28 August 2008

my intimacy

y. and i went to the my intimacy shop in chicago this afternoon for professional bra fittings. It was amazing and so worth it. Our boobs are actually lifted and separated without being torpedoes and/or touching our chins. I never thought I'd see the day. I walked around the city this evening and the straps stayed up and so did my boobs. Who'd have thought this day would come. Pigs are not flying and, as far as I know, hell hasn't frozen over. This visit was a part of our missions to take better care of ourselves and free up our energy for things that really matter to us. I spent a lot, but I've spent much, much more on bras that don't work for me (Steph can testify to my bra angst.) It's nice to check this off of my 'list'.

try not to insult the almighty while getting groceries

yesterday i ran to the grocery on my lunch. In the check out aisle, I noticed this:I know it's difficult to see because I took it with my phone, but it is, "The Idiot's Guide to the Last Days"

seriously?

22 August 2008

keepin that vacay feelin

on the way home from vacay, i jotted down some notes on what contributed to my peaceful, easy feelings on vacation. I want to work on incorporating them into our daily life as much as possible. Here are my notes:

simplicity ** pare down ** provide clear options ** make clear choices ** expect more ** take your breaks where they come ** organization clears the head and relaxes the body ** patience ** the ocean is always worth it

For now, I'm going to work on getting rid of anything in this house that I'm keeping for a maybe someday use. Having only what we need and/or love will make our lives better.

things i don't want to forget

when Johna was around 4, we took her out to dinner. She looked at me very seriously and said sort of sadly, "What do you do when your belly is full but your mouth is still hungry?"

Nora loves, loves, loves to pretend she's going to drive each time we go to the car. It cracks her up to climb up there only to be told, "babies don't drive!" After going through that scenario, she normally goes into her seat more easily than without having a try at driving. When she honks the horn people look over with daggers and I could not care less.

When Becca was in preschool, her teacher called home to tell my mom that she had been crying and when she was asked what was wrong she told them that missionaries had killed her brother and sister and that her mom was in jail. My mom laughed and said, "Well, her mom is in jail (bio mom) and I guess we'll have no more Christian bedtime stories!" When Becca came home, my mom asked her about it and Becca looked around all nervous like and said, "WHERE WERE YOU????"


20 August 2008

the county came

doesn't that just sound like the beginning of some southern novel touted by that she devil, oprah? I guess that provides me some perspective that its not as bad as it could be. They've been out over ten times over the past three months because a neighboring property is getting water from what the neighbor believed to be our property. Three dye tests showed us to be in the clear. Until this week, I guess. They came back and did it again and this time, it showed that it's our septic. Even the county guy can't believe it. It just makes me sick. We just had a huge new system put in a year and a half ago. Paid a ton. Had our entire yard dug up. Replanted. Babied the lawn. Planted our perennials. Planted our bushes. It all makes me want to cry. I seriously can't face any of it again.

I'll try to work on gratitude over here.

Oh, and they took my Obama sign again.

vacation firsts

1st Ivy League Visit




1st Cab Ride









1st Boat Ride









1st Time in a Big Girl Bed












1st Scraped Knee









1st Time @ the Ocean









1st Gelato


1st Time in NYC














1st poop in a potty
{Sorry. No Photo}

*scissormetimbers mad photo creds to Steph



18 August 2008

home again, home again, jiggety jog

we're home. We had a fabulous vacation and were happy to return home, as well. Couldn't ask for more. We came home to construction chaos that is quickly taking shape this morning.
I'm so far behind on everything. Vaca and construction stuff will have to come later. Perhaps much later.
Before we left, we visited the County Fair several times just to get out of the demolished house. Nora liked seeing the animals and LOVED one little area where she could 'fish' for little goldfish. The lady would catch some for her and Nora would pour them in and say, "bye bye, fishies! going home!" She could have done it all night. Those poor, poor fish.
She also tried her hand at the duck game and some tractors. She liked the tractors much more than the ducks.

They had all of these 'collections' that won ribbons. Like keychain collections, cup collections, disney figurines, liquor bottles, mcdonald's happy meal toys, you name it... Being a city girl, I'm not familiar with county fairs, but I want a piece of that action. For me, it was the most entertaining part of the entire fair. Who are these people? How do they enter? and WHO, WHO, WHO awards these ribbons?

07 August 2008

open letter to recruiting sgt rosas cantu

honestly, i can understand why you won't take or return any of my numerous calls. If I made my living lying to poor children in exchange for years of their life (if they're lucky) and really, quite possibly, their actual life, I surely wouldn't want to answer for it either. Do you even remember Becca? She's the beautiful, vivacious 17 year old who was confused about what to do with her life. I'm sure she doesn't stand out much as that definition rightfully fits many a seventeen year old. Also, if you really had seen her, I need to believe that you could have never done what you've done.

A month after her 18th birthday, we invited you to sit with our family and have Sunday dinner. While there, you answered some questions and avoided many others. Remember telling Becca that she'd never have to cut her hair as long as she tied it up? Ha. It seems so minor compared to some of your whoppers now, doesn't it? I remember it. I remember you pulling your hair down, swinging it around and showing us how you used to have it down to your bottom when you were first in the Army. Funny thing is that Becca had to cut her hair before she ever went to basic. Oh, and here's another one Sgt Rosas/Cantu whateveryourname is "If the army changes your contract, then it's void and you can get out" That's a direct quote from you. I wrote it down as you said it because I knew you were a liar. When I pointed out to you that the actual contract that you wanted this child to sign said, "Laws and regulations that govern military personnel may change without notice to me. Such changes may affect my status, pay, allowances, benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the Armed Forces REGARDLESS of the provisions of this enlistment document.", you said, "Oh, but they NEVER do that." And that little girl who is my very heart believed your disgusting lies.

I won't go item by item. Because really, what's the point? Rather, I'll fast forward to two nights ago... when I get a message around 4:00 pm CST that they're changing her contract and bonus and she doesn't know what to do or when she'll get to a phone again. There's no one (including you) that I didn't call. And not one of the persons who actually took my call (not you, of course) was 'able' to help. Becca was able to sneak in a hysterically crying phone call that night. When faced with the new contract, she told them, "Fuck you. I'm going home and going to college." That's when your friendly colleagues filled her in on the TRUTH. They told her that her recruiter must have misinformed her... She's now headed for basic and training in a field that she has no interest in. For FIVE years (oh yeah, remember that trick? She wanted to enlist for three, but you told her that in order to be in her chosen field, it had to be five...) Seriously, how much do they pay you?

The saddest part for you is that you are fully aware of the truth and continue with your sick, predatory actions. Purchasing poor kids for war. What the fuck? It's seriously more difficult for me to understand than say, the actions of a serial killer. In the absence of mental illness or horrible abuse or lack of mental capabilities, you go forward committing crimes against one poor family after another. I hear you're pregnant now... I hope that your newborn child will remind you of your humanness -- of everyone's humanness and therefore, their inherent value.

Her name is Becca. And she's precious beyond all earthly treasures.

04 August 2008

ssssshhhhhhh

nora now shhhhhh's us when we bring up displeasing topics. She does it sweetly and quietly, so it's difficult to know exactly what to do, except I do know that she probably should not shush adults...
"Let's go change your diaper" "shhhhhh"
"It's time for bed." "shhhhhh"
"Mommy needs to go potty a second." "shhhhh"

Also, she broke out the "I don't want to" this weekend. Again, she says it so sweetly. She's now working on understanding just how little that matters in many situations.

 
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