Just Because You Can

Maggie Update

2006-07-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

I am happy to report that Honey arrived last night at 5:45 with the precious little yellow pills!

After receiving her magic cheese, she looked at Honey as if to say, I am so glad you're here, I don't have to keep a CONSTANT eye on mom anymore today, it's now your job! So much for the loyal pooch!

She left me alone for the rest of the evening!

Even though she can make me crazy and swing on my very last nerve, I love my dog! She is beautiful and wonderful, and has been a great companion. She was a gift to CMAN when he was 20 months old. He has no memories without her and believed for a long time that she was a "human member of the family. (cute story to follow in another post.) She is a great swimmer and has played in the pool with him and his cronies for years. This summer however, she slipped on the pool deck and tore her canine ACL. OUCH! We were in Tennessee at the time. Luckily, her old vet was there to take care of her. This injury required surgery and physical therapy. She is still walking with a limp, and will for about 3 months according to the doctor. We have P.T. time every day which includes walking. Yesterday, she decided the "stuck to my leg" form of therapy worked best! It wore her out and today she is sleeping like a puppy! There so cute while they are sleeping!

CMAN comes home today after a visit with his dad. I can't wait to see him. I will finally be able to stop obsessing about the dog and focus on human contact! I think I am suffering from cabin fever. heeerrreees La! Ok it's not that bad, no kids on big wheels or anything!

Until next time...

Doggie Downers Anyone?

2006-07-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Again!

WOW! I can't believe how long it's been since my last post. Time flies when you are_______ ! (insert anything you wish)

I have been to and from my Tennessee house, dealing with my child's middle school, etc.... It's GREAT to be back!!

I have always been a Florida girl. I love the sunshine, great weather, beaches, palm trees... I hate thunder and lightning! This hatred is shared by my 11 year-old Lab named Maggie. She however has taken this loathing to the next level, to downright PHOBIA! Her eyes glaze, she paces, she PANTS and PANTS and PANTS, she follows me EVERYWHERE including the watercloset. Believe me I have tried keeping her out, she scratches through the door.

The biggest problem is, it's ME she extols all of this unwanted and bizarre attention on! There are three other humans living in this house not to mention a menagerie of other pets! None of them will do. I am told by the other inhabitants of my house, that she lays on my things when I am not home.

Is this devotion? Does she feel some sort of camaraderie because I too am not fond of storms?

This sounds like a question for a professional!

I made an appointment with Maggie's veterinarian for some advice and maybe a referral to a specialist. I was prepared for extensive visits with a Doggie psychologist. Her WONDERFUL vet informed me of a variety of medications to help her RELAX during storms. FANTASTIC, I will take anything you've got! She proscribed a mild tranquilizer and told me to give her 1 or 2 before a storm to calm her nerves. She also said it would be a good idea to start with 1 and see how she responds. (Predicting storms should normally be left in the hands of a licensed meteorologist, Maggie however is a 100% accurate in her ability to forecast coming rain!) "Super", I say to the Doctor and walk out with my $7.00 baggy contains 30 little yellow pills. Luckily, or should I say coincidentally, the next day faired bad weather and I gave my phobic dog her (valium, qualude, xanax) heck, we will dub them doggie downer. One little yellow pill secretly disguised in a piece of cheese. BOY, did it help her relax! It worked on all of her symptoms. She couldn't open her eyes therefore they couldn't glaze. She couldn't hold her head up, so panting was eliminated. She couldn't walk, so following me was remedied. All is well. Wait a minute, I said she couldn't walk, as in outside to relieve herself, so she relieved herself all over the floor. Since she couldn't walk out of the line of fire, she was covered in dog pee. YUCK! This problem is much worse than being followed. When the effects of the medication wore off to the point she could use her limbs, she had to lean against the house to potty. I must admit, it was funny to watch, but she is my dog so I shouldn't laugh at her, at least where she could hear me.

After many attempts and dosage experiments, we found the correct drug and the right milligrams for her. We she comes over and sits on my foot with "that look" in her eyes, she get the magic piece of "cheese". It helps her relax, it helps me from being driven batty by her antics. Peace was once again restored in our humble home. Until said pills are left behind in Tennessee, and aren't discovered until the next BIG rainstorm.

So today I have been followed, panted on, slobbered on and generally annoyed to the point of hysteria! Thank goodness Honey is picking some more downers on his way home... maybe I should take one too!

Ceremonial Flushing!

2006-06-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

I am sad to report that M's fish died yesterday! He was a beautiful Betta fish named Enkolpian Enkidu Gilgamesh. I know, I know it's a rather lengthy name for such a small fish, but it suited him.

We live in a house with many pets. A dog (Magnolia - Maggie for short), a cat (Diana), a water turtle (Carter), a land turtle (Ernie), a degu (Max), 2 gerbils (Ginger and Jaws) and 2 betta fish (the other one is Steve Inski).

M discovered the passing of her fish yesterday afternoon. We said a few nice words about him as we stood over the toilet, then with a push of the lever.... WHOOSH... on to fishy heaven.

After the ceremonial flushing we did what any grief stricken girls do, we went and got our nails done. We got pedicures too to assuage the pain of the loss. Then it was on to the pet store to find a new fish. She found a gorgeous one. He has a pinkish white body and red and blue fins. He has been christened Nicodemus Mortimer Monoceros. Even though the name when written is longer than the fish, we think it suits him.

Yesterday held another momentous occasion... M and her boyfriend celebrated their 6 month anniversary. They went to M's favorite restaurant in Winter Park. She looked stunning in her little black dress. Much older than her 15 years. He looked very handsome too.

Honey and I dropped them off and went to dinner at another restaurant then back to our house to watch a movie (Elizabethtown). It was a cute date movie.

It's tough watching your children grow up. She is poised, mature and beautiful. I am in the limbo of "hold on - let go". I want to protect her from every pain, heartache and injustice yet I also want her to begin to spread her wings. We are lucky though because she is trustworthy and honest. It is a great relief to be able to allow her to do things because we know she says what she is doing and she does what she says!

That being said, I have this maternal feeling that she is in an emotional conundrum. She has something on her mind and I wish she would talk to me. I want to help, but I am in the precarious position of prying and none of my business. What should I do?

Until next time,
La

Check Please! (sanity check that is)

2006-06-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hello again!

Well it has finally happened! No more boxes! I have settled into my new house.

The last of the new furniture arrived this morning and I am enjoying Duran Duran in HD! Simon LeBon is still adorable (I know I'm showing my age but who the hell cares!)

Yesterday I sent C-man off to Tennessee to go to camp and visit with my parents. When I made the reservations a month ago 2 weeks sounded like a breeze. It's been 24 hours and I miss him so much my stomach hurts! He of course will have the time of his life and get spoiled beyond recognition, but I don't care he's my baby! As he boarded the plane yesterday a small part of my heart broke.

He has flown a thousand times by himself but now he's 12, so no more unaccompanied minor status. Thank goodness for the kind lady at the Southwest counter. She recognized my reluctance to cut the apron strings and let me walk him to the gate. I am amazed at the confident young man he has become. He hugged and kissed me good-bye assuring me everything he would be fine and "yes, of course I'll miss you"... and just like that he was gone. My little boy is no longer a little boy.

Isn't this what we, as mothers wish and hope for? Isn't this what we strive to instill in our children, the ability to be independent and self reliant? NOOOO we are just fooling ourselves! We secretly want them to always need us. We want to always walk them to the gate. We want them to ask for help. We want them to miss us! I'm not ready for him to be grown up!!!!

In two weeks, when I make my summer pilgrimage to Tennessee, I am afraid of whom I will discover when I get there. My son will be taller, (he was 5'3" two weeks ago and his doctor assures me he will tower over my 5'6" height within 6 months) more confidant and "older" when I next lay eyes on him. I AM NOT READY FOR THIS!!!

Well, Simon has stopped singing in the background. This means I have to stop being the teenager and get back to being the 30-something adult. The adult my mom prepared me to be!

Maybe I'll call her and ask if she misses the little girl I once was.

Until next time!

La

Can you hear it?

2006-05-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Close your eyes.

Listen.

There it is... The sound of laughter.

It's God. He is with my cousin Jerry. They are laughing!

My cousin Jerry was the kind of person that made you smile. I met him when I was a teenager, and he was the type of "adult" it was cool to be around. He made me laugh. He made me laugh so hard that fluids would come out of every orifice in my body. Everything was fun and funny when Jerry was around. Colors were brighter, The sun was warmer, life was better!

I wish I could expound the very depth and height of his greatness. I wish there were words to tell you how delightful he was. His love of his family and friends was evident in everything he did. He even kept his illness a secret, so as not to worry anyone unnecessarily.

He died last night. Wouldn't you know it... He had a smile on his face!

So when you listen, very closely and you hear the sound of laughter, or when a smile appears on your face for an unexplained reason... It's Jerry!

Good-bye sweet sweet man!

Happy Friday!

2006-05-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

I love Fridays!

I love the way I feel when I wake up on Friday! The kids are excited that the weekend is only a few hours away. Honey gets to leave the office early! I don't have to cook dinner on Friday! Fridays are fantastic!

I am especially looking forward to this Friday because it is the first one that we will all be together in the new house. I am so excited that I have already unpacked 5 boxes! (Only about 9 more to go!)

I love the weekends when the whole family is together. Don't get me wrong, the weekends that the kids are with their other parent, and Honey and I have our alone time is great. It's just that family weekends are better! It's not that we do anything special, it is just the sharing of time. The special part is that the kids seem to enjoy being with us.

The time is soon approaching when their wings will carry them far away from the nest. I am so proud that our children are strong and independent. They are kind, funny and intelligent. They are determined, driven and self confident. They are beautiful human beings. They inspire me and leave me breathless. They will leave a mark on the world.

I am so lucky! I admit it!

I was blessed to give birth to a son that is brilliant and wise far beyond his years. He is also loaded with common sense and a killer sense of humor. He is a voracious reader. He reads EVERYTHING! He remembers EVERYTHING! This trait is great! This trait SUCKS! (I promised him things when he was 2 or 3, and he calls me on them ten years later.) He is a normal 12 year old in that he loves video games, watching TV, hanging with his friends, you know the usual. There are times, quite often in fact, that he is much, much older. He knows things, simply knows them. I sometimes ask where he unearthed this knowledge. He looks at me with a somewhat puzzled expression and says, "I don't know, it was just in my brain, I must have read it somewhere." I think pixies come to him in his sleep and sprinkle him with smart dust. He probably knows more at this very moment than I will ever know in my lifetime. It is humbling. I have, thus far tricked him into thinking I am still smarter than he is but, I am sure he will figure out the truth one day very soon! (C-man if you read this, I am admitting NOTHING! I will always be bigger and I will always be smarter and I will always be able to read your mind!) My wish for him as he grows into a man is to dream BIG, never settle, and continue to explore.

I was also blessed with an amazing step-daughter. Though, truth be told she is really the daughter of my heart. I couldn't love her any more if I had given birth to her. She has this inner light that shines even when she sometimes tries to keep it hidden. I became her step-mom about 2 years ago when she was 13. I was very nervous. Other than being female myself I didn't know much about girls. I grew up with 5 older brothers and had only male cousins. The thought of having a girl terrified me. She made it soooo easy for me. She simply opened her precious heart and allowed me a place. I will always treasure our relationship. She is bright, beautiful, kind, feminine and soft-spoken. She is also a tiger! She is fiercely loyal, self-motivated, tenacious, and an achiever. I admire and respect her. She is also a very talented pianist. She has a natural grace at the piano. I love to listen to her play. (even when it just tinkering) She is (sigh) growing into a woman right before my very eyes. It is a riveting chrysalis. My wish for her is to always maintain the strong sense of self she has now, to listen to her heart and to follow her dreams. I also hope she will remember that I am always here for her should she need me.

Now you know why I love Fridays. I get to share them with fabulous people!

See ya!

The MEME in me

2006-05-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

Ok Shash! Since you tagged me I guess I'm it!

I am a strong woman

I said "follow me" and it changed my life :)

I want to be a good mother

I wish I could lose weight by eating chocolate and not exercising

I hate hypocrisy, inconsideration, and those stupid blended names the media gives celebrity couples!

I miss my brother Don everyday, I miss his laugh, I miss his dry sense of humor, I miss knowing that he is somewhere on this planet.

I fear the dark

I hear my son's voice and the Spongebob theme song

I wonder what my children will accomplish

I regret not exercising

I am not a maid

I dance in the kitchen with my husband almost every night (with or without audible music playing)

I sing in the shower, while I am cleaning the house and while driving.

I am not always as patient as I would like to be.

I made my wedding veil, my friend was so impressed she asked me to make hers too!

I write because it is cathartic

I confuse all of the "boy bands". They all sound alike to me

I need coffee, chocolate and bubble baths

I should unpack more boxes

I start everyday with 3 cups of coffee

I finish my husband's sentences

I believe in heaven

I know that I am loved

I can burp like a guy, make creme brulee, and read really, really fast

I can't believe that Chris got voted off American Idol

I see the rose bushes my husband gave me for mother's day

I BLOG I just started, and it feels like a guilty pleasure!

I read the dictionary for fun.

I am aroused by my husband's smell

It pisses me off when Bush speaks

I find love notes from my husband

I like snuggling on the couch with my family

I love my family, friends, my new home,cooking, music and a good cigar!

Now it's time to get back to reality and empty those boxes!

Just Because You Can...sometimes means you should!

2006-05-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

This being my first posting, I am apologizing from the beginning for any and all mistakes/lapses in protocol/computer illiteracy/etc....

My fabulous friend at CrazedMommy.blogspot.com encouraged me to delve into the wide world of blogging so here I am (in all my glory).

As for me and mine...

I am a wife, mother, reader, laugher, and lover of many things.

I am a Florida girl. I am also a Southern Girl.

My PHENOMONAL (spin the wheel of superlative adjectives) husband is an atypical engineer. He is from Boston. I must say Bostonian men are the cats MEOW!!! For now I will refer to him as Honey

My beautiful and amazing stepdaughter is 15. She (M for now) is learning to drive! That is all I am going to divulge right now because that is a different BLOG for a different day!

My handsome and amazing son is 12. He (C for now) is well, learning everything!A different BLOG...

Thanks for your indulgence. I promise future BLOGs will be a little less stiff and hopefully a little more interesting