love

"There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved..." George Sand, French Romantic writer, noted for her numerous love affairs with such prominent figures as Prosper Merimee, Alfred de Musset, Frédéric Chopin, Alexandre Manceau and others.


September 27 was our Third Anniversary. I really don't say enough about what a wonderful man I'm married to. I love this man, simple as that. I've decided to throw caution to the wind and post our most recent photo here - so here we are, the happy couple. I took this photo myself at Children's Park using the timer feature. Can you believe it?

We had big plans for our anniversary this year but they were quashed in lieu of the big Rita scare. Things turned out okay, by the way. We received no damage, no loss of power even. There are a few downed trees around town but that's about it... The storm decided to head east of us. In any event, we were planning an overnight trip (sans kids) to Dallas last weekend but have re-scheduled to the 8th (can't wait!) And on Tuesday, our actual anniversary, Mike was planning on taking me out for dinner at Bernard Mediterranian but I fell sick with the flu and those plans were also quashed. All that being said, though, we did find time to exchange gifts Tuesday night after the kids were in bed. With the 3rd anniversary being the "leather anniversary" things could've gotten out of hand, but we each decided to go with nice traditional gifts. I gave Mike a nice new leather belt with a new pair of pants that he's been saying he needs for quite some time; and he gave me a beautiful leather photo book. I'm going to fill it with pictures of us - and only us... And when I returned to work on Wednesday I was surprised with a dozen roses at my desk.

Besides the sickness, this week has been a good one. Since Tuesday I've been on the mend. The kids have been sleeping good and on Thursday the weather here finally turned fall-like and that made me smile like you wouldn't believe. I love this time of year and am looking forward to the holiday season...

disaster

If you think about disaster, you will get it. Brood about death and you hasten your demise. Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience. - Edward Rickenbacker, b. Columbus, Ohio, on 8th October 1890. His skill as a leading racing-car driver earned him the position of chauffeur to General John Pershing during the First World War. In March 1918 Rickenbacker joined the United States Air Service and over the next few months became the leading USA Flying Ace when he recorded 26 victories against German aircraft. After the Armistice wrote his autobiography, Fighting the Flying Circus (1919). Rickenbacker also bought and administered the Indianapolis Speedway and later became president of Eastern Airlines. In October 1942, Rickenbacker, on a secret mission to New Guinea, was aboard a B-17 bomber that crashed in the Pacific Ocean. Rickenbacker and six companions survived 24 days afloat on life rafts. Edward Rickenbacker died in Zurich, Switzerland, on 27th July, 1973.

Hurricane Rita is on her way. Just yesterday I was seriously considering taking the kids and heading north. I was a bit scared and emotional yesterday, to say the least. Firstly, because of the unknown effects this storm is going to have, and secondly because I had to leave my kids at an alternative daycare provided by my WorkOptions group because Ms. Connie is closed today and yesterday. The alternative daycare is called "Carpenter's Cross" and is located in a Baptist Church between Flint and Dogwood City. It kinda feels like it's out in the middle of nowhere but it really isn't. It's just that the roads leading to it are winding and flanked by trees - really pretty actually. But anyway, Macy had a blast and wanted to go back again. Her teacher fell in love with her and asked me if Macy could come back everyday. She said, "Macy is soooo great!!! So Smart!!!! So independant!!!" I just said, "I know!" And Nicky was also a big hit. His room teacher said, "He's so easy, so sweet. He just laughs and laughs!" But, its a mommy thing to feel apprehensive leaving them with strangers. After today, things'll be back to normal, well, with the exception of the storm...

So back to the storm. People are crazy, ya'll! No bottled water, bread, or batteries at most stores. Gas stations are running out of gas. Traffic through little ol' Jacksonville is backed up. People are being turned away from shelters. It's mass exodus. I feel fortunate my family and I have a (hopefully) safe haven to ride this thing out. We have been preparing. We have two cases of water, lots of ice and candles and canned goods. Mike got a couple little propane tanks for the little hibachi grill and we have lots of meat to cook, too. We should be fine as long as a tornado doesn't come through the neighborhood (no basements!) Mike will probably be at his office most of the weekend so me and the kids will have to be brave or find a good friend to hang out with... I don't know. We'll see! I'll be back in touch Monday with the details...

I've posted an email from my mom that I thought was cute...

I think you'll be fine. Some helpful hints... from experiencing power outages

Be sure and save lots of water. Fill your bathtubs with water. Then you can dip it out to flush the toilet or use it to wash with.
Fill some ziplock bags 3/4 full with water / koolaid / juice / pop and put them in the freezer. if your electricity goes otu you will have slushies!
Have your cell phone charged up.
Have flashlights handy with extra batteries.
Get out all your candles and matches. (don't let Macy get them!)
Pop some popcorn and big it up. This will go great with your slushies.
Buy some glo sticks. They're fun to play / sleep with in the dark.

I'll talk to you tonight. Love you. Mom

addiction

"Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism." -Carl Jung.

My two-and-a-half-year-old is an addict. Yes... an applejuiceaholic. Last night we began dejuicifying her. She went cold turkey.

After she finally fell asleep, the night went better than I thought it would and she only woke us up once about midnight demanding, yes, apple juice, and needing to go potty. But the two hours before she fell asleep weren't so fun. She laid in bed crying first, "applejuice!!" then "mommy!" then "daddy" then "mommydaddy" then "don't like water!" then "gottagopotty!". I also started a bedtime ritual that I hope will help her transition to bedtime. Until a few months ago she was a dream. We put her in bed at night (yes, with a cup of juice and blankie) and didn't hear from her until morning. But the last few months have been hell. She fights bedtime and makes several trips into our room during the night. We hope taking away juice and replacing it with water will lessen her frequent awakenings during the night (plus, it may save her teeth from rotting!)

Someday soon we'll get through this phase of parenthood. I tell ya, it's a constant struggle but a simple smile, laugh or "love you, mommy" from her reminds me how much it is worth. Usually...

"The tasks are done and the tears are shed. Yesterday's errors let yesterday cover; Yesterday's wounds, which smarted and bled, Are healed with the healing that night has shed." -Sarah Chauncey Woolsey, author of children's novels and poetry. Born in Cleveland, OH, on January 29, 1835.

Last week was a long one and it is now history. We must move on a look ahead. You'll be glad to know I'm happier this week. At the risk of sounding completely selfish, the Katrina news fell on top of a very hormonal time and, as you can imagine, I had to struggle between watching the unending live reports and trying my best to not watch at the risk of absoutely losing it.

But, luckily, this week things look a little better for a lot of people. Even though, for many, many others, the weeks ahead will be just as trying as more deaths are accounted for and the realization of the disappearance of life as it was once known sets in. I continue to pray and hope for things to come out as best they can. I'm proud of all of the unnamed saints who've been there to comfort and serve those in need. I'm proud of all of the courage and comraderie displayed by so many victims and helpers alike. Once again it has been proven, even through all of the madness, there are a lot of heroes out there!

other weekend points of interest:
Mike will not have to go to Louisiana with his services now being needed here, instead. I'm glad.
Nicky got four new teeth!!

sadness

The bond of a common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom. from Barteby the Scrivener byHerman Melville, Writer, born in New York City, New York. Most widely known as author of American classic, Moby Dick.

I'm so sad about the whole Katrina tragedy. I don't know where to start, really. I've watched the images on TV all week, growing increasingly anxious myself and wondering why, in America, five days after a devastating storm, are there still people stranded without food and water and shelter. How can this possibly happen?

In my younger days, I would've felt sad for those people, but more than that, I would've simply been happy it wasn't me. That thought goes through my mind now, sure, but it's not enough to make me feel better. Today, I'm fasting because I can't think of anything else (besides prayer) that I can do right now. I feel useless and helpless and wish I could do more. Mike and I did what little we could on Tuesday and brought some blankets, water and fruit into one of the Red Cross' Shelters in town. And Mike has been to work by 5:30 for the past couple of days, getting his crews assembled to head to Louisiana. And we found out yesterday he may have to go next week. I'm proud that he's going to go and glad that one of us can do something, yet I'm anxious and scared and have a lingering uneasiness about what is going to happen in the weeks ahead. Our country feels unstable, our resources, understandably, tapped out and concentrated in one part of the country - I feel unsafe.

But I will have faith that once again goodness will prevail. I continue to pray for the heroes who are making a difference, for those who are desperate and hopeless, hungry, hot and tired. I pray for the babies who are going hungry, for the lost and forgotten animals and for the victims of the ever-increasing random acts of violence. And yes, I do pray for those wreaking havoc because, although it may be hard to understand, perhaps they need it the most.