Archive for January, 2009

The Past Present

January 31, 2009 at 10:35 pm · Filed under good things

My inner 13 year old was made happy in several ways this week.    My friend from 7th grade – the one I admired the most  – came to visit me in my humble abode.  She patiently looked at 80% of my photo albums.   She  was kind to my dog.  She complimented my husband and children and even dealt with a visit from my mother!  We talked and drank wine and drove and talked and listened to music and talked and talked.  Mostly I talked, and she listened.  The next morning we had coffee and food and talked and talked more.  She made my little 13 year old self finally believe that yeah, she liked me.

And then – and THEN.  Just a few days later I got a real-life, handwritten thank you card in the mail.  Handwritten! In her handwriting!  How grown up of her.  Her mother apparently taught her very well.

It struck me that the circle had been completed.  She and I hung out in 1978, and then we traded long letters with each other for the next few years.  In 2009 we have visited a few times, and she wrote to me again.  (Her handwriting is still familiar.)   I am very pleased.  It is just so damn sweet.

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Long time ago

January 26, 2009 at 5:28 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

Last time my house was this clean,  Gigi and Felix came to visit!

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Empty nester

January 23, 2009 at 5:01 pm · Filed under both kids

After leaving class last night (a class where only 3 of us knew what a phone booth was) I went home to a childless home.  Lucy was sleeping over at a friend’s house, and Gman was out “at a friend’s”.   It is not uncommon for Little Ms. Social to be at a friend’s house, but my shy boy is always home.

This is the second time in a month that he has been gone for hours with friends.  Said friends include 2-3 girls, and his best guy buddy.    They were just hanging out, watching movies at one of the girl’s home. 

So DTE and I went out to grab some food and wine – very nice.    But I couldn’t shake the pervasive feeling of sadness.  My kids are growing up.  They have their own lives.  GMan has one foot out the door.

I don’t have any friends my age that have kids my age.  They’ve either decided to remain childless or had their kids later in life, so they are dealing with a very different set of kid-issues.  So I’m asking you out there – you who are dealing with your babies leaving, or who have dealt with it – how did you do it?  How do you process the simultaneous feelings of joy, pride, and sadness?  How do you make the shift to the next stage in life, where your kids don’t need you as much, don’t want you as much, or are moved out?

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Oddballs

January 21, 2009 at 7:31 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

Dad:  stopped by the office yesterday to use the big paper cutter.  I asked what he was cutting (assuming a number of fliers or something of the like.)  No, it was his 2009 free pocket calendar.  It was “a little too long” and so he was chopping off the bottom of it.   My dad is 50% Dutch, and the Dutch are known for their, shall we say, “frugalness”.  It just wouldn’t be right to spend $1.50 on a smaller pocket calendar when the free one, chopped ends and all, works just as well.

Sister:  On the phone with her for over 45 minutes.  That is a normal length conversation with her.  Only, “conversation with her” is not accurate.  I spent maybe 12 minutes of the 45 actually engaged in discussion with her.  The rest was her talking…talking….talking….talking…

Me:  Today is my day off from work and school, presumably for me to do homework and stuff around the house I don’t normally have a chance to do.  So far I have: showered, had a cup of coffee, loaded the dishwasher, read one case out of 14 due tomorrow, and napped.  I also used my cell phone to call DTE (who is working downstairs) to ask him to bring me lunch…I’m much too lazy to go all the way downstairs and get it myself.

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What a great day

January 21, 2009 at 3:07 am · Filed under good things

Never before have I watched inaugeration festivities on tv.    DTE and I watched for a while this morning, and I reluctantly went to work.    We were unable to get the live stream on any of our computers, so we listened to the speech on the radio.  While the Republicans amonst us listened respectfully, the two of us liberals (or would it be “the two of WE liberals??? Magpie?  Surely you can correct me.  I think it should be “we” but somehow it doesn’t sound correct?) smiled deep smiles of satisfaction.

Class tonight got out early, and I resisted the temptation for hotdogs afterward.  Came directly home to munch on carrots and play on Facebook.  And now – time to watch Monday’s episode of 24.   Great day.

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AFC and NFC Championship Picks

January 18, 2009 at 3:21 pm · Filed under Sports

I have my own, peculiar way of choosing football teams.  College football is easy:  I like the Badgers (U of WI) because that’s where I grew up and it is my alma mater.  I like U of M because it is a “U of”, making it more similar to UW.   Also, the U of M hospital is where my dad received his heart transplant.  I don’t like State (Michigan State) because they are not U of M.  As for the rest of them, they are too numerous to keep track of, and so I don’t.

The NFL is a little more complex.   Today I’ll just focus on the four remaining playoff teams.  Starting things off, we have the NFC championship game, the Philadelphia Eagles v. the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals are normally a team that I never think about.  They are just a non-factor in the NFL altogether.  However, their bright red uniforms have been a refreshing sight.  I loved their former coach, Denny Green.   I used to be highly annoyed by the QB, Kurt Warner from his St Louis Rams days, especially when he holds his prayer circles after the games.  His wife’s scary hair style was another minus in my book.    Given Warner’s age, though, and the fact that everyone keeps writing him off and he just keeps plugging away makes me feel differently about him.  There is also the fact that I lived in Arizona for about 9 months.

The Philadelphia Eagles are a mixed bag.   I follow them with interest, because their coach, Andy Reid, is one of a number of coaches raised by the wonderful Mike Holmgren.  I consider the Eagles to be a spin-off of the Packers.  I like the QB, Donovan McNabb.  However, I think the logo on their helmets is ugly.  And Andy Reid has had some parenting issues that I think he should focus on more than football.

My pick:  Cardinals. (Total underdogs!  Cinderalla story!)  My prediction:  Eagles.

Next is the AFC Championship game.   Baltimore Ravens v. Pittsburgh Steelers.  This one is quite a bit easier.  The Ravens suck.  I hate the font they use on their uniforms, and I hate the logo on their helmets.  I hate Ray Lewis.  I hate the fact that they are so defense focused that they won the Super Bowl a few years back and promptly got rid of their quarterback.   I do like the purple color of the uniforms, but all the preceeding facts outweight that one good.

The Steelers have always been one of my favorite teams.  I love, love, love Bill Cowher even though he is no longer the coach.  The man retired and does things like go to his daughter’s sporting events.  What a great guy!  They also have the famed history of  “The Steel Curtain“.  Sure, that’s a defense-heavy history but this is my critique and I can do what I want.  The Steelers have a great logo on their helmet, and t hey are a working class team like my beloved Packers.

My pick:  Steelers.  My prediction:  Steelers.

Stay tuned next week for Super Bowl edition.

Who do you want to win?

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Saturday

January 17, 2009 at 5:51 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

It is Saturday, and I woke up at 10 a.m.  It is now 12:50 and I feel like taking a nap.

2:06 p.m.  Avoided napping.  I showered and put on sweatpants, tshirt, sweatshirt and warm, fuzzy socks.  Why do my sweatpants look like someone threw up all over the right leg?  I like this sweatshirt though, it covers up the way my boobs are down near my stomach when I go for just this one minute of my life without a bra.  Ahh.

Updated my entire iPod, got rid of the many duplicates, and finally figured out how to upload the Kings of Leon music James gave me.  The day is looking up.

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Give That Woman A Compliment!

January 13, 2009 at 12:53 pm · Filed under Compliments, Uncategorized

I got my first A in law school! I am, frankly astounded. But also very proud. Yea for me!

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Compliment shout out for the boys, too

January 8, 2009 at 12:36 am · Filed under Uncategorized

Today was a challenging day during which my boss made me cry.

But Barb hugged me and then emailed me and told me she loves me. (OK, she’s a woman but she deserves kudos nonetheless.)

And Steve told me he thinks I’m a good mom.

And Marc told me how much he loves me and needs me, and this evening left me a voice mail thanking me for being there for him today.

And when I came home DTE looked at me, said “What’s wrong?” and poured me a glass of wine.

I have it good.

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Give That Woman A Compliment!

January 7, 2009 at 2:18 am · Filed under Compliments

Hey, you!  Yes, you smart woman reading this blog!

You are so amazing!

You work, AND you take care of a kid, AND you manage to hold together a pretty decent relationship.   Give yourself a hug from me, because that is a LOT of work, and you are doing it all.   Any one of those things could crush the strongest of the strong, but not you.  You are amazing. Way to go!

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