My Hero, My Dad

This has been a year of stress and turmoil for our family. We are looking to a healthy year in 2012, no pain, no surgeries, no sorrow.

We've experienced the passing of an incredible man, and loving, fun uncle to my son; my  father-in-law suffering a heart attack and subsequent five artery by pass and just this week, my Dad underwent a surgery on his spinal column in his neck to repair a severely decompressed disc that has lead to numbness and pain in his arm.

I stood in Pre-Op with my family, my Dad on gurney waiting to go in to surgery. I could barely keep my emotions under control. I couldn't figure out why I was so upset; I knew the surgery would be fine, I knew my Dad was going to be so much better after he got out; I knew God was watching over him, the surgeon, the hospital, my family and would keep us all safe. I knew all this, but for a lack of better terms,  I was freaking out on the inside!

As we prayed, my voice cracked and tears started flowing. I didn't want my Dad to see or hear my distress, especially since I knew all was well. Why was I so upset?

Later in the day it came to me.

My Dad, my Hero; he has ALWAYS been there for me. I can't think of one moment in my life that I wouldn't be able to call on him. Not that I always did, but the comfort of knowing that I could, was and is a comfort that I rest upon.

He doesn't offer opinions unless I ask and sometimes not even then. He listens, he adamantly listens; when I'm crazy with emotions and words, he listens. He doesn't sigh or roll his eyes or interject, he opens his mind and his wisdom to me; allowing me to take what I want and leave what I don't.

He takes his job as Dad very seriously, he always has. I believe it's a job he loves more than any other job he's had; he doesn't get to retire from it; I don't think he'd want to; he's just so good at it. He's my Dad and I'll never have another one; I don't need another one, mine is perfect.

So as I stood at his bed side waiting for him to be wheeled away, it was the first time he was vulnerable to me. The first time, I was supposed to be the stronger one, the one to smile and hold his hand and tell him "everything is going to be fine". To not offer advice or deliver opinions, but to be strong for him.

I'm not sure I did a good job. God have me the ability to make people laugh, so I played to that grace. I'm not good at silence, it's deafening to me, although I'm sure a little silence for him would have been welcome.

My Dad is doing wonderfully, just as I knew he would be; he's already started doing his normal routine and is probably going to "over-do" it, that's his nature; that's who he is and I wouldn't change him for anything in the world. 

If you still have the honor of having your Dad around, I encourage you to call him; I'm sure he'd love to hear from you. For those that have lost their Dad, my deepest sorrow for you and your loss.

I have so many incredible memories with my Dad, I hope you do as well. Remember those moments and smile a little bigger today.

Writers Block

Yep, there it is. Looking at me with its blank stare. Daring me to write something profound, witty, cliche, historical (you know I'd never do that), exciting. The trouble is, its winning today.

I had something queued up in my brain this afternoon. I was washing my hands, leaving the bathroom and BAM, it just came to me, like a flash of lighting. It was insightful, useful and a bit of silliness in there too, for Halloween's sake.

I left the bathroom, got distracted with dirty dishes, laundry and a meatloaf; and now it's gone. The dishes are in the dishwasher, the rugs are clean and in the dryer, the meatloaf is waiting on me, but the thought is gone.

Oh well, maybe tonight as I drop off to sleep with the help of a Melatonin and Valerian Root, it will come to me. Of course, I'll forget it again in the morning, but be assured, you would have loved it!
 

Why Am I Always in Such a Hurry?

In the morning I find myself rushing to get my son ready for school, make him a good hot breakfast, all while unloading the dishwasher, making coffee for my better half, espresso for me, starting a load of laundry, doling out vitamins for everyone (yes, even the dog), feeding the dog, and finally getting myself dressed and ready to face the day. I feel certain this isn't just my day, but a typical day for many of us. I'm also fairly sure, that their are alot more of you with MORE morning chores than me...I'm not complaining, just wondering why do we feel the innate need to accomplish so much everyday and as quickly as possible?

Once I return home from taking the kiddo to school, it's not like my day slows down; quite the opposite. In addition to working from home on my "real job" with an IT consulting company; I also have the housework jobs to complete and then there is the "side" companies we have online that require attention everyday.

I'm busy, you're busy, I get it, I'm glad for it; but what if in all the hustle and bustle of the day, I'm missing the important things? I think I am.

Did I notice my son's pants are getting too short, yes...but I forgot to see how he is growing into such a fine young man.

Did I see that our yard needs mowing, yes...but I forgot to look at all the beautiful flowers that God placed in my backyard without my permission (dandelions).

Did I grimace when I had to pick up all the wet clothes around the pool this morning, yes...but I forgot that we had a great time in the pool after Dad jumped in with our son, both fully clothed.

I think we all forget, or at least I do, the important things in our day, Family, God and Laughter.

I encourage us all to stop for just a bit, take a deep breathe, stop racing the clock to complete the mundane, unimportant tasks and just enjoy what we have. Enjoy your children, love your family and praise our Lord and Saviour for all he has provided for us. Maybe that will take us through the day with a happier, lighter heart...now back to work, but with a smile!

I'd love to share some photos...but I don't know how?

So recently I was told I don't blog enough.

"The only way you'll get better at writing, is to write. It's just like speaking, the only way your kids learned to speak, is by speaking. Practice Hope, practice alot!"

With that being said, I'm just not sure if you want to read my rambles everyday? I've got quite a few thoughts rattling around in my brain. It's just getting them to you that worries me. I'm usually not at my computer when the best epiphanies happen; it's why it's called life. I'm out experiencing it, that's when the magic happens.

Let's start with shorter blogs and more frequently, then maybe you'll read me more often and just MAYBE, you'll subscribe to my words of insanity (gosh that would be so cool!) To my one follower, I love you dearly! To my future followers, you'll be my next favorites.
Now, how to get photos loaded to this blog? They keep breaking (whatever that means). I'll keep at it and maybe someday soon, you'll get to see inside my world. They tend to be humorous pictures of friends, family and then there's that one really terrible photo of stranger at the store; and it wasn't even Walmart!

It's Time for a Little ME!

If you ever find yourself with not enough "me time" and too much "family chores and errands", take a few moments and get yourself back. Yes, it is extremely important and very rewarding to be a Mom, it's a job that is created especially for us.

I've yet to meet a man that can multi-task as well as a woman. We just seem to understand that life is not a "one thing at a time" scenario. We don't get to finish a job before starting another. Dinner can't wait until the laundry is clean. The kids can't wait for us to drive them to school until our hair and make up is "just perfect". No, we don't get to wait until the glue dries on one project in the garage before we start another in the backyard. Our world is a world of constant movement, duties and jobs. It's an honor I hold in high esteem, one that gives me pride to say I can do, even when I don't do it well all the time. Sometimes it's just about me!

I don't feel guilty when the laundry sits for an extra day or two; they have enough underwear for just such selfish occasions. I don't feel remorse when I steal an extra minute or two of sleep in the morning...sometimes cereal is just the right way for your kids to start the day!

So, in all the hustle and bustle of your day, stop for a few minutes (oh heck, take sixty minutes) and just enjoy being YOU. It might be an amazing cup of hot tea (Teavana is incredible, just got it for my birthday); perhaps it's a ten minute cat nap or meditation; or maybe it's sitting down at a computer and getting it all out in a blog.

Whatever your "You" time is, do it and do it often. The kids won't care, your husband probably won't even notice, but you'll know you are important, special and worth every second you give to yourself, so you can be you...which most of the time, is being a great Mom!

What Else Happened on September 11th?

Did you know on September 11th:

1999 Serena William won the U.S. Open
1962 The Beatles made the recording of "Love Me Do"
1906 Gandhi began his non-violent protest movement in South America
1792 The Hope Diamond was stolen
2001 Over 10,000 babies were born; they will all be 10 years old in a few days. Let's take a few moments to wish them a Happy Birthday.

Let us never forget the horror of September 11, 2001 in New York City; an assault on our Country, our People and our Pride. But we should also take time out of the day to remember the good things that happened, things that happen every day in our great nation.

The joys, the successes; the caring and kind things we all do for one another, sometimes in spite of what happened in 2001; sometimes because of it.
 
This  is the mentality that will keep us strong and alert, so that we will look back in another ten years and be able to say, "God Blessed Our Country" in a time of tragedy and He gave us the ability to see through it and to see forward into a better and safer nation. We are Americans after all!

Yes, School Started, But I Want to Tell You About My Massage!

As the long Summer days closed on our children today, we all breathed a sigh of joy and tears for another milestone of the ages. BUT, I want to tell you about my massage this weekend. It will surely cheer you up if you're having a sad day and if you're day is going well, this is just a cherry on top!

I should have known, that seems to be the way all good stories start. But I should have; when you get a Groupon Now email for a last minute massage; you should know! I didn't.

I buy the 60 Minute massage at a massage parlor and by parlor; I'm pretty sure it was. I had to use it before they closed at 10:00pm, and yes, that should have been another clue. But I was feeling pretty happy with my recent purchase and called to schedule an appointment.
"No problem, you have Groupon? Come on in, we have 3:00 time for you." It was a Vietnamese parlor; some of you may already see where this is going.

I walk in and am I bit skeptical; two recliners are in the waiting room with a jumbo TV screen to watch 'video'. I didn't ask, but they did have plastic coated pictures of feet and all the pressure points on them...it's gotta be legit!

After waiting an hour and ten minutes, I am escorted to my room. Only the room doesn't have a door, just a curtain. The massage therapist, lays a sheet on the table and tells me to lay face down and then leaves. If these sheets were any thinner, you could see right through them. Do they even make 20 thread count sheets? If they do, that's what I had!

So I'm getting undressed and lay down on the table and drape the sheet over me. Did I tell you I only had a curtain? Well you can hear all kinds of things through curtains, but I'd waited this long and by golly I was gonna get a Shiatsu massage!

My therapist comes in and starts working me over like a prisoner on a chain gang hammering rocks. No explanation as to why I had to wait, do I ask or just roll with it? Before I can answer my own question, the curtain is pulled back and another lady walks in (she's the young one with the leather shorts, only 50 years old), and begins talking about something. I'm naked on a table with a 20 count sheet and they want to talk about lunch! They banter back and forth for about three minutes (five minutes might be an exaggeration) and then she closes the curtain and the massage starts back.

Do I flee or just stay and make the best of it..."at least you'll have a story."


About twenty minutes into the massage, I feel a heavy weight on the right side of the table, like someone is crawling up on the table...OH MY GOODNESS, she's crawling on to the table!!! Rub, rub, rub and then the unimaginable; yes, she straddles me on the table. A little 80 pound Asian woman that is 65 years old if she's a day, is sitting on my thighs with only 20 counts of thread between me and her. I don't know whether to scream or bust out laughing. At this point I think to myself (to keep from laughing or crying), "how much worse can this be?" Never ask yourself that question, you just might find out.

Two little knees balance themselves directly under my buttock as she lifts her entire body weight onto my back and thighs. Little bony knees, digging into my tail with only a sparse sheet in between us. She never stopped rubbing and working on my muscles. I wasn't relaxing and she wasn't stopping until I did. BREATHE, relax!

She climbed down after what seemed like an eternity and for a moment I thought she might do a somersault and start walking on my back. Luck was on my side, if for only a moment.


"Roll over, face up" was my next order; really? What's gonna happen next, this is just too much, how can I not laugh?

The sheet was crumpled up, barely covering the really private parts,and at this point I hardly even cared. I can only say I completely understand how these places get their nickname of "Happy Ending". If I would have been a guy, I don't think I would have had a choice; she tried to work out kinks and knots on my legs that I didn't even know hurt.

After what seems hours, she told me she was finished and then she left the room through the curtain. I just laid there for a few moments, trying to collect my thoughts and maybe a little of my dignity.

My back was less tense, my shoulders were less knotted and I did feel pretty good. "Helen" invited me back for another massage, apologized for the wait time and told me next time would be better.

I can check off Massage Parlor on my list of things to experience in life. I encourage you to go too; there's nothing naughty about it, just older ladies giving great massages. Just be ready for someone to climbed on your back; and you might want to bring your own sheet!