://www.psychic.com.au/psychic-numerology-master-numbers.htm, here’s what that says about my intrinsic nature/character:
LEARNING. The Life Path of seven [7] is one of gaining and seeking knowledge. You can absorb many things and your quest for knowledge can lead you into some interesting situations. You have strong insight and can use it wisely in times of making decisions. When your interest is held, it may be difficult to drag you away from what you are doing. You are a natural peacemaker, and your skills come in handy when you are dealing with disagreements. Your dreams can give you direction in life, especially if there is some inner guidance to create growth.
KEYWORDS.
Water (I'm an Aquarius-water sign!), direction, decisions, pathways, knowing, learning, seeking, poetry, music, isolation, ancient, thought, technology, imagination, mythology.
Considering I’m an educator and writer and that my whole life revolves around learning, I’d say this description is pretty accurate!
It’s your turn. What is your number? What does that say about you? You can refer to these links to help you out:
http://www.psychic.com.au/psychic-numerology-master-numbers.htm
http://www.astrology-numerology.com/num-lifepath.html/
Do you agree with your LPN? Why or why not?
The movie is about an author, who specializes in the paranormal, who decides to stay in a supposedly haunted hotel room for one night so he can write about his experience.
The room, 1408, is on the 13th floor (it’s numbered the 14th floor, but physically it is the 13th floor). Notice that room numbers add up to 13 as well: 1+4+0+8=13.
I won’t spoil the fun, in case you decide to watch the movie. I will say that King’s (the movie is based on a novella by Stephen King) play on numbers got me to thinking about the significance of numbers in our lives. It’s a concept that has been swimming around in my mind a lot lately.
You see, for as long as I can remember, my favorite number has been 22. There is no real reason for this. I’ve just always loved it. My birth date is 2/12/82—lots of 2’s—so maybe that’s why.
Anyhow, my husband’s “favorite/lucky” number has always been 11. My husband was captain of his hockey team in high school, and 11 was his assigned number. Now, get this…22 was his best friend’s jersey number (also my lucky number!). My husband’s best friend committed suicide almost 17 years ago, long before my husband and I met.
Matt, my husband, and I met in a general AOL chat room in 2005. We were living in different states at the time. His AOL account was created on 2/12/2005 (remember, 2/12 is my birthday!). My AOL account was created on 1/11/2004 (remember, his lucky number is 11!)—exactly 1 year, 1 month, 1 day before he created his account. Feeling any goosebumps yet? There’s more.
Matt and I had our first child in 2010. Evan was due in December, but my water broke 10 days early. Evan was born on 11/22/2010. Again, there are those numbers…11 and 22. I am also fairly certain my husband's best friend committed suicide on 11/22 (I still need to confirm that).
What, if anything, does it all mean? I think about it a lot. I feel a deep connection to my husband’s friend, even though we’ve never met and never will meet.
I started to do a little research on ‘psychic numerology’ and I discovered something known as the “life path number.”
You can calculate your LPN by adding your birthday together, until you are left with one [1] number.
For example, my birthdate is 2/12/1982, which adds up like this: 2+1+2+1+9+8+2=25=2+5=7
My number is 7. According to http://www.psychic.com.au/psychic-numerology-master-numbers.htm, here’s what that says about my intrinsic nature/character:
LEARNING. The Life Path of seven [7] is one of gaining and seeking knowledge. You can absorb many things and your quest for knowledge can lead you into some interesting situations. You have strong insight and can use it wisely in times of making decisions. When your interest is held, it may be difficult to drag you away from what you are doing. You are a natural peacemaker, and your skills come in handy when you are dealing with disagreements. Your dreams can give you direction in life, especially if there is some inner guidance to create growth.
KEYWORDS.
Water (I'm an Aquarius-water sign!), direction, decisions, pathways, knowing, learning, seeking, poetry, music, isolation, ancient, thought, technology, imagination, mythology.
Considering I’m an educator and writer and that my whole life revolves around learning, I’d say this description is pretty accurate!
It’s your turn. What is your number? What does that say about you? You can refer to these links to help you out:
http://www.psychic.com.au/psychic-numerology-master-numbers.htm
http://www.astrology-numerology.com/num-lifepath.html/
Do you agree with your LPN? Why or why not?
26 things
I got this idea from one of the blogs I follow, Carrots 'n' Cake. Here it is...26 things I enjoy in life—from A to Z
A - Arugula. I was afraid to try it at first, but wow...I much prefer it to spring mix!
B - Barnes & Noble. I love sitting in the cafe, just flipping through tabloids and fashion mags.
C - Candy. My current fragrance obsession.
D -David Cook. Check out his pre-Idol, self-recorded album, Analog Heart - AMAZING!
E - Evan. I <3 that little boy!
F - Flatirons. Changed my life.
G - Graham's 318. Favorite coffee shop.
H - Horror movies. Especially cheesy "B movies."
I - Ice hockey. Go Blackhawks!
J - Jukeboxes. They make me giddy.
K - Kisses. My heart melts when Evan leans in for a smooch.
L - Learning. Duh, I'm a teacher :)
M - Matt. My love.
N - Naps. Wish I could take one right now!
O - Oceans. Having grown up in Florida, I miss living near water (Sorry, Lake Michigan just doesn't do it for me).
P - Pedicures. Always in some shade of pink.
Q - Quilts. I wish I knew how to make them!
R - Rings. Favorite type of jewelry.
S - Swimming. I used to swim competitively - it's the best form of exercise!
T - Thrift stores. I got most of my maternity clothing from Goodwill!
U - U2. I just love music, in general - everything from alt rock to country. Especially live music. I'm itching to go to another concert soon.
V - The Vampire Diaries. Read the books in middle school. LOVE the show. Ian Somerhalder is yummy.
W - Wine. The hardest part about being pregnant is not being able to drink.
X - Xmas. yay presents!
Y - Yoga. Looking forward to trying hot yoga when I'm not pregnant anymore.
Z - Zoos. Especially the gorillas - I could watch them all day!
A - Arugula. I was afraid to try it at first, but wow...I much prefer it to spring mix!
B - Barnes & Noble. I love sitting in the cafe, just flipping through tabloids and fashion mags.
C - Candy. My current fragrance obsession.
E - Evan. I <3 that little boy!
G - Graham's 318. Favorite coffee shop.
I - Ice hockey. Go Blackhawks!
J - Jukeboxes. They make me giddy.
K - Kisses. My heart melts when Evan leans in for a smooch.
L - Learning. Duh, I'm a teacher :)
M - Matt. My love.
N - Naps. Wish I could take one right now!
O - Oceans. Having grown up in Florida, I miss living near water (Sorry, Lake Michigan just doesn't do it for me).
Q - Quilts. I wish I knew how to make them!
R - Rings. Favorite type of jewelry.
S - Swimming. I used to swim competitively - it's the best form of exercise!
T - Thrift stores. I got most of my maternity clothing from Goodwill!
U - U2. I just love music, in general - everything from alt rock to country. Especially live music. I'm itching to go to another concert soon.
V - The Vampire Diaries. Read the books in middle school. LOVE the show. Ian Somerhalder is yummy.
W - Wine. The hardest part about being pregnant is not being able to drink.
X - Xmas. yay presents!
Y - Yoga. Looking forward to trying hot yoga when I'm not pregnant anymore.
Z - Zoos. Especially the gorillas - I could watch them all day!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
omg
I seriously just had the best salad of my life! Last night my hubby was getting creative in the kitchen, and he made salad with arugula, watermelon, red onion, and feta. He topped it with a homemade vinaigrette. The finished product looked like this:
To make this yourself, just add those four ingredients (plus the dressing) to your taste. The sweetness of the watermelon tastes AMAZING paired with the spice of the arugula.
Bon appetit!
Friday, July 6, 2012
i can't hear you!!
Sometimes the things people say make me want to hold my hands over my ears and shout, "La, la, la, la...I can't hear you!"
My sister-in-law made just such a comment the other day, and it's still bugging me. She's almost forty, hasn't had a real relationship...well, ever...and somehow thinks she knows everything about marriage and parenting.
According to her, people in relationships shouldn't fight or argue...relationships should always be easy. Parents shouldn't let their toddler cry it out at bedtime...they should just let the kid stay up until he passes out. If a kid doesn't want to eat what's for dinner, the parents should present him with a number of other options that might be more pleasing to his palate...God forbid the kid cry (a.k.a. throw a tantrum) for even five minutes.
Anyhow, I digress. The other day I was standing in front of a restaurant with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. A man walked by us, reprimanding his daughter for something (it sounded like she had been putting her feet up in the restaurant and wouldn't put them back down even when told to do so). He was taking her to the car for a time out. My sister in law said, rather loudly, "Some people just shouldn't be parents."
I asked her what he said that was so offensive, because I hadn't heard it. I was truly baffled and thought I must have missed something. She didn't say anything specific to answer my question...she just said, "People should have to get a license or pass some kind of test to have kids. Some people just shouldn't have kids." After a few minutes (it had been no longer than 3-5 minutes), the man walked by us again with his daughter. As they were heading back into the restaurant, I heard him explaining to her that she shouldn't act like that because it sets a poor example for her little brother, etc.
As they walked by, my sister-in-law made another comment. She said, "There goes father of the year."
I just don't get it. Maybe a kid putting their feet up (I didn't catch exactly where she was putting her feet) in a restaurant is no big deal to my sister-in-law, but I don't see how she thought the father was a bad parent for being strict with his daughter about her behavior. Maybe she was refusing to listen and being really argumentative. Maybe the family just has strict rules about etiquette. Who knows? All I know is I wish more parents would give their kids time outs, actually do some parenting and address inappropriate behavior.
My sister-in-law is judgmental (she is still single and doesn't have very many friends for a reason). It's just how she is, and I know this. However, every time she makes a comment, it affects me deeply. Whenever she's around, I feel like she's judging me as a parent. I fully admit I'm far from a perfect parent (I don't always read to my son at night, I sometimes lose my temper and need to walk away from him, sometimes I just feed him fruit, yogurt, and cereal for dinner, et al.), but I do the best I can. I set limits for my son, and I give him time outs or at least try to talk to him about why something isn't acceptable. He's only nineteen months old, so my tactics don't always make an impact, leaving me scratching my head. Most of the time, I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, of if it's just normal toddler behavior. I am sure that my son knows I love him, he knows there are limits, and he knows I'm going to do something about it if he doesn't listen to me. That may not stop him (it usually doesn't), but at least I'm doing something.
I need advice. I just don't know how to deal with her. This isn't the first time she has made comments about other peoples' parenting. She has directed comments at me before, but only once or twice, in regards to not letting my son cry at bedtime. I just feel on edge now when I'm around her. She picks up my son from daycare two nights per week, so she's around a lot. She is hyper-sensitive, so if I say anything to her, she'll twist the whole thing around and I'll come out looking like the bad guy. I don't know how to process this, how to address it, or if I should even bother addressing it.
I wish there was a switch I could flip that would make me not care what she thinks. How do you handle unwanted criticism in your life?
My sister-in-law made just such a comment the other day, and it's still bugging me. She's almost forty, hasn't had a real relationship...well, ever...and somehow thinks she knows everything about marriage and parenting.
According to her, people in relationships shouldn't fight or argue...relationships should always be easy. Parents shouldn't let their toddler cry it out at bedtime...they should just let the kid stay up until he passes out. If a kid doesn't want to eat what's for dinner, the parents should present him with a number of other options that might be more pleasing to his palate...God forbid the kid cry (a.k.a. throw a tantrum) for even five minutes.
Anyhow, I digress. The other day I was standing in front of a restaurant with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. A man walked by us, reprimanding his daughter for something (it sounded like she had been putting her feet up in the restaurant and wouldn't put them back down even when told to do so). He was taking her to the car for a time out. My sister in law said, rather loudly, "Some people just shouldn't be parents."
I asked her what he said that was so offensive, because I hadn't heard it. I was truly baffled and thought I must have missed something. She didn't say anything specific to answer my question...she just said, "People should have to get a license or pass some kind of test to have kids. Some people just shouldn't have kids." After a few minutes (it had been no longer than 3-5 minutes), the man walked by us again with his daughter. As they were heading back into the restaurant, I heard him explaining to her that she shouldn't act like that because it sets a poor example for her little brother, etc.
As they walked by, my sister-in-law made another comment. She said, "There goes father of the year."
I just don't get it. Maybe a kid putting their feet up (I didn't catch exactly where she was putting her feet) in a restaurant is no big deal to my sister-in-law, but I don't see how she thought the father was a bad parent for being strict with his daughter about her behavior. Maybe she was refusing to listen and being really argumentative. Maybe the family just has strict rules about etiquette. Who knows? All I know is I wish more parents would give their kids time outs, actually do some parenting and address inappropriate behavior.
My sister-in-law is judgmental (she is still single and doesn't have very many friends for a reason). It's just how she is, and I know this. However, every time she makes a comment, it affects me deeply. Whenever she's around, I feel like she's judging me as a parent. I fully admit I'm far from a perfect parent (I don't always read to my son at night, I sometimes lose my temper and need to walk away from him, sometimes I just feed him fruit, yogurt, and cereal for dinner, et al.), but I do the best I can. I set limits for my son, and I give him time outs or at least try to talk to him about why something isn't acceptable. He's only nineteen months old, so my tactics don't always make an impact, leaving me scratching my head. Most of the time, I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, of if it's just normal toddler behavior. I am sure that my son knows I love him, he knows there are limits, and he knows I'm going to do something about it if he doesn't listen to me. That may not stop him (it usually doesn't), but at least I'm doing something.
I need advice. I just don't know how to deal with her. This isn't the first time she has made comments about other peoples' parenting. She has directed comments at me before, but only once or twice, in regards to not letting my son cry at bedtime. I just feel on edge now when I'm around her. She picks up my son from daycare two nights per week, so she's around a lot. She is hyper-sensitive, so if I say anything to her, she'll twist the whole thing around and I'll come out looking like the bad guy. I don't know how to process this, how to address it, or if I should even bother addressing it.
I wish there was a switch I could flip that would make me not care what she thinks. How do you handle unwanted criticism in your life?
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