Sex and the City 2!!!

I am SO excited!!! Exclamatory! Love first grade homework. They had me at the the trailer starting with "Empire State of Mind." The first movie threw me for a loop because it was dark the second half and I had to see it twice to appreciate it more. And then there was the whole transition from 30 minute tv show to 2 plus hours of a movie. SJP was quoted as saying the first was like "pushing on a bruise and really liking the feeling" She continues to say, "This one is an antidote to that. It's a romp." I'm all for a campy romp about friendships. Woo hoo!

You have to go to the You Tube site.

Am I Crazy or what???

Geneen Roth of "Women, Food and God" was on Oprah. It was a good show except Oprah talked more than Geneen did for most of the show. But I imagine Geneen doesn't care, she was on Oprah and now her life has exponentially changed. Her book is on bestsellers lists. Her name is becoming nationally known. (And as an aside, while looking for videos, I discovered that Geneen and her husband lost all their retirement as they were clients of Bernie Madoff) And now Oprah finally feels like she gets it. I feel like I get it too yet it is still an ongoing process. I still have residual pain that I figured out what was going on and it's there and now it pops up, and I have to use new skills and it just takes time. Last week, I was so excited to hear Geneen on Oprah radio and it felt like I was hearing droplets of gold. On the Soul Series, they are much more in depth and it was exactly what I wanted to hear. And I wanted to hear more. Geneen referred to this exact process that I have been experiencing. You get it, and then you have a setback and then it comes back again. And then it keeps coming back again and again until it stays more permanently.

I received notification of an online "Women, Food, and Love" workshop that starts this week. I thought that sounds "neat." I should do that. And... I didn't jump at it. I have never done an online video feed or copied anything to my Ipod. A few days passed and I thought, am I crazy? This is exactly what I want and need to hear. A group process is so much more beneficial than individual therapy, AND this is audio, video gold to me. Why would I hesitate? Well, I know why and I need to push through my fear. So last night, I signed up, paid, have my sign in codes and I'm set up for the next six Tuesdays at 8pm. I'm ready to take it on. And it's no big deal that the first night, I will be at Riley's Moving Up ceremony. I will catch it when I can.

You can hear clips of the XM radio - Soul Series on Oprah's Website including Geneen's.

This is a little overview of Women Food and God on You Tube.

Country Club A La Golightly

It's been busy, I guess it will always be busy with 2 young children at home. Riley has been sick the last four days - fever and sore throat, so summer started early. We were homebound for four days. I think that is when I decided it WOULD be a good idea to get another above ground pool. We had one for three summers but it was small - 12 feet across and then it died. Riley wasn't that into it by the end of the summer because she wanted to use her new lap skills. And two summers ago, Mallory was not into it at all when Riley wanted to go out. And I thought, let's cut back, there is a lot of maintenance, and supply cost and I don't know if they will use it. And THEN we were stuck at home for four days and it's hot again, South Louisiana humid hot, not even the full throttle sticky hot it will be. So on day 3 of being homebound, I told George I had rethought it and bam, he was out the door to go get one.

He loves the challenge of it. It is a large scale science experiment after all. And now, we have gone saltwater so this is a new twist for him. Yesterday, Riley was feeling better so we tried it out while the pool was still filling. My doubts were vanquished. They loved it and...I did too. We went out at 9am and all day except for a quick trip to Target, we played outside. This one feels much larger, and will take some adusting because it is over Mallory's head but it is not to bad to lay on a raft and float. It's actually quite peaceful if you can ignore the children. I just have to let go of all that needs to be done inside the house. And there is always something that needs to be done. Riley is back at school today for one last full day, a half day tomorrow and then a class party on Wednesday. And then summer is here for real. I'm glad I let my reservations go. I'm glad we have another playing option at home and a way to cool off. Hello Summer! I am embracing you.

We are finished with preschool.

After five years of Mother's Day Out and one year of Preschool, we are finished. Mallory graduated yesterday! Very sweet ceremony - they wore paper caps and each class went up and had their name called and received a diploma, then they sang one too many songs about bugs. I didn't cry but was verklempt when the director gave me a rose for opening car doors in carpool which was quite fun, even in the rain. It was fun to see the fresh faces and how each was different. Some were raring to go, others were extremely reticent and had to be dragged. Some were talkative, and some were all business. The 15 minutes every Monday, made me think, hmmm, maybe I could work with children. What???!!!!

In 2004, Riley started the 2 year old Mother's Day Out program and I remember crying when I met the teacher. I was so excited and relieved to have a wonderful program for her to attend. Upon meeting the teacher, I knew we were in excellent hands. And then I teared up. So emotional, can you imagine, me, emotional?!!! After Mallory finished her year with the same teacher, I apologized to the teacher for crying and we laughed about it. We had a great 6 year run and now we are done. I will have to train the van not to drive to Jefferson Highway. I saw another mom nearly sobbing when we left the school yesterday. I understood what she was going through, but am also really freakin' happy that they will be at the same school next year. So there have been no tears yet, just a marking of the milestone.

I've finally been worn down, I'm looking forward to summer?!

I was exhausted yesterday, mentally and physically. This past week we had something every night and special activities during the day as well. Those crazy days of May for school age children where all activities culminate in special programs at this time of year. This past week was Young Author's Night, Soccer practice and game, one dance practice, two dance recital rehearsals past bedtime, end of year preschool class party, Little Gym, Field Day, and two dance recitals (the girls were in yes, separate programs) Sunday we celebrated GaGa's birthday and took her out to lunch. And now I'm spent. I have been eating and stopping when full but right now I want to eat more. I need nurturing. My throat hurts. I ran up and down stairs at the River Center Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday nights and all afternoon and evening on Saturday. I'm spent. A good kind of spent. My kids are healthy and active and involved and I enjoyed all of this activities.

With the end of May comes summer. I use to dread summer and have panic over what I was going to do with the kids for all of that time. After all of this massive end of year activity, I'm ready for a break, EVEN if that includes me being the entertainment director. I have been worn down. I only have slight anxiety over the summer. Tomorrow, Mallory graduates from Preschool. In August, she will be at her sister's school. Today she asked, "the first day after summer, I will go to Dunham?" So precious. Here's to summer, it's right around the corner.

Mother's Day 2010

From my baby, four year old baby...I laughed until I cried.

I made my Mother's Day theme butterflies. Mallory painted a terra cotta tile with a butterfly on it. And then I saw this mug with these words on it: just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly. Of course I had to get it, I feel I am in metamorphosis. A little coffee and a little thought to ponder on in the morning.

Whoa.

Last week I went to a beginner yoga class because it fit in the schedule and the teacher complimented me on my alligator pose - one I had never done before. I was quite thrilled. I went again today to a more advanced class that I hadn't been to in a few weeks. As the instructor started, she was warming us up and said feel your bodies, feel what is going on, feel your pain. Then she said, "Embrace your pain!" Whoa. Whoa. It struck me. Instead of fighting the pain, embrace it. She said it is your own pain.

Hmmmm. I remember in the past when I had my back go out or had gotten really sick, like food poisoniing kind of sick, I would fill with fear. Complete angst. How am I going to take care of these kids? That didn't help to move me past the pain, probably intensified it and prolonged it.

And right now, I have a crick in my neck and a little lower back pain. So I'm taking care of myself. I have a routine NOW. Use hot/cold packs, take ibuprofen, take hot baths with epsom salts and stretch. Nurture myself, and accept the pain. I'm really learning to nurture myself and I have needed to for a long time.

Brown Stuff

We have grown out of diapers, pull ups and all things associated with those early intensive taking care of the pee and poop years. Now we are learning to wipe our bum by ourselves. Yes, not a pretty topic but every mother has gone through this and knows exactly what I'm talking about. It takes a while to learn this skill because they wipe generally once when it should be a several wipe process and then it's in the panties.
There have been two times recently in the bathroom where I have discovered dark brown stuff on the soap dispenser and then one time on the side of the tub. At first glance I was totally disgusted and thought oh yuck, look what I have to clean up. And then upon sniffing and memory recall, I realize it's chocolate!! And I think, that's my girl, it's chocolate all over everything!! She's taking after me!!

Ruby Series Finale

OMG - I'm in heaven. I just started watching the two hour finale of Ruby. It's on the Style Network and Ruby Gettinger once weighed over 700 lbs. This is so fascinating for me. I finally get to watch other people in therapy and this is INTENSIVE. Ruby and several of her friends are participating in a 6 day in house intensive program for food addiction. They have no idea what they are in for. Codependency out the wazoo and they have no idea. Fascinating. I have learned several nuggets from watching this. I'll report back.

Things that go beep

This week I had a special relationship to things that go beep. My beloved minivan decided to let me know something was going on all day on Wednesday. It began beeping at me quietly and inconsistenly but by the end of the day, it would not stop and was unyielding. You know that annoying beep that says a car door is open, sort of like the one that big trucks make, when they are backing up. The only problem was that, the van doors slide shut and this seemed to be where the wretched sound was eminating. Do you know how much time I spend in my car? Two schools, two different starting and ending times- four trips. Not to mention any other errand I might be running. One urgent trip to pick up my my mother in law for a blood transfusion (she has undetermined anemia) and take her to the hospital. I talked the children in to skipping Little Gym because I could not take getting into the car and driving anymore. Then the service manager at the Toyota dealership calls and says bring it in by 5, we will determine the problem. Okay, I drag the kids because I have GOT to get this thing fixed. I put it in drive and it beeped the entire time, in rush hour traffic, going 15 mph on the interstate. I turned up the Glee soundtrack loudly for Riley and I, while Mallory had headphones on watching a movie. I was on the brink, I was not going to let this do me in. I want to tape the noise to give you the feel of it, but I fear it will put me into post traumatic stress syndrome.

It ended up being a Nintendo DS stick stuck under a door closing mechanism, not allowing the sensor to know the door was closed. So simple and NO CHARGE! On Thursday, my security key pad starts beeping that there is a smoke problem, yet there seems to be no smoke anywhere in the house or attic. And on Friday, my keys get stuck in the back door and wouldn't come out.

At least they weren't beeping at me and I had an extra set.