House Poor and 3 pounds heavier

but slowly recovering from the move. The wolverine is still having trouble going down to sleep. Last night he awoke after only an hour or two and would not be comforted. He almost seemed asleep....but we brought him downstairs and he just kept saying "NO!" and running around the room throwing things and crying. Ive heard of night terrors before and maybe this is just his way of adjusting to the move. Boy i hope it doesnt go on too much longer. It is freaky.


Thanks to Melinda for letting us borrow her old CPU so we can be online until we get a new computer. We REALLY need to buy one. The last one was an "interim" loaner from Tims work which died. The one before that was a rebuilt cheapo that we got supposedly just to fill in while we shopped for something better. We tend to put off the inevitable i guess. So ive made this set up as uncomfortable as possible so we wont be tempted to just "let it ride" again!!!


I got up this morning and went to the gym at 5:30. Then went on to work. This needs to be my new schedule. It is the only way i get a workout in during the workweek. And those 3 extra pounds dont need company. I read an interview last night in Bazaar magazine (because you all know how fashion forward i am) with Gwyneth Paltrow. She said she gained 40 pounds with both her pregnancies. The first 20 she lost immediately after birth. The next 20 it took her 3 MONTHS to shed.....thats with exercise, some crazy cleansings, and special meals. I want to write that magazine and explain to them that as long as they keep printing these ridiculous post partum acheivements of the rich and glamorous the rest of us mere mortals are going to feel angry and inadequate!! Lets review......i gained about 45 pounds during my pregnancy. About 25 of that came of immediately after birth. The other 20 took almost 16 months to come off. That is without exercise other than walking and no food guru, trainer, colonics ,etc. Of course i was 30 pounds overweight to begin with.....SO add all that up and i still need to shed about 15 more pounds before i am "normal" again. Of course normal for me is 150 and a size 12. Im sure G.P. is "normal" glamour gal size 2 and about 115. At least at 36 im comfy with my body. I dont expect to ever fill out a bikini like Elizabeth Hurley. Im alright with that. But i could shoot for filling out that size12, blue Lands End tankini like a suburb living, married , mother of a toddler, minivan driving SOB.

That would rock.

Speaking of rock....Tool is coming to Columbus Ohio on Sept. 21....its a thursday. that would be so fun to roadtrip to. Wow...3 years ago i would have already have driven all over the midwest racking up Tool shows. Motherhood is not rock and roll friendly at times.

So i may miss out on this run.....but im still determined to have a rock and roll haircut by years end. If ya cant rock, you can at least look the part. and with all those badass boots in the stores this fall.....i AM going to rock in my own little way.


Good Food Co-op has a great smoky pimiento cheese. We went thru a container in 3 days. Hmm....that and the hummus may account for those extra pounds. I bet Gwyneth doesnt indulge in hot pita bread slathered in hummus and pimiento cheese. Damn her.

Lets See.....

we close on the house on Wednesday, my parents come up Thursday night, the movers come on Friday......seems everything is in order...and OH YEAH.....the wolverine has been feverish with explosive diarreha for the last two days.


*sighs

The Explorium

is a nifty little place for children. Its located downtown in the Victoria Square Shoppes building on the corner of Main and Broadway. We went for the first time last Friday and the wolverine had a blast.

So Friday at 2:30 there will be a get together at the Explorium for any and all interested. Admission is $5 or you can pony up about $75 for a year long membership which is probably a good idea if you plan on going even once a month.

The wolverine and I will be there. I believe Maria and Miranda, Rachel and Jack, and possibly Melinda and Noah have said they are in as well. Look forward to seeing you all. I enjoy our Friday playdates.

Goodnight Wolverine.....

Helloooooo Daddy!! Well its a little until 9, and we still have time for some grown up activities before we both collapse in an end of the week pile. It looks like some rented movies and Orville Redenbacher.


Tomorrow at 3 we are swimming. Any of you who are in the mood just call me. Would love to see you all.


Did anyone watch the New Edition special on VH1. Your typical behind the music fiasco. But i admit i loved these guys in their heyday.

"Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, & Mike.....cool it now."

Talladega Nights.....

best line of the entire movie...

"I'm gonna come at cha like a spider monkey!"

The End of An Era

Well tomorrow Playgroup starts a new chapter with Cara and Cerise at the helm. Good luck ladies. And to all you new mommys i hope you get as much from playgroup as i did. I met some wonderful families, made good friends, shared in the joys and stress and exhaustion of the early days of motherhood and watched them blossom over the first year and a half. I think playgroup was exactly what this mommy needed.

Now this mommy needs different things......but some things never change....the need for sleep especially.

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Well the Little Lambs sale was a success for us. We went both days and got some good deals. We bought a new rocker for the hubby....it was one of those Cracker Barrel ones. Very cool. Now he doesnt have to sit in mine that is 37 years old and built for a woman of that time. Translation...slim and uncomfortable for him.

I love getting good deals. I love buying shirts for buck. I love getting brand new items ridiculously cheap. We also donated a dollar each day to help orphan children in some African country have sweaters and pants for school. Of course while waiting in line to pay for my stack of ridiculously cheap clothing i wondered why didnt they just ship a bunch of the Little Lambs Sale clothing to the children in Africa? IM puzzled.

Anyway. The wolverine is resisting sleep as i type. Tour of Duty one by Daddy ended in the hand off to me. I nursed and got nothing. So Daddy is doing Tour of Duty number two. The wolverine actually was lying in bed with ME crying for DADDY. *sighs*

The wolverine likes to say his friends names. Its very sweet. He will say "Olivia", "Aidan"...friends. Then on to "Noah"...."Sophia"....friends...then back to "Livi" (as he calls her), "Owen"...then "sophia"...again. He says Sophia ALOT. She seems to have cast a spell on him. He also stands at our side window and says "Cole"...he knows that Cole our neighbor lives across from us. Its cool.

Alright so this month is all about the house. The next few weeks are going to be crazy im sure. The hubby starts back into fall mode this week. I go back to mornings until noon at work with a couple of evenings. *blech*

Im not big on the evening work. It disrupts our lives too much. But at least the next month its got to be that way.


Is anyone going to restorative yoga on August 20th? I think i am. I need some restoring.

thanks melinda and donald and noah for the hospitality.

Also if anyone is into swimming on the cheap....we plan on making good use of the Beaumont pool while we still can.

Hope everyone is enjoying the last days of summer.

The Curtain Finally Closes on the Peanut Gallery

After 22 years my hubby can finally put one waking nightmare to rest.
http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060804/NEWS01/60804007

A friend of his was murdered 22 years ago and the killer was finally found guilty after all this time. I know he is overwhelmed with emotion tonight. How could you not be? Ive heard about this case alot during our 13 year marriage. Ive been apart of a production of a play he wrote that dealt with events that were inspired by her death and the surrounding events. I know he has waited for this day for a long time.

I send up a prayer to her family tonight. That maybe this will finally bring closure to what must be the hardest thing a parent can ever go thru.

I love you Tim! I hope you can sleep a little better tonight. Sometimes good does prevail over evil ......even though we have to wait awhile to see it.

Im On My Way....Home Sweet Home.....

So we finally did it. After 13 plus years of marriage and a 19 month old, we have begun the process of buying our first house. Daunting. Expensive. Annoying. Relieved.

All to be done is the inspections and then if all is well...closing. Hopefully by Labor Day weekend we will be packing up this residence and settling into our new digs. Is it my dream home? Not even close. Im content to quit dreaming so much for awhile and start living. It will be a great first home. Good yard. Enough space. Good school district if we need it later. And hopefully quiet and full of good neighbors. The hood we currently call home is a shadow of its former self and we say good riddance.

Our trip to Gatlinburg, the vegas of the south, was good fun. We spent a day at Dollywood. I believe she is the only person to have a theme park named after herself. The wolverine stayed with the grandparents for the morning and then napped and we picked him up around 3 and headed back to the park. He had a blast riding rides and watching his parents, aunt, uncle and cousins act like idiots as we dressed up in western attire and had one of those old fashioned pictures made. It was a hoot. The wolverine makes an adorable cowboy. I was a little aghast when the photographer handed him a gun and said "bang bang" as she pointed it at him. If i had any doubts about how i felt about "gun play" beforehand, i dont now.

So we are back. The hubby is getting ready to start his new job. I am working overload for the next week while i can. Ive also started doing some evening massage clients again. I will for least the month of August until we move. It was kind of nice being back in my old, familiar, pre-mommy world for a little while. Although my current aches and pains makes it less then enjoyable. Oh well. Ya cant have it both ways ever.

The wolverine is covered in bumps and bruises. He fell and hit his head THREE times tonight. He has a gooseegg on his forehead. *Sigh*

Hey...is anyone going to the Little Lambs sale this weekend. I thought i might go Friday morning and see what they have. Also i will be at playgroup on Friday. I emailed Anne about getting a replacement and have talked with a couple of moms about it too. So hopefully in the next couple of weeks i will shed that responsiblity.

Welcome back Maria.

Oh yeah....is anyone planning on going and seeing Laura in Godspell?


Fug of the Week goes to the media coverage of the Mel Gibson Debacle. I for one feel bad for Lance Bass. The guy finally comes out and is one upped by some drunken smack talking antics of Rigs.

Two doors down their laughin' & drinkin' & havin' a party.....

Well we are headed to the Great Smokies tomorrow for the weekend. Friday we are going to Dollywood. The family will be there....all converging in our 8 bedroom cabin. There will be alot of eating, laughing, and trying to keep the wolverine off the MANY stairs. Should be a hoot.

Thanks to Dan, Susannah, Sophia for their hospitality and yummy grub on sunday. It was worth the 12 mosquito bites.

We are looking for a house now. Its fun to see what all is out there....of course if we had a few hundred more thousand dollars it would make the decision easier. If i think about it too much i start to get sweaty and anxious. Buying a house just seems so final....planting roots and all that. For vagabonds like ourselves its all pretty heavy stuff.

Everyone have a good weekend. We love you all dearly and are so glad we have made such dear friends these last five years.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe....

or in my case "the wine, the bitch and the wolverine"

Unless it gets rained out i will be there at the Arboretum tonight. the show starts at 8:45 so iwill probably get there around 7 and find a plavce to settle in and chow down. the wolverine will be there so i plan on spending at least half of the show trying to get him to sleep. GOOD TIMES. Im learning that sometimes the point is just showing up....even if ya dont get to see much or relax...your still doing it. And im sure he gets alot out of being out and about...seeing things...new experiences. right?


anyone who wants to join me....i will have my cell phone on. Or call me at home today. I think we may have a big group.

We did alfalfas this morning for breakfast and then ran into Dan Woo grocery shopping for the cookout at the farmers market. Looks like Mr. Woo takes his cookout duties seriously. There is going to be some fresh produce and non-lethal meats cooked up. Yummy!!

Playgroup Inquiry

So we are going to be out of town the next two Fridays during playgroup. Is anyone planning on being there...would you be available to open and close up? If not then i will just cancel until i get back.

Hope everyone is having a good week. Ive been working ALOT. And Tim is performing again this week in the Shakespeare festival. If anyone is interested in going i will be there Saturday night with the wolverine in tow.

The wolverine has been shorn. His golden locks clipped for keepsake. Who is this handsome little devil?!!!


I showed up at playgroup today at 2:45. Post nap. Long enough to let the wolverine run off some energy while trying to take Isaacs snacks away from him. *SIGHS* I know my child is very perceptive because he KNOWS that the freaking backpack is full of interesting snacks that he is not used to getting. I also walked next door to Mother Nurture and bought a cute t-shirt. I wanted to help support them. We need to get behind these small, specialized childrens shops and do our part to keep them going. We always complain about the selection here in Lexington, so now is our chance to put our money where our mouths are. The same for Dragonfly. I want these two places to succeed. Our city is better for having them.


Basic Instinct 2 sucks.




Alright....so someone told a friend of mine that "studies" have linked homosexuality to boys that breastfeed into toddlerhood and coslept. At first i blew this off like i do most things that seem aimed at criticizing my parenting choices. But the more i have thought about this the more annoyed i am. First off, this was a statement made by someone that went to church with my friend. Am i the only one who is confounded by the amount of time that so-called Christian parents spend worrying that their children will "turn out" gay? Secondly, i would LOVE to see these so-called studies. Who ran them....who sponsored them....my money would be on some agenda-laden quasi evangelical political thinktank. Oh yeah....Dr. Dobson. Its the same old same old....that somehow if we are nurturing and loving and attentive to our little boys emotional needs they are going to turn out gay. Why do people insist on "toughing up" our little boys? Is this supposed to help them somehow in the future. Havent we got enough assholes and emotionally crippled men having midlife crisis in the world already. I for one will continue nursing as long as the wolverine feels he needs it...and cosleeping....well as long as it works for our family. And if my son grows up to be a gay man it WONT be because we were loving, attentive parents.

Anyway.....thanks to Melinda, Donald, & Noah for a nice dinner out last night. We actually got a chance to talk for a change. I love our big dinners but it is definitely easier to converse with a smaller crew. The boys were pretty well behaved albeit messy. Sorry to our waiter and busboy.


The Matador must be the most popular movie in town this week at Blockbuster. We have gone by 4 times and it is always out.


So tonight i may go see some Shakespeare...although im not sure im up for the heat, the bugs, and the possible rain. Maybe i should can it and go see a movie.

Midday Magueritas

are somehow tastier then there nighttime cousins. Especially when in a festive glass. We just got back looking at some houses. Open houses are fun but frustrating. Im amazed at what seperates 5 to 10 thousand dollars. I also hate the added emotional element of seeing my son run contently through hallways and rooms. Playing hide and seek with daddy in the big spacious closets. *sigh*

We are in good company i suppose. Alot of Americans work their asses off but can save little. Alot of us have good paying jobs, decent benefits, and live just comfortably enough to miserably long for more. We have bought into the American Dream before realizing the cost. Both financially, mentally, and morally. Its hard to be raised in one mindset and then apply the brakes as an adult and switch gears. We feel like we have done everything that was expected of us, you know, we played by the rules, but somehow right when we should be reaping the benefits the rules have changed. So we live in a ridiculously overpriced apartment "community" in a ridiculously overpriced neighborhood. We are reminded daily of the discrepancies in the "system" we live within.

I dont expect pity....we still live better then probably 95% of the citizens of the world. But it does make me wonder what it is exactly that we want. What is the life that we are trying to create? How can i teach my child to create something better.


And yeah....all this from just going to a few open houses. Now you see why the hubby hates wasting Sunday afternoons doing this.

Alright, im going to have another drink, and prepare myself to reenter the workforce tomorrow after two weeks off, knowing that im still just a rat in a cage running circles on the wheel.

Better late then never...

Happy 40th Birthday to the hubby.

I am married to a force of nature. If you havent been out to the Arboretum to the Shakespeare Festival to see A Midsummer Nights Dream...get thee there....my man is AWESOME!!! He had me , Melinda, and Ashely roling. Of course it could have been the wine.....it was mommys behaving badly starring me as the designated driver. Between the spontaneous laughter and applause and Ashley yelling "Happy Birthday Tim" poor wolverine couldnt stay asleep.

Sorry some of you missed it. We had alot of fun.

Better late then never...

Happy 40th Birthday to the hubby.

I am married to a force of nature. If you havent been out to the Arboretum to the Shakespeare Festival to see A Midsummer Nights Dream...get thee there....my man is AWESOME!!! He had me , Melinda, and Ashely roling. Of course it could have been the wine.....it was mommys behaving badly starring me as the designated driver. Between the spontaneous laughter and applause and Ashley yelling "Happy Birthday Tim" poor wolverine couldnt stay asleep.

Sorry some of you missed it. We had alot of fun.

Blech!!

That is how i feel right now. My tummy hurts. Over indulgence or just some bad food? I sure hope the wolverine will sleep early tonight so i can get some rest.

Tomorrow is the big day for the hubby. He is riding high since his show got a favorable review...and he got singled out. Any of you familiar with actors know that although they all swear that reviews DONT really matter to them , they REALLY do. So a big thank you to Dag Ryan of the Lexington Herald Leader for making my weekend at home a little bit easier and more pleasant.

Saturday night people.....the Arboretum....7:30. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, bug spray, picnic baskets brimming full of goodies, and wine...bottles and bottles of wine. It should be fun. Any of you interested in a preshow dinner with us to salute Tim on his 40th let me know. We will probably do a n early dinner...say around 5. IM not sure where. Will get back to you on that one.

Alright im going to lay down. Apologies to Mary Elizabeth and Ashley for crapping out on them tonight.

Summertime and the living is easy...

or so they say. Personally im pooped from having almost 2 weeks off work. After a short visit in TN & TX, followed by a visit from in laws who left today, i am exhausted. It will be nice to have our home back just to ourselves. The wolverine needs time to wallow comfortably in his usual schedule and activities like mall walking with Daddy and long afternoon naps with mommy.


We went to the Newport Aquarium yesterday at it was pretty cool. They dont allow strollers (2 years ago this would have made me cheer!) so we toted the wolverine around in a backpack. Unobstructed views are great for toddlers and rough on parents backs. The coolest thing was the shark area. They are over AND under you. *shiver*
The otters and penguins were cute.

For those parents who dont know this yet....
FOODS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR CHILDS DIAPERS A TOXIC DISASTER:
*grapes
*oranges
*cheese
*tomato
*any processed foods


CELEBRITY BOBBLEHEAD WATCH (or actors who insist they are wasting away to nothing but skin and bones even though they eat "whatever" they want)

***kEIRA kNIGHTLY
I think she is adorable and can actually act. Think Pride and Prejudice, Bend it Like Beckham, Pirates......but Blimey mates!! She is disappearing before our eyes. She was never plump...and on the notorious cover of Vanity Fair she appeared quite "willowy" *that is actor speak for skinny*...but on the red carpet for Pirates she is ghastly thin. Will someone buy her a meal please. http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/go_fug_yourself/2006/07/fugrates_of_the.html#more



Tomorrow we will be lunching at The Garden Cafe at Flag Fork Herb Farm. I love this place. The hubby get a free lunch because i signed us up for a birthday club thing with them. Yeah.

Playgroup at 1 on Friday. Im hoping some of you show. Im trying to figure out how best to handle it. Change the time or simply hand it over to someone with a younger baby. Any takers? Any suggestions? The wolverine probably wont be there because hopefully he will be napping. Speaking of naps....

am i being to schedule oriented? I really just try and respect the wolverines cues on this. He seems to nap around the same time every day so i try and make sure his schedule is clear at that time. I watch some parents who just go go go and their attitude seems to be that if their child is tired they will sleep whenever and wherever. Does this work for anyone? Ive found that if we respect the schedule, the schedule usually works for us. How are you all handling this? We love going and doing, but not at the expense of the families mental health. There are times though i think i should ease up a little and just go with the flow. *i hate that saying*


SATURDAY is Shakespeare Festival at the aRboretum...midsummer nights dream with the hubby playing the role of Bottom. *i wont make a joke here* The play starts at 8:45 but they open for seating at 7. Anyone interested let me know. Ive already lined up a sitter , but am open to taking the wolverine if need be. He has had a rough week at night so im not sure he will stand to be left behind.

That same day is the hubbys 40th birthday. WOW. I met the guy when he was 26 and still wearing silk shirts and loafers with no socks. He was in a rock band and was the most talented actor i had ever seen onstage. He drove a Ford Fiesta(?). He is still the funniest man i know.

M.I.A.

NO i havent dropped off the face of the earth. Not yet.

We went to TN last Friday to spend the weekend with my folks while Tim spent a "mid life crisis" night out with friends at the Sammy Hagar concert in Nashville. Well the wolverine and I ended up flying out Sunday to Austin TX to see my sister and her kids for a few days. It was last minute and unplanned so that is where we have been. We got back to Nashville yesterday. Today Tim drove down and we are driving home tomorrow. Its been a LONG week away from home. Its always nice to visit family but im ready to plunge back into our routine. Sorry i left some of you hanging.

Im not sure if we will make it to playgroup. I guess i will at least come open up. We are leaving bright and early so should make it to LEX by lunch. However the hubby has made plans for a pool date after playgroup at our place. He and Dan evidently came up with the plan. So if anyone else wants to come and swim with us let me know. Im thinking around 3:30 after the wolverine naps. Then perhaps some dinner.

HOpe everyone is well and having a good week.

June is Bustin' Out All Over......

this weekend in Lexington

***DRAGONFLY childrens clothing and toy store officially opened for business this weekend. Susannah, Dan & Sophia were there to welcome us with 15 % off. How awesome was that?? I bought the wolverine a bright, fun Zutano shirt and shorts and looked over and Ashley had bought Owie the same thing. Wow...i hope people dont mistake them for twins now. I also bought my niece a really cute poney. (toy..not the real thing Hope..so dont freak out and go buy a barn yet). Those of you who havent been by the store yet....get over there. They are located off Harrodsburg road in the new shopping area beside Ramseys.


***The wolverine went out to the arboretum with us friday afternoon and ran wild while Daddy rehearsed for the upcoming Shakespeare festival. I hope his penchant for running towards the stage isnt a sign of things to come. I love the wolverine and want to encourage him in things that interest him, but a life in theatre??!! Um....no.

***We also ate breakfast Saturday morning at Alfalfas. They do the best brunch ever. Then we headed over to Boyds Orchards. What fun. The wolverine wore himself out and US climbing on bails of hay, sliding, swinging, riding in wagons,etc. It was awesome. The 80 foot slide i highly recommend. Just make sure and turn before you land if your over 12 years old.

***My mom just went to a 1st cousins reunion in Alabama and found out that we are related to Jay Leno. Great. And all this time i thought all my relations were just country folk or rednecks.

***Congrats to Mike and Erin who should be married by now.

***Sympathies go out to Melinda. She knows why.

I love this time of year in Lexington. There is so much going on. Too bad i will be working all week. Of course i was informed this weekend by a young mom that money makes the world go round. I didnt have the heart to let her in on the whole gravitational pull thing.