First Day Back

This long week is going to seem longer today, I just know it. V. left on Sunday morning and isn't coming back until late Friday night. This made Sunday feel like Monday, and Monday Tuesday and...well you get where I'm going with this.

It didn't help that I. for some reason woke up many times last night before I went to bed, after I went to bed, and woke up this morning screaming with a bad dream. To say that this morning she is tired and out of sorts would be an understatement. To make matters worse, I am tired too. I stayed up too late trying to finish I.'s annual photobook that we give the grandparents. If I can get the order in for the photobooks and the Christmas cards in tonight, we save a substantial amount of money. I worked on it for 5 hours last night and about the same the night before. Tonight should just be the quality control and finishing touches but I know those somehow will morph into at least 2 hours more of work.

First day back to school for I. today. We had such a nice vacation time together. Even though it was only a week, we got a lot of stuff in there. A trip to Sea World, to Legoland, to see a kids' movie, a day train trip. Wow, plus a major holiday, a couple of nights at my parents' house which gave V. and I a whole day and evening to ourselves.

With I. not getting enough sleep last night, I'm thankful for her school time this afternoon because I know she'll hold it together there unlike how she would be at home. We're going to head to the gym where hopefully I can conjure enough energy to kick my own butt, then home for lunch and then off to school. After chapel, it'll be rush rush rush to 2 different grocery stores, unloading of all the groceries plus I need to pick up food for the parrot and a book at the library that's been on hold. The proverbial chicken with its head cut off. Then back to I.'s school to bring her home for the mad dash to bed.

I'm tired just thinking about this. Oh well, the first day back to anything is always difficult and who knows, maybe it'll be better than I expect.

Quiet

The morning after Thanksgiving to me is a morning of success. Success that I made it through Thanksgiving with my family in one piece and that I have 2 nights off from mommy duty. Well, technically I did give I. her bath last night and put her to bed but not having to be on alert during the night counts as a night off. She's staying today as well so that my mom can play with her all day and then we'll go get her tomorrow morning bright and early. The plan is to go to Legoland since it's down the street and we still haven't gone for her birthday but supposedly it's going to rain so we'll figure it out tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I've had the house to myself for a couple of hours. The girls had to head home this morning so V. left at 8:45 to drive them home. I toyed with driving with him just to hang out but decided that it wouldn't make a difference to him (he's not a talker especially in the car) and honestly, I would much rather use the time for sleeping. I woke up just as they left and have enjoyed reading the paper, drinking my coffee, and eating my breakfast in solitary peace.

I do need to get my butt in gear and get ready to meet V. at the gym and then we have the whole day and evening to ourselves. Wow! Now that's something unusual. It's a given that V. will need/want some resttime this afternoon but I'm trying to figure out some plans for this evening. Hmmm, I'll let you know what I come up with...for now, I will happily get ready without any interruptions and demands. This is what Black Friday means to me!

Thanksgiving Madness

Ah, Thanksgiving Eve. It's always a time of anticipation when my sister is involved but it appears to have gotten even better this year. My brother received an email from my sister and forwarded it to me this morning. She has got to be the most self-centered, bitchy, delusional person I have ever known. Let's review this email, keeping in mind that my sister is almost 28 years old, is not mentally retarded, has no job, and does not go to school. Basically, all she does is live off my parents and is ruining my mother's health literally.

"I think that she could minimize her workload so she could have more time to enjoy herself. She could make appointments at lightening speed and communicate with others plus cut down on all those crappy catalogues that she gets and besides the fact that she could make deposits and the such over the web rather than risk herself getting mugged or something lik Please tell me what you think:)"

By "she", my sister is speaking of my mother. You know the person who she calls and orders to take her here, there, and everywhere at whatever time and day she commands. The person who buys all her groceries, pays her rent and gym membership and cell phone and any gifts that are "given by" my sister. Yeah, she's really concerned about my mother's workload. Actually, she's just irritated that my mother isn't on call for her 24/7 and never wants to be told that my mother can't do something for her. And you know those "crappy catalogues" that my mother gets? My mother enjoys looking at those while she eats lunch and takes a crap but my sister can't fathom that.

"This was something that I saw last night while I was on the Hp site and thought to myself that Mommy really needs, since she has been saying that she is really lonely.I think that this would be a better idea rather than a fancy pantsuit and besides the fact that she could learn how to be more efficent without having to stress her self out.(i.e) if you have looked at your microsoft office 2007 she can make grocery lists, keep track of her bills, do her accounting and other various tasks. Then the fact that the computer happens to be a "digital clutch", kinda like a purse, but much more useful is another great plus. It is a Hp, Vivienne Tam( one of thoses designers' that she likes, and the commercial promoting it is a Indian woman, almost the exact lookalike as the ones that our Godmother Ann painted that she is so fond of. The cover to this laptop has butterflies and is shell pink. It has everything a woman could need, plus the fact that it can fit into her purse or she can carry it like an evening bag. Check it out."

If this was any other than my sister, you may think this is a nice person. That is if you leave out all the bizarre detailed information about designers and the fact that an Indian person in the commercial looks like etc. and for some reason that means my mother needs this thing. Number one, my mother can barely use a cell phone. Number two, my mother is not lonely and even if she's was, she would NEVER tell my sister that because that would just be an invitation for my sister to park herself even more in my mother's daily life. Lastly, she's telling all this to my brother so that HE can buy this $1,000 present for my mom.

"Here's my christmas list I thought you might eye out the jewelery. the juicy necklace and matching bracelet were just some good ideas. feel free to select any of the other pieces or items. hope your day is going well and look forward to seeing on thursday."

I'm sorry, sending your Xmas list to someone who hasn't requested it is just plain rude or delusional or both. He can't even stand being around her, why would he possibly want her Xmas list? And that it's expensive jewelry. But feel free to select any of the other pieces or items. WTF?

"What was the story with Ani how come she wasn"t at i.'s birthday. What is she a what's it? Cause she has definetly got a screw up her ass. Tell her to deposit outside of self more people would appreciate that than say the recycling truck realizes. I do plan on being kind to her and look forward to the choo-choo and chug another making whoopee elsewhere! Love you, just trying to express my feelings and a possible smile somewhere in that lost look you have gotten me despising myself for! "

Ani is Aaron's girlfriend, a really nice girl. She's 18, has a job, goes to school full-time and treats my brother well. And my sister is being really bitchy for no reason. She has always been jealous of his girlfriends, bizarre to say the least and creepy at times. You can't see it but she also called I. by the wrong name. Yeah, she's been alive for 5 years, you'd think she'd know her name by now. Who cares right? I mean, it's not my sister's name so she really doesn't care. And then you can see the level of crazy we're dealing with when we go into the part about choo-choos, chugs, and making whoopee elsewhere.

Yeah, so my brother and I are really looking forward to tomorrow. Looks like it's going to be a real ball of fun. I just hope fights can be avoided, that she lays off my mom or there will be problems, that she doesn't stare at the girls the whole dinner and that my brother and I can find something to laugh about. Some family holidays just have to be approached with low expectations and hope and tomorrow is one of those.

The Best Day Ever

Today I think was even better than I had hoped. Honestly, it was just one of those perfect days. The only non-perfect part was that for some reason I had stressful, active dreams all morning when I usually get my good rest. As a result, I woke up feeling tired and with a headache. But that all disappeared when I saw that it was NOT raining as predicted, meaning that we could go on our adventure today. From that point on, I swear, it felt like Christmas morning to me. That's the only way to describe it. But enough talking, let's look at the pictures of the day.

Here's I. waiting for the train in Solana Beach. Her first train ride and she's excited!

I made sure we sat on the west side of the train for both trips so that we could enjoy the beach view all the way up to San Juan Capistrano.

The petting zoo wasn't opened yet so we stopped for a latte for me, in hopes that it would help my headache disappear and a blueberry scone for I. who said she was already hungry. I've noticed that I always take good pictures when I. is taking them or when we take them together. I guess my love for her just shines through.

Here is Dr. Doolittle in action. This petting zoo was really fantastic. Both of us had so much fun feeding and petting the animals. There were tons of guinea pigs and rabbits running around in this huge pen. Plus another pen full of goats, a calf and mother cow, llamas, turkeys, and an ostrich thrown in for good measure. An animal lover's dream come true!

I. hanging out with the sheep in their house

Could they find a bigger horse? Nope, not here 'cause this was the biggest one there. I. was thrilled.

After the petting zoo, we had lunch at Ruby's Diner (thus the pink cadillac) and walked around a couple of shops happily. Then it was back to the station to wait for our train.

There's our train! I always forget how huge, loud, and just plain cool it is when the train goes by you up close. Pretty awesome.

So that was our day. No tears, tantrums, backtalking, bad attitudes, none of it. Just constant hand holding, laughing, smiling, kissing and snuggling. Once we got back to our car and were driving home, I. said, "Are we home yet? I'm SO tired." I think that was the first time I heard her say that, not counting when she's whining about not wanting to do something. She was asleep in 5 minutes once her head hit her pillow.

Okay, so maybe people think I'm strange for being so driven when it comes to making memories with I. and perhaps I am. But it comes down to what I told I. on the train ride home. She's old enough now to remember all of these things that we did together and these memories will be special especially when she has kids of her own. I remember all the things my mom and I did and while they were normal things (library, beach, shopping, lunch, etc.), they are special memories to me especially now that I have I. Maybe I only have a year, 5 years, 10 years or maybe many many more years I don't know. And that's point, I don't know. But just in case, I'm going to hedge my bets and do all the things I'd like her and I to do in life now because I don't know what the future holds. What I do know is that she will have some damn good memories of our time and adventures together and I just pray that someday she will be sitting next to her child on their first train ride and she'll remember today with a warm glow in her heart knowing that her momma loved her beyond words and cherished the time that we spent together.

I.'s Birthday Pictures

With Baby Bear, ready for my birthday party!

My 3rd birthday at El Torito in 2008 with Luis

My 5th birthday (2010) at On the Border with Luis

Enjoying myself

Having fun at my party

Morning of my actual birthday, ready for school

I wanted to get a picture of I. and I on her birthday and I did.

This is at the end of her birth-day. To say that she was pooped out would be an understatement. She had a great party on Saturday and a great actual birthday and that's what counts.

First Day of Thanksgiving Break

I am declaring today to officially be the first day of I.'s Thanksgiving break and we're off to have a fun day. Even though it's overcast, cold and threatening sprinkles, we're going to go to Sea World for the day. We haven't been for over a year because I didn't renew our passes this past year. Then I saw a great deal for AAA members where you basically pay the cost of one visit and get a fun card that is good until 12/31/2011. How can you beat that?
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Next week I also have an adventure planned with I., one of those "firsts" that I am always talking about. Again online, I found a big petting zoo up in San Juan Capistrano that sounds fun. But the adventure part is that we're taking the train up. I. has never been on a train and I love the train so it will be awesome. We can go up, walk to the petting zoo, and then have lunch and wander a little before jumping back on the train home. It'll be a blast.

But today's adventure is Sea World, seeing a couple of shows we haven't seen before and just spending time together, I. and I. Even though I. is off school next week, she will be spending Thanksgiving night and Friday night at my parents'. So I'm capitalizing on these days before Thanksgiving to fit in some fun in between some Thanksgiving cooking and normal tasks. Again, it's all about balance, right?Fu

Another Busy Day

Today will be another busy day but not as hectic as yesterday. Actually, because I was so organized and had mentally prepared for all the errands, it didn't feel as stressful as it initially sounded. In addition to that, while I was at the gym one of the personal trainers who I have become friendly with due to the fact that our kids play together, offered me a free personal training session. The funny thing is that on Sunday, the head training manager introduced himself and I'm having a free PT session with him tomorrow. I let this other personal trainer know in case she wanted to give it to someone else but she said that she still wanted to give it to me. When it rains it pours in good ways it seems. I am really stoked about it because I need them desperately to kick start and motivate myself.

This morning I feel like Martha Stewart with the making of the blueberry pancakes as I. requested yesterday and putting a whole chicken in the crockpot for dinner. V. also is here though working until he drives up to Los Angeles for a long day. He got home after 10pm yesterday so it's not quality time but it's a treat to have him around, coughing and snotty as he is, in the middle of the week so I'll take what I can get. Plus he's spending the night in LA so I won't see him until late tomorrow night.

The whininess of I. continues this morning due to her early wakeup time. I have to say, it really grates on my nerves. Hearing someone in the background having a frustrated fit about this and that just drives me up the wall. I can ignore crying for a much longer time than whining that's for sure. On a good note, I. did play with her toys yesterday by herself while I was getting ready yesterday and probably will today as well. If I'm not around to hear the whiny problems, she doesn't whine. Kind of like if noone is in the forest to hear the sound of a tree falling, does it make a sound.