Growing Strawberries

Growing Strawberries

DoubleTree Sacramento by VRX Studios

funny office people

So, it's been a while since I posted. I'll tell you why tomorrow.

So, as I walk around the office, when I turn corners, I hear 'click' ... and then rapid fire 'click' 'click''click' - the turning off of computer screens. hmmmmmm. So I become more stealth like. Change my pattern. Change heels for soft soled moccasins. Disguise my voice. Think like a cat.

Then, when I walk around corners I see EVERYONE playing Christmas computer games. WHAT? I know it is Christmas people and all and sales is not as busy as the rest of the year but COME ON. I have plenty for them to do. If their manager Supreme is sick again today, I am handing out early Christmas presents ... it's called clipping articles from magazines and adding them to the marketing dept portfolio. Oh I'll keep you busy ...

This woman is so happy

Her husband bought her diamonds ... do you know why he can buy her diamonds ... because she is a VICE PRESIDENT! I am only a "Director" so I only get rubber gloves and an apron so I can get back to that house work after my 8 hours in the office. (No husband ... this is not a testimony agaisnt you ... just against 70s advertising)

Natural History Museum holiday gifts

I am not a crazy environmentalist 
I still use some plastic bags and aerosol hairspray is the only thing that keeps this unruly hair in any kind of style ... but I really like this coffee mug >> Natural History Museum holiday gifts

gush ... my heart melted this morning.

I am not a very touchy-feely lady. Ask my husband and he will tell you I need work in the random affection department. 

It's not that I came from a loveless home. On the contrary - my mother - 'the granny', is VERY affectionate, loving, wonderful. Yes - I have one of those mothers that people in therapy wish for. I am very lucky. So, I don't know where my lack of random affection comes from. I don't even really like hugging people I know very much. My BFF is a random affection expert. She would hug a total stranger if given the chace. In fact, we were once walking to the pool in her complex and she started having this very friendly conversation with a woman on her balcony, asking her where she got her shirt. They had this 10 minute conversation about China and shopping in Shanghai and this woman told my BFF to just let her know what size she wanted and she would pick her up one. So I asked BFF 'how long have you know that lady?" BFF - "Oh I don't know her, that is the first time I have talked to her."

Are you kidding me? Anyway, the point is she is very friendly and people love her. I love her too. But unlike BFF, I have a little wall (a crumbling wall) that keeps me a bit distant from people.

Onward ... this AM when putting E into the car seat, he looked at me and said "I love you SO much." Tears. Large, sloppy, bouncing tears rolled down my cheeks. Then he said "It's OK Mum. I love you."

Every day should be started this way. Every day someone should tell you they love you so much that they can't live without you or that you are their light and love. I have two great loves in my life and I know I am very lucky to have found my own personal heaven right here in our little blowling alley of a towhouse with a postage stamp yard. So I will keep trying to be more randomly affectionate with husband because I need him to know I do love him more than my new red suede shoes (which are truly spectacular)

Cousins make good babysitters

Husband and I went out for a coffee and left little E with his cousin Chrissy. Beautiful, sweet, talented and 21 year old Chrissy. Chrissy is my niece. I remember the day she was born. I was 16. She was adorable and the most gorgeous yet precocious child on the planet. She had this amazing long blond hair and loved to wear dresses. She would fly down the stairs and jump into my arms when I babysat. Her mom used to pay me $20 to watch her. 

Ooops. Was I supposed to pay Chrissy tonite?

When she was about 8 or 9 everything was 'like Aunty". I would take her and her sister Bobbie to plays and she would call and ask me what I was wearing so we could match. She took up competitive swimming (just like Aunty). Precious right?

E is enamored with his Cousin. She walks on water. He thinks she is beautiful and gazes at her with those bashful boy eyes and long eyelashes. 

It has taken me 2 and a half years to have Chrissy come over and put E to bed. Not because we don't trust her but because we don't really do anything. Some people may think that is sad. I don't. We have so little time with E where he is all ours. Right now we don't compete with anyone. We are his one and only.

At some point E will want to hang at other people's houses ... eat their food ... stay overnight at their houses. A year ago if you would have asked me I would have told you that I couldn't wait for that to happen - something about needing a break or time to myself. But lately, I don't feel like I need that time as much. 

My family is my hope. My dreams. My aspiration. My loves. 

But tomorrow night I get to go out with Miss Cori - fab BFF of all time - my soul sista. She is giving me the gift of the 'sleep in' - a rare treat. So while I will love my time with her and assure you, 'me time' is needed, I have come to realize that what I need is the right kind of  'me time' - not just any time. It has to be well spent with the right people doing the things I love. Not just getting out for the sake of getting somewhere. 

Somewhere can be nowhere if you don't want to be there in the first place.