Saturday, March 20, 2010

Would You Rather?

This:


Or This?



I thought so.

The kids left early this morning for their belated Honeymoon to the Dominican Republic.

The weather all week was in the high '60's and sunny, beautiful. Until today.

Did the kids know something we didn't?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy St. Patty's Day!


So, I was all excited last night. Peeled the potatoes and put the corned beef in the crock pot for today.

This morning I add some spices, beer and water...turn on the crockpot.....I AM ready!

Come home tonight ready for some corned beef and beer.

As I walk down the hallway I am a little surprised I don't smell our dinner. I walk into the condo and still don't smell anything (except cats).

My crockpot bit the dust.

No corned beef

No potatoes

STILL plenty of beer, thank God

Pizza for dinner. And a Happy St. Pat's to you!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Bittersweet


This pic is of my daughter Lauren holding her cousin Olivia, Angie's daughter.

It was taken at the forest preserve that Mom loved. She played there as a child and returned years later when she sought peace.

On this Saturday following Thanksgiving we were scattering half of her ashes, per her wishes. The other half was placed on Dad's grave. Also, per her wishes.

You see, since Dad was such a popular guy his wake was a very public affair. We had Union Reps, Irish Clowns and Airport Commisioners. Politicians and Gang Bangers. Family and Friends.

It was a zoo.

And very, very upsetting for the widow.

She made me promise that there would be no wake for her.

No funeral.

No casket.

Ashes scattered at the two most meaningful places by her children and grandchildren.

We weren't able to do this in June as she was an organ donor and Angie had to return home to her newborn daughter before her body was released.

I dreaded this day. I'm not comfortable displaying emotions in front of others.

I am The Strong One. The Big Sister. The Mom.

And now, the Matriarch.

But, as we walked through the forest to the bridge that crossed a little stream, it seemed so right, so destined.

Rest in peace, Mom. You'll be missed.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Angie

Enough with chronological order! Let's continue with The Fable:



When I was in Junior High (Or CPS's lame version of Jr. High), I was quite in demand as a babysitter. All of the moms in the neighborhood wanted me. The rational was if I could keep my two unrully brothers in line, I could do anything!

Quite true. Kids loved me, babies adored me. Yet another reason I imagined a large family in my future, but alas (if you've read my previous post) that was not meant to be.

Back to the story. I really wanted two things: a sister and an older brother. I figured the older brother thing was a wash so I prayed for a sister.

And I mean pray. This was during my two year stint as a Jehovah's Witness (NOW, there's a story). I was pretty good at the whole prayer thing.

Then mother became pregnant again. (Oh, and let me tell you, religion or not I was snarky even then...I made it quite clear that the thought of my parents Getting It On was disgusting!)

So I prayed for a girl. Because another little brother was unthinkable. I even went so far as to tell my mother that she was welcome to come home from the hospital, but if she had a son, he was not.

Snarky already

On my first day of High School I came home to a note saying that she was in labor. I prayed some more.

A few hours later the call came: "How are you Mom? Good, Good. Sooooo???? (LONG pause) A girl? Thank You God! You may both come home"

Mind you this isn't a direct quote. LOL, but it's pretty close. Over the years Mom said she knew I was bossy but that just solidified my bitchy status. hehehe

Well, Angela Nicole was a beauty. And such a good baby. Once she was too large for the bassinet she was moved to a crib in an upstairs bedroom. Mother was hard of hearing even then and Dad could sleep through bombing, so I was pretty much her primary caregiver at night.

After school she became my official mascot, going everywhere with me. As a matter of fact, strangers on the street would mistake her for my own. Many times arguing with me that she was mine. (Sorry, but I think I would have remembered that whole birthing thing)

When she was preschool age I enlisted in the Marine Corps. She says she was devastated. I am sorry for that Ang, I just had to get out of Dodge, you know?

Over the years our relationship was more like that of an Aunt and niece due to the age difference. After Lauren was born she would come visit us wherever we were living at the time: Cape Cod, Philly, and lastly, California.

When we lived in CA, she spent most of her summers with us, with many of her friends joining thoughout.

This has made Angie and Lori close, like sisters. Angie was Lor's Maid of Honor at her wedding last year (trust me she worked her butt off that day! The pic is from the wedding) They list each other as siblings on Facebook.

Angie lives in Florida now with her significant other. Her older son is living with his father here in Chicago (long story there). She has a new beautiful daughter Olivia Nicole who is now almost a year old. And she is a pill, let me tell you! Hehe.....Just last night our phone conversation was laced with: "stop climbing, get out of the garbage".

The legacy continues.

Side note: I would put a few more pics in here but I have yet to figure out how to do that in the correct order. I'm working on it.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

You Know That's Why It's Called Work?

While I know I really have only been sick for about 10 days it has felt like forever. Once upon a time I had a fairly strong immune system, but since I started working at my new job I seem to have caught just about every bug that has come my way.

Mind you, I took Microbiology many moons ago and am a fanatic about disinfecting. I mean fanatic. That's one of those courses that stuck out in my head even after I stopped taking care of patients. You want your work space sterile? I'm your girl.

Anyway, I have been a bit crabby. Well, maybe a little more than a bit.

I've felt poorly and add that with many, many policy changes at work, and it makes for bad morale.

I'm sure this has spilled over into my performance (or lack thereof). I have been fortunate that everyone has attributed this to my being sick and has pretty much written off my crankiness.

But it has to stop.

Cause and Effect takes no prisoners. Or is that Karma is a bitch? One or the other, or both.

So....I plan to take a Benadryl tonight so I have a solid night's sleep and plan to do some housekeeping tomorrow. On both my home and my attitude.

Come Monday, Mama's back to work.

Monday, March 1, 2010

You call this pizza??

So still sick. I took the day off to get extra sleep and to check out Jenny Craig.

Aetna has an offer for a free 30 day program so I thought I would give it a shot. While I have had a lot of success with Weight Watchers in the past, I haven't been motivated. It's now March and I'm the heaviest I've ever been.

1st impressions:

The girl wasn't too happy that I wasn't willing to fork over almost $400 for a one year program. Sorry chickie, doesn't work that way. What if I don't like your program? What if I don't like your food? No mention of the 20 pounds for $20 that is advertised. Mhmmmmmm.

Good thing I've taken Marketing.

Also, when you're attempting to sell something, frequent phone calls are a No-No. Just sayin'

The sad thing is that years ago when I was easily embarrased and wanted people to like me I would have felt pressured into signing for it. I wouldn't want to appear cheap or unwilling to commit to my goals.

Now that I'm aged to perfection (like that?) I'm not quite as gullible or eager to please. And unless you expect me to strip naked for the "before" pic, I'm not going to be embarrased either.

Also, $138 for one week of food? In teeny tiny pacs? We'll see how this plays out as well.

Had my first meal for lunch: the personal pizza. Bland as hell, made me want to reach for a Lean Cuisine.

Like I said, I commited myself to a month. If I don't lose a nice amount of weight I guess I will go back to Weight Watchers.

Seriously, though, I hate their frickin' meetings! I don't want to hold hands and sing Kumbayah. (No they don't really do that, but they might as well)