come undone

WTF?

What a bunch of assholes. 

Wal-Mart worker is killed as an idiotic crowd rushes in while a pregnant woman is knocked dowwn and believed to have miscarried

Was the sale THAT good? 

being thankful

I don't have the brain capacity to create a nice paragraph or two about what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving. Instead, I will make a list. Call me lazy.

Things I am thankful for...

• my family, even though they drive me absolutely insane.
• Zeus, my furry friend. He sits on my desk every night while I work.
• my friends...they let me bitch and moan about everything and forgive me when I don't call.
• this blog...I met some amazing folks while sharing my story here
• Hershey kisses with hot cocoa something or other inside
• my 4-wheel-drive-when-it-needs-to-be CR-V...because when it does snow here, I'll be able to pull into the building's driveway with ease. At least that is what's supposed to happen.
• being able to work from home...
• the internet
• Clairol 10 haircolor...in ten minutes I am done
• American Express Membership Rewards because they always come through for us with travel deals
• a roof over my head...it's not the glorious house I hoped to own, but it's home for now
• the upcoming Obama presidency
• Skype
• coupons.com
• Starbucks
• the new Killers and Shiny Toy Guns albums
• my new cell phone that's coming in the mail
• kalamata olives and feta cheese
• The Saks Fifth Avenue building at Christmas because I really like the snowflake/Trans Siberian Orchestra display they have scaling the building. Everyone else can go look at the Rockefeller tree. I'm into this across the street because it makes me happy.
• Little Britain USA because it's pretty close to the original that I can no longer see here.

And there's more, but this is what I've got so far...Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday

My son is driving me batshit this morning. The whining...holy shit. He's dancing to the Imagination Movers at the moment. That's his current obsession and he rocks out on the livingroom floor. My kid gyrates a lot. Not sure if that's a good thing.

And I've been feeling terrible for Adrienne this week...her domestic adoption fell through.

But my friend Wendi has been making great strides in her adoption and I'm freaking out and so thrilled for her.

There isn't too much excitement to report.  My mother is flying in from Greece and will stay until mid-February, and it looks as if she will spend the bulk of her time at my brother in law's place. The big pain in the ass about that is that I'll be driving to Long Island several times a week so she could see the czar. And when I get there it will be lovely and the czar will play with his cousins, if they happen to be around. I just have to scrub this teeny, tiny place and make it look good. I have crap everywhere because there is no place to put it.

Got a phone call from my boss of 16 years telling me the print industry is dead or dying. My work load from them has been quite light these past few months and I've been feeling the pain. To make things better I was told I have to "learn web." I shit myself. You want me to leave my comfort zone? I've been mastering the print industry for years...I kick ass and can crank out full color pieces in my sleep Now you want me to learn something NEW? And THINK?   Gotta learn "web"...and the big issue is confidence. I'm lacking in this department.

And that's all I've got today. I need more coffee...

I think it's me

This week, I made a conscious effort to concentrate more on my son...to put work second and spend more time playing and hanging out. I had a different child this week. My child calmed down. He ended up having a great gym and art class at Gymboree. No fights. No tantrums. In the supermarket I went back to what we used to do — talk about everything. In the car I did the same and he was happy. I was happy. The problem is me. ME! I get overworked and lose focus and who suffers? My little czar...I'm still reading that book because I like how it addresses certain behaviors. Still think my child is a sensory seeker, but I think the main issue is with mommy. Mommy needs to be more attentive to her baby's needs.

the spirited one

It's Saturday...toy cars are everywhere, the kitchen has exploded with dishes and the bedroom is loaded with clothes — dirty, clean and not-so-sure. And my son is driving me insane...so insane I went out and purchased Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic.  Is my child truly "spirited?" I have no idea but the first few pages had me nodding my head, the words were telling me I wasn't crazy...I get frustrated because one understands the magnitude of some of our battles at home and at Gymboree classes. I have the kid that throws chairs when the playdoh doesn't go his way. I have the kid that throws sand in your kid's face when he or she violates his sand area. You know, good times. His behavior leaves the other mothers gasping while I try to lasso the beast and calm him down. They hold their child close to save them from my czar's wrath...and honestly I think some of those snooty folks are a bit ridiculous with their parenting anyway but I'll save that for another day.

And YES, this could all be because of his age and the little guy has been through a lot in his 34 months. It could all be typical...but it always seems a bit more intense...Maybe I need more sleep? Or more drinks?  I'm just in the midle of all of this so it can get really stupid around here. I am hoping this book can clairify things and just make me feel better about some of the stuff we have going on. Think I'm nuts? is it me? Huh? HUH?

I'm off to make coffee because that makes everything better until at least noon.

Russian sibling groups

Alliance for Children has been informated of a sibling group in need of a loving home...a girl and three boys, ages ranging from 7-13.  Please contact Alliance for more information: Tel (781) 431-7148

Other sibling groups are also available and the information can be found on their website: http://www.allforchildren.org/

Happy November

   

After rejecting an adorable blue googly-eyed monster outfit and friggin' awesome skunk ensemble, the czar settled for Thomas the Tank Engine for Halloween...which he refused to wear until 8 PM Halloween night. What makes this costume cute is the fact that it drags on the floor. Yes, I know, safety hazard but he's only be wandering the halls in our building. And he did. With papa, he visited the four neighbors we happen to like and he greeted each with an enthusiastic HAPPY HAWOWEEN!

And mommy was busy making papa's birthday dinner. A few years ago we discovered his birthday was October 31, which really explains a lot.  We did not discover specific documentation of this wonderful occasion until a few years ago. In his tiny town nestled in the mountains of northern Greece, people gave birth at home and no one really gave a shit about your birthday because they celebrate a Name Day instead...which is the feast day of the saint you are named after. Strangely, my husband didn't have a name Day either, but whatever.  My brain hurts just  thinking about all of that...so the czar ate candy for dinner while we feasted on pork wrapped with spinach and mozzarella, roasted potatoes with oregano and lemon, and tomato salad. Um...the pork was already constructed and I just had to bake it, and those potatoes came from a bag. The presentation was lovely and I did that all by myself.

The neighbors across the hall ended our evening with a HUGE fight. They woke up by son yet again with a symphony of fuck yous, fuck offs and slang I was unable to make out. So I decided to get down on their level and slam my door a few times to let them know that they are heard...and when the fight continued outside, I did yell from my window using fabulous vocabulary. No it doesn't solve anything but it felt great. And you can bet your ass I will now live my life to the loudest and ruin their mornings because that's when we're the most active here. My son will now be allowed to shriek and pound on their door. He will also be allowed to play in the hallway with his cars that have these lovely sirens...because I live by the You Give What You Get rule. You respect me and I will respect you.  You shit on me and I will shit on you in a way you've never been shit on before. Maybe it's the Sicilian in me...

I'm off to enjoy the quiet because papa and the czar went our for breakfast and a bike ride — with a bike that's missing a pedal. Ohhhh boy. It was a gift and we are hoping the bike shop can make everything happy this morning.  People don't think man...DON'T GIVE MY KID BROKEN STUFF.

I need coffee. With a few shots of sambucca.