The Boring Happenings in Suburbia

I have been terribly lax about posting lately.  I don't know if it is because of sheer laziness, I'm too busy enjoying the sunshine and heat of the short summer in New England, or if it is just that I truly have nothing left to say.  I am hoping that it is not the latter of the three because then I am really in a sad state of affairs.  I just ask that you all bear with me and my lack of enthusiasm for posting for awhile and keep checking back because who knows, there could be one day that I muse about something amazingly profound and wouldn't you be so upset if you missed it. :)

Anyway, things in the life of my lovely little world as of late are as follows:

Beatrice is settling in nicely.  We are still so in love with her.  Still working on house training, which she seems to be getting the hang of.  The only problem we are running into is that we have 5 steps on our front porch leading up to our house and her tiny little legs can't quite make the length of them, so we are still carrying her up and down them until she grows a bit more.

She is also VERY VERY nippy when she is excited and wants to play.  We find ourselves constantly saying "Ouch, No, Stop, etc." You know, all the things the trainers, books and vets tell you to say.  We have swatted her nose, turned our backs, and even sprayed her with water.  Unfortunately, she thinks that everything we say or do is a signal that we are playing.  Any other ideas out there?  Please let me know if you have one.  The good news is that her outbursts are very short-lived.  She gets tired easily and it isn't long before she needs her nap.  

She has settled into the routine of snuggling up with dear hubby every evening about 7:00 - 7:30 pm.  I have to wake her up about 9:00 or 10:00 to make her pee (which she is not very happy about) so she can get through the night until 6:00 am.  Not so bad for 12 weeks old.

Dear little cherubs are still working on their chores (paid and unpaid) and still looking for the other jobs to make some extra cash.  They have even offered to buy me lunch on a few occasions, which is good, because as you all know, I have gone completely broke paying for the jobs they are doing.  

Mr. P is doing well.  He was reprimanded the other day at physical therapy because apparently she thinks he is overdoing it.  I feel bad because he is SSOOO done with being hurt and walking with the cane.  He can be a very impatient man.  My list of things I need to do for him is getting a little bit shorter which has come as a happy relief to me.  He has a doc appointment next week, so keep your fingers crossed for good news about his bone growth.  

I am very excited because my beloved nieces and nephew, and older sis and hubby are coming to town for a visit next week.  I can't wait to see them.  It has been so long.  Hoping the weather is good so we can have some outdoor fun in the pool and maybe a trip to Prudence.  

Other than that, the life of the suburban housewife has been pretty mundane and I have had nothing really great to muse or complain about, which I guess is a good thing.  Maybe next week.  

Trying Something Different

I tried something new.  I recently met Lillian, a woman who practices what is a very strange but incredible kind of healing.  It is done through what she calls your own "body intelligence".  Although you can verbally answer her questions, all her true answers come from her reading your body through touch.  As bizarre as this sounds, when you speak to her and listen to what and how she works, it makes an amazing amount of sense.  And the greatest part about it is that you are in control of your own healing process, regardless of what it is.  

I went to her because of my sleep issues and lethargy and various and sundry other issues I have.  A friend actually told me about her in a casual conversation, set up an appointment for me and I figured it was worth a shot.  After numerous years of doctors visits with physicians and specialists, I was convinced that most of my problems were emotional, psychological and stress related.  I was quite surprised when she told me that they were not.  

I am happy to report, that although I am only a little way into the program, I think it may be working.  We will see in a few more weeks at my follow-up, but I can tell you that I have slept through the night for 4 out of the last 6 nights.  I know this doesn't sound like a huge feat, but I don't think I've slept through an entire night in the last 4 years.  I can also tell you that I feel much better during the day.  No, I am not at 100%, but baby steps are just as nice when you are starting at ground zero.

I mention this meeting with my new friend because I have found that people never cease to amaze me.  We all talk about how society has gotten more accepting and most people live under the "live and let live" rules, but I tell you - this is not true.  I have discovered that most everybody, including me I guess, has such a defined set of laws and rules and opinions, that there is very little room for anyone else's.  

I think that human nature tends to make us afraid of what we don't know - and ego makes us unable to accept others beliefs or question what we do know.  I realized that I have spent my whole life trying to fit in.  Not in the sense of what I wear, say, places I go, etc. (well, maybe a little of that too)  but in the sense of buying into whatever I am told.  What religion I should be, what person I should vote for, what I should think about certain people, issues, religions, and almost anything and everything else that really matters.  I also realized that there is so much more out there.  There are so many interesting people with views, opinions, religions and such that most of us would usually label as foolish, absurd, crazy or strange.  And I have discovered, that there is something to be said to really listen to those people and take to heart what they have to say and teach and to follow the advice and guidance of someone that truly makes sense to you.  No matter how daft the people around you think you are. 

There are so many generations of people that come from long lines of families who used holistic medicine from when there were no medical miracle drugs and surgeries.  And we can view this as superstition, folk-lore, voo-doo, or whatever other crazy term we can think of.  But in my opinion, if it works, it works.  A friend and I actually had this conversation after I tried to explain what Lillian did with me.  I was told that it was all in my head.  My response?  "Maybe so, but even if it is, if its working for me it can't be all that bad."  

I try to respect other's opinions and views and choices and not make fun or trivialize them (I may not be so good at that all the time, but at least I try) and I guess what I am getting at here is that I just wish that others could try to respect mine too.  Maybe while I'm at it, I could wish for the ideal world too. :)

By the way, If you ever read this, B - Thank You for Lillian  - I OWE YOU!

I'm In Love . . . AGAIN!

As much as I love the wonderful Mr. P and my beautiful, if sometimes mischievous cherubs, I have fallen in love all over again with someone truly amazing.  We met the other day and it was absolute love at first sight.  I actually felt that "flutter" that people describe when they are in a new and exciting relationship.  I couldn't get enough of her and she seemed to feel the same about me and it has been pure and utter bliss since.  So with no further ado, I would like to introduce our new love.  Her name is Beatrice, she is 2 months old and I can't wait to hit the sights I know about with great shopping for her.  Say Hello to our new addition.

WE ARE ALL IN LOVE!

         

The Simplest Things

It always amazes me how the simplest things like little actions and words can make such a profound impact on or even change your life and view of things.  This year, I have found that I have become a little more aware of all those little things in my life.  A certain look from someone, a brief sentiment or statement, words read in a book or a kind act from a stranger.  

I don't know if Mr. P's accident triggered some or all of this awareness or if maybe I'm just growing up (NAH!), but I can say most definitively that one VERY BIG life altering statement was - "Perry had an accident".  In and of themselves, those words don't mean too much - did he spill something, break something (not including body parts), have a little fall? . . . but in the mind and emotion of a wife and mother, those four words can bring complete hysteria.  

I guess that going through the last 6 months has been not only life-altering, but a major test of love, commitment and faith between me and Mr. P.  I think of all the things that Mr. P could not do when he first came home from "his accident" and what I did for him without a thought or care.  I remember worrying about our life and if we would actually make it through OK.  Financially, emotionally, physically . . . and wondering what it would be like if we didn't.  

I also thought about our wedding vows - hoping that there was some fine print that made them null and void in a situation like this :), I thought about when we were dating and carefree and how over the years it seemed like more and more responsibilities just kept piling up for us, I thought about how we have grown and changed since that first date, and I thought about how I really, truly don't think that I know any 2 people who could possibly know each other better, inside and out then Mr. P knows me and I know Mr. P and still love each other so madly, deeply, truly.  

I thought about how I would demand payback for all I did to take care of dear hubby and then it hit me.  You see Mr. P has ALWAYS taken care of me.  From our very first date.  From the little stuff to the big.  Cooking for me, always thinking of me in a store or coffee shop and bringing something home he'll know I like, taking care of all the stuff he knows I hate to do, really listening to me when he knows that I am upset.  From the secret looks and phrases to always knowing how to get a smile.  

And, when it truly counted, Mr. P did for me, exactly what I have done for him - he took care of me when I couldn't.  After the birth of our son, when I was very sick and wouldn't let the nurses touch me, when I had a little (or a lot) too much to drink and needed to hug the toilet during the night, when I had the flu or allergies or just a simple cold, when all I needed was a shoulder to lean on, an ear to complain to, or just a hug.  Simply put, there is no payback.  This is our life, for better and for worse.  This is marriage and parenthood and partnership.  

So after some reflection, I guess that the very first, simplest, most life-altering statement I've ever heard was, "Would you like to go out with me?"  And I wouldn't have it any other way!

I love you Mr. P

Happy Fourth of July

Just wanted to let all 4 readers (yes, I graduated from 2 to 4) know that I am off to the Rock tomorrow for Christmas.  The Rock is Prudence Island and yes, my dear hubby's family celebrates Christmas every Fourth of July.  I am sure I will have some wonderful anecdotes, musings and random thoughts to share when we get back.  

Until Then - Have a Great and SAFE Holiday . . . 

Who Knew?

Who knew that my psychological problems and sleep issues would actually come in handy someday?  Certainly not me!

Two nights ago, numerous homes in my neighborhood had their cars broken into.  Including EVERY ONE directly around me, both sides and across the street.  Ironically, ours weren't, which was actually a great thing because that evening, Mr. P decided to leave not only his wallet and glasses in the car, in the driveway, but his uber-expensive "Bone Stimulator" as well.  

I was told that the police had narrowed the time down to between 12:30 and 4:00 a.m.  I actually believe it was between 2:30 and 3:30.  This is where my sleep issues came in handy.  As usual, true to form, about 2:00 a.m. I woke up.  Laid in bed until 2:22, when I absolutely could not stand watching the clock anymore, I got up.  At 2:30, when my OCD started kicking in, I was happily mopping my kitchen floor.  After viewing my gleaming hardwoods and feeling that satisfying sense of accomplishment, I headed back up to bed and I remember looking at the clock thinking, "3:30?  It took me an hour to mop the floor?"  I know silly thoughts, but it was 3:30 a.m., what do you want?  

Here is my theory - Around the time I was diligently polishing and waxing, the unsubs (that is CSI lingo :) for unidentified subjects) were making their way through the neighborhood (you would think that at least someone in the neighborhood would park their cars in the garage, but the funny thing is, not one of us does.  They are all so full of other crap, that no one in the neighborhood can actually fit a car in the garage.)  I digress.   So anyway, the unsubs were quietly making their way through the neighborhood and when they came upon my house - there I was mopping and waxing away. They either saw all the lights on OR they saw me in the windows, and thought that someone actually crazy enough to be mopping a floor in the middle of the night might just be crazy enough to shoot to kill if she thought her property may be threatened.  (Yes, I am  the big bad momma who will protect my brood by all costs - even if it is with just an air soft gun and that would actually be after I ran into the corner to hide and cry and most likely pee myself first.)  Again, I digress.  So feeling the terror of my catching them, they proceeded on to the next house, leaving all of Mr. P's valuables untouched.  

Like I said, who knew my issues would come in handy someday?  Definitely not me.