The Mom-inator

Goopey Eye...

2006-11-28T17:40:00.001-05:00

About 3 months ago Jackson came home with what doctors call an orbital eye infection. The eyeball itself is unaffected, but the socket or "orbit" of the eye is infected, and this is not a great thing to have. It's not contagious, but it's not good.

I picked Jack up from school yesterday to find that he had a swollen and bruised eye again. I think it's another orbit infection...Ken thinks Jack took a header and it's just swollen. We've decided to keep him home from school until we can get to the bottom of this. If the swelling doesn't go down I'll know it's another infection...

I wonder what causes this. I've looked it up on WebMD.com , but I get no result. I call this "goopey eye". I had something similar as a child, and antibiotics get rid of this, but my question is where and how does it start? We change sheets regularly, keep his clothes clean and make sure he washes his hands often, but still I'm perplexed.

Anything that happens to this child is a result of his surroundings, and we know this, but "goopey eye" or no, school will have to wait a little longer.

Prepare for the bouncing off of the walls again...Good times.

Goopey Eye...

2006-11-28T17:40:00.000-05:00

About 3 months ago Jackosn came home with what doctors call an orbital eye infection. The eyeball itself is unaffected, but the socket or "orbit" of the eye is infected, and this is not a great thing to have. It's not contagious, but it's not good.

I picked Jack up from school yesterday to find that he had a swollen and bruised eye again. I think it's another orbit infection...Ken thinks Jack took a header and it's just swollen. We've decided to keep him home from school until we can get to the bottom of this. If the swelling doesn't go down I'll know it's another infection...

I wonder what causes this. I've looked it up on WebMD.com , but I get no result. I call this "goopey eye". I had something similar as a child, and antibiotics get rid of this, but my question is where and how does it start? We change sheets regularly, keep his clothes clean and make sure he washes his hands often, but still I'm perplexed.

Anything that happens to this child is a result of his surroundings, and we know this, but "goopey eye" or no, school will have to wait a little longer.

Prepare for the bouncing off of the walls again...Good times.

And the Hits Just Keep On Comin'....

2006-11-27T17:50:00.000-05:00

Here's where we started the weekend: Friday meant a busted timing belt in Ken's truck, Saturday meant very little money for the weekend, Sunday meant a major migraine that lasted all day long, and now Monday meant that I was up at 5:00am for End of Month Inventory at work and Ken stayed home with the bout of stomach flu that hit Jack and I last week, and Jackson came home from school with a black eye, and no one could tell me how it happened.

I am SOOOOO tired of taking from Peter to pay Paul, of being broke, of shuffling things around just to get by...when is enough going to be enough???

I know that I should be grateful for the things that we DO have, but I'm just disgusted. My husband works his ass off to make rent and bills, and I do what I can at my work to cover everything else, but the money is really dropping lately, so now we're struggling. I know it will get better, but for God's sake...when????

Enough with the ranting. We have our health, a roof over our heads, all of the necessary basics needed in order to live. I'm grateful, really I am...Now if only I could just find that happy place.

Tomorrow is another day....

"Shut up!"

2006-11-25T09:55:00.000-05:00

I don't remeber being a two-year old, but I remember being told of my antics. The terrible two's as we delightfully refer to this time in a toddlers life, is upon us here in the Head household.

Darling Jackson, my golden child, the fruit of my loins, my reason for being...God Bless him. He's not too bad for a terrible two-er, but sometimes I know his brain has fallen out of his head through his ear. I'd hate to step on it and not be able to get it back into his little melon, but sometimes I'm tempted.

Being in Nursery school has helped ease some of these little tamtrums, and the exposure to other little terrible two-ers is great, but the things he learns sometimes and brings home amaze me. He bangs on walls when he doesn't get his way, shouting "NO!" at the top of his little lungs...he get's upset when he doesn't get his way, (hey I'm 38 and I get upset when I don't get my way, so who can blame him?) but to have to deal with this is a study in patience, which I know, but when the shit hits the fan and he's pissed and being his little alpha-male self, it's amusing.

I'm bringing Jackson out of our bedroom the other day, and as he's punching another wall and ranting his usual set of "no's" upon me, all of the sudden I hear it..."shut up!" I thought my brain had exploded in my head for a second because I temporarily went blind, deaf and dumb for about oh, 30 seconds or so. So this is where we've ended up...."shut up."

Ken and I use shut up as a joke term mostly, as in ,"no, shut up, really?" or as in "shut the heck up...are you kidding me?" but we don't tell one another to shut up, and we definetly don't tell our son to shut up! "Be quiet" is the term we use when we're looking for silence, but to hear "shut up" come out of our son's mouth...man, I tell you it's lucky Ken wasn't around to hear this or Jack would have been rendered a mute permanently...tongue gone and all!

People, toddlers are a test of our patience. I know this is repetative, but true. My son still lives to see more days, I got over the whole "shut up" thing without any violence ensuing, and our son treads carefully now during tantrums....

"Shut up" indeed....

KRAMER!!!!!!!!!

2006-11-24T23:40:00.000-05:00

It appears that our lovable Cosmo Kramer has put his big foot into his even bigger mouth. Michael Richards is an amazing talent, but stand-up doesn't seem to be the poor guy's forte'.

Okay, we've all seen the video of Michael going off on a group of Afro-Americans at a comedy club in LA, using an extreme amount of badly chosen exploitives, but to go off and bring in famed Ambulance chaser Gloria Allred??? These are two awfully desperate guys, and pretty damn broke too if you ask me.

Why is it that I spent a lifetime hiding the fact that I was Jewish in order to not be called a Kyke, of which I was called numerous times, but these men can be called "niggers" repetitively by a white man, when I'm sure they've been called worse by others, and now they feel they're entitled to finacial compensation as well as a face-to-face apology? Should I have sued every person that called me a kyke? Should every Black or Polish or Russian or Italian or Irish or German person sue for being called a nigger or a dumb pollack or a commie or a Wop Dago or a filthy Mick or a Nazi??? Come on people...bad words are just that, but to claim that they were defamed and demoralized is something altogether fucking stupid.

Was Michael Richards right doing what he did? No. Did he just bring back racism to the forefront of our society? Absolutely, but if anyone thought that racism had disappeared because they hadn't been called a bad name in a long time, man were they wrong! We have always been a racist society; biased, bigoted, mean and nasty. This is something that will NEVER change, but is the end to the means really a financial settlement? Give me a break.

The next time I get called a tight-assed Jew, I'm running for the nearest office of Larry H. Parker and filing a lawsuit, plain and simple. Fuck Gloria Allred, she's a chump who would probably only get me on CNN where I could cry about it. I'd rather have the money.

People Helping People...

2006-11-24T23:29:00.000-05:00

I'm driving home from work tonight when my timing belt goes cablooey. This sucks of course because it's about 8:00 at night, it's dark, cold, and I'm a woman alone on the road in a residential area about 5 miles from home.

Before I state the positives of this situation I feel the need to rant a bit here. I'm sitting on the side of the road, I've called AAA, I'm waiting patiently, and the drivers that are coming in my direction are flashing their brights at me and some of them are even honking their horns at me for the imposition of having to edge over into the on-coming traffic lane. Oh yeah, this is truly something I planned, to mess up these poor drivers in their luxury cars and SUV'S...oh the inconvienience...

We are a society of people who claim to want to help others, but did one single car pull over to ask me if I needed help or to see if I was alright???? No. We've become a society of people who only care for ourselves, and when I say this I mean the "me, myself and I" theory of ourselves. Where is the chivalry, the generosity of others, the kindness of strangers? How am I supposed to raise a child to be a caring, decent young man if no one is willing to show THEIR kindness in return for even the simplest of things? What happened to us, and when did we stop being a great nation of people who care for one another? I was sorely disappointed to see that I could have been near-dead or raped and left for dead, and no one would have stopped to help. How sad is that? As it is, I only had a busted timing belt...pathetic, huh?

On a better note; I didn't panic, I pulled out my AAA card and my cell phone, and upon seeing Mr. Tow Truck Driver I was extremely gracious and appreciative of this man being there to help. I try not to take things like this for granted. I just wish that others could be this way as well...

Still Here and Kicking...

2006-10-04T08:44:00.000-04:00

The last few months have been hectic, busy and productive.

Our little boy started Nursery School in July after months of bouncing off of the walls because we needed to give him more stimulation and interaction with others. In the past two months Jack has really flourished and is doing incredible.

We are now into potty training, listening to constant rounds of "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider", all kinds of art projects (you should see our fridge!) and a very happy child. Jack loves "school" and he's starting to grasp weekends...the two days he's stuck home with us without going to school.

Ken's working like a dog, and it's a good thing, and since Jack has made his entrance into the whole school thing, I too am working more hours. It is what it is, but we all have more responsibility, more things on our plates, and it's a good thing for us all.

Nothing else really has been going on. We're just getting ready for Halloween, and then for the Holidays to be upon us...God, less than 85 shopping days left before Christmas....aaagh!

More later...

I know I know....

2006-07-04T10:45:00.001-04:00

I haven't posted in a long time. There's been interesting and fun stuff happening; we went on vacation finally and had a BLAST!!! I can't wait until next June. Jack travelled very well; he was cheerful, looked around at everything, ran around at the appropriate rest stops, ate on schedule...he even took little naps on the drive to and from North Carolina. He was terrific. Two diaper changes in an eight-hour period, and he was dry for one of them despite having a bottle of water all his own to drink during the trip. He was good at Nana and Papa's house, but it wasn't home, it wasn't his space. It was however Nana's territory, and she was in heaven having him there while we took off and did our own thing in Tennessee and Virginia for a few days. It was good for everyone, and we were happy to be home when it was over. Next year we're doing a trip via Mobile Home...a BIG one. :-)

I'm bartending three days a week now. Ken's still with Stay Online. Jack now know's his ABC'S and his 123's. He'll be two next month. I can't wait.

Jack's gotten really smart. He's definitely his own person. He know's how to pick up his toys, eat with a fork and a spoon, have something short of a conversation with you that's relative to something he wants or needs. We've gotta get him into school...He's too smart to sit at home with me. He loves other little people his age, and he's really opened up a lot...Two already...wow.

That's about it. It's not hard to find the time to post lately, it's just hard to vocalize what it is that's going on here... it's basically the same stuff, except that Jack is growing, it's summer, I'm taking golf lessons, Ken's got a new game he's playing now, nothings changed. I'll keep up when something finally happens that's worthy of sharing...

"It's Been a While..."

2006-05-17T09:31:00.000-04:00

There hasn't been anything too major going on here with the Heads, just the same old same old.

We have decided to start looking in Kennesaw for a new house. The property value is quite good right now, and it's a logical move after a few years in Norcross. We like living here, but the area is starting to change, and not necessarily for the better. Kennesaw is a more established area, and the Cobb County school district is one of the best in Atlanta, or so we've heard. It's just time to move on.

We're going on vacation in a few weeks!!!! Jack is going to stay with Nana and Papa in Boone for a few days while we venture further into the great wide open to Mountain City, Tennessee. I found a wonderful B&B that we're going to stay in for three days, and it's only about 25 minutes away from Nana and Papa, so if anything happens we can be there in under a half hour. I decided that Ken's birthday was as good as any a reason to go away and spend some quality time alone together. We need it. Our marriage is still strong, but we lack certain intimacies lately with our work schedules conflicting, and being parents. We're tired, burned-out after long days working, and making love is the last thing on either of our minds. The prospect of climbing back into the bubble and talking and making love into the wee hours absolutely appeals to us both!

Jack has become the King of Vocabulary. He has added a whole new crop of words to his repetoire, and communicating has become so much easier lately. He's still the push-and-shove Alpha-male, but when he wants something, he's much more direct about it now. "Juice please" "bye bye, see ya later" "cool dude" "kitty comere" "puppy", all of these new little words help him to express himself in a much more cohesive way. We are thrilled that he's finally talking, and he can count to 10, and he can start to sing his ABC's, which is adorable because he does it in this squeaky little mousey voice. Our baby is long gone, having been replaced by this very independent, flirty, happy little boy.

I've been communicating with one of my closest friends from back in High School lately. Sean Pettway was one of my best friends, and we lost touch after high school, but the prospect of the reunion coming up jsut made me look him up and find him. While I won't be attending the 20th reunion of Grant High School, I am glad to be in touch with two of my closest friends from back in the day. Hamburg and Pettway seem to be as happy and lucky in love as I am, and they have thriving families and careers, always good to know.

Otherwise, things are good, no news is good news, and I'm just happy that things are going so smooth lately.

The Twenty-Year Reunion...

2006-04-22T13:55:00.000-04:00

I have been informed that my 20-year High School reunion will be taking place on September 16th, 2006 at the Beverly Center Hard Rock Cafe. Cocktails (not a hosted bar) will be served at 7:00pm, with dinner to follow at 8:00pm. Cocktail attire is required for this gathering. Tickets are $85.00 a piece, and the graduate receives a free class bio book.

How do I feel about this? When I graduated high school I didn't walk across the stage with my friends. I took the GED a few months earlier because of some things that happened when I was a senior causing me to fall behind, and having passed it, I had more than enough credits to walk the stage with my friends...I opted not to, and silently faded away into obscurity and life. I went to college, took culinary classes on the side, worked on my MSW...got married, had Deanna, got divorced, dropped out of grad school, worked as a sous chef, took a lover or two, spent a few lost years in between it all, and then I met Ken, and we got married and moved to Atlanta, then we had Jackson, and I have been the happiest I've ever been in my life since then. I have no regrets in my life, but I also remember that high school was super-clique-y, and I didn't go to my ten-year reunion because I didn't really want to see anyone; I couldn't care less at that point. Well, it's been 20 years now, and while I'm content and happy in my life, I still feel that there are only about four or so people that I really want to connect with from High School, and so buying two plane tickets, plus the reunion tickets, plus a hotel room, plus.....the end just doesn't justify the means. I'd rather fly to LA and have a small dinner party with these four people and their spouses...that to me makes more sense.

SO what do I do? Are these people that I would be friends with on a regular basis? Do we have anything in common? Do we have the same values and morals? I live a very Southern lifestyle; I respect those around me, I believe in politeness and manners, I don't worship the dollar bill or what it represents, instead I appreciate the value of it and am happy to be able to earn it. I'm not superficial, and to me not getting my nails done isn't the end of the world. I just keep them trimmed and clean, with a coat of clear polish over them. I shop at Old Navy instead of Macy's, I go to Garden Ridge instead of Linen's and Things, I actually LIKE Target! Grilling with friends is done in the backyard, and we eat at a table that's set with plastic cups and plates instead of having our cook-out catered. If I don't tweeze my eyesbrows for a few weeks, it's NOT a big deal! I haven't been home to California since I left, and I have no desire to because of the mentality of the natives...In Atlanta I'm upper-middle-class, in LA, I'd be considered dirt-poor because I don't live beyond my means, and I drive a car that I own out-right. We actually have money in our savings account, and don't have credit card bills. We actually use cash to buy things, and if we don't have the cash, we don't need the thing we're looking to buy until we have the cash for it!

Maybe I'm assuming that these people from High School have the California champagne tastes when they really don't. Maybe I'm being harsh and critical because a lot of these people were just assholes in High School. Maybe I'm just trying to talk myself out of going because I don't want to spend the money, when it's the weekend of mine and Ken's wedding anniversary, and we've been planning on going on a cruise to Bermuda instead. But I have to admit...I AM curious.

My only real gripe is this: did the planning committee really have to pick the Hard Rock??? The food there sucks, and parking at the Beverly Center is even worse, valet or not! The least they could have done was host the bar for the cocktail hour...unless people are still drinking like we're in high school?

We'll see what I decide.

So so Sopranos....

2006-04-17T08:37:00.000-04:00

On Sundays at 9:00pm I am glued to HBO and "The Sopranos" along with more than half the population I'm sure. I'm a follower, even though I'm more of a leader, but still...

Okay, it's been an interesting season so far. Johnny Sac is in prison awaiting a trial on RICO charges, Tony gets shot by a deranged Junior, who doesn't realize he's shot him, Carmella is on the outs with her father over a spec house that's being built incorrectly, Meadow and Finn are STILL engaged, AJ is working at Blockbuster (hey, it's a job!), Chris has become a little too big for his britches, but he's maintaining, Syl is all stressed-out as usual, Paulie Walnuts found out that his mother was actually his aunt the nun, and now he's all whacked out and feeling betrayed by everyone, and the best storyline of all: Vito is outted at a gay club in New York by two guys on collections rounds, and now he's on the run because the family wants him dead for being a fag, all except Tony that is!

I remember when the show first started some six years ago. My mom was the barber of one of the now-gone writers, everyone was crazy about the theme song for the show, and Caldwell, New Jersey became the fashionable place to hang and vacation or buy a house, which I guess was good for New Jersey after the imfamous landfill war with NYC. It was total water cooler fodder, but I fell out of watching it because it became too predictable. I got back into it last season because I heard that Adrianna was going to get killed and I wanted to see how and why. Also, I started watching it again because my favorite show "Six Feet Under" was ending for good, and I needed something to focus my attention on again on Sunday nights.

The season had been probably one of the best yet. It's a shame that David Chase and Brad Grey have chosen to call it quits when this seaon is over. I hear the possibility of a movie being made is an option, but I think that waiting a year and a half for each season is also sort of shitty, and so it goes without saying, this will be the end of the Sopranos and their family.

There are six more episodes this season, and I plan to catch all of them, but can you see how much money is going to be made of the ENTIRE show's DVD boxed set? Hell, at nearly $400.00 for the first five seasons, this show will NEVER go away, and I sure refuse to spend that kind of money to keep a good show going, but I will spend $275.00 for all five season of "Six Feet Under".

Keep your eyes glued for six more weeks...it promises to be worth it! I may even wake Jack up to watch the last episode with us! (okay, maybe not...)

Tom Cruise impregnated...film at 11:00.

2006-04-15T10:53:00.000-04:00

Tom Cruise, 43- Hollywood Scientology mega-star was impregnated by his Catholic fiance' Katie Holmes, 26. The pair have been together since last April. Cruise has two adopted children from his marriage to actress to Nicole Kidman. The pair were together ten years before splitting in 2001. Holmes, better known as Joey from "Dawson's Creek", was engaged to actor Chris Klein until February of 2005.

It is the first natural child for Cruise and Holmes, and they are expected to wed during the summer, after the birth of their sex-unknown child. "It could be a boy or it could be a girl" Cruise recently told reporters. There will also be no Catholic baptism for the Tom-Kat kitten, and a silent birth is to be expected as well. Silent births are known to create a more peaceful environment for the people involved in the delivery according to the Church of Scientology.

Cruise is due to deliver in May, and Holmes is expected to be by his side during the birthing process. Holmes supports her partner's decision for silent birthing, and recently converted from the Roman Catholic faith she was devoutely raised in to that of Scientology. She stated that it had nothing to do with her becoming engaged to Cruise, but that she had always has an interest in other religions, and Scientology seemed to be the logical choice, given that Cruise has been in the religion for more than 20 years. No pressure or brainwashing was involved in Holmes making the decision to convert.

Crusie was recently spotted in Beverly Hills shopping for maternity outfits at Fred Segal, while Holmes has been attending seminars on how to be a more involved, more prepared parent to the impending arrival. Cruise's two children will also be actively involved in caring for the infant, running shifts for the baby's care and feeding.

If I had known it was all going to be this easy, I would have knocked Ken up instead of carrying Jackson myself! Oh wait...it's physically impossible for a man to become pregnant, so why doesn't Katie Holmes tell Tom Cruise to shut the Hell up, scream during the delivery, and then make sure that kid is baptised ASAP??? She's afraid she'll lose big-time bucks...all of this is a HUGE farce, and when little Cruise is born, I see a Michael Jackson-like repeat here...so long Katie...thanks for the baby.

I am SO tired of hearing about this fricking couple and their kid. Have the damn baby already, will ya?

Spring Holidays...

2006-04-14T14:54:00.000-04:00

To everyone we know and love, have a wonderful and happy Passover and Easter.

Spring has sprung, and I get to spend the next six days on a no-bread regime...I've even picked my Big Mac apart so that I didn't eat the bun, if you can believe that! Hey, we all have to do what we have to do, right?

This year's Easter promises to be terrific, as I will stash easter eggs around the house for Jack to find, including the money egg...a tradition from when I was growing up! And though its Passover, I'm not taking the bread out of Ken OR Jack's diet, it doesn't seem right, but it could be a little healthier actually! Less carbs...

Enjoy what ever holiday it is that you and yours will celebrate, and know that we love you.

Condolences....

2006-04-04T10:23:00.000-04:00

I just want to thank our friend Jay in Braselton for the sympathy card. The loss of a national championship game is a hard thing, and while I wasn't an actual player on the team, I feel the loss as brutally as if I were.

Jay, you're a jack ass...but in a good way.

Also, to our neighbor Cal, the gator fan who didn't attend Florida...DON'T ever knock on the opposing team's door just after a loss...you're lucky I was in bed, or I might have murdered you with a plastic knife. No more lava cakes for you pal.

All of you can bite me, but thanks for thinking of me anyway. You're all good friends, and I appreciate the fact that you didn't call me. I probably wouldn't have answered the phone, as I'm not making any statements or comments today. My press agent will be giving a statement about this all later this afternoon.

General Bullshit....

2006-04-04T10:10:00.000-04:00

Well, I had just started working on this post about the UCLA/Florida game, when the power went out to our block. I don't have the will or the energy to re-write it, so for those not in the know, UCLA lost. Enought said.

Jack has five new teeth, a new "I'm-the-boss" attitude, and he's becoming a little parrot. It's now time to be VERY aware of what comes out of our mouths because chances are it will come out of his mouth too. (Refer to the scene in Fatal Attraction where Anne Archer says shit and her daughter walks down the hall repeating it over and over again!)

Work is good. I'm bartending more than serving since we fired a bartender for giving away drinks, the stupid ass. (I can say this on my blog since Jack can't read just yet!) I don't mind bartending so much, but I hate closing the bar. It's a dirty job....Ken is doing well at his job.

I made a reservation for Ken's birthday (in June) for us to go to a bed and breakfast inn in Tennessee. Jack will be staying with Nana and Papa, who live only 25 minutes away! Yay for the mountains, and Yay for Nana and Papa living in them! It'll be our first get-a-way without Jack since he was born, and God do we need it!

I can't think of much else to write right now...the power outage really messed with my head. I'm starting to get disgusted with Georgia Power and NW&P...it's always some general bullshit with them. Maybe one day I'll convieniently NOT pay my bills...ooops, a small glitch in my checkbook occured! Do you think they'll buy into it? I'd doubt it. At least Jack was amused while we were in the dark.

Idaho Spuds...

2006-03-23T15:04:00.000-05:00

We're five days into Bob and Kitty's visit. So far, so good. They've gone from the Perimeter to Downtown for their accomodations, (Kitty is here for a nursing convention) but we've still managed to spend quality time with my parental unit.

Jack has been dubbed "Seven" by Grandpa Bob. It's easier to remember them numerically than having to remember all of your grandchildren by name, so this is what it is. I got a chuckle out of it, abd of course Jack could give a rat's ass. He doesn't quite know what to make of my father, because Bob is very talkative and boisterous and animated, but he's also reserved around children, so it's interesting to watch. It takes a few hours for Jack to heat up to Grandpa, but Grandpa comes bearing gifts like Omen, a stuffed fish spelled Nemo backwards...clever.

I've had a good time seeing my Dad in general. Ken has had a blast with him so far, and has learned that my father is a man of many mixes. He's had his fingers in all sorts of pies so to speak. Ah, the Snake Charmer is back...He can talk and talk and talk for hours, and you find yourself listening rather intent. It's just nice to know that he's doing well, that he's in a happy marriage and seems to be settled as a person now, and that he looks good. Bob is doing rather well. The sweet thing is that my father said the same thing about me to my husband. Looks like Apples DON'T truly fall short from the tree, but it's a good thing when it happens sometimes. I'm glad my father and I can get along as adults...it's a good feeling.

The Idaho Spuds go back home on Sunday, so that gives us like another day to see them before they leave. It's all good...one more chance to snag the dinner check out from under Bob...you gotta love it!

Grandpa Bob and Kitty visit Atlanta!

2006-03-20T08:05:00.000-05:00

Grandpa Bob and Kitty are my father and his (fourth) wife, and they're here to visit for a little over a week because Kitty has a nursing convention here in Atlanta. I'm really happy that they're here.

They flew in Saturday, and right now they're about 8 miles away, but will be moving downtown on Tuesday, when the convention starts. My father will be left to his own devices from that point on...not to worry, I've taken some time off to spend it with my Dad.

Bob looks terrific for a 59-year old man. Tall and lean, a little silver in the hair...he's in the best shape of his life probably. Kitty looks wonderful too, but she's always been in good shape. Jack is quite taken with her; and believe it or not, my father is utterly fascinated with Jack, who incidentally, is his youngest grandchild. These are good times for Jack and my parents, and I'm hopeful that Jack will warm up a bit more towards Grandpa before the end of the visit.

More on the adventures with the Shulmans in Atlanta to come...and they should be doosies!

Dr. Jackyll and Mr. Hyde...

2006-02-28T19:09:00.000-05:00

Toddlers are just the most fun you can have shy of spending an afternoon waiting in line to get into Hell in 135 degree heat with no ice water. I haven't rolled my eyes this far back into my head over half of the things that Jack does since Deanna was this age. I get migranes from holding in all of my agida sometimes.

Toddlers, the next logical step in the evolution of human kind, are like little chimps without a doubt, but it's the fits that Jack throws that make me realize he's a person with more than half a brain. Jack knows how to communicate his wants and needs, and he's also a cave man when he's not getting what he wants from me. His behavior with his father is different, but for me it's like spending an afternoon in "Quest for Fire". I have delivered the alpha-male.

Are the terrible-two's fast approaching? Of course they are. Jack now has a mouthful of teeth where he's only had seven or eight in the last few months. He climbs on things like the couch or the computer chair. He chews on one specific corner of the coffee table. He can run the 40 in under six seconds probably; he's gotten that quick! His middle name has become "be careful" instead of Dillon, and "no" has become a natural part of every sentence.

These are the days of wine and roses with our son. What the heck happened to the little baby I brought home a few years back, and where did this toddler come from? I realize they say that time flies, but this is almost ridiculous. I remember it only getting worse.

Is this when I ask the doctor for Valium?

New Home Decor...

2006-02-26T11:25:00.000-05:00

Furniture that is Jack-friendly...there's one for the books. When you have a toddler, you don't have kid-friendly furniture necessarily. We had a second-hand sofa that was sort of try-color, as in trying to keep it clean, and it also served as Smokey's scratching post. We have a humungous Mission-style coffee table, and a 32" television that sits on a black stand. It's a mish-mash college dorm room living style, and I was getting tired of it. I sold some really nice furniture back in LA when we were moving in order to start over again from brand-new everything...I have this terrific space to furnish, ya know?

Well, I finally broke down and spent my vacation "mad money" on reliable, responsible things. I had new tires put on Ken's truck, I had my brakes done and a new fuel pump installed, I paid some bills, bought a new sectional sofa and some curtains and some art work, and some random pieces for the sofa and the walls, moved all of Jack's toys to the sun room, and decided to make my house a home. I still have a few more things that I want to get for the living room, but in time I'll find them, and then my home will feel complete and lived-in. Well, we still have to finish the kitchen wall paper and paint the living room and dining room main walls...but for the most part the place has already taken on a different look and feel.

Did I really want to go home to California and see my family, sure I did, but I really needed to take care of these things here at home too. I made a decision that I can't be upset about, but my family won't be too thrilled...oh well. There's always summer vacation...

Anyways, I really like the new stuff in the house. It is Jack-friendly because of the deep green color we picked for the couch. It's also nice to have a grown-up space for a living room instead of a play room...it's cool!

Happy Birthday Daughter...

2006-02-22T21:19:00.000-05:00

Dearest Deanna,

Where do I even begin except by saying Happy Birthday to you. God, 15 years of stuff, of growth, of change, of experiencing, of living, and of watching you become someone; your own person. I like the young lady that you are, and I miss the time that we should be spending together, but we've both made our choices and decisions...without regrets I hope. I love you my child, and I carry you in my heart from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, and all of the moments in between.

Your kid brother is growing like a weed. He weighs over 30 pounds now...I was stunned to find this out, but he's still in the top 80th percentile for height and weight...he's just exploding all over the place basically! He's a mess of new teeth, with more teeth coming in behind these ones; he's chewing on everything including the coffee table! It's really strange how you look so much like your father, and actually you also resemble my mother as well, and yet Jackson is the one who wound up looking like me the most! We have the same eyes and smile, and everything else is Ken. He's a gorgeous child, not as blonde as you were; you were like a baby chickling where Jack is more like a baby rooster. I need to get some new pictures out to you so you can see for yourself.

I hope you had a nice day with your father and family and friends. Perhaps some dinner and a movie and cruising down Ventura Boulevard? I remember that's what my Dad did for me on my 15th birthday. I had dinner at Benihana's on the Boulevard, we went and cruised Van Nuys and Sepulveda, and then he took us to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show...he even brought toilet paper and umbrellas...I never forgot that birthday because my father made it a special one for me; one of my best memories of him. I hope that your father does something wonderful and special for you and some of your friends too. You deserve it, you're a terrific kid!

Well, that's about it for now my sweet baby girl. Have a wonderful Birthday, be safe, make the best decisions for you, not for anyone else, don't regret anything you do or don't do, don't be afraid to let people down...you're human and FOREVER learning, and remember that no matter who you become or where you go, I will love and cherish you forever...

ALL My Love To You On This Special Day...

Mom

Happy Valentine's Day!

2006-02-14T09:01:00.000-05:00

From our house to yours...we wish you all a wonderful and Happy Valentine's Day.

To Nana and Papa in North Carolina~ we love you and miss you, and Jack sends lots of love and hugs and kisses to you both, especially to you Nana!

To Grandma Shocky and Diana~ lots of big love from "Bruiser" and his Mommy and Daddy! We'll see you in a couple of weeks!

To Grandpa Bob and Kitty~ The Boy sends big hugs to you both. We can't wait to see you next month! Stay safe and warm until then!

To Aunt Julie and Uncle Tom~ Big wet smooches from Jackson, who by the way DOES wear his USC shirt with pride! We love you both.

To Uncle David~ Have a terrific Day, even if you're just going to work out and then have some fruit and crash out. A big hug to you from all of us along with lots of love. (get a girlfirend already, will ya!)

To all of our friends and the rest of our extended family~ we don't need a reason to celebrate a day of love. You are always in our hearts and thoughts, and we hope your Valentine's Day is as wonderful as we think you all are.

Everyone be safe, stay warm (if your in the East Coast like us!) and enjoy the day...and try not to gorge on all of the candy you may get from your loved one!

"Waiting"....

2006-02-10T21:06:00.000-05:00

Ken and I just watched the movie to top all movies. If you're in the restaurant industry you MUST, and I mean MUST see "Waiting"!!!

Whoever wrote the script for this movie is a goddamn genius! I know one person for every character in this film, and I must say I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. Ryan Reynolds (Van Wilder), Alanna Urbach (Legally Blonde 1&2), and Juan Guzman (Boogie Nights, Traffic) were fantastic! If I hadn't been a server and bartender I still would have probably liked this movie, but given what I do for a living, this movie was the shit!

I can only say this: If you go into a restaurant with a bad attitude, think twice. These people handle your food!!!

"Waiting" rocked! Pick up the DVD if you can and get ready to piss your pants because you laughed so hard! Corey Dawkins I owe you big time...you were right about this movie. I will forever be in your debt for turning me on to it!

I'm an Idiot...

2006-02-05T16:58:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have been kind enough not to snicker at what a moron I am, I just want to make a correction from a previous post. SAMUEL Alito, not ROBERT Alito is now our new Supreme Court Justice. Hey, at least I put the question mark there!

Now I feel better.

Half the Man He Used to be...

2006-02-03T09:22:00.000-05:00

Well, after many months of deliberation on our parts, we finally dropped Smokey off at Catsnip Monday morning at 7:30 am. For the incredibly low price of $65.00, Smokey received his distemper and rabies vaccines (included was the free city registration tag!) and has now joined the ranks of animals that "never had it and never will." Smokey got his nuts lopped off, with a little extra surgery for a non-decended testicle. (and who said orchiechtomies were fun???)

When I picked Smokey up at 4:30 pm , I expected him to be completely out of it. As it was, upon getting him into the house, I opened his carrier up to give him a chance to re-acclimate himself, and pretty much left him alone. There's some trauma associated there for the cat, so I just let him do his own thing so as to not attack anyone in the house during an anaesthesia flashback. Smokey appeared in the kitchen looking like death warmed over and wobbling about ten minutes later. Cats on dope are so sad...Smokey was no exception. I laid down some food and water, and sat down on the kitchen floor to give him some love...poor baby just meowed pathetically, rubbed up against my leg, and finally ate and drank a little bit.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm putting the baby gate up on the front door to step outside for a cigarette, and Smokey goes hurtling over the gate to get outside and look around. I'm pretty impressed with this secretly...the last thing I was to do after surgery is "anything" at all, and here's our cat sprawling over a gate. Gutsy animal. We now believe that Smokey has free reign to do whatever it is he wants to do now that he's been fixed. I don't have to worry about my neighbor pounding on the door screaming at me to pay for half of the litter of kittens her cat's having because my cat knocked her up!

So now Smokey has gained a little more freedom, a lot more respect, (hey, we've got to give the cat his props for taking this "like a man") and he now walks around with a new sense of purpose...what that may be we have no idea. All I have to say is this, "Smokey, lift that leg all you want.....nothing's going to happen that I can't handle now!

Smokey, for you a moment of silence to remember your dear departed testicles...Thank Christ that's over!

Milestones...and other news.

2006-01-28T13:30:00.000-05:00

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger exploding, killing all seven astronauts on board just moments after lift off. Do you remember where you were when it happened?

I was a senior in high school, sitting in my physics class. I remember watching and being thrilled that this was happening, and the next thing I knew the explosion happened and I was dumb-struck. I'll never forget the feeling of that day as long as I live, and everytime there's another launch, I remember Challenger as well as Columbia. While modern technology has advanced, and while NASA has claimed to improve their program and now listen to the engineers who build these crafts, I often wonder how I'd feel if Jack came home one day and said to me, "Mommy, I want to be an astronaut!" I'd rather my son die another way, not at the hands of the people at NASA, which is sad to say.

My grandfather Irving was one of the creators of the LEM back in the 60's when the space program was getting started. He worked for NASA, as well as a company in Long Island that manufactured the parts for the rockets that carried the original astronauts of the Gemini and Apollo programs. Why does it seem that these men were more efficient than the men at NASA today? Why is it that Management feels the need to over-ride what the experts who built these space ships are saying nowadays? Why can't we just be happy here on Earth, instead of trying to colonize places like the Moon and Mars someday? There are millions of problems to solve here first; then let's move to outer space.

Senator John Kerry is coming home from a trip to Switzerland in order to organize a filibuster in order to block the confirmation of Robert (?) Alito. I'm for it, as I was hoping that a liberal would get the last seat on the Supreme Court. If Alito is confirmed we can kiss Roe vs. Wade goodbye, along with interracial marriages, and say hello to segregated schools once again. I'm scared that too conservative a Supreme Court will abolish Women's rights and throw our nation back 100 years. It's not going to be a pretty day when Alito is confirmed, but I fear it's where we're going. Looks like King George is getting his way, the fucking dicator.

Actor Chris Penn died on Tuesday at the age of 43 of unknown, but natural causes. "Willard" from Footloose, as well as the goofy son Eddie of the mob boss in "Resevoir Dogs", and a few other pretty classic movie characters, Chris was a terrific, if not under-rated actor, living in the shadow of two famous brothers, Sean and Michael. When I woke up Wednesday morning and read it on the internet, I let out a pretty huge sigh. I was really stunned and I felt terrible for his family. I hope that the toxicology report that comes back from the autopsy shows no illegal drug use. It would really cast a bad pallor over a really good guy. He'll be missed.

Last but not least, I've booked my flight home to California to visit my firends and family after nearly three years here in Atlanta. I come into LAX on March 4th, and will come back here on the 11th. A week should be enough time to visit with the people I really want to see, and to soak in the sunshine and smog again. It's not like I miss L.A. but it's time to go home for a visit.

It's been a busy week of remembering and reflecting. Now we move into Black History Month....another four weeks of reflection, especially here in Atlanta! Good times are a comin'...woo-hoo!

Happy Birthday Uncle David...

2006-01-21T22:03:00.000-05:00

Today is my brother-in-law's 46th birthday. 46, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? Yes, our fourties are coming up fast for Ken and I. When I turn fourty, Jack will be 3 and Deanna will be 17. Feeling old yet?

We took David to a terrific Thai joint about three miles from the house. For those of you here in Atlanta, Thai Star on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard is incredible, and extremely reasonable to boot. For three grown adults (Jack's dinner was prepared and brought to the restaurant...we're thinking ahead here!) who had a few appetizers and several dishes and drinks, we walked out for $53.00, and that includes the 25% tip I left the server because Jack flirted with her the whole time we were there. It was a great experience, and I'm glad that David liked the food as much as we did. Ken and Dave are extreme chili-heads, (I lost my taste for super-spicy while I was pregnant with Jack), so their food was rocking hot, and my salad was spicy (which is a good thing actually) and tastey too! I give this place 5 stars, and I believe every word of the reviews that I read, having now experienced the place myself.

Jack was great tonight. It's so much fun being able to go out to dinner with him. He's people-friendly, he's a flirt with the ladies, and he doesn't make those insane messes that other little kids make. I guess if it involves food, Jack's no dummy. Why waste it when eating it is so much more fun. David and Jack played before we left the house for dinner, and even though it was nearly Jack's bedtime when we left to go eat, he held his mud...he was terrific. Of course he had his bath and went straight to bed as soon as we got home, but he was really really good. Yes, I'm a proud Mommy. I remember the days when we had to take food to go because we couldn't get Jack to stop crying in restaurants when he was still an infant. Jack, you've come a long way baby!

We bought David a new video game for the computer, a license plate frame from FSU, and last but not least, we Stooged him! Explaining the "stooging" is a post all it's own, but it's a family joke, and this time we got him! It was a fun night, and I'm glad that we all have such a good relationship with one another, especially for Jack's sake. Ken, Jack, David, Smokey and I are all we have family-wise here in Atlanta, so getting together for holidays and birthdays is a really fun thing to do because it's not too over-crowded with too many family members (I come from a really big family, I admit it...) and everyone gets along; there's no drama in gathering as a family here. Back in LA, it's a totally different ballgame. I'm glad to know that Jack will actually be raised with a sense of functionality in opposed to dis-functionality, when it comes to the family.

Happy Birthday David... I hope you had a nice birthday. I'm just waiting for the phone to ring...when you've been Stooged, there's nothing left to do except call and groan into the phone and think of a new way to return the Stooges to the person who stooged you! Good luck Dave...I'm ready for ya! ;-p

I'll explain the whole Stooge thing in my next post, so everyone can be in on the joke as well!

Into the Great Wide Open...

2006-01-20T11:10:00.000-05:00

So 20 days into the New Year and all is well so far.

Jack seems to be really happy, more active than ever, Ken's still loving his job, and I'm the same old me...I think I need to take a cooking class or something because I'm bored so far with this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm in a happy, loving marriage with my soul mate, and we're having a terrific experience raising our growing son. I'm just wintered out and am looking forward to Spring already.

I don't work half as much as I used to, and I'm home with Jack most of the week, but he's going into daycare a few days a week, and Ken works a four-day-fourty-hour work week, and I work my three days...it leaves a lot of time on one's hands.

We're buying a new living room set, and we're re-wallpapering the kitchen and painting the living room, but that's only a few things that I want to do this year. Should I take a few refresher courses at Georgia Perimeter, maybe Asian or Italian cooking classes, macremae, ceramics, interior design, scrap booking...what's a girl to do? I know...softball! I still have to wait for spring, unless I'm into bowling, which I'm really not unless it's with Ken and a bunch of beers.

I am happy to say that we've had no disasters, and that our families are in good health, and that we both still have good jobs and a nice roof over our heads and two decent cars to drive. All the bills are paid, and now I'm waiting for my W-4 so that I can get our taxes off. I guess all things considered, we're having a good New Year...Thank God!

Is it college football season again yet?

Happy New Year...

2006-01-02T08:35:00.000-05:00

And so we begin another year. What will 2006 hold for the world? While 2005 was a trying and often sad year, I can only hope that things get better this year.

On a personal note, The Head family had a great year, one that showed positive changes, growth, (in more ways that one!) and showed the strength and character of this family. I hope everyone that we know had the same good fortune, and that they continue to have that same good fortune in 2006.

To all of our family and friends I say this: Happy and Healthy New Year to you all! May you all live through another year with love and good fortune, and we hope that you all find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, whatever that may be for you! Much love and best wishes for a wonderful year to everyone!

There are no resolutions this year; the weight will either come off with diet and excercise or it won't, we'll either make more money or we'll stay where we are financially, which is pretty good, we'll take a family vacation this year finally, we'll spend more time playing board games this year and less time watching television, we'll take walks on nice evenings as a family, and we'll continue to work on keeping our family tight-knit and loving, but these are NOT resolutions, these are facts everyday givens. I hope everyone has the same "givens", or something similar.

Happy 2006.

Sibling Rivalry...

2005-12-11T09:04:00.000-05:00

Who knew that when Jackson was born he's have to compete with for our time and affections? When Jack was about two months old we brought Smokey into the household, wanting Jack to have a pet to grow up with. Jack and Smokey are the same age, born around the same time no less.

We've watched our two little guys grow older together, Smokey turning into a full-grown cat, and Jack turning into super-toddler. It seems as though Smokey has issues with sharing both Ken and I with Jack, but mostly me. Jack is a normal little boy, he plays with his toys, chases the cat around at times, and we've even taught Jack how to approach Smokey "nicely" so as to not have scratches and tears, which we have anyway. Smokey has taken to spraying on Jack's toys, in his crib, on his favorite "baby" even. I have the keen sense of smell, and when Smokey sprays, I'm forever watching him after a proper ass-kicking, but nothing seems to penetrate through Smokey's thick skull.

Smokey's getting neutered on January 2nd, but I wonder if this will stop him from spraying all over Jack's things. He's jealous of Jack, even though I try and show Smokey the most affection that I can. Smokey used to sleep in our bedroom at night with us, but since he's taken to spraying, he's been ejected and is no longer allowed in either bedroom, especially not Jack's!

Is there such a thing as a pet therapist? I can't run through the house with the pet odor spray all day long, and I most certainly can't separate Jack and Smokey, but it's getting to the point where Smokey may be sent to the after-life if he doesn't get over this sibling rivalry that he's going through. Jack is a permanent fixture in this family, and we were hoping that Smokey would be too, but it's beginning to look like Smokey's going to be given away, and that's the last thing we want to do with our beloved pet.

I never had this problem when Deanna was a baby and I had another cat. Buster was great with Deanna; he worshipped her, so I'm perplexed about the whole Jack and Smokey situation. This bothers me, and I'm hoping it will work itself out soon before Jack loses an eye, and I have to kill Smokey for it!

Happy Christmahanukkwanzika...

2005-12-10T09:34:00.000-05:00

Living in Georgia I have found a VERY diverse group of people. It seems that Georgia has become a transplant mecca for those who wish to live in an urban society, but also want to improve the quality of living for their families since the cost of living here is quite a bit lower than that of the West Coast or the upper East Coast. It's why Ken and I moved here.

I've found that while the South is predominantly Baptist, there are so many other religious denominations here in Atlanta from Jewish to Christian to Methodist and Prodestant, to Hindu and Islamic. The term "Merry Christmas" has been replaced with "Happy Holidays" as to not offend, but the biggest crock of shit I've heard is that people a little further south are debating the actual Christmas tree, wanting to now refer to it as a "Holiday Tree". Hey look, I'm not at all offended if people want to have their Christmas trees; Ken and I have one since he's Methodist, but we also light the menorah that I've had for twenty years every Hannukah. Jews don't have Hannukah trees, Islamics don't have Islam trees, Hindus don't have Hindu trees, etc... so what's the big deal? I appreciate the "Happy Holidays" terminolgy, but this Christmas tree thing is taking it a little too far. Next they'll be debating over whether or not to call Santa Santa or "that fat, red-clothed, holiday dude". Let's keep things in perspective please.

Every Mall from The Mall of Georgia to Arbor Place Mall is packed, causing me to avoid them heavily. I'm doing more online shopping, going to Target and Wal Mart for gift cards, and actually baking gift baskets for co-workers and Managers. It just makes life simpler during the holidays. Schlepping a toddler around to shop for the holidays is a pain in the butt, even if most of the gifts are for him anyway!

To all of you I wish you a wonderful ChristmaHanukkwanzika. One never know's what religion you may be, so in covering all of the bases I also wish you a joyous Holiday Season. May you all survive the shopping boon with as little damage as possible. Thank God it's almost over...

UCLA/USC...Who's it going to be?

2005-12-02T08:13:00.000-05:00

Is UCLA strong enough to beat the best college football team in the country? I'm going to hope, pray and say yes.

Matt Leinart is a hell of a Quarterback. Drew Olsen has been playing like his life depends on it this season, bringing UCLA to an astonishing 9-1 season so far, placing them 11th in the BCS for the first time in MANY YEARS!!! I'm thinking that UCLA is going to put up the biggest fight of the season, making the USC/Notre Dame game look sort of blase' by comparison.

We'll all find out Saturday afternoon at 4:30 est on ABC. I plan on being glued to the game with a Bloody Mary clutched tightly in my hand and my son trying to figure out why Mommy's wound up so tightly...

To my best friend Julie, who'll be at the Coliseum for the game: Jack wears a 2T now...please DON'T send an SC tee shirt, as we only support the UCLA colors in THIS household!

GO BRUINS!!!!

And Off We Go...Into the Holiday Season.

2005-11-28T10:18:00.000-05:00

Ah, Christmas and Hannukah. Is it really already that time of year again? I feel like we just went through this, and now it's upon us once again.

This year the phone calls have been pouring in. "What does Jack want for Christmas?" He wants a Rolex, a Hummer H3, a brand-new, four bedroom, four bath house in posh Alpharetta or Sandy Springs, a case of Trojan Magnums, a few new suits by Hugo Boss or Armani, and a date with Hillary Duff. Really.

When you have a small child, the logical choice for gifts are going to be educational toys and cool looking clothes that will last just past Spring if we're lucky. Fisher Price, Playskool, Baby Einstein, Osh Kosh Begosh, Carters, Old Navy...you name it. Gift cards are always a good thing too.

My plan for the two holidays is to buy Jack a few really great toys and books, some clothes, and then a really terrific gift for the first day of Hannukah, but we have such a large combined family that I think I'll focus more on my husband this year. He's more than deserving of everything he asked for this year, and I'm going to see that he gets it. I only want small things for the house, and a new Star of David to replace the one that I already have. I have everything I want and need, so this year it's going to be about family.

I'm still trying to decide when the best time is to put the Christmas tree up this year, as we don't want to tempt Captain Destructo, aka Jack...and I plan on doing my shopping online. No one hates the Mall more than me!

Good luck to all of you, and may the holiday spirit stay with you as you battle some little old lady for the last pair of cashmere gloves at 6:00am at the Macy's get-out-of-bed-early sale. Those Grannies are tough birds...be careful and give her the gloves unless you want a sound ass-kicking. My money's always on the Grannies!

Tragedy for Florida State...

2005-11-27T10:24:00.000-05:00

Even Jack needed a cold one when Florida State lost to cross-town rival Florida this Saturday evening.

Is Bobby Bowden getting the hint that maybe it's time to retire? Jack may wind up having to play football for Karl Dorell at UCLA if Bowden doesn't get his shit together soon...

I can only respond to this loss for FSU by saying, "GO BRUINS!!!!" There may still be a miracle on the horizon for my Bruins, even if my brother-in-law's Noles got pushed out of the BCS top 25.

Please God...make this my year, even if UCLA becomes a BSC victim despite beating USC. Hey, I can hope, right? Besides that, I'm not a Corona gal. I plan on downing as many Bloody Mary's next Saturday during the USC/UCLA game as I can.

Sorry about the loss Dave. There's always next year, right?

Fifteen Pounds of Thankfulness...

2005-11-27T10:18:00.000-05:00

And it was damn good too!

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Blues Clues Junkie...

2005-11-12T10:58:00.000-05:00

I'm at work last night, minding my own business, waiting on my guests, joking around with my fellow team mates, but the screwed-up thing is that I'm walking around with the theme to Blues Clues stuck in my head! This is not good.

I watch Blues Clues with Jack every day. It's one of the few things that he'll actually sit down and watch from beginning to end. He likes Blue and Periwinkle the Cat and Magenta the other dog...he's down with the whole thing. We sing and clap along and just have fun watching the show. We like looking for the clues and listening to Steve or Joe depending on the show that day, and we're even learning some sign language because of it! It's a great show all in all, but for me to have the theme song stuck in my head is a bit pathetic.

I need a vacation from kids shows if I'm starting to sing the songs from them by heart. It's the same thing with the Backyardigans and Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street. I'm regressing from adulthood back into being a kid...can this be good? I wasn't like this with Deanna, but I also didn't watch all of these shows either.

I think a day-long marathon of Six Feet Under or Sex in the City might be able to cure me of this problem...the theme's to these shows have no words! I can't believe I've become a Blues Clues junkie...God Help Me!

The Place where Karl Dorrell Lives...

2005-11-07T00:35:00.000-05:00

Westwood, California is a picturesque little community in the hub of West Los Angeles, nestled about eight miles from the beach max, in the hills coming down from the San Fernando Valley off of Sepulveda Boulevard. It's a gorgeous place fit to train the knights and lords of UCLA Football, with Drew Olsen and Maurice Drew the two Commanders-in-Chief, and Karl Dorrell being the one to mold them all.

I remember when I couldn't remember the name of the football coach at UCLA, and now Karl Dorrell is rocking the house. When he wins it's a huge win, and when he loses he does it in style to a non-ranked school who just pulled them out of the top ten in the BCS, blowing their chances for a great Bowl game at the end of the season. If Zona is the only loss for UCLA until USC, then we may have a shot.

Good Luck Karl...I'm cheering for you man. Keep Drew and Maurice happy and they'll keep winning games, okay?

On a more personal note to those who know me: "I can't believe we fucking lost to Arizona...is this for real...someone please slap me. Florida State ate it to NC State too, but we just ate shit Saturday night. Don't we WANT a Bowl Game? Are we THAT scared that we may actually be good? Some one please explain this to me before my heart bursts into a thousand pieces over the let-down of my home college AGAIN."( although 8-1 is actually a really fantastic season for UCLA normally.)

I also lost the NFL pool at work for the ninth week in a row. I had six games total. Oh yes, Football IS fun...really.

Jackson's Excellent Adventure...

2005-11-04T22:12:00.000-05:00

Let me tell you how I perceive babys' walking. They remind me of my father when he was an active alcoholic, all wobbly and weaving and falling down and stubbornly getting up and getting back to it! The only difference is that babies don't piss in the sink (just everywhere else.) Jackson is that little weaver who's like the Little Engine that could, always trying, always moving. Now we need to child-proof our house even further. Where is my friend Stephen Clark when I need him? He seems to be the leading expert at keeping things out of reach of the little ones...he was always good at it having three boys of his own. Oh well.

So Jack tools around the house, opening drawers in the kitchen as well as the refrigerator, which would be good during college football Saturdays..."Hey Jack, grab Mommy another beer..." He's into everything that he can be into, and it's always an adventure; he's always finding something fun, something he shouldn't be playing with, but he's a baby, that's his job. He opens our bathroom cabinet and my bedside table drawer, he opens our dresser drawers up and pulls out our clothes...he's a funny kid. It's an endless parade of picking up after him, and sometimes I feel as if I'm losing the battle to keep things neat because I know he's just going to mess them up anyways. Having a small child is not condusive to keeping a clean house....bummer.

The holidays are coming now. Picture Jack at the dinner table for Thanksgiving eating a turkey leg finally, and diving under the Christmas tree to open everyone's gifts for them this Christmas morning, trying to blow out the candles of the menorah on Hannukah...we are talking good stuff here! Ah, such endless adventures. Day care Mondays and Tuesdays is also about to become his reality...good times Son...good times.

So Jack moves on, walking, talking, living the high life of a pampered and much-loved only son. Just think of all he's going to have to give back when he's older! The it becomes Mommy's Excellent Adventure...nice thought.

UCLA...I'm REALLY in shock!

2005-10-30T10:14:00.000-05:00

UCLA BRUINS at STANFORD CARDINAL

"Bruins score 21 points in final seven minutes".

Brandon Breazell caught a 23-yard TD pass by Drew Olsen in overtime after NO. 8 UCLA scored 21 points in the final 7:04 of regulation to stun Stanford 30-27 on Saturday.

Drew Olsen and Maurice Drew, I am sooooo glad you woke up and joined the game when you did...and thanks to FSN for airing the game....I REALLY appreciate it!

THIS was an awesome game, on the calibre of USC-Notre Dame a few weeks back. We are still having a perfect season so far with 8-0. KEEP IT UP BOYS!

And You're more important why?

2005-10-30T09:47:00.000-05:00

The older I get the one thing I'm sure of is that my memory is fading along with my eye sight and hearing. It's long-term stuff like birthdays, anniversaries, etc... Another thing I know is that I am a loyal friend. I may not send you a gift, but an e-card or something mailed or a phone call is ALWAYS a given on my friends special days and milestones. I have a select group of friends, and TONS of acquaintences, and a HUMUNGOUS family and their extended familes and the list goes on, but I always try and remember these things.

I actually still keep a real paper phone and address book despite the fact that we own two computers and I also have a cell phone and memory speed dial on our land line. It's become easy to keep up with all of these things that I feel are important, but when ONE person out of perhaps thirty or so decides that he's special and doesn't want his "information cast out over the internet" for identity theft purposes or whatever else his excuse may be, then it pisses me off and makes me wonder why this person who calls himself my friend and yet no longer communicates with me after HE looked ME up after years of not speaking, can't just put his friggin' birthdate into a data base for me; not his credit card info or his social security number. He can lie and put a nickname~he doesn't need to use his real name if he doesn't want to! No, this man sends me an e-mail that bothers me to even this day, with a "no thanks". ONE PERSON IN THIRTY!!!!

I understand the need for privacy, but it still pisses me off. We all have these same fears, so DON'T PUT YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER OUT OVER THE NET DUMMY! We surf for the stupidest stuff and get all kinds of crazy spam, but maybe this person could call me and I can write it down in my phone book? It will never go out over the net, and I don't even need the birth year, I KNOW how old you are; I just like to be able to wish you a Happy Birthday when your day comes along is all. I'm not applying for a Home Depot card or anything in your name.

I am one of those people that puts others first, even though it's not really a part of my nature being a Leo, and this is sort of a selfish rant, but I really try hard to stay in touch with those that I love or care about because I'm so far away from all of these people, which was my choice to begin with, but even if I were still back home, it would still be the same thing. I just like the reminder of remembering...that's all. If you don't want me to remember these things, then don't be my friend, it's that simple. That's just the way that I am, and my real friends know it.

Family Matters...

2005-10-18T11:14:00.000-04:00

I can't even begin to explain how happy I am to no longer live in California. My entire family on my mother's side is still there, as well as my siblings and mother. It was a rough decision to leave and move so far away, but sometimes you need to spread your own wings in order to fly.

I once wrote that my sisters were real screw-ups. They are both married and have kids of their own, and yet they keep screwing up their lives because of drugs, bad relationships, the need for constant drama. They live soap opera lives, and my brothers live the reality-based version of life, as do Ken and I. My sisters were a lot happier and better off when I lived in LA, but you can only hold someone's hand for so long before you have to let them go on to live their own lives. To me, dysfunctionality breeds massive contempt.

It's not easy being the rock of the family. It puts enormous pressure on me at times, and I have a younger sister who feel that she needs to compete with my "perfect marriage and family life". This is how I feel; when I was younger I made some serious mistakes. I dated and married the wrong men the first two times, I had a pill and pot problem while raising Deanna and fighting with her father, my credit got ripped apart by bad choices and not paying my bills on time, if at all, I had a nasty, angry temper...in short I was a mess for a while. The desire to be happy and normal was strong, and the need to clean up my act superceeded all else after I met Ken. My husband is a normal, stable, non-drug-taking, even individual, and in order for my marriage to survive and have any chance I made decisions that benefited not only me, but Ken as well. A little bit of stability, a patient, loving, non-judging husband, and some common sense made all the difference in my life, and I managed to turn it all around, without therapy or rehab. Love can make all of the difference sometimes! Don't get me wrong, I still make mistakes but who doesn't? The difference between the mistakes I make now versus back then is that they are clear, non-drugged, honest to goodness, lesson learned, oops-type mistakes.

My sisters are falling apart a little more every day. I used to be like them, and then one day I woke up and decided it was better to not be like them and to get it together if I wanted anything in my life to be good and worth it. I'm a wonderful person, and I found that person one day after a conversation with my husband...now I'm living a content life, filled with love, laughter, some strife, (who doesn't have that???) very few struggles, a wonderful son and daughter, and a partner who not only would die for me, but knows I would do the same for him. I had to be where I was in order to get to where I am now in life. I have no regrets except that I wish I had met Ken much earlier...but you can't go back. It's the experiences, good and bad, that make us who we are. My sisters are going to be dead or in jail inside of two years if they don't get their shit together soon. I was thirty-three when I had my epiphony. Jami's a year older than that now, and Melany is a year away from thirty. You would think they would have watched me go through all of that crap in my life and say "oh hell no", but nope, they remain Dumb and Dumber. It must suck to be them.

I hate watching my sisters fall apart, but for once I'm glad to not be around to see it. They can gripe all they want over the phone, but distance makes all the difference here. I wouldn't want either of them to move to Georgia or else I'd have to move somewhere else just to escape their garbage.

Thank God my brothers pulled out of their problems and got it together...it's nice to have siblings that relate and harbour no ill-will at my happiness. I love my family, but man am I glad I got away when I did. Who know's where I'd be right now?

UCLA...I'm in shock!

2005-10-17T10:26:00.000-04:00

I am a UCLA Bruin. I am a supporter no matter what, even if I DID take last football season off because of Jack and because I was tired of seeing my college get stomped on. My jersey hung in the closet all year, and now with the new season halfway over, I've been watching with rapt attention as UCLA has edged it's way to # 12 in the BCS, and # 2 in the Pac-10!

Right now we're having our best season in years, with a perfect record of 6-0, and 2-0 in conference play. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking that USC may have a little bit of a fight on their hands this year come the match-up! My father and my best friend's father are Trojans; I say keep watching behind you boys...we're coming to getcha!

On another note, things here at home are fine. Ken's still loving the not-so-new job, I'm spending a LOT of time with my son, who is starting to walk by himself, and work for me is fine as well. Nothing much to report here in Atlanta.

Oh yes, it IS starting to become jacket weather now. The evenings are finally a bit chilly, and the air conditioner has been turned off. Now it's time to light the pilot on the heater, as it's still cold in the mornings when we get up. With natural gas prices soaring, I'm looking into speace heaters for the bedrooms and living room. Who wants a $300.00 heating bill?

Halloween is coming. I've no idea what Jack's going to be just yet; maybe a dragon, or a frog...something cute and masculine all at the same time.

Thank God Fall is now in full swing...I love the cooler weather and the turning of the leaves. LA is probably expecting a little bit of rain, but they don't experience Fall the way we do here in Georgia. The change in seasons just keeps re-affirming my decision to move here.

That's about it for now. Keep your fingers crossed for UCLA...let's have that perfect season AND kick USC's ass!

Naps...

2005-10-03T18:01:00.000-04:00

Ken needs a nap and I need a nap. We've been working our tushes off lately, and getting up really early in the morning to do it too. Even Jack is napping two and a half to three hours right now!

Too bad I'm busy doing other things when he's sleeping. I'll learn, but I just felt like whining.

Spam tastes better fried, NOT sent...

2005-09-28T10:58:00.000-04:00

We all receive spam in our e-mail inboxes. Spam is the annoying junk mail that we get for no reason other than perhaps we browsed a web site and our cookies were enabled at that time. I hate spam and have my junk mail filter set to the highest setting possible!

Here's the new bitch. Spam comments on my blog. This is utter bull crap. I'm a bit disgusted by it, and of course I can always delete these comments, but now our blogs aren't safe from this junk either. It seems that when people want you to know something, they come at you in every forum, in every way possible.

I sent my friend Hamburg an e-mail about this, but to no avail. I didn't get a reply. It's nice to have such good friends, huh? He's probably busy being busy and living life, but still a simple answer would have been nice. No hard feelings though Steven.

So now this is what I'm dealing with. I think it sucks. Looks like blogger is going to be hearing from me now. It's just more agida that I don't need. Whatever...To those Spammers out there I only have one thing to say...BITE ME!

Not again!!! I call foul!

2005-09-27T11:27:00.000-04:00

We have this weekly football pool going on at my work. It's usually about $120.00, and the pay-out comes on Tuesdays after the Monday night game. I pay my $6.00 a week, my averages of wins over losses is pretty decent, and yet I just don't come close enough to win. My friend, Brian (the Weasel) Whetzel is the big winner now two weeks in a row!

How are hard-working gamblers such as myself and others supposed to send our children to Community Colleges, buy G.I. Joe action figures, pay for tee-ball, etc...if we can't get a break and win? This is not like the Lotto, but I realize you have to play to win, (which might be why I haven't won the Powerball yet!) and I throw away milk money in order to do this!

If Brian wins again, I think that he should be barred from playing for a week, and have to buy all of us Quizno's on Sunday. If I won, it would be the least that I would do. (I know, I say that now...) I told Ken that he's going to have to start playing...at the very least it will double our chances of either winning or losing. I'm willing to take the chance, even though my husband doesn't know dick about pro football. (We're a college ball family.) He's going to be researching on ESPN for quite a while, but he agrees with me...we could definitely use the money!

Let's see how week four goes...Beware of weasels with smelly dollar bills. This week you're going down Whetzel! (I can buy three cases of diapers AND still have money for Quizno's...I know I can, I know I can, I know I can!)

So this is what our weather has come to....

2005-09-22T23:46:00.000-04:00

I read an article today on Fox.com-Foxlife about a weatherman in Podunk, Wyoming who believes that our current strain of bad weather is due to a Russian-made weather machine that's being pointed straight at us and operated by the Japanese as payback for Okinowa and Hiroshima. This is his conspiracy theory, his reasoning behind Katrina and Rita and the bad season the Coast and the Gulf are having this year. El Nino who? Right. Act of God? Apparently not, but not the work of George Bush either.

I say stop bogarting and pass it over. Ken says it's time to start wearing our little tin foil hats so that nobody can scan our brainwaves, EVER!

Just picture Jack in that little tin foil hat...

Let the walking begin!

2005-09-22T12:31:00.000-04:00

No News Is Good News...

2005-09-20T11:02:00.000-04:00

There hasn't been much going on lately. Jack has a new tooth, Ken started his new job, I'm working as a Trailblazer now, and Smokey has found a way to exist with a toddler chasing him all day long. All in all, it's a whole lotta nadda.

I was standing in line at Georgia Power yesterday listening to a black man tell another black man that El Nino was caused by a tilting of the Earth. I'm still trying to figure that one out. I thought it had to do with the temperature of the ocean creating a disturbance in the oceanic-atmosphere, therefore affecting our weather globally. That doesn't sound like the Earth is tilting, if it's at all possible for the Earth to tilt, but I'm just an ignorant white woman living in the South. I didn't correct the man because I didn't want to point out to him that he was stupid for trying to sound smart. I let him have his moment. This is our tax dollars at work making sure that "No child is left behind." I think this man went to school before that.

Hurricane Rita is on it's way. It's not going to affect Georgia either way weather-wise. We might get a few showers, which would be welcomed, but that's about it. The panhandle needs to brace for it again though. Pooor New Orleans...another hit would not be a good thing!

We're talking about taking a trip to Savannah in a few weeks or so. We haven't had a vacation since we moved here, and Ken gets a great discount at the Hilton Hotel chain and other hotels because of his new job. Hilton, Holiday Inn, DoubleTree and a few other chains are tech-supported by the place where Ken works, so it's a small perk for him. We'd like to spend a few days shopping and sight-seeing and just spending some really quality family time together without having to stress over work or bills or life. We're entitled, and we deserve it.

Well, that was a whole lot for nothing to say. I hope everyone is having as stress~free a time of it as we are right now. We just keep taking deep breathes, and it seems to be working. Just remember to exhale!

New Habits...

2005-09-13T14:49:00.000-04:00

Jack's starting to wake up more in the middle of the night, and he's napping even less now. He's thirteen months old; he stands and walks holding onto something and he's really active, but he refuses to nap right now. He's also cut out lunch hour. He's made breakfast and dinner the main meals, so we give him fruit and crackers and veggies and meat snacks of some form around the noon hour. He's become an interesting little person lately.

I can play with Jack all afternoon. We climb on the couch and play on the floor and I tickle him and he pulls and tugs and bites, etc....and we just have a good time with one another. Usually some good play time and a bottle of milk are enough to knock him out, but not lately for some reason. He's just UP all the time. Ken makes this noise to imitate him sometimes; it's a little like Jimmy Cagney back in the 30's, but it's funny stuff. Jack just does what he needs to do and he's pretty stubborn about it. Okay, cool...but I'm still older and stronger and wiser, and BASICALLY I SAY SO!!! (It's become a bit tedious and I'm looking for that Calgon moment to come along at any time now.) Lots of new habits forming along with the personality to match! That's our Jack.

Today is our wedding anniversary. Another year of love and bliss gone by...and we both really just want a nap more than anything else. There will be no actual physical intimacy over this little milestone. My friend came to town yesterday, making sure it would be just another day for us...nice. Maybe just dinner at Bahama Breeze with the baby and the Husband. Happy Anniversary Ken. I love you.

I'm just tired; that kind of tired that drains you even when you don't feel like you're getting enough sleep to begin with. Just a two hour nap....my world would be fine. Ken's sleeping as I post this. It's my gift to him for our anniversary! Pretty nice, huh? I can be selfish, but not today...he deserves it too.

Never Forget...

2005-09-11T10:12:00.000-04:00

09/11/2001. What more can I say. Peace....and Never forget.

Surviving the South...

2005-09-05T11:07:00.000-04:00

Okay it's been a while since my last post. The past few weeks have brought promotions and new jobs, (yes, Ken got the job he was interviewing for!) natural disaster in the form of Hurricane Katrina and all of it's devastating glory, and now the Labor Day holiday. Quite a busy few weeks if you ask me.

Ken and I both have friends that either live in New Orleans or have family that live there, as well as Mississippi and Alabama. Having seen hundreds of refugees from these states, it hits home how lucky most people actually are. When I see pictures of the devastation in New Orleans and the surrounding areas, I feel like I'm looking at pictures taken in Haiti. This can't be my homeland! My President cares about our citizens, so he couldn't allow all of this to just be happening at a slow pace. Food and clothing and shelter and clean-up should be happening at the most rapid pace it can be, and no looter should be able to hinder this. I say shoot the looters and keep cleaning up! We need to get this wonderful state back on it's feet as soon as humanly possible! These poor people can't stay in the Astrodome forever! FEMA, get moving already!

Jackson is doing terrific. He's got a mouthful of teeth, he yells and screams with laughter all day long, he's starting to walk...progress, it's wonderful thing. Ken starts his new job on the 15th of September, and I've been working the Trailblazer program through work...Orlando look out!

In closing, please please please donate to the American Red Cross...our people need our help, and we're the lucky ones who have food, clothing, shelter, jobs, money in our pockets...let's give all we can to help those who need it.

As Busy As Ever...

2005-08-23T16:14:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy week or so. I made Trailblazer at work, so I'm going through this mini-MIT program right now, working in all of these job catergories from Greeter to Smoker to Prep and Inventory...fun stuff. When I'm done with all of this I'm off to Orlando for Management training.

Ken's been hanging in there at the Comp. He found out that the job he had two interviews for pulled a thirty-day hiring freeze. The funny thing is that they were going to hire him, or so his friend Shonge, who works for the company says. He's just doing the best that he can right now with CompUSA, trying to hold it together for the sake of our insurance benefits if nothing else.

Jack's got two new teeth, bringing the total to six now. He loves to bite on anything and everything, people included. He's become the little Lord of Destruction, pulling things off of floor-level shelves such as DVD's and videos, and his toys are absolutely everywhere. Night time is clean-up time. It doesn't make sense to do it at any other time, as he'll just trash the house all over again. He's doing well, growing up fast, getting ready to start walking on his own soon, not that we're in any hurry for that just yet. He's a haul-ass little crawler as it is.

The family is doing well. We all have things that we're doing, but we're trying to stay in close proximity of one another...it makes for a better family life. Ken and I still work opposite one another, but this coming weekend we'll have both our days off together for a change. I'm calling Friday for my day to sleep in, and I'll give Sunday to Ken. Jackson can have Saturday...I'm dreaming, but it's a nice dream. Hey, a mother can hope, can't she?

Birthday Blues...

2005-08-17T08:13:00.000-04:00

Every year I try and stay up until 2:13 in the morning on my birthday, as that is the time I was born. This year I went to bed just shy of midnight...I guess I'm getting old.

Having your birthday on a weekday sort of sucks. There's really nothing to do, and every good restaurant or bar closes early. Ken said we'll go out over the weekend and celebrate it big, but it's over and done by then, so it doesn't really matter. My husband plans on making me a nice dinner tonight, and maybe we'll watch a good movie on the television, but that's about it; another year gone by and no family or friends to celebrate it as everyone I truly love is back in California, or they're working today and tonight.

I'll spend the day with my gorgeous little boy, playing and having fun with him, and then when my gorgeous husband comes home we'll have a nice roasted chicken dinner, bathe the baby and put him to bed, and then we'll cuddle on the couch until it's time to go to sleep. No sex for my birthday this year as I got the birthday present that keeps on giving until menopause hits, which should be next year if the birthday fairy gives me my wish.

I feel old, and I miss my mom. Oh well, Happy birthday to me.

Sesame Street and the Sopranos!

2005-08-15T10:01:00.000-04:00

Jack and I are enjoying our waffles and Sesame Street this morning, and as I'm watching Zoe the little monster dance around the screen, she suddenly becomes frightened. Note that things that frighten you are about to become the topic here.

Poor little Zoe; who's going to come and explain the things that frighten an adult as well? It's none other than Tony Soprano himself, James Gandolfini!!! I started laughing so hard I choked on my Eggo! It seems that Mr. Soprano is afraid of the dark and needs his night light and teddy bear in order to get his zzzzz's. He's also afraid of hair cuts it seems, and can't have what little hair he has left cut without getting a lollipop from the Barber!

I've been watching Sesame Street since I was a little kid; Deanna watched it, and now of course Jackson is watching it as well...he's a HUGE Elmo fan! There are days when I see people like Harrison Ford, Vin Diesel and The Goo Goo Dolls on this show, and then I realize that you're really a cool celebrity once you've actually appeared on Sesame Street! Even U2 and Bruce Springstein have been on the show!

Imagine Tony Soprano...now my day has been made, but I'll never be able to actually watch "The Sopranos" again without seeing visions of James Gandolfini cuddling a monster and being afraid of the dark...somehow I feel like I'll always laugh when I'm watching him on TV now. Hey, at least he's a cool celeb, you have to give him that much, right?

A Good Time was had by All!

2005-08-15T09:37:00.000-04:00

The party at a glance.

2005-08-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

And the party begins!

Time to Party...

2005-08-14T09:47:00.000-04:00

Today, 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm...Chuck E. Cheese 925 North Point Drive, Alpharetta, GA.

We're looking forward to seeing everyone, and for those who can't be there, look for the pictures! Sorry you'll miss the cake and pizza and tokens and all-around good company, but we'll be thinking of you.

Don't worry Jay, I'll bring you a piece of cake to work tonight. (Anna Mae is ALWAYS thinking about you, see?)

Baby's first birthday party...this ought to be interesting. And now because I have to go in to work tonight, I blew my shot at having a few beers. Oh well. I'm not a light beer person anyway, but it's better for Jack...less calories. (just kidding!)

Now He is One...

2005-08-11T08:09:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day. Jack's first birthday was terrific. Beef Stew turned into home-made chicken pot pie (from scratch no less!) and we got him a strawberry parfait instead of a cake since he'll be enjoying a huge cake at his birthday party on Sunday. We bought him a ton of new trucks and cars from Playskool, which he loved playing with and watching Smokey chase, and it was just a great day.

Well, now we move into the second year of Jack's life. I think back on all of the things that his sister did at this age, and the one thing I realize is that little children assert a lot of personality and independence at this stage of the game. While Jack was out at the store with Daddy yesterday, Ken realized that we have a little "chick magnet" on our hands. The baby flirted and laughed and enjoyed all of the attention that he was given, and I think that Daddy did too. Ken commented that if anything were to happen to me he wouldn't remain single for long because of Jack...he'd have him hooked up in an instant with a new wife! (I did not find this too amusing, but I understood what he meant.)

So Friday is the day from Hell at the pediatrician's office with four shots and an iron finger stick. Needless to say that Mommy is NOT looking forward to this, but Daddy as always is there for the moral support and the shots. Happy Birthday baby...from Dr. Stetler and Staff...mmm hmmm.

On we go with the next year. I wonder what kind of comedy this will bring as Jack is a unique child, but that's part of the fun...watching and seeing! Ah, these are such good times for all of us. I almost wish I hadn't tied my tubes now...one more couldn't have hurt, but I guess when you end it with perfection it can't get any better, right?

2005-08-10T10:01:00.000-04:00

Jackson one year ago...

Happy First Birthday Jackson Dillon!!!

2005-08-10T09:52:00.000-04:00

Finally!!! The day of our son's first birthday is here!

Jackson Dillon Head was born on Tuesday, August 10th, 2004, at 11:32 am in Roswell, Georgia, weighing 7 lbs. 11 ounces, and was 19 1/2 inches long.

Today Jackson Dillon is 28 1/2 inches long and weighs almost 27 pounds.

For lunch we'll be going out for Frontera's Mexican Grille, and for dinner Mommy is making a Beef Stew and a chocolate cake, and Jackson will open a few of his birthday presents. We're leaving the rest for his birthday party this coming Sunday the 14th.

As I sit here writing this with tears running down my face, it makes me proud that I didn't give up on having another child after Deanna was born. I have two of the most beautiful, wonderful, happy, well-adjusted children a mother could ask for. Let's hope they stay that way!

Happy Birthday my little man...Daddy and I love you more than you will ever know!

The Countdown to One!!!

2005-08-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

24 hours and counting...Jackson Dillon Head will finally be a year old!

Where did the time go? As I read back through my blog, I realize how scared and niave I sounded when he was first born, and this isn't my first child! I guess it was just the age-gap between my children, and a first-time father in my husband that made me a little crazy this past year.

Jackson is a well-loved, well-fed, well-behaved child. All of the things I could have hoped for with this child are coming to fruition. He's bright, handsome, happy, fun-loving, trusting, smart, and he has a wonderful relationship with all of his family members. He is the light of his Nana's life, he is my pride and joy along with his older sister, and he is his daddy's little "goofy boy". This child is the cream of the crop amongst children.

So we wait for the next 24 hours to approach, and a little birthday cake and a big birthday dinner, and a few presents. We'll finish the celebration on Sunday with a huge party at Chuck E. Cheese's attended by about 35 people all in all.

Wow, I am starting to feel old now.

Career Dejavu...

2005-08-04T23:59:00.000-04:00

I spent five long, grueling years working my way from a server, trainer, opening trainer, Expo, KMIT, to management with The Cheesecake Factory. It was an interesting career choice while I was single and just raising Deanna. When I married Ken I decided that a seventy-hour work week wasn't in the cards because we wanted to have a baby, and working in an actual restaurant for them is high-stress at best, so I said my goodbyes and went to work for BJ's, and stayed there until we moved to Atlanta.

I work for the most successful restaurant conglomerate in the nation. The Darden Group is the Daddy to Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones (which is my division), Bahama Breeze, and Concept 51. The stock trades at something like $41.00 a share, and they are constantly expanding with something like 2300 restaurants under their belt currently. This is the company that has offered me a management position at almost twice what I was making when I worked like a slave for CCF.

A friend of mine back in California just interviewed with the Cheesecake Factory. Granted he's interviewing for a corporate position that probably has nothing to do with the actual interaction in the restaurants, as he is an engineer, and he's excited about it too. I wish him luck, but I'm not all that impressed as I feel he could do MUCH better than Cheesecake Factory. Their benefits are no better or worse than anywhere else, and they don't offer anything more than a 25% discount for family dining, but you DO get a free twelve-inch Cheesecake for Christmas every year...oh joy! I hope he finds something better, but then again I'm just jaded with the corporate practices of CCF, and I know first hand that they could give a shit about their employees on a personal level, as long as they pump out the work and make them money. My firend is A LOT better than that.

On the other hand I should support his decision and not gripe about past bad feelings of my own, after all, it has been about four years now since I worked for them, and I am extremely happy in my current job! (I don't need to start the bad kharma flowing now, do I???) It was a good stepping stone for my career, and it has made me a stronger person, even if they wouldn't transfer me to Atlanta because they didn't want me to leave Sherman Oaks. I made it to Atlanta anyway, and my life has been wonderful since leaving the CCF experience!

I just got a huge laugh when I read my friend's blog and saw that he had interviewed with the company that made me a lame duck for a long time. I hope it works out for him, and that he has a better experience than I did working for them if it all pans out.

These Are The Days of Our Lives!

2005-08-03T09:31:00.000-04:00

Drama....it's an all-encompassing word in my family. It seems that my sisters can't live without drama, while I run about as far away from it as I can get with my brothers in tow! Drama is too emotionally taxing, and I think we have better things to waste our energy on then the day-to-day bullshit that my sisters live through.

I love my sisters, but they need to learn to prioritize what's important and what's not in life. Jami has her crappy marriage to a verbally abusive asshole, and her emotionally disturbed child to deal with, and that in itself is enough to drive anyone batty! Melany and her husband have absolutely NO financial solvency, and can't save a dime to pay the rent between the two of them. They've been evicted from three apartments in two years, on top of my brother-in-law's current Heroine problem, which is being treated with Methadone. On top of that, they have three children...how fun is that?

My brothers are partners in their own business, which has a moderate success right now. They live together in a nice apartment in a decent area of the San Fernando Valley, they date some pretty nice ladies, Kris pays his child support on time and sees his daughter. They're decent, hard-working men, and they hate the drama.

I'm married with two kids, we live in a nice place, we both work, we both have a car and don't have to make a car payment as we own them out-right, we pay our bills on time, we've never paid our rent late or bounced a check on it. We have a healthy, productive marriage, we don't take drugs or have a substance dependency issue. We both wish we made a bit more money, but who doesn't? We wish we worked schedules that gave us more time together, but who doesn't? I moved 2700 miles away to get away from the drama in California; something my husband couldn't understand.

My mother and her partner Diana are a whole new ballgame. I'm discovering that some of my sister Jami's problems stem from the fact that she's married to Diana's brother, and Diana is stirring the pot and causing trouble that doesn't need to be caused while my mother plays the ostrich and sticks her head in the sand and professes not to know what's going on. Once again more drama.

Why do I feel as though I need to cut off these few people that I love, with the exception of my brothers? Can't we all just get along???? I hate the damn soap opera, and the funny thing is I stopped watching these shows a long time ago! What's a girl to do?

I'm going to start playing the ostrich too...it's been working for my mom this long, although I don't buy into it...Oh well, I guess that's life, right?

Leos and then some!!!

2005-08-02T09:31:00.000-04:00

Who WASN'T born in August in my family??? The month of the Lion is the busiest birthday month all year for me.

August 1st is Kia and Krista, my twin nieces who just turned one. August 2nd is my friend Corey. August 8th is my friend Julian. August 10th is Jackson AND his step-grandpapa Big Jack. August 11th is my nephew Matthew, who will be seven. August 12th is my cousin Jeremy. August 14th is my friend Nicole. August 15th is my friend Lori AND my friend Denise. August 17th is my birthday. August 18th is my former father-in-law Mitchell. August 19th is my current father-in-law, Walter AND my friend Pate.. August 21st is my sister Jami. August 23rd is my cousin Lori. August 27th is my friend Greg. August 30th is my friend John. August 31st is my friend Rich AND my friend Mitch. That's ALMOST a birthday for everyday in the month, and yes, I remember them all with either a gift or a card or a phone call.

I realize that Leo babies were conceived during the coldest months of winter, but there has to be something more that people can do during November and December besides getting laid! Have a snowball fight, build an igloo, make comfort foods and watch a movie or read a book! Okay, so I'm one to talk, but I don't think I can handle another August birthday! This is a budget-buster even worse than Christmas or Hannukah for me!

A big "Happy Birthday" to all my fellow Leos. You all rock!

The Interviews take two...

2005-08-01T09:03:00.000-04:00

Both Ken and I graduated to second interviews; myself for promotion and Ken for a respective new job.

My second interview went great and I have no doubt that I'll be in Orlando training to be a manager (since it's at my own pace) by Year's end. I want to go home to Los Angeles for Thanksgiving this year which is why I'm pushing back the actual MIT kick-off. I can complete the Trailblazer program before Halloween.

Ken's second interview is with Human Resources. It has been my experience that HR doesn't talk with you unless they plan on hiring you, which is fine by Ken. He said that his first interview with a man named James Bond (NO JOKE!!!) went really well. It was of course a little chit chat about his experience, with a little random conversation about nothing thrown in there. Now he get's to speak to Angela House...okay, who am I to judge? My last name is Head!

So, on we go with the process of furthering ourselves. While it's a bit tedious, it's still a good feeling knowing that something good is really about to happen for us as well as for our family as a whole. I'll keep everyone posted as to the outcome!

The Interviews...

2005-07-27T10:58:00.000-04:00

Today Ken has an interview with a company that provides tech support to the private sector. On Saturday I have a final interview with my D.O. for a jump to management.

Things are happening for us. Our jobs are taking us to new levels, Jack is growing bigger by the minute, and we're looking for a new house possibly. If our income increases the way we're hoping, then we'll be able to save more and expand sooner than we'd hoped!

I'm really hoping that Ken gets this new job. He deserves more than the stress and bullshit that he gets working for CompUSA. He hates retail, and he's more than qualified to work for a large private company. He'd be a hell of a lot happier if this worked out for him.

Keep your fingers crossed everyone...

How hot is too hot?

2005-07-25T09:21:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine back in LA posted on his blog that they're experiencing their summer heatwave. Yeah, 105 is hot as all get out, but try 97 degrees with 90% humidity...Oh yeah, THAT sucks even worse.

Is the air conditioner working overtime? You'd better believe it. Don't tell my husband, but I'd rather be where it's hot and dry than where it's hot and humid. This is Atlanta's hottest July on record in four years. I guess there was a reason why the summers have been so tolerable for me since moving here; it wasn't this friggin' hot!

You pay a price with the weather in the places that you choose to live. The rest of the year here in Atlanta is really nice, but yes, the summers do bite! We drink loots of water, run errands as early as possible, and hit the swimming pool after four o clock, when the sun has shifted. Cooking consists of that which you DON'T have to bake, a lot of grilling, and a good percentage of eating out and enjoying the restaurants air conditioning! When the electric bill comes I'll pretend not to feel betrayed by the high costs of energy.

I hate summer anyways...is it Fall yet?

The End of the Stand-off...

2005-07-21T11:59:00.000-04:00

My sister Jami and I stopped talking about a year ago. She just kind of shut everyone out and made choices to stop speaking to people. I was one of those people. She stopped talking to me because of distance, and because her current husband is a total self-serving jerk and a manipulater and he planted a bunch of untrue garbage in her head that she chose to believe when she got too many conflicting versions of things going on. Needless to say I was unhappy about the decision and decided to cut her off myself by leaving her a nasty phone message one day.

Here's the thing in my family; we are ALL a bunch of stubborn jerks, and when someone cuts a person off it's for life. Jami and I are closer than most sisters, so when she stopped talking to me I didn't understand it, and I didn't take it too well. While there's very little I can do to improve my sister's situation from here in Atlanta, I have always tried to be supportive of her choices regardless. She's really messed-up right now, and her son Matt is in even worse shape. She's trying the best she can to help Matthew out, but it's frustrating when she gets absolutely NO support from the asshole she married. Even the marriage is falling apart. It's a lot of drama, and I'm glad I am as far away from it as I am.

I was checking phone messages this morning and noticed a number on the caller ID that was from my family's neighborhood. I was curious so I called and checked out the number, and sure as shit it was from Jami. I left her a message telling her I loved her no matter what we were going through and for her to call me back. She called me about a half an hour later and we spoke for almost two hours.

Regardless of what people do, I don't judge. We all are responsible for how we live our lives, and since I'm having a hard enough time sometimes trying to balance things to create my own happy medium, who am I to tell someone that they've messed up their own life? We all make choices, we all make mistakes, we all learn from them or we don't, but when it's a member of my own family, I wince and try and remain a positive force for them, no matter what. Jami was surprised that I wasn't pointing fingers or telling her that she was a screw-up, but I have never done that in the past so why would I start now? Why should I expect anything from her that I don't expect from anyone else? I don't have to live her life! All I could do was listen and tell her I love her, and that it was okay, no matter what we were going through.

I know it's hard for Jami to understand my leaving Los Angeles, and I miss her as much as she misses me, but my chance to be happier than I've ever been came, and I ran with it, and I have no regrets about leaving my family and friends, and they know it and respect it as well. We all need to do what makes us happy, no matter what that is or where your happiness takes you. I'm just happy were talking again.

Meltdown at the COMP...

2005-07-20T14:59:00.000-04:00

Okay, for those of you in the loop, Ken works at CompUSA as a Lead Technician. Is he happy there you ask? Not a chance, but it's a job with excellent benefits so he's kept it for over a year. The pay is decent, it helps with the bills and rent, and of course I work to supplement the other things we need.

Ken's Tech Manager Mike is a real schmuck. He loafs around most of the day surfing the net, he's pretty non-productive and pretty lazy. Ken bears the brunt of Mike's foul-ups, which is a pain in the ass for Ken and it stresses him out to boot. Well, Mike got the axe today leaving Ken, this other putz named Jay and two new service writers in the shop. This shop has suffered from a lack of technicians for months, and Ken does a lot of work, more than he should have to.

It came as no surprise to me that Mike got fired, but they've replaced him with a woman who has NO experience as a technical manager, and NO computer experience at all! Heather is a nice lady, I've met her, but she doesn't know her head from her butt when it comes to the tech shop.

Good times are ahead for my poor husband. He has an interview next Wednesday with a private firm that provided tech support to people. The money is good, the benefits are great and he and I both hope he gets it as it will get him out of retail and back into an office setting, which to him is a dream come true. I only hope he can stick it out for a little while longer, and that he does get this job. He deserves a change and a break...let's hope this works out!

CompUSA sucks and it's only going to get worse before it gets better. God help Ken.

Creme de la Creme...

2005-07-20T09:51:00.000-04:00

I'm starting to research day care centers here in town. With me getting promoted to management at work, and Ken possibly leaving CompUSA for a new job as a private corp tech, we'll need to put Jack into Child Care a few days a week, but if all goes well, we'll be able to afford it and not go hungry.

There are a few places right here near where we live in Norcross. Creme de la Creme, La Petite Academy, and Kids R Kids are the ones that strike my fancy, with the first one being my first choice. Toddler care is about $175.00 a week, but the programs are fantastic, the ratio of child to teacher is 3 to 1 or even less in some cases, and best of all they are Board and National Certified programs with internet access to the classrooms to watch over your child! Being within a two mile radius of the house doesn't hurt either.

Do I want Jack to go into Child Care? No, not really, but the chance to go back to doing something that I love is too enticing to keep me waiting tables forever. I was a terrific manager before I got pregnant with Jack, but I had a lot of time to give to the job with Deanna being older and living with her father primarily and coming home to me on weekends. It's time to get back to a salaried position with great benefits and stock options and 401K and two weeks paid vacation a year. Just the financial stability alone would be a nice thing for us all.

I've had a great first year at home with Jack, and I'd love to stay home even more, but the money has become important if we want Jack to have all of the good things he deserves, like private school and little league and football and karate and boy scouts and a decent car to drive when he becomes old enough to do that, and a good college education with the minimum financial aid possible through Stafford if he needs it at all. We want for this child, and we want the best; what parent doesn't want the best things in life for their children?

So my research takes me to new places and new possibilities for our son. I'm already starting to feel the separation anxiety...sheesh!

Party Planning...

2005-07-19T12:43:00.000-04:00

They say that babies have early memories, and I tend to believe this. I remember planning Deanna's first birthday party, which was held in the rec room of our apartment back in Los Angeles in 1992. It was mostly family and some friends, but the first birthday party is mostly for the adults in a child's life. Now 15, Deanna's idea of a birthday party is a night out at Benihana or Ed Debevic's with her girlfriends, followed by a sleep-over and lots of junk food and giggling. You gotta love it!

Well, being that Jackson is about to turn one, I have options to ponder for his first party. Deanna is a winter baby, while Jackson is a smack-in-the-middle-of-summer baby. Do I do a pool party and barbeque, or Chuck E. Cheese, or Gymboree? What's a mother to do? If I do the party here at home I'm stuck with the clean-up of about 35 people and their children, If I do Chuck E. Cheese I can ply the grown-ups with pitchers of beer, order pizza, and provide extra game tokens for the kids not to mention the goodie bags, and if I do Gymboree I get the party space but have to provide my own stuff as well. What do I do??? Any suggestions?

I'm thinking of going with Chuck E. Cheese. I like the fact that you get this space and a party package that includes the pizzas and soft drinks and game tokens for the kiddies, all in the span of about an hour. I've taken the liberty of ordering his birthday cake at Publix, which provides a free one-year old's "smash cake" with the order. I've started getting the invitations together, but I just need the location and I'll be set. I have about another week, but I hate to do things so last minute.

For my birthday I just like a card and a nice dinner. I can't wait until my children get to the point where THAT will be enough, but it's doubtful that it will happen anytime soon. How funny that my son's first birthday party will be 3 days before my 37th birthday. Maybe we should just do a double party and be done with it...right?

2005-07-18T09:33:00.000-04:00

The Little Swimmer that could!

Weekend Warrior...

2005-07-17T11:55:00.000-04:00

With Nana and Papa being here in Atlanta for a visit, Jack is going to get some time with them today at Uncle David's new abode in Tucker. There's a swing set, a HUGE yard to play in, a deck for him to kick back on with Nana, and best of all smoked pork loin and German potato salad for lunch this afternoon.

Jack's becoming the little weekend warrior. With Ken and I both off on the weekends, (well, Ken's off on Sundays anyway) we've made it a point to take Jackson out to do something, ANYTHING, just to get him out of the house and into the world. Granted, the weather has been less than desirable with all of the rainstorms, but we still do the best that we can.

He'll actually get to spend some time with his grandfather today. Walter is fascinated by Jack, so today should be fun for the both of them. Of course Lydia is completely in love with her grandson, so she'll be in full "Nana" mode all afternoon. Even David will have some time to spend with the Boy. It's a lot more fun for all involved now that Jack is mobile.

Here's to all of the weekend warriors in our lives...fathers and sons, fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, mothers and daughters...have a fun weekend! I know we plan to while the sun is out!

Pissy People...

2005-07-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't know, I work in a restaurant. Right now I'm serving and bartending, but I'm usually a manager, and with this particular restaurant I'll be going into management in September, but I wanted to wait until Jack was old enough to go into a daycare program a few days a week. All in all the job is good; I've been there for the two years we've lived here in Georgia, but I have my bad days like everyone else.

We've had a lot of drama going on in my restaurant, but I've been in Lithonia opening another location, so I've been fortunate enough to bypass all of the crap going on. Last night I found out that a manager that I'm not very fond of got canned for fraternizing with employees, a big no-no for the managers. She deserved what she got, and threw a lot of good people under the bus in order to try and save her own ass. Apparently it didn't work and she was dismissed, which is fine by me. Now I'll actually be able to work with managers who actually work instead of stand behind the bar all night flirting with guests, trying to get laid. Pretty sad.

The general mood last night was sort of funky. Other servers were sort of pissy, and while the guests were tipping well last night, they too were sort of pissy. I don't know if it's the weather or something in the water, but we're in the business of serving food and drink, not selling stocks and bonds and other securities. IT'S JUST FOOD PEOPLE, JESUS!!!! If people are going to be shitty, then they should just stay home. For the few bucks they're leaving, it's not worth me getting sucked up in the bad vibe around me, but at times it's hard to pull out of it! I actually had a bartender bitching about having to make drinks last night! Hello...you're the bartender, stop whining and make the damn drink already!

After a few hours of trying to hold it together, I took my manager into our walk-in refrigerator and blasted (or rather vented) on him. I normally have a really decent attitude; I'm there to make my money and then go home...this place is NOT my life, it's my income and that's it! After my sixty second rant and a fast nicotine break I felt better enough to get through the evening without saying a word to anyone for the rest of the night and then going to Kroger to grocery shop at 11:30 in the evening, where at least the checker was sweet despite having to pull a grave yard shift.

Coming home, Ken sensed that I was a bit moody over my evening, but I got over it quickly once I was in the door. I guess the stupid movie on HBO pulled me out of it, and as I crawled into bed at 1:00 am, I was thankful that the day was over. Yes, tomorrow IS another day! I'll learn not to vibe on people too hard...someday.

Baby Steps...

2005-07-13T12:27:00.000-04:00

Jackson Dillon, age 11 months. Standing tall and becoming his own person. (Can you believe how big he's gotten???)

A Big Boy For Sure...

2005-07-12T11:25:00.000-04:00

Well, we're counting down to Jackson's first birthday. How strange it feels to realize that this time last year we were waiting for the arrival of this wonderful little person, and now he's almost a year old! Yes, time DOES fly when you're having fun!

So what do we do for his first birthday you ask? I'm thinking of a pool party/barbeque type of deal. That's the beauty of having a summer birthday. He loves to be in the pool, and he eats anything you put into his mouth, so a pool party and barbeque are a great way to satisfy the thronges of people we plan on inviting.

I have some friends that are coming in from out of town for this gathering. People are coming from Boston, Alabama, Baltimore, and even from my home state of California. It's wonderful to know that Jack has this much love surrounding him, and that I've made some terrific friends who are willing to travel for an event such as this!

The milestones in Jack's life have been fascinating, and this birthday is going to be extraordinary. They say that the first birthday is mostly for the grown-ups, but I plan to make it wonderful enough so that Jack has a memory or two of it as well...I know that I'll never forget it, not ever.

Dennis the Menace...

2005-07-11T00:16:00.000-04:00

One of the shitty things about living in Georgia is that we get spin-off bands of rain during the hurricane season. We're close to the panhandle and the Gulf of Mexico, so when the shit hits the fan we get to suffer for it as well.

Coming from California, I've lived through a number of serious earthquakes; the Northridge Earthquake being the most devastating. Living in Georgia, I've suffered through Ivan and a few others, and now we have Dennis on our tails. Fun stuff. And to think that my husband actually wants to move down to Florida??? Oh Hell no...I'll go back to California first!

We've been prepared for the Hurricane season since last year when we lost power for about four hours when Ivan hit. I have enough candles to keep a Catholic church burning for a week, bottled water coming out of my butt, (a good 15 gallons stashed in the pantry and in the trunk of my car) batteries and flashlights and a transister radio that works on batteries, and a change of clothes and two days worth of food for each of us, except that I have a ton of baby food for Jack. I also have all of our important documents in a water-safe pouch in my night stand. If we need to make a run for the higher ground, all we need to do is grab our stuff and the baby and the cat and go. I unpack the clothes and use the food during the winter, but I try and stay as prepared as possible from May until October, which is the end of Hurricane season. We're better off than most people I know in case of an emergency.

Spending nine weeks in Orlando for MIT in September is NOT going to be my idea of fun...House of the Mouse my ass...I'm surprised that Disney is still there with all of the damage being done in Florida with each new Hurricane.

"And that's what I like about the South!" Mmm hmm...Good times for sure!

The Return of Nana....

2005-07-06T09:20:00.000-04:00

I spoke with my in-laws yesterday and they'll be coming down from North Carolina this weekend to help my brother-in-law move into his new house. I'm happy for David; it's a nice house even if it was built in 1964, which bothers my mother-in-law. She's not a fan of the new house, but then again she doesn't have to live in it. (Her words, not mine!)

She's excited about coming back down, this time with "Papa", my father-in-law Walter, who hasn't seen Jack since Christmas. Walter thinks that Jack's in for a big surprise when he see's him. We think it's the other way around. Jack isn't the same baby he was at Christmas...he's made TONS of changes. Look out Papa!

I think that Jack and Walter are going to be quite amused with one another. Of course it will take Jack a little bit of time to get used to his Papa, but once he knows who he is, I'm sure they'll get along just fine. He knows his Nana quite well...remember the four-week visit she just had a few weeks ago? Jack will be thrilled to see her...

I love family weekends. No and's, if's or but's about it. This should be fun.

The First Independence Day...

2005-07-05T13:18:00.000-04:00

I can't wait until next year. Jack was asleep by 8:30 last night, so that left us unable to go out to watch any of the really cool fireworks displays here in Atlanta. Given that Jack freaks out at the strangest of noises, maybe it was a good thing that we sat this year out.

Our neighbors pulled out their "Nuke your Neighbor" kits as Ken refers to the fireworks kits that you can buy here over the counter, and of course they made a ton of noise. Now here's the big joke on us; Jack slept through all of it, even the ones that sounded like they were ready to blast through his bedroom window. And we were worried that Jack might wake up screaming. Nope, not this child...when he's out cold, he's out cold.

The independence of our nation slipped by this year with a minimum of fuss and muss. We stayed home, safe and happy, and spent the day playing with Jack, who is now like a giant toy himself. It was a nice day, and a nice evening spent with hubby. I hope it was a safe and fun holiday for our friends and family as well.

American Me...

2005-07-02T14:14:00.000-04:00

So we're coming up on the Fourth of July, and of course it's a hot, humid summer here in Atlanta; so much so that our AC is working overtime right now.

Jack and I were out shopping this morning and I noticed that stores were displaying fireworks packs. I thought that fireworks were outlawed, but then again I come from the West Coast where you cannot buy them over the counter. Go figure that you can buy them here at the local Wal-Mart...strange but okay. Yes, I'm going to have Ken pick up a pack...why not? I rememeber being a little girl and my father and uncles lighting them in the street with the whole family watching, but that was back in the 70's. Now you go to Pierce College to watch them back home. I think it's going to be fun seeing them lit right in front of me...it's like a part of my childhood coming back to life, and now it'll be part of Jack's childhood memories as well.

We've got the grill cleaned and chops marinating, four-bean salad chilling along with some great potato salad, and I've asked Ken to invite his friend Shonge and his wife Lauren and their three kids over as well...let's start a holiday tradition of getting together with friends for the fourth since our families are so spaced-out distance-wise. My brother-in-law will be busy moving into his new house and probably won't want to come over after a hard day of moving or else I'd invite David as well. Besides that, he's not the most kid-friendly individual...nothing against him, but he isn't married and doesn't have any children of his own, but he's still really good to Jack when he see's him. It helps that Jack is getting older and more aware of his surroundings and the people around him.

Well, here's to another one of those fabulous frivolous holidays that I get paid for even when I'm not at work. Happy Independence Day everyone. Be safe and keep cool....I know I'm sure going to try!

Running Around...

2005-06-25T10:15:00.000-04:00

One of the wonderful things about Jack becoming a toddler is that he is much more mobile, and he's a lot easier to take out with us now.

We ran a lot of errands yesterday, and of course we did this as a family. Jack in his big-boy car seat is a terrific thing to behold, and he gave us very little grief while we were out and about. We hit the DMVS office, went to my insurance company, did some shopping all with the little one, and until he got cranky and tired he was having a great time. We didn't used to be able to do things like this together as Jack was not one of those affible children out of the house. Times have changed.

People like Jack; he's a cute baby and very curious about the going-ons around him. Old southern gentlemen pat him on his head, southern women stop and smile and talk to him...it's good times for him, and for us as well.

The freedom of getting out with Jack is great. I used to feel really cooped up because we didn't go out a lot during the winter; who wants to carry around a baby while it's cold out? Now with the summer being here, he swims, plays, we go for walks every day, we take drives and go out for lunches and dinners...

It's time to start thinking about daycare a few days a week. Jack could use the interaction with other children, but I don't look forward to it. Being around others means bringing home colds, the flu, other little kiddie diseases, but if that's the worst of it, and he has a good time then I'm all for it. "Mommy and Me" time is great, but I'm sure he gets bored around me. It's time to loosen the hold and let Jack become a social little person...God Help Us!

"Batman" Bull...

2005-06-23T16:17:00.000-04:00

I've been foaming at the mouth to see the new "Batman Begins" since I first heard about it over a year ago. I've seen the previews, watched the "Making of" special, read a lot of really positive reviews on it, and now I'm ready to go! Saturday night is the big night...woo hoo!

I'm talking to a friend at work who shall be nameless, (Corey Dawkins...) and he starts trashing the whole movie, telling me what a piece of crap it was, and how he's read nothing good about it (I didn't realize this guy COULD read, but okay...) and how he won't waste his money even on the DVD when it comes out for him to see it! He'e talking all this garbage about a movie he HASN'T EVEN SEEN YET!!! Below is our semi-intelligent conversation about the subject.

Me: "Corey, do you even know what the hell you're talking about?" Him:"Yeah, and it just doesn't look like the other Batman movies" Me:"It's not the OTHER Batman movies, it's THIS Batman movie you moron!" Him:"I'm not a Batman person anyway, I prefer Spiderman. Batman is too morbid and dark-looking." Me:"Think that's why he's called 'The Dark Knight" maybe??? Stick to the cartoon...oh wait, that's too morbid and dark too...better move on to "The Rugrats" if your Mommy will let you!" Him:"There's no need to get mad, I'm only stating my opinion!" Me: "You can't have an opinion about something you have no knowledge of, so shut up, okay know-it-all?" Him: "Have you seen the new Star Wars? It was awesome!!!" Me: Yawn......

Moral of the story: Don't be a dumb ass and review something you haven't seen or don't intend to see around me. You only look dumb, and I hate dumb.

I still can't wait for Saturday night and the chance to form my own opinion about this movie...even if it sucks I'll probably love it anyways. Christian Bale is gorgeous!!!

A Brand New Being!

2005-06-22T15:52:00.000-04:00

What was once an infant is now a toddler...Jackson Dillon Head is now at an age where the real fun begins for us all!

Daddy loves to play with him; they chase one another around, they tackle each other, Jack loves to hang out with his Daddy. This is what I've been waiting for all this time!

Now that Jack is crawling, we've lost our infant and replaced him with this hilarious toddler that emulates us. He has cognitive reasoning skills, he can find his way out of a tight situation with a minimum of fuss, he eats solid table foods like he's been doing it forever, and we can now spend an entire meal in a restaurant because he's amused with his surroundings...Jack's a changed "man".

Here's to the future with our brand new being! May he grow and grow, and may we continue to keep laughing well into the terrible two's...

Now let's get to his first birthday in a month and a half!

And The Oscar Goes To...

2005-06-19T09:20:00.000-04:00

Lydia is on her way back home to Boone North Carolina as I write this. Oma OR "Na-na", as she became known in her THIRTY days here, is a battered, bruised, burned-out mess who will probably sleep for a week straight after her six and a half hour drive home.

My mother-in-law was a really big help and I feel horrible for seeing her off in this condition, and my father-in-law is going to be really pissed off when he sees her like this. NOTE*** Walter, I am REALLY sorry that Lydia is all messed up. It won't happen again.***

People, NEVER let your mother-in-law continue to watch your child if she has a SINGLE physical problem, like a bad back. With all of the bending and lifting that this woman did it's a miracle that she's even standing at all. I should have come home from Lithonia when she strained her back to begin with, as Ken was not the biggest amount of help to her, which also bothered me some. I don't think I'll be opening another restaurant anytime soon. Lydia deserves better quality time with her grandson than this. She put up a really brave front, and I know she was in quite a bit of pain, but she just kept on trudging through it, claiming to be fine....uh huh.

Here's the joke of it all: I was more worried about my mother-in-law these past few days than I was about Jack. I have no doubt of her abilities to take care of her grandson, but I just wanted her to be be feeling in better shape than she was, and you don't rest with a ten-month old, so it wasn't going to happen, and I knew that things were only going to get worse for her, which they did. If I'd had a Vicodin and about ten hours of time on my hands, I would have had her take it and just crash...she needs it.

Jack had a good time. He learned some new things, plus she was here when he started his whole crawling thing, which was also cool because she got to experience a landmark in a series of firsts for him. They bonded, and I know she had more than a few good moments with him over the past month, so I hope it was worth it for her.

I forgot to burn off a disk of pictures for her, and Ken never took the picture of her and the baby that she wanted to send to her sister for her birthday. Here's something even more lame on my part: I bought an umbrella stroller for Jack the DAY before she left to go home. She was toting a 20plus pound stroller around...not an easy task. An umbrella stoller weighs something like 5 pounds...nice huh? I am not altogether right in the head at times, and sometimes my timing stinks.

I think the next time that we see Lydia it will be because we drove to North Carolina to go camping at the end of the summer. We'll stop by the homestead on the way in and out I'm sure, but it's time she had the home court advantage for a change.

Thanks a lot Mom. I really appreciate your help once again. I hope we see you soon. Be sure and get some sleep.

Home for a moment.

2005-06-16T16:02:00.000-04:00

I got stuck working a third week in Lithonia, but decided it was a fantastic idea to come home for two days, on the days they gave me off before finishing another 65 hour work week. Hey, I missed my husband and son...what can I say?

Jack is now the king of the carpet. He's doing the full-blown crawling thing, and man is he everywhere! My mother-in-law is exhausted trying to keep up with him, and I don't blame her in the least...he's a fast little bugger!

Father's Day is coming; Ken's first. He wants a cabinet smoker and a MP3 player...in all reality he'll probably get a few pairs of new Dockers, a grill brush for our old barbeque, and a DVD of "The Aviator". We don't always get what we want, but we do get what we need with something fun thrown in there too. (I'll probably throw a hummer his way as well.)

I just want this opening to be over with. MIT is next, and that's ten weeks in Orlando, Florida...oh joy, but they want me to go into management and I guess I'm ready to go as well...I'm getting burned-out on the whole service thing, and management isn't any better; it just offers better benefits so we'll see when this all jumps off. I hope it's after Jack starts walking or I'll be really pissed off if I wind up missing it.

I'm just glad to be home, even if it is only for a moment.

Oh Lithonia...

2005-06-07T11:53:00.000-04:00

Wow, this is the largest concentrated amount of black people I have EVER seen in my life all at once, not counting television!!! This is a very dark town, but it's the highest income per capita for African-Americans in all of Atlanta...okay, fine.

The opening's going pretty well; I've made some new friends out of the other trainers that I haven't met before, but I know most of them from previous openings. It's a large amount of work, a little bit of play, and the concept of having fun in places you wouldn't normally travel to.

Smokey Bones will do very well out here...

Man, I can't wait to go home.

Curtain Call...

2005-05-30T09:32:00.000-04:00

I love to read my friend Steve's blog. He has links to other really funny and cool blogs as well which I also read. A few days ago he posted on his blog The Hamburgler about how his daughter Kayla is growing up and learning new things. I was highly amused given that Kayla is 7 and his other daughter Peyton is almost 5. The reason his blog is so funny is because he writes about his girls from a father's perspective, which is like reading about a clothing review from a cross-dresser. It's always funny.

Being the parent of a fifteen-year old girl and a 10-month old boy, I've got a lot of space in between children and a ton of memories about what my oldest was doing at my youngest's age. There are considerable differences, and no two children are ever alike.

Today's worries with Deanna include boyfriends, teenage pregnancy and STD's, body piercings and tattoos, what colleges she'll apply to along with PSAT's and SAT's, driver's learner's permits and the insurance premium that goes along with it, and all of the drama that goes along with being a young woman. While I don't particularly care for my ex-husband (let's face it, I think the jackass should have kicked off a long time ago, and the feeling is hughly mutual...) I am quite amused at hearing about all of the issues "my daughter" is putting him through. We raised this child together in the hopes of her becoming a shining example of human morality and values. My attitude is this; if she becomes a lesbian pedophiliac axe murderer, may she be excellent at it, I'll love her just the same. She's a terrific kid, she shows common sense, she asks questions, she gives her father plenty of heart palpitations, as she should. She's a girl! I'm a mother, and I don't view things the way her father does, nor do I stand by the front door waiting for her date with a shot gun behind my back. That's just something Dads do. Moms do intense investigative FBI checks on these guys and keep the results to themselves if all checks out. The amount of rope I give Deanna to hang herself with is far greater than the amount Chris gives her, but once again I iterate; HE IS HER FATHER! Daddy's little girl is growing up, and it's making him a raging mess...it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. She can always move home to Georgia when she's had enough of her father's whining.

Jackson presents a whole other set of challenges. He may be younger than his sister, but the worries with this child include cracking his head open against the fireplace, being scratched by the kitty for trying to bite his tail, teething, crawling, temper tantrums for not moving fast enough to meet his needs (what few there are...) and falling over when he tries to stand up! I have a ton of patience with Jack; I'm a mother. Ken is teaching his son to be a little man, and I get a huge laugh out of it as well. He's mommy's little boy, but not a momma's boy, and I look forward to Pop Warner football and Pee Wee baseball, and girls and "the sex talk"and providing him with a bullet-proof vest and a condom before a date and having to meet a young lady's father, and telling him to pull up his pants or put on a belt, and to wear his seat belt when he's driving, and to not get drunk and drive (with others or by himself) and to call me if he needs to get home safely.

Boys and girls present different obstacles, but you love your children and hope that you can raise them right and to do the right things when faced with life's issues. Does it always happen? No. Do you disown them because they turned out other than the way you wanted them to? No. Do you eventually have to let them live their own lives they way they want to? Yes. We never stop being parents, and the job is never done whether your kids are 9 or 29. You still lay in bed at night hoping you didn't mess them up too badly, but in the end when all is said and done and the curtain falls at the end of the show and you hear those four words, "I love you Mom", it's so worth it. Then you get to make the parenting curtain call and you become a grandparent...then the real fun begins...sweet revenge!

A Busy Week...

2005-05-29T12:40:00.000-04:00

So Oma has been here for a week, and I've been working like crazy in preparation for my opening in Lithonia. I've been blessed to have Lydia here, as I've been at work constantly, as has Ken. We're both a little worn out, but the bills are current, Jack's happy to have time with Oma, and we even got to go see a movie when she got here!

Now on to Star Wars Episode III. I was not at all interested in seeing this movie, as episodes one and two put me right to sleep, but Ken showed me the trailer for episode three and it looked better than the first two, so I relented and decided to go see this movie. We went on Monday night, to the last showing of the day and were two of seven people in the theater which was fine by me. We got there as the movie previews were starting, settled down with our super-sodas and for the next two hours got to watch a movie that didn't make me fall asleep. I was a huge fan of the original Star Wars movies, and when Deanna wanted to go and see the first two prequels I schlepped along and slept through them, but this was actually a decent movie; not great but not bad, and it did leave us with a lot of answered questions. I thought that Anakin becoming Darth Vader was pretty cool after his big fight scene with Obi Wan, and then I understood how all of the humanity left him after he asked about Padme being alive and the Chancellor lying to him by telling him he killed her, so it was pretty gripping, but otherwise it was what it was, just another movie, but more like the original Star Wars movies than the last two. It was fine, and it was a nice night out with Ken.

I have my last shift in Dunwoody tonight for three weeks, and a lot of laundry and packing to do tomorrow, so this will be my last post for a while. I'm sure I'll have plenty to say when I get back, so stay tuned and have a great Memorial Day weekend y'all!

Bonding with Oma...

2005-05-19T12:35:00.000-04:00

My mother-in-law will be here on Sunday. She's coming because I'm going to be opening a new restaurant about 60 miles away, so I'll be gone for two weeks, coming home on my days off. She is going to be taking care of Mr. Jackson in my absence and she's thrilled to be getting all of this time with him. She hasn't seen Jack in the flesh since Christmas, but she get's her daily picture via e-mail.

I'm lucky to have a mother-in-law who cares enough about us to come down when opportunities like these present themselves. I like doing new restaurant openings and I'm good at them, and I was going to stop doing them when Jack came along, but Lydia assured me that she would help us in any way she could if an opening came along that I wanted to do. It's good money, lots of hard work, and it's a few weeks away from home. (this I am not looking forward to actually, as I will miss both of my boys terribly, especially Jack!) Oma is coming a week before I leave to get familiarized with Jack and his routine. If you'll remember, she came when Jack was three months old to help us establish a new routine for him...she was incredible and we got lots of sleep! Now she's dealing with a more independent baby, someone who actually knows how to communicate his needs, (in his own ways, but still...) and who sleeps through the night soundly.

He's quite active, as Oma will find out, but she should have a blast with him, with a lot of help from Ken, who has been ordered to take over the night shift so that his mother doesn't get too tired or burned-out. Jack can be a handful, but we're used to it, and she's not.

I have no worries about how things will be while I'm gone, and I'm happy that Oma will have time to bond with her grandson...the light of her life. Like I stated months ago, I hope that people with kids appreciate their in-laws...without my mother-in-law I'd be a basket case at times, but I'm just lucky I guess. My former mother-in-law was a nightmare, so I guess I deserve a good mother-in-law for a change!

A good week so far...

2005-05-13T10:05:00.000-04:00

There's really nothing new to write about. It's been a good week so far.

Things with Jack are moving along, Ken's busy at work as am I, we've got our days off together this week, which is always cool, and I'm thinking of taking Jack over to the community swimming pool this afternoon.

Nothing's really changed for us. We're wondering why we keep seeing the same five episodes of kiddie shows on Nick Jr. I think kids are smarter than we give them credit for. Can Jack possibly be happy watching the same stuff over and over again, but on different days? I think Nick Jr. needs a wake-up call for new episodes of their kiddie shows...or they should be forced to sit there and watch the same things over and over the way our kids do. Think it'll work?

A Small wish with a Huge meaning...

2005-05-08T15:53:00.000-04:00

Happy Mothers Day to all of the women in my life. To those who have children, have the most wonderful day, and for those who are eventually going to have them, learn to appreciate what the day is all about because when your time comes, it'll make it that much sweeter. To those without children, may you have taken your own mother to an extremely expensive Mother's Day brunch at Shanghai Red's or the Universal Hilton, or cooked her dinner or breakfast in bed.

Happy Mother's Day Sharon and Lydia and Carla; I love you so much, and because of you three I am the woman, wife and mother that I am...you are each wonderful, special women and I hope you enjoy your day.

Also, a special mention; Happy 50th Birthday Lady Diana...you ARE getting older, but your also getting better; that's what I think. ;-P I love you.

Everyone just enjoy the day...I know I will!

Hernias and other fun stuff...

2005-05-05T09:02:00.000-04:00

Last year just before I gave birth to Jack my mother had surgery for a herniated navel. It meant that she wasn't able to be here for Jack's birth, and she has had continual problems since the surgery. She saw her surgeon on Monday, and he is at a loss as how to treat the problem to completion. He's treating her with silver nitrate on a weekly basis and will monitor her progress until it's either fixed, or he finds a way to successfully fix it through surgery again. This is un-nerving to me, but my mom seems to be handling it fine.

I spoke to my friend Hamburg yesterday for the first time in about six months. He had me rolling with tales of his e-bay purchases, (Darth Tater...the Darth Vader potato head, and a binery clock...such a geek.) and the theory of who's worse, the geek or the geek-lover? I'm still trying to figure that out, since I'm married to the Alpha-geek myself! I miss talking to him, as we grew up together and re-connected last year before Jack was born. He was one of my best friends and has become that again, so it's always nice to be able to talk with those that you love, who are familiar with you, and who don't judge! Steve has the opposite family situation to mine; he's surrounded by the female gender while I'm living in an all-male society here at home. He's a good man, and I miss him when we don't talk...oh well, that's life and family and work, right?

Ken played me the trailer for the last "Star Wars" installment. I was so resistant to seeing this movie, as the first two were absolute shit, but this actually looks awesome. I guess we'll be getting a sitter on May 19th in order to go see the movie. I'm actually waiting for the June 15th premiere of "Batman Begins", in fact I'm foaming at the mouth to see it. Christian Bale is gorgeous, and I think he makes the perfect Batman actually!

Mother's Day is Sunday, and I'm hoping to get tickets to see the Braves play at home against the Astros. We'll see how Jack feels about it, but I'm willing to take the chance. I haven't seen one game at Turner Field since he was born, so I think it's time...Jack can just get over himself and deal with a day out in the sun! I wish there was a good place to have brunch, but Southerners don't "do" brunch like we do back home. God, I am going to soooo miss Shanghai Red's this Sunday. I can almost taste the Bloody Marys and Eggs Florentine now! I can have it here at home, as Ken is a terrific cook, but it's still not the same, ya know?

I've covered the week so far so until something "out there" happens I'm destined to write about absolutely nothing. I'll try and keep it lively at least, so my readers don't fall asleep! Pillows and blankets anyone?

Growing up Gorgeous...A baby's perspective.

2005-05-03T08:45:00.000-04:00

It's not easy being a good-looking baby. My mommy and daddy are both good-looking, but boy am I a mix of spirits!

I now have two teeth, I crawl like the wind, I chew on everything that's not nailed down, and I eat like the biggest chow hound on the face of the earth! I love to watch Sesame Street and Piper O Possum, I play until I drop, I can hold my own bottle, and I love it when mommy takes me out for walks when the weather is good. I just got a pool floaty and can't wait to go swimming for the first time!

Mommy and Daddy say I'm growing up gorgeous. What do you think? I like it here on earth a lot more than I did being inside mommy's tummy. I can be a bit high-maintenance, but mommy says it's me exhibiting all of her worst traits and all of daddy's best ones. I'm a happy baby for the most part, and I'm really excited that my Oma Lydia is coming to visit for a few weeks because mommy's going out of town for work. Boy is Oma in for some surprises! I hope she's been eating her Wheaties!

Life for me is pretty cool. My parents are fun, but mommy kisses me a lot. I have the most fun with my daddy; he throws me in the air and makes silly noises to keep me amused. I like his computer a lot too. I can't wait to have one of my own. I like my cat Smokey a lot as well, although he's a little needy, but mommy says he's like me, just a little guy growing up.

Well, that's it from me...mommy's fingers are getting tired and I need a nap, but it's nice to put my thoughts out there on occasion. Being a baby is all good, now if only I had a girlfriend who lived a bit closer than Baltimore. Boy do I miss Gracie!

Totally Teeth...

2005-04-26T17:05:00.000-04:00

Jack now has TWO teeth...wow.

This teething process is happening fast now, and with this comes a whole new set of changes as well. Table foods; these being the food that Ken and I eat. As long as it's not heavily spiced, he'll eat whatever we give him, and he's loving it. Crawling; something that eluded Jack until about a week ago. Now we have the commando crawler who scooches his way around at top speeds for a baby his age and size. Attitude; assertion of his own self. Jack knows what he wants, when he wants it and he's going to have it on his own terms or not at all.

The rapid rate at which all of these things are happening are overwhelming. Everything is moving so quickly that we as Jack's parents are finding it hard to keep up in our late 30's. I haven't felt this old since Deanna got her first period a few years ago. We now take Jack to the park so he can swing on the baby swing and play on the slide; we've put him on the grass and had him tocuh trees and leaves and growing things so he can get used to the surroundings. We've brought him back out into the world so that he can familiarize himself with people. It was a long winter and he was pretty well-insulated from the world, but he didn't get sick and he stayed warm and dry.

Naps are now starting to elude us. Jack doesn't want to sleep like he used to, but this in itself is sort of a blessing, as it now means his bedtime is earlier. He'll still take his morning nap, but the afternoon and evening naps are a no-go. Yes, he gets cranky, but he fights these brief nap periods as though he were missing something important. Now we're putting him to bed between 8:30 and 9:00pm, instead of 10:30 like we did in the past. He sleeps all night, and he gets up around 8:30-9:00am, which is really no big deal to me. It just means that we have to go to bed earlier in order to not be so tired during the day.

All in all things are going well for Jack. I'm glad that the summer is coming, and I can't wait to get him out and into the swimming pool. That'll wear him out for sure, and the afternoon nap will once again come back into play. We got lucky; Jack's teething hasn't affected his sleeping at night, and he hasn't gotten sick, (knock on wood) and he hasn't been a jerk. Now if only he'd get a summer job to support his new feeding habits...how cool would that be?

History in the making...

2005-04-19T14:04:00.000-04:00

My first husband was Catholic. My second husband was Jewish like myself. My current and final husband is Methodist. When John Paul I passed away in 1978, I was 10 and I remember the election of John Paul II because I remembered thinking how strange it was that we had just seen a papal election for John Paul I. I was a little girl, but still old enough to know what was going on.

I liked John Paul II. I watched glued to the TV when he was shot in 1981 by that Turkish terrorist, causing the bullet-proof "Pope Mobile" to be made, which I thought was cool. I also watched the career of John Paul II with some interest because he was Polish instead of Italian. He was a widely travelled man, he was a nice man, he was a little to conservative for my tastes, but I'm Jewish so what difference does it make to me, right? I was at work when the reports of his death started spilling out, and was home eating dinner when he actually passed away. I watched with morbid interest when he laid in state, and I woke up at 3:45am for his funeral on CNN. I was into the history of it all.

Now the Catholics have chosen John Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany, another conservative who was very familiar with the Vatican and the doctrine of John Paul II. Benedict XVI is his papal name, and he seems like a kind man. I wish him good luck, and hope he makes it through the next five or so years. This is definitely NOT going to be a long papcy by any means as this man is already 78. Hey the Cardinals know what they're doing I guess.

So I guess this means still no marriage for priests, celibacy laws stay the same, no women priests, no condoms in the church to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, but otherwise the Catholics are in for some new stuff. I'll watch with interest as usual, and thank my lucky stars that Jack's not going to Catholic school. (Okay, that was a cheap shot, but I had to take it!)

Grandma's first e-mail...

2005-04-19T10:27:00.000-04:00

If you'll remember a few posts back I wrote that my mother was getting a computer. My mom has no call-waiting, it took her years to get cable, and when we moved to Georgia she got a cell phone to make long distance calls so it wouldn't affect her super-small phone bill. She's needed a lot of nudges in the direction of taking these steps, but little by little she's gotten there.

This morning I received my first e-mail from my mother, thanking me for some pictures of Jack. I sent them as a test, and she let me know that she got them. We e-mail my in-laws pictures of Jack ALL the time so that Oma can see her boy as often as possible, and not miss him growing up since she's in North Carolina. Jack is Lydia and Walter's only grandchild, and he's my mother and father's ninth, so we feel it's really important to keep Lydia in the loop where Jack's concerned, not that my parents don't deserve the same respect. They all love Jack, but Lydia is absolutely crazy about him; she's waited a lifetime for a grandchild and now that he's here she doesn't want to miss a thing!

So my mother has made the jump into the new millenium, which is a great thing. I look forward to LOTS of e-mails in the future! Too bad you can't send hugs and kisses through cyber-space, well not real ones.

Looks like Dad, Acts like Mom...

2005-04-18T10:16:00.000-04:00

One thing I've discovered about my son is that he has an attitude. We've all seen the pictures of how cute he is and how much he looks like Daddy, but he definitely has some of my more "colorful qualities" when it comes to his attitude. Ken is a very mellow, laid-back man. He takes things in stride and doesn't get upset over the little things, but when he does get angry you need to get out of his way and fast! I am the more out-going one. I'm a little louder and much more straight-forward, not that Ken's not straight-forward, but I tend to be a little bit too direct at times. When I have something to say believe me you'll hear it. When I get angry I vent it out and then it's gone and I move on to the next thing.

Jackson is sort of like me. I've seen certain aspects of my personality in him. He's feisty, and when he wants something it's NOW, not five minutes from now. How do you teach a nine-month old patience? Jack get's a bit riled-up and when he's in a mood you need to acknowledge it. We had a rough day with him yesterday because he's cutting a new tooth and we couldn't walk away from him for a second without him freaking out! Usually I can get things done as long as I've seen to it that he's occupied, but this teething is leaving everyone a little worn-out. To me it's upsetting because there's nothing I can do to satisfy him when he's cranky. I need to be all over him or he has a caniption fit. I'm glad that Ken was home yesterday so we could get housework and laundry done. It took all day to do the simplest chores, and of course Lord Fussimuss wasn't making things any easier on us; we had to do things in shifts so that someone was always with him. By the time Ken left to go to work for a graveyard file purge at the COMP, I was exhausted and still had to give Jack his bath and put him to bed. After thirty minutes in the tub playing and a baby massage and a bottle, Jack went right to sleep and actually had a restful sleep.

Now here's the funny; my mother-in-law is under the impression that Ken and I are on the outs because Jack's been so aggressive lately. Ken and I are so completely getting along, in fact we're hanging on to each other for dear life at times when it comes to Baby Attitude. There is hardly contention in my marriage, even if money is tight and we have very little time to spend together. I think we've both learned from previous marriages that being financially strapped is hardly a reason to cut your mate's throat. You either get through it or you don't, and we don't place blame anywhere except on the economy. Yes we wish we made more money, who doesn't, but we're not fighting, we're getting along really well, and we're both trying to work extra hours. Jack has nothing to react to as far as how his father and I are getting along; he's just being testy and himself as usual. Now maybe she'll calm down a little and trust in us that all is well and stop worrying.

April Showers bring May Flowers...or so they say!

2005-04-14T13:24:00.000-04:00

What gorgeous spring weather we're having! I've decided to take my two men on a picnic to Stone Mountain this weekend, complete with the checkered tablecloth, fried chicken, potato salad, iced tea...the works! Jack is really digging the outdoors, so I figured why not get him out more.

Spring time in Georgia is terrific. We have the Cherry Blossoms, the Dogwoods, the Kudzu; it's a hayfever sufferer's worst nightmare with all the pollen. It's alot more than back in Los Angeles, but it's beautiful as far as the colors, the cool air, the friendliness of the people during this weather. I'm really enjoying Southern Springtime.

I'm hoping the weather will keep up so that we can get Jack out more. Parks, the Zoo, stroller days in the neighborhood, and then the pool! I see many days of water fun for Jack in the coming summer months. I'm only sorry that Emily moved to Baltimore and took Gracie with her. It would have been a terrific summer for the two babies. As it is, we're putting Jack together with Ken's friend Shonge's kids. They range in age from three years to five months, and the youngest, Ben get's all of Jack's baby clothes once he's grown out of them. I'm just happy to have someone to give them to!

Today Jack and I are going to walk down to the local deli for lunch. It's about a quarter of a mile, and I'm interested to see how Jack does with a dill pickle! This should be fun.

2005-04-13T16:33:00.000-04:00

Surfer baby catching some tummy time!

Updates...

2005-04-12T16:51:00.000-04:00

It's been gorgeous here in Georgia. Spring has sprung, and boy is there a ton of pollen everywhere leaving this fine yellow film all over everything! Nice...

Jack's doing wonderful. His tooth is getting bigger and bigger, he's crawling all over the place, or rather he's schooching all over the place, sleeping well, eating well. In short he's terrific. Ken's working like a madman, and I'm up to five days a week with a double shift on Fridays. Gotta love trying to get ahead. We're getting along well, no fighting, no fussing. We could use a little extra sleep, but otherwise the only thing suffering is our sex life, or rather lack of one. We'll get through.

The Dogwood festival was this past weekend, but we didin't go. We've got Dogwoods right here near us. Jack's had some outdoor time to explore nature. It's been good for him and for us too. Fresh air always is.

Nothing else is really happening. It's the same stuff, just a different day, but as long as nothing's been happening on the negative, then that's a good thing. We keep on keeping on, and are thankful for good weather...it could be worse. We could be destitute during a rainstorm, right????

Pope-Crazy...

2005-04-07T11:06:00.000-04:00

I am a nice Jewish girl by most standards. I celebrate the important holidays, I don't trash the Hebrew faith, and I respect those who live a more strict religious life than I, no matter what their religion may be.

I was ten or so when John Paul II was elected to the papacy. I remember it only because Pope Paul (I think) had recently passed away, and he had been Pope for a very short duration, and John Paul was the first non-Italian elected, so it was sort of controversial. Anyways, I remember reading about the ordination, etc...and I watched with interest how this nice Polish Pope made good in the world. He was a good man, did the right thing by God's standards, worked through assasination attempts, Parkinson's disease, and finally gave in and was "called home" on his own terms in his own bed, surrounded by people who loved and cared for him, which is the way I think we all should go.

Now here's the weird part. It has been stated that he wished to be buried in the ground, and yet they're putting him in a grotto occupied by Pope John XXIII, which I guess is an honor, but is it really what he wanted? And further more, what's with the mass viewing of this man's body? How can he not be embalmed, what on earth has he been "prepared" with, that he hasn't started decomposing in the Italian heat? Is the Vatican set to freezing temperatures to keep him fresh? Why isn' he entombed in glass with climate control the way Eva Peron was when she died? I'm perplexed by this. I watched on television for a few minutes but wound up getting grossed-out by this. I've seen dead people before; they look cold and lifeless and waxen, but after about four or five days of this, Pope John Paul is starting to look a little ripe in my opinion. This poor guy just needs to be buried already.

I plan on waking up at 4:am for the funeral. Yes, I too am a lookie-loo, but when you have CNN and Fox News and all the networks covering this event, why not wake up for it? I'm sure they'll show it all day long, like they did Princess Diana's funeral, which I also woke up early for, but I'm interested in seeing the whole process of this great man's final tribute. I just think the final showing is a little creepy, but that's just me. In the Jewish faith, we don't do public viewings, and we prefer to bury our deceased as quickly as possible and sit our shivah. I'll be sure to have a bagel and schmere with my coffee as I watch the funeral tomorrow morning...just my little Jewish touch. I'll even light a mourning candle. I liked the Pope, even if I didn't believe in some of his doctrine.

Talk about a Pope-crazy, people dying month...Man am I tired!