Sigh...

Monday, February 06, 2006

The Long and Short of It:

1. Tree fell on house. My neighbor's DEAD TREE THAT HE KILLED. The tree I wanted to cut down and would've shared the expense.
2. Transmission went on 4 year old van.
3. Aidan spit at a boy (albeit nasty little mf) on the bus, and will need to see the principal.
4. Colin needs to see a specialist because he has some eating difficulties.
5. Digital camera is not focusing.
6. I am on some wacky fundraising committee and I am taking a class and sometimes I go to work on Saturdays for about 14 hours and I HAVE HAD QUITE ENOUGH, THANK YOU.

link | posted by Colleen at 12:06 PM
18 comments

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Go on. Laugh at them.

I bought these at a Payless near my parent's house and showed them to my dad.

He LAUGHED at me and called the shoes "really Italian looking."

I thought they were a fun break from my Birks. I nearly returned them.
Now I just wear them and think, "oohhhh....sparkly, ugly, fun."

Would you buy these shoes? Look. I don't even have polish on my toes. I could use a bit o' glamour.

Maybe not.

link | posted by Colleen at 1:06 PM
41 comments

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

And then, one day you find/ Ten years have got behind you

Amanda's post got me to thinking about how life can become so radically different within a few years, whether we steer ourselves onto another path, or whether circumstances carry us there.

In the summer of 1995, I lived in a small bedroom in a rented house in an upscale suburban neighborhood. It stood just three blocks from the hospital where I worked as an operating room nurse.

I had just broken up with a guy my parents LOVED. He was a terrific guy, but something was missing. Difficult thing to do. It was a pretty lonely time. I was 27, and I felt that I was a failure in the intimacy department. I was convinced I would probably never marry, and kids? Nope. No way.

One night that summer, I was driving home from an outdoor opera-in-the-park that I attended... alone. Some jerky guy in a Mercedes rear-ended me on the highway. I made him call the cops, although I was nice about the whole thing. (He, on the other hand, was a sneaky asshole.) His car was totaled, whereas my Jeep Cherokee's back bumper and tailgate were just a bit crumpled.

I watched as his wife came to the scene to pick him up. I realized then that I didn't have anyone to call. I drove the few blocks home to an empty house.

That year, for stupid reasons, I spent Thanksgiving alone. I ate cold spaghetti, for God's sake. I was a pathetic fool.

As I recount this ridiculous tale of woe, I am unable to even be alone to type it. I sit on Ian's bed, Batman pillow behind my back, patting his nightmare away. It's like Amanda said. This child sleeping next to me, the one who spills his milk daily, rips leather furniture, wakes up the finally napping baby, this child and his brothers, and their father, is the reason you cannot tell me God is dead.

My "where was I then?" tale does not come close to the gravity of Amanda's journey, or of her accomplishments. I do feel as though I've found my place in this world; that I am exactly where I'm meant to be. I hope it's so.

link | posted by Colleen at 7:05 PM
16 comments

Monday, August 01, 2005

Brother Number Three (of Three)

Mike is 6 years older than me. He was the baby until I came along. So is it any wonder he put me in the dryer? Smothered me with couch pillows, with the reasoning that he was testing how claustrophobic I was? Played "taste-test"... yummmm, honey, then sugar, Cool Whip, Tabasco sauce, pickle juice, coffee grounds... you get the picture. Mike teased me to no end. I probably cried every day. Sometimes big brother Bill would bring justice upon him for me.

One day, I came home from school bloody and sniveling. Mike said,
"What happened?"

"I was giving Lynn Hughes a ride on my bike and we fell."

Except Lynn Hughes was 2 feet taller than I was, so, 1. Stupid Me, and, 2. I scraped every bit of me on the road, while Lynn simply put both feet on the ground and stood up.

Mike went over to the Hughes' house to beat up her older brother. Yep. He did care!

When I got older, and quit crying every time I got teased, we got pretty tight.

Last year, he got sick of Northeast winters. He wanted a better life for his family, so he packed up annd moved to South Carolina. Our loss.

Mike is the kind of guy that knows a little bit about everything. The most astounding thing about Mike, however, is his great personal strength. I can only say that he beat the odds.

We miss you. Hope you swing up north soon.

link | posted by Colleen at 11:33 AM
8 comments

Friday, July 29, 2005

Dear Ladybug, Thank You So Very Much

Just when I was beginning to think that I should probably shut Clobber down because I am unable to sit with dual hand control, I received this birthday gift in the mail.

It's so thoughtful, and a perfect fit! When I saw what the shirt said, I was pretty much knocked off my feet. There's a picture of a Slinky on the back, too. It's lovely and it even makes me look a bit chesty!

I was momentarily confused by the origin of the gift until the phone rang (TEXAS, said the Caller Id). See, when I opened the gift, I had a naked child screaming bloody murder, a bag of post-pool wet clothes, a hungry baby, and a not-quite-potty-trained youngster making a colossal puddle on the floor. The packing slip just quietly hid in the bag.

Ladybug told me that she e-mailed Kristine to have her man, that sweetheart, Shaun design it.

It is brilliant and I LOVE IT so very much!! I was truly touched by Ladybug's thoughtfulness.

What a difference a friend can make in one's life.

link | posted by Colleen at 10:49 AM
20 comments

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Anger.

That's my problem.
But, every day, I am trying to be a part of the solution.

link | posted by Colleen at 11:27 PM

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Brother Number Two (Of Three)

Uncle Brian is the Fun Uncle. A Funcle, if you will. (Sorry, still feverish and loopy.)
My first memory of Brian is hmmm, a bit embarrassing, but shows you something about his character and work ethic. When I was in the throes of my own potty training, he was the brother who sat in the bathroom with me FOR HOURS and played or read to me. 'Nuff said. He used to knock "Shave and a Haircut" on my bedroom wall, to my answering "Two Bits". He always seemed to have cool, interesting, out-of-the-ordinary food stuff, like Haribu gummy candy. This love of great, interesting, out-of-the-ordinary food never changed. When Uncle Brian's coming to dinner, it's a five-star dining experience.

He's been with the same company for years and worked from the ground up.
His dedication to his work is inspiring. He is organized, trustworthy, and professional. When I visit him at work, I have this rush of pride every time. The people he manages respect and like him because he respects them. I can't wait to visit him at his new store. Hopefully this week when I'm feeling better, I can take a run out to Whitehouse. The boys ADORE him.

When I was pregnant with Aidan, we became much closer than we ever had been. I would visit him at his store, or we would go hiking, or go to the swanky Short Hills Mall. In fact, he took me up and down the elevator to get me going into labor. The day I was due, he walked me around the mall for multiple hours. I waddled, he walked.

He's the only brother left in NJ. I don't know how long that'll last, because I know he's thinking about someday moving south. Kinda makes NJ seem like a sinking ship, doesn't it? Just so damn expensive to live here.

*sigh* We've got to get out and see you more often, UB.

link | posted by Colleen at 6:28 AM
10 comments