Time After Time

Have you ever met someone who didn't know who N'Sync was? I have. And this is our story.
(cue Law & Order music here - ba ba bum).

It is high school blood drive season at work. Any co-workers who might be reading this are probably giving the screen an all-knowing head tilt and eyebrow lift, anticipating what I'm going to say next. For the rest of you, I'll set the scene by just saying it's exhausting and exhiliarating to hang with 16- and 17-year olds all day.  They're invincible and awesome to themselves, and to them, I'm old.

I was at a very small area high school for a few hours yesterday and thought I was totally hitting it off with the students who were helping at the donor registration table. Until the song "Bye Bye Bye" came on.  An apparently jock (though this school and group of kids was surprisingly seemingly clique-less) said something along the lines of "Maddie told me she liked the BackStreet Boys and I lost all respect for her."   Another girl laughed and said something like, "Yeah, NSync is where it's at." The girl next to her said, "Who's NSync?" I laughed. No one else did. The first girl just turned to the girl who asked and casually said "oh just another boy band like Backstreet" and the conversation moved on.  I'M SORRY, WHAT?!!!  Incredulously, I asked, "were you being serious?" and she nodded and again they went back to another conversation.  Can you believe this? Self-admittedly, I was Team Backstreet Boys but for god's sake, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE was in N'Sync and what are these girls doing with their weekends if not practicing Joey and Lance's choreographed dance moves?! It made me wonder what the boy band, or Britney vs XTina, type-feud is these days. Please comment if you know.

But more than that, it got me wondering how and when I became the person on the outskirts of the conversation, the adult, the authority figure?   More music came on and this time it was the song, "Time after time." The teacher who coordinated the blood drive asked the entire group of students, "who sings this song?" and  was met with many blank stares. Then, the same jock from above said, "Janis Joplin." Let that sink in.
Teacher: "No, she was dead before this song came out. Think more 80s." 
Another nearby boy: "Oh, oh, TLC."  (Did he hear a second and third voice that I wasn't hearing?!)
Teacher: "No. That's no the 80s." 
Yet another kid walking by: "We don't know, Mr.G.You're old."
I laughed, but as the boy walked by me, he said,"I bet you know the answer." AKA HE CALLED ME OLD, TOO.

I smiled and shrugged. It's not the worst thing I've been called. For whatever reason, those moments made me think about the interesting juxtaposition between that morning and the few other times recently I've been hanging out with a high schooler.  Earlier this summer, I become a part of the Catholic Charities Mentoring Moms program. Google it if you're curious and feel free to ask me any questions should you want to get involved (it's not a Catholic thing, by the way).  My mentee is in high school and is a teen mom of a not quite 1 year old baby with another on the way.  Her problems and our conversations are a stark contrast to those I encounter at high school blood drive registration tables.  She worries about formula and homework and Medicare every single day, and is working toward getting a drivers license, and you know what, somehow I think she probably knows who N'Sync is! ;)   We work through a lot of real and very adult things together.

So I guess I don't know when it happened that I grew up, perhaps motherhood had something to do with it, but in any case, whether it's music education or parenting advice, I'm happy I'm able to help others. Overall, I have fun at my job and in my mentoring program.  I make upjokes about SnapChat (which I don't even have) to get teens to laugh at me. I may be an "old" person, but I like to think I'm cool. Despite thinking that N'Sync is still cool. Despite what hanging with high schoolers makes me feel like.

A case of the Mondays

Today has been a rough day.  First, I didn’t wake up to my alarm. More accurately, I apparently didn’t set my alarm, but that’s just semantics at this point. I have a toddler so an alarm clock is a moot point. But still – didn’t wake up early like I’d hoped to throw in laundry and get some things done. Then, when I did wake up, feed and let the dog out, he seemed to have come back inside with a SMELL.  If you’d have been in our house this morning, you’d agree that ALL CAPS IS NECESSARY. So my mind immediately went to “omg – he was skunked.” So I fall into that Google rabbit hole – HARD.  Matt didn’t seem to think that was the case, he figured he rolled in some of his own poo. Agree to to disagree.  We nonetheless had to give him an impromptu bath today in the backyard. Nevermind the fact that I just paid almost $100 just last week to have him bathed and groomed.

After Matt went to work and consulted some “country folks,” we don’t believe the skunking to be the case. I googled until I could google no more, and still, I actually have no idea what the h-e-double hockey sticks (again, toddler) our crazy dog got into.

Then, during my meal prep time before work (I try to get as much of the chopping and prep work done days or at least hours before dinner if possible), I got freakin’ jalapeno juice in my eye!!!

THEN, over my lunch break I then went to work off some steam at a Kosama class and long story short, somehow hit myself super hard with my own kettlebell.  Don’t try that at home, folks.

But what you should try is this: First, a deep breath:)  Second, a step back for some perspective.  As I’m cursing myself, I do realize I have no one to blame but myself, but then again, why blame.  To get through the rest of the workout, my mind was taken back to a motivational speaker I once saw whose ‘jist’ was this:

If you are angry at someone or something, you give that person or event power of your life.  Usually they don't even know it - what a waste!   (I probably waste so much time each week being upset by things and people who have no idea that’s the case!)

There is no place in life without a CHOICE:  do I get up now, or snooze for 5 more minutes, what should I wear today, am I going to text while driving on the way to work, etc, etc.  The thing is, you may not always like the choice(s) you have in front of you.  But there is always, ALWAYS A CHOICE in every situation. And the awesome thing is that YOU HAVE POWER OVER THOSE CHOICES. YOU are in charge.  Again, you may not always agree with the circumstance you're in (ie -"it's not my fault I'm homeless" or that my day totally stinks – literally and figuratively) but you can always accept those circumstances and CHOOSE to believe you'll get through it.  So basically, instead of asking "WHY ME?!" that something is happening to, CHOOSE to ask yourself "WHAT FOR?"   Sometimes less than ideal things happen so you learn lessons you couldn't possibly have under any different circumstances, but again, you have to CHOOSE to see it that way.  I'm choosing to see today

Again, these are lessons I learned from Reon Schutte  (sp??) – he was imprisoned in South Africa if I remember correctly. And imprisoned in a cell built for 12 people, but that housed 50. It's actually been declared one of the worst prisons in the entire world by the UN and other organizations.

Hey, if he can survive that, the power of the mind - the power of choice, is a pretty big deal.  Just throwing it out there in case any of you are experiencing or ever experience a case of the “Mondays.” Today is a bad good day.  :)

A picture worth a 1,000 words

What's in my purse doesn't seem all that exciting of a topic, but when it inconveniently spilled out all over my backseat today, I thought the contents quite representative of the latest and greatest in my world so figured I may as well share an update.

In the picture, you can see a diaper, tissues and small portion of a pack of Wet Ones. My little guy is now 15 months old and I'm a total mom now. Not like full-on nail files and super glue supplies kind of mom (yet) but I always try to be prepared! [See below for bonus picture of the adorable 15-month old]

There's also a water bottle..filled with flavored water, Crystal Light Energy to be exact. And ugh, yes, I know it contains Aspartame and I know Aspartame is enemy of the state numero uno these days, but you know what else? There are kids in Africa who don't have artificial sweeteners so I'm going to at least finish the box, ok?!


Ignore the rogue cash. That's just there. I can't be bothered to always put my change back in its rightful wallet spot every time.

Most excitingly, that stack of papers are for our mortgage guy. We're moving! We listed our house for sale earlier this month and it sold four days later! That left us pleasantly surprised and also scrambling to find a place to live. After A LOT of showings (sorry to our real estate agent if reading this right now), we did manage to find what we think is a perfect next house that checks all the boxes on our wants lists, and I can't wait to move in next month. After a wonderful 5 1/2 years, we have just a few weeks to pack up and get out. No time to feel sappy about leaving!

Not pictured: my keys. They're in there somewhere, even though I can NEVER find them.

I'll end now with the adorable bonus picture as promised:

Ended the year with a quite literal bang

I'm taking an unplanned PTO day today because Reid seems to have a little cold. I am actually not feeling 100% myself, and the dog Riley woke up with an eye problem. I called the vet to ask what to do and they said to just "wait and see." That's not a game I'm good at, especially knowing that they'll be closed tomorrow for the holiday.  So I made the mistake of googling each of their symptoms and ended in an Internet rabbit hole with some very alarming diagnoses.  I discovered Riley could have conjunctivitis and go blind!! I also discovered that some people really, really love their dogs too much.

Anyway...to top things off, this morning I got up extra early to go to work to get some things I could do during baby naps. When I was leaving (Keep in mind, it's like -300 degrees here) the door didn't seem to want to work fully, but I didn't notice when I was backing out that it had only gone up about 3/4 of the way so the top of my Equinox clipped the bottom of the garage door on the way out!! I panicked and put on the brakes of course, and of course remembered to out the car in drive before releasing it. Ok actually I didn't remember to do that last part, so I kinda backed into it again.  My car luck!!

So I had to go wake up Matt in the middle of the night. Ok it's not the middle of the night; most of you probably get up way earlier than either of us--it was about 6:15. Probably not his favorite way I've ever woken him up. I showed him what happened, we shoved some screws back in, hammered them mostly into place and voila. I'm not entirely sure in the fog of it all if I was supposed to call the garage company to come today or what. For now, it's temporarily fixed--except I'm too scared to leave the house just in case, so we're all stuck inside with all the germs. Oh well. Happy New Year!


😮

Balance is the new black

Pre-motherhood I was like, “I have a demanding (but good) job and a rockin’ social life, but a calendar to keep all the business all straight.”  Post-baby Reid, I’m like, “HAHAAHAHAHAHAHA.” I now agree with the recent statements by some CEO I saw on the news (name escapes me and no time to look it up) that women can’t have it all, much to my personal dismay.

I’m drowning in laundry and can’t remember anything anymore that I don’t write down.  And I feel all alone in this. Because when I do take a personal moment to check my Facebook and Instagram news feeds, apparently I’m the only one who isn’t growing a garden, working out with a personal trainer and taking my kid to the zoo or fishing.

Obviously, I’m not alone this, I know that. So why do you/we pretend we’ve got it all together?? There just CANNOT be as many of you out there as social media and general office conversation would suggest.  I have to believe that. I have to.  If you’re reading this and you do in fact have and do it all, PLEASE tell me, how and where do you get the time?!  I like learning new things.

 In lieu of any responses, I would like to start a new hashtag, #MHM (messy house Monday). I figure it #MCM (man crush Monday, which I had to google several months back because I’m lame now) can be a thing, why can’t this?! It’s not Monday but you can see my living room nonetheless, complete with dog toys and hair, baby stuff, and general dirt haphazardly strewn about.  I caught the room on a pretty good day actually, but then again, dust doesn’t photograph well.

I’m usually all for fakin’ it til I make it but today something just changed in my head. I started thinking, really, what’s my (or my husband’s, for that matter) ROI on in fact dusting? On staying up 30 minutes late, sacrificing sleep to unload the dishwasher? My/our moods and health are worse off for it and just because I crossed that task off my list, it doesn’t help my mental state when there’s still 50 other “to dos” on it. The queen isn’t coming over for dinner tonight – or ever -  so I’m pretty sure the clutter sit there another day, week, or month.  It isn’t anything to be ashamed of, right?!  I realize it’s many times my own fault, for lack of a better word, for assuming judgment on others’ part of my mess, so I’m publicly saying that I’m going to try to let that go.

Of course, I can’t ignore the“must-do’s” but I’ve decided to put everything else off until ‘tomorrow’ and spend time with my family instead; I want Reid (and heck, Matt, tooJ) to have fun and to remember my smile and my laugh. (Because they’re guys, they’re  as heck not going to remember or notice the mess!)  And I don’t care if you think this is stupid, I want my dog to have a good quality of life and in turn, caring for them is caring for myself. I will be happier, too, if I just finally need to give myself and accept a break. 

Starting right after this…because #TMI, but I technically wrote this via voice to text note on my phone (hands free) while driving AND pumping (which is a WHOLE OTHER thing for another time).

Like Father, Like Son?

I wrote in a letter now framed in baby’s room that “…if you are anything like your dad, the world will be a better place.”  I meant that it would be great if our baby was as kind, caring and laid-back as Matt (also, I really want him to have dimples).  Well, instead, it seems as if our dear, sweet boy has instead adopted his dad’s philosophy of time and is going to be late, two days post-term as I write this.

I don’t feel physically “DONE” or uncomfortably miserably as some pregnant family and friends of mine have described toward the end (feel so incredibly fortunate to still be able to get plenty of sleep), but I am entirely mentally bummed out he isn’t here.  What’s he waiting for? I get it, it’s cold outside but I’ve told him, that’s what blankets are for – and trust me, we have PLENTY of blankets (and clothes, and toys, books and anything he could possibly need).

I’ve tried a few old wives tales, but I can only eat so much pineapple. And I’m sick of the concerned, seeming judgmental stares from gym-goers while walking on the treadmills. I’m just going to have to resign myself to HIS timetable, however frustrating that is for type-A me. Again, of ALL the traits to take from Matt…

Here’s hoping when he does come, he’s extremely apologetic and wants to spend his whole life making it up to me by listening to and following every word I say from here on out. J

Throwback Wednesday

Yesterday was our two-year wedding anniversary. That also means we moved into our FOUR years ago same day. Whoa! l remember us eating dinner that night, cross-legged on the floor, in the stereotypical way you see in movies, furniture- and utensil-less eating out of a pizza box. How far we’ve come!

A la last year’s anniversary post, we’re still having tons of fun! Some of this year’s adventures included:

“Successfully” graduating dog obedience and CPR classes.

Running in Omaha’s first Ugly Sweater 5K (and learning a lot about each other, and the layout of each of the Goodwill stores in town, in shopping for this event).

Attending National Figure Skating Championships, which Omaha hosted. It may not sound cool to you, but I love watching figure skating! Michelle Kwan was a childhood idol, toe pick!

An April girl’s trip to Vegas, mixing and mingling with country music star’s at the ACMs!

A long weekend with friends in Baltimore, MD! We toured DC for our first time (so cool!) and went to two Orioles vs. Dodgers baseball games at Camden Yard (also super cool). The Dodgers may have lost those match ups but look who is in the Playoffs now!! J

Another trip to the Kentucky Derby! Matt even picked the big race winner, Orb! I was too busy trying to keep dry and rain from the pouring rain to place many bets myself.

More successful sports seasons for each of us (I earned yet another gold medal in softball at the Cornhusker State games and Matt made his baseball league’s All-Star game)

And more….

We are hoping to take one last mini-trip yet this calendar year, but we have to mix that in with all the new home improvements projects we also have planned.  Now Creighton basketball starts in the next few weeks, and of course we renewed our seats for the Big East debut season, so we will be busy, busy!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – time flies when you’re having fun!