tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35072023108646148082024-03-05T06:52:08.442-05:00Adventures in Being MyselfTrue tales from one journey through life.*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-26510587444647702662009-12-07T08:50:00.014-05:002009-12-07T16:51:07.625-05:00For Ed<span style="font-family:georgia;">Dear Daddy - </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">It has been 12 years since we lost you. Twelve years is a long time, and so many things have happened since that sad Sunday morning; for that is a harsh reality of death: life does go on. Thousands of minutes have passed since 6:09am, December 7, 1997, and yet that particular moment is seared in my memory like only a handful of others. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I regret not fully waking up to give you a hug and kiss that Thursday night before you left for the Keys Friday morning. I had been in Tallahassee all week, and you arrived home late after a business dinner. In a half-alert moment, I heard you open the door; but I stayed in bed. I missed you the next morning as you left early for Marathon...no doubt excited for the warm, beautiful weather and the peace of Avenue M. My last memory of you is sitting on the sofa in the living room at Grandmama's watching football with Uncle Tommy Williams, Grandaddy and various other family members. You were laughing, with that twinkle in your eye, and joking with Uncle Tommy -probably about the Georgia Bulldogs. </span><br /><br />Later that morning, as Ashley and I waited to board our plane to Marathon, I was actually stunned that the sun had risen, that time continued ticking on the clock, and that people were going about their normal lives...how could they? Didn't they know something awful had happened? That my father had died? I was mad and sad and lost. Completely untethered.<br /><br />One foot in front of the other, one day at a time, slowly, <em>slowly</em>, life settled into a new normal. Normalcy is bittersweet. Losing you is the single worst thing I've had to endure in my life. How could life possibly ever be normal again? Happily, it is. And I know that you are proud of that.<br /><br />But the pain is still here, and some days are a lot worse than others. Like last Monday as I watched a woman about my age greeting her father at baggage claim with hugs and smiles. Or today, on the anniversary of your passing, when I'm on my own in Tallahassee, far away from anyone who remembers the significance of today and why I'm so sad.<br /><br />When Mama called me that morning 12 years ago, all I could do was pray: that God would keep you close to Him, and that He would keep you close to me in my heart. That is how I begin my prayers every day, and I believe God has kept up His end of the bargain. Still, I'm not sure the untethered feeling will ever go away.<br /><br />During the memorial service someone said "your father wouldn't want you to be sad." I told her that you most definitely would want me to be sad that you were gone, because I missed you. And I still do. I love you, Daddy.*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-87098775093606390742009-07-25T11:52:00.002-04:002009-07-25T11:56:59.026-04:00See What I Mean??<div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Zane busted out two new words since I updated this joint yesterday: </span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"hah" - he does a pretty good job of keeping his hat on when we're in the sun. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"pur" - the boy knows him some accessories. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">No wonder it is hard for me to keep up. </span></div>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-37607521938080973272009-07-24T14:21:00.007-04:002009-07-24T16:00:03.215-04:00WPEBA?<span style="font-family:georgia;">Magic 8-Ball says, "yes." </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's been awhile. As much as I love writing, I find it very hard to keep up with regular posts. There is so much to write about and I'm a Virgo so I want to do it all in order, but I can't keep up with writing about everything that is happening so fast...so I don't know where to start...so I become...paralyzed. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I don't know why I put so much pressure on myself to make these blog entries "perfect:" timely, relevant, smart, witty, whatever. But, I do. And then there's the matter of pictures. All of our thousands of pictures are stored on a hard drive. At home. The trouble is, I don't have much free time for blogging when I am at home. And the truth is, I don't want to <em>make</em> the time for blogging at home. I would rather spend my time playing with PG and Zane. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">So my first entry here in two months will be all words. Fittingly, it is <em>about</em> words. Specifically, all the words my 19-month-old genius has mastered. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">At his 18-month well-baby visit, our nurse asked if Zane could say at least 15 words. Phil and I confidently answered "yes", and eagerly added that his vocabulary probably extended to about 25 words. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Not long after that appointment, Zane left for the first of his two summer vacations: a week in Alabama visiting the GGs with </span><a href="http://quietwatercomments.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Pappi</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">, Kyle and Todd. As we put together the operation manual for our Zane, including "Words Zane Can Say", we discovered that he must be a verbal ninja. Or a word nerd. Either way, Zane's vocabulary list included fifty - 50! - words. We are so proud of him because not only can he say these words, he uses and understands them in proper context. It must be the </span><a href="http://paigeewaigee.blogspot.com/2007/07/what-i-did-on-my-summer-vacation-part-i.html"><span style="font-family:georgia;">rum</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"MAH muh..." </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">"PAH puh..." </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"moo!" - he is my child after all; I love the moon. I taught him the sign, too.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"BALLLLLLLLLLL..." </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"BOHHHH!" - he waves and says "Hiiiiii!" at every passing boat, too</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"ow-sigh" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"ee-sigh"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"wuh ssat" - he is a curious explorer</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />Waffle - "wa-wvu" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />Juice - "juse" with a slight lisp on the finish</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"moke" - the kid loves his milk </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"peas" with a slight lisp on the finish - he always asks nicely.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"ah-ku" - and says thank you. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"ah kow" - we love you, too, little man. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"NIGH nigh..."</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"moh" - the kid is very clear about what he likes, and when he wants more, he wants more! He makes the sign with this one, too. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"ah duh" - but when he's done, he adamantly repeats himself and makes the sign</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />Gigi - for my Grandmama</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Daddy - for my Grandaddy </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"kole" - he loves school</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"haiii" - and he does his little Forrest Gump wave</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"bye-bye" -also with a little flourish of a wave</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"UH oh..." </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"oh NOOOO" - and both hands go to his head to emphasize the point</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"too too" - when he toots</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"sit" - pretty clear, except he leaves off the hard T at the end and adds a slight lisp</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />No - this one, of course, is very clear...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />My/mine - this one is very clear, too. sigh. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"cowl" - Big Cousin</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"tah" - Middle Cousin</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />Pappi </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"chuck" - whenever he sees PG's car</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br /> "sack" - the kid knows where his snacks are, too, by goodness. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"eye"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"noe"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"mow"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"fee" - if he is sitting down, laying on the changing table, or riding in his car seat, he will lift his leg to show us his feet when we ask him. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"book" - very clear, without the hard K at the end</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"shu shuze" - he is so cute about putting on his shoes; he will bring his shoes to one of us, then turn around, back up, and sit in our lap for us to put them on him. Zane also knows how to put away his shoes! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"cwocks" - I don't care how comfortable Crocs are, people who wear them look like dumbasses. Everyone except little kids. Little kids look adorable in them. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"pooo" - the kid would jump right into the pool if we'd let him! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"Boo" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"diss" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"dat" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"wah diss?/wah dat?"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"Go"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"Go bye bye"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***<br />"I sit" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"yeaaahHHH" - this one cracks up PG and me. He escalates the second syllable. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"uh huh..." </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"ur pur" - he pats the side of his bum when we are changing his diaper</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"arm" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"knee"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"toes" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> "rerver" - this is Zane's newest trick: as we approach the bridge every morning and afternoon, he gets very excited and says "rerver! rerver!" while pointing at the river. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"ehr pan" - whenever he even <em>hears</em> an airplane</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"wock" - when he wants to be rocked</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"where it go?" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"up" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"dow" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"amen" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"poon" - he is doing pretty well with his table manners</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"bib" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"burr" - his beloved Lookout from Build-A-Bear</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"waahhh...tu...go...fye...go..." - 1, 2, 3 go!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"ur gur" - Yo Baby, the most expensive yogurt on earth. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"beebee" - belly</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"boobie" - he is his father's child, after all...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"crock ur" - sometimes I think we should have named him "Polly" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"coo KEEE" - "no, Ms. Busybody Buttinsky, I <em>don't</em> mind that my son is a hot mess eating his chocolate chip cookie while riding in the grocery cart. He is happy, and I can buy some wipes." </span></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-56975527926655084732009-05-26T15:49:00.006-04:002009-05-26T16:18:57.717-04:00WWJD?<span style="font-family:georgia;">I'm on Facebook. A lot. Everyone else is, too, so I don't really have a problem. Okay, maybe I have a small problem...whatever, back to my story. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I'm "friends" with NPR, which is my other addiction. I have no patience for bad radio, so NPR it is (except when Zane and I are jammin' to the new Z-100). Wow, I am scatter-brained today. Must be the Diet Coke. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Okay, so, really, back to my story. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Today NPR updated its Facebook page with a story link about the release of the entire first season of Designing Women on DVD. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Like most women living below the Mason-Dixon line, I love Designing Women. My sister and I have seen every episode and still watch re-runs in syndication. There are certain lines and dialogue that never fail to crack us up. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">In honor of the DVD release, NPR Pop Culture blogger Linda Holmes created "The Designing Women Game: Write Your Own Julia Rant." Finally! An opportunity to channel the queen of the calm, cool, collected tirade; an opportunity to understand - just once - what Julia would do. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/05/a_designing_women_game_write_y.html?sc=fb&cc=fp"><span style="font-family:georgia;">template</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> is based on the Mad Libs model and contemplates the question, "What would Julia say about ABC's newest installment of the Bachelorette?" </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here's what I (as Julia) have to say: </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">"I would rather spend two hours sharing jalapeno poppers with Charles Manson than watch a woman who apparently purchased her intellect at the Dollar Store for $3.73 chase twenty-five men with biceps made of copper and heads packed with Trix. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Because when future generations look upon what we have left for them, which may by then be little more than greenhouse gases and millions of non-biodegradable blackberries, I fear they will conclude that they would have welcomed bread and circuses if only they had realized the alternative was Chili Fritos and The Real Housewives of New York.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">And let me tell you a little something about romance: Handing out roses like you are a mascot throwing Sour Patch Kids to the assembled hooligans at the NBA Finals is not my idea of romance. Romance is a man who knows the difference between John Adams and Jon Bon Jovi and who is capable of putting on a brassiere without scratching his head as if he is connecting a Tivo without the instruction manual.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">So do not ask yourself why I do not particularly enjoy a television show where the assembled male candidates represent romantic prospects inferior to the workers on the night shift at the Applebee’s in Orlando. Ask yourself whether, after a lifetime playing with a cultural Tonka Truck and dancing on the grave of Captain Ahab, you will ever...recover...your dignity."</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">And THAT, Marjorie, just so you will KNOW, and so your GRANDCHILDREN will SOMEDAY know, was the NIGHT. The LIGHTS. Went OUT. In GEORGIA.</span>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-53791386019463710012009-05-15T14:14:00.005-04:002009-05-15T14:19:42.012-04:00Ziggy Pop<div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's time to lighten the mood in this joint. It is Friday, after all, and who wants to ride ickiness into the weekend? Not me. So, here are two brand-spankin'-new photos of my boys. It's too bad they really don't like each other very much. </span></div><div align="center"> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336115941814731554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0WHFz8BaYhbNue2sGnAkqaBhnQSQ4S4Jx3msztN0_yPV0iarQBMmpXYg7U0UnK1QyTVE6eSt4t8uYJEA_HV48-7u7XN8qBaCsRECu9eiV5YLccgCj8aAqE2xxQQtq3-4pm2SQc_gQHjD/s320/Ziggy+Pop+Self+Portrait+1.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"> <em>PG - 43 years, Zane - 17 months</em><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsq6ampjnrLHG1vv2L4ix-RmXYEXiC8CiHVgj2uaDaMj1aAuhdL64brBAD9lCGwYF93YbXtG-50hH9IsvzJcHKmw_WpSX2dDer9qj2RTudAzcCUf72aIkVI2j8Za6PvPtiFkWWKAkRBBpm/s1600-h/Ziggy+Pop+Self+Portrait+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336115849803617794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsq6ampjnrLHG1vv2L4ix-RmXYEXiC8CiHVgj2uaDaMj1aAuhdL64brBAD9lCGwYF93YbXtG-50hH9IsvzJcHKmw_WpSX2dDer9qj2RTudAzcCUf72aIkVI2j8Za6PvPtiFkWWKAkRBBpm/s320/Ziggy+Pop+Self+Portrait+2.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Nice try, but no. We are not cutting Zane's hair. EVER.</em> </div>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-40097514580056287642009-05-13T12:54:00.001-04:002009-05-13T13:14:38.904-04:00paigeewaigee is...<p><span style="font-family:georgia;">still trying to make sense of it all; but promised to write a blog entry about the incident. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">As posted to my Facebook profile last Thursday, via Twitter, I "learned a very hard lesson today: never, ever trust anyone. That includes "friends." </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I joined Facebook last Spring (as a way to see photos of a dear friend's new baby boy), I determined to use the service for pure social reasons: reconnecting with old friends from high school; staying in touch with friends who are geographically distant; keeping up with the local social scene; sharing photos and quick updates with family near and far; etc.,. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">I work in a field that all but requires socializing with colleagues. Politics is built on a foundation of personal relationships and connections, and the line between "colleague" and "friend" is faint and distorted. Still, as my "friend" list expanded to include friends who are also work colleagues, I adjusted my privacy settings to allow only limited access to people who work within the legislative process - with very few exceptions. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">Further, I blocked all Members who requested "friendship" through Facebook. While I socialize with many of my fellow aides and many lobbyist peers, "socializing" with Members - especially via a social networking website - is dangerous territory. In fifteen years of work in politics, I have learned "Members are not your friends." Period. </span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;">So, now, back to last Thursday. I posted (<em>via Twitter</em>) a status update that was critical of an Office in the Florida House, for good reason. Said Office is designed to provide clear, concise, accurate information about pending (<em>or enacted</em>) legislation to Member offices (<em>and the public, the media, whoever...</em>). Quickly. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">However, when I called Said Office, identified myself as the aide to Representative So-and-So (<em>information they should know, by the way...just sayin'..</em>.) to request information for responding to a constituent inquiry, I got the exact opposite of the service Said Office is supposed to provide. This is a pattern. Said Office is, as I stated in my status update, useless. </span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">The five-word status update (<em>posted during a break using my personal crackberry</em>) did not name any names and did not include any detail. Ahem. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">Somehow, despite the fact that my legislative "friends" are prohibited from seeing any status updates and links on my profile, that update made its way to the Honcho of Said Office who approached my boss...<em>on the floor of the House</em>...and raised hell. My boss directed me to remove the post, which I did. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">This incident left me disturbed, upset, confused, mad, indignant and scared...on many levels: </span></p><ol><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">That someone I consider a <strong>friend</strong>, not a "friend" or just a colleague, would throw me under the bus. I do not know who I can trust anymore. </span></li><li>That the Honcho would be so thin-skinned a<span style="font-family:georgia;">bout something I (<em>a minion</em>) said, especially since the comment wasn't even about the Honcho. Politics is brutal and surely my comment is not the worst criticism ever received - either directly or indirectly. Maybe the Honcho is in the wrong biz?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">That the Honcho took up the cause of gossip (<em>in the manner of true statesmanship</em>) and immediately sorted to "defensive" and beating down the subversive instead of going to the root of the problem.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">That freedom of expression is a guaranteed right in our democracy and I did not waive that right when I started my career in legislative politics. I'm afraid that personal censure is now part of the lexicon of politics in Florida. Don't dare to criticize the powers-that-be. </span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">Should I have been so reckless in trusting privacy settings on the internet? Probably not. But, I learned that I should not be reckless in trusting my friends. </span></p>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-90950509889680782882009-05-10T08:19:00.005-04:002009-05-10T08:27:02.931-04:00Happy Water Baby (Redux)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHgRgAht5ERHh7b3O5ws5EBGZEky3YkZES-Vwb3rhdvz81k5pJsyA73bscyZTBFlS8b7foLMsQeJFgPGeRzt2SjnWG84e70xNonOTb8BwEC3sdBcG4bKoT6xJwubjTiYQtOU2YiLOfxaM/s1600-h/IMG_8174.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334170666625045346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHgRgAht5ERHh7b3O5ws5EBGZEky3YkZES-Vwb3rhdvz81k5pJsyA73bscyZTBFlS8b7foLMsQeJFgPGeRzt2SjnWG84e70xNonOTb8BwEC3sdBcG4bKoT6xJwubjTiYQtOU2YiLOfxaM/s320/IMG_8174.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZs87zBlt4MRGFHYs2g_4DCndLVyXd2AjoYTRw3Zv6UPlKl80xRepTlHI3_JrerwPbNk5KHAJ_VM7_EvKAZMhbIm-sLyesaYRHTh8Pv_jMVkukM6G4ReIgdf-So3cxKR1E4RHBYWEvSyV/s1600-h/IMG_8176.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334170535204551794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZs87zBlt4MRGFHYs2g_4DCndLVyXd2AjoYTRw3Zv6UPlKl80xRepTlHI3_JrerwPbNk5KHAJ_VM7_EvKAZMhbIm-sLyesaYRHTh8Pv_jMVkukM6G4ReIgdf-So3cxKR1E4RHBYWEvSyV/s320/IMG_8176.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqx49T4GQlZWQXTVJmJDydTdISbLsOSCmMCEiKc-T2cvReu3DMC1dnH4mN9TcEAuWOBfCT2Nm3FRiuQDz0LO6MLchWjeSadxsg3gQkrz_kGdLcBtaskEPBz8N_oLnoqdV-kNGBWgZsq_P/s1600-h/IMG_8185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334170376670447874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqx49T4GQlZWQXTVJmJDydTdISbLsOSCmMCEiKc-T2cvReu3DMC1dnH4mN9TcEAuWOBfCT2Nm3FRiuQDz0LO6MLchWjeSadxsg3gQkrz_kGdLcBtaskEPBz8N_oLnoqdV-kNGBWgZsq_P/s320/IMG_8185.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-83887558331900803102009-05-10T08:11:00.005-04:002009-05-10T08:18:36.341-04:00The Peanut Butter and Jelly Series<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEmsOmxf_gDxRJXbIkzRrHNWRo7B2fCwpAIXUQJE9TjR9-EjwA2ji1EL1Z_rATTZZf4ageIeRvJhmtmNI2PYgabcFLb7HxXIiOfWy35onz1Jd3G6tUUjZ215fhUYVvFu71V_lxbB2kFrl/s1600-h/IMG_8184.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334167962015841522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEmsOmxf_gDxRJXbIkzRrHNWRo7B2fCwpAIXUQJE9TjR9-EjwA2ji1EL1Z_rATTZZf4ageIeRvJhmtmNI2PYgabcFLb7HxXIiOfWy35onz1Jd3G6tUUjZ215fhUYVvFu71V_lxbB2kFrl/s320/IMG_8184.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> "Hi, Mama! I ate all my lunch!"</span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hyo6QnrWsYedzy7BbRiThSHmTis2G88VdXKmKOUYqlPl3rJBRkK1BAoiGgp4QbjkGfUcGcPKJCJKp5kNWODJzuQ5TVPCgXbTB5qx6IoodvYae4JlD3Ukj9cnVI8Irsgn0yqP1U56dNKs/s1600-h/IMG_8180.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334167848039053282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hyo6QnrWsYedzy7BbRiThSHmTis2G88VdXKmKOUYqlPl3rJBRkK1BAoiGgp4QbjkGfUcGcPKJCJKp5kNWODJzuQ5TVPCgXbTB5qx6IoodvYae4JlD3Ukj9cnVI8Irsgn0yqP1U56dNKs/s320/IMG_8180.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">"...and I really, really enjoyed it!" </span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqg-bwZQjep3mrpwBxXAlCjkbvKk18PgzpsCiDaS01AfU1Nlr5VcdSualn_LKOumtQVR_C6HkbmIHdyPn3akirTgkd-7BJ9RB1qc85d0i4lFCRcTx7FPtiTqYqXAq1dNbrPyLFHAXbQiP/s1600-h/IMG_8179.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334167719638761298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqg-bwZQjep3mrpwBxXAlCjkbvKk18PgzpsCiDaS01AfU1Nlr5VcdSualn_LKOumtQVR_C6HkbmIHdyPn3akirTgkd-7BJ9RB1qc85d0i4lFCRcTx7FPtiTqYqXAq1dNbrPyLFHAXbQiP/s320/IMG_8179.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">"Peanut Butter and Jelly is my favorite!" </span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrv6XIWcVPRJojkDYHv7vw5UM9kIei6IjOmJDtkZXOc71gDkTswqLRNOLQhBhCZ8tSrTG423GcxpI0PbXFMDka8ZC4P9Vla0Hcgl24DICmGEd5VZCXX1g7gFu6Wj6F33x3PVIvWvFGXqV/s1600-h/IMG_8181.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334167559731538866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrv6XIWcVPRJojkDYHv7vw5UM9kIei6IjOmJDtkZXOc71gDkTswqLRNOLQhBhCZ8tSrTG423GcxpI0PbXFMDka8ZC4P9Vla0Hcgl24DICmGEd5VZCXX1g7gFu6Wj6F33x3PVIvWvFGXqV/s320/IMG_8181.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">"Jeah!"</span></div>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-12179323002256889952009-05-07T11:12:00.005-04:002009-05-07T14:04:34.324-04:00Clearing the Block<span style="font-family:georgia;">In my search for inspiration, collected thoughts, cogent paragraphs and witty rejoinders, I'm settling for another (stolen) meme to clear the writer's block: </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Let's start out with something oh so clever, whats your sign? Virgo. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Congratulations! You just had a baby boy! Whats his name? I actually did have a baby boy 16 months ago. His name is Peter Zane Biagi LeBoutillier. If I were to have another baby boy, his name would be Aidan. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Congratulations ! It's a baby girl! You name her? Ava or Lila </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Look at your recent calls, who was your last missed call from? Ashley. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What is bothering you right now? Last night. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What is your favorite color? Blue. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Who's the last person you texted? PG.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Is there a high chance of you going out to the movies soon? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you easily scared by horror/thriller films?Yes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">If you had $100 would you spend or save it? I would spend it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">If there was a large spider in the room, would you stay? As long as the spider stayed on its own side of the room. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you regret anything you've done lately? Yes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Where are you right now? At my office. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What are you doing? Trying to stay awake. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Would you be able to date someone who had a kid with someone else? I have no judgment of single parents, and would have no trouble dating one if I were single. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What are you doing tonight? The same thing I do every night: put Zane down for a catnap, clean up the kitchen, prepare supper, clean up the kitchen, laundry, bedtime routine for Zane, bedtime routine for mama, and hopefully sound sleep (without the stupid night warblers...)</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Could you date someone shorter than you? Yes, if I were single. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Next time you will go to the doctors? August 3. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last time you cried? Last night. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you have the same name as any of your relatives? My middle name is the same as my mother's. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What were you doing at midnight Friday night? Dancing at Mint Lounge in Tallahassee.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Has a boy sat on your bed before? Yes, and a boy sleeps in my bed with me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Who's the funniest person you know? Ralph Lair. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you afraid to grow up? No. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you have someone who you can be your complete self around? Yes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">If you could pack up and leave your life now to move away, would you? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">When was the last time someone yelled at you? Last night. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you have nice eyes? I've been told I have nice eyes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What was the last thing you ate? 8 gumdrops. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">How is the weather right now? Hot, sticky, windy. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Someone who called about scheduling the Rep to speak to their group. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have you ever fired a gun? Yes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">How many pillows do you sleep with? Two. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you missing someone? Yes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have you hugged or kissed anyone in the last 72 hours? Yes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What happened at 10AM this morning? Snack time for Z. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you miss your past? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Who will you be sleeping with tonight? PG.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you getting engaged any time soon? It's been 10 years, why rush now? </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Wearing any bracelets? Yes, a silver beaded bracelet from Tiffany & Co. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last thing someone bought for you? It's hard to say; my life is populated with generous people. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Does anyone know your passwords other than you? PG. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Did you have a good day yesterday? Yes, until 7:30pm. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Ever kissed someone who smokes? Yes, and I will never, ever do it again. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What are you wearing? White eyelet a-line skirt, bright melon tunic with puff sleeves and Jack Rogers Navajo sandals. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you wake up cranky? Not since I became a mother. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you bite your nails? Not since I had braces as a teenager.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Who do you want to see at this very moment? Zane.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you hate someone right now? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Does anyone hate you for no reason? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Can you make yourself cry? Yes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you taller than 5 foot 7 inches? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What were you doing at 4AM? Waiting for the Benadryl to kick in. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">How much money is in your wallet? $55. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you believe what goes around comes around? Yes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have you ever been called 'heartless? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you trust people easily? Yes, too easily. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you like pulpy orange juice? Ick. No. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Which could you tolerate more a sleep walker or someone who snores? Someone who snores.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Would you ever parachute off of a plane? Only to save my life. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Would you ever get a tattoo? I already have two, and would love to get a third. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you gonna be home alone tonight? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">When you say you don't care, do you mean it? Usually. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Would you consider yourself to be spoiled? Not anymore.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you remember the first time you kissed the last person you kissed? Yes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you good at hiding your emotions? I wish I were. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you think too much or too little? Way too much.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Think back five months ago, were you single? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Who can you blame for your bad mood today? Myself. I should not have taken that Benadryl at 3:45am. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">How do you feel right now? Very sleepy. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Who were the first people you heard this morning? Zane. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you believe in celebrating anniversaries? Yes, but I don't have one to celebrate. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Does it take a lot to make you cry? Sadly, no.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What were you doing at 12:30 this afternoon? Not sure yet, it's only 11:41am. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Who was the last person you texted? PG. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you think a lot before you sleep? Sometimes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What's running through your mind right now? Can I play hooky to go home and sleep? </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have you ever had your heart broken? Yes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you like to cuddle/snuggle? Sometimes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Is there anybody you wish you could be spending time with right now? Yes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have you ever fallen asleep in someone's arms? Yes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Do you wish someone would call or text you right now? Yes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Is your life anything like it was a year ago? In the good ways, it is identical; but, now the bad things from a year ago are so much better. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This time last year, can you remember who you liked? Yes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">How late did you stay up last night? 9:49pm, then woke up at 2:03am, unable to breathe or tune out the stupid night warblers; hence the Benadryl. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">You can only drink ONE liquid for the rest of your life, what is it? Water. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have you lost contact with someone you wish you didn't? Yes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Who are your favorite people to talk to when you’re down? Zane always makes me happy. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Does anyone call you baby? No. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you a patient person? Becoming more patient. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What's the last thing that you said? "I'm on my way." </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Any plans for tomorrow? Not sure; Friday plans may change. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What is the last thing you did before you went to bed last night? Read Organic Gardening. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What can't you wait for? An answer. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What's the worst way to say "I love you"? I agree with Lady E: when there is a "but" following the statement. </span>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-1174982312611700122009-05-06T14:57:00.005-04:002009-05-06T15:14:19.949-04:00Easter. Finally.<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrWYcXrFTGfO3lTw91Lwf4XT9AtuzWTLjYZtOJpdJzn7CDAILMsPINLVOjRn_cwnatYLnw3u12d1N5LCnU1hCHphJlTyagXsTIA8m9aZUyiZQtHESIcwzLrGNMJ2csAQ7VR8en6o8vLho/s1600-h/Easter1+2009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332789785940015250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrWYcXrFTGfO3lTw91Lwf4XT9AtuzWTLjYZtOJpdJzn7CDAILMsPINLVOjRn_cwnatYLnw3u12d1N5LCnU1hCHphJlTyagXsTIA8m9aZUyiZQtHESIcwzLrGNMJ2csAQ7VR8en6o8vLho/s320/Easter1+2009.JPG" border="0" /></a> After church, before a nap.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHRmMZPZxMl_Va12FT0soHEFf_345Kr-3h1RwTOOjmLqneaJeVGmDI10iZxEyDj_AGQafo3jplcC9yioBIjVwhLvKG5OPHXOw1sre_cyNPm8Ujny3VTcRV-itOBjQL5o6N1_19ztMtsEn/s1600-h/Easter2+2009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332789566661950050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHRmMZPZxMl_Va12FT0soHEFf_345Kr-3h1RwTOOjmLqneaJeVGmDI10iZxEyDj_AGQafo3jplcC9yioBIjVwhLvKG5OPHXOw1sre_cyNPm8Ujny3VTcRV-itOBjQL5o6N1_19ztMtsEn/s320/Easter2+2009.JPG" border="0" /></a>No, Mama, I won't smile. Paci gooooood... </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jMpKSYEdAHhCCdD2-sq2VZpZ7QKOV1ownRT6mAxs5jKdP_aluWkditAxg6T4PYjBaoj45i_K7RBRCXrqUmuDJIOsZI6aBOES05YZUnA-3t6VeB9rcvrruVGYFdeOvOGHStG42CYiuIYO/s1600-h/Easter+Craziness.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332789340387922658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jMpKSYEdAHhCCdD2-sq2VZpZ7QKOV1ownRT6mAxs5jKdP_aluWkditAxg6T4PYjBaoj45i_K7RBRCXrqUmuDJIOsZI6aBOES05YZUnA-3t6VeB9rcvrruVGYFdeOvOGHStG42CYiuIYO/s320/Easter+Craziness.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center">Loot from the Easter Bunny. Round 1. </p>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-46601999841088632172009-05-06T14:32:00.005-04:002009-05-06T14:42:02.998-04:00The Dental Floss Incident<div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">A boatload of toys (and I mean that literally...Zane's toybox is an actual boat...) and what does Zane choose to play with? Dental floss. The <em>special</em> dental floss. Woven. With fluoride. For sensitive teeth. The $3.59-a-box special dental floss. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">His mission, seemingly, was to remove all of said floss from the box; and he succeeded. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPpX0HLL0DXcEfOdTHObFe7P0GCg53s4PgOLi46VAbNXvxvc-RDtiz5A93jDg7glyOyPUXG0y-N-4pF1GohIgSpkoNdVuTe0w7EEfVaDbTyjG5qNCHE0oa2w-wU_VpHeUYrVRasRYcRMi/s1600-h/Dental+Floss+Incident.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332781143413582914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPpX0HLL0DXcEfOdTHObFe7P0GCg53s4PgOLi46VAbNXvxvc-RDtiz5A93jDg7glyOyPUXG0y-N-4pF1GohIgSpkoNdVuTe0w7EEfVaDbTyjG5qNCHE0oa2w-wU_VpHeUYrVRasRYcRMi/s320/Dental+Floss+Incident.JPG" border="0" /></a> I can't really complain, though; he happily amused himself while I dressed for work. It was all pretty cute actually. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIuR_bhd3WKNs3O2iNkhgxlJ-tq68omXgysPb-vWwwPXhGuz845MJ0nJ7sKEQ7q6RwSX7NN2YOCmEpoc0L16GeiovJhxv7dxKfW6g8TCxkCtd7iBC9DK3jgGKMdz4RsI7pHsn8Z519akv/s1600-h/After+the+Dental+Floss+Incident.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332780853078390018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIuR_bhd3WKNs3O2iNkhgxlJ-tq68omXgysPb-vWwwPXhGuz845MJ0nJ7sKEQ7q6RwSX7NN2YOCmEpoc0L16GeiovJhxv7dxKfW6g8TCxkCtd7iBC9DK3jgGKMdz4RsI7pHsn8Z519akv/s320/After+the+Dental+Floss+Incident.JPG" border="0" /></a> Reach woven floss with fluoride: $3.59. Happy 16-month-old toddler: priceless. </div>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-88237528689677586532009-05-04T10:37:00.003-04:002009-05-04T10:52:38.883-04:00Trash Cabinets and Baby KissesI think it may be time to lock the trash cabinet. This morning I found two cordless phones and one sippy cup in the household garbage bin.<br /><br />In other news unrelated to garbage, Zane's new favorite words are "woooooooow" (he usually busts out with it when presented with a meal), "whooooooaaaa", "ballllllllll", "wa-wu" (waffle) and "buh-bye." He is also blowing raspberries with his tongue out, which just cracks me up. He has also taken to pointing his tiny finger to my belly button and saying "bay-bee." I know Zane is an old soul, and I can't help but wonder if he is asking for a baby brother or sister.<br /><br />PG and I are mesmerized by the cognitive development taking place right before our eyes. Zane understands how to put things away in their proper place; he will come find us when we call to him; he can distinguish between bunny and bear and monkey when we ask him to bring a specific toy to us; and he will come sit down in front of us to put on his shoes. My favorite thing, though, is the toothy-grin smooch, complete with the "muwah" sound effect. Baby kisses. :)*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-42010318365382509462009-04-07T15:22:00.001-04:002009-04-07T15:24:32.443-04:00Ravioli Cutie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjOsiRk_n3AGRcq1xqCPnVnd3d_JsoujqrMpqfjllby6OYPKoTmLwte4L0OQZm2pxIePqpVWGcb3FFSMTns7mZazInsK4UOqnKd31FnCusUyOot_BOqMf4U-SGoGYJorlprowdiV89sns/s1600-h/I'm+a+Ravioli+Cutie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322032494953596082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjOsiRk_n3AGRcq1xqCPnVnd3d_JsoujqrMpqfjllby6OYPKoTmLwte4L0OQZm2pxIePqpVWGcb3FFSMTns7mZazInsK4UOqnKd31FnCusUyOot_BOqMf4U-SGoGYJorlprowdiV89sns/s320/I'm+a+Ravioli+Cutie.jpg" border="0" /></a>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-52495617734273770442009-04-07T15:17:00.001-04:002009-04-07T16:11:25.836-04:00New and Noteworthy at Nearly 16 Months<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rtmjkICI6vcuqS-euGm-M0M0aCSgaP48ZRRCnQExZSgvsZPjkTCZKsyrc-Xt6EhRjAxZoOix-6wtPfCp_1s79Gf8aRSfJBoIuYUCj7iBYyuDgL6KxgpY2xGEY9OSDXXYcBD3d5ggv23Y/s1600-h/At+Haydens+Big+Oh+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322026545672183426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rtmjkICI6vcuqS-euGm-M0M0aCSgaP48ZRRCnQExZSgvsZPjkTCZKsyrc-Xt6EhRjAxZoOix-6wtPfCp_1s79Gf8aRSfJBoIuYUCj7iBYyuDgL6KxgpY2xGEY9OSDXXYcBD3d5ggv23Y/s320/At+Haydens+Big+Oh+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Lesson learned: it just keeps getting better. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">For about two months before my baby turned a year old, I was wistful and sad about the (rapid) passing of infancy. The sadness permeated every sector of my life and sort of "paralyzed" me for a few weeks as we careened toward December 12, 2008. It's another one of those things that nobody tells you when you become a mother: it's the biggest and most wonderful thing to give birth, until you begin to realize that your baby becomes more independent of you with every passing day. Because Zane will likely be my only child, my feelings about his transition from newbie, to baby, to infant, to toddler were particularly keen . How could it go so fast? (I know I was warned, but still...) Did I miss anything? I hope not... Remember when?...and the "when" was only a few weeks earlier. Sigh. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But, then, after the Big oh-1!...after marking the day with all of the pomp and ceremony befitting such an occasion, Zane was the same sweet angel baby he HAS been since the day of his birth. And I realized that my sadness was unfounded because it Just. Gets. Better. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Right after Z’s 1st birthday I had to travel for committee week, then it was Christmas, New Year’s, then six straight weeks of committee week (aka torture), and now Session (double torture). BUT, Zane is just great! Here is what's new with our little buddy: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He is still sooooooo super happy, and content, and the sweetest child ever made. </span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;">Zane has nine teeth: four front teeth on the top chopper, four front teeth on the bottom chopper, and one molar on the bottom that comes in very handy for gnawing and chewing the large bites that he prefers. </span></div><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He has beautiful, long shaggy hair and, no, we are not cutting it (Sorry, Pappi!) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He officially started walking on January 11, 2008: Ed's birthday and one day shy of the 13-month mark. Now he is not only walking, but he is very nearly running. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Zane does not use words indiscriminately. He says "mama,” “papa,” “wass-dat?” “hey,” “oooooh nooooo,” “uh oh,” "moon," "car," and his newest words, as of this morning, "wowwww" and something similar to "yeah." And he uses them in proper context. A little genius...just sayin'...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He “blows” kisses and will actually lean in to give me a kiss on the lips and make the “muwah” sound, too. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">His eyes are officially hazel blue. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He weighs 25 lbs. and is 31 inches tall. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He still loves his groceries - his favorites are yogurt (of course...), cottage cheese, apple sauce, curried lentils (I'm not kidding), black-eyed peas (again, not kidding), black bean burritos (the kid is a FOOL for Moe's), goldfish, Eggo Waffles (strawberry or blueberry, please...), OJ, green peas, peaches, mandarin oranges (duh), Honey Grahams, and... </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He still has super long and thick lashes and sweet chubby cheeks. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He finally spiked his first fever about a month ago with a random, nondescript virus, but he is healthy, healthy, healthy! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He loves milk and water, and will drink juice if it’s diluted. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He loves a good slide, the Belly Button song, Good Night Moon, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. </span><br /><br /><p>When he smiles and laughs, he crinkles his nose and eyes (see picture above..) </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">He can bend over from a standing position to pick up something from the floor and return to a standing position without falling over. He also cuts a mean rug...country music preferred, but any type of music will move him to tap his feet. </span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;">He gives full hugs upon request (and very frequently, unsolicited! Did I mention how sweet he is?) and Zane KNOWS how to give a good hug: he lays his head on your shoulder, holds you tight and pats your back. Word. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He laughs uncontrollably when tickled and smooched on his belly and neck and feet</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He claps joyfully when we say "yaaaaayyyyy!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He loves to help us rearrange our bookshelves, cabinets and coffee table. H</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">e also loves to "help" with laundry and loading the dishwasher. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He loves to brush his teeth. He smiles and knows to open up and say "aaaaahhhh" so we can properly clean his pearlies. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He is definitely a blanket boy, and a very sensitive child. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He still loves a good pacifier, but he has never sucked his thumb. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">His favorite toys are any type of ball, the toy workbench with wooden pegs and mallet, blocks and, just like a man, the remote control. He loves Lookout (Build-A-Bear Teddy from Pop Boot) and Xzzzzz (Build-a-Bear Monkey from Mama), his cousins and his personal jungle gyms (aka Mama and Papa)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">His fingernails still grow faster than mine. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He still reaches out and points to say hello. </span><br /><br />He understands "gentle touch" and shares well with others.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He loves the Kids Cookie Club at Publix and, let's be honest, that is a Mama's salvation at the grocery store. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He has taken to a sippy cup without issue (still our wonderful little adapt-a-baby)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He sleeps from about 8:30pm to about 7:30am (still our wonderful little sleeper), and he frequently laughs in his sleep. Good times. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">He has learned to climb stairs, and I've taught him how to descend the stairs by sitting on his bottom and sliding down. PG was particularly impressed by his mastery of this skill. </span><br /><br />Lesson learned: the well of love is bottomless, and with every passing day it becomes deeper.*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-84154639909768439432009-03-16T12:24:00.001-04:002009-03-16T12:24:53.151-04:00IOUMUST. UPDATE. BLOG. :)*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-35078805934036814012009-01-14T11:26:00.006-05:002009-01-14T11:38:18.860-05:00Life Is Good<div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I was browsing through our pictures this week and it struck me that my expression is very similar in both of these photos: </span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VHe7uIAhUE3qnwqG2FIiPayS8vkF25p_oZyWyYjw_y52OKgwYXdXGkLKcjtzO_Swcr2CFIp6WJ5UYueUHczL0ari0L2oqswVfxPMCAkGzlLOiAMMafWprFZbsxg55Lf6JkzlLxWPGuYU/s1600-h/Paige+and+Ziggy_Sepia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291188479195428882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VHe7uIAhUE3qnwqG2FIiPayS8vkF25p_oZyWyYjw_y52OKgwYXdXGkLKcjtzO_Swcr2CFIp6WJ5UYueUHczL0ari0L2oqswVfxPMCAkGzlLOiAMMafWprFZbsxg55Lf6JkzlLxWPGuYU/s320/Paige+and+Ziggy_Sepia.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">November 2007</span></em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4mzCPIs0TyTQq3N1XjptBrYgPy8XGUbp7nW-ZJwcAUGAPsa-kV-jgbye_1InH0hMbXH7khnNEASiWj_ohhKBQ402oJJWxg3m8q62Ng_DOqOzl7qsxi5LKSVJtogc-drF5whBG2nitdo2/s1600-h/IMG_7865.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291187992599570482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4mzCPIs0TyTQq3N1XjptBrYgPy8XGUbp7nW-ZJwcAUGAPsa-kV-jgbye_1InH0hMbXH7khnNEASiWj_ohhKBQ402oJJWxg3m8q62Ng_DOqOzl7qsxi5LKSVJtogc-drF5whBG2nitdo2/s320/IMG_7865.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> <span style="font-size:85%;">January 2009</span></em></div>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-77882283332580809282008-12-12T00:00:00.002-05:002008-12-12T08:09:48.143-05:00Happy Birthday, Zane!<span style="font-family:georgia;">My darling Zane -<br /><br />As I write this entry, you are asleep; snugly enveloped in your beloved blanket, pacifier in your mouth, breathing (oh, how I love to hear you breathe...) steadily, and skipping happily along in dreamland. You cannot understand - or, maybe you do - that your birthday is nigh. And not just any birthday; your <em>very first</em> birthday on Earth, and quite a special occasion for all of us.<br /><br />Exactly one year ago today, God made us a family and the well of love in our hearts became bottomless. Your name means "gracious gift of God," and we chose that name for you because you are the greatest blessing in our life. I hope whenever someone asks you about the meaning of your name you will always remember that: YOU are the greatest blessing and gift in our life.<br /><br />As I reflect on the last year, my heart overflows with gratitude and love. Gratitude to God: He said to Pop and me, "you are to be parents; but trust in me." We did, and he gave us you. You, the love of our life: a sweet, happy, confident, loving and content child who has filled our life with more joy than we ever imagined was possible. And Love. To our lives you have brought love in its purest form; unconditional, unrestrained, say-it-loud-and-act-all-proud love!<br /><br />December 12, 2007, a Wednesday, was a beautiful day: clear, sunny and warm with gentle breezes. It started as any other day: Pop got out of bed early, made coffee and sat down to email and the Today Show. I slept late, following advice to "get as much sleep as possible before the baby arrives." Thankfully, that was never a problem. I had a dream pregnancy until the last three, scary weeks. But, back to that Wednesday. You were due to arrive, via scheduled c-section, on Friday, December 14th. Pop and I were very excited to finally meet you. But, first, there was one last visit with Maternal Fetal Medicine, at 3:45pm on Wednesday, December 12th. A formality, really, since we already had a date in the OB/OR with Dr. Stubbs. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Auntie Ashley drove me to the doctor, and we both ooohhed and aaahhed listening to your strong heartbeat and gazing at your perfect face during the sonogram. Mama's vital stats: 37 weeks, 4 days, 140 lbs, <em>BP 155/100</em>. The meeting with the doctor went something like this: </span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Dr. Salamat: "How are you?" </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Me: "I'm great!"</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Dr. Salamat: "No, you're not. You're sick. You're blood pressure is high." </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Me: "Well, yeah, but it was the same as it was yesterday and Dr. Stubbs let me go home. Besides, I'm having the baby on Friday." </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Dr. Salamat: "No, you're having the baby tonight." </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Me: "Are you serious?"</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Dr. Salamat: "Yes." </span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">At that point I started crying and the room began to spin. They asked us to wait in the office while Dr. Salamat wrote up admission orders for OB Triage. Orders in hand, Auntie and I walked from Maternal Fetal Medicine directly to OB Triage. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">When Pop arrived he presented me with a book of well-wishes and messages from all of our family and friends. We read the messages as day turned to evening, and finally it was time. What happened next is blurry but, in the end, in a quiet operating room, at 9:13pm, you emerged from me, took your first breath and cried. It was, to that point, the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">Pop never left your side as the medical team performed the necessary tests - you scored 9s on the Apgar tests, and you weighed 7 lbs, 3 oz. After your very first bath, Pop took you into his arms and introduced you to Pappi, Auntie Ashley, Uncle Kevin, Kyle and Todd. When I was finally settled into our room, Pop laid you in my arms and you nestled close to me as we both slept. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">And so, my sweet child, that is how your life began. And we have enjoyed every single, solitary minute with you: the middle-of-the-night feedings; the diaper explosions; the tummy gas-induced crying at 7:30pm every night during your first 8 weeks; the thousands of expressions your stunningly beautiful face can make; how you always snuggle up to us when we are sleeping; all of your sweet little yawns; all of your smiles, your laughs, and your tears; everything. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">We are so proud of you, and how you are growing. You are healthy, and happy - oh! so very happy! - and a true joy. It's a little bit hard to say goodbye to infancy today, but our life with you just keeps getting better! </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"></p></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><p>So, Happy Birthday, my little buddy, sweet bean, honey bunny, darlin' bean.<br /><br />We love you. xoxo.<br /><br />-Mama and Pop</span></p>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-57753906694050139312008-12-09T11:00:00.003-05:002008-12-09T11:20:35.483-05:00The End of Infancy<span style="font-family:georgia;">Yes, Anonymous, I know I failed. See there in the sidebar to the right? I admit it. So there. Whatever. On to more important things. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have been so scattered for the last week. I know the source of my lack of focus: Zane is positively careening toward the big 0h-1! just three days from today. Try as I might, and no matter what I do to distract myself from this fact, I can't help but reflect on the last year and wallow in sentimentality, which leads to lack of focus, which leads to scatterbrained-ness and so on and so forth. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I'm not the type to live in the past, forsaking the joy of today, tomorrow and the next day. But the last year - actually, the last eighteen months - has been amazing. The greatest joy I've ever known is Zane: a tiny, sleepy, snuggly, contented bundle of sweetness who has grown into the happiest, smiliest, most expressive, sweetest little boy. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">All of my friends who are mothers comfort my sadness by reminding me that it "just gets better." It's hard to believe that when your own baby is a newborn, and you are enjoying every minute of their baby-ness, and you want so much for life to revert to time-lapse mode. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But as we approach Friday, I am more sure that my girlfriends are right. Zane is every bit the baby who arrived on a clear and balmy December evening, under a waxing crescent moon flanked by bright stars. A calm, alert and observant child from the first minute of life. Confident in himself and his parents, and trusting in his sense of place in this life. He has thrived and, of that, I am especially proud. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">It will be hard to say goodbye to infancy on Friday; but that's life. There is always a new adventure. </span>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-12705463679448094112008-11-20T11:43:00.008-05:002008-11-20T14:33:47.560-05:00Catching Up<span style="font-family:georgia;">As my Anonymous Blog Stalker "politely" reminded me, I haven't kept up with this NaBloPoMo thingy very well in the last five days. Whatever! Thanks for the suggested new daily mantra, but I think I'll stick with what works for me: Recommit daily to your goals. So, getting back to business. Starting with Sunday, five days late. </span><a href="http://sundaystealing.blogspot.com/2008/11/womans-work-45-meme.html"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Cheers to all us thieves</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">! It may be late, but this meme is a perfect metaphor for the chaos that has reigned in my universe during the last five days. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? <em>Yes, but not the creamy variety. I like blue cheese vinaigrette. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">2. Favorite late night snack? <em>Cherry Garcia, or Hash Browns scattered, smothered and covered</em>. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">3. Do you own a gun? <em>Yes. A shotgun</em>. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">4. What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee shop? <em>Venti Shaken Iced Passion Tea with three Splenda instead of the classic (sugar) syrup. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? <em>Not anymore, after bi-weekly, then weekly, OB visits with two doctors when I was pregnant last year</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">6. What do you think of hot dogs? <em>Ewww. But necessary</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">7. Favorite Christmas song? <em>Sailor's Christmas, Jimmy Buffett</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? <em>Either Orange or Cranberry juice, or Diet Coke</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">9. Can you do push-ups? <em>Yes.</em> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? <em>My </em><a href="http://www.divinediamonds.com/ahring.php"><em>Ah Ring</em></a>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">11. Favorite hobby? <em>Cooking. </em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">12. Do you have A.D.D.? <em>No, I have Mommy Brain</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">13. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? <em>Lack of self-discipline.</em> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">14. The last disease you contracted? <em>Toxemia</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: </span><br /><ul><li><em>I really need to organize my to-do list. </em></li><li><em>How soon can I leave work today?</em></li><li><em>I need a nap. </em></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? <em>Diet Coke, Red Zinger, wine</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">17. Current worry right now? <em>The sluggish economy, and whether it will start to affect my family even more than it already has affected us.</em> </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">18. Current hate right now? <em>Ain't got time to hate.</em> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">19. Favorite place to be? <em>Anywhere with my family</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">20. How did you ring in the New Year? <em>PG and I were new parents of a three-week-old, so we enjoyed a lovely surf 'n turf supper with my sister, brother-in-law, nephews, and mother. We decided to not attend the party we were invited to attend, but we did cruise through Albertson's for ice cream and champagne. Then we went home, just the three of us. And we fell asleep before midnight, without eating the ice cream or popping the champagne. Somehow, it was perfect</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">21. Like to travel? <em>Do fish know how to swim?</em> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">22. Name three people who will complete Sunday Stealing this week:</span> </p><ul><li><a href="http://epiphanyalone.blogspot.com/"><em>Epiphany</em></a></li><li><a href="http://spawntimes.blogspot.com/"><em>Lisa</em></a><em> (tag)</em></li><li><a href="http://kyleandtodd.blogspot.com/"><em>Ashley</em></a><em> (tag)</em></li></ul><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">23. Do you own slippers? <em>Yes. Ugg slippers, and I loooooooooove them</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">24. What color shirt are you wearing? <em>My shirt is the color of a newborn fawn</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? <em>No. It feels a bit sleazy. 400-thread count cotton, please. </em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">26. Can you whistle? <em>No. </em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">27. Favorite singer/band? <em>Jimmy Buffett</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">28. Could you ever make it 39 days on the show Survivor? <em>No</em>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">29. What songs do you sing in the shower? <em>I don't sing in the shower. I chatter away with my son. </em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">30. Favorite girl’s names? <em>Gracelia, Ava Grace, Lila Sutton. Those are the girl names I chose before learning my Z was a He.</em> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">31. Favorite boy’s name? <em>Zane.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">32. What’s in your pocket right now? <em>A pacifier. </em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">33. Last thing that made you laugh? <em>Last night's episode of Mythbusters.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">34. Like your job? <em>Yes, on most days. </em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">36. Do you love where you live? <em>The 239 is awesome: beaches, palm trees, sunshine, gorgeous winters. </em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">37. How many TVs do you have in your house? <em>Seven.</em> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">38. Who is your loudest friend? <em>Allison, with two "L's." Alison with one "L" is quite soft-spoken.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">39. Do you drive the speed limit or speed? <em>I speed.</em> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">40. Does someone have a crush on you? <em>I think so.</em> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">41. What is your favorite book? <em>The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">42. What is your favorite candy? <em>Loves me some Twizzlers, yo!</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">43. Favorite Sports Team? <em>Florida Gators.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">44. What were you doing 12 AM last night? <em>Sleeping.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up today</span>? <em>Is that a stinky diaper I smell? </em>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-80339145704446938682008-11-15T09:12:00.005-05:002008-11-15T21:33:40.346-05:00Vignette From our Home at 9:58pm Last Night<span style="font-family:georgia;">Mr. Robert P. Tracey (in a thick New Yawk accent...): "Yeah, someone from this number called PetFinders about placing two cats." </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Me: "Um, no we didn't." </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Mr. Robert P. Tracey: "Are you sure?" </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Me: "Um, yeah. Pretty sure." </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Mr. Robert P. Tracey: "Is this 239/245-2859?" </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Me: "No. This is 239/245-xxxx." </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Mr. Robert P. Tracey: "Are you absolutely sure nobody from that number called about placing the cats?" </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Me: (Inner dialogue: Mr. Robert P. Tracey, sir, I assure you that no one from our household called PetFinders from our home line to inquire about placing two cats. Really. I promise. Beyond the fact that we rarely use our home phone, much less at 9:58pm, and that our number isn't 239/245-2859, we are not cat people. Oh, Mr. Tracey, if you only knew just how vehemently we are not cat people...) "Yes. I am absolutely sure."</span> </div>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-75789862431057404592008-11-14T21:06:00.007-05:002008-11-14T21:22:31.430-05:00Haiku for Stalkers<div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">A Friday haiku for my Anonymous Blog Stalker (Hi Kevin!): </span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It is not Lupus,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Silly no-name commenter.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It is BRONCHITIS. </span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </div>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-36602631543446849882008-11-13T21:47:00.002-05:002008-11-13T22:05:40.331-05:00Random Things About Today<ol><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have officially given up on this week. I spent another day meandering between the sofa and my bed, covered and uncovered (depending on my fever), watching smut on the telly. Bravo disappointed me today; but, Oh, VH1! Your Celebrity Rehab made me feel like I could run a marathon today, even in my pitiable, tired, feverish, congested, coughing-up-a-lung state. And, by the way, am I the only one who thinks it is so very, very sad that Kenicky is a chronic addict? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Zane is officially 11 months old (as of yesterday), and he is now officially waving "bye bye." And so far, so good on our mission to keep him safe from invasion by the germs infecting his Mama. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">PG is tired. Bless his dear soul, he has been Super Papa, nurse maid and full-time employee all week. He even made homemade "junk" soup for supper last night because that was the only thing that sounded even remotely good. And it WAS good. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Tylenol Cold Nighttime=good. Claritin D=no bueno. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Gas prices have fallen to $1.99/gallon in Southwest Florida. Woot!</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">I just realized I used the adverb "officially" three times in this post. Under normal circumstances, I would ponder substitute word choices; but I have no brain power left today. See #1 on this list.</span> </li></ol>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-41456538533427808312008-11-12T12:04:00.004-05:002008-11-12T12:17:21.431-05:00Illness, Thy Name Is...<span style="font-family:georgia;">...severe respiratory infection and bronchitis. So, "Anonymous" thanks for suggesting it may be Kuru (what-the-shutchermouf???) or </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3507202310864614808&postID=6192818676447577650"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Lupus</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">; as if I didn't feel bad enough already. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Anywhoo, it's Day Five of "not feeling so good," and Day Three of laying on the sofa watching the </span><a href="http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives_Of_Atlanta/season/1/index.php"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ever-entertaining smut on BravoTV</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Until this week, I thought the powers-that-be at Bravo had really hit a low note with The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Now I understand its value: providing seriously sick mamas with a dose of indulgent, guilty pleasure between bouts of coughing up nasty green stuff. One question, though: why are they ALWAYS DRINKING on that show? Seriously! That Kim person was actually holding a full wine glass while sitting in her Porsche. I'm sure she wasn't driving but, still, open container law much? </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Also, my new favorite expression is "black don't crack," another Kim-ism. Throw me some love, internets, post some comments with clever uses for that phrase. I think it will add to my street cred. </span>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-61928186764475776502008-11-11T20:10:00.002-05:002008-11-11T20:34:26.494-05:00Ugh.<span style="font-family:georgia;">I do not know what has infected my being but, apparently, I'm providing a nice, cozy environment and it has decided to stay for a while. I (still) feel miserable, but I'm thanking my lucky stars for several things today: </span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">PG, for skipping work to take care of me</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Zane, for his super-happy, contented demeanor and for his habit of sleeping through the night </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Miss Diana and Miss Victoria, for taking such wonderful care of Zane today (on my day off, while I was at home)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Tylenol Cold </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Crisp, clean sheets on my bed</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">A long, hot shower </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Plenty of accrued sick leave</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Leather sofas that are cool on a feverish body </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Remote control television</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Non-stop, smutty entertainment on BravoTV; and </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Wireless internet</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">Also, I heard a story on the BBC World News this morning about a political dissident in Burma who was on the run and in hiding, and who had not seen her 7-month-old daughter since she was 4-months-old. The details of the story are hazy...I was still groggy from last night's medication. But, it struck me how lucky we all are to live in a country where we can disagree about politics, openly criticize our government and leaders, and still not live in fear that we will be separated from our family because of that dissension. So, I'm thankful for that, too.</span> </p><p> </p>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3507202310864614808.post-68074400375791869032008-11-10T20:03:00.002-05:002008-11-10T20:11:36.044-05:00Mamas Aren't Supposed to Get Sick<span style="font-family:georgia;">I cannot believe how awful I felt all day today. What started as a lingering, worsening two-day sore throat morphed over night into something resembling a flu, including all of the fun gastrointestinal issues that go along with that. Sigh. The bright side is two-fold: PG is an AWESOME nurse, and an even better father. So not only were all of my needs met today, so were Zane's. That's some good stuff, right there. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Also, thank you to Karen, Aunt Laura and Lisa for the shout-outs from the fan club. Reading your comments was also a bright spot in an otherwise truly miserable day. </span>*palhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022235912076179960noreply@blogger.com4