I Interrupt This Blogging Slump...

...with happy photos. Many happy photos.

Like this one. This is Ollie and I'm in love with him. And don't accuse me of just falling for his looks; the boy has a great personality, too.

Here we are loaded in a minivan headed to New York City. That's James and DeDe along with my boys. James says it looks like I'm trying to show off my wedding ring in this picture.

We had an amazing few days together. We toured Washington DC, New York, as well as the mushroom capitol of the world. We spent most of our many hours of driving time playing "Hot Seat," asking each other deeply personal questions. 

Here's the boys club. Aren't they cute?

Let me now interrupt this blog post to point out a disturbing trend I've noticed. It seems that my last born offspring is slowly, inexplicably, morphing into Richard Nixon. What the?

If you have information regarding this problem, please let me know. I'm officially concerned.

Anyway, back to the trip. We had a great time and looked forward to it for so long, I'm completely sulky now that it's over.

It's impossible to tell but I promise it's true, minutes after this photo was taken, Ryan did an AMAZING toddler impression. It was an oscar-worthy performance. Even Ollie liked it.

Here's one last shot of me and my brother. I'd like you to know that I didn't pin him down, sit on him, or threaten to beat him up once during his visit. And likewise, he didn't call me a fat cow. We've really grown since we were nine and six.

It was so much fun being together. However, I've been thinking about it and I've determined that it was NOT long enough, and I demand a do-over!

Who's with me?

Hollywood Flashy Crap

I talked with Ryan via Skype yesterday. He was filling me in on all the Polish 411. The old town in Warsaw is amazing, he said. So far the food hasn't been spectacular, but the views, city, and people make up for it.

Later in the conversation, I asked him how people dress. I would like to blend in when I'm there and look less western, since the news channels can't shut up about the elevated terror threats in Europe directed at Americans.

"They dress pretty nice," he said, "but very toned down. Black, brown, gray. That stuff."

"Okay," I said, making mental wardrobe notes.

"I wouldn't wear all of your Hollywood flashy crap, like you're headed to a magazine shoot."

Ahem?

He said that for my safety, right?

Maybe Leroy at the post office was speaking for the Universe when he told me, "There's no need to vogue."

(My non-vogue passport photo.)

Abstract Thoughts at Almost Midnight

Here's the thing about me and Life.
I work really hard on my relationship with Life.
I pay attention to it,
Make it cookies with toasted coconut,
Listen to its self-centered stories,
Send it "just because" cards in the mail,
Invite it over for dinner.
OK, I admit it: I am sort of a suck-up to Life.
I totally dig Life.
Even though it mumbles sometimes and walks too fast.
(Wait up, Life! I got short legs!)
Every now and then I think I understand Life.
Life smiles at me and tells me a funny joke about mustard,
And for five minutes I'm blissful.
I'm like, Life and I are so tight. 
We totally get each other.
And then out of nowhere,
Life dumps its Diet Coke in my lap,
Grabs my ankles,
And drops me on my head.
And I'm like, Whoa! What just happened?
What the hell was that for?
Then Life just shrugs and walks away.
And I hold my head in my Diet Coke lap,
Wondering how many batches of cookies it will take
To get Life to like me again.

Dear Mom: The Morning Routine

I'm going to multi-task here. In an effort to both keep up with blogging and tell my mom everything she's going to need to know while I'm gone, I'm going to write her some letters here on the ol' blogaroo. And in the event that she gets lost here while trying to find the mailbox and can't fulfill her duties, all the information will be written out and one of you dear readers can fill in for her.

Dear Mom,

The first thing you should know is that there is something wrong with Christian. Like, seriously messed up. For reasons that can't be explained, the kid gets up every morning around 6:00, sometimes earlier, without the aid of any encouragement on my part. Sometimes he uses an alarm clock, sometimes he lets his circadian rhythm naturally launch him out of his bed and into the shower. After he showers, he gets ready, makes his bed, picks up his bathroom and bedroom, and then heads downstairs to spend some time on homework or catching up on ESPN or mastering another level on one of his video games. I'd like to say that I've influenced this bizarre, responsible behavior, but I think you probably still have vivid memories of my morning lethargy, not to mention the hazardous conditions of my bedroom.

You'll make him feel most at home if you, as I do, stumble out of bed around 6:50 or 7:00, wander downstairs with eyes half-closed, wish him good morning, and ask him if he'd like anything for breakfast. Most of the time he declines, but I make him a couple of pieces of toast (with peanut butter and honey) anyway and then spend the next ten minutes begging him to eat them. He heads out to catch the bus at 7:15, lugging his overstuffed backpack. Feel free to eat the rest of his uneaten toast.

I refer to the hour of 6:50 to 7:50 as the Honeymoon phase of the morning. It goes so swimmingly, so effortlessly, you might be lulled into thinking that cartoon bluebirds are going to swoop in and begin dressing you in handmade (wingmade?) clothes from the tablecloth.

This will not happen.

Max usually has to be nudged/threatened awake, sometime around 7:40. He'll want his fuzzy red robe to put on and you'll have to resist giggling at the way he looks like a little old man in it. You can ask him what he wants for breakfast, but I don't recommend it. He'll take a full 20 minutes to contemplate it, and you just don't have that kind of time. He likes toast or yogurt or a Toad in the Road.

Max should be dressed and fed and freshly tooth-brushed by about 8:15, give or take a few minutes. He needs his homework in his backpack, as well as a snack of the toasted goldfish cracker variety. You'll want to grab a jacket and head out the door with him to join our friendly neighbors at the bus stop/mailbox for a wonderful morning chat before the bus comes to pick the kids up.

At this point, you can walk down a couple of doors to Estelle's house to join her for a morning walk on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We used to walk every morning, but Estelle has recently ditched me on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays in favor or a senior citizens water aerobics class at the local gym. I'm not sure what that means on a personal level that someone would choose pool time with the seriously bathing-suit-challenged over a brisk walk with moi, but I plan to ponder it on my lengthy flight.

Back at the house, it's just you and the dog. You should make sure that she has food (one scoop per day) and water. Do not give in to the urge to feed her whatever the kids didn't eat for breakfast, no matter how forlornly she looks at you, wincing, and trying to pretend like she has a hard life. Her life consists of napping, snuggling, eating, more napping, and low-impact resting. We should all be so lucky. That's why we get to eat peanut butter and bacon and she doesn't. There has to be some balance in the world, for crying out loud.

Feel free to indulge yourself in reading or TV, but avoid the fourth hour of the Today Show at all costs. Kathie Lee is...scary. You can dabble in dish-doing if the mood strikes, but if I were you, I'd probably sprawl out on the couch and ponder life with a bag of potato chips.

This takes care of the morning. Any questions?

Didja hear the one about the lady who flew to Poland by herself?

That's right. I'm flying to Poland by myself. Ryan will already be in Poland, which will make him unavailable to fly with me. I'm not really worried about flying by myself. I've done it before. However, I do get occasional butterflies when I remember that I will have to switch planes in Paris and find baggage claim in Warsaw, when I speak neither French nor Polish. Oy vey! (I do speak a little yiddish. Will that do me any good?)

Ryan will already be in Warsaw, teaching a course at Warsaw University to Polish grad students with one of his colleagues. I will join him at the end of his teaching and then we're going to tour Warsaw, Vienna, and Prague. It's going to be an adventure, for sure, not to mention for my mom, too, who is flying out to stay with our kids when I leave. She assures me that she has no worries about managing the kids, but she is terrified of getting lost on the way to our mailbox. She comes from the land of wide, straight roads, and, well, we don't.

I've asked the neighbors to watch out for her, to offer directions and even escort her if necessary. The fact that there is a GPS in the car seems to bring her no comfort. The fact that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west provides no relief. The fact that I'm going to provide her with a list of addresses of any and every place she could possibly need or want to go offers her no solace. However, the bulk case of signal flares I ordered in the event of her getting lost is giving some peace of mind. I have also advised her to wear reflective neon clothing and to leave a small trail of breadcrumbs everywhere she goes.

I know it's not always wise to blog about upcoming travel. However, I am confident that I have taken all necessary security precautions. The house will be protected by our alarm company, our terrifying guard dog, and our short-tempered Samoan bodyguard, Mewannacutchoo.

Everything's going to be fine.

Dear Blog, It's not you. It's me.

Not sure why the words aren't coming so easily these days. Well, actually, that's not true. I'm pretty sure I know exactly why. My mind and heart have been caught up in some matters that aren't blogable and I've never been very good at blogging-as-usual when my heart and mind are elsewhere. It turns out that my mind and heart are key players in this writing thingie I do. (I shouldn't have typed that out; they're going to come begging for a raise.)

Anyhoodle, I'm going to try harder to get both of them on board to keep up here. Because I miss this. I miss you. 

In other news, did I tell you that I'm headed out of town next month? In fact, I'm headed out of state, country, time zone, and foods I'm familiar with. I'm going to cross an ocean, people. And--get this--I'm flying alone. Eeek!

But all of that is a story for another day. It's late now and I'm going to retire. But I promise I'll be back. You'll be here, won't you?

Ten Thoughts for a Tuesday and an Unrelated Photo

1. Bad economy! Go to your room!
2. I am in a funk. Funny how being in a funk does not make me feel funky. 
3. J.D. and D.D. arrive in eight days. That makes me feel funky.
4. The forecast has been spectacular.
5. I like doing laundry, which I realize means something is wrong with me.
6. If a genie granted me three wishes, one of them would be to have a British accent. (I cannot reveal the other two because they would blow your freaking mind.)
7. I found some amazing knives the other day at TJ Maxx, and cut my finger within 12 hours of the purchase. I am not used to amazing knives.
8. I keep ordering weird, unknown movies on Netflix, expecting to be delighted. Turns out, some weird, unknown movies are unknown for a reason.
9. The other day we saw a Chevy Citation on the road. I used to drive one. It was blue.
10. I love my sisters. I love other people too, of course, but I'm dedicating this thought to the two of them.

Christian just got home from school. I forced him to take a picture with me.

A Ringing Endorsement

These are my friends Annie and Dan.

They are ready to be parents.

Guess what kind of parents they will be?

The best kind.

The kind that will read story books every night before bed.

The kind that will keep track of teeth brushing, fingernail clipping, and vegetable intake.

The kind that will say no when you should say no, and yes when you should say yes.

The kind that will surround their kids with loving cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

The kind that will make sure their kids never stay up or out too late (unless there's a really good reason).

The kind that will make birthdays and holidays and even normal days special.

The kind that will check for monsters under the bed and witches in the closet every night, if needed.

The kind that will wipe noses, clean up puke, and pull all-nighters when the occasion calls.

The kind that will give their kids tedious chores that they won't appreciate until adulthood.

The kind that will continue to buy Legos even after they step on a few strays 

left in the middle of the floor.

The kind that will gladly attend parent teacher conference and back to school night
and PTA meeting and soccer practice and piano recitals and fund raiser meetings 

and even a few blood-curdling tween concerts.

The kind that will be good examples of hard work and a strong marriage.

The kind that will answer all the tough questions as best they can, 

and admit when they don't know any more.

The kind that will smile and laugh at lame-o first grade jokes.

The kind that will give pep talks, hugs, and unsolicited advice,
no matter how many times the eyes roll.

The kind that any kid would be exceptionally lucky to have.

The kind our world needs more of.

Annie and Dan are adoptive parents, waiting for a miracle. 

I am their friend who is happy to share their story.

You  know, because.

Because maybe you know someone.

Or maybe you know of someone.

Or maybe you will know someone.

Someone who isn't able to care for a child.

Someone who is looking for a solution to a heart-wrenching problem.

And maybe you will think, Hey! I think I know who could help.

And maybe you will remember Annie and Dan.

They even have a website with more of their information.

Check it out.

Spread the word, if you like.

Hug your kids.

And keep my friends in the back of your mind.

This Story Is Way Shorter Than It Looks

I'm suffering from a chronic case of writer's block
I think I need a strong antibiotic
And perhaps some sort of -ectomy
I've sat down to write many, many times
Then frozen completely
Several hours later when I finally thaw
I can't write
Because at that point I need a snack
Because I'm hypoglycemic
Speaking of hypoglycemia
Most people roll their eyes at the hypoglycemic population
(I'm looking at you, Ryan)
But that's just because they are jealous
That those of us who are hypoglycemic
Have to eat at regular intervals
Or else we get really mean
And lightheaded
And headache-y
And petty
And sometimes dead
I cannot be held accountable for things I say or do
When my blood sugar is low
I have a note from the doctor
No I don't
I just fibbed there
But you can't blame me
Because I haven't eaten for three and a half hours
Let's switch gears now
A funny thing happened today
Ryan's been waiting for some test results in the mail
Not results for blood sugar levels
Results from the licensing exam
He studied all summer long for that damned exam
It was one of the black rainclouds that hung over our summer
(There were others, too)
He took the exam at the end of the summer
And had to get a 70 percent to pass
It's a ridiculously difficult test
Most of which has nothing to do with his work at all
But a man's got to do what a man's got to do
And my man had to study for and pass this test
He found out last week that he passed
(Holy Mother of Yahooeeee!)
But he didn't know his score
Until today
I got the mail and texted him that it arrived
I asked him if he wanted me to open it
He didn't reply right away
So I was forced to open it
(My blood sugar was low at the time)
I saw his score and was confused
It said 720
I thought maybe a decimal was missing
Like, it was supposed to be 72.0
And I thought to myself
Wow, he barely passed
That's going to bother him
He's going to ruminate about this for months
When he finally texted me back
(After I'd had a cookie to prevent death)
I asked him if he wanted to know his score
He said yes
I told him that he got a 72
Or at least what I figured was a 72
I told him the decimal was missing
It just said 720
But it was supposed to be 72.0
Because I had it all figured out, of course
He called me at that point
He was laughing
He said 720 is the scaled score
Which made sense, now that he mentioned it
Since it said "Scaled Score: 720" on the paper
I asked him what that meant, then
What's your score? I said
He said, Well, 500 is 70 percent
Oh
Which means 720 is way more than 70 percent
Right-o
Even more than 72.0 percent
You betcha
Like ninety-something percent
Yowza
He's not exactly sure how many percent
Because as it turns out
That is a really tough math problem to figure out
And this wasn't a math exam
It was a licensing exam
Which he passed, by the way
With a buttload of flying colors
And I couldn't figure out what percentage it was either
Because I'm hypoglycemic

The Very Complex Creative Process

• Stage 1: A good idea is born. No, make that a great idea.
• Stage 2: Your soul is filled with purpose, your veins with adrenaline. You're the king of the world! No, better than that--you're an artist!
• Stage 3: You compose the entire piece in your head and...it's brilliant.
• Stage 4: Pen (or computer, or paintbrush, or guitar) in hand, you begin the real work, the nuts and bolts of putting your brilliant idea into a tangible form!
• Stage 5: You stop for a snack.
• Stage 6: You check out what's on TV.
• Stage 7: You get back to work and redo the entire beginning.
• Stage 8: You stop for another snack.
• Stage 9: Potty break.
• Stage 10: You get back to work and erase at least one-third of what you've done.
• Stage 11: Panic.
• Stage 12: Confusion.
• Stage 13: Blank staring.
• Stage 14: You force yourself back to work and squeeze out a painful sentence/line/stroke/chord.
• Stage 15: You stop fooling yourself and admit--out loud--that you are an idiot.
• Stage 16: You wallow in the miserable realization that you will never, ever, ever have a good idea again in your life.
• Stage 17: You imagine yourself as an old, toothless homeless person talking to anyone who will listen about all the brilliant ideas that escaped you.
• Stage 18: Massive chocolate and/or potato chip intake.
• Stage 19: You give yourself a half-hearted pep talk and decide to try again.
• Stage 20: Before trying again, you wander every room in the house and lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling.
• Stage 21: You re-read The Little Engine That Could.
• Stage 22: You weep uncontrollably.
• Stage 23: You force yourself back to your work.
• Stage 24: You're really serious. No more playing around. You're going to soldier on. You're ready to get back on the creative horse, no matter how many times it bucks you off.
• Stage 25: You get back to work...right after you take a very important self-portrait.

A Change of Plans

Max was in a melancholy mood the other night. He explained that after a lot of thought, he was going to stop saving up for a Lamborghini. It wasn't a realistic dream. He had eight dollars in his wallet and he figured it was going to take every nickel from every petsitting job from now until adulthood to have enough for his beloved car. And even though he was sure he could do it, he realized that he would probably want to purchase other stuff along the way, like video games and candy.

Goodbye, Lamborghini. Easy come, easy go.

He consoled himself by googling images of Mustangs and Camaros. His plan now, he explained, was to purchase one of each. The two-seater Camaro for himself and the four-seater Mustang for the wife and kids. I nodded approvingly.

There was a lot of life planning going on beneath all that blond hair. When I told Ryan about it, he thought it was sad. When I told the neighbor about it, she thought it was hilarious. When I think about it, I'm somewhere in between.

Do you remember the plans you made as a child?

Mandatory Photos for the Grandparents

First day of seventh grade.

First day of second grade.

Stuff I Didn't Know About Adulthood Until I Got Here

• Most things are complicated.
• Most people are complicated.
• Sooner or later, you have to learn to be assertive.
• You really only need a few good friends.
• The amount of thanks you gave your mother for cooking is directly related to the amount of thanks you'll get from your own kids.
• Being right is less important and valuable than you ever thought it would be.
• Grownups get mad at kids for making messes, but nobody makes bigger messes than grownups.
• Taxes suck.
• There are too many occasions where there is very little you can do to help.
• Just when you think you've got it all figured out, everything changes.
• Nothing is black and white.
• You will continue to be haunted by everything you swore you'd never do as a parent.
• People can change, but you can't change them.
• Sometimes life is absolutely terrifying.
• The most valuable skill you will ever develop is listening, followed closely by shutting up.
• You're going to feel ambivalent about a lot of things.
• No matter how old you get, there are still times when all you want is your mommy.
• You are the only one who's going to eat that last little bit of cereal in the box.
• Sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader.
• Emotions are transient. Let them come and go.
• You'll probably regret voting for at least half of the people you vote for.
• Worry is a robber.
• You are going to change a lot of toilet paper rolls, diapers, and trash can liners.
• Swearing, when saved for special occasions, can really make you feel better.
• It's completely, 100% okay and normal to doubt.
• It's virtually impossible to leave the house without spending at least $40.
• Gossip always gets you back.
• You really don't need all that stuff. 
• Buying stuff really does seem to make you feel better sometimes.
• Even if you didn't lose the remote control, you're going to be the one to find it.
• Watching the news is only occasionally beneficial.
• The IKEA instructions include everything but the argument with your significant other.
• Sometimes you don't know you're experiencing PMS until you feel the urge to throw things at people's heads.
• No good has ever come from the word "upgrade" especially as it relates to software.
• Every time you turn around, some organization will be asking for your money.
• You will continually surprise yourself at your ability to waste time.
• There is freedom in accepting that life is uncertain and unfair.
• It's good to say no sometimes.
• You can act brave without feeling brave.
• Loving someone will reveal just as much about yourself as it will about them.
• Your metabolism is a jerk.
• You might as well say "I love you" every time you feel like it.
• No matter what you do, individual socks are going to randomly disappear.

What have you learned in adulthood that you didn't know before?

Stuff I won't be doing on September 21st

Mosquitos are biting me tonight to make me feel better about summer ending. The forecast feels bad for me too, promising highs in the mid-nineties all week long. The school district must have been feeling my pain because they cancelled school Friday and Monday. My friend Estelle assures me that summer lasts through September 21st, but we both know that I won't be sitting poolside on September 21st. I'll be sitting deskside. And I'll be signing permission slips and lunch money checks and nagging children to finish up their homework and go to bed.

Boo.

Waaaa.

Stomp.

Harumph.

I won't be doing this on September 21.

Or watching my children frolic in the ocean.

I won't be watching B.B. King in an outdoor concert.

Or standing by as my offspring learns to wield a gun.

I won't be making s'mores in a giant fireplace in the Virginia mountains.

Or standing coquettishly by a gorgeous overlook.

Or following Max's sure-footed steps on a hiking trail.

I won't be hanging out at a fancy blogger party in New York with my girl Kami.

Or waiting patiently at the exit of amusement park rides.

Or snapping blurry photos of amazing moonlit beaches.

Not to mention sunlit beaches and gorgeous colorful cabanas.

I won't be loading my baby (and my baby daddy) onto a parachute and sending them 375 feet into the air.

Or escorting my other baby up into the sky, almost completely against his will.

And I definitely won't be eating at completely bizarro, delicious restaurants that have a glass case of extra special, two-headed taxidermified animals to enjoy while dining.

Well, I guess I could do that on September 21st.

I could definitely do that on September 21st.

It doesn't have to be summer to do that. The animals are stuffed--they're not going anywhere!

That place was crazy, dude. And the crab cakes were almost as life-changing as an Amish donut.

OK, I'm feeling better.

Maybe I will live through fall, winter, and spring after all.

Nose Job

A real blog post is coming soon; but in the mean time, please check out this new random talent we discovered on Max. He can collapse his nostrils at will.