tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22133627379741810862024-03-13T15:38:42.019-07:00choosing my own...On a peace mission...aren't we all?just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-75502188065992176412012-01-21T07:32:00.001-08:002012-01-21T08:23:48.111-08:00All About the LOVE<div style="text-align: left;">Forgive me friends for I have sinned. It has been nearly 2 years since my last post. Much has changed. Much remains the same. Remembering how to even access my blogpost account brought me much surprise. Thought I'd give writing another try...</div><div><br /></div><div>But first, a recap: </div><div><br /></div><div>Went to Africa. Fell in love.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9pMow7KWGe1tCpl2WpWNLRkh-MP3bsw0728GZ3CYih9cdK-1Qt3BqtJm1zh_EIZ1Jw8vn7MnxmSlejlixkuZpdJr1sdVOBpgwZHVwWr3NIT5ulOt_414Mwy6-pJF8OOKl9Q_SyGfpTGq/s320/DSCN0770.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700118497894348578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 251px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div>The twins grew up. Full of love. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLMDUsTVr_cd4WgymELzREEZ66MuRkn35AqhpBstrLWHHTsQjpDMZVC4_wlHfyleCwNg6lnNdBVp6W5Jol4cVCfF1mfCQF2iTNXgKPMmPkY_hbtVR8_zrHo9JD8kPSliWI3PmoWrH3OBl/s320/IMG_6765.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700120590446322658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Met a man. Fell in love.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgme6Qaj5w3vMe7TJEAuQ8qU1RCxplS8Wr0fjuGDkPnf4YRC83NHE1wP3wBGv07H4owegXlC4raluCNpdPDXAFKaHU2fYNIQJK_QeiV_GMQEFe8-iaWBogsxmnEsWtac-w7M-nlL_2Ow_8U/s320/IMG_4976.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700119370546197154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Went to Africa again. Still in love.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD4RxZdskCsnui29encVtvDk-QgTkVmdslYHzGexFV2-ObI3zXKYd5tjYNm6SJgv-niqNfwUDMKFNqqkQ-kSyKjg9JGRLfa2Kb_-1MF5POLBPz8ITHMcIkg2jvG5PEu7Sd3zT1xZa3x4O/s320/IMG_6271.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700116787998994834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Bought a house. Living in love.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ullAQHBfUt4tAcwcBeKFpd9JWnSqzxHu5syWkRovbM3eeZ5TrMn-T1UaP-w6El1VKk_LtEy5xd6oDNQO2Nklho20CZL4z4xuUNROmwqKGXLDZlsIyEUxXB4zykYjGoxx5ud_mGjZMyFv/s320/IMG_6046.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700120590629531602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Love has found me...love has been the way. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2-Zl41nzN_ttuxWFqQJBJX0n4SBMfJNLKL-HvpKDHj0wr8r6KfMsG3aBxaC0gqY0cGBYY9RjMeTMKcYX4D-MNUn6jKG69gopB-I7rQSNHSFxqcP7kEpa5KlcQBmqVKnsR5t75QRO303g/s320/IMG_7547.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700120596029099858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-48461066041850361532010-03-07T18:24:00.001-08:002010-03-07T19:26:42.899-08:00When You Just Know<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Swaziland</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">42.6 % = HIV/AIDS rate</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">29 = Life expectancy age</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">200,000 = orphans</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">15,000 = orphan-headed households</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I must go.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Been holding this secret for some time.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Finally, my stirring has a home.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="http://www.heartforafrica.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Heart for Africa</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> has called on me. He has called on me.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Please stop by </span></span><a href="https://www.heartforafrica.org/trips/FundRaising.aspx?Profile=203"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">my trip page</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am so humbled to join this mission. Much more to share, but can't hold the secret any longer. </span></span></div><div><br /></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-74767013245439565102010-02-12T12:48:00.000-08:002010-02-12T15:24:12.103-08:00EnduranceWhen I squint, and look off into the distance, I just might be able to see it. <div>And then. It's gone.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>If I hold my breath, close my eyes, pray, wish, daydream; I can almost reach it.</div><div>And then. I exhale.</div><div><br /></div><div>I say it out loud. I say it to myself. I talk in my sleep.</div><div>And then. I awaken.</div><div><br /></div><div>If I am honest with myself, I know that I want to live intimately. Need to live intimately. But in that honesty I realize that I may not know how. I long for closeness, and yet find paralysis in attention. I crave affection yet push away romance. I am alone, but not lonely. I am lonely, but not alone.</div><div><br /></div><div>And perhaps only a woman can relate to the dissonance repeating in upending tones. Or maybe I shouldn't pull <i>women</i> into my madness. But <i>why can't I make up my damn mind? </i>Some days I feel so certain. Certain that I have made many mistakes. Certain that I will regret these mistakes. Certain that my longing will never cease. Other times I am equally certain that they are not mistakes, rather chapters which will ultimately lead to falling action and resolution. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't pretend there is a "happily ever after." I know better, and I dare not dream for such. However, there is a version, a version I can see...when my breathing slows and my mind clears, one that resembles the happy ending. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't fault myself for having optimism. Or even for living with doubt. It is through these questions that one day, I believe, I will find my truth. </div><div><br /></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-20936399600006158862010-01-13T21:04:00.000-08:002010-01-16T11:48:55.192-08:00Please...<div>***UPDATED LINK***</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://thatschurch.com/2010/01/15/the-latest-on-the-bresma-orphanage/">What can we do to help?</a><div><a href="http://thatschurch.com/2010/01/15/the-latest-on-the-bresma-orphanage/">What can WE do...?</a></div><div><a href="http://thatschurch.com/2010/01/15/the-latest-on-the-bresma-orphanage/">Children.</a></div><div><a href="http://thatschurch.com/2010/01/15/the-latest-on-the-bresma-orphanage/">N</a>eed Us.</div><div><a href="http://thatschurch.com/2010/01/15/the-latest-on-the-bresma-orphanage/">In.</a></div><div><a href="http://thatschurch.com/2010/01/15/the-latest-on-the-bresma-orphanage/">Haiti.</a></div><div><a href="http://thatschurch.com/2010/01/15/the-latest-on-the-bresma-orphanage/">We can help...</a></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-63551109370193710552010-01-10T14:37:00.000-08:002010-01-10T14:43:47.461-08:00My Apologies to the East Coast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsiDkj962vUTIP2FHAYDfDHF-El8QJ_wLla38qZSqYTJ14_prk7-p0VJewtw8s10No14gVvwcUrLncdl5UnjQi7B8uXBr4LZgpvouoHJgR6SBg3NUAl4nKIF8kJUgdoqXemIPSlMgoF2R/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsiDkj962vUTIP2FHAYDfDHF-El8QJ_wLla38qZSqYTJ14_prk7-p0VJewtw8s10No14gVvwcUrLncdl5UnjQi7B8uXBr4LZgpvouoHJgR6SBg3NUAl4nKIF8kJUgdoqXemIPSlMgoF2R/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425245279520792914" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxrDnvJOYC0_bbq4aTI5HD-4KmBoH3oqtN-BWil4Ume7FbCYb7fcovQlcATJNnGujxgsVxWM798LM3QnvkOi2wf0AL6KyCSfLiEB7DC-r-pI4DnYFQh83t8EdxuOn-Dj_4WSkzhNj87wf/s1600-h/(null)"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxrDnvJOYC0_bbq4aTI5HD-4KmBoH3oqtN-BWil4Ume7FbCYb7fcovQlcATJNnGujxgsVxWM798LM3QnvkOi2wf0AL6KyCSfLiEB7DC-r-pI4DnYFQh83t8EdxuOn-Dj_4WSkzhNj87wf/s400/(null)" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425245053716694706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WWzDbmM5OTLsRQ9wfEEKsPCrYAF9lgiheVoAaPTspGxtYnCidLDquIdeMx0pd06GgqSK1xb4q0IiyesJCfFDyKmyMod6Ok5F4DAgFx0qBdNCRPyZjZnq1WDd_otQzUxtg1fjaRBALLp9/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WWzDbmM5OTLsRQ9wfEEKsPCrYAF9lgiheVoAaPTspGxtYnCidLDquIdeMx0pd06GgqSK1xb4q0IiyesJCfFDyKmyMod6Ok5F4DAgFx0qBdNCRPyZjZnq1WDd_otQzUxtg1fjaRBALLp9/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425245049320020194" /></a>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-88085996896233222172010-01-07T03:27:00.000-08:002010-01-07T04:02:33.903-08:00Ex Marks the Spot<div>It deserves to be said, that I pretty much have the best ex-husband ever. I mean this in all sincerity. <i>Ex-spouse</i> is a term we tend to avoid; as it carries such negativity in its perception. We are co-parenting partners, and better yet, <i>friends</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>While the details of our situation remain private, it can be said that I find tremendous comfort in knowing that our children are in loving and capable hands, in either home. For this, I am entirely grateful. The friendship that has developed from living separately is intense, honest, uplifting, and just down-right cool. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is our hope, that when we marry, it is forever. And while <i>our</i> forever comes wrapped in a very unique package, I do truly know that it is a <i>forever</i> built on love and mutual respect. {This can be said with a smile in my heart, maybe <i>because </i>we can send each other's ass a mile down the road when we disagree. Heh} As we redefine our forever, I am filled with a gratitude that <i>our children </i>will always be our greatest privilege and priority.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So today, Patrick... it should be said... thank you for being my forever. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">{And yes, I'll take the dog again so you can go on a date, but can you trade days while I go to Vegas for a night, and sure let's go to the </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">so-and-so's </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">party together, and make sure you make her your delicious salmon, and yes I went out with that guy, and can you remember to get Chase a haircut, and sure I'll cut their toenails because I know that's hard for you, and thank you for getting the teachers' a gift and...}</span></i></span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yAsMBG0EUvV5S61a9-2OPHRwz-8OBSC95JlI4RBtdb6K_5WMdU0qwdEQ2Zkn0_epM_N_80GoNxPN7DUim-Strc0d4Up9B5OsV6ddqqTyj4oyLtdx011j0IyD4cUe-RO-5ve-ayESZf8p/s1600-h/DSC_0082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yAsMBG0EUvV5S61a9-2OPHRwz-8OBSC95JlI4RBtdb6K_5WMdU0qwdEQ2Zkn0_epM_N_80GoNxPN7DUim-Strc0d4Up9B5OsV6ddqqTyj4oyLtdx011j0IyD4cUe-RO-5ve-ayESZf8p/s400/DSC_0082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423960698530254466" /></a>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-74307622988127203522010-01-05T19:31:00.000-08:002010-01-07T07:03:07.194-08:00And So It Is...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KPkcoiP-5wDFh2CzvZrfpnvjEa2dTG3PkX9whwRwTbA4d5EvKelLOCupo4npqwWoZuZZHDhoMITlGgEfibq_wo7g5qRcQtg-moyOp03QQJJd1ztETaFBeVoS5wfZXnv0oaU0XgcanZKb/s1600-h/photo.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KPkcoiP-5wDFh2CzvZrfpnvjEa2dTG3PkX9whwRwTbA4d5EvKelLOCupo4npqwWoZuZZHDhoMITlGgEfibq_wo7g5qRcQtg-moyOp03QQJJd1ztETaFBeVoS5wfZXnv0oaU0XgcanZKb/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423464706626515202" /></a>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-54354464134157391742009-12-31T11:05:00.000-08:002009-12-31T11:47:58.223-08:00Volume Control<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBiy_G1nqUN1akNITy0iQPONTbK49UiQ5uzKiay92hTlsdy-qrf8FWiF5_ztEQW6aPGhNNlkUX3H7rIU-TlZv99pKX6546-T3wSssUCBAhdIrwTjPS7unwOPHoVZ03dIo8OVHS7lhB3Az/s1600-h/better-volume-control.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBiy_G1nqUN1akNITy0iQPONTbK49UiQ5uzKiay92hTlsdy-qrf8FWiF5_ztEQW6aPGhNNlkUX3H7rIU-TlZv99pKX6546-T3wSssUCBAhdIrwTjPS7unwOPHoVZ03dIo8OVHS7lhB3Az/s400/better-volume-control.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421487751341328850" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">For a girl who sets the timer on the dishwasher so as </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">not to hear it</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">, and a girl who keeps the television at mice-like-decibels; a girl who goes into a different part of the house when the washer/dryer are running, and a girl who thinks that taking a bath would be perfect if only </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">the water didn't make so much noise... </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">it has been a noisy year.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I've turned up the volume. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">And then? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Bought new speakers so as to make it even louder.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">And then?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Bought a mega bass to amplify the commotion.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">2009 has been deafening.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">A welcome sound in my new journey.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Noise.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Racket.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Clammer.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Turmolt.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Commotion.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Anything to keep me from...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Listening.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Feeling.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Healing.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Facing.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Owning.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">So, 2010, here we are.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">You and me.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Deejay's not playing the same song.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">2010 -- Resolve. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Mute.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Time to mute the clamor. Say no. Disappoint. </span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Walk away. Let go. Close doors.</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Disc Select.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Select you. Select one. Select calm. Select quiet. Select games, crafts,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">laughing, reading, cuddling, patience, joy.</span></span></i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Pause.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Pause. Be patient. Wonder. Pray. Reflect. Slow down... slow it down girl.</i></span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Repeat.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Then do it again. Slower. With more kindness. Kindness for the <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; ">girl you once were, the woman you are yet to become.</span></span></i></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Shuffle.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Have fun. Shake it up. Relax. Dance. Smile. Play.</i></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Source.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Get to know your source. YOUR source. YOUR soul. YOUR God. YOUR<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>strength. YOUR peace.</i></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Praying for a quiet melody in 2010.</span></span></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-47678727182982462792009-12-30T08:46:00.000-08:002009-12-30T16:11:18.179-08:00Why I'm Sitting on the Couch on a Beautiful DayDear Parents of Little Surf-Rat Toddler,<div><br /></div><div>Do you have any idea just how cute I find your baby girl? With her 18-24 months <i>skinny jeans</i>, her checkered vans, and her silky, pink hoody? Clearly, you know she's cute. Clearly, <i>she knows</i> you know she's cute. And clearly this little peanut is winning battles at home. Her wispy bed-headed hair all tricked out with hints of, "No, dat my hay-er mama." "No bwush my hay-er." I just loved her instantly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which is why I scooped her up from the eight-kicking-legs of four-swinging-children at varying speeds and intervals. Twice. Her little diaper-padded, skinny jeaned bottom was toddling in a game of swing <i>Frogger,</i> and how she survived without getting cartoon-jettisoned over the monkey bars is beyond me. Which is why I toted her on my hip for a moment while I searched for the parent who must have been having a major emergency elsewhere with her other darling children. </div><div><br /></div><div>Searching for the owner of the toddler, and pushing my own two kiddos on the swing, I carefully placed Little Miss Surfer Baby in a kinder spot on the playground. Until, she came back to the spider legs of the swings. </div><div><br /></div><div>Scooping her up, again as her hair is grazed by a giant pumping of the feet,<i> where is your mommy?, </i>I ask?</div><div><i>Dat. Bah. La-lee-fing,</i> she says (or something like that).</div><div>Dude, where<i> <b>is</b></i> this kids' mommy? I wonder.</div><div><br /></div><div>I begrudgingly place her down again near the slide, fearful of looking like some kidnapper. When sure enough a school-aged boy playing a game of<i> I'm not watching where I'm running</i> smacks straight into my new little surfer friend.</div><div><br /></div><div>And...cue concerned parent. <i>Here</i> you come. Racing (well, trying to race in your Victoria's Secret lace-up ankle boots) to her rescue. </div><div><br /></div><div>And cue...dirty look. To me. <i>WTH?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>And cue...me wondering if it was your Blackberry or your stilettos in the sand that impeded your graceful parenting.</div><div><br /></div><div>And cue...school aged kids' mom getting a mouthful of <i>why weren't you watching your kid as he bulldozed over my baby?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>And cue...jaw-dropping of school aged kids' mom.</div><div><br /></div><div>And cue...me convincing the kids that watching <i>Sponge Bob</i>, at home is way more fun than swinging. </div><div><br /></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-46933331499548799792009-12-23T22:21:00.000-08:002009-12-23T22:54:18.418-08:00It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...CPS<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This time of year can be very stressful for parents. We're shopping, and driving, and parking, and baking. We wrap, we clean, we eat, we gather, we plan, we host, we create. We keep the myth of Santa alive. We move elves from room-to-room. We </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">forget</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> to move elves from room-to-room. We send cards, take photos, hang cards, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">forget</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> to take photos. We stand in line, entertain, buy stamps, buy wrapping paper, buy more wrapping paper, and remind children of the true nature of the season.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And all through it, we d-r-a-g our patient little ones from place to place so that we may better spread our Christmas cheer.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So when threats run out, and elves aren't watching, and you have to go back to the supermarket for the 15twentieth time...you might want to try a little trick involving, oh, say...</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">shackling your children like the prisoners they are, and chaining their hineys to the cart.</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Case in point:</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY2lxEESnJtiLX84uGnbsEAwodjgfUnroVCCBgdStoYCM_UCm5vv49ALzmb2NbK64wulcpW5bsEkRxHHdMFxhPCZHwAQSd89H7VaWilgKLby0iAC4cr_INTmviKRrcOymyxWx_nrbRwtj/s1600-h/IMG_1484.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY2lxEESnJtiLX84uGnbsEAwodjgfUnroVCCBgdStoYCM_UCm5vv49ALzmb2NbK64wulcpW5bsEkRxHHdMFxhPCZHwAQSd89H7VaWilgKLby0iAC4cr_INTmviKRrcOymyxWx_nrbRwtj/s400/IMG_1484.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418684832344826770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Two Willing Participants</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJC3iPJzFETJBLmQNcZIDLcl44AbK72PgMHccZvVVWnFeHBkvmEQv7MnSXGSCxZOXZ-hbLg4YcMuYr92VYj9mcfgTIbZv3xdsb7hc8fzBgo1QChjDX5OVapd4K7RU3r-5RhhWvODzQU6p/s1600-h/IMG_1481.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJC3iPJzFETJBLmQNcZIDLcl44AbK72PgMHccZvVVWnFeHBkvmEQv7MnSXGSCxZOXZ-hbLg4YcMuYr92VYj9mcfgTIbZv3xdsb7hc8fzBgo1QChjDX5OVapd4K7RU3r-5RhhWvODzQU6p/s400/IMG_1481.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418684829869376978" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">A little bit of (toy) chain.</span></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5thLXdMI28E8NS7oE6kXbvp-5GrIGI1HS6gga7ibYDZyxjlGpPDeZ4zEzs8NotAW14oDuvGc-ogRYinZSNt60Btk3K3K53JUmiKCHPnjkgj-hUXbloTjjhMzUohy1gyFfGn9qV3xQALHr/s1600-h/IMG_1490.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5thLXdMI28E8NS7oE6kXbvp-5GrIGI1HS6gga7ibYDZyxjlGpPDeZ4zEzs8NotAW14oDuvGc-ogRYinZSNt60Btk3K3K53JUmiKCHPnjkgj-hUXbloTjjhMzUohy1gyFfGn9qV3xQALHr/s400/IMG_1490.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418684843487545234" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">One cart.</span></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcUd6wwPQtnS7aBvQI792Dj3EEVdjbknFsXhxOG8rALYxKIenJQByKXyB3xAoLFVUbo_noxmBmrc8W27cBnH6EDU11IW4sbCguRdnbG8O-T8K-XqgHoEnn92mAC26w0BVK-FNQYTdVIK3/s1600-h/IMG_1495.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcUd6wwPQtnS7aBvQI792Dj3EEVdjbknFsXhxOG8rALYxKIenJQByKXyB3xAoLFVUbo_noxmBmrc8W27cBnH6EDU11IW4sbCguRdnbG8O-T8K-XqgHoEnn92mAC26w0BVK-FNQYTdVIK3/s400/IMG_1495.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418684852409733058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">God only knows what they're doing here.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB-HdFBWwpz4F3Bzxf6mk52OizjjlEyieK4ohyphenhyphenbavjSB7ip-Xd6GER9cm5xr0vEC_mHyonQ3qXMdNVNflZfUnmT5QxoKMq4OfivAkn86gT9s522qg2Pk9LTDGWWA_KR9RN-RHI9qcQWVN/s1600-h/IMG_1491.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB-HdFBWwpz4F3Bzxf6mk52OizjjlEyieK4ohyphenhyphenbavjSB7ip-Xd6GER9cm5xr0vEC_mHyonQ3qXMdNVNflZfUnmT5QxoKMq4OfivAkn86gT9s522qg2Pk9LTDGWWA_KR9RN-RHI9qcQWVN/s1600-h/IMG_1491.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB-HdFBWwpz4F3Bzxf6mk52OizjjlEyieK4ohyphenhyphenbavjSB7ip-Xd6GER9cm5xr0vEC_mHyonQ3qXMdNVNflZfUnmT5QxoKMq4OfivAkn86gT9s522qg2Pk9LTDGWWA_KR9RN-RHI9qcQWVN/s400/IMG_1491.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418691624228313202" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">Voila: One happy mama (and a friendly neighbor in <strike>disgust</strike> admiration).</span></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwHZOBMdumMXLBs-2XybQPmqhpWfOk8M-BA5mtLolPtNsdolHJzth_t3g9HZiJZuduTCYkmCqtdSMxstQluB7Q-Gdui2eAuSab6rjs1XUG-ewzJTM_-yG81nHr4OB1iBnkr8JGIXwtSpp/s1600-h/IMG_1487.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwHZOBMdumMXLBs-2XybQPmqhpWfOk8M-BA5mtLolPtNsdolHJzth_t3g9HZiJZuduTCYkmCqtdSMxstQluB7Q-Gdui2eAuSab6rjs1XUG-ewzJTM_-yG81nHr4OB1iBnkr8JGIXwtSpp/s400/IMG_1487.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418684852767769970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My mad parenting skillz worked tonight, yo.</span></span></div></div></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-68108684386100087002009-12-04T23:06:00.000-08:002009-12-04T23:09:45.236-08:00My Grateful Heart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGwAC9MrLjQR13wPdcn0iNvxVRKoKYkwNMGca__2BUJtifAuW2OePt43ektO5IJBSn0z0D8T4Z-DHmxcZeI0eU1oQrON1EmAvycd83jmGf5yMKMIxk6_GzkuoaqCcuUVauSmA2qYcHhuC/s1600-h/JMPL0556.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGwAC9MrLjQR13wPdcn0iNvxVRKoKYkwNMGca__2BUJtifAuW2OePt43ektO5IJBSn0z0D8T4Z-DHmxcZeI0eU1oQrON1EmAvycd83jmGf5yMKMIxk6_GzkuoaqCcuUVauSmA2qYcHhuC/s400/JMPL0556.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411645342375102306" /></a>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-35049407178570126192009-12-01T06:33:00.000-08:002009-12-01T06:44:03.620-08:00Part of the Journey<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A loving person</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">lives in</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">a loving world.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A hostile person</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">lives in</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">a hostile world.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Everyone you meet</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">is your mirror.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">-Ken Keyes Jr.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Handbook to Higher Consciousness</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdIlTSoY0kN7Deqo7LtiM_R0oKC_JcECrV08_NyrHrkFlpHoziPHtkR8hw55gC8Z2ra1JN5b582QU1HkBHh0_EXnWybUcRK549zTOfpWV_h1jY2FY7k5rfbOeuRhxQeOO3odnkUgt8tWH/s1600/IMG_0963.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdIlTSoY0kN7Deqo7LtiM_R0oKC_JcECrV08_NyrHrkFlpHoziPHtkR8hw55gC8Z2ra1JN5b582QU1HkBHh0_EXnWybUcRK549zTOfpWV_h1jY2FY7k5rfbOeuRhxQeOO3odnkUgt8tWH/s400/IMG_0963.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410275893573937938" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><i style=""><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#000000;">Success is a journey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#000000;">not a destination -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#000000;">half the fun is getting there.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">-Gita Bellin</span></span></div></i></span></span></span></span></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-11298799555750696082009-11-29T18:06:00.001-08:002009-11-29T22:06:33.323-08:00A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thanksgiving 2009: </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My first holiday without the kids, teetering between sadness and aloof. I decided that I would do </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">nothing</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. In my plan, I needed to lie to everyone so no one actually </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">knew</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> that I was alone.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"I'm going to my Mom's," I told friends.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"I'm going to my friend's," I told my mom.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"I'm going to Patrick's," I told my colleagues.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I just knew that I needed to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">feel</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> the rawness of this divorce on this holiday. Although Patrick and I get along extremely well, this Thanksgiving did not include plans to co-mingle. I sincerely craved the calm the comes with being alone. Eating Chinese food from a paper box would have suited me just fine. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I was choosing an UnThanksgiving, but little did I know, Thanksgiving would still come, Charlie Brown.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Some of you know of my new friendship with </span></span><a href="http://jeffandjer.com/blog/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Little Tommy</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. When my favorite radio show went off the air in August, I emailed the producer. Within 40 seconds, he wrote back. Within and hour, we were on the phone. Within days, I was watching his son skateboard. We've been hanging out ever since. A surprising friend and ally in my life, I decided to hang out with Tommy on Thanksgiving, but just </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">for </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">a little while</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, I told myself. After all, I </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">wanted</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to be alone.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He took me to meet his 83 year old mom. If you've ever listened to the show, you know that meeting his mom is bigger than the Oscar's. It was an honor to be invited. However, we were just going to hang out for </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a little while</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Dinner would be served at his sister's house, and surely I would be home, wearing sweatpants, and eating Chinese food by then.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And then, I was greeted warmly by a house full of relatives situated around the most angelic woman you could imagine. Attached to a feeding tube, but sitting strongly with love beaming from within, was Rosa. </span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1_NrqswtBzh8xvsgAxfrBXak_bSzKs5HFz_xlrIrHd6bFjehh5kS00YZWtluOcS625tiMpJf6AAQez4mIvSIvJ70tq9aO-o4Rd8qXrHVev7vJz6lb2STl0baV6rt-nfczsqxV9dgQ6GK/s1600/12635_102496529770872_100000315750991_58617_6889670_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1_NrqswtBzh8xvsgAxfrBXak_bSzKs5HFz_xlrIrHd6bFjehh5kS00YZWtluOcS625tiMpJf6AAQez4mIvSIvJ70tq9aO-o4Rd8qXrHVev7vJz6lb2STl0baV6rt-nfczsqxV9dgQ6GK/s400/12635_102496529770872_100000315750991_58617_6889670_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409719584920226946" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">[</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">me, Rosa (83), Auntie Ding (94), Tommy]</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And that's when it happened. I was at the mercy of the beautiful moment, and I was hanging on tightly. Being a quiet observer of Tommy tenderly lifting his mom into his car, watching he and his sister 'sneak' small bites of mashed potatoes to wet the palette of a woman fed by tube, and being lovingly included in a traditional family meal just about broke my heart. Or healed it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wasn't looking for Thanksgiving, but Thanksgiving found me.</span></span></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-44646817083624350752009-11-20T20:07:00.000-08:002009-11-20T20:09:43.851-08:00(Another) Ego Boost<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBVJAoNkZrWbxWL8nqc9pf0nBsBNy0vAPQ1A_-2V08wJvdmgUt8qESRi5LBuvvNN0sB_BXjCcDmzh4ceVIeoxbSGhsTZkYYPnYNGkEjl2cevLQ438jE3E6COWbR7F9703e5QrE6onGHHG/s1600/IMG_1334.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBVJAoNkZrWbxWL8nqc9pf0nBsBNy0vAPQ1A_-2V08wJvdmgUt8qESRi5LBuvvNN0sB_BXjCcDmzh4ceVIeoxbSGhsTZkYYPnYNGkEjl2cevLQ438jE3E6COWbR7F9703e5QrE6onGHHG/s400/IMG_1334.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406404142315572386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">It's so worth it!</div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-59328412923929947492009-11-19T21:24:00.002-08:002009-11-19T22:18:20.758-08:00When Strength is all I Have, And Time is all I Need (Or Vice Versa)<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I turn inward.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is my my tendency.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My frequency.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My channel.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I question upward.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is my destiny.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My gravity.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My journey.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I fumble forward.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Impatiently.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Searching.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For my certainty.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I glance backward.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is my wondering.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My anxiety.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My clarity.</span></span></i></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-36244332967882475642009-11-08T14:42:00.000-08:002009-11-08T15:33:57.949-08:00Predictably Predictable<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When you get so forgetful that you even </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">forget</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> that you have forgotten things...perhaps you start to look a little like this.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">First, you forget to pay your rent. Yes. Rent. That's what happens when you've had a husband pay the mortgage forever, and you forget that, like, it costs money to live places. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Then, when you're driving to meet your landlord to pay the rent, you realize that you forgot your friend's birthday. Yesterday.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">That night, on your way to visit your out-of-town friend in a neighboring county, you see your gas light go on. On the one stretch of Interstate 5 that is dedicated to the military. For 19 miles. You drive faster because you're pretty sure that even though this uses gas less efficiently, the time saved on heart attack symptoms may just save your life.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And when things get reeeeally stressful, there's really just one more thing to do: rearrange the furniture. Then, put it back in exactly the same place. Because? It turns out that "L" shaped sofas really don't work out so well in creative juxtapositions with walls and tables.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Clearly, it is Report Card time. And clearly, I have not done them at all. Not one. How can you tell? Because I'm finally blogging again. And if there's one thing I'm good at, it's procrastinating. And forgetting. If only I could forget </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">to</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> procrastinate.</span></span></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-18009365649512962042009-10-08T21:05:00.000-07:002009-10-08T21:11:05.849-07:00Go Clean Your Room<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">...it <i>did</i> get awfully quiet in there...</span></span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWiRGw5D9i8F3V7JZQA4xjdl4P3RRA74IVV4zDaYUAZGtV0e1QwXcZzTMXDMVHYmG3Ct44KZ6qjyrtCi_mvIRALAAtXgxBlTHuvbHbxfe7d8udAwu9dfFP2fSpDWvUcY8JTMgZIALyZRD/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWiRGw5D9i8F3V7JZQA4xjdl4P3RRA74IVV4zDaYUAZGtV0e1QwXcZzTMXDMVHYmG3Ct44KZ6qjyrtCi_mvIRALAAtXgxBlTHuvbHbxfe7d8udAwu9dfFP2fSpDWvUcY8JTMgZIALyZRD/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390446938432782130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">...until the launching off Mount Headboard, that is...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MdfeY4Pg9C-VWrtA14dS93gFW2XfqXpZb0gOkG6oayTyD2z7WwiYDk-LyonEe1XxVQ8iHhw0e6YK0UwgrgEgk5A04xOYCN3u1jt8IBjPtY5L4dQoMuI4N7hfLjts_6k-PKIDmfAB4X0D/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MdfeY4Pg9C-VWrtA14dS93gFW2XfqXpZb0gOkG6oayTyD2z7WwiYDk-LyonEe1XxVQ8iHhw0e6YK0UwgrgEgk5A04xOYCN3u1jt8IBjPtY5L4dQoMuI4N7hfLjts_6k-PKIDmfAB4X0D/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390446926473854754" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(P.S. What the hell is wrong with my camera?)</b></span></i></span></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-21334455010128782502009-09-28T21:53:00.000-07:002009-09-28T22:50:53.541-07:00What? A Girl's Got to Accessorize?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There are definitely some advantages to living without a man in the house. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My own closet. My own stash of ice cream. Pink sheets. Violet sheets. Flowery sheets. Watching whateverthehellIwant on TV.</span></span></i><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And then? There are those moments where I reeeeeaaaally could use a man. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Take for example the sweet and serene scene of a Mom gently tucking her little boy into bed. She lovingly pulls back the sheets, gathers all of his favorite stuffed creatures, plumps the pillows in just the right... HOLY SHIT WHAT IS THAT ON HIS PILLOW?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMThzi83k0QB19PkjmE80T6x2XbkMyLI6Bz976P8aG_FKXK-hQOFYd4Ek-ab2fh-It2VR6zT4D0y5j7s4i5vDIQlQgl-on882Tjw5XKF3ZyuMG_9c9AZqjcFKob0y5sojoKskYKTVTPRq/s1600-h/ZQ1RFKARSQFQP0L0U0H0P000U0Z0U0R0N0K080BR50OQYKBRFKOQ80WRRQURG03Q3K3QM03QU03QU0DR7QYRIQCRE0.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMThzi83k0QB19PkjmE80T6x2XbkMyLI6Bz976P8aG_FKXK-hQOFYd4Ek-ab2fh-It2VR6zT4D0y5j7s4i5vDIQlQgl-on882Tjw5XKF3ZyuMG_9c9AZqjcFKob0y5sojoKskYKTVTPRq/s320/ZQ1RFKARSQFQP0L0U0H0P000U0Z0U0R0N0K080BR50OQYKBRFKOQ80WRRQURG03Q3K3QM03QU03QU0DR7QYRIQCRE0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386753501246596850" /></span></span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm pretty sure it looked more like this, actually:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSPXVhms_0H_oCWdbhZkBNzdx_EOrDajiv1szxHBK1-cBkt0EC6gCO0cLyWfv2mCF67H4FaznJQN7xWcc9zarPlPmQKCTOurk7tRfRAfdwd2odOW1B2QOS1Br2ZBOz7U4-Muvg__jfWDD/s1600-h/medium.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSPXVhms_0H_oCWdbhZkBNzdx_EOrDajiv1szxHBK1-cBkt0EC6gCO0cLyWfv2mCF67H4FaznJQN7xWcc9zarPlPmQKCTOurk7tRfRAfdwd2odOW1B2QOS1Br2ZBOz7U4-Muvg__jfWDD/s320/medium.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386754952314828178" /></span></span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What's a Mom to do...but scream? Duh. Then, ask children to</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> hurrythefuckup</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and run and get a shoe. I figure I'm best suited to keep an eye on the thing </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(although I really couldn't have missed the dragon-sized-beast feverishly crawling on my son's pillow)</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> while the youngins' run and fetch me a weapon.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hurry please.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Go get me a shoe."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Where?"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"In my closet. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hurry.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Quick. Shoe."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">....</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Hellooooo? Just get a shoe. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Any</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> shoe. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Quickly</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Tatum," </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I think Chase spotted some legos or something far more interesting along the way)</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> "Where are you?"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Mommy, I'm tryyyyyying."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Tatum, I can't take my eye off this thing. Just.Grab.A.Shoe.</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Right.Now.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">About 40twentyhundred16 minutes later, she shows up with a lovely red ballet flat. One which I know damn well was </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">not </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the most conveniently located shoe in the closet. In fact, it would have taken some perusing, reaching, tippy-toes, major yoga moves to find</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> that </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">shoe.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It's a shoe she has had a penchant for borrowing once before.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qi-SJFYFDnAeMG_xDhSsy0Blvyu08SSYv53dpQmNwcVdjH99yXU68arXXSJW0TX6jcpR0f404nN65zTICWElGly2KUjzAZORSUr4WzKWviuooS_aU5S4zk68stv7ovpb5UF1o8PGvU2Z/s1600-h/DSC_0019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qi-SJFYFDnAeMG_xDhSsy0Blvyu08SSYv53dpQmNwcVdjH99yXU68arXXSJW0TX6jcpR0f404nN65zTICWElGly2KUjzAZORSUr4WzKWviuooS_aU5S4zk68stv7ovpb5UF1o8PGvU2Z/s400/DSC_0019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386757854866175266" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0_vajfqYkjKw8VrCB_L7MYEPyYoZNGBt90Evi40aq-rWlHnelgCx7-u1SVmdkC2o0edmRnu96Kb-URRCImEch1rusagtCe5PEFLscNmuD3I_oNbp8PV3gvK1w-Dh-CJEwUODmqGze85T/s1600-h/DSC_0016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0_vajfqYkjKw8VrCB_L7MYEPyYoZNGBt90Evi40aq-rWlHnelgCx7-u1SVmdkC2o0edmRnu96Kb-URRCImEch1rusagtCe5PEFLscNmuD3I_oNbp8PV3gvK1w-Dh-CJEwUODmqGze85T/s400/DSC_0016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386757846200072658" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ3F0k0bbaNk73iA6FhHOKa6tMcZ0S1XOn4kTCKqENfzRcj2eET-fa7YAzpvItUTaUDFW6miV_bwO2CSXW-bvWyfDjeCFwoScgfUaVri97syd11LBiOiVRmpcaG6vnwZudZBeBpaJri-h/s1600-h/DSC_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ3F0k0bbaNk73iA6FhHOKa6tMcZ0S1XOn4kTCKqENfzRcj2eET-fa7YAzpvItUTaUDFW6miV_bwO2CSXW-bvWyfDjeCFwoScgfUaVri97syd11LBiOiVRmpcaG6vnwZudZBeBpaJri-h/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386757838973293554" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Apparently, a it's an innate sense that a girl must </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">always</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> choose exactly the right shoe for every event. </span></span></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-80320326153601241122009-09-26T17:32:00.000-07:002009-09-26T18:24:23.242-07:00Dumbo<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A certain little birthday girl and birthday boy just turned one whole hand's worth of 1-2-3-4-5! Holy Moly. Five?!</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Maybe it's the nostalgia of </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">creating family</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> five years ago. Maybe it's spending the day at </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"The Happiest Place on Earth." </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And maybe I'm just all kinds of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">mixed up</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">wacky</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. Maybe.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyClc4y1s-j3KbSCE8QL3MW2BBGmdi4LUGO8AAWfI40pz0R7tXlpQOz5Q4vE1Y3OhUvY_YANB-PGGC3qD81ZAsJP058QZZ09i0tcFKeBZN4XzaGJ-OO1oXY_wFlaaSe4iFIqgNkQdpEQD/s1600-h/DSCN0335.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyClc4y1s-j3KbSCE8QL3MW2BBGmdi4LUGO8AAWfI40pz0R7tXlpQOz5Q4vE1Y3OhUvY_YANB-PGGC3qD81ZAsJP058QZZ09i0tcFKeBZN4XzaGJ-OO1oXY_wFlaaSe4iFIqgNkQdpEQD/s320/DSCN0335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385944325916166722" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Or maybe, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">maybe</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> our divorce will save our marriage. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoPbUdjOHFq3Qmu8jOkAXg_MIw2uKRzywRVOnN8nxfJrAzpATrcxjr0AFH4bqifaJjMP3ZIQMghhFgAqnFh4jAAYAeTRis3sfsfeF-EtrroJoNzuXLAA1O3vdZw2PCgqu4QMjHofUu9HV/s1600-h/DSCN0376.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoPbUdjOHFq3Qmu8jOkAXg_MIw2uKRzywRVOnN8nxfJrAzpATrcxjr0AFH4bqifaJjMP3ZIQMghhFgAqnFh4jAAYAeTRis3sfsfeF-EtrroJoNzuXLAA1O3vdZw2PCgqu4QMjHofUu9HV/s320/DSCN0376.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385946489796948066" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbkLnTX1FTlFuLVMTEWLngnt2-fcCaS2sb5abuZdHt7zFpEwpsN40PNPlGgXn28n6-UJKEqqgOmG_2ezeTfyy-M2Yt_lqXQAz_QFKajMa_cz83-RzTZvvpmd8FUfFgo-KSprLmpAWN2x-/s1600-h/DSCN0381.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbkLnTX1FTlFuLVMTEWLngnt2-fcCaS2sb5abuZdHt7zFpEwpsN40PNPlGgXn28n6-UJKEqqgOmG_2ezeTfyy-M2Yt_lqXQAz_QFKajMa_cz83-RzTZvvpmd8FUfFgo-KSprLmpAWN2x-/s320/DSCN0381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385946480977799042" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuKWjPObsS6g8748vPoVSYHUcmArhiAbkWyRL9Q6KHExSUsYjUqQV0yLpxdvPsGtLslmV1gTwiG5r3BqaGrhwxaluiwuk3FexbDqRmQTpDIIm-k4b1wZ5r6-loHEg9-tzVfKa_CsF-khE/s1600-h/DSCN0358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuKWjPObsS6g8748vPoVSYHUcmArhiAbkWyRL9Q6KHExSUsYjUqQV0yLpxdvPsGtLslmV1gTwiG5r3BqaGrhwxaluiwuk3FexbDqRmQTpDIIm-k4b1wZ5r6-loHEg9-tzVfKa_CsF-khE/s320/DSCN0358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385946463409065714" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7p1M_SGeIkH5A78iS6R7szTFDc-H6c11XeOZVfH74LQ9Wrz1GGx_WWLnJgP94QgmJKvxmVbqwVlMMjYBPR7uhM8CGffk3Fr9-iCyiOuyXCwQIJ7pEq_kmYK5LnSUmsJTgWgGZnBcAMHx/s1600-h/DSCN0340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7p1M_SGeIkH5A78iS6R7szTFDc-H6c11XeOZVfH74LQ9Wrz1GGx_WWLnJgP94QgmJKvxmVbqwVlMMjYBPR7uhM8CGffk3Fr9-iCyiOuyXCwQIJ7pEq_kmYK5LnSUmsJTgWgGZnBcAMHx/s320/DSCN0340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385946453573745666" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAKF76xsaQ16vodSUJlBSBn3N2nAluDgiump_sjS1yK6xsz6MaYF2_RQKrR9abYMJ7FuyISnXa07_DblJwYj_94G0_kXYdj-dtDhZlsgszbN8d0OZpKkdsh3WyeAQu96PYOgBg4br2hGR/s1600-h/DSCN0330.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAKF76xsaQ16vodSUJlBSBn3N2nAluDgiump_sjS1yK6xsz6MaYF2_RQKrR9abYMJ7FuyISnXa07_DblJwYj_94G0_kXYdj-dtDhZlsgszbN8d0OZpKkdsh3WyeAQu96PYOgBg4br2hGR/s320/DSCN0330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385946443382558162" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There's a certain </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">comfort</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> in being a family of four. There's a certain </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">peace</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> in being able to communicate better now, than in the past months...years. There's a certain </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">insanity</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> when an (ex) husband and wife share dating stories with one another.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLusP9LiZbveUbxYEsDhQiAlxblhreaGKyaKCa5_AeSOpsblthK0I9JNfhpEQYOOfYgcKO8Zw7pK3SC1NgZBS4Kj99NLFkvesq-HK6Px0HGwkC1lbiL9F-5XeARpBHg2JAT856aCjM8mjr/s1600-h/DSCN0326.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLusP9LiZbveUbxYEsDhQiAlxblhreaGKyaKCa5_AeSOpsblthK0I9JNfhpEQYOOfYgcKO8Zw7pK3SC1NgZBS4Kj99NLFkvesq-HK6Px0HGwkC1lbiL9F-5XeARpBHg2JAT856aCjM8mjr/s320/DSCN0326.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385948329027828738" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Although there are no certain answers, we have found a way to continue to grow. As individuals. As a couple. For this, I am grateful. Grateful </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">entirely crazy. Who knows what will be ahead. But damn, I could really use a map right now...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVj8P0kcR6JdUbmy6AKU1Hy-HqNpqaP1ie6-pQSvqKNrkEo1r42XZsCOvirt8kLCgPfC-NDmMnWB4sNJ1kATDJakkQwileJs7MXlsjFPP17IHN4xWoS4vq3D_fWM51qQvkGE3Bw_TBzXF/s320/DSCN0360.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385950617926366082" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">...'cause I'm feeling kinda </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dumbo</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-31533482551516783742009-09-14T19:45:00.000-07:002009-09-14T19:55:44.555-07:00My iPhone Broke My Heart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3ZLCj1P-YIqaxyrjW-am61NQNynU0-HoFtoBG6IdYh6j9EDVMinjbpAiVrsO9UpJXUltGxE2btVuLOCcKlQCGjU2iSIo35sQnDhwmXubIvjonJ4eEq1NB3fzDMVUUaqoBVOl-PZhbaqE/s1600-h/iphone_water_damage.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3ZLCj1P-YIqaxyrjW-am61NQNynU0-HoFtoBG6IdYh6j9EDVMinjbpAiVrsO9UpJXUltGxE2btVuLOCcKlQCGjU2iSIo35sQnDhwmXubIvjonJ4eEq1NB3fzDMVUUaqoBVOl-PZhbaqE/s320/iphone_water_damage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381520661627769458" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Century Gothic';font-size:medium;"><div>I dropped my phone once today in the parking lot outside of school. Thanks to the (new) case, it was just fine. Whew!</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, I dropped it <i>again</i> on the hardwood floors at Patrick's while I was picking up the kids. This time, I wasn't so lucky. Dead. Nothin'.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, I brought it home to try and give it some love, and I dropped it <b><i>again</i></b> on the tile floor. </div><div>Now...it's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:14px;"><i>so</i></span></span> not responding. I tried CPR. I tried that AED thingie that you see on walls in public places. I tried putting it on my pillow and singing softly. All to no avail.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shit. </div><div>I want my phone.</div><div> </div><div>I neeeeeed my phone.</div><div>I hear it ringing.</div><div>I hear that cute little sound when I get a text.</div><div>But the damn screen won't light up.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, until I get to the Apple store (Read: I'm going after school tomorrow to the Apple store), I think I'm out of luck.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fortunately, I still have my laptop to keep me company. How is it that I went all the way through college without a cellphone? And now? I'm hyperventilating and making out with my computer for some techno-love.</div><div><br /></div><div>Is there a such thing as iPhone armor?</div><div>Or should I just get some really great super glue?</div><div>Shit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Come back to me my love...</div><div><br /></div></span>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-58080821009672398912009-09-07T21:29:00.000-07:002009-09-07T21:41:28.743-07:00I'm Totally Going Shoe Shopping, Or Maybe On a Date<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFZw_vZSddC19bGo5i-IZSh_s_RlS_ci_eBfMc-a6rZuTWaRM_-1wsSB_Y4_F74kVETZZJAHjfd-PUM0lXpOPjU8t5aLfqFiifLNuVvwhCSd_sxUjsCyOmCkForkyQ5WO0Azw5Uo80i2S/s1600-h/IMG_0405.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFZw_vZSddC19bGo5i-IZSh_s_RlS_ci_eBfMc-a6rZuTWaRM_-1wsSB_Y4_F74kVETZZJAHjfd-PUM0lXpOPjU8t5aLfqFiifLNuVvwhCSd_sxUjsCyOmCkForkyQ5WO0Azw5Uo80i2S/s400/IMG_0405.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378949728817029058" /></a>So, I had to wear these things called <i>shoes</i> to work last week. They like, go around your foot and have a front and a back. They pretty much suck if they're not called <i>flip-flops</i>. <div><br /></div><div>And then this little thing called <i>ouch these blisters really hurt </i>happened.</div><div><br /></div><div>But it's not all bad, because I totally have good reason to go shoe shopping. And, I might need to go to the <a href="http://blogthismom.blogspot.com/2009/03/when-worlds-collide.html">hot foot doctor</a>. Where <i>might</i> <i>need to</i> means, I'm so making an appointment and stealing him from the world, and asking him on a date.</div><div><br /></div><div>Right. Well, maybe just the new shoes then...</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(It <b>totally</b> looks worse in person. </span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Totally worthy of an MD's time. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Did I mention my limp?)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"> </span></span></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-7626153244725206392009-08-31T19:58:00.000-07:002009-08-31T20:03:27.784-07:00Ego Boost<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJTL4tYHjp4H-FkX_bOB_4C7VJcYpIlh4DjMYlcGTUewDBmc8J_uEqmmuBGpGHM5K3xJx2tdIlVyqsdLa6Lf9cDN1xafAMPdx6CGHV2_U2RatEyF_fCE9D8-VsFp6Ysr-h_sL2kNX6BnP/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJTL4tYHjp4H-FkX_bOB_4C7VJcYpIlh4DjMYlcGTUewDBmc8J_uEqmmuBGpGHM5K3xJx2tdIlVyqsdLa6Lf9cDN1xafAMPdx6CGHV2_U2RatEyF_fCE9D8-VsFp6Ysr-h_sL2kNX6BnP/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376328440004557474" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm not sure which one I am, but I do know... this kid is so getting an </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></div></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-8402198756825404312009-08-22T09:57:00.000-07:002009-08-22T10:04:54.258-07:00My Happy Place<div style="text-align: center;">Is. Right. Here.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlmEK_geNm9zEZZssONH-461PYMQ-Y9igD2Xo_OAZnKqtlbfWMOsX4UfAABUrWRO1YUde8FmcHdbHxcbdq-F2bKP10255UXpNSNlBNLQAkAgVkXrBUWaCLURLmBqvITC1BkNFaLYr8E5K/s1600-h/DSC_0085.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlmEK_geNm9zEZZssONH-461PYMQ-Y9igD2Xo_OAZnKqtlbfWMOsX4UfAABUrWRO1YUde8FmcHdbHxcbdq-F2bKP10255UXpNSNlBNLQAkAgVkXrBUWaCLURLmBqvITC1BkNFaLYr8E5K/s400/DSC_0085.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372834643103174946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHkUsApByKT7HBB_OYbjqycckccSNmS9pFGYFxh_ushDUlKNGFm4ARc2-kn56FJDSVEEJRX926Ky2_d3E5sTa6PPQ7-dhIWDWUbdlfbND0RaZ75iCMQ_C7F1fA86cwlGgEGOqlLRNJCvK/s1600-h/DSC_0038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHkUsApByKT7HBB_OYbjqycckccSNmS9pFGYFxh_ushDUlKNGFm4ARc2-kn56FJDSVEEJRX926Ky2_d3E5sTa6PPQ7-dhIWDWUbdlfbND0RaZ75iCMQ_C7F1fA86cwlGgEGOqlLRNJCvK/s400/DSC_0038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372834636740855794" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhU6ekGqMhgAm9fi-iS50UATjQYHn91hHUJAF_2a7mvcrjw8aTqYkmSBQSIOi4icgxbGfLrCnYYd9q-UbpNzJYSZu9Xy9s5NMmuB2GlkKtXdyKRMYfJlDuBvi_mb0HLPtFstva6VYWXxM/s1600-h/DSC_0056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhU6ekGqMhgAm9fi-iS50UATjQYHn91hHUJAF_2a7mvcrjw8aTqYkmSBQSIOi4icgxbGfLrCnYYd9q-UbpNzJYSZu9Xy9s5NMmuB2GlkKtXdyKRMYfJlDuBvi_mb0HLPtFstva6VYWXxM/s400/DSC_0056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372834027533570482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FaIhuqHuBj7g7zTHirqzkJdNKMnSBsGgnxPqj4om5x-PogLFk389FNHMQbPAdwkVpL7q1LHht4uGiF7RDQ0P9hEPFq1YCVQMZTNhkwH_leWtqIOD0w0-uzcMgiB6V1H-UQRWw-STmTLK/s1600-h/DSC_0081.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FaIhuqHuBj7g7zTHirqzkJdNKMnSBsGgnxPqj4om5x-PogLFk389FNHMQbPAdwkVpL7q1LHht4uGiF7RDQ0P9hEPFq1YCVQMZTNhkwH_leWtqIOD0w0-uzcMgiB6V1H-UQRWw-STmTLK/s400/DSC_0081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372834012063197762" /></a>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-46607139918132288652009-08-16T12:55:00.000-07:002009-08-16T13:32:39.523-07:00Just Write<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When there is so much to say, there is only way way to begin...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Just write.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When there are feelings to consider, conflicting sentiments of readers, or perhaps no readers at all...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Just write.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When your heart is confused or happy or longing or joyful...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Just write.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">There is a girl who has never been single. Never. Not for a glimpse of a moment really. It's hard to explain </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">why</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">. A good friend told me, just today, not to search for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">why</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">. I will try to take her advice. I will search for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">what</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">. What has brought me here. Right. Here. What does it feel like to be here. Right. Here.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Had I written weeks ago, the words would have tumbled out in bursts of excitement and giggles. That's how it goes with writing, with journeys; the bursts are replaced with calm and the calm replaced by memories. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I have this </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">thing</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> where I find a man, make him fall in love with me, make myself fall in love with him, and then... marry him. I forget to choose. I forget to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">choose my own</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">. And perhaps? I have already done it again. Not the marrying, of course, but the forgetting that I can walk away at any time, fold my cards, and shuffle the deck. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So, I met a guy. A lovely, incredible guy. He swept me away. Sincerely. Like no other. The kind of swept away that makes you forget to eat/sleep/breathe... the kind that feels truly glorious. Remember that feeling? Driving to see that person; listening to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">just the righ</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">t music, planning </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">just the right</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> meal, sharing </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">just the right</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> story, wearing</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> just the right</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> underwear. It has been good. It has been so, so good.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And then? I remember that I have been here before. Sort of. Only this time the stakes are higher, the rules of the game uncertain because I am not just playing my hand of cards, but the cards of my two loveliest creations. And they? May not want to play cards yet. They? May want to throw the deck up and watch the pieces scatter and then roll and play in them. And they? May want their mama to do the same.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So here I am. Holding my cards. I've got a good hand, a damn good hand to put down. But I don't know what the other players have. Maybe, just maybe, they've got my Ace. So today, I remind myself...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It's okay to wait for the Ace.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It's okay if the Ace never comes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It's okay to shuffle the deck.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But it's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">not</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> okay to pretend I am holding the Ace, when in my heart I know, I am not.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">***************</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(My apologies for neglecting your blogs, my friends. I miss you all, and will come around again, starting...right.now.)</span></span></div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213362737974181086.post-34748956941362055662009-08-16T12:26:00.000-07:002009-08-16T12:54:45.540-07:00Up For AirWhen you travel underwater, deep under the waves and tides and light, the journey is yours. Although it is summer, I can not see the sun. Although it is summer, I can not feel the heat. Although it is summer, I feel the long days pulling. Always pulling. <div><br /></div><div>And now, I am ready, to come up for air.</div>just jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218649675899000158noreply@blogger.com1