Baby It's Cold Outside

It seems odd to me that I would name this post after the worst Christmas song ever. But there we have it. A quick side note. The song "Baby It's Cold Outside" is offensive and demeaning. Come on, people. Listen to the words. He won't take "no" for an answer!? Truly, I cringe every time I hear it. And during the Christmas season it is played a lot.

So yes, it's cold. Hasn't gotten above 0 degrees for two days - A has been out of school and while yesterday his father was able to give him a "fun day" - swimming, rock climbing, movie - today his boring mother (read: me) has to work. The insides of my double paned windows are covered in frost, my feet burn when they touch the tiles in my living room, and I'm a bit grouchy. Also, there's been this interesting neighborhood phenom where most of us are refusing to shovel our walks or driveways. It's just too cold. No word went out, it's just a response en masse to the weather. Those who did shovel are either heroes or frozen idiots. I can't decide which.

The hardest part about the cold is that this time last week it was 65 degrees and tomorrow it should be about 40 degrees. I know to some that would make today easier to take but to me it just makes the past two days the longest days of waiting in my life. Well, not maybe in my life. That may be an exaggeration. But if you know me, I love to exaggerate!

I did have someone remind me that while I'm cold and frustrated that my windows are frosted on the inside, at least, thank God, I have windows. She was exactly right. Everyone needs someone in their life to help show them perspective and I'm thankful she did just that. So I end this post with thanksgiving: I am thankful for my frozen windows, my frozen nose, my frozen car. I am thankful that I am alive to experience this cold, cold day. I am thankful that I have a beautiful son who has the luxury of being bored right now, playing on the floor beside me. I am thankful. I am.

Coming In and Out of Your Life

Do people leave and then come back to Blogs? Are blogs obsolete? I'm thinking about new blogging and wondering if I actually have anything to blog about. So maybe I'll be back. Not that anyone reads this. Wow - way to give myself a pep talk! See you later.

Rumblings

There has been a lot of rumbling in the weather and a lot of rumbling in my life. I'm looking around, checking things out, seeing what's new. And I'm not always happy with what I'm finding. In addition, I turned 40 in April and I've decided to accept challenges in a new way this year. What that's meant so far is doing things differently than I normally would - vacationing in a new spot, trying something I usually would stay away from (huge water slides and roller coasters). What I'm hoping is that I will find some new opportunities to say yes to. I'm convinced that when I make one change in my life, new changes present themselves.

So, bring it on life! Invite me to participate in a new way. I'm doing my best to say yes!

I am sure that by being willing to try something new I will forge a new path for myself.

Blueberries

Well. I'm doing it. I'm eating blueberries. I don't like them, particularly, but one can only read a thousand or so notices that scream that blueberries are a superfood before thay find themselves in the grocery store, staring at the blueberries, hand reaching out, taking a box, and placing them, almost offended by their superfood status, in the grocery cart with the squeeky wheel that pulls to the right. (Thanks, Ms. Greiner for the English lesson - I'm sure that sentence broke a couple of rules).

What is it about us and things that are good for us? We have a love hate relationship with all things healthy and life-giving. Well, often we have a hate-hate relationship with such things. Cue the blueberries.

Maybe my new year's resolution should be to let some of the things that are good for me into my life this year. But, it's not.

My new year's resolution is to recognize the things in my life that are already good. There are so many things in this mixed up bundle of days, weeks, and months that are positive and lovely. It will be a pleasure to honor those things in how I live.

Oh, and I'm starting yoga.

Happy New Year.

Wow!

Well, it seems someone actually reads my blog. Thanks to you, mystery man. I love/hate JoCo too.

Andrew is back in school and I'm worried that things might get scrappy. He's having trouble reading and writing and, while he's only in second grade, it frustrates him and worries me. Reading has always been second nature to me - since I was three years old. I'm passionate about it, and so is his dad. I'm sure, to a young boy who sees books and people reading everywhere, not being able to read is a pain. A pain in the ass and a pain in the heart.

I've been feeling good. Really good. Really stinking good. I actually went tubing and snow mobiling this past break and, I must say, I'm an avid winter sports enthusiast now. Whew! Not that I'm planning on skiing or snowboarding...but I would say two winter "sports" counts as enthusiasm. At least for me.

I keep saying that there's only a few people I used to love or have a relationship with that aren't on facebook. But it turns out, those people are popping up too. Well, who knew we would find each other again. Every time I get a friend request, I wonder if the one or two people I am waiting to find are there - just a click away. And it turns outm they are - most of them. And then we find each other and go back to an odd type of silence that says, "I know you're there, but I'm not really going to talk to you any more than I did before I "befriended" you. Just to make sure you don't think I'm too into you."

Wierd.

And can you tell, I spend a lot of time on facebook. And I still love it although I fear our love affair won't last forever.

If I wait

If I wait for something exciting to happen, I might never blog again.

I did have a great time recently going to Chicago with my parents. Chicago. The town in which I was born. We visited the old apartment complex - well really, I stood outside of the cab in the snow and took a picture while they stayed in the cab and gave their respects.

I love spending time with my parents. I know it's a gift to have two parents who are my friends. I would rather hang with them than just about anyone. They took me to some fab restaurants for some great dinners.

And - most of all - we saw WICKED! Oh my God. Loved it. I love the book, I love the musical. I used to think I wasnted to play Elphaba before I died. But now I realize that I really would love to play Madame Morrible. What a great character! I've been singing Wicked music for weeks now.

The three of us stayed on Michigan Ave (in the Marriott) and went shopping at Macys! We had a great time and I'm thankful for the time we spent together.

And then Saturday I took Andrew to see the Nutcracker at the Colorado Ballet. Lovely. I had never seen it. We both agreed the first "half" was the best. I loved the costumes most of all. All of these great performances remind me that I need to make time to go to the theater more. And there's some great stuff coming to Denver in 2009.

Happy Late Thanksgiving.

Old Friends

So many old friends!

Through the latest and greatest social networking sites I have encountered a lot of old friends. Old loves - old crushes - old buddies - old soul mates.

I almost can't believe how some of them have found me and I them. There are the stories of warning: I reconnected with one old love, only to disconnect a few weeks later. But, truthfully, it was an intense (and lovely) few weeks of reconnection.

I've reconnected with old friends - old crushes - some of whom don't look anything like I remember. Some of whom are sick. Some of whom are grouchy. Some of whom have welcomed me home with open arms.

Old best friends from college - dear ones I thought I would never lose - but those I had lost - are now found and celebrated.

Best friends I have lost and found number of times are still around and willing to engage in newness.

And it seems that more and more I can guess that if I search for an old friend, and they are not there yet, they will be within a week or so. I just "added" a friend of mine from camps/high school/college and I loved just seeing a picture of him with his baby!

And best friends I have always been with, always loved - those who have stuck with me through all of this - they're on there too and even with them, I know more about what happens with their day to day than when we only had the phone.

I guess I'm just being thoughtful - seeing F on here really made me smile. As do all my old friends. As do you.