I have to start this blog with an apology to my mother. Sorry, but hopefully this will make you laugh.
One of the ways my family bonds is by making fun of my mother. I have to say she is an amazing sport; I probably couldn’t take half of the teasing she does.
When Eric and I were learning about world religions in middle or high school we somehow turned it around so that she had to learn it and it has become tradition for us to make her recite the 5 pillars of Islam at random times. I must say, none of us have ever forgotten them.
We used to make fun of her for asking over and over and over again if we had any homework and if so if it was done. I now know she was just looking out for us and trying to do a million other things at the same time. I get it now.
One of the biggest things Eric and I would share laughter over was her abhorrence of shipping costs. Her mother doesn’t like to pay for long distance telephone calls (even though that’s pretty much a thing of the past now) and mine doesn’t like to pay for shipping. When I was in college I got care packages with rice cakes and helium balloons—really cheap to ship!
If Eric and I shipped things to each other we didn’t tell her….we wanted to avoid a diatribe on shipping costs.
There is a certain kind of pen that I like to use. My husband makes fun of me because I have gone on a seemingly endless search for the perfect pen and I like only one kind of cheap pen. It’s not a Mont Blanc, it’s a Uni-ball Deluxe micro with black ink. But of course, I can never find it in stock anywhere. These are the pens I use at work and I really hate to use any other. I’m running out so I started looking for some and as usual struck out. We get free shipping on most items from Amazon so I looked there, but they only carry blue and red ink. Staples and Office Max have them on their websites, but not in stock in the store. Why? I have no idea. I hate the idea of paying $20.00 for a box of 12 pens and then having to pay $10 in shipping. I mean I really hate it, but I really need these pens!
Today I found a way to circumvent the shipping charge. I ordered the pens to be delivered to my local Staples where I can go pick them up. Ha!
I guess I’m turning into my mother after all.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
#255 The Name Game
As you all know, Eric was a New Year’s baby. In fact he was the first baby born in our county in the year 1977. He got his picture in the paper and I think my parents might have gotten some free pizza. I always thought that was pretty cool.
As you all probably also know, I’m pregnant. This means I’m going to have a baby to name. I am fascinated by names and always have been. I used to make long, long lists of names when we would go on car trips. I have found other people who are fascinated by names and one of them wrote a great baby naming book. Her name is Laura Wattenberg and she has a website, http://www.babynamewizard.com/ with lots of interesting naming tools and a blog.
From her website I found http://www.namecandy.com/ which had a recent blog featuring the names of the first babies born in each state for 2011. http://www.namecandy.com/celebrity-baby-names/blog/2011/01/04/new-years-first-baby-names-2011-a-little-ditty-about-jax-and-ca
Poor little Lexi Love is probably destined to be a stripper, and Princess Avana sounds like a character right out of Star Wars or Star Trek.
Naming a baby is a big responsibility. I’m considering the name that Eric wanted for himself, seen in post #56.
Julius Augustus Romulus
What do you think?
As you all probably also know, I’m pregnant. This means I’m going to have a baby to name. I am fascinated by names and always have been. I used to make long, long lists of names when we would go on car trips. I have found other people who are fascinated by names and one of them wrote a great baby naming book. Her name is Laura Wattenberg and she has a website, http://www.babynamewizard.com/ with lots of interesting naming tools and a blog.
From her website I found http://www.namecandy.com/ which had a recent blog featuring the names of the first babies born in each state for 2011. http://www.namecandy.com/celebrity-baby-names/blog/2011/01/04/new-years-first-baby-names-2011-a-little-ditty-about-jax-and-ca
Poor little Lexi Love is probably destined to be a stripper, and Princess Avana sounds like a character right out of Star Wars or Star Trek.
Naming a baby is a big responsibility. I’m considering the name that Eric wanted for himself, seen in post #56.
Julius Augustus Romulus
What do you think?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
#254 Star Wars footie pajamas...again...
Last night my 7 year old declared himself too old and too big to keep the outgrown Star Wars footie pajamas in his drawer. How did I deal with this? Surprisingly well. I told him to put them on the pile in the closet that I still haven’t managed to go through. Those pajamas will probably never leave our house, but they can leave his drawer.
Of course then my 4 year old, who does EVERYTHING his big brother does, pulled out his Star Wars footie pajamas and declared they were too small for him. They are not. While he didn’t wear them last night, I did get him to put them back in his drawer.
I am amazed at how much Star Wars seems to be a part of Eric’s legacy. I always knew he liked the movies, but I have written about these specific pajamas about 5 times. Then there is the Star Wars tent, the light sabers, and the 7 year old’s birthday party this weekend that is Star Wars themed. It almost makes me wish I liked the movies more….almost.
It’s nice that we have them though. As the boys get older and watch them more it’s something they’ll always associate with Eric. That’s just one of the many ways he’ll always be a part of our lives.
Of course then my 4 year old, who does EVERYTHING his big brother does, pulled out his Star Wars footie pajamas and declared they were too small for him. They are not. While he didn’t wear them last night, I did get him to put them back in his drawer.
I am amazed at how much Star Wars seems to be a part of Eric’s legacy. I always knew he liked the movies, but I have written about these specific pajamas about 5 times. Then there is the Star Wars tent, the light sabers, and the 7 year old’s birthday party this weekend that is Star Wars themed. It almost makes me wish I liked the movies more….almost.
It’s nice that we have them though. As the boys get older and watch them more it’s something they’ll always associate with Eric. That’s just one of the many ways he’ll always be a part of our lives.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
#253 Snow
I heard on CNN this morning that it snowed in Las Vegas, there was accumulation on the strip for the first time, possibly, ever. It snowed in Vegas last December too.
The first few days we were there were nasty and rainy. I remember I had only brought the shoes I was wearing and they were suede and I had to run through the hospital parking lot full of puddles in the dark. Amazingly, I didn’t wreck them. Although I would trade outcomes…..
I don’t remember how long we had been there, but one night in our hotel suite we realized it was snowing. It was almost magical to see the snow flurries fall past the balconies. I remember calling the kids over to see it. And then remembering why we were there and wondering how anything could possibly seem magical. There was no accumulation that time and we quickly forgot about it.
I have reached a point in my life where snow is more about aggravation and slick roads than magic and the excitement of snowmen and sledding. Every once in a while it’s nice to find it magical again. Even momentarily.
The first few days we were there were nasty and rainy. I remember I had only brought the shoes I was wearing and they were suede and I had to run through the hospital parking lot full of puddles in the dark. Amazingly, I didn’t wreck them. Although I would trade outcomes…..
I don’t remember how long we had been there, but one night in our hotel suite we realized it was snowing. It was almost magical to see the snow flurries fall past the balconies. I remember calling the kids over to see it. And then remembering why we were there and wondering how anything could possibly seem magical. There was no accumulation that time and we quickly forgot about it.
I have reached a point in my life where snow is more about aggravation and slick roads than magic and the excitement of snowmen and sledding. Every once in a while it’s nice to find it magical again. Even momentarily.
Monday, January 3, 2011
#252 Change
Change.
Life doesn’t exist without it, but it can be so hard. My husband pointed out to me yesterday that the tone of my blogs has changed since I began. They are not as morose as they used to be. As least most of them anyway.
I agreed with him, but told him I didn’t want to talk about it. I hate that it has become routine to remember that Eric is gone. I hate that even though I don’t want to, I’m moving on. It feels like I am betraying him.
I know I can’t stay in that same place forever, but that doesn’t mean that part of me doesn’t want to.
I don’t know how this becomes normal, but slowly it does.
Life doesn’t exist without it, but it can be so hard. My husband pointed out to me yesterday that the tone of my blogs has changed since I began. They are not as morose as they used to be. As least most of them anyway.
I agreed with him, but told him I didn’t want to talk about it. I hate that it has become routine to remember that Eric is gone. I hate that even though I don’t want to, I’m moving on. It feels like I am betraying him.
I know I can’t stay in that same place forever, but that doesn’t mean that part of me doesn’t want to.
I don’t know how this becomes normal, but slowly it does.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
#251 New Life
I just found out that a friend and neighbor of mine gave birth to a baby girl yesterday. It had been a long road to pregnancy for her and after years of trying, several miscarriages and the adoption of a beautiful little girl she got pregnant when she wasn’t even trying. It figures. I can’t tell you how happy I am for her and her family, and how happy I am that her daughter shares a birthday with Eric.
Yesterday was a really weird day. It was a celebration of sorts, of the New Year and of Eric’s birthday, but it was also mournful and sad. It didn’t help that the weather was gray and drizzly, or that my husband wasn’t feeling well, or that the Big 10 lost all of their bowl games.
My parents, husband and I toasted Eric with champagne and in the same toast wished for a happy and healthy New Year. It was a day of opposites and competing emotions.
I’m glad that new life came into the world yesterday and that I’m aware of it. I can’t wait to go buy her something pink.
Yesterday was a really weird day. It was a celebration of sorts, of the New Year and of Eric’s birthday, but it was also mournful and sad. It didn’t help that the weather was gray and drizzly, or that my husband wasn’t feeling well, or that the Big 10 lost all of their bowl games.
My parents, husband and I toasted Eric with champagne and in the same toast wished for a happy and healthy New Year. It was a day of opposites and competing emotions.
I’m glad that new life came into the world yesterday and that I’m aware of it. I can’t wait to go buy her something pink.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
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