Christmas family cheesiness

Christmas really is a lot more fun with kids around. The previous Christmases with Daniel have involved the fun of watching him rip open gifts and things of that nature. But with all the conversations about Santa, baby Jesus, along with his cries of "Wow! Look at those lights!" everytime he sees Christmas lights, I'm starting to realize just how much fun is in store for us during the coming years. So, here are some pics and favorite Christmas sayings from this year:

Overheard this Christmas:

me: "Do you want to sit on Santa's lap?:
Daniel: "No, I want to sit on the Snowman's lap. Little boys sit on the Snowman's lap, only little girls sit on Santa's lap"

As we entered the trail of lights, we encountered a display based on the book "Where the Wild Things Are" Immediately Daniel pointed at Max, the main character, and said "Look, its baby Jesus!"

Taking a walk in the neighborhood, looking at lights. Daniel is naming off people who're going to be there at Christmas. After naming off Santa, reindeer, snowman,
me: "Baby Jesus will be there too. Its his birthday, you know."
Daniel: "NO! Its not Baby Jesus' birthday, he's NOT going to be there!!!"
me: "Yeah, he is. Really, its his birthday. Don't you like Baby Jesus?"
Daniel: "NO! I DON'T like Baby Jesus!!!"
Let's just hope that conversation doesn't go down in his permanent record.....

Its good to have friends...

So, I've been feeling like I'm about to lose my sanity lately. And that's why I was extra thankful for days like today, when I got the brood out of the house and went to hang out at Julie's house. Even if I don't tell friends that my nerves are frayed and I'm on my late ounce of patience, even if we never get the chance to spell it all out to each other, just being around other people is so great. It really gives me strength to go on. Like today.... I had no food in the house, no milk, no coffee even! I know, horror of horrors. I got a late start, and even though I hung around after other folks left, Julie was kind enough to let us stay to lunch. That helped me out more than she knew. I was saved from going to the grocery store with 2 cranky little ones in the middle of their usual lunch time. I am so thankful for the generosity of friends, and from having friends who are down in the trenches of raising kids, so even though its not easy for any of us, we're all in it together. I wish I could return the favor of generosity more often. I'm generous in spirit, really I am. One of these days I swear I'm going to get it together and become one of those people who always has something fresh baked and yummy to share. I'm just thankful to have enough people who share what they have with me and know that when they are in need I'll be there for them.

I have a lot to say these days. But, you'd never know it from my blog updates. I just never have the chance to write it down. Or I get too overwhelmed by too many things to say, too many directions that I could take any given entry. So, I'm just going to write. Today, I feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising my children. I am completely disappointed in myself and my lack of patience, kindness, and caring towards my toddler. And embarrased at the realization that many times I'm way too hard on Daniel. I think I expect too much of him sometimes. I found myself saying to him this morning, as I was trying to hustle him out of the house to Mother's Day Out "Come on, I know you can concentrate better than this because you're ...." and then I thought, how should that sentence end? "Because you're two?" Yeah, cause we all know two year olds are known for their ability to concentrate on complex tasks. Sometimes I feel so bad that I can't devote more time to him and just him. And other times I feel so guilty for not oohing and aahing over every little thing that Georgia does. Sometimes I feel like they get so little of me, that neither one of them really get what they need. Which ushers in the mother guilt of having my kids so close together. I guess this is where the casual observer might say "I told you so" and where all heads will start to wag at the fact that we broke the sacred rule of 2.5-3 year child spacing. Yeah , yeah, I know. I thought it might be slightly easier by now, but the truth is, it never gets easier. It just gets different. The difficulties rearrange themselves, but the level of constant work, of feeling like my head is barely above water, its, well, constant. Ah, I had so much to say. But the non-napping 2 yr old has started throwing cars in his room which has woken up the very miserable 10 month old. And the fun begins again.

Bye-bye creative outlet

I'm supposed to be acting right now. The most fun theatre event of the year, in my opinion, is happening right now. Slapdash Flimflammery is in full swing at the present moment and I'm having to sit it out. Why? Sick kid. Yeah, yeah, I know it goes with the whole "mom"territory. But I absolutely hate backing out of things at the last minute. Yesterday morning he spent many many hours crying hysterically because he felt bad, then he turned white as a sheet because his fever shot up, and then the crowning glory was when he threw up all over the place at the doctor's office. Poor guy. That was when I knew I had to tell the rest of the gang to bring in an alternate for me. I'm so glad I made that decision, because although his temperature was down and he felt better this morning, this afternoon it spiked up crazy high again- like well over 104 this time. Scary. I think its going down now, but to see my little man so lethargic, glassy eyed and miserable was horrible. It would have been even worse if I'd been in rehearsals and had no way to come comfort him. Would he have lived without me? Probably, although he wouldn't have been very happy about it. The few times he's been sick, he won't let anyone but me do anything for him. Even grandma comes in a distant second to mom. And who can blame him, really. I feel the same way when I'm sick, to this day.

Honestly, no one will probably miss me that much as an actor. I know that there are a gazillion other people with more experience than me who also wanted to take part in the show, so its not like I left some gaping hole that no one else could fill. Its more that being in the show was important to me. I really love theatre. And it sucks because I feel like its hard to show how much I love it because my ability to go out and see or do theatre is restricted by family life. Of course, I could always go out and see shows, but it would have to be without Sean, because we don't have the dough to pay our babysitters above and beyond what is necessary on a weekly basis while I'm teaching. And I really hate going and doing stuff without my better half.

It's hard because about the same time I was invited along to take part of LGT's theatrical hijinks, I got pregnant. And so, instead of being able to really jump in and be invovled and learn stuff, I've been either pregnant or tethered to a nursing infant ever since I joined LGT. As a consequence I sometimes still feel like more of a groupie than an actual bona fide member. There's a lot of things I'd like to do. I really really really like acting. Last year during slapdash, being onstage in my scene was just incredible. I mean, I already knew I like being onstage playing music, but this was so different, so fun, almost relaxing in a wierd way. I wasn't nervous at all, which is very different from how I feel when playing piano. I would like to do more. But again, that whole "mother of two" thing kinda cramps your style, especially when you want to get more involved in something that you have little experience with. Sometimes I feel like me saying I want to act, or direct, or write is a little like one of my theatre compatriots saying that they want to play Lizst or perform a Rachmaninoff concerto- without having ever taken piano lessons.

I just wish I had time. Or that I could make peace with being away from my family as much as I'd have to if I really went for it. Learning a craft takes time and energy, two things that are in very short supply with me right now. I just hope that those who know me best know that I want to make art as much as they do, but I'm just struggling with that whole family vs. art thing. I'm trying to find a balance, but its just not happening yet.

Change is coming....

I've been trying to gather my thoughts to write about Obama's election. There is so much I want to say, its a challenge to get it all out in a somewhat coherant fashion.

I am so proud of my country right now. For the first time in several years, I can look at our flag and feel pride, feel like I, too, have a voice.

The past eight years I have been apalled by the United State's actions around the world and at home. I have been angered and confused at the way our "leaders" (and I use that term loosely) have thrown their weight around in foreign lands like playground bullies, while ignoring the basic needs and basic rights of the people in our own country.

More than anything, I am amazed and thankful that the American people had the courage to elect the right person. Now, I'm not saying that McCain was a bad person, or an evil person (like a certain Mr. Cheney). He just wasn't the right person for this moment in history. We now have a leader who is truly a leader. Who has the capacity to inspire, to lift people up, to compel them to reach out to one another and work together for a common goal. There was a reason why his campaign was successful that had nothing to do with money or political insiders. He moved people. The lady with whom I did leaflet distribution on election day was one of those people. She told me about how she's gone on two road trips to New Mexico to talk to voters, had done hours of voter registration in East Austin, phone banking, you name it, she'd done it. And this was a person who, until this election, had never even been part of the political process. She'd never been involved in politics in any way. The American people have been hungry for a leader to help us find our way back to who we should be. We now have someone in office who says to us that it is our duty to take care of each other, that yes it does matter that people in our community are suffering. That if the least of us is hurting, it hurts all of us. That is huge. And it is that message that has resonated with so many people. It is that message that has mobilzed so many to get out and get involved. It is that message that transcended race and allowed so many people in this country to put aside their racist fears and vote what their conscience was telling them.

I feel there is hope for my children now. If we had lost this important race, how could I have looked them in the eye? How could I have explained to them that their country had failed once again? Now I have hope that they will look at their fellow Americans differently when they grow up. And I know that when a seat opens up for those who have been not invited to the table before, my children will have even more opportunities as well.

I am so proud, and so thankful that maybe everything will be all right after all.

She's crawling!!

Watch out world. Georgia's on the move now...

Have you done it yet?

Have you voted? If you are reading this, and you haven't voted yet, get yourself to your local polling place!!!! No excuses. Sure there may be long lines, sure you may have to wait to cast your ballot. But this is OUR democracy, this is OUR country and you can't let someone else speak for you! I hauled both my kids to the Travis County Democratic Headquarters today and headed out for distributing leaflets in South Austin. Now, if I can do that, I think everyone ought to be able to get out and vote!!

Okay, so we're having one of those days. You know the kind I'm talking about. Its 5:30, Georgia's just in a diaper (which she just figured out how to un-velcro), Daniel's just in undies. In the last hour and half, I've had finger paints smeared on me, been spit up on, got cactus under my shirt somehow, broke out in a rash, had dog bowl water spilled on me and my floor. We've been through one bath already. And now I'm sitting listening to my 2 yr old playing my $12,000 piano saying "This is a song about whiskey"

Now if that doesn't scare the pants off all of you, I don't know what will. Happy Halloween !

I hate bureaucracy!!!!!!

I'm so mad I could spit. I just got off the phone with the lovely folks at the Austin Municipal Court, and let me tell you, the mess they have me in takes the cake. I actually cannot believe I'm being subjected to this level of incompetence. Let's go back to the beginning of this debacle, shall we? Back in July I got a ticket. Yes, I was speeding. On my way to a doctor appointment, I might add. And yes, my registration was past due. I own up to the fact that I'm not terribly organized in that department and it caught up to me. Okay. So, I was eligible for a driver's safety course and all I had to do was renew that registration, get all the various proofs sent in by the court date, and all was good to go. Or so I thought. I did all of the above. Only, the highly intelligent police officer made two mistakes. One, he spelled my name wrong on the ticket. So, my name on my insurance AND my driver's liscense did not match the records. And two, he WROTE DOWN THE WRONG VIOLATION!! He supposedly wrote that my inspection was out of date, not my registration. How do you get something like that wrong?! How? Oh, but it gets better. The court supposedly sent out notices to me to get the paperwork they needed. I never recieved said notices. So, now the burden is on me to correct someone else's mistakes. I have to write letters to the judge, I have to show that my inspection was in fact current. All the while, Ms. Meanie Pants on the phone is acting like I'm some criminal and that I'm lying to her about the mistakes that she made. She actually had the nerve to say to me "Oh no, your inspection was out of date. I'm looking at the ticket. That's the truth." The truth?! That's the truth?! I'll tell her what the truth is. The truth is that it took me an entire afternoon of paying a babysitter to watch the kids while I ran all over town getting the paperwork together in the first place. And now I'm going to have to do all that again to clean up after an incompetent cop, incompetent legal system and an incompetent city government that doesn't even have enough phone lines so that it took 4 days for me to finally get through to a surly government employee. Our tax dollars at work, folks. Why can't I just live in Montana where there's no speed limit, no registration stickers and no inspection stickers either.

The Golden Pig

There she is, my little golden pig. I guess you can't really see her shirt very well, but it says "Golden Pig Baby". For those of you not familiar with Chinese astrology (and I'm no expert!), Georgia was evidently born in a very auspicious year. I first found out about this fact a few days before Georgia was born. My acupuncturist (who was not my regular practitioner) said, "So, you know about the Golden Pig, right?" To which, I said "Umm, no?" Then she proceeded to tell the tale of how my little baby was going to be born in a year that was supposed to be the luckiest year to come along in a long long while. Every 600 years to be exact. And how so many people in China wanted to have a Golden Pig baby more than anything. And here I was going to have one without even meaning to! On the day that I learned these interesting facts, I was about 2 days away from my due date. I was uncomfortable, anxious, worried about my bloodpressure, my firstborn and how my little world was going to be blown off its foundation by the addition of a new little one to my life. I wasn't feeling very happy about pregnancy and childbirth, to say the least. But then, once I had this vision of this sweet, content, happy baby who would be lucky and have a long life, it made me excited to meet this new little person. To see if she really was everything that legend said she was supposed to be. And you know, after a few months of crankiness, teething, figuring out how to sleep and all that crazy stuff, whenever her round little face crinkles into a smile, I think she might just be a little golden pig. But I'm not sure who is luckier, Georgia or me.

Piano man

After the negative nelly post I just wrote, here's something cute for balance.

I'm irritated

I really wish I wasn't bothered by this. I really wish I could let it go. I've been told by Daniel's teacher not to send him in undies to school because last week he had 2 accidents (one each day that he was there) and supposedly he's afraid of the big toilet there. Oh yeah, and "they have a lot going on" and they can't pay attention to everything and don't have time for kids having this many accidents. As someone pointed out to me, if they have so much going on, doesn't that affect other aspects of their care of the children besides potty training? This just doesn't sit well with me. First of all, when I picked him up yesterday he was wearing the same pull up I'd dropped him off in 4 hrs earlier. And it was wet. And, after wearing a "diaper" to school (because that's what it is, no matter if you call it a pull up) he was really resistant to using the toilet at home. Great, thanks so much school. And as far as his fear of "big" potties.... Well, all I have to say is that when we're out and about, the way I get him to sit on a public toilet is to tell him that its a potty just like at school. That puts him totally at ease, so how afraid can he really be? Maybe its the people who're putting him on said toilet. I really want to not be bothered by this. I don't want to be negative about his teacher and school because Daniel can pick up on stuff like that and he really likes school. I don't want to mess with that. All I know is that I've had a couple conversations with his teacher about this subject and no progress is being made. I'm being given the same answers. I'm just not sure what to do.

piano cuteness

Future pianist?

No nap?!!

And we are now on day number 3 of no nap. I put him in his crib, read stories, go through the whole song and dance. And he doesn't sleep. I'm really hoping this is not a trend.

Cabbage?

Okay, I know I have a pretty quirky toddler. He's goofy and lovable, but quirky nonetheless. But this takes the cake. For the past several weeks, whenever I put him down for a nap he has a kind of odd behavior. Whenever he's not in the mood for a nap- and mind you, that is most days- he shouts for about an hour or so. Does he shout "Let me out!", or call for mommy? Nope. He shouts "Cabbage!" Yes, that's right. Cabbage. More specifically, "Yay cabbage!!!" I don't know what cabbage is, or why its in his room, but I just want it to stop interfering with his nap!!

I can't believe it!

Today I dropped the little man off at Mother's Day Out, and HE DIDN'T CRY. You heard me. No tears. Just a hug for old mom, and then he took off to play with the cars and trucks. At first I thought maybe he didn't realize that I was going to leave. So, I called his name and said "See you later!" He turned around and gave me a look like "What, is she still here?!" And so I left. If you know Daniel at all, you will realize how strange this was for me. And, for the second time, when I picked him up, guess who got the first hug and kiss? Georgia. Yep, I guess dear old mom is just chopped liver.....

In other news, I've decided that I'm going to give a piano concert. I'm putting this information out there so that those of you who actually read this will remind me to get myself to the piano and practice when you see me. I'm not sure how long it will take to prepare a recital on only 5 hrs o practice a week, but I'm going to set my goal on it being sometime in the next year. Hopefully sometimes within the next school year. I'm thinking of doing a program of either a) impressionist works, b) works by American composers, or c) American impressionist music. Man, do I like to make it impossible to find music to play, or what! Right now, I'm practicing on "The Fountain of the Aqua-Paola" by Charles Griffes. I have some other ideas for the rest, but I'll talk about that later. Just wanted to throw this out there so you guys can hold me to it!!

I want to be proud

Yesterday, I had one of those moments which, for me, come very infrequently. As I was watching my baby daughter play, MLK Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech was played on the radio in its entirety. Now, normally I'm a pretty cynical person when it comes to affecting real change in our country. But at that moment, thinking about how later that evening I would watch an African-american accept the nomination for president, at that moment I felt so proud. I wanted to say to her "See, we can do it, we can change this world and leave it in better shape for you than it was for me. I promise, we're not going to destroy the future for you. We're going to turn this thing around." I think this is the very first time since either of them were born that I could see a way to a brighter future for them. Actually, it may have been the first time for me to think that far into their future at all.

I've heard so much cynicism regarding this election. So much dismay at choosing Obama because there's so much fear that he won't get elected because of the forces of racism at work in this country. I've heard other afraid of the turmoil that will supposedly break out when he is elected. But this is a pivotal moment. Is it of utmost importance that democrats win this election? Of course. Should we bow to pressures that tell us to take the safe road, that tell us to stick with what we know? Absolutely not. Obama represents the best of what we can be, the change that we all are capable of, that we never quite reach. For the first time in many years, I have hope that I will be able to be proud of my country again. I feel proud that I can raise my children in a country where citizens are brave enough to ignore the racism that resides in all of us, and nominate the best person for the job, no matter what he looks like or what his name is.

Will it be a hard fight? Yes. Do I think the democrats will win? YES! I absolutely think, as Bill Clinton said last night, that Obama is "on the right side of history". You can only fool people for so long. So for all those in power who are trying so hard to hold on to what they've got.... enjoy it while it lasts. Cause we're gunning for you and we're going to take our country back.

A Day of Firsts

Daniel's little world just got a little bigger. Today was his first day of Mother's Day Out. Now, when I first entertained the idea of sending him to Mother's Day Out, shortly after Georgia was born, I had no idea it would feel like this. I had no idea it would feel so formal, so much like school. Yes, yes, I know its only 2 days a week, 4 hours each day. And as I look at my clock right now, I realized that in a little over an hour and a half it will be time to go pick him up. But it was still hard to leave him. He marched right in, found his cubby all on his own and put his backpack away. Then he helped me put his water bottle away. And then he took his little red square over to the puppet on the wall and said hi. And I was so proud of him. But when he realized that it was time for Mommy to leave, he just turned into one big bawling mess. The teacher scooped him up and started saying " Oh Daniel do you like playdough? Come one let's play with playdough!" As he was screaming. As I left, the only thing I could think of was "He doesn't like playdough, he likes cars and trucks! He won't stop crying until you show him the cars and trucks!" As we drove away, I kept thinking, how is he going to survive unless I'm there to tell everyone what he likes and doesn't like, only I know how to comfort him, only I know how to fix his lunch just so, only I know what kinds of things he can do and can't do.... But, that's where everything is going to be different from here on out. Now, he'll discover new things that he likes that I won't even know about until someone else tells me. He'll discover new abilities that he didn't even know he had, and he'll get to show me. Someone else will learn how this little guy ticks. I'm excited about that, truly I am. But its a little hard for this momma to let go.

I've been thinking a lot about this decision to put him in school. I hate to use the word "school", but that's what it is, for all intents and purposes. I've thought a lot about his personality, about how he can be so very shy and so hesitant to try new things. About how when presented with a room full of toys and potential playmates, he prefers to play with mommy. I give a lot of thought as to whether I'm helping him in those situations. Sometimes I see the patience with which other parents deal with those situations. Sometimes, with another baby in tow, I feel like patience is a luxury I don't have. I need for him to be independant sometimes, I need for him to do for himself. At least that's how it feels sometimes. But the other side of it is that I often have trouble empathizing with him. As a child, I was the one who ran off to play without one look back at mom. My mom always says that I didn't shed a tear my first day of preschool. My son and I couldn't be more different. I think this is partly why I get so exasperated with him sometimes. I look at a given situation and see fun!fun! fun! and he sees only things that frighten and intimidate him. I wish I knew how to show him the way. But maybe the answer is that someone else will have to teach him. I can teach him a lot of things, but I can't teach him everything. So, I hope that by opening his world up a little more, he'll see that other kids can be friends and other adults can be trusted to love and take care of him just like mommy. I have a feeling that he will grow into a little boy that I can't even imagine. But I know he'll be amazing and beautiful, just like he is today.

Milestones!

I'm not sure who this day is ultimately more important for, Daniel or me. Because today, my friends, the little man pooped in the potty all by himself!!! Now, for some of you, this may seem like a sad commentary on the level of excitement in my life. But for those of you who have changed the dirty diaper of a 35 pound toddler, you know just how exciting this is. And he did it with no prompting, no bribery, no cajoling. I've been going with a new potty tactic today: let him do it all by himself. Though it may cause a lot of nail biting and white-knuckle moments for mom, it seems to be working. Today, like a lot of days around here, has been a pants free day. For the toddler, not me. But with a new twist. Instead of following him around the house constantly (and annoying him, probably), I just told him "If you have to go, just go sit on the potty", left the bathroom door open, and left it at that. And shortly after lunch, I heard him say to himself "Daniel needs to go potty" and lo and behold, he went into the bathroom to make his "deposit". I was flabbergasted! Up to this point, I've not been particularly sure whether we were really potty training or not, or even if he was ready for potty training. Guess that question is answered now. Wish us luck as we forge ahead!

Current cuteness

I thought this needed its own post. Just some of my favorite kiddo cuteness from the last week or so.

Here's the little dude doing covers of all your favorite childhood songs:



And Georgia is finally getting the hang of that whole solid food thing. That's her up there in all her prune covered glory.

And finally, two of my favorite cute sayings from Daniel this week. Calling Georgia's food "sweet baby-tatoes" and annoucing this morning "Georgia is a cute baby!"

The latest

So after starting this little blog, I haven't really written too much. I always have things on my mind that I want to say, but somehow they never really make it onto the page.

This past weekend was a mix of good and bad. Good because I got to hang out with one of my oldest and dearest friends who lives across the pond. I always feel that the sign of a real friend is when you can just pick up where you left off, even if you haven't seen each other in quite a while. You just jump right back into the rhythm of your friendship. We did a lot of swimming, snacking, playing with the kids. Oh yeah, and that ridiculously expensive sushi outing. Yum.... it was totally worth every penny. And I'm now a convert to sake.

However, during this lovely weekend visit, my hubby got horribly sick and so we ended up spending many many many hours in the ER. You know how it goes.... Its Sunday (of course), you're out of town (of course). And then some horrible illness hits and what else can you do but go sit and wait with the masses in the emergency room waiting area. For a million years. Actually we were seen fairly quickly, and after some initially harrowing moments, he improved quite a bit. But I ended up staying til 2 something in the morning and he didn't get to leave until 7AM. It was a very very long night. I will say this, though. I don't know how they do it, but those nurses are unbelievably cheery day and night. They were perky, friendly and chatty, even while everyone else in the ER was screaming, crying, and tired. It would have been even more hellacious without them.

How is this possible?

Georgia is 6 months old! I am very grateful that the newborn days are well in the past, but at the same time, how is she this old already?? I hope my second born baby knows how much I love her, even though I spend most of my day trying to keep Daniel from tearing the house apart. Sometimes it seems like she's a little monkey hanging onto my shoulder, just along for the ride. I hope she doesn't feel ignored just because I can't spend hours and hours mooning into her eyes and giving her oodles of undivided attention.

And of course, it was affirmed today at the pediatrician's office that yes, she is the world's smallest baby. And yes, I've had my fill of all the comments that come with the territory. Like, "Oh my, all of my children weighed more at birth than she does now!" Or, "She's smaller than my 3 week old!" Or, "Look at the tiny baby ya'll! I've never seen one so tiny!" Yeah, okay, she's a peanut. She may be the size of your supersized newborn, but I'll tell you one thing. I'd much rather give birth to a 6 pound baby than a giganto 11 pound superbaby. And one other thing- can your 11 pound baby sit up on their own? I think not.

This is why its awesome to have two kids. They actually play together now! Okay, its more like playing alongside one another. But no matter what kind of interaction it is, I still think its beautiful.

And speaking of having two of them, I really feel like I've found the new normal. For the first few months, I always felt like I constantly had to divide myself between the two of them. And then, of course, I felt like neither one of them got the total mom that they deserved. But lately I feel like I'm able to give everyone what they need at the same time. Maybe its because Georgia is older, or maybe its because Daniel is older. Or maybe I'm just finding my groove as a mom again. All I know is I have less days of feeling sad over how my relationship with my son will never be the same again and guilt over what I'm not giving my daughter. Life right now is balanced and full.

In fact, I'm feeling recharged enough that I've actually been practicing lately. Having a babysitter helps immensely with this. I'm actually trying to be ambitious and learn a program that might work for a recital in the late spring. We'll see. I just realized that its been 4 years since my master's recital. FOUR YEARS. How did that happen?? And I'm pretty sure that was my last public performance. So, in the word of Wolf Brand Chili, that's been too long. Hopefully by putting this little bit of info out there, my friends will ask my how the piano practice is going, and that will keep me working.

So, I created this blog a long long time ago, but got distracted and didn't write anything in it. I think maybe the time has come for me to blabber on about my life. I guess the reason why I've procrastinated jumping on the blog bandwagon is 1) sometimes the term "blog" (and all other derivatives) really gives me a pain in my ass and 2) blogs always seem like diaries and I'm not too keen on writing a diary where I can't let it all hang out. Well, I could, but this is kind of public, you know? Anyway, be forewarned that there will be lots of posts about kids and domestic life. Its inevitable when you've got 2 small kiddos who pretty much take up all your time. But there may be a few items about music, politics and theater. Who knows it may even be mildly entertaining