Argument and making up.

Jeremy and I went to work together today in our car because I had to stop off at the dentist (first thing – 8 am) for my replacement mouth guard and Jeremy had to bring a cake to work. We bickered during the car ride to the dentist and to the Metro station. We bickered about the car, basically I think something is wrong with the car and Jeremy thinks that I’m a silly woman for thinking something is wrong with the car because it is running just FINE and I’m a silly, totally overly concerned woman. Anyways, the bickering devolved into where exactly the paperwork for the car servicing was to be kept (glove compartment? or filing cabinet?) which then led to a tense discussion of the overall state of the mailing and billing department of the Lee-Martin household which is better than it was a few months ago, but still in a state of disarray. Anyhow, we apologized to each other about the bickering by the time we got on the Metro and spent the ride quietly reading the free paper they give out.

After a productive day (mainly at Jeremy’s work, I, on the other hand, managed to mainly eat a bunch of twizzlers while searching fruitlessly for phosphorus-based flame retardants on Google), I was riding home on the subway when I pulled into Farragut North, Jeremy’s stop on the way home. There were a million people on the platform whizzing by as the train was slowing to a stop. When the train came to a full stop, Jeremy was standing right outside my window and I waved hello. How did he figure that one out?

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Mothers!

I had a wonderful Mother’s day. I hope your Mother’s day was nice too! My kids let me sleep in until 7:30 am when they appeared in the bedroom with breakfast in bed…

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I got my favorite breakfast, a one-eyed-giant (which is what we call bread with a circle cut out from the middle and an egg cracked into it and then fried until semi-soft yolk), some bacon, fruit and tea.

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Happy Mother’s Day, Rena & Doris

Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms, but especially to Rena & Doris.

Mom was super happy these days. On Thursday, mom received beautiful followers at the plant from Doris & Company including one of her favorate grand daughters, Ruby. There were three people to deliver the flowers to Mom personally, a gentleman and two ladies. Also, yesterday afternoon, Donald called. So, she was really excited.

On top of that, we are going to see Donald again at the SF airport this Thursday when we will make the connection flying back to Washougal, WA (Portland, OR). Within these two months, this will be the third time that we would be able to see Donald. A rare ocassion since he left home for Boston after his high school days. We would like to do it more often from now on.

Also, yesterday, we drove south ~100 miles to Santa Babara to have our steak dinner there with one of our close friends. I made the reservation before the fire. Sure enough, the restaurant was closed the day before yesterday, due to the heavy smoke and approaching fire. Even yesterday, we could see people were cleaning up ashes on the ground and nearby mountains still had a lot smokes. We even saw a fire engine parked in the mall together with a lot of firefighters and cops.

Before dinner, we went window shopping in those upscale stores around. Not too many buyers so far I could see. I guess the stimuls plan is still not bubbling up to the rich and powerful 🙂 but I hope it is now trickling down to the needy and not-so-poor ordinary folks. I am afraid neither. It is always easier to spend other folks’ money and promise the world with the resources that one does not have or own.

Even the restaurant had to hold down their prices with all-inclusive-meal-type offerings with smaller portions to attract their customers 🙂 This morning, my glucose level was still pretty good too. Again, Happy Mother’s Day to all!

Saturday notes.

I am always amazed and envious of people who maintain a wide circle of friends. I’m trying to figure out how to be a better friend, I’m trying to figure out how to “get out more”. It’s not easy since I like routine and I like being at home quite a bit. I also have this underlying belief that other people are too busy to want to hang out with me, so I’m a little bit shy to arrange outings.

Vince refuses to have his hair cut. Before I had children, I promised myself that I would not obsess about their appearances, but I have to say, the hair is driving me crazy.

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Gobble, gobble…

It’s another exciting media week. Here is a cute quote from Jeremy in the Detroit News… “The best biofuels take a big bite out of global warming emissions without gobbling up our food crops”.

A few weeks ago, I read the kids a cute story about collections and Vince asked “What can I collect?”. I though about it for a few days (it needed to be something small, neat and finite) and suggested that we collect the state quarters. I went out and bought a little collection book, which I have been coveting for a while (months?) but could never justify spending money on, even though it was only $14.95. (I’m a little strange, it gives me great pleasure to put off some small purchase so I that later, when I actually do buy it, I will enjoy it that much more). I’m having so much more fun than either of the kids hunting down quarters. I cannot believe that the whole series is almost done, I remember so clearly in 1999 when Delaware came out and thinking that it would be soooo long until all of them came out. Woosh – ten years have gone by….

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My own path.

It’s been a few months since I started taking Lexapro and I feel much, much better. No more whirling obsessive thoughts, no more intense moments of despair, no more crying at parties. It is a welcome relief. I have been able to clear my email backlog, I’ve been able to go back to making lists of things to do and cross them off, I’ve been able to enjoy the kids and Jeremy more. I think it makes everyone happier. It’s always hard for me to enjoy what I have, I always want it to be better in a sort of irrational and unspecific kind of way which is not very helpful in counting my blessings.

Vince made a scavenger hunt to look for him in his hiding place for us this weekend:

Started at the front door.

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Then behind the couch:

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On the step:

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Into the closet:

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By the window:

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In his room!

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Saturday notes.

Our pal Ruth came and spent the night last night. We had Cuban take out. She says she has noticed a big difference in Edda’s responsiveness and interest in creating rapport with other people in the 6 months since she last saw her. Since I see Edda everyday, it’s harder for me to gauge changes in her behavior or personality, but I have been feeling that Edda’s been happier and more easily engaged in laughter and play.

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Childcare has been sorted out. We’ve matched with an au pair who has already been in the US for a month or so who’s original match has not been working out for various reasons that I believe will not pose a problem for us.