Off to the Beach

It’s the Memorial Day weekend- the unofficial start of summer and we are celebrating! We are off to the beach where we rented a quaint cottage. No internet, nothing fancy schmanzy, just good old summer fun. We will awake to the sounds of the waves and soak in the sun. TheFisherman will be so happy again and the boys will build sandcastles or sand sculptures or whatever it is they can mold with their hands. I will be along the sidelines, taking in the scene, book in hand and getting a tan.

For a while we will forget the home improvement projects, the Verizon people who digged and bore holes in our front yard. Yes, the same front yard we painstakingly tried to revive by dumping with a truckful of dirt. Where we spent about 5 weeknights shovelling and dumping and leveling everything off. The front yard that delivered - as evidenced by the green soft grass that finally grew and thrived. The green green grass that TheFisherman coveted for a long time now. The same spot the Verizon people decided they will bore holes in and install wires under.

But we will forget about that.

For now the truck is packed with the fishing gear and a 3 days worth of clothes and food. We will savor this vacation as much as we can.

Hope you all have a great weekend as well!

 

picture is of a cross stitch piece I made. It says:

Remember summer at the beach
feeding gulls just out of reach
clouds of animals drifting by
changing places in the sky
It borders on a shameful crime
to leave our childhood summertime

~~~~D. Morgan~~~~~

Hold that Thought

First off, thanks for the visit and thanks to those who wished me a happy mother’s day. Belated happy mom’s day to everyone.

I’ve been busy and I’ve been running around so apologies for not visiting my blogger friends. I will be back to doing my rounds one of these days. And the tags I will do as well. I have so much to write about - my new hair (again!), my first movie night with my girlfriends, my take on the latest GA epi, MIL coming over to visit, and so much more.

For now, hold that thought.

New Look

Thanks to all those who greeted me on my 1st blogversary. It is comments from people all over the globe that makes us feel connected and appreciated. In fact I can open up a lot in my blog and vent to my heart’s content knowing that somewhere someone out there must be going through the same stuff I am. That makes it bearable and that makes blogging worthwhile.

That said, how do y’all like my new look? I thought that after a year, it was time to shed my old skin and don a new one. Of course I haven’t gotten round to tweaking it yet as I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Tween2 has been sick for almost a week now and his Pediatrician did some tests, the results of which we are still awaiting. For now he stays here at home with me, watching TV and resting. Poor kid has bags under his eyes like a journalist on a deadline. It is for this reason that we weren’t able to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival. I could have gotten lots and lots of pictures of pretty flowers and picturesque scenes. Instead, we are at home. Oh well, maybe next weekend.

We are also having some work done in the sunroom/sun porch. And what was supposedly a 1 1/2 days work turned out to be 3 days. So 1 sick kid + 1 contractor + 2 workers = Mom’s messed up routine. Note how I did manage to sneak up some blogging time though (wink wink).

And so once again, thanks to all those who greeted me. Here’s to another year.

Two Weeks

So we were down for the count after having been struck with yet another virus. And once again, I was the hardest hit. Having suffered a “double whammy” as my Doctor said. I’ve been to the Doctor’s office every month for the past 3 months and am bracing for this month. I do hope not. I did lose 10 lbs from the whole deal and have been careful with my rice intake. My sons are okay except that it is nearly Spring and we have to stock up on antihistamine meds in preparation.

TheFisherman insists Spring is right around the corner. He said he’s been seeing robins everywhere. Tween1 says his allergies are acting up and Tween2 just shrugs and continues on with playing. Me? I am excited about garage sales and flea markets. I anticipate the Spring cleaning and am itching to purge stuff as well. I have given away most of my skinny clothes. Not because I have given up on getting thin but because it’s cathartic to get rid of stuff that are otherwise crowding my closet. I can easily buy more clothes once garage sale season is here.

We had to miss one party last week. Which is just as well. It’s been 4 weeks in a row with the same people and I am packing up the pounds with all the pot luck parties. I am however, looking forward to camping and fishing and being out in the sun. I think I’ll even get a tan. One of those golden tans that glisten in the sun. I’ve always been envious of sun kissed tans. Being on the fair side, I only get red and not tan. I think tan people look healthy and glowing and sexy. There are a lot of products out there but I am hesitant to try lest I look orange and not tan.

Apologies to my blogger friends. I haven’t been visiting much lately. I am still recuperating and have been offline for the past 2 weeks. Life goes on though and I have been busy with mommy and wifey chores. Promise to visit y’all soon!

In Search of Brighter Days

 

I haven’t written much lately and I haven’t bloghopped as much. Life has been a series of ups and downs and endless parties and potluck dinners. And baby showers and bday parties and get-togethers. Add to that the fact that we’re getting sick again. Tween2 started it first and then TheFisherman and then Tween1 and finally me. It’s going around, this flu. Everywhere you go the sounds of coughing and sniffling and hemming and hawing as we try and make it through. Winter looks like it’ll never end. And I hate to complain but enough already!

I look out the window to the backyard. And I see something that fills me with longing —

The barbecue grill sits outside in the backyard, awaiting the next get together. It lies in wait for the hot charcoals and the group of people who stands around it as they all admire the food.  The aroma wafts in the air as smoke comes out. The barbecue grill basks in the glory.

I await barbecue days. For the kids to run around with the dogs, chasing them with water guns. The dogs cowering behind me, seeking refuge. TheFisherman a spectator to it all, as he holds his tong in one hand and an apron tied around his waist. He grins. This is the life.

Snapping back to reality, Tween1 walks up to me and declares he’s hungry. Time to feed him and get him his meds.

barbecue image credits: www.amazon.com

Winter Blahs

So I didn’t get my iPhone. The one and only gift I wished for Christmas. And to top it all off, I got sick and so did my whole family. Which would have been okay had we not been the hosts for the annual Christmas party wherein we hosted 6 families. But we did manage and the party was a success. By the time New Year’s was spent at another friend’s digs, I was feeling well enough to dance the macarena (I kid you not!) with friends and family. And that’s with just a half glass of champagne! We did have games and I scored a pair of cute rooster kitchen towels. The kids had a blast and The Fisherman had way too much to drink but got sober in time to drive us all home. Seeing as I am blind during the night, we took the chance of letting a drunk drive than a blind person. LOL. But seriously, he did sober up before driving.

School started exactly the day after New Year’s and I was glad! I managed to get some zzzzs while the kids were in school and the naps helped a lot. Of course I am still suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) which I always have during the winter. You see, the lack of sunlight makes people like me depressed and down in the dumps. I do not take medication for this as my depression isn’t that bad. I can function normally albeit less enthusiastically. But the boys are fed, the laundry and the dishes are done and the house may not be sparkling clean but it’s liveable enough.

Winter is also the time when people get prone to cabin fever. And so we thank the lucky stars for the boob tube. The blockbuster online rentals which come in the mail, the internet, and the phone. We crave the sun and we make do with whatever we have on hand. Unfortunately though, we also have food. Loads of it. And I’ve been baking and cooking and slaving in the kitchen. And The Fisherman has been cooking like there’s no tomorrow. This is one of the times when I wished both of us can’t cook. Because we both know how to cook, we cook whatever we feel like eating whenever we want. Which makes for a fatter, unhappier me.

I don’t make resolutions though. I stopped a long time ago. What’s the point? I never do ‘em anyway. And since I’ve been depressed lately, I have no energy, drive or guts to change something or better myself for now. The day will come. It’s just not now.

Maybe we should move to Florida. The sunshine state. We’ve been toying with the idea for about 4 years now. And came close to buying a house for about 6 times now. BUT we’re still here. I stopped hoping one day we’ll move. If we decide, we’ll just pack our bags and leave. And leave the dreary, dark winters of the East coast. I have to admit, the thought of fishing and basking in the sun, and gardening without thinking of frost killing my plants appeals to me. Right now, it’s very appealing indeed.

Behind

I am lagging behind in my blog. There are so many things I want to write about - G’s Mexican fiesta themed birthday party, the shuttling to and fro for school Thanksgiving lunches, the colors of fall, the house that turned into a B&B for the nth time, the weight gain, the endless parties, FishermanHub’s flu, C’s thoughts on girls, etc etc. I can go on and on and I cannot seem to be able get my thoughts together and start writing.

I apologize for the tags, memes and awards that I have yet to do/give. Life is crazy right now. Will be back as soon as I feel the need to rise above the surface to get me some air.

For now, happy thanksgiving everyone!

Torn

What do you do when 2 people confide in you about the other? Such is my case. And I am torn between trying to mediate between the two and just letting them vent. I have chosen the latter, for world peace. Not that I’m afraid that my own relationship will suffer because of my meddling but because I think they really don’t need mediation at all. On one hand, I feel good that people confide in me. That means they trust me to keep their secrets, which I do. I never divulge any information about another person which will truly hurt that other person. I’m no saint but there are really some things I keep sacred, keeping one person’s secret is one of them. On the other hand, sometimes I want to tell the other about what the other might have been thinking that would have started the misunderstanding in the first place. But there are times when we need to keep our mouths shut and just lend a shoulder, an ear, and our time.

There are times though when the burden is so great, I can only pray for these people and hope that one day they’ll resolve all their differences as quickly as possible. And then I think about my own life. Sometimes I feel so down in the dumps that I am totally convinced that I am alone. But it turns out I’m not. And in the face of adversity, pain and tribulations, I am surrounded by people who I love and who loves and cares for me in return.

Bits and Pieces

There was something about the way my son C was talking yesterday that made me realize that he’s 11 years old now. It wasn’t the content or the essence of what he was saying. It was the way he said it - his voice, his intonation, his expression, his gestures. He acted almost like a teenager. I didn’t know how to react - would i be sad because he’s growing up and has lost some of the “innocence” or should i be happy because he is becoming his own person, developing his sense of identity. In the end i decided on both. Motherhood is overwhelming at times. Not to mention how age is creeping up on me. I feel so old these days. I feel like i am sprouting up gray hairs every day. Wrinkles are making an appearance on my face. The bags under my eyes are getting puffier and the tummy pouch is getting harder and harder to get rid of by the minute. And so yeah, i feel old. And your son showing signs of aging kind of reminds you of that even more. My husband still insists on having another baby. “We produce good looking babies” as if it’s the latest product on the market - “newer! better packaging! new look!” I refuse to budge. The thought of bringing a baby in this world once again where i have to battle with strollers and car seats is very intimidating. Heck, I can’t even get my niece out of her car seat! Both my sons don’t want another baby brother or sister. “Too much work” they said. 

I am still going through life changes. It’s a long and winding road. But i have taken the time to pause and think otherwise it’ll drive me crazy. Still busy, but still blogging. I have a lot of plans - better looking blog, a cooking blog,regular contributions to the pmn ezine (sorry Raq and Dexie!), books to read. places to go. poems to write. stories to tell. I have a lot of them. There’s a lot of me wanting to go out and share. Until then, these are bits and pieces of me.

Possessed

I believe that our doorbell is possessed. DH changed it a few weeks ago and it would suddenly ring even though there’s no one outside. Or it would have this “clock chime” very much like a grandfather clock. I joked that our doorbell has an identity crisis, it does not know whether it’s a doorbell or a clock. It is very weird but DH blames it on the cold weather. He says that somehow the cold affects the chimes. Whatever, I still think it is possessed. That there’s some evil spirit lurking in the shadows with the intention of driving me crazy. Sometimes it would ring in the wee hours of the morning. The first time it happened, DH and I rushed to the door to see who it was, thinking that it was an emergency. Well, no one’s there and we just went back to bed but I lay awake that night thinking, tossing and turning. Sometimes I think crazy kids just out trying to have fun but I look out the window and no one’s there. It would ring on different times of the day and sometimes what bugs me is when I am in the bathroom and it rings, I rush outside the bathroom only to find out no one’s there. It drives me nuts! DH asked me if I wanted it removed but I said no, how do we know if there really is someone there? Even the dogs are confused. They bark whenever they hear the doorbell and wait for someone to come to the door but when we see that no one’s there, they just turn and do their thing. For now, I endure the chimes and hope that one day it’ll stop. Let’s hope when the warm weather comes that it’s all going to be normal again or else I’ll have to call an exorcist. LOL