Ditch-Day

John starts his new job next week (yay for him!) so to celebrate this new chapter, we're taking Thursday off to fulfill his "ditch-day dream". Seemingly, the adult version of Senior Skip Day, but we're not literally skipping work, just checking out of our routine for eight hours.

Every morning he asks me in the same dry tone, "you goin' to work today?"

"yup" I say, "you?"

"nah, i'm heading to Crossgates to catch a movie..."

Every. Morning. For the past four years.

So this Thursday it is. We're actually heading to Crossgates to catch that movie, but I get to call lunch, so we're classing it up a bit with Ravenous on Phila Street in 'Toga town. I'm sure there'll be some obscure stop along the way.

"The question isn't what are we going to do today? It's what aren't we going to do?!"-Ferris Bueller

I'm a Lucky Woman

I feel bad about my angry post, but I needed to get it out I guess. John stepped up and cleaned the house, took us out for a Harvest lunch and a winter drive. It helped. And of course my cheesy country music puts life into perspective.

So here goes. John, Luke and I rocked out to this last night, a good cry helps too.

I have days where I hate my job
This little town and the whole world too
Last Sunday when the Pats lost
Lord it put me in a bad mood

I have moments when I curse the rain
Then complain when the sun's too hot
I look around at what everyone has
And I forget about all I've got

But I know I'm a lucky man
God's given me a pretty fair hand
Got a house and a piece of land
A few dollars in a coffee can
My old trucks still running good
My ticker's ticking like they say it should
I got supper in the oven, a good woman's loving
And one more day to be my little kid's dad
Lord, knows I'm a lucky man

Got some friends who would be here fast
I could call em any time of day
Got a brother who's got my back
Got a mama who I swears a saint
Got a brand new rod and reel
Got a full week off this year
Dad had a close call last spring
It's a miracle he's still here

But I know I'm a lucky man
God's given me a pretty fair hand
Got a house and a piece of land
a few dollars in a coffee can
My old trucks still running good
My ticker's tickin' like they say it should
I got supper in the oven, good woman's loving
And one more day to be my little kid's dad
Lord, knows I'm a lucky man

My old trucks still running good
My ticker's ticking like they say it should
I got supper in the oven, a good woman's loving
And even my bad days ain't that bad
Yeah, I'm a lucky man
I'm a lucky lucky man

PS. I ain't so into the rod and reel! :)

Winter doldrums. Read at your own risk.

Ugh. Luke has been sick for pretty much the entire month of January. This past week he's battled bronchiolitis, an ear infection and pink eye. His face is red, splotchy and crusty, but he's a trooper, always smiling and continuing to babble at us with gusto. Meanwhile, John and I have worked our way through 3 boxes of tissues and 3 rounds of antibiotics. That wasn't a typo, I've had 2 so far, he's still working on his 1. It's safe to say I started the chain-reaction of sickness. I'm ready to be free of tissues and the dry, scratchy, red patch of skin that has plagued the small area between the bottom of my nose and the tip of my lips. Oh yeah and breathing through my nose and tasting food would be nice. Sorry, this post will be riddled with self-pity. If you can't hang, get out.

On top of all of this, (*beware female talk on the horizon here*) I'm PMSing big time. Like major, horrific emotional rollercoaster. In reality I'm pacing the house wondering if I'm pregnant or if it is infact Aunt Flo about to settle in for her second visit since Septemeber 2006. See, I told you it was horrific and possibly too much info. Deal with it.

Watch out, vent is not over yet.

Work is lackluster. 'Nuf said there. Am I the only one in the house that can make the bed/do the dishes/cycle the laundry/Swiffer/vacuum/do general pick-up? Sorry hun, just sayin'. Winter is grating on my last nerve. I long for flip-flops and springy skirts. A vacation perhaps? Hmm, what's that? Fresh warm air, curtains blowing in a gentle spring breeze, birds chirping, flowers blooming, evening walks through the 'hood. *sigh* I hope my gym isn't closed today as I desperately need to go to strength training tonight. And yes you should feel bad for John, you think this post sucks, you should try to live with me. He's tried so hard to cheer me up and all I can reciprocate with is a pissed off glare. I feel like an angst-ridden 16 year old. I'm sorry, but I'm not.

Okay, I guess that's enough wallowing. It's time to take my son's advice and power through the tough stuff.

Thanks for listening, I feel better now. I'm off to take a hot shower and wash the doldrums away.

Addition:

John shared this with me...oh holy shit! For some stupid reason I can't create a link...
http://newdaddotcom.blogspot.com/

Re: solutions check-in

I just want to say that it's January 15 and I'm on week two of working out at home during lunch and signed myself up for strength training classes twice a week. I've been to two classes already and am mad at myself for waiting this long to go back, but hey, I'm back now and that's what matters.

Patting myself on the back (how many times can I say "back" in one post?) and thanking my husband for being supportive. He listens to my whining which I'm sure is/was bordering on incessant and then kicks my can out the door for the much needed recharge of sweating and female bonding.

I had to include these pics of me and Luke. They make me smile, he's too cute. Life is good.

Dance Par-Tay

John got a new iPod for Christmas and has since subjected me and Bubby to his favorite playlists, a random mix of tunes from Cake to George Harrison to the Superman theme song. We've started having dance parties with Luke in the living room after dinner. Yes we are geeks, but he laughs so hard and thinks it's so fun. Or maybe he's just laughing AT us.

Here's a peak into the Stevens family "after-dark"!

The Untied States

I was reading an article in HOW magazine a few years ago about major typos in publications. The author had read an article entitled "These Untied States", hence the title of this blog. We've all made mistakes, it happens. I met with an advertising sales rep for a local business journal this week. Their rates were a little out of my budget. As a non-profit I am always begging for cheap rates, printing discounts, any help is appreciated as my budget is extremely small. His rates were on the high side, like really, really high, especially for someone in my position. I asked about non-profit rates and media sponsorship. He said I needed to send him a form or paperwork that states that we truly are a non-profit, because you know there are some "non-profits" that claim to be, but really aren't. We're a non-profit, obviously right? I mean we're an art museum, a historic place, we're not a business, we don't sell, or make a product. And it's not like I was having a phone converstation with him, he was sitting in our conference room, he walked through the museum doors. But, Okay. Whatever.

So he emails me today with the information that I asked him for.

His response: "I talked with the publisher and we can offer you a non-prophet rate of......"

I was giggling uncontrollably as I read it. NON-PROPHET!

PROPHET?!

God bless these untied states.

Milestones

My mama-pride needs to document these moments. It's amazing to me that last week he could barely sit up and this week, poof he's sitting!

That's my boy!

Here's the latest run-down on his excellency:)

He can for the most part hold his bottles
















He makes daddy beam when he babbles Da-Da

He laughs at himself when he claps his hands and they make noise!

He can produce enough drool to hydrate an Army

Last but not least he can wave Bye-Bye, but it's backwards...he waves to himself and maybe he's just opening and closing his hands (or maybe we're delusional proud parents), but he does it at the perfect moment when we're saying Hi and Bye.

He can cuddle with the best of them!