Remembering My Favorite Things

These last several weeks have been a mad rush of activity and travel and I can't believe it's almost the end of yet one more month!

I don't travel nearly as much for work anymore, so it was with very mixed emotions that I joined part of my team on a project in Fort Lauderdale FL mid-month. As I was driving down the freeway at 5am to catch a flight on a Monday morning, it took all I had not to turn my car around and stay home with my family. "They really don't need me down there - they are more than capable on their own ... I shouldn't be leaving the kids for that long - they need me more ... I REALLY don't want to fly on a plane today - it doesn't feel right ... I could still be sleeping! ... etc."

But as any professional does, I got to the airport, got through security, got on the plane and off I was to warmer climes. Last year I got my team all upset by getting into the program and jumping into decision-making mode. This year, I held back a bit, made sure that they prepared me with the details ahead of the event and so I was able to be more helpful, less "bossy". The program went off without a hitch and even though the days were long and busy, it was somewhat satisfying to be onsite at a successful event again.

But finally at the end of the program, I had my reward. I was able to spend a couple of hours at the beautiful hotel pool (Westin Diplomat is ocean side and I'd been waking up to the view of the ocean, the beach and the pool - as close as I'd get for the first three days). The weather was beautiful - 80 to 85 degrees and little humidity. I don't think I like anything more than hotel pools and sunshine. It's definitely top of my favorite things list.

So I made it poolside at 9:30am and stayed there until my wonderful friend Lisa would come and meet me. I read the paper (I haven't done that in years), drank juice, dipped in the pool every so often and basked in the sun. A minor issue - I forgot to bring sunscreen, and didn't think a few hours would be a big deal. I was in heaven and nothing was going to bring me down. Finally, Lisa arrived and my day was offically perfect! Lisa lives in South Florida and although we hadn't seen each other in nearly 8 years, we fell right into conversation as if we talked every day. We chatted a bit more by the pool and then it was time to check out and I was going to spend the night with my dear friend and her oldest daughter. I did notice that I'd burned a bit once I got into the hotel, but didn't realize how bad until later in the day.

I was able to share in their daily routine, eat some Cuban food, Katie (Lisa's daughter) had a Spring Performance at her school and I was able to see her sing and dance and I could see how she and McKenna would probably get along really well if they met. Lisa's husband Fred was at his job in Virginia but I was able to video conference with him to say hello and catch up and laugh at his goofy sense of humor. I remembered how much fun all four of us had when they lived here and I miss that so much. Lisa and I talked nearly non-stop for 24 hours and it was so much fun. All of a sudden, I didn't feel like going home.

And I remembered another of my favorite things - good friends. No matter where you are, when you last talked or saw each other or how much time has passed, true friends are easy to talk to, easy to be with and bring your spirits up.

I did eventually have to get back on a plane homebound and was relieved once on board to be making my way back to my family. One 'little' problem - I was totally and miserably burnt on my arms, legs and chest. Like 3rd degree burns I swear! At 44, one would think that I'd have more common sense and experience to know better, but I didn't and it was a PAINFUL reminder. NOT a favorite thing!! It took a full 5 days for the pain to subside and I look like a snake shedding its skin - it looks hideous!

In any case it was a nice reminder of the things I love and that I need to have more of in my life, somehow, someway.

Northwest Natives - Recognize Yourselves!

My Dad sent this to me recently and it all rang so true ....

The Pacific Northwest According To Jeff Foxworthy

1. You know the state flower. (Mildew).
2. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
3. Use the statement 'sun break' and know what it means.
4. You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
5. You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
6. You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
7. You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the 'WALK' signal.
8. You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it's not a real mountain.
9. You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Tully's.
10. You know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon.
11. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, Yakima and Willamette .
12. You consider swimming an indoor sport.
13. You can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food.
14. In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark while only working eight-hour days.
15. You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
16. You are not fazed by Today's Forecast: "showers followed by rain," and Tomorrow's Forecast: "rain followed by showers."
17. You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
18. You know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.
19. You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see through the cloud cover.
20. You notice, 'The mountain is out' when it is a pretty day and you can actually see it.
21. You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.
22. You switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the socks on.
23. You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
24. You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
25. You buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time.
26. You measure distance in hours.
27. You often switch from 'heat' to 'a/c' in the same day.
28. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
29. You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), Deer & Elk Season (Fall).
30. You actually understood these jokes and will probably forward them

Laughing Out Loud

We went out for Chinese food last night. And just like many, we are going out less to cut expenses. We went to Chopsticks, a little place down by our house and we were the only ones in the place. It was a little late and the kids started whining to go home as soon as they were done eating, but we had a few bites left. So to up the ante, Mac started to complain about aches and pains. She finally said: "My neck nurts" (instead if my neck hurts). We started laughing and Mac, Myron and I started playing off the words, laughing a bunch after each one ...

"Do your teeth turt?"
"Do your fingers furt?"
"Do your legs lurt?"

Myron came up with "Does your butt burt?" which sent us all into a fit of really loud howling laughter. We would definitley have ticked off anyone else eating in the restaurant, so it was a good thing we were alone.

The kicker belonged to Julian though who really couldn't quite get the pattern and his final comeback was "Do you eyeballs suck?" We could have all peed our pants :-)

Bad Mom

So Mac has temp of 102+ today and feels really, really bad. Can you say GUILT?!?

So so tired!

I can't really explain it. Nothing more than the usual crazyness. But lately I have been so tired! It's sapping my energy and my creativity. I just can't believe it's end of April and all those things I wanted to have done before summer are nowhere near being started, let alone finished. I am living one giant, never-ending to do list.

And tonight I'm feeling a bit guilty! McKenna spent all day playing with her best friend but had to come home at 6p for her basketball game. She was so sad that her playdate had to end that she went to her room, went to bed, covered her head and sobbed for quite a while. But then she told me her head hurt and she was tired. I told her that she still needed to go to the game and I did wake her up just 15 minutes into her nap and we went to the game. She cried all the way there, which is unusual for her - she hates for other people to see her cry. But I felt it was important to be there for her team and because they had a two hour practice last night I wanted her to apply the drills she learned before she forgot them. She played well, her friend showed up for a few minutes to see her play which brightened her smile for a while, but on our way home, she was quiet.

As soon as we got home, she changed into her jammies, laid down on the couch, did not even eat any dinner and went to sleep. She now I know that she really didn't feel good and I still made her go to her game. Not my proudest moment:(

And it all still makes me so very tired!

Some Drama, Big Reward

After days of hand-wringing, negotiating over song choices, looking for a costume (thankfully already appropriate in the mind of the wearer) - the big "Try Out" day came and McKenna made the Syre Elementary Talent Show!!

She settled on the Keke Palmer song "It's My Turn Now" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vao13M-NqJ8 (thanks K for steering both of us to a great alternative to Beyonce!), and a costume that includes everyday wear - a black plain t-shirt, red/black/white plaid skort and red tights.

This whole experience has been a bit dramatic and all for 1.5 minutes of 'fame'. She originally wanted to dance with her best friend to the Beyonce song "Irreplaceable" (see post below). When her friend backed out because her Mom encouraged her to focus on the ice skating dance routine and competition coming her way, McKenna was decidedly bummed. But she is persistent when she wants to do something and so she tried to recruit other friends, even announcing at one point that she was going to do a routine with her worst enemy - that's how badly she wanted to get in the talent show. When I pointed out that doing things with others would require compromise on songs, dance moves and practice time that was already disastrously short, she agreed that this year would be the year for her to do this on her own.

So a song was picked, the computer set to the YouTube video, the lyrics printed out, a CD made and the karaoke machine set up in the living room with space to dance and the speakers to hear it well. Practices were morning, noon and night ... before and after school and even her best friend helped her practice during recess. She learned the lyrics quickly and was able to belt out the whole thing on her own in just a couple of days. The dance moves came naturally and with the help of her entertainer dad, a performance was born.

The night before the try outs, her dad was working late and wasn't able to practice with her and motivate her most energetic self. She needs me for many things, but this time she really wanted and needed her dad. So fear and doubt set in and in a tearful confession she told me that she wasn't going to participate in the try outs. At this point, the pragmatic me set in and reminded her of all she accomplished in such short time, and of the time we've all put into helping her out. Of course I also tried to work in some confidence building and pumping up her self-esteem and after 15 minutes of discussion, she agreed to still consider the possibility. Next morning all was good and Myron promised he'd be there to cheer her on.

As luck would have it, one of his really good client's called for a gig that would not allow him to attend the try outs. I would have to be the one to tell her when I picked her up and walked her to the gym. I would rather have faced a pack of rabid wolves than have to tell her that bad news - I knew the horrible disappointment that she was going to be feeling. And I was afraid I wouldn't sound as empathetic as I would need to because Myron's work schedule also really messed up a super busy and stressful family schedule - Mac's POM class directly after try outs, Julian's baseball practice at 5 and then a Birds & Bees class for Myron and I that evening back at the school. Now all of this squarely on my shoulders. I put on my Supermom uniform and set off to do what I had to do (feeling guilty to be leaving work early with a pile of deadline projects on my desk and having to cancel my participation in the Finance Committee's regularly scheduled meeting).

I did manage to pick up Julian, stop at home for the costume, camera, water bottles, snacks and music, make it to the school on time to take her to the gym, call Myron on the cell and have her talk to him for a pep talk and turn the cell off to ward off last minute work calls. I had the camera at the ready for the big moment. She was nervous but sat with the rest of the girls and boys, listened to the directions and we watched a few people go through their try outs before Mac's name was finally called. She bravely gave them her music and then came over the me, crouched down and I heard those words: "Mom, I can't do this. I am too afraid. I really don't think I can do this." The teacher was calling for her to start and I had to come up with something to say. I reminded her that she worked really hard and that she was sure to make it if she did her best. That she would definitely NOT make it if she didn't try and to think of her dad being at the back of the room doing this with her. I also told her to do the Sharpay trick (High Shool Musical) which made her smile. She took a deep breath and walk to the middle of the gym. The music started, she struck her pose and went for it! She didn't freeze, she sang 'loud and proud" and when they thanked her the relief and pride was visible, SHE DID IT!!

I prompted her to ask the teacher when she would find out if she'd made it and she was told on the spot "Congratulations! You made it!" She was practically jumping out of her skin with excitement. And of course I was so proud of her, too. I know how much this will help her confidence. So look for video to be posted around May 30th to see how things actually turn out. I'm sure there will be more afraid moments in the next couple of weeks, but not nearly as strong. She set a goal, worked hard to make it good, followed through and achieved what she wanted. It's all good from here, right?!?

Help - Need Some Perspective

OK Mom friends. I really need some perspective here. McKenna wants to enter the school talent show. And for that I'm thrilled. She's not generally one to want to be in the limelight, but she really feels she could do well and I want so badly to encourage this for her.

My dilemma - she wants to sing to Beyonce's Irreplaceable http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsQvXgCcng8 (she's never seen the video) and dance to the same song with her friend. I don't believe that she will survive the first audition, but I'm even wondering if I should let her try out. It's alright for her to sing and dance to our music choices at home, but I really need some perspective from you out there to tell me what you would think of a 7 year old singing this song to her elementary schoolmates. I really tried to get her to find another song, but this has been a favorite for a while, even though she really can't understand the concepts.

So please feel free to tell me like you see it. And if I should nix the idea, any suggestions on what to replace it with? Thanks!