Author: Sharon

I talked to #1 this morning at length about her daughter’s birthday party.

She told me that Lilli was petrified of the “Giant Rat”, a.k.a. Chuck E. Cheese. She cowered in her mother’s arms while the rat approached and even though my daughter tried to wave him off, he still menaced enough that her hubby had to step in to turn the rat around. For the rest of her party, my newly 5 year old Lilli quaked in her shoes every time she even thought the rat was coming. She even refused to sit at the head of the table because she couldn’t see the door.

That’s my baby!! Always take the gunslingers seat and never sit with your back to the door!

Before we go on trips, we send out a “Getting to Know You” form for the kids to fill out. It helps us to figure out some of their likes, dislikes and fears. Other than horror movies being a big No-No with this group, clowns were the most often mentioned fear. I, myself, have no love for the painted grins on the faces of clown either. I wonder what it is about costumed characters and clowns that freak people out. AND, if so many people are freaked out by them, why do they continue to promote these things to kids?

Stuff I guess I’ll just never understand…

While #1 and I were chatting about the giant rat 0rdeal, I remembered one of her experiences in a similar place. She was about 3 and a Chuck E. Cheese-esque establishment called “Showtime” had just opened in the mall. I decided to take her to see the animitronic animals in “the band”.  She stared wide-eyed at them for a bit, but I’d made sure we sat as far away from them as possible, just in case she got a little spooked. Once the novelty had worn off, she started bouncing in her seat and dancing to the music. She seemed especially interested in the gorilla, but nevertheless, she was having a ball.

In fact she was enjoying herself so much, that she began to nod her head up and down and kick her feet and in a moment of sheer bliss of body movement and music, she SLAMMED her head onto the table. She went completely still and I remember being  worried that she’d knocked herself out. I called her name and asked if she was ok and slowly she raised her head and looked up at me with those big blue eyes that were sparkling with unshed tears, bottom lip trembling with an expression so hurt, I knew in my heart that even though the knot on her head was turning purple, she was wondering how in the world, after being in such a complete state of bliss, she could suddenly hurt so badly. And then she wailed.

Poor baby. I remember going to her and picking her up to comfort her the whole time I was shaking with that nervous laughter  you get in those kinds of OMG situations, but also thinking about what a lesson she’d just learned. A few cuddles and a pat or two and she calmed down and got back into her chair, but it wasn’t too long after that, she was smiling, kicking her feet and bouncing to the music again – just with a little more control this time. That’s when I realized she’d just reminded me of a lesson as well.

Even though you are happy as a clam, sometime crap happens. The important part is, did you lose your bliss, or did you recover and return to your happy place just a tiny bit wiser?

A few things happened this way today.

I decided late in the morning – an hour before noon- that I wanted breakfast.

We were leaving for work this evening and one of Hubby’s employees called out, meaning that he had to stay home and get some rest so he could drive. The timing couldn’t have been worse and made me late for rehearsal. I got there minutes before it began.

It’s 11:00 pm and I have to finish a post before midnight for it to count as posting once a day for the entire month.

It’s just been one of *those* kind of days.

Time is the most undefinable yet paradoxical of things; the past is gone, the future is not come, and the present becomes the past even while we attempt to define it, and, like the flash of lightning, at once exists and expires.  ~Charles Caleb Colton

The Future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.  ~C.S. Lewis

Are you a hugger? Does your family regularly hug each other to say hello or farewell?

Mine wasn’t. (showing feeling… of an almost HUMAN nature, this will not do) <— Pink Floyd “The Wall” lyric bomb.

My parents and siblings were all very hands off. Emotions on any range of the scale beyond neutral to mildly pleasant weren’t really encouraged. Don’t get me wrong, my parents used to joke about EVERYTHING, so there was lots of laughing, but there just wasn’t room in that household for extremes, or hugs.

I wasn’t used to hugging or being hugged in a casually familiar way. When I started working at a Montessori School, the ladies and gentlemen there were very tactile. (It was Montessori, what did you expect?) They were nurturing and supportive people who loved to hug. I had been recruited to this position by someone I had met while volunteering at the Chorus when #4 was only 6-7 years old. She was from a big Italian family and she hugged everyone for everything.

It was a unique experience for me and I have to say, a little nerve-wracking because I was never sure what I was supposed to do. Seems silly now, but at the time I had to conscientiously decide that I was going to work on my new hugging skills. I was going to allow people into my personal space and accept that they hug because they care. I can’t tell you how huge a step this was for me, but I was determined not to freak out every time someone moved in for a hug.

Slowly, over time, I learned to accept physical embraces from strangers and how to give them. My tenure with the school guaranteed that I always had someone to hug. I realized it could be a pleasant experience. Although always timid to initiate a hug, I got pretty good at being a gracious receiver.

When I left that job and started the one I have now, the hug quotient wasn’t nearly what it had been. I noticed that I started to revert and was reaching out to give hugs less and less.

Last night, I went to a production put on by a local high school and involving about 9 of our students. One of these happens to be the boss’s son, a boy I’ve known for most of his life. We saw him after the performance (he did a wonderful job) and I stopped to tell him congratulations before weaving through the crowd to leave the theater. He turned and made a brief move and when I didn’t swoop in, he just held my hand and said he’d see me Tuesday.

WTH? Why didn’t I just give that kid a big ol hug to let him know how sincere I was and how much I supported what he was doing? He would have appreciated it, I could tell.

So, note to self, no retracing lessons learned. Hugs are not always appropriate, but when they are, they are appreciated and make a difference.

I had this incredible urge to open up a new blog post to write, and I still do, however I have no idea what I’m supposed to write about. How strange is that?

I keep watching the new Doctor Who trailer, although I can’t seem to find the date that tells me when the new season starts, I did read that they will be doing spring series a summer break and then a fall series. That would be great!

I’m in an awesome mood today. I feel so awake and alive I’m practically shaking – all of this and NO Caffeine. Another wonder, since last night I was so tired I could barely stay awake. Must be all this exercise I’m getting now. If it’s a by-product, then I’m all for it.

Last night I was at rehearsal and a music bomb went off in my head. You know, when a word or a sound triggers a musical memory of a song or some lyrics? Yeah, that.  Well it went off and I started singing some kind of song I haven’t heard in years and looked at hubby and said, (ok, I admit it! I actually whined) “I want that song!!”  Sat down this morning to look for it and POOF! it had evaporated from my mind.  Wonder how many brain cells it took with it!

Tonight I’m going to see a production of “Into the Woods” done at a local high school. Some of our students are involved and it’s always nice to go see them in something other than chorus. They are all so talented it’s nice to support them however we can. Plus, we get a great date night. Can’t beat that.

Speaking of things you can’t beat…. Hubby just walked in with a bouquet of flowers.

One of my online friends assigned this task to each of her buddies, so here we go! Btw, it’s late and I just got home from work, so the fact that my blog can be prompted by someone else is truly helpful this time. Thanks, Wicked!

Why are you a ________? (Puppy, fairy, polar bear, car, or whatever you are – or maybe you are just yourself)

I’m a 7th because I fell in love with Beethoven’s 7th symphony. Since I’m totally convinced that he wrote it specifically for me, I’ve retitled it appropriately as sharons7th.

Who are the “significant others”/main characters who may receive mention in your blogs and what is their relationship to you?

Hubby is pretty obvious, he’s Hubby! He’s been the best thing that could have happened for me. We’ve been together for 29 years; married for 26. I’ve numbered my children #1, #2,#3, and #4 according to their birth order.

#1 and #4 are daughters, #2 and #3 are sons.

Bess is my long time best friend and kitteh. She’ll be 17 years this June. Piper is her nemesis, otherwise known as the Pip, Pippy or “the dog”.

Jenny is a bff. I consider her more of a sister from another mother.

Do you have any hobbies? Like what?

I enjoy reading, writing silly blogs, taking pictures, knitting (although I’m not a very complicated knitter)listening to music and sculpting with fimo clay. I don’t get to sculpt like I used to with clay, but I have found that I enjoy sculpting with candy and fondant to make awesome cupcakes.

I’m also in training for the newest Olympic event. Hopping in the Shower will surely be introduced as an Olympic sport soon, so I hop in the shower whenever I feel the need to train. Hopping in the shower is relaxing and I usually come out smelling better than I did when I went in. Funny how such an intense sport like hopping in the shower could have such a pleasant after workout aroma. WARNING – DO NOT TRY AT HOME! Hopping in the shower is dangerous and requires extensive training.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

What is a favorite song of yours?

That is both a very easy and very difficult question.  Of course I love sharons7th, but there are so many others that I’m thankful for having heard that narrowing it down to just one is very difficult. I think Burst Generator by Chemical Brothers might be up there.

A favorite film?

I’m normally and love ’em and leave ’em kind of girl when it comes to movies. There are a few that I’d happily watch over and over. I think for a favorite film it might be “Family Stone”. Something about the dynamic of their family reminds me of my own. “Moulin Rouge” is a favorite, and of course all the Indiana Jones movies. I also like “Two Weeks Notice”.

What would be your dream job?

I used to say that when I grew up, I was going to be a wife and a mommy. I fulfilled that dream and have been very satisfied with my original dream job. If I wasn’t doing what I am now – which I LOVE – I might have gone into nutritional medicine. That kind of thing fascinates me and sticks in my head very easily.

How would you spend your dream day?

My dream day would include casual walking,  nature, sunshine, music, water, Hubby and my kids and probably a camera to capture everything that made me happy. Seeing fluffy bunnies would help round it all out.

What would be your last meal?

An everlasting gobstopper. I’ll spit it out when *I’m* done and not one minute sooner.

What did you like to play when you were a kid?

Hmm… I liked going to the pool. I spent most of my summers in the community pool. I liked the game “Rebound” and “Bing, Bang, Boing”, and my sister and I played “Dream Date”. Our family was big on playing Monopoly marathons. I also read, wrote stories and drew illustrations and – wait for it- listened to a lot of music.

What do you do in your real life?

I am a Chorus Manager for a Children’s Chorus. What that means is I manage the paperwork, communications and operations for the chorus. I work closely with the Director to do whatever it is she needs to make the chorus the best experience for all involved that it could possibly be. We have 375 students between two different campuses. Student’s range in age from 6-18 years of age.

Are you political? Right? Left? Center?

Isn’t that a Suzanne Vega song… uh oh, I feel lyrics coming on.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

If I had a superpower, I think that it would be the ability to wiggle my nose and have my house clean and in order right away. I’d start a cleaning business and make bank by peeking in homes, wiggling my nose and closing the door on a job well done!

Optional question: Is there anything else you think I should know about you?

I wear a size 11 ladies shoe.

**Most of my links will require you to watch them on YouTube. Sorry about that!! (they are worth it, though)

The sun was shining and a slight breeze was blowing. It was just chilly enough to need a coat, but not cold. I had my tunes in my ears, a pep in my step, and I was ready to go walking this morning.

I started out on my walk quite the happy camper. The song, “Little Less Conversation” (a little more action) by Elvis Presley was letting me know that my choice to MOVE was the right one today. That song never ceases to get me going, and so I was headed down the main road in town with my head boppin’ and my body moving to the music while walking.

Can you imagine it?

I’m sure you can.

Spins, cross-steps, forwards and backwards, I was having a blast! (my friend will be reminiscent of a similar walk on a beach in Florida) The next song came on (Extreme – Get The Funk Out) and there was no way to stop the groove, so for almost a 3/4 of a mile, I was jammin’ and incredibly happy.

The first man I passed gave me a huge grin. Then a man in a dump truck caught my eye and waved. Two men in a box truck broke into smiles and nodded their heads, and when our paths met again, the first man gave me two thumbs up.

I walk this loop often and that just doesn’t occur, so it must have been something different, ya’ think? I’m sure watching someone totally enjoying themselves, laughing and smiling and dancing on a sunny day was  what did the trick.

I’m sure there may be a few who say that these people were laughing at me, but I don’t really care. If they were laughing, they were happy as well.  The end result was that I was truly in my happy zone and because I was, others were nudged by it.

The rest of my play list for my 1.5 mile jaunt? (I’m working up my distance again, don’t laugh)

If none of that infected you with any kind of happy… then beware the laughing baby…..

Ouch.. ouch.. owie.. ouch, but yay! Feels good. I remember this!!

Sunshine is out – time for walkies and some muse-kick.

Today is measure and record day.

It’s also the clean-up-your-desk, pay-the-bills, file-the-paperwork, make-dinner-early and go-to-work day.

Is it a clue that you are supposed to move when your mailbox is ripped off its post by the neighbor? It was an accident, and he called right away to explain, but I see it as a cosmic sign that I’m working in the right direction. Lol.

I wish I’d had some kind of interesting epiphany, or something exciting had happened in my life to report other than this, but everything is pretty much status quo.

The Nablopomo theme for this month is “in a word”. Recently, through the wonder of technology, me, my friends, my hubby and children have all been playing a Scrabble-esque type of game on our phones. FINALLY.. something worth having a smart phone for!  It’s been fun to hear my phone scream “WHAAAT!” now and then through the day, alerting me that it’s my turn to play.

Hubby and I have always been big Scrabble players and a date in the spring and summer might consist of candles, a few adult beverages and a game of Scrabble out on the deck. Don’t laugh. We are geeky, remember?

Now, though, I get to play grudge matches with my son and hubby and I are almost always in at least one game. SOME people – you know who you are- got tired of being beaten and won’t play me anymore. 😦  S’ok. She usually whoops my tush in every other game we play.

If you fancy a game on Wordfeud or WordswithFriends, just let me know! If you are interested in the wordfeud app, here’s a link.

http://wordfeud.com/

It’s as good a time to start as ever, I suppose.

Things are healed up enough that I can start with light weights.

I have 121 days until I’m supposed to fly away, so start the countdown. I did some cardio this morning and light hand weights. My goal is to see, with concerted effort and consistency, what small adjustments to my eating (mainly some portion control and a few different choices since I already eat a very good diet) and daily exercise of some sort will net me in increased strength and maybe a few inches lost. I just want to be able to keep up with the kids and scramble on the ruins and play like they do. To hell with my biological “age”.

So.. there it is. Project 121. Although boring to some, my blog will host some subtle clues as to my progress, but that’s not all I’ll write about. How could I?  I joined Nablopomo again for March….. and yes… I should have my head examined!!

I’m still slowly moving all my blogs from MySpace over to this format. I currently have over 125 blogs from 2007-present, and I haven’t even begun to think about all the blogs I have sitting over there in Multiply. Oh my!

What’s been the most fun is re-reading them. I’ll highlight the text, import the photo and then scan for content and find myself giggling or thinking, “Surely, I didn’t write that…it’s good!!”

So, I invite you to poke around in my past. Pick a few posts from the archives and maybe you’ll find one that works for you!

That’s a misleading title since I can’t eat ketchup. (Is that shock and awe I hear from you??) Ketchup has onion powder in it, and I’m allergic to onions… so no ketchup for me. Yes, my life is devoid of that tasty red condiment.. pity me…

This blog is more of an actual Catch Up .. but that’s not nearly as much fun as considering a day dedicated to nothing but a concoction made from tomatoes, sugar, vinegar and onion powder, right?

HEALTH
Since I went to Georgia and had my throat slit and my attitude adjusted (as my hubby so kindly puts it) I’ve been steadily improving. It’s amazing that I’m still married, considering this condition had been going on for about 6 years. Hubby says it’s so nice to have his New/Old wife back again. Part of the problem that little pea-sized chunk of mutated tissue caused was mood swings, depression, anxiety… all the ingredients you need for a woman to be bitchy. In fact, one of the symptom descriptions was “spouse says you are more bitchy”. How’s that for medical terminology, eh?

But now? No depression. Minimal anxiety. I even had a cycle that was amazingly calm and… well.. frankly… uneventful beyond what was supposed to happen. I feel more energized and like I did 10 years ago more often now and I know that will continue as my body adjusts and recovers.

That slit throat thing is healing up. Not the prettiest of scars, but not too bad. The hardest thing is trying to stretch the cut muscles to be able to look up again. You know when you find something a little distasteful and you pull the corners of our mouth out and back in a bit of a grimace? Those are the muscles they cut, so head rotation and mobility are really effected. Happy to say I can look both ways before crossing the street without too much effort now.

TRAVEL

Some of you may be saying, “Aren’t you supposed to be flying away tomorrow?”

I’d be impressed if you had remembered.

I was, in fact, supposed to be flying off to Italy tomorrow, but those plans were canceled. (Darn it!) The travel company didn’t have enough bodies for the tour I was scheduled on and decided to cancel the trip. I was still going to go to look at the venues for the chorus, but the company really didn’t want to follow through with that, since we’re already committed to going on tour in June, and offered us a preview trip on the next go ’round. I’m a bit disappointed, but it’s ok. This way I’m home for my son’s birthday and will go spend the day with him in Alexandria wandering around and laughing. (We always laugh when we are together)

The trip in June is still chugging away. It’s hard to believe it’ll be here in 133 days. I’ve got my bestest friends going with me, so I’m really psyched up about it all. The work to get it all together has been massive and intense, but so what. It’s Italy! The Vatican, Venice… c’mon…  The sticky part has been trying to find a way to get from Italy to Germany and back for Hubby and I. I think I’ve finally figured that out and will hopefully be finalizing those plans today.

The thought of wandering around Bavaria just makes my heart sing!! I get so excited every time I think of it.

I’m a travel whore.. I admit it. I love, love, love going new places and exploring.

Thoughts for future trips… well.. Lisa, Jenny and I are contemplating Hawaii. Hubby and I are up for Oregon – a trip I planned but never got to go on, sadly. Scotland, maybe France, and what would be a true hoot would be the trip out west to pick up a Spyder and then camp in Yosemite and thereabouts, traveling through the back roads. Don’t know what a Spyder is? Here you go….

OK, motorcycles have never been my strong love, but the thought of cruising around on this puppy, with Warm Man (hubby) between my legs in front of me is a truly appealing thought. Oh yeah.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL

I had an appointment with a personal trainer the other day. I really liked him. Thing is I have to decide if I liked him enough to pay him every week for a year. I’ve been turning this over in my head and I’m not sure why I’d hesitate to pay what is essentially the same amount of money as a dinner out for two to a trained professional that can help to motivate and guide me to a stronger, leaner and healthier me. It’s like when people try to find cheap daycare. Um.. those are your CHILDREN… you’d think you’d want to get them the best you can afford! So why am I hanging back on making the investment in myself? I’m not finished with this thought process yet. The more I think of it, though, the more I feel like I should “just do it”.

HOUSE

The basement – living portion – is DONE!! And I must say it is beautiful. I’ll be sure to post pictures when I move the furniture down there and get it all set up, which I’m hoping to do some of this weekend. I can’t believe it!

Now it’s time for some sprucing up, cleaning out and pre-packing and then it will go on the market. Thinking April/May or so.  Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I’m in no rush as far as having another house I have to move to and I’m still waiting for the universe to show my what it’s got lined up as my next home, so if it sells right away then great. If not.. I’m ok with that as well.

So, now that I’ve spewed all that ketchup – that reminds me of a silly story… I’ll finish on that note.

When Hubby and I were friends/dating, my first daughter was just under 2 years old and still in a high chair. I had made dinner for us, which was a feat unto itself since I used to say I was the only person I knew who could burn salad. The table was set, the food was served and H had run out of ketchup on her tray. I picked up the bottle and noticed that there wasn’t very much left in it, so I decided to use centrifugal force to bring the ketchup into the neck of the bottle. I stood up, and lifted the bottle as high as I could, holding the lid of the bottle away from me. Swinging my arm down as hard as I could, I was mortified to see ketchup spew from the bottle as the lid flew off the top and an arc of red splattered from the top of my mothers kitchen wall, across H and down to the floor. An uproar of laughter came from behind me as Hubby exploded into fits of coughing and there sat H. Just looking at me as if, “wth, Mom.”

We laughed and laughed…
and then scrubbed and scrubbed.