New England Mamas

Connecting the Dots

Hi there. I'm here to post my bi-weekly entry, although I have to admit to feeling unmotivated. Not specifically about writing here - that's not it. I just don't feel I have anything particularly interesting to write about.

I also have a loose writing deadline I should be working on for another project. Well, potential project, let's say. A few nights ago I had thought of the perfect topic to write about. I was so excited to get to it! But at the time, it was late at night and I was just holding off for the morning.

Morning came and I completely forgot what I was going to write about. That was several days ago. The inspiration has not returned to my brain.

Starting last week I've been working a second shift part time temp job. It's completely not glamorous. Mail processing. Yippee. The 6 hour shifts I do Monday thru Friday are just about as much human computer/quota pushing/envelope opening I can handle.

I do love that this second shift job gives me completely free mornings to tend to Sweetie's school comings and goings. And I love that the office I work out of is only about 2 miles from my house. I'm home after work in a flash! However, my mom watches Sweetie in the time between the start of my work and the end of Hubby's workday. She lives 20 minutes away from me. So, if mom doesn't come to retrieve Sweetie from me (we take turns coming and going), then I'm driving 20 minutes away to drop Sweetie off just to turn right around and head 25 minutes back to work. So much for the convenience of in-town work.

Anyway - all this to say... I'm feeling disjointed. Disconnected. My days are chopped up into 2 - 3 hour bits. A few hours each morning to myself while Sweetie's at work (which were spent, last week, running many, many errands); then a few hours with Sweetie at home, then transferring Sweetie to her Nana and getting myself to work.

Even work is cut into time chunks - which is actually preferable. I couldn't possibly remain sane if I didn't get that 20 minute break in the middle to step away from the machines.

Home after 9pm, a couple hours to do dishes, write, spend time with Hubby. Then off to sleep, only to get up early the next morning and do it all over again.

So - I'm still feeling my way around this new schedule. Still desperately searching for a "real" job. Still trying to take care of Sweetie, clean up the house, spend time with Hubby... all while listening and (trying to) tend to my own needs and wants. That's the hardest part.

This past Sunday we three went to church for the first time in a long, LONG time. Sweetie can't even remember the last time she went to church (other than for a relative's wedding or other religious ceremony). Sweetie really loved going off to her own Kindergarten circle, and Hubby and I enjoyed the quiet, meditative time of peace, understanding and community.

We will return to church. In all of the craziness of not only my new schedule but, by association, Sweetie and Hubby's new schedule, we really see the importance of regular quality connection.

When the week's work and commitments get to be too much, it's nice to think ahead to Sundays in church. Connecting the dots of our family, our community friendships, and ourselves.

Where Did She Come From?

Sweetie wants to be a stick of butter for Halloween. Before she decided on that, she said she wanted to be a plate.

Two Christmases ago, she wished for a Christmas Fork.

Last Christmas, all she wanted was a 78 Toy.

This year she says she hopes Santa brings her a (real) baby giraffe.

She thinks Fear Toxin is when her Daddy (or anyone) pushes all her hair into her face. And she thinks the green husks on an ear of corn are called Green (Sweetie) Crazy (okay - both of those items are ENTIRELY Hubby's fault).

Why isn't my daughter normal?

Whatever. Never mind. Normal is boring. Sweetie is AWESOME!

Or, as she would say - she's GREAT.

Secret Spaces/Hidden Gems: More Water Works

Head on out past New Boston, twist and turn some, and I don't even know what else!, and you end up at one of my very favorite places: My Aunt and Uncle's waterfront property.

I had visited this place for many years, as my relatives hosted Fourth of July festivities many years in a row. But since marriage and a child and general life responsibilities -  I just hadn't gotten the chance to visit much lately. Until last year, that is, when finally we three were able to join the rest of my extended family for a relaxing early July day by the water.

Hubby, having never visited before, wondered why in the world HADN'T we visited before. Sweetie loved the opportunity to go kayaking for the first time. I loved relaxing by the shore with a plastic cup full of red wine, turkey burgers on the grill, and family members to catch up with.

Anxiously we awaited word on a gathering for this year. Alas, none has come forward as of yet. But there is still time. Still a lot of summer to enjoy. Perhaps we will still get the opportunity to spend a lazy day at this serene location.

We certainly hope so. Life has been so crazy lately. It sure would be wonderful to recenter ourselves at this out of the way location.

Stay Cool!

(Didn't you just hate that pat expression written over and over again in our H.S. yearbooks? Or did you help perpetuate the phrase yourself?)

Ugh! It's been so dang hot lately! And guess what?! Neither my nor Hubby's car has working A/C! Yee haw!

Still - we drove an hour and a half this past weekend to a cousin's graduation party in Franklin, MA.

Today I drove for close to an hour up to a meeting in Concord, NH.

Luckily, Hubby's got a job not too far from our house this week. But in recent weeks, he's had to drive as much as an hour+ to get to the job.

And to think! Last year, late August, we three drove all the way to Hershey, PA! With no A/C! And there Sweetie was in the backseat, covering herself completely with a wool blanket, just to amuse herself during the long trip.

My memory may be tricking me some, but I really don't think it was as hot during that trip last year as it has been here these last few days.

Thank goodness that it seems tomorrow will be much cooler. About 15 degrees cooler, in fact! Still hot, mind you, but much more manageable.

Stay cool, everyone!

BlogHer Boston or Bust

BlogHer Boston is coming! Yee haw!

I've been waiting for registration to open on this for months! And finally - it is!

Too bad I don't currently have a job. Oh, I have a decent severance package. And I presume I'll be gainfully employed before my finances completely run dry. But there are no guarantees.

Not that the registration fee is all that much. Actually, I think it's rather reasonable. Especially because I don't need any overnight accommodations. I can just make one long day of it, then head on home.

I can do this! I've been planning to do this! I will register!

But,...uh....I'll just wait a bit longer. Let's see how that second interview I've got on Thursday goes before I spend all my severance pay on other things, m'kay?

Wish me luck! And hope to see you all at BlogHer Boston.

October 11th, girls! See you then!

Let Go

That's a funny saying, isn't it? "Let go". It could mean a variety of things. Some good, some bad, some indifferent.

(A couple weeks ago), for me, "let go" was a very bad thing.

I was let go from my job. With a company I've worked for for 11 years. Purely budgetary reasons, I'm assured - nothing at all personal against my performance. I'm not the only one to go.

Still - it sucks.

I spent (that day) with Hubby, my mom, and Sweetie. I networked via email with friends, family and blogging/writing associates. I made the most of my day.

I'm glad I did, as it all helped me realize something very important.

I'm good. Hubby, Sweetie and I are all good. This is an opportunity. This is the kick in the butt I needed. Now I can get on with my life, pursuing the sort of career I truly feel passionately about.

I'm actually excited. I'm optimistic. I'm setting off on a brand new path - eager to realize my dream career. Writing, editing, educating - these are my passions. These are the areas I'm skilled in and the career path I'm eager to finally - confidently - plant my feet on and march on down. I can do these things. I've been doing them. Now's my chance to actually make a career out of them.

I'm good now. Soon, I will be great!

Oh, and one more thing. I'm going to make the most of this extra time with Sweetie before she heads off to kindergarten in the fall. This, right now, is the last bit of time when Hubby and I can really decide how she'll spend her days. This time with her is truly a gift.

Here's to the future. Here's to pursuing one's passions.

Here's to letting go.

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Reprinted from Sweetie & Me: Spina Bifida Moms.

While The Mama's at Work...

This past Friday was a rather trying day for me, work-wise. Not that I wasn't able to keep myself together and my duties as orderly as possible, mind you. Nonetheless, it was - shall we say - a long, 12 hour work day with barely a moment to breath.

And while I toiled away in my office cube, where do you think my little Sweetie and darling Hubby were? If you guessed gallivanting around York Beach, ME with friends on a beautiful spring day, you'd be right.

Lucky guys.

Yes, that's right. Hubby had an unplanned day off from work, and his friend from Portland just "happened" to take a personal day too. So the two of them, plus Sweetie and the friend's 3-year old daughter, got to go play all day while the Mamas worked.

Yippee for them.

Honestly, though - I'm told a fabulous time was had by all. There was a Hubby-proclaimed awesome playground at the beach for the girls to play in and the beach itself was not too big nor too crowded on that particular day. And, of course, Hubby was thrilled to get some quality "Man Time" with his buddy he doesn't get to see as often as he'd like.

Fortunately, Hubby also reports that this beach is only about 1 hour, 15 minutes from our So. NH location - so he's very excited for the three of us to visit there as often as possible in the coming summer months.

Okay! You bet!

'Cuz actually participating in a fun beach day with you and Sweetie sure would be a lot more enjoyable than hearing about it after a long, stressful day at work.

What Do You Do To Feel Healthy, Free and Full of Life?

I don't know about you, but we go to our friendly neighborhood cemetery for some good ol' fashioned exercise.

Daddy runs laps, Sweetie scoots laps, and I simply lap up the fresh air and sunshine.

Oh, how I love the spring!

It's a Wonder-Full, Chipmunk-Filled Life

(Stay tuned at the bottom of this post for information on my wonderfully fun contest details!)

We just took Sweetie to The Boston Museum of Science this past weekend. For such a smart, curious, silly little girl, there was no greater place we could have taken her!

(While at the museum, Sweetie introduced herself to another mom and little girl, saying - My name is {Sweetie}. I'm really smart and a little curious. And extremely humble too, I might add. What's with this a little curious business? She's been saying that about herself for weeks! I mean, she is curious, but we've not made a habit of telling her she is at all.)

Anyway -

At the museum, Sweetie got electric...

And she boogie oogie oogied....

In fact, she had a fiercely good time with all the mirrors...

Then we viewed some wickedly deceptive artwork...

Before ending the day with a lighter activity - butterfly-making in the Discovery Center!

Yes, we all had a wonderful/wonder-filled day of learning, playing and laughing at the museum. Sweetie's already talking about our next trip there!

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And now for my All-Official-Actually-For-Real-Exciting-DVD-Give-Away Contest!!!

I have been given 3 copies of the brand new DVD Alvin and the Chipmunks. Sweetie actually got her own early copy from the Easter Bunny and has enjoyed both the wide screen and the full screen versions multiple times in the last week. But that's okay because this is one movie that's truly funny - entertaining parents and kids alike.

And now, I'm sharing with you! That's right - I have those 3 copies and I will give them away to 3 of my readers. Here's what you have to do:

If you'd like to be entered into my Alvin and the Chipmunks DVD Contest, please just leave a comment on this post. And if you'd like to tell me A) your most wonder-filled childhood memory, B) A wonder-full moment you experienced with your own child(ren), or C) your favorite Alvin and the Chipmunks related memory - well, that would be pretty dang awesome too.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to leave said comment on said post before the stroke of midnight (EST - or there abouts. I'm not that picky) on Friday, April 4th 2008. From those timely entrants, I will randomly choose 3 winners using a highly scientific names-from-a-hat method. I'll announce the winners in my next Sweetie Saturday post on April 5th.

That's it! May the best reader win!

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Cross-posted at Sweetie & Me - Spina Bifida Moms.

O'Baby! That's Good Food!

I have a cousin who lives in Beverly, MA. She was my matron of honor at my wedding. She one of my very good friends. But, we don't get to see each other too often.

A month ago, though, I was on vacation from work, so we arranged to meet up at our grandmother's house in Acton, MA. That is just about the half way point for both of us, plus it gives us the opportunity to visit with our loving family matriarch. Sounds great!

Hubby happened to be off from work that day as well, so he, Sweetie and I made the trip to MA. My cousin brought along her toddler daughter and newborn son. We had a wonderful visit!

Around noon, we said goodbye to our grandmother and headed to a new cafe to catch a bite to eat. We went to O'Naturals. And, oh baby, was it awesome!

My cousin is a strict vegetarian. Hubby, Sweetie and I do not eat red meat. Even with those restriction, O'Natural's was a great hit all around with plenty of options for everyone. In fact, they pride themselves on all natural, organic food offerings and are very community friendly.

Heck! Sweetie ate her entire grilled cheese sandwich which, if you know anything about Sweetie, that in itself is saying a lot!

Hubby seriously could not stop talking - All Day Long - about the fabulous bread. OMG! Seriously awesome, tasting, crisp-yet-moist sandwich bread. Perfect!

O'Naturals offers soups, sandwiches, a good childrens' menu, and lots of tasty beverages. They even have a play area, complete with a train set and play kitchen, for the kids to amuse themselves at while the adults finish up. The prices are great as well. Really, there's not a bad thing I can say about O'Naturals.

So if you find yourself near Acton and get a hankering for something yummy and wholesome to eat, head on in to O'Naturals. You won't regret it.