So, I got into a car accident today. I want to preface this by saying that I'm fine, Charley wasn't with me when the accident happened, so there's no need for concern. I really contemplated whether or not I wanted to blog about this, because I really don't want to come off as complaining. But I decided to write about it, because this particular accident brings up some issues that I never really thought I would have to deal with, in terms of the laws and insurance related issues that come along with driving. Buckle up for this one!
Let me set the stage a little bit. I was stopped in the left turn lane at a stoplight, when a vehicle slammed into the back right side of my car at around 35 mph, and continued driving until she had effectively taken out my back wheel, the passenger side of my car, and my mirror. She slowed down. Stopped. And then drove off. Fortunately for me, there were dozens of other cars in the intersection, and I noticed some following her. She must have recognized this, because she finally stopped, turned around, and came back to the scene. As I made my first 911 call EVER, I was surprised to hear from the dispatcher that the incident had already been called in. That means one of the witnesses must've called, too, and I am very grateful for that. Minnesota drivers looking out for each other... I like that.
Anyway, the woman did turn around, get out of her car, and apologize. I didn't have anything nice to say, so I decided it was better for me not to say anything. That is, until the cops showed up. Did I yell and scream about being side swiped while I was STOPPED? Ha! No. That's not me. I'm not a yeller and a screamer. Instead, I burst into tears. Not because I was hurt. Just because I was shaken up, and he was so nice to me. I probably sounded like a blubbering idiot, but I had absolutely no control over it. I am ALWAYS in control of my emotions, and I really didn't enjoy crying uncontrollably. However, once I'd given him all of my information, I had time to calm down, text my family and friends, and let them know what had happened.
This is where it gets complicated. I saw the officer going back and forth between the other driver's vehicle, and his car. Several other officers showed up. Crap, I thought. I bet she's not insured. Well, according to the woman, the car belonged to her son, and he had the insurance information. I heard one of the officers asking her about the car's registration. It seems that the car she was driving had expired tabs from a different state, and it was, in fact registered to her son. The officer gathered the rest of her contact information, let her go (her car was drivable), and sat with me to wait for the tow truck to show up. "You, know," he said, "To be honest with you, I think the idea that she has insurance is pretty slim." Of course that had crossed my mind. Why else would her initial reaction have been to drive off? Ugh. Then the officer said, "People say things happen for a reason. But I can't really see a reason for this, on your part. I mean...It's a beautiful day, the road isn't slippery, there's no traffic... There's really absolutely no reason this should've happened, except that another person totally wasn't paying attention!" I appreciated him trying to make me feel better. "Maybe she needed a wake-up call of some sort, and I just happened to be the victim of that wake-up call," I replied.
As the day went on, I ran into a couple of other issues. The All Star Baseball games have been going on all week, and there are NO rental cars available in the Twin Cities or surrounding areas. Literally...none. So, I'm stranded at home until sometime tomorrow when I get a call from Enterprise saying they have a car available, and I can sucker someone into coming to pick Charley and me up so we can go get the car. Ha! I guess that means if you want to see me, you'll have to come visit! The other problem was that I got pretty sore, and decided to go to urgent care to get checked out. They admitted me into the ER, ran a whole plethora of tests, had an IV (the nurse told me the doctor ordered it, because I looked like I needed it....was that his way of telling the nurse I looked like crap?) found some internal bruising, but as I suspected... I'm totally fine. A little sore. But fine. Thank goodness for that. The ER visit was more of an annoyance than anything else, but I'm glad I went.
Ok, so the situation is complicated. But now, I find myself wondering...What if she really isn't insured? What does that mean for me? Well, that really depends on the damage to my vehicle. It was fairly substantial, but I don't really know anything about car parts and labor costs, so I don't know if it's totaled or just damaged. If it IS totaled, then I could be in quite a predicament. First of all, the claim would go against me, because my insurance would have to pay for it, and my rate could increase. Second of all, I drive a leased car. This means that the insurance company would pay the leasing agency, and (God forbid) if the value of the car is less than what is owed on it, I could end up financially responsible for the remainder of the lease. This basically means, I would have no money coming from the insurance company for a replacement. And no car. What would I do? It's the kind of situation that had never crossed my mind before today. It seems totally unfair. I mean...I was stopped. I didn't do anything wrong. Somebody else did. Doesn't that seem like a flaw in the system? I don't know, it just doesn't seem right.
Meanwhile, what would the consequences be for the other driver? Well, if she doesn't have insurance, she could lose her license. I could sue her for the money to pay for the deductible. But if she has no money, that won't do any good. Plus, I just can't picture myself taking part in a lawsuit. It's very unlike me. So what is the next step for her? Will there be other repercussions? Or does the fact that she's uninsured get her into trouble with the law, but get her off the hook financially? I'm not sure I understand that. If anybody knows, please, enlighten me!
Now, in the BEST case scenario (and what I'm hoping for), the woman comes forward with her insurance, and her insurance company takes care of everything. My car turns out to be damaged, but not beyond repair, and I get it back in a couple of weeks. This is what I'm hoping for.
At the end of the day, I'm grateful for one thing. I am so thankful that Charley was not in the car. I had to go the ER to get checked out, and if she had experienced that impact, she could've been seriously hurt. Someone was looking down on me, in that aspect.
This week can only improve from here, and I know it will. Goodnight!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Dear Charley...
This week, I've been overwhelmed by the number of things Charley says and does on a daily basis that are hilarious. Generally, she's not trying to be funny…but seeing as she is 3 years old, she doesn't understand the irony of her actions, and the things that she says. So, today, I thought I'd write a series of little letters to Charley. Enjoy!
Dear Charley,
I know you like Saved by the Bell. But the fact that you scratched a disk and it won't play is not an emergency. When you scream, "Mom! It's an emergency!" down the stairs from now on, I will not believe that it is, in fact, an emergency.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
I appreciate that you've been sleeping in your room every night. I also appreciate that you are willing to watch TV in the morning, so I can sleep a little bit longer. However, if you recall, I taught you how to use the DVD player. I did that for a reason. So that you could put in a DVD, by yourself, and allow me to sleep an extra 20-30 minutes. Shaking me awake, and asking me to put in a DVD is not the same thing. Let's keep working on this one.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
I think it is very polite that you have picked up the term, "Yes, ma'am." However, it is not a term I need to use with you in every conversation. For example, if you ask me for a popsicle, "Sure," is an acceptable answer. You do not need to correct me and say, "No, Mommy, you should say, yes ma'am."
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
When we are at the store, I understand that you get frustrated with me. I tell you, "No," quite frequently. Although you asked me nicely the other day to, "Please stop saying 'no,' Mommy," my answer will not change. In fact, I would say the word 'no' a lot less frequently, if you didn't find it necessary to pick every 4th item off the shelf and ask if you can have it.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
When you see a creepy looking guy walking down the sidewalk, please wait until he's out of earshot before saying, "Mom, that guy is a creeper!"
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
When I tell you I am not going to argue with you, it does not mean you have won the argument. In fact, it means exactly the opposite. I have won the argument, and we are going to do what I have told you we are going to do. On a similar note, you are not allowed to tell me, "I'm not going to argue with you!" It doesn't work that way. I'm the mom.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
Just because Nana calls people 'dumbheads' when she is driving, does not mean you can use that term. I am not a dumbhead. You may only use that term in Nana's car.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
I love you. I do not love Barbie's Dream House. Please find a new show to watch, because I think Barbie and Ken are making me lose my mind. Literally.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
When you spill something on the floor, break a picture frame, or have an accident, you are not the one who should be saying, "It's okay. Accidents happen." That is my job. And sometimes, I might not be very happy about what happened, especially if I asked you NOT to do it in the first place. However, accidents DO happen. And I still love you.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
I don't speak whine. I say that to my students, and I say it to you almost daily. That means you need to stop whining. Whining louder and shouting at me, "I'm CRYING!" while no tears fall from your eyes has no impact on me. You are stubborn, but I've been practicing the stubborn thing for years. I will wait you out. I don't know if you noticed, but when I ignore your whining, you DO eventually stop, and turn back into my adorable, hilarious, sassy little girl. I will keep practicing this method until you graduate high school.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
Thank you for being concerned about doing the dishes. You are a little bit too young to do this chore. However, I will continue to let you 'help' me with the dishes, despite the fact that it takes 4 times as long when I have your assistance, in hopes that I won't have to fight you to do the dishes when you're 10. I'm not banking on that, but a mom can dream, right?
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
I know you like Saved by the Bell. But the fact that you scratched a disk and it won't play is not an emergency. When you scream, "Mom! It's an emergency!" down the stairs from now on, I will not believe that it is, in fact, an emergency.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
I appreciate that you've been sleeping in your room every night. I also appreciate that you are willing to watch TV in the morning, so I can sleep a little bit longer. However, if you recall, I taught you how to use the DVD player. I did that for a reason. So that you could put in a DVD, by yourself, and allow me to sleep an extra 20-30 minutes. Shaking me awake, and asking me to put in a DVD is not the same thing. Let's keep working on this one.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
I think it is very polite that you have picked up the term, "Yes, ma'am." However, it is not a term I need to use with you in every conversation. For example, if you ask me for a popsicle, "Sure," is an acceptable answer. You do not need to correct me and say, "No, Mommy, you should say, yes ma'am."
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
When we are at the store, I understand that you get frustrated with me. I tell you, "No," quite frequently. Although you asked me nicely the other day to, "Please stop saying 'no,' Mommy," my answer will not change. In fact, I would say the word 'no' a lot less frequently, if you didn't find it necessary to pick every 4th item off the shelf and ask if you can have it.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
When you see a creepy looking guy walking down the sidewalk, please wait until he's out of earshot before saying, "Mom, that guy is a creeper!"
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
When I tell you I am not going to argue with you, it does not mean you have won the argument. In fact, it means exactly the opposite. I have won the argument, and we are going to do what I have told you we are going to do. On a similar note, you are not allowed to tell me, "I'm not going to argue with you!" It doesn't work that way. I'm the mom.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
Just because Nana calls people 'dumbheads' when she is driving, does not mean you can use that term. I am not a dumbhead. You may only use that term in Nana's car.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
I love you. I do not love Barbie's Dream House. Please find a new show to watch, because I think Barbie and Ken are making me lose my mind. Literally.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
When you spill something on the floor, break a picture frame, or have an accident, you are not the one who should be saying, "It's okay. Accidents happen." That is my job. And sometimes, I might not be very happy about what happened, especially if I asked you NOT to do it in the first place. However, accidents DO happen. And I still love you.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
I don't speak whine. I say that to my students, and I say it to you almost daily. That means you need to stop whining. Whining louder and shouting at me, "I'm CRYING!" while no tears fall from your eyes has no impact on me. You are stubborn, but I've been practicing the stubborn thing for years. I will wait you out. I don't know if you noticed, but when I ignore your whining, you DO eventually stop, and turn back into my adorable, hilarious, sassy little girl. I will keep practicing this method until you graduate high school.
Love,
Mom
Dear Charley,
Thank you for being concerned about doing the dishes. You are a little bit too young to do this chore. However, I will continue to let you 'help' me with the dishes, despite the fact that it takes 4 times as long when I have your assistance, in hopes that I won't have to fight you to do the dishes when you're 10. I'm not banking on that, but a mom can dream, right?
Love,
Mom
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Making a New Home
Well, it's been a week, and I think we're settling into our new home quite well. We've been going to the pool and park just about every day, and making friends in the neighborhood. It's a bit of an adjustment, considering we're used to having a Target and other amenities right around the corner, and now we have to drive 10 minutes to get our every day essentials. But maybe that isn't a bad thing…it'll certainly keep me from spending money unnecessarily! And maybe it'll encourage me to start making lists, so I don't forget anything that I need…. Ha! I doubt that'll happen, but it's something to strive for. Anyway, while getting settled I had some time off from work, and I'm a little anxious to get back. I'm a busy-body, and I get bored easily. With that said, having a full week off is more than I'm used to, and this busy-body is ready to be busy again!
I thought I'd start off this week by talking about my new neighbors. I was sad to leave my neighborhood in NE Minneapolis, because I had some awesome neighbors. There were older women living on either side of my, who were a little bit eccentric, incredibly nice, and they adored Charley. One of Charley's best friends also lived on our block, and I'd become friends with his parents over the last two years. So, I was hoping that I'd meet some nice people in my new neighborhood. As it turns out, I think I've hit the neighborhood jackpot for a parent of a toddler! On our second day here, our water heater went out. We were outside waiting for the plumber to come fix it, and we got to meet our next door neighbors. They're a young couple, with an adorable little boy, and they were very friendly. I told them that the water heater had gone out, and the guy immediately asked, "You're not paying anyone to fix it are you? I'll come fix it for you right now, if you want." It was very nice! Now, my landlord had called the plumber and was responsible for the cost, so I just let the plumber handle it, but it's nice to have a next door neighbor who's fairly handy! We chatted for awhile, while the kids played, and I felt really good about having them next door.
The first time we ventured to the pool, Charley made instant friends with the other kids playing in the kiddie pool, and I just sat back, relaxed, and enjoyed the afternoon. That's one thing I love about Charley, by the way… She makes friends wherever she goes! On our second trip to the pool, Charley started playing with a little boy, and I started talking with his mom. We talked for about an hour, about a variety of things, and before we left, we exchanged phone numbers, and Charley and I had received an invitation to dinner! There's something to be said for living in a small town…the people certainly are friendly!
The 4th of July was the first holiday we celebrated here in Hugo, and it came along fairly quickly after we'd moved in. I decided on Thursday evening that we would go to the parade in Forest Lake, because Charley hasn't really been to a parade before. Let's just say, it'll be awhile before we go to another parade. The parade itself was fantastic! There were lots of participants, and things to see (including my friend and her two kids on a fire truck). But Charley wasn't in the mood, and wanted to go home, before the parade even started! She was into it for about 10 minutes after she saw her friends on the fire truck, but then said, "I want to go home." She stuck it out for a few more minutes, and then we walked alongside the parade (totally embarrassing, by the way) to where our car was parked, several blocks away. Of course on the way back to the car, I ran into several of my students, and stopped to talk with them for a few minutes. By the time we got loaded in the car, Charley was wiped out, and fell asleep almost immediately. We drove home, and made sure the house was clean, because we were having a bit of an impromptu gathering, with a couple of friends and their kids. It was great! Not terribly organized, because it was so last minute…but great! First, one of my friends showed up with her two kids, and we went to the pool right away. The kids played at the park and pool for close to 2 hours, before we headed back to my house for drinks and snacks. When we got home, another friend showed up with his two kids (Charley's best friends from gymnastics), and joined the fun. The kids ate, played, and ate some more, before we decided to walk back to the park. They looked like a little gang, all walking together. The kids played for awhile, then some of us went to the pool, while others went home. All-in-all, it was a great day. It was long, and busy…but that's how I prefer things, I think. Besides that, Charley went to bed early and slept like a rock!
Today, Charley and I have pretty much just been bumming around. She's got a little bit of a cold, mixed with some allergies, so we ran errands this morning, and have been at home ever since. She's perfectly content sitting on the couch watching TV all day (only because she's not feeling well), but of course, I'm bored out of my mind. A girl can only watch so much Phineas and Ferb and Barbie's Dream House before she totally loses it. Anyway, after a long day of sitting on the couch, I'm looking forward to getting back to work this week. Have a great week!
I thought I'd start off this week by talking about my new neighbors. I was sad to leave my neighborhood in NE Minneapolis, because I had some awesome neighbors. There were older women living on either side of my, who were a little bit eccentric, incredibly nice, and they adored Charley. One of Charley's best friends also lived on our block, and I'd become friends with his parents over the last two years. So, I was hoping that I'd meet some nice people in my new neighborhood. As it turns out, I think I've hit the neighborhood jackpot for a parent of a toddler! On our second day here, our water heater went out. We were outside waiting for the plumber to come fix it, and we got to meet our next door neighbors. They're a young couple, with an adorable little boy, and they were very friendly. I told them that the water heater had gone out, and the guy immediately asked, "You're not paying anyone to fix it are you? I'll come fix it for you right now, if you want." It was very nice! Now, my landlord had called the plumber and was responsible for the cost, so I just let the plumber handle it, but it's nice to have a next door neighbor who's fairly handy! We chatted for awhile, while the kids played, and I felt really good about having them next door.The first time we ventured to the pool, Charley made instant friends with the other kids playing in the kiddie pool, and I just sat back, relaxed, and enjoyed the afternoon. That's one thing I love about Charley, by the way… She makes friends wherever she goes! On our second trip to the pool, Charley started playing with a little boy, and I started talking with his mom. We talked for about an hour, about a variety of things, and before we left, we exchanged phone numbers, and Charley and I had received an invitation to dinner! There's something to be said for living in a small town…the people certainly are friendly!
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| Charley and the gang. |
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| Charley got busted sneaking S'mores dip. Brilliant idea, but recipe needs tweaking! |
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Turning Over a New Leaf
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| Living Room |
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| Charley's Bedroom |
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| Charley's Play Room |
Of course, there were already 6 people in line at U-Haul by 7:15, and only one employee behind the desk. I felt bad for him, because he was doing the best he could. It just seemed to take FOREVER. Anyway, when it was finally my turn, I filled out the paperwork, hopped in the truck, and drove back to my house to start loading. I was already about 30 minutes behind schedule, but I wasn't terribly worried about it. When I got back to my place, none of my helpers had arrived, and I was starting to get nervous. But before I knew it, there were 6 people at my door, ready to help. I felt very blessed. We had the truck loaded in about an hour, and we headed to my new place.
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| Charley's Bedroom |
Anyway, the U-Haul was due back at the rental location by 2, so one of my friends who was heading that direction offered to drive it back for me. But when he got in and tried to start the engine, the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. Several people tried, before I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to call for roadside assistance. I thanked everybody, sent them on their ways, and waited for the U-Haul to be dealt with. When the guy finally showed up, he looked at the key, looked at the vehicle, and asked me, "Did you pick this up in Brooklyn Park?" I shook my head. "I got it in St. Paul," I told him. "This key doesn't even go to this vehicle," he stated, "Which is why it won't start. I'm not sure how it started before, but I'll cut you a new key, and you can return the truck." So, shortly later, I loaded up Charley, and headed back to drop of the U-Haul. It was quite an ordeal.
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| Kitchen |
By this time, it was nearly 3:30, and I still had to get my new TV, before heading to my friend's 30th birthday party at 7, in St. Louis Park. It had been raining buckets, but slowed down for awhile, so I thought I'd be fine to get the TV and get to the party with plenty of time to spare. I'd already showered and done my make-up, so all I really had to do was get dressed, so I stopped home, changed clothes, and headed to Target. When I went into Target, it was dry outside. When I walked out, I found myself in a torrential downpour. Between the store and my car, I got completely soaked. It looked like I'd taken a shower in my clothes. But I still had plenty of time to get myself together, and look presentable at the party. So I raced home, threw my clothes in the dryer, and tried to get myself together. By this time, Charley had completely passed out from the excitement of the day. "My babysitter's going to have a heck of an easy night!" I thought to myself. I texted my friend to make sure it wasn't still pouring in SLP, and waited for my friend to come watch Charley. Well, it wasn't pouring buckets in SLP, but it was between St. Paul and Hugo, and my friend couldn't make it out to babysit. I was disappointed, because the party was for one of my closest friends, and the one who always hosts parties for everybody else. But unfortunately, no sitter…no party. That's the life of a single mom! So, I ended up staying in.
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| Master Bedroom |
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Making Connections
So, the last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. Charley and I have been to the zoo twice, the school four or five times, the gym, the park, the splash pad…not to mention COUNTLESS furniture stores… Let's just say we've been pretty busy. I talked to my landlord last week, and he let me know I can move in this Thursday. It's a few days ahead of schedule, but I am SO ready to make the move. I know I've talked about a fresh start before, but it's felt like I've been stuck the last couple of weeks, halfway packed but ready for my new beginning!
With that said, the last couple of weeks might have been busy, but they've been really great, for the most part! There've been a few hiccups, due to my self-proclaimed ditziness, but all-in-all, I've gotten a lot done. I've been spending more time in the gym, and it just reminds me how much I LOVE coaching. The gym is really where I feel most at home. Funny story about the gym, actually… The other day I had just finished up a series of private lessons and was walking toward the door, when I saw a man from a distance who looked very familiar to me. He asked one of my co-workers if Lindsey Kaplan was in. I overheard him say my name, and realized he must've known me a long time ago, because he referred to me using my maiden name. Sure enough, as I walked closer, I realized that it was a guy I graduated from high school with. He wanted to get his daughter back in gymnastics, and knew (via FB) that I work at Kenwood, so he brought her in. I evaluated his daughter's skill level (and she is ADORABLE, I might add), and he signed her up for classes. It was really cool, actually. I haven't seen this man since high school, and even then, I never knew him terribly well. But it was clear that he's really developed into a great guy, and a wonderful father. How cool is that? I mean, I know I've changed a lot in the last few years, and I expect that everyone I knew in high school has changed, too. But it's rare that I actually see anybody from high school, outside of my close friends. It was kind of a fun experience for me!
So, I mentioned that Charley and I have been furniture shopping like crazy. Seriously, I think I've tested 20+ couches. I'm so picky… I know exactly what I want, but if I'm being responsible and realistic, what I WANT is probably out of my price range. Anyway, Charley and I have been in and out of furniture stores, and she's been quite a trooper… I mean, for a three-year-old, I'm impressed at how easily she can amuse herself in Ashely Furniture. Yesterday, I finally bit the bullet and made a purchase, because the idea of moving into my new place and being couchless for even one more day makes me shudder. So, I will officially have a couch again on Thursday. Woohoo! It's pretty cute, too. Score for me! Basically, the couch purchase means that the last major thing I have to purchase is a new TV. I'll decorate over time, but once I get the TV, I should have everything I need to make my new house a home.
Today was kind of a special day. It was my mom's retirement party, and we got to see some old friends. It was great to celebrate my mom, who is one of the hardest working women on the face of the earth. Both of my parents are driven, and hardworking, but I know I get many of my workhorse qualities from my mom. Anyway, I also got a chance to visit with some family friends I've known all my life. Incidentally, they live in Lindstrom and Shafer, MN, both small towns fairly close to my new place. These particular family friends are really more like aunts and uncles to me. We went up to the cabin with them every summer when I was a kid, and I genuinely looked forward to catching up with them, today. It was so funny to sit with these people who knew me when I was Charley's age, drink wine, and get lost in conversation about work, life, friends, dating…it was like I was just chatting with my girlfriends. At one point I mentioned that my aunt is coming in town in August, just to visit, and spend some time with Charley to give me a break, and the stipulations around her visit. My aunt insists that I go out at least two of the nights that she's in town. "I won't have to worry about getting back at a reasonable hour, if she's staying at my house," I said. "If at all…" one of the women said. I cracked up. It was just so fun to have such a relaxed conversation with people who I consider to be extended family! Plus, they were very sweet, offering to babysit Charley anytime, because they'd be nearby. "You need to get out and have fun yourself, Linds," one of them said, "Being a mom 24-7 without a break is enough to drive you crazy!" She's so right. And wonderful. I'm looking forward to re-connecting with them in the next few months.
So, it's been a busy, but exciting few weeks. I have a feeling that this upcoming week will be a whirlwind, and I'm totally okay with that. I can't wait until a week from today, when I'm sitting on my new couch, in my new house, contemplating my new beginning. With that….have a great night!
With that said, the last couple of weeks might have been busy, but they've been really great, for the most part! There've been a few hiccups, due to my self-proclaimed ditziness, but all-in-all, I've gotten a lot done. I've been spending more time in the gym, and it just reminds me how much I LOVE coaching. The gym is really where I feel most at home. Funny story about the gym, actually… The other day I had just finished up a series of private lessons and was walking toward the door, when I saw a man from a distance who looked very familiar to me. He asked one of my co-workers if Lindsey Kaplan was in. I overheard him say my name, and realized he must've known me a long time ago, because he referred to me using my maiden name. Sure enough, as I walked closer, I realized that it was a guy I graduated from high school with. He wanted to get his daughter back in gymnastics, and knew (via FB) that I work at Kenwood, so he brought her in. I evaluated his daughter's skill level (and she is ADORABLE, I might add), and he signed her up for classes. It was really cool, actually. I haven't seen this man since high school, and even then, I never knew him terribly well. But it was clear that he's really developed into a great guy, and a wonderful father. How cool is that? I mean, I know I've changed a lot in the last few years, and I expect that everyone I knew in high school has changed, too. But it's rare that I actually see anybody from high school, outside of my close friends. It was kind of a fun experience for me!
So, I mentioned that Charley and I have been furniture shopping like crazy. Seriously, I think I've tested 20+ couches. I'm so picky… I know exactly what I want, but if I'm being responsible and realistic, what I WANT is probably out of my price range. Anyway, Charley and I have been in and out of furniture stores, and she's been quite a trooper… I mean, for a three-year-old, I'm impressed at how easily she can amuse herself in Ashely Furniture. Yesterday, I finally bit the bullet and made a purchase, because the idea of moving into my new place and being couchless for even one more day makes me shudder. So, I will officially have a couch again on Thursday. Woohoo! It's pretty cute, too. Score for me! Basically, the couch purchase means that the last major thing I have to purchase is a new TV. I'll decorate over time, but once I get the TV, I should have everything I need to make my new house a home.
Today was kind of a special day. It was my mom's retirement party, and we got to see some old friends. It was great to celebrate my mom, who is one of the hardest working women on the face of the earth. Both of my parents are driven, and hardworking, but I know I get many of my workhorse qualities from my mom. Anyway, I also got a chance to visit with some family friends I've known all my life. Incidentally, they live in Lindstrom and Shafer, MN, both small towns fairly close to my new place. These particular family friends are really more like aunts and uncles to me. We went up to the cabin with them every summer when I was a kid, and I genuinely looked forward to catching up with them, today. It was so funny to sit with these people who knew me when I was Charley's age, drink wine, and get lost in conversation about work, life, friends, dating…it was like I was just chatting with my girlfriends. At one point I mentioned that my aunt is coming in town in August, just to visit, and spend some time with Charley to give me a break, and the stipulations around her visit. My aunt insists that I go out at least two of the nights that she's in town. "I won't have to worry about getting back at a reasonable hour, if she's staying at my house," I said. "If at all…" one of the women said. I cracked up. It was just so fun to have such a relaxed conversation with people who I consider to be extended family! Plus, they were very sweet, offering to babysit Charley anytime, because they'd be nearby. "You need to get out and have fun yourself, Linds," one of them said, "Being a mom 24-7 without a break is enough to drive you crazy!" She's so right. And wonderful. I'm looking forward to re-connecting with them in the next few months.
So, it's been a busy, but exciting few weeks. I have a feeling that this upcoming week will be a whirlwind, and I'm totally okay with that. I can't wait until a week from today, when I'm sitting on my new couch, in my new house, contemplating my new beginning. With that….have a great night!
Monday, June 9, 2014
A Plethora of Flakiness…
Generally, I think most people would say I'm a fairly intelligent and articulate person. When it comes to the things that I know, and things that I do, I tend to make good decisions. I don't jump into things without gathering all of the information, and I think things through before I do them. I'm structured, reasonably organized, and I like to plan things in advance. However, it seems to me, that when I'm overwhelmed with TOO many things, I become a complete flake. Like a SERIOUS flake! It's one of those personality traits that I have grown to recognize in myself, and when I notice signs of flakiness, I realize that I need to SLOW DOWN and get more sleep. This last week has been a doozy…It was the last week of school, Charley's last week of preschool, I'm trying to organize things for the move, and sell my business (yes, I'm sad to say GO! Gymnastics is seeking new ownership…right idea, but came along at the wrong time for me). Anyway, all of these things are very positive, and allowing me to move forward in my life. But they all hit at the same time. Which in turn, left me a little bit (a lot…I should've said a lot) overwhelmed. Anyway, the things that I do when I'm a flake can be relatively humorous. So, I thought I'd make a list of the things I've done in the last week that demonstrate my current lack of brainpower. I legitimately laugh at myself during these times, and I hope I give you a laugh as well. Here we go…
1. I scheduled tests two hours apart in two different locations. I've already beaten this story to death, but it did happen last week…and served as the starting point for the flakiness.
2. I lost my keys. Okay, this is actually a pretty funny story. The other day, one of my friends picked me up for breakfast. I never checked for my keys, because I'm used to driving all the time, so I just assumed I had them. When I got back to my place, I realized that I didn't have my keys. I figured they must've fallen out on my walk to the car, so I checked the yard, sidewalk, etc…No luck. I scrolled through my phone to find the phone number to the restaurant, who, sure enough, didn't have a working number. Typical. So, I borrowed my friend's car and drove to the restaurant to find my keys, which I was CERTAIN must've fallen out of my purse when I took out my wallet to pay. Again, no luck. "Crap!" I thought, "Where could my keys be?" So, I returned to my car, annoyed. I'd thrown something in my car earlier in the morning, so I figured it was just my luck. Clearly, I must've locked my keys in my car, right? So I called a locksmith, who came and opened my car. And $145 later, revealed that my keys were indeed NOT in my car. Awesome. I'd looked everywhere, and the keys were nowhere to be found. I had one last idea, but I knew the chance of my keys actually turning up was slim to none. I had nothing to lose, though, so I gave it a shot. You see, my friend and I had intended to go to one restaurant, but got to the door and realized the wait would be too long, so we got back in the car and went somewhere else. Well, I called the restaurant and asked if anybody had turned in any keys. "Volkswagen keys?" the hostess asked. "Yes!" I squealed into the phone. "Well a man found them on the ground outside, and brought them in…but he wasn't sure if they belonged to a patron of ours, so he put them back on the ground where he found them, "she stated. My heart sunk. "I'm sending the busboy out to check for them. I'll call you back in 5 minutes," she told me. I kept my fingers crossed. Sure enough, I got a phone call shortly thereafter confirming that they DID indeed have my keys. So, it was back in my friend's car, and back to the FIRST restaurant, and finally, I had my keys back. It's a good thing, too, because I had an awful lot of road tripping over the weekend.
3. I mentioned to one of my friends that I was trying to sell my desk, and I needed to sell my couch. He told me that I should have started that process a long time ago, because those things take awhile to sell on Craigslist. The desk has been on Craigslist for a couple of weeks, with no luck, but the couch, I'd held off on. I got a little paranoid. My couch wasn't really built for my new place, and I didn't want to be stuck lugging it along with me. So, I put it on Craigslist, too. It sold. In an hour. Which means that Charley and I are officially couch less until we move. Ha! Total ditz.
4. I started packing big time. Which is great, because it will alleviate the work I have to do in the days just prior to our big move. But I started to pack up the kitchen, including ALL of my cooking utensils (thank goodness I didn't get into the eating utensils drawer). Basically, this just means that I won't be cooking for the next 3 weeks.
5. On my drive with Charley today, we were at a little rest stop in Iowa. I was paying for my coffee and a treat for Charley. As I reached to put my change back in my purse, I completely knocked my coffee over and it spilled everywhere. The cashier was so nice about it, but it was so embarrassing! One of those moments, where you just have to laugh at yourself. So I did!
Those little mishaps are just the tip of the iceberg. I have a feeling the next couple of weeks will be full of similar moments. With that said, if I come off like a complete idiot at any given time between now and the time I move, forgive me. I will be back to normal after I move and get settled in.
On that note, have a fantastic week!
P.S. It's come to my attention that I forgot one of my best moments of the week! I was in the Ikea area, the other day, and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to pick up a new storage unit for Charley's room. It was fairly large, and I knew it would be a challenge to get it into my car…particularly because I was doing it by myself! Lucky for me, Charley wasn't with me, so I was able to move her carseat out of the way. Anyway, I was fiddling with the seats, trying to get the unit in the car, when I thought I should probably just put the back seats down, and push it through the trunk. Little did I know, I had never removed Bruce, the creepy life-sized doll that's tormented my family for years, from my trunk. I had put the doll in there, with the intention of pranking my older sister when she was in town. Well, that, my friends, is what they call karma. And karma's a bitch. I jumped back as I opened the trunk, and promptly closed it, convinced that it would be better for me to fiddle around with the seats in the front of the car than have people walk by, wondering why I had a child in my trunk. It took some maneuvering, but I pulled it off. Ha!
1. I scheduled tests two hours apart in two different locations. I've already beaten this story to death, but it did happen last week…and served as the starting point for the flakiness.
2. I lost my keys. Okay, this is actually a pretty funny story. The other day, one of my friends picked me up for breakfast. I never checked for my keys, because I'm used to driving all the time, so I just assumed I had them. When I got back to my place, I realized that I didn't have my keys. I figured they must've fallen out on my walk to the car, so I checked the yard, sidewalk, etc…No luck. I scrolled through my phone to find the phone number to the restaurant, who, sure enough, didn't have a working number. Typical. So, I borrowed my friend's car and drove to the restaurant to find my keys, which I was CERTAIN must've fallen out of my purse when I took out my wallet to pay. Again, no luck. "Crap!" I thought, "Where could my keys be?" So, I returned to my car, annoyed. I'd thrown something in my car earlier in the morning, so I figured it was just my luck. Clearly, I must've locked my keys in my car, right? So I called a locksmith, who came and opened my car. And $145 later, revealed that my keys were indeed NOT in my car. Awesome. I'd looked everywhere, and the keys were nowhere to be found. I had one last idea, but I knew the chance of my keys actually turning up was slim to none. I had nothing to lose, though, so I gave it a shot. You see, my friend and I had intended to go to one restaurant, but got to the door and realized the wait would be too long, so we got back in the car and went somewhere else. Well, I called the restaurant and asked if anybody had turned in any keys. "Volkswagen keys?" the hostess asked. "Yes!" I squealed into the phone. "Well a man found them on the ground outside, and brought them in…but he wasn't sure if they belonged to a patron of ours, so he put them back on the ground where he found them, "she stated. My heart sunk. "I'm sending the busboy out to check for them. I'll call you back in 5 minutes," she told me. I kept my fingers crossed. Sure enough, I got a phone call shortly thereafter confirming that they DID indeed have my keys. So, it was back in my friend's car, and back to the FIRST restaurant, and finally, I had my keys back. It's a good thing, too, because I had an awful lot of road tripping over the weekend.
3. I mentioned to one of my friends that I was trying to sell my desk, and I needed to sell my couch. He told me that I should have started that process a long time ago, because those things take awhile to sell on Craigslist. The desk has been on Craigslist for a couple of weeks, with no luck, but the couch, I'd held off on. I got a little paranoid. My couch wasn't really built for my new place, and I didn't want to be stuck lugging it along with me. So, I put it on Craigslist, too. It sold. In an hour. Which means that Charley and I are officially couch less until we move. Ha! Total ditz.
4. I started packing big time. Which is great, because it will alleviate the work I have to do in the days just prior to our big move. But I started to pack up the kitchen, including ALL of my cooking utensils (thank goodness I didn't get into the eating utensils drawer). Basically, this just means that I won't be cooking for the next 3 weeks.
5. On my drive with Charley today, we were at a little rest stop in Iowa. I was paying for my coffee and a treat for Charley. As I reached to put my change back in my purse, I completely knocked my coffee over and it spilled everywhere. The cashier was so nice about it, but it was so embarrassing! One of those moments, where you just have to laugh at yourself. So I did!
Those little mishaps are just the tip of the iceberg. I have a feeling the next couple of weeks will be full of similar moments. With that said, if I come off like a complete idiot at any given time between now and the time I move, forgive me. I will be back to normal after I move and get settled in.
On that note, have a fantastic week!
P.S. It's come to my attention that I forgot one of my best moments of the week! I was in the Ikea area, the other day, and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to pick up a new storage unit for Charley's room. It was fairly large, and I knew it would be a challenge to get it into my car…particularly because I was doing it by myself! Lucky for me, Charley wasn't with me, so I was able to move her carseat out of the way. Anyway, I was fiddling with the seats, trying to get the unit in the car, when I thought I should probably just put the back seats down, and push it through the trunk. Little did I know, I had never removed Bruce, the creepy life-sized doll that's tormented my family for years, from my trunk. I had put the doll in there, with the intention of pranking my older sister when she was in town. Well, that, my friends, is what they call karma. And karma's a bitch. I jumped back as I opened the trunk, and promptly closed it, convinced that it would be better for me to fiddle around with the seats in the front of the car than have people walk by, wondering why I had a child in my trunk. It took some maneuvering, but I pulled it off. Ha!
Monday, June 2, 2014
You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!
Ok, I haven't posted two days in a row in a long time, but the events of the morning will likely provide you with a good laugh. Let me set the stage here, a little bit…
It all started a few weeks ago, when I got a notification that my teaching license is due to expire at the end of June. Now, I just became licensed in Minnesota in November, but I was issued a temporary license, which would give me time to complete the MN state licensure tests. This whole ordeal was frustrating from the beginning, because I took equivalent tests when I lived in NV, at a cost of something like $90 each. And there were 6 tests. Naturally, there is no reciprocity, so I have to take nearly identical assessments, all over again. Anyway, I registered to take the tests today, because I knew Charley's childcare was covered, and I wanted to ensure there is time for the paperwork to process before the license expires. Last night, Charley was crabby and tired, because we'd spent the whole afternoon at the gym. In fact, she was beyond tired. She was overtired. Which meant, it was harder for her to get to sleep, because she was so cranky. When she finally did fall asleep, around 9, I got to work studying for the 4 exams I'd registered to take this morning, starting at 8:00. That lasted for about 20 minutes, before I decided it was more important for me to finish writing a student evaluation and sub lessons for the day. Originally, I'd planned to start all of this around 7, because that tends to be Charley's bedtime when she hasn't napped. But no luck! So, I got off task (typical), and went to bed around 11, knowing I had to be up at 5:30 to get Charley to daycare in Forest Lake and be in Brooklyn Park for a test at 8:00. This is where it gets fun.
I got up on-time, and got myself dressed. I threw on some yoga pants and a hoodie, knowing I wouldn't be going into the school today, let Oscar out, got Charley dressed, and headed out the door. When I got Charley in the car, she determined that she wanted to wear different shoes. Normally, I wouldn't give her an option, but she was so tired from getting up early, that I decided to run in and get the shoes. As I walked into the living room, I realized that Oscar had peed on the floor…and he had literally been let out 5 minutes prior! I was so mad. I grabbed an old towel, cleaned up the mess, grabbed Charley's shoes, and ran back to the car. I dropped her off at school, and made it to Brooklyn Park with plenty of time to spare. Phew. Or so I thought. As I walked up to the counter to present my ID, the testing administrator looked at me and said, "I have you down for 10:15." I stood there thinking, "I hope I'm at the right place. I couldn't have been THAT flaky..." I reached into my bag to grab my phone, and show him the 8:00 testing confirmation, but was told in no uncertain terms that my phone had to stay away. He clicked around on his computer for a minute before saying, "You are registered for an 8:00 appointment. In St. Paul. So…. Run? And I'll see you back here at 10:15!" At this point it was five minutes until 8, and the St. Paul location was 30 minutes away. I called the testing site, told them I was on my way, and prayed that traffic wouldn't be too brutal. Well, it was rush hour. But I made it to the testing site by 8:30…30 minutes late! But they let me take my first two tests. By the time I was done with the first test, my ADD had kicked in, and I found myself reading the same questions over and over again, like an idiot. After an hour, I'd finished both tests, and thank goodness, I PASSED. Phew. For real.
But my morning wasn't over. From there, I had to drive BACK to Brooklyn Park for my 10:15 tests, and it was already 9:55 as I was leaving the testing facility. I had my game face on, and made it to Brooklyn Park by 10:20, and got started on my second set of tests. At this point, I was tired, and my morning caffeine fix had started to wear off. I was only about halfway through the first tests, when I started getting antsy, and SO sick of reading on a computer screen. It was funny, because I noticed myself doing some of the things my students do, when they're testing…crossing and uncrossing my legs, sitting on one leg, changing positions…I'm sure I was amusing to watch. Anyway, 100 questions later, I had FINALLY finished 4 exams, in 2 different locations and passed them all. What a relief. After that, I went straight home to eat some lunch, before going back to Forest Lake to get Charley. And you know what? I think I am going to take a nap. Ha!
So, to sum up…since 6:30 this morning, I've been from Minneapolis, to Forest Lake, to Brooklyn Park, to St. Paul, back to Brooklyn Park, and now back to Minneapolis. I felt like a ping-pong ball! I'm exhausted. And it's not even one o'clock! Not the way I planned to start my week….but at the end of the day, it's okay because I've gotten the testing done. Woohoo! Have a great week!
It all started a few weeks ago, when I got a notification that my teaching license is due to expire at the end of June. Now, I just became licensed in Minnesota in November, but I was issued a temporary license, which would give me time to complete the MN state licensure tests. This whole ordeal was frustrating from the beginning, because I took equivalent tests when I lived in NV, at a cost of something like $90 each. And there were 6 tests. Naturally, there is no reciprocity, so I have to take nearly identical assessments, all over again. Anyway, I registered to take the tests today, because I knew Charley's childcare was covered, and I wanted to ensure there is time for the paperwork to process before the license expires. Last night, Charley was crabby and tired, because we'd spent the whole afternoon at the gym. In fact, she was beyond tired. She was overtired. Which meant, it was harder for her to get to sleep, because she was so cranky. When she finally did fall asleep, around 9, I got to work studying for the 4 exams I'd registered to take this morning, starting at 8:00. That lasted for about 20 minutes, before I decided it was more important for me to finish writing a student evaluation and sub lessons for the day. Originally, I'd planned to start all of this around 7, because that tends to be Charley's bedtime when she hasn't napped. But no luck! So, I got off task (typical), and went to bed around 11, knowing I had to be up at 5:30 to get Charley to daycare in Forest Lake and be in Brooklyn Park for a test at 8:00. This is where it gets fun.
I got up on-time, and got myself dressed. I threw on some yoga pants and a hoodie, knowing I wouldn't be going into the school today, let Oscar out, got Charley dressed, and headed out the door. When I got Charley in the car, she determined that she wanted to wear different shoes. Normally, I wouldn't give her an option, but she was so tired from getting up early, that I decided to run in and get the shoes. As I walked into the living room, I realized that Oscar had peed on the floor…and he had literally been let out 5 minutes prior! I was so mad. I grabbed an old towel, cleaned up the mess, grabbed Charley's shoes, and ran back to the car. I dropped her off at school, and made it to Brooklyn Park with plenty of time to spare. Phew. Or so I thought. As I walked up to the counter to present my ID, the testing administrator looked at me and said, "I have you down for 10:15." I stood there thinking, "I hope I'm at the right place. I couldn't have been THAT flaky..." I reached into my bag to grab my phone, and show him the 8:00 testing confirmation, but was told in no uncertain terms that my phone had to stay away. He clicked around on his computer for a minute before saying, "You are registered for an 8:00 appointment. In St. Paul. So…. Run? And I'll see you back here at 10:15!" At this point it was five minutes until 8, and the St. Paul location was 30 minutes away. I called the testing site, told them I was on my way, and prayed that traffic wouldn't be too brutal. Well, it was rush hour. But I made it to the testing site by 8:30…30 minutes late! But they let me take my first two tests. By the time I was done with the first test, my ADD had kicked in, and I found myself reading the same questions over and over again, like an idiot. After an hour, I'd finished both tests, and thank goodness, I PASSED. Phew. For real.
But my morning wasn't over. From there, I had to drive BACK to Brooklyn Park for my 10:15 tests, and it was already 9:55 as I was leaving the testing facility. I had my game face on, and made it to Brooklyn Park by 10:20, and got started on my second set of tests. At this point, I was tired, and my morning caffeine fix had started to wear off. I was only about halfway through the first tests, when I started getting antsy, and SO sick of reading on a computer screen. It was funny, because I noticed myself doing some of the things my students do, when they're testing…crossing and uncrossing my legs, sitting on one leg, changing positions…I'm sure I was amusing to watch. Anyway, 100 questions later, I had FINALLY finished 4 exams, in 2 different locations and passed them all. What a relief. After that, I went straight home to eat some lunch, before going back to Forest Lake to get Charley. And you know what? I think I am going to take a nap. Ha!
So, to sum up…since 6:30 this morning, I've been from Minneapolis, to Forest Lake, to Brooklyn Park, to St. Paul, back to Brooklyn Park, and now back to Minneapolis. I felt like a ping-pong ball! I'm exhausted. And it's not even one o'clock! Not the way I planned to start my week….but at the end of the day, it's okay because I've gotten the testing done. Woohoo! Have a great week!
Sunday, June 1, 2014
How Did We Get on This Topic?
Okay, so the last few weeks at school have been a little bit wild. In all honesty, this last week was not nearly as bad as the previous week, which was a relief. Until Friday, of course. The last Friday of the school year is always a little bit out of control, and last week was no exception. I found that I didn't have my normal patience for a couple of my students, mostly because they were refusing to work, and pouting because they didn't get the privileges the other students were earning. As I tell my kiddos regularly, "I don't speak whine," and I was just tired of putting in more effort than they were to get their work done. I don't think it's fair for me to give 100%, while they are giving 20%, so I simply told them that I was only going to work as hard as they did. Fortunately, for the most part, they turned it around and got their work completed, but it took all day, and A LOT of reminders to get back to work.
Now, I probably wasn't my regular patient self on Friday, partially because I'd had one of my girlfriends over on Thursday night, and she didn't leave until 12:15. She and I have done this many times before. She comes over, with the intention of staying for an hour or so, and before we know it, 3+ hours have passed, and we both know we'll be miserable the next day. Well, she left at 12:15, and I had to wake up at 5:30, so let's just say I was suffering from a noticeable lack of sleep! It was totally worth it, though. We had one of the funniest conversations. I'm not really sure how, but somehow we got on the topic of kids and giving birth. She'd heard a birthing story from a friend of hers, who happens to be an OB-GYN herself, this girl scared the crap out of my friend. Basically, this woman was given pain meds, but not the epidural, because her labor had gone too quickly, and the meds did nothing for her except make her loopy. That made me laugh, because I know EXACTLY what she meant by that. I remember being in the hospital, on pain meds, prior to my epidural, and having no shame. Literally no shame. I was screaming, saying random nonsense that I don't remember… And I didn't give a crap that there were other people around at all. Which is SO not me. Anyway, my friend's instant response was, "I'm never having children. Ever." Ha! As we continued our discussion, she mentioned that if she DID have kids, she wouldn't let her boyfriend in the room while she delivered. When she told him that, he got all offended, but she insisted that she didn't want him to see all of the gross aspects of labor and delivery. She'd rather have him in the waiting room with all of the other men, holding bubblegum cigars, pretending it's the 50s, than have him see her pushing out a baby! Ha! I totally get that. I never got to the pushing point, because I ended up having a C-section…but I'm not sure I would've wanted ANYBODY around to see that.
So, as our night continued, of course the topic of men came up. She said something that really clicked with me. She read somewhere that the number one thing women look for in relationships is to feel wanted, to feel desired. When women don't feel wanted, they begin to check out. I think that's true. Honestly, I think everybody wants to feel wanted. For me, however, it's very important to get that feeling from the right person. A while back, I dated a guy who was very attentive and he tried hard to make me feel wanted. But he was over-the-top. He brought flowers every time he saw me, and while that was thoughtful, it began to feel insincere, particularly when he said, "I just like bringing you flowers. I don't expect anything in return." Hmmmm. If you didn't expect anything, you probably wouldn't have said that. I love sweet gestures, but I think they mean more to me when they're totally unexpected, and genuinely come from the heart. An occasional compliment is definitely something I need from a man, but I honestly PREFER those comments to be occasional. When they're constant, they don't mean as much. Anyway, as we talked further, I mentioned that another one of our friends wants to set me up with someone. "He would treat you like a princess," she said, "He would put you on a pedestal, and totally worship you." Here's the thing…I don't want to be worshipped. I don't want to be treated like a queen. I feel like being put in that kind of light (on a pedestal) gives me more control than I want in a relationship. I don't want to run the show. I simply want to be treated like an equal. Is that weird? I'm just not the princess type, I guess. I do appreciate the thought, though!
Last night, I met up with some girlfriends and their boyfriends for dinner and drinks. Or should I say A drink. I should never consume alcohol. I barely made it halfway through my margarita, before passing it off to my friend's fiancee, because it was making me sick. Boy, did we have a good time, though. It's always nice to have a night out with my friends! Even though I ended up at home by 10:00 (I was tired, and that margarita was REALLY strong), I was definitely glad I'd gone out and had some fun!
This morning, I went into the gym for a few minutes to open up for the day's birthday parties and private lessons. Generally I have a private right away, but today, I'd rescheduled that for later, so I just went in and chatted with a couple of my co-workers for a few minutes. They asked about my new house, and I explained that I hadn't moved yet. Immediately, they were like, "Let us know if you need help moving anything!" How nice is that? As I was leaving the gym, another one of my coaching friends had texted me, so I called her. She also thought I'd already moved, and when she heard I hadn't, she had the exact same response. "When are you moving? Do you need help? Let me know when, and I can help you move!" I know that a long time ago I mentioned how my coaching friends are really like family, but I haven't really been in the gym lately, so sometimes I forget that I have that support system. They're SUCH good people. And I'm lucky… I know they offer because they genuinely want to help me. So, it looks like I've got a moving crew started! Now I just need a move-in date. According to my paperwork, that date is July 1 (ONE MONTH!!!), but in the off-chance that I can get in before that, I'll jump at the opportunity! It's an upward move for me, and I'm really looking forward to it. Life is moving forward in full swing, right now, and I can't wait to see where it's leading me! Have a great week!
Now, I probably wasn't my regular patient self on Friday, partially because I'd had one of my girlfriends over on Thursday night, and she didn't leave until 12:15. She and I have done this many times before. She comes over, with the intention of staying for an hour or so, and before we know it, 3+ hours have passed, and we both know we'll be miserable the next day. Well, she left at 12:15, and I had to wake up at 5:30, so let's just say I was suffering from a noticeable lack of sleep! It was totally worth it, though. We had one of the funniest conversations. I'm not really sure how, but somehow we got on the topic of kids and giving birth. She'd heard a birthing story from a friend of hers, who happens to be an OB-GYN herself, this girl scared the crap out of my friend. Basically, this woman was given pain meds, but not the epidural, because her labor had gone too quickly, and the meds did nothing for her except make her loopy. That made me laugh, because I know EXACTLY what she meant by that. I remember being in the hospital, on pain meds, prior to my epidural, and having no shame. Literally no shame. I was screaming, saying random nonsense that I don't remember… And I didn't give a crap that there were other people around at all. Which is SO not me. Anyway, my friend's instant response was, "I'm never having children. Ever." Ha! As we continued our discussion, she mentioned that if she DID have kids, she wouldn't let her boyfriend in the room while she delivered. When she told him that, he got all offended, but she insisted that she didn't want him to see all of the gross aspects of labor and delivery. She'd rather have him in the waiting room with all of the other men, holding bubblegum cigars, pretending it's the 50s, than have him see her pushing out a baby! Ha! I totally get that. I never got to the pushing point, because I ended up having a C-section…but I'm not sure I would've wanted ANYBODY around to see that.
So, as our night continued, of course the topic of men came up. She said something that really clicked with me. She read somewhere that the number one thing women look for in relationships is to feel wanted, to feel desired. When women don't feel wanted, they begin to check out. I think that's true. Honestly, I think everybody wants to feel wanted. For me, however, it's very important to get that feeling from the right person. A while back, I dated a guy who was very attentive and he tried hard to make me feel wanted. But he was over-the-top. He brought flowers every time he saw me, and while that was thoughtful, it began to feel insincere, particularly when he said, "I just like bringing you flowers. I don't expect anything in return." Hmmmm. If you didn't expect anything, you probably wouldn't have said that. I love sweet gestures, but I think they mean more to me when they're totally unexpected, and genuinely come from the heart. An occasional compliment is definitely something I need from a man, but I honestly PREFER those comments to be occasional. When they're constant, they don't mean as much. Anyway, as we talked further, I mentioned that another one of our friends wants to set me up with someone. "He would treat you like a princess," she said, "He would put you on a pedestal, and totally worship you." Here's the thing…I don't want to be worshipped. I don't want to be treated like a queen. I feel like being put in that kind of light (on a pedestal) gives me more control than I want in a relationship. I don't want to run the show. I simply want to be treated like an equal. Is that weird? I'm just not the princess type, I guess. I do appreciate the thought, though!
Last night, I met up with some girlfriends and their boyfriends for dinner and drinks. Or should I say A drink. I should never consume alcohol. I barely made it halfway through my margarita, before passing it off to my friend's fiancee, because it was making me sick. Boy, did we have a good time, though. It's always nice to have a night out with my friends! Even though I ended up at home by 10:00 (I was tired, and that margarita was REALLY strong), I was definitely glad I'd gone out and had some fun!
This morning, I went into the gym for a few minutes to open up for the day's birthday parties and private lessons. Generally I have a private right away, but today, I'd rescheduled that for later, so I just went in and chatted with a couple of my co-workers for a few minutes. They asked about my new house, and I explained that I hadn't moved yet. Immediately, they were like, "Let us know if you need help moving anything!" How nice is that? As I was leaving the gym, another one of my coaching friends had texted me, so I called her. She also thought I'd already moved, and when she heard I hadn't, she had the exact same response. "When are you moving? Do you need help? Let me know when, and I can help you move!" I know that a long time ago I mentioned how my coaching friends are really like family, but I haven't really been in the gym lately, so sometimes I forget that I have that support system. They're SUCH good people. And I'm lucky… I know they offer because they genuinely want to help me. So, it looks like I've got a moving crew started! Now I just need a move-in date. According to my paperwork, that date is July 1 (ONE MONTH!!!), but in the off-chance that I can get in before that, I'll jump at the opportunity! It's an upward move for me, and I'm really looking forward to it. Life is moving forward in full swing, right now, and I can't wait to see where it's leading me! Have a great week!
Sunday, May 25, 2014
A Well-Deserved Long Weekend!
Whoa, this week was a doozy! The long weekend couldn't have come soon enough! As the school year is winding down, the kids have more and more field trips and special activities. While these are fun for the students, they also create disruptions in the school day, which can be particularly difficult for the students I work with, who benefit from routine. If they have to miss out on an activity for one reason or another, it generally hits them hard, and they have difficulty expressing how they feel, so it comes out in anger. I was lucky and didn't have any huge meltdowns from my kiddos, but I seemed to be putting out little fires all week long. While that is one of my favorite parts of my job, I didn't anticipate putting out QUITE so many fires this week!
Outside of school, I've found that Charley is going through a phase that has come along a little bit too early for my liking. Charley is generally in bed by 7:30 or 8:00. This week, I think she was up until at least 9:00, with the exception of last night. Yes, that's right, on SATURDAY she was in bed at like 7:45, but during the week, when I have to be up at 5:30, she was wide awake until 10. Typical. Anyway, I think the change in her sleep pattern is due to a couple of things. First of all, Charley is supposed to go visit her dad and grandparents in a couple of weeks. She has done it once before, and did just fine. This time around, we've been talking about it quite a bit, so she is prepared. However, she has been having a hard time lately, when it comes to her dad. She's in school now, and very aware of the other kids' families, and notices that many of the kids are dropped off or picked up by their dads. In turn, she's been asking a lot of questions, such as, "Can my dad come to our house?" and "Is my dad in our family?" It's heartbreaking. My response is always something like, "Yes, your dad can come to our house if he comes in town," or, "Your dad is in your family, but not in mine. He loves you, because you're his daughter." I think the hardest is when she suggests that I get married to her daddy. It's happened several times, and each time, I have to explain that her dad and I will not be getting married, but we both love her. Now, my relationship with Charley's dad has never been perfect, particularly since our separation and divorce. However, it is my firm belief that the things that went wrong in my marriage are things that Charley should never know. I want her to have a healthy relationship with her father and his family, so it's a goal of mine to impart as much positivity as possible when she asks about them. She is so observant and perceptive, that she's picked up on how our family is different from others, and it happened earlier than I'd expected. I'm muddling through, and hoping I'm telling her the right things! I'm pretty good at talking about these types of issues with my students, but they're 10. She's 3. She doesn't have the emotional maturity to comprehend or verbalize how she's feeling. It's certainly been a challenge for me the last couple of weeks, that's for sure!
Okay, enough of the pity party. I think another reason Charley's bedtime routine has been upset lately has to do with the fact that we were BUSY every night last week! I finally got my long-awaited tax return, and I'd been telling my family that once I got the money in the bank, I would go get myself some new glasses. To make a long story short, my glasses got broken (in half...monocle style...classy!) several months ago, and since my vision has never been that bad, I've just been doing without. Well, in the last two months or so, I've found myself squinting more and more, and finally gave in and went to the eye doctor. By the time it was all said and done, I'd spent a small fortune on new glasses and prescription sunglasses (BEST purchase ever), and spent much of my Monday evening out of the house. On Tuesday, we had some neighbors over for awhile, which was great, but somewhat out of Charley's routine, so she was up late again. The rest of the week is kind of mush in my brain, because the kids at the school wiped me out so drastically, all of the days blend together. What I DO know, though, is that our routine was disrupted, and Charley responded by staying up hours past her bedtime, which meant the time I usually have to myself to get things done around the house, was nonexistent. Nice.
With the craziness of the week, I was so excited for the weekend! Saturday, I ran some errands while my mom watched Charley for a couple of hours. Even just a few hours to myself on a weekend is always appreciated! When we got home, we made some dinner, chatted with the neighbors, who were outside gardening, and went to bed early. It was great. I went to bed with the intention of sleeping in, because I knew I wouldn't have to work today, because the gym was closed. Sleep in? That was wishful thinking. Around 5:00 a.m. I awoke, to my phone ringing. "Why the $#%^ is my mom calling me at 5:00 on her birthday?" I thought to myself. Sure enough, it was an unfortunate accidental dial, but nonetheless I was wide awake at 5. By the time I got myself back into a sleepy zone, Charley had decided it was time to get up. At 6. Awesome. We had a great day, though! We met up with a friend of mine and her kids at the Como Zoo, and had a wonderful time. Charley didn't stop talking about her new friends, the buffalo, polar bear, and giraffes, until she fell asleep! It was nice to get out of the house and do something fun on such a nice day. After the zoo, we went to my mom's for her birthday dinner, which was nice. Charley got to play with one of her cousins, and we all had a chance to celebrate with my mom. It was a nice way to spend a pre-Memorial Day Sunday!
So, my goal for tonight is to sleep past 6:00 tomorrow morning. I'm hoping that I can subconsciously communicate with Charley that JUST because the sun comes up, it doesn't mean it's time to get out of bed! Have a safe Memorial Day, and a great week!
Outside of school, I've found that Charley is going through a phase that has come along a little bit too early for my liking. Charley is generally in bed by 7:30 or 8:00. This week, I think she was up until at least 9:00, with the exception of last night. Yes, that's right, on SATURDAY she was in bed at like 7:45, but during the week, when I have to be up at 5:30, she was wide awake until 10. Typical. Anyway, I think the change in her sleep pattern is due to a couple of things. First of all, Charley is supposed to go visit her dad and grandparents in a couple of weeks. She has done it once before, and did just fine. This time around, we've been talking about it quite a bit, so she is prepared. However, she has been having a hard time lately, when it comes to her dad. She's in school now, and very aware of the other kids' families, and notices that many of the kids are dropped off or picked up by their dads. In turn, she's been asking a lot of questions, such as, "Can my dad come to our house?" and "Is my dad in our family?" It's heartbreaking. My response is always something like, "Yes, your dad can come to our house if he comes in town," or, "Your dad is in your family, but not in mine. He loves you, because you're his daughter." I think the hardest is when she suggests that I get married to her daddy. It's happened several times, and each time, I have to explain that her dad and I will not be getting married, but we both love her. Now, my relationship with Charley's dad has never been perfect, particularly since our separation and divorce. However, it is my firm belief that the things that went wrong in my marriage are things that Charley should never know. I want her to have a healthy relationship with her father and his family, so it's a goal of mine to impart as much positivity as possible when she asks about them. She is so observant and perceptive, that she's picked up on how our family is different from others, and it happened earlier than I'd expected. I'm muddling through, and hoping I'm telling her the right things! I'm pretty good at talking about these types of issues with my students, but they're 10. She's 3. She doesn't have the emotional maturity to comprehend or verbalize how she's feeling. It's certainly been a challenge for me the last couple of weeks, that's for sure!Okay, enough of the pity party. I think another reason Charley's bedtime routine has been upset lately has to do with the fact that we were BUSY every night last week! I finally got my long-awaited tax return, and I'd been telling my family that once I got the money in the bank, I would go get myself some new glasses. To make a long story short, my glasses got broken (in half...monocle style...classy!) several months ago, and since my vision has never been that bad, I've just been doing without. Well, in the last two months or so, I've found myself squinting more and more, and finally gave in and went to the eye doctor. By the time it was all said and done, I'd spent a small fortune on new glasses and prescription sunglasses (BEST purchase ever), and spent much of my Monday evening out of the house. On Tuesday, we had some neighbors over for awhile, which was great, but somewhat out of Charley's routine, so she was up late again. The rest of the week is kind of mush in my brain, because the kids at the school wiped me out so drastically, all of the days blend together. What I DO know, though, is that our routine was disrupted, and Charley responded by staying up hours past her bedtime, which meant the time I usually have to myself to get things done around the house, was nonexistent. Nice.
With the craziness of the week, I was so excited for the weekend! Saturday, I ran some errands while my mom watched Charley for a couple of hours. Even just a few hours to myself on a weekend is always appreciated! When we got home, we made some dinner, chatted with the neighbors, who were outside gardening, and went to bed early. It was great. I went to bed with the intention of sleeping in, because I knew I wouldn't have to work today, because the gym was closed. Sleep in? That was wishful thinking. Around 5:00 a.m. I awoke, to my phone ringing. "Why the $#%^ is my mom calling me at 5:00 on her birthday?" I thought to myself. Sure enough, it was an unfortunate accidental dial, but nonetheless I was wide awake at 5. By the time I got myself back into a sleepy zone, Charley had decided it was time to get up. At 6. Awesome. We had a great day, though! We met up with a friend of mine and her kids at the Como Zoo, and had a wonderful time. Charley didn't stop talking about her new friends, the buffalo, polar bear, and giraffes, until she fell asleep! It was nice to get out of the house and do something fun on such a nice day. After the zoo, we went to my mom's for her birthday dinner, which was nice. Charley got to play with one of her cousins, and we all had a chance to celebrate with my mom. It was a nice way to spend a pre-Memorial Day Sunday!So, my goal for tonight is to sleep past 6:00 tomorrow morning. I'm hoping that I can subconsciously communicate with Charley that JUST because the sun comes up, it doesn't mean it's time to get out of bed! Have a safe Memorial Day, and a great week!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Girls Nights...Two in a Row!
Whoa, what a weekend! Remember a couple of weeks ago when I talked about having a night to myself, and packing it full of activities? Well, this weekend was the same way. Packed from beginning to end...but it was amazing!
On Friday afternoon, Charley and I went shopping with two of my girlfriends. We grabbed dinner, and shopped around the mall a little bit. Charley needed an outfit for my mom's upcoming retirement party, so we looked for that, and I did a little bit of window shopping for myself. Now that I know the space I'll be moving to, I've been keeping my eye out for FURNITURE, as opposed to things for myself. Anyway, we got home late (well, late for Charley), and she went to bed right away. I was hoping she'd be so tired she would be inspired to sleep in on Saturday morning. No such luck. She was up bright and early, at 6:00, and ready to start the day. I'm generally a morning person, but 6 a.m. on a Saturday should be too early for anyone, right? We had kind of a lazy morning, and didn't even make it in to gymnastics. It was one of those days where you know you have lots of time before something starts, and so you move slowly...and then you realize that your leisurely morning lead you to suddenly be running behind! So, we skipped the gym, and I took Charley to my mom's house, where she would be spending the day and night. I went immediately to Ikea, where I met up with a friend of mine to browse, and get some ideas for my new place. She's moving soon, too, but to a very different style of apartment, so we were definitely searching for different things. I got some ideas, particularly for toy storage. I don't know about anybody else, but I swear, Charley's toys have completely taken over my current place! It's out of control. So, I picked up some storage bins, and found myself genuinely excited to bring them home, and start sorting through her things!
I didn't go straight home, after Ikea, though. As I mentioned in my last post, I had booked a massage for Saturday. When I went to check in, and said I'd never had a massage before, I got looks of downright pity from the receptionists. "Oh, you HAVE to get massages," they said, "Make it your me time." Well, I figured I would have the massage and go from there. I was early for my appointment, so I went into the Tranquility Room (basically a replica of the waiting room, but with soft music and hot tea), and waited to be called back. As I sat there, 6 other people came through the door, waiting for their appointments. As the massage therapists started coming out to get their 2:00 appointments, I was certain I'd be the first one called....or the second...or MAYBE the third. Nope! Sure enough, I was the last one called back, because my therapist was running a few minutes late. I kept telling myself, "This is your relaxing time. Don't get irritated by something little." So, when I finally got called back, I was more than little bit excited. I got to the room, got under the blanket, and explained that I wasn't really experiencing any pain, but I just wanted a relaxation massage, with medium pressure. Well, if I received medium pressure, I have NO idea what deep pressure could feel like. 90% of the experience was incredible. I was relaxed, and felt great. The masseuse kept concentrating on a couple of ridiculous knots in my back, and while she was working on my left shoulder, she kept asking me if a certain area was painful. "Not on a daily basis," I replied, "But I can definitely feel it right now!" She kept working on it, and said, "Hmmm....I think you should get that checked out. It feels like you have a tendon...but there's not supposed to be a tendon there. In my 15 years doing this, I've never felt anything like it!" Ha! Typical. One of those things that could only happen to me...Or my friend Kellie.... Anyway, the massage was great, I left feeling relaxed, and I'm ridiculously sore today, so I guess it was probably effective.
After the massage, I finally made it home to start sorting through Charley's toys. I am pretty sure my dog was silently cursing me, as I dumped toys all over the floor, and started sorting them into the appropriate bins. He was not amused. But I got started sorting, both in Charley's room and the living room (which was probably the least efficient organization method ever), and at some point, I ended up cleaning under the bathroom sink. I'm still not quite sure how that transition took place, but nonetheless, it did! Once I started in the bathroom, I ended up cleaning it from top to bottom, throwing out old makeup and lotions, sorting all of my things into appropriate categories (hey, I was on a roll, I figured I'd go with it), and scrubbing the tub and the sink. Meanwhile, I still had toys and bins out all over the floor in both the living room and Charley's room. I made a conscious decision to clean Charley's room first, and move into the living room later. Then, I realized I hadn't checked my phone in awhile. I'd missed 5 text messages, and realized that I was supposed to be across town for dinner with a girlfriend in 45 minutes. So, I gave up on the task at hand (realizing I'd be up until 1 a.m. finishing my various projects), threw on some clothes, glanced in the mirror and accepted that I looked like a mess, and raced out the door.
Dinner was awesome. I met up with my friend Lindsay, and we chatted for hours with a glass of wine by the fire at Tavern on France. Lindsay is one of my oldest friends, and she's one of those women that I can go weeks if not months without talking to, and when we finally DO catch up, our friendship is still exactly the same. We both have a lot going on right now, so it's been hard to get together. It seems like whenever I'm available, she's working, or busy, and vice versa. But I'm so glad we made it work last night. She asked me about my life, my upcoming move, and of course, Charley. She's the child of a single mother (who's totally amazing, by the way), and she said some really nice things to me, mostly about me making time for myself. Looking back, this was one of my New Year's resolutions, and I haven't done it very well. It's just that, with Charley in school all day, I feel guilty sometimes, asking for people to babysit on the weekend. And at the same time, I don't want to put anybody out. "You HAVE to do it, Linds," she said, "You have to take care of YOU, and make time for yourself sometimes. And Ryan and I will babysit." Ha! It was a generous offer, and I know I'll take her up on it. She made it very clear that I wouldn't be putting them out at all, and I know she's right. She's not the only one of my high school girlfriends who has made that offer, and I really need to start taking advantage of that every once in awhile.
Anyway, Lindsay is recently engaged, so I was asking all kinds of questions about the wedding. It was really nice to hear her plans, and get an idea of her vision for the wedding. She and her fiancee are so well-suited for each other, and I honestly enjoy watching them interact. He met us out last night, and he just blends so smoothly into the conversation. He's a genuinely nice person, and watching the two of them together...how well they complement each other...it's inspiring. They make each other happy. Really happy. Each one of them seems to put the others' needs in front of their own, and it works. THEY work. And I'm so happy for them!
Alright, that was a LOT of rambling for the night. I'm exhausted. I hope everybody had a great weekend!
On Friday afternoon, Charley and I went shopping with two of my girlfriends. We grabbed dinner, and shopped around the mall a little bit. Charley needed an outfit for my mom's upcoming retirement party, so we looked for that, and I did a little bit of window shopping for myself. Now that I know the space I'll be moving to, I've been keeping my eye out for FURNITURE, as opposed to things for myself. Anyway, we got home late (well, late for Charley), and she went to bed right away. I was hoping she'd be so tired she would be inspired to sleep in on Saturday morning. No such luck. She was up bright and early, at 6:00, and ready to start the day. I'm generally a morning person, but 6 a.m. on a Saturday should be too early for anyone, right? We had kind of a lazy morning, and didn't even make it in to gymnastics. It was one of those days where you know you have lots of time before something starts, and so you move slowly...and then you realize that your leisurely morning lead you to suddenly be running behind! So, we skipped the gym, and I took Charley to my mom's house, where she would be spending the day and night. I went immediately to Ikea, where I met up with a friend of mine to browse, and get some ideas for my new place. She's moving soon, too, but to a very different style of apartment, so we were definitely searching for different things. I got some ideas, particularly for toy storage. I don't know about anybody else, but I swear, Charley's toys have completely taken over my current place! It's out of control. So, I picked up some storage bins, and found myself genuinely excited to bring them home, and start sorting through her things!
I didn't go straight home, after Ikea, though. As I mentioned in my last post, I had booked a massage for Saturday. When I went to check in, and said I'd never had a massage before, I got looks of downright pity from the receptionists. "Oh, you HAVE to get massages," they said, "Make it your me time." Well, I figured I would have the massage and go from there. I was early for my appointment, so I went into the Tranquility Room (basically a replica of the waiting room, but with soft music and hot tea), and waited to be called back. As I sat there, 6 other people came through the door, waiting for their appointments. As the massage therapists started coming out to get their 2:00 appointments, I was certain I'd be the first one called....or the second...or MAYBE the third. Nope! Sure enough, I was the last one called back, because my therapist was running a few minutes late. I kept telling myself, "This is your relaxing time. Don't get irritated by something little." So, when I finally got called back, I was more than little bit excited. I got to the room, got under the blanket, and explained that I wasn't really experiencing any pain, but I just wanted a relaxation massage, with medium pressure. Well, if I received medium pressure, I have NO idea what deep pressure could feel like. 90% of the experience was incredible. I was relaxed, and felt great. The masseuse kept concentrating on a couple of ridiculous knots in my back, and while she was working on my left shoulder, she kept asking me if a certain area was painful. "Not on a daily basis," I replied, "But I can definitely feel it right now!" She kept working on it, and said, "Hmmm....I think you should get that checked out. It feels like you have a tendon...but there's not supposed to be a tendon there. In my 15 years doing this, I've never felt anything like it!" Ha! Typical. One of those things that could only happen to me...Or my friend Kellie.... Anyway, the massage was great, I left feeling relaxed, and I'm ridiculously sore today, so I guess it was probably effective.
After the massage, I finally made it home to start sorting through Charley's toys. I am pretty sure my dog was silently cursing me, as I dumped toys all over the floor, and started sorting them into the appropriate bins. He was not amused. But I got started sorting, both in Charley's room and the living room (which was probably the least efficient organization method ever), and at some point, I ended up cleaning under the bathroom sink. I'm still not quite sure how that transition took place, but nonetheless, it did! Once I started in the bathroom, I ended up cleaning it from top to bottom, throwing out old makeup and lotions, sorting all of my things into appropriate categories (hey, I was on a roll, I figured I'd go with it), and scrubbing the tub and the sink. Meanwhile, I still had toys and bins out all over the floor in both the living room and Charley's room. I made a conscious decision to clean Charley's room first, and move into the living room later. Then, I realized I hadn't checked my phone in awhile. I'd missed 5 text messages, and realized that I was supposed to be across town for dinner with a girlfriend in 45 minutes. So, I gave up on the task at hand (realizing I'd be up until 1 a.m. finishing my various projects), threw on some clothes, glanced in the mirror and accepted that I looked like a mess, and raced out the door.
Dinner was awesome. I met up with my friend Lindsay, and we chatted for hours with a glass of wine by the fire at Tavern on France. Lindsay is one of my oldest friends, and she's one of those women that I can go weeks if not months without talking to, and when we finally DO catch up, our friendship is still exactly the same. We both have a lot going on right now, so it's been hard to get together. It seems like whenever I'm available, she's working, or busy, and vice versa. But I'm so glad we made it work last night. She asked me about my life, my upcoming move, and of course, Charley. She's the child of a single mother (who's totally amazing, by the way), and she said some really nice things to me, mostly about me making time for myself. Looking back, this was one of my New Year's resolutions, and I haven't done it very well. It's just that, with Charley in school all day, I feel guilty sometimes, asking for people to babysit on the weekend. And at the same time, I don't want to put anybody out. "You HAVE to do it, Linds," she said, "You have to take care of YOU, and make time for yourself sometimes. And Ryan and I will babysit." Ha! It was a generous offer, and I know I'll take her up on it. She made it very clear that I wouldn't be putting them out at all, and I know she's right. She's not the only one of my high school girlfriends who has made that offer, and I really need to start taking advantage of that every once in awhile.
Anyway, Lindsay is recently engaged, so I was asking all kinds of questions about the wedding. It was really nice to hear her plans, and get an idea of her vision for the wedding. She and her fiancee are so well-suited for each other, and I honestly enjoy watching them interact. He met us out last night, and he just blends so smoothly into the conversation. He's a genuinely nice person, and watching the two of them together...how well they complement each other...it's inspiring. They make each other happy. Really happy. Each one of them seems to put the others' needs in front of their own, and it works. THEY work. And I'm so happy for them!
Alright, that was a LOT of rambling for the night. I'm exhausted. I hope everybody had a great weekend!
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