I really didn’t want to write about this–the emotion surrounding sending my kid off to college–since I wrote about it at length three years ago when I did it the first time, but I can’t help it. The fact is, I’m doing it again and I have returned to that state of mind. Under the circumstances, I feel an intense need for a cathartic release–again–especially because this time involves the added element of becoming an empty nester. Though I still carry a smile on my face and am truly, extremely happy, I have this inner shrieking and squirming that ebbs and flows underneath it all. The act of putting these…
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Painting It Red
After talking about it for a year and a half, the time has finally come. We are FINALLY making preparations to paint J’s (D’s former) room. As in, we bought the paint. If his room were just any old traditional color, I wouldn’t be blogging about it. Some of you may recall, however, that the color has been an issue for some of us in the house (Jim) ever since we first applied it to the walls because of the anticipated amount of work it would eventually take to cover it. Let me refresh your memory: You can read the background story here. When D started college and J eventually…
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Not As Dangerous As Tina Fey & Steve Carrell’s Version, But Our Date Night Was Pretty Exciting, Too.
Our date night last night turned out to be way more interesting (and even exciting!) than we expected. First of all, we left our house in the western burbs at about 7:30 p.m. The Blue Man Group show (which the older boy and his girlfriend were attending: read yesterday’s post if you missed it!) was at 10:00 p.m., and we wanted to leave plenty of time in case the Eisenhower was as terrible as it usually is. We were shooting to get to the Lakeview area between 9-9:30. Miracle of miracles, it only took us about 45 minutes to get there, which left us with a new issue: what to…
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Perseverance
Definition courtesy of Dictionary.comI have, regarding approximately 98% of the elements in my life*, a super-human sense of stick-to-it-iveness. It’s a lethal combination of passion, attention to detail, pride, perfectionism, strong work ethic, and stubbornness. When I decide to do something, I put on my game face, focus on the goal, and get to work. I’m often the last one standing after others have long given up. Usually, I don’t allow setbacks to get me down. (That’s my sense of denial stepping in, I think!) On Monday afternoon, I had a little bump in the road with a current project, and although I did my best to play it off…
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(Spring) Break From the Normal
Spring Break was highly unusual for me this year, not in what we did but how it felt. As usual, we didn’t go on a vacation (last year’s New York City trip was a freak occurrence); we were just milling about smartly around the house. I worked my two days at the salon and taught three spin classes, Jim worked, and the boys had lacrosse practice, got together with friends, and wasted time in the normal ways that they don’t often get to enjoy (video games, watching movies, etc.) because we’re so busy. It felt…weird. Perhaps it’s because I spend so much time these days at home and on the…
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The Day On Which I Pretended To Have Never, Ever Driven A Minivan At Any Point In My Life.
The older boy came home from school yesterday and announced, “I can get you an oil change at school tomorrow if you just go to the store and get a filter and a container of oil.” Score! My car has been overdue for an oil change for a few weeks now, and how lucky am I that I am the mother of a son who is taking Auto Mechanics class this semester? I replied, “Really? That’s awesome! I’ll go out to the store in a bit!” He looked at me and, in all seriousness, warned me, “Just make sure you get the correct oil and filter. They have to match…
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Time For Souvenirs!
First of all, let me thank you so very much for joining me this past week (and then some!) for my “Weather’s Better in the Bahamas” series! I know that some of you may have a harder time letting go, so I picked up created a little souvenir for you: a button! (Woot!) Here’s what it looks like: Don’t worry; I’ve made things really easy for you. Just scroll down a little bit and check out the fancy-schmancy code I have placed in my left margin, making it the easiest way EVER to get your Bahamas souvenir! (and it’s FREE!) Post it on your blog and, whenever you need a…
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When You Want To Be Whisked Away To The Bahamas On a Moment’s Notice…
Welcome to the Bahamas! Fix yourself a pina colada, have a seat, and start clickin…no sunscreen required! Officially Over It, How Bout You? I Could Live There In a Bahamian Minute Ahoy, Me Hearties! We’re Givin’ Winter The Ole’ Heave Ho! (Arghh!) I Wondered Which One of the Boys Would Be the First To Try and Ride One. Take a Flying Leap Bahamian Interlude What Would Mario Do? Just Sit Right Back and You’ll Hear A Tale Tied Up In Knots ©2010 Suburban Scrawl
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Tied Up In Knots
As my “Weather’s Better in the Bahamas” series winds down, I wanted to tell you all about a competition we had on board the Pecheur that week. You probably already know that Boy Scouts tie knots. Well, sailors tie knots, too. (You knew that, right?) The two knots that all of us (even us adult, non-scout types) had to be proficient in before setting foot on the boat were the clove hitch and the bowline (BOH-lin). Well, as you would expect of people who are getting ready for a trip to the Bahamas, we all made sure that we knew how to tie these knots, but not to mastery level.…
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Just Sit Right Back and You’ll Hear A Tale…
The horror story that I told yesterday was only part of our day on that primitive isle*; we saw so many other amazing things, things we weren’t scared of or slimed by**! This island truly was the type of place where it wouldn’t have been surprising in the least to see Gilligan swinging in a hammock or the Professor fiddling with that stupid radio. It was deserted, but beyond the beach area and in the midst of all of the trees, there were signs that people had been there: trash in the form of things like tires, containers, metal scraps, and other miscellanea. We spent some time exploring, and the…