Better Post Next Time

I have been quiet lately. Blogging has taken a backseat to a "hectic" summer schedule. "Hectic" because with my foot in this boot I have personally been doing a lot of sitting, which has been hard for me. But the week is busy dropping off and picking up from various camps, working, visitors, and the usual "upkeep" of the house. "Upkeep" because I am barely keeping up. The house is constantly in a state of filth and disaster, but I try. Lord do I try.

I have not been blogging much. We have been busy, and perhaps I have been a tad bit uninspired, a wee bit down in the dumps. It turns out I am a very active person, and when I am forced to stand still I go a little nutty.

The summer is speeding by. We are about to enter August, usually my most favorite month of the year. It is  packed with outdoor activity, and has the added bonus of being the month of my wedding anniversary and  birthday. I used to love my birthday. This year is year number 38, and suddenly, I'm not loving it so much. I don't want to be 38. I would prefer 28 thank you very much. Now, with the lack of physical activity and a birthday I would almost like to forget***, I'm not so into August.

This past weekend my friend Erin visited from Boston. Erin is one of those easy friends, the kind where conversation seems to come naturally and I know she is always there. If she were still living here, I would have a friend to meet for spontaneous play dates, coffee or cocktails. I miss her terribly. Friends like Erin are hard to find. It was so refreshing to spend the weekend with her!

Julian has learned to climb the stairs, which has created a whole host of problems. It took me a moment to realize he was a Master Climber. It was a day last week when I was in the kitchen cleaning up dinner and realized that Julian was out of sight. It turned out that he had made it all the way upstairs, into my office. He was playing in the litter box. Of course he was. What could be more fun (when you are fourteen months?) We have since installed a gate, but it keeps falling down, and often leaves Julian wailing at it's door, wanting nothing more than to scale the stairs and make his way back to the beloved cat box. 

Zack and Evan are their old mischievous selves. Fighting, making messes and never doing as they are told. (Like shutting off the jets in the bathtub. See picture for bubble bath disaster.)

So there you have it, a random ramble of what's going on in my life today.

Better post next time.

Notice my fashionable boot. Hot.

***Husband/friends/family: If you are reading this please note that I said almost. I do not actually want you to forget my birthday. Do. Not. Forget. Thank you.

Tragedy

My generation has seen so much tragedy, much of it in the form of senseless violence. We experienced the Oklahoma City Bombing, Columbine, 9/11 and now Aurora. I know that the generations before have also seen their share of war and displays of inhumanity. It is never ending. In recent history we have seen the Holocaust, Vietnam and Rwanda. Mothers and babies killed by fathers and sons. Unimaginable cruelty from one person to another. Over and over and over again. I do not believe it will ever end. Humans are not above it. Perhaps, this is just part of the human condition. There will always be crazy. There will always be injustice. The unimaginable will become reality.

Where does that leave us?

In the wake of the tragic events in Colorado there has been a great deal of conversation regarding gun control. I have seen verbal spats played out on facebook, both sides of the fence pointing fingers and calling names. I have my own opinions on the topic. I don't like guns. Period. Guns are created for a single purpose, and I'm not comfortable with killing. Yet, at this point, while the wounds are still fresh, I can only see one thing clearly. There is no easy answer. While limiting access to guns, particularly the semiautomatic 100-round barrel variety the Aurora shooter used may seems logical to me, I am also aware that in this day and age we will never be truly "safe." There will always be insanity. Just look a the wack jobs of the Westboro Church who plan to picket the Aurora victim's memorial. I wouldn't want to run into one of those nut cases in a dark ally. Yet, if we can keep guns out of the hands of the insane and the angry, I'm all for it. Although it may be a losing battle, we have to do whatever we can to try and prevent such horrific acts from happening again.

I don't pretend to have the answers, quiet frankly the issue is clearly complex and I haven't done my research. I just want my kids to be able to attend school and go to the movies without fearing for their lives. Making it more difficult for people to obtain semiautomatic weapons that can take down 50 plus people in a couple of minutes just seems logical to me. What else can we do?

I didn't start writing this with the intention of getting on a soapbox. My real purpose was actually to express my fear and sadness over these terrible, terrible events. Like Columbine, Aurora has been written into Colorado and American history. We are in a new era, one where none of us can ever really feel safe, and that perhaps is  the greatest tragedy of all.

Marissa Mayer? Kargas Inc. Celebrates Their Own CEO

Kargas Inc Employees Celebrate Greatest CEO Ever. 

There has been a great deal of chatter about Yahoo's new female CEO, Marissa Mayer. With her impressive resume, her gigantic salary (estimates have been made that she is eligible for $59M in compensation over the next several years), her dedication to her career (maternity leave? three weeks should be plenty!). This 37 year old dynamite seems to have it all. While we at Kargas Inc applaud her success, we would prefer to celebrate our very own, CEO, Rachel Kargas, also 37 years old.

While Rachel may not have the same earning potential as Mayer, she is no less dedicated to her role as leader of her up and coming organization. Rachel works tirelessly and in fact, it has been reported that she has only taken 2 vacation days away from the company in the past several years. The organization's energetic leader has been known to work 15-16 hour days on a regular basis, complaining only *minimally*

While it is true that Mayer has a big job, leading an organization worth billions (and billions) of dollars, with thousands of employees, Ms. Kargas has her work cut out for her. Although she has a staff of only four (seven if you include furry contractors), and Kargas Inc. apparently has basically $0 in revenue, it is a dynamic organization. Rachel is responsible for mentoring challenging, but high potential staff. The employees, while potentially brilliant, require constant supervision and have been known to be immensely demanding. As a show of loyalty to her staff Ms. Kargas  has implemented a highly controversial no-termination policy, which states that no employee of Kargas Inc can quit or be fired....ever. Kargas claims that this encourages leadership to invest more fully in developing the employee base.

Finally, while Mayer has set an interesting precedent with her own 3 week/work from home maternity leave plan, Ms. Kargas is vocal in providing work/life balance for the men and women of her organization. She believes that employees should only be required to attend conference call meetings after labor is completed, and that they should only be required to work while the baby is sleeping for the first four weeks of the child's life.*****

So please join Kargas Inc in celebrating their fearless leader and CEO, Rachel Kargas. While Marissa Mayer may make the big bucks.... Ms. Kargas doesn't need to have it all.


**** Please note sarcasm here.

Couch Potato With Headband

I miss working out. Now that I have this stupid boot on my foot, I am basically unable to do any real physical activity. I have never been someone who was truly passionate about exercise, but I have always been fairly active. If I wasn't running or hitting the gym regularly, at least I was walking, pushing a stroller and breaking a sweat on a daily basis. Now, under doctor's orders I'm a couch potato. And I hate it.

I work from home three days a week, while our nanny uses our car to take the boys out and about. On those days I am trapped at home.. I feel lonely and irritable. I simply cannot wait to go for a run, a walk, or even ride the stupid stationary bike. The doctor says I will be in this boot for six weeks and then....we shall see. Who knows, after six weeks, if the problem with my ankle isn't corrected I could be sitting on my ass for another six weeks. My metabolism is not that great folks, and I don't feel like giving up food all together. Plus, it is down right boring.

My mood is definitely suffering. I'm not sure what the solution is. I suppose suck it up and try to change my attitude. But it's hard.

Changing topics....

Who wants an update on my hair? Raise your hand if you do. Ah, wait I can't see you and really I don't care, I'm going to give the update anyways. Surprise. It's getting longer. I have resisted the urge to cut it  long enough now that I feel invested. I will continue to grow it, painful as it may be. I have moved on from hats to headbands. They don't quiet fit the way they were intended, but I think the look is sort of cute. Opinions please. (But really only if you are showering me with compliments, because I don't want to know otherwise.)

People I Want To Punch In The Face: Everyone.

My last few posts have been a bit on the melancholy side. Today, the bad mood continues, so I'll make the best of it with....

"People I Want To Punch In The Face"

1. My kids. Yes, I realize that this is highly in-politically correct, so please keep in mind that I have refrained from acting upon these impulses. Read yesterday's post and you will understand just why I have thought about inflicting corporal punishment on my children. It is because they are insane. Freaking insane.
2. Facebook braggers. You know who you are. "Look at me! I'm so accomplished!" "I'm the same age as you and I run my own company and drive a BMW, look like a super model and take fabulous international vacations!" Can you shut up for one minute and post something a little less self-promotional? How about "I served my kids leftover mac & cheese for breakfast and I was rude to the nanny." That would probably be just as accurate. Bitter much? Yes, thank you I am today.
3. Flanders. My damn cat again. That poor thing has 9 plus lives. He should have been dead a long time ago, and yet he lives on, and on, and on. Vomiting on every piece of upholstered furniture I own. He particularly likes our bed. Nothing like waking up to a pile of cat puke on your pillow. Flanders, dear feline, I mean this in the nicest way possible...WILL YOU PLEASE DIE ALREADY? Thank you.

I could go on. Basically everyone should be on look out for my cyber- fist today.  I'm in a bad place this week. I'll post something happier another day. Maybe.

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Alexander & The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Remember that one? A children's book by author Judith Viorist. It goes something like this:

Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in his hair
And it got worse....


There was no dessert in his lunch bag, and on top of all that there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on T.V.....

It was a childhood favorite, and man is it hitting home for me today.

Today was my Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It started in chaos. Julian has had a fever for several days and is teething. He goes through periods of inconsolable fits. He cries, arches his back, hits, and wails. He throws food and bites me when I try to nurse him. He is....a baby monster. Poor thing, I know it is because he is feeling poorly and has minimal ways to express this, but still it becomes rather unbearable.

Today was the first day of baseball camp for Zachary and day camp for Evan. The morning started in a frenzy trying to get everyone prepared and out the door for their various activities. I thought I had it all together. Lunches packed, clothing laid out, logistics arranged. Insert diabolical laughter here. I was so wrong. After breakfast Evan threw a tantrum of epic proportions. Why? He did not want to wear pants. Any pants. We had agreed on a pair of stylish shorts the night before. He picked them out himself at Target. They have an elastic waistband, no buttons, snaps or zippers that might bother him. WE AGREED ON THESE SHORTS. But no, this morning he decided he despised them, along with every other clean pair in his drawer, and the fit was insane. Crying, screaming, throwing things. It went on and on and on. Meanwhile Julian McFussy Pants was wailing at the top of his small, yet mighty lungs.

We barely made it out the door. The boys were deposited at camp. (Hallelujah!) But I was left with a teething baby. I noticed a rash had developed on his little chest and quickly made a doctor's appointment for late afternoon. After day camp (which ends at 12:45 for Evan) my middle child continued acting unreasonably, unruly and painfully annoying. He cried about this. He cried about that. He called me stupid. He hoped I would die. Blah Blah Blah Blah. I have been less than stellar with my response, screaming back at him with frustration. "STOP IT!" "BECAUSE I SAID SO!" "NO T.V. FOR FOREVER!!!" All kinds of useless counter-productive proclamations.

By 3:00 Julian seemed better, so I cancelled the doctor appointment. At 4:00 I picked up Zachary from baseball camp, hoping to find a chatty, excited, tired little champ, but instead I was greeted by an exhausted, crabby, hungry, crying little...brat. And Julian started bawling again. And Evan continued whining. And I wanted to get out of my car and hitch hike my way to Mexico.

It was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

And it ain't over yet.

Big heavy sigh.

A big heavy sigh. UGGG. Six weeks in an ugly clunky boot. That is the latest development with my ankle woes. A simple twist of the ankle on grocery shopping Monday and six months later, here I am. Sidelined. Just what am I suppose to do with three rowdy boys on summer vacation for the next six weeks? Sit?  Big heavy sigh. I'm just bummed out.

It could be worse. A woman in the doctor's office waiting room had her foot broken in six places when she was hit by a drunk driver. It could be worse. My friend is finishing up chemotherapy after a breast cancer diagnosis. It could be worse.

I know life could dish out far worse fates, but at the moment I feel like pouting. I don't want to sit around all summer. I don't want to wear an ugly boot. Why wasn't this taken care of months ago? If I had decent medical care this would have all been put to bed by now. Big heavy sigh.

So that's that. I'm left to sit on my bruised/broken tailbone and sigh.

I could use some cheering up folks! Send some love. (Or wine)

Pain in the butt

I'm a mess. On Friday I will be heading into a foot/ankle specialist for a second opinion on my sad ankle and explore the possibility of surgery. And now, I have just sent an email to my primary care physician about the state of my rear-end. Okay, not really my rear-end, but rather my tailbone. That's right, I have further injured myself. July 3, I had the brilliant idea of renting a bike on the Madison Capital Square (after a few drinks with the husband.) The bikes are red and pretty and it seemed like the right thing to do. For those of you who don't know me well I'll share a little secret with you-I have not been on a bicycle since I was 13 years old. I am generally terrified of them. Because I'm crazy.

But on that hot sticky evening, I decided to put my fears aside, hike up my skirt and get on a bike. It was awesome. Just like they say, my body remembered what to do. In my state of euphoria, with the wind whipping through my hair,  I decided that I would purchase a bike upon my return to Oakland. I envisioned family rides and a recreational hobby that would get me in great shape. I saw myself speeding around town with a bell and a basket and it was beautiful. Until I fell. It wasn't exactly a dramatic fall. I didn't crash to the ground. I was slowing to a stop and somehow tipped over slamming my tailbone into the edge of the seat and bruising my legs up a little bit. I laughed it off and promised that this would not deter me from my bike riding fantasy.

And then there was the next morning. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. It hurts to sit up, it hurts to sit down, it hurts to stand around. One week later it is no better or worse than that first day and it bites.

So now, I can't run, and you won't catch me on a stationary bike or an elliptical machine anytime soon. I guess I just need to give in, find a comfy spot on the sofa and crack open a case of bon-bons.

I'm hopeless.

Blazing Hot

Just a quick post to let my faithful readers know I have not fallen off the face of the earth. No,  I am just burning up in Madison Wisconsin. It is hot. Bloody hot. Record-breaking hot. It has been over 100 degrees for the past four days. I don't know how to function in this climate anymore. I have grown accustomed to 65 degree, sweatshirt weather.

We have gone to the pool, to the lake and to the movies. Needless to say, the boys are in heaven. We are all having fun, although it isn't quite the trip I had anticipated. I had hoped to take strolls through my old neighborhood and the campus. I was counting on at least one good summer thunderstorm, so the boys could see the dark skies and lightening I had grown up with. Instead it has been a tour of swimming pools I never visited as a child.

We have hit some of my favorites, ice cream at the union, fireworks on the terrace, dinner at State Street Brats, pizza at Rocky Rococco's (which turned out to be such a disappointment, some memories are best left as... memories), breakfast at Micky's Dairy Bar, and custard at Michael's Frozen Custard. Funny how many memories are attached to eating establishments. I spy a cleansing diet in my near future!

We have also met up with some friends I haven't seen in years although the visits have all been hurried and too brief.

I will post pictures when I return.

Praying for a cool down, and uneventful trip back to Oakland....