I saw this quote today and absolutely love it:
"Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama is running so our children can fly."
6 more days...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Election Day? Bring it, baby!
The 2008 Presidential Election has me excited beyond words for so many reasons. One of the reasons is because this time, Virginia is actually considered a swing state. Although I've voted (for the Democratic ticket) in every presidential election since I turned 18, I could pretty much count on Virginia going "red" long before Election Day; and therefore felt like my vote didn't really count. The potential, and very real possibility, for that to be turned around this time has me giddy. Yes, my friends (thanks for wearing that phrase out, McCain), I'm so flippin' giddy!
From today's postings on http://www.electoral-vote.com/:
"Obama has 260 EVs from states where his lead is 10% or more. McCain has 134 EVs from states where he is strong. It is hard to imagine dropping 10 points in any state where he now leads by 10 or more. This means he has to pick up only 10 more EVs somewhere, and Virginia and Colorado look like good candidates."
and
"Two polls in Virginia are far apart. Mason-Dixon, which is based in nearby D.C., puts Obama 2 points ahead, whereas Opinion Research says he is 10 points ahead. Virginia is especially important because its polls close at 7 P.M., the earliest closing in the nation, and if the networks call Virginia for Obama at, say, 8 P.M., the election is de facto over, even though polls are still open in many states."
Now, I know it's important not to get too excited and assume it's already over at this point, but I think I may dust off those party hats and throw a bottle of champagne in the fridge just in case...
From today's postings on http://www.electoral-vote.com/:
"Obama has 260 EVs from states where his lead is 10% or more. McCain has 134 EVs from states where he is strong. It is hard to imagine dropping 10 points in any state where he now leads by 10 or more. This means he has to pick up only 10 more EVs somewhere, and Virginia and Colorado look like good candidates."
and
"Two polls in Virginia are far apart. Mason-Dixon, which is based in nearby D.C., puts Obama 2 points ahead, whereas Opinion Research says he is 10 points ahead. Virginia is especially important because its polls close at 7 P.M., the earliest closing in the nation, and if the networks call Virginia for Obama at, say, 8 P.M., the election is de facto over, even though polls are still open in many states."
Now, I know it's important not to get too excited and assume it's already over at this point, but I think I may dust off those party hats and throw a bottle of champagne in the fridge just in case...
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Pure & Utter Randomness
Because I don't feel like organizing my thoughts in the least...
- I love the fall. I love everything about it, especially clear, crisp days like today where the skies are blue, the wind is blowing, and leaves of all different colors are whirling around like confetti being dropped from above.
- $2.95/gallon for gas? What?! YES! (Ridiculous that that is so exciting...)
- Can someone please tell me who sent the memo to Anthony that he turned 2? Seriously, where is the sweet, he-can-do-no-wrong baby I brought into this world a little over 2 years ago? That child turned 2 and did not miss one single beat. He is the epitome of a "Terrible Two" these days. More on that to come in a future blog post, I'm sure. For now, I'm too exhausted and have too many other things to do besides blog during naptime to expand with details...
- Luigi Bosca 2005 Malbec from Argentina - kind of pricey (and by that I mean not under $10/bottle...it's more like $20), but holy shit, my friends, if you like red wine, you MUST give this a try.
- I love my Obama sweatshirt.
- For the first time since my knee "injury" (that's in quotes cause I really have no clue how I injured it) that came into existence right after our Maine trip in August, I was able to run, that's right, RUN(!), on the treadmill at the gym this morning. Didn't want to push it, but damn, it felt so good.
- I need a new haircut. Actually, I need more of a new hairstyle. I just haven't been excited about my hair in a long time. Hmmmm.....
- I need to stop buying Anthony those one-piece jammies with footies that zip up from the foot to the neck. That is, unless I want to continue doing daily loads of laundry because he unzips his jammies and takes his diaper off before falling asleep. Oh, and then proceeds to "water" his entire crib and everything in it throughout the night. Yep. As soon as I walked in the door this morning from the gym, Mark calls out, "Ahhhhh, Pookie? Come up here, we have a 'situation.'" A situation? Seriously, what would he have done if I hadn't come home? Is Mom really that indispensable? I think so.
- I absolutely can't wait for November 4th.
- I'm excited to go to Weight Watchers tonight. I had many-a-temptation this past week and made some really good choices in spite of it all. I am proud of myself and can't wait to see the number on the scale tonight.
- Girlfriends rock.
- Do you have songs that you secretly love? The kinds of songs that you turn up just a little louder when you're in the car...only, and I mean only, after making sure all of the windows are sealed shut? I do. And I thought about that at the gym this morning when they popped up on my playlist. "Return to Innocence" by Enigma and "Let Her Cry" by Hootie are the two that made me chuckle. "If only the 2 dudes running on either side of me knew what I was listening to right now..."
- Life is complicated. Life is frustrating. Life forces you to examine who you are. And sometimes life makes you realize you're not the person you thought you were.
Ok, I think that's it for now...
Monday, October 6, 2008
I love these guys.
We all headed up to the Jersey shore this past weekend for a cousin's wedding. The wedding itself was a blast. But, the one part of the weekend that stands out in my mind is getting the opportunity to spend time with my siblings...all of them...at the same time. Thanks to that thing called "life," it isn't often anymore to find all four of us in the same room together. But when the situation arises...holy cow...watch out. We know how to tear it up and have a good time doing it. I absolutely love our time spent together. And what makes it more special is that the other three feel the same way about it. It rocks. And the icing on the cake? They all love Mark and Mark loves them. We are some of the luckiest people in the world...
Friday, October 3, 2008
"Haaa-ppyyyy Bobay," Budly!
Dear Anthony,
You turned 2 yesterday and although you probably won't remember much of it when you're older, Daddy and I tried our hardest to make your birthday one that didn't feel like any other normal day and one in which you felt extra special. I think we just might have succeeded.
I stopped at the store on the way home from the gym yesterday morning so I could surprise you with a Happy Birthday balloon (you LOVE those things) and some chocolate donuts (your absolute love of "dodahs" was inevitable, considering the parents you've got!) for breakfast. You also opened cards from Daddy & I, Aunt Sue & Uncle Jim, and Aunt Jo & Uncle Donny. You were so excited about it all and I couldn't stop smiling. You appreciate the simplest things and remind me constantly how important it is do take time to recognize that.
After breakfast, you helped Daddy put together the play kitchen/grill that he and I bought you. It's awesome and you love it. You especially love wearing the chef's hat and have already made us countless cups of coffee, hamburgers, bread, and hot dogs. And you're so good with reminding us that the grill is "hos" (hot) and that we need to blow on it to cool it off. :)
Although you could have played with your present all day, we had to get ready quickly because Grandma was on her way over. She surprised you with another present...new clothes! You had such a fun time trying them on...and of course wouldn't let me help you. And by the way, you absolutely adore Grandma...and she adores you beyond belief. It's fun for me to watch your relationship with her strengthen and evolve as time goes on. I can't put into words how special it is.
I bought tickets for you, me, and Grandma to go see Harold and the Purple Crayon at the Adventure Theater yesterday morning. We checked the book out at the library 2 weeks ago and have been reading it since then in anticipation of the show, so you were really excited when you realized that Harold was right in front of us on stage! It was a great show. You made me SO proud and so happy because you really seemed to like it and behaved so well during the performance. You insisted on sitting on the riser yourself, right between Grandma and I. You'll never understand what I'm about to say, but at one point during the show, you quietly and discreetly scooted over to me and climbed in my lap. Not a word was said and not a glance was taken in my direction, but knowing that you still need me and love me enough to want to cuddle with me like that, especially at this point in your life when you are increasingly yearning to be more independent, melted my heart and made me feel like the luckiest mom in the world.
Grandma treated us to lunch at the Lost Dog Cafe after the show. You had a blast drinking water with a straw from a big boy cup and, despite Grandma's prediction that you'd be too full (from all the water!) to eat your grilled cheese, you tackled that thing like a champ! Just like you always do. You LOVE to eat. That is one thing that has never changed since the day you were born. After lunch, we came home for a much-needed nap!
After a long nap and some more playing with your kitchen, we headed out to pick Daddy up from the Metro. We were picking him up so that we could meet up with Uncle Dan at Generous George's for your birthday dinner. The relationship you have with Uncle Dan is so neat. He's one of Daddy's best friends and loves you so much. And you know what? Since you were old enough to smile, pictures confirm that you love him just the same. You think he's awesome and you have so much fun with him. He makes you laugh all the time and genuinely enjoys playing with you. You got to sit next to him at dinner and loved every second of it. Dinner was fun and you loved the mozzarella sticks and "peesa" (pizza)! And just because it was your birthday, the waiter brought you a special birthday balloon and an ice cream sundae for dessert...which of course, you thought was fantastic.
You stayed up late last night. You usually go to bed around 7:30pm these days, but because it was your birthday, we let you stay up a little later so that you could show Uncle Dan your kitchen and grill when we got home for dinner. You were so excited to show him and he totally indulged you. Like I said, Uncle Dan is special.
So yes, I think you had a great birthday yesterday. I have to tell you that while you were napping, I popped in the DVD video of the day you were born. Although I didn't cry as much as I thought I would, I got very teary. That day 2 years ago seems like a lifetime ago. It's getting to the point where I can't remember life without you. Watching as the nurse cleaned you off right after you were born, I was struck by how little and how helpless you looked.
And now, in the blink of an eye, it seems you've grown into this little boy that is so strong-willed and wants to do everything on your own. You are so curious and so full of enthusiasm for everything. You want so badly to do everything yourself. You want to be a risk-taker, but you don't like taking risks. You like to test limits and boundaries, but you are also so affectionate and never hesitate to give kisses or tell me that you love me. You love smiling and laughing. You love to eat. You run everywhere because you just can't get there fast enough. You love doing things for other people. You love trains, cars, your blankie, sucking your thumb, being outside and getting dirty, coloring, helping out whenever and where ever you can, playing with your friends, singing, talking, taking baths, reading books - the list goes on and on. You are just busting at the seams with excitement for everything you do.
I can't put into words how special you are to Daddy and I. We love you SO SO SO much and we are beyond proud of who you are and the person you're growing up to be. Happy 2nd birthday, sweet Budly.
Love always,
Mama
You turned 2 yesterday and although you probably won't remember much of it when you're older, Daddy and I tried our hardest to make your birthday one that didn't feel like any other normal day and one in which you felt extra special. I think we just might have succeeded.
I stopped at the store on the way home from the gym yesterday morning so I could surprise you with a Happy Birthday balloon (you LOVE those things) and some chocolate donuts (your absolute love of "dodahs" was inevitable, considering the parents you've got!) for breakfast. You also opened cards from Daddy & I, Aunt Sue & Uncle Jim, and Aunt Jo & Uncle Donny. You were so excited about it all and I couldn't stop smiling. You appreciate the simplest things and remind me constantly how important it is do take time to recognize that.
After breakfast, you helped Daddy put together the play kitchen/grill that he and I bought you. It's awesome and you love it. You especially love wearing the chef's hat and have already made us countless cups of coffee, hamburgers, bread, and hot dogs. And you're so good with reminding us that the grill is "hos" (hot) and that we need to blow on it to cool it off. :)
Although you could have played with your present all day, we had to get ready quickly because Grandma was on her way over. She surprised you with another present...new clothes! You had such a fun time trying them on...and of course wouldn't let me help you. And by the way, you absolutely adore Grandma...and she adores you beyond belief. It's fun for me to watch your relationship with her strengthen and evolve as time goes on. I can't put into words how special it is.
I bought tickets for you, me, and Grandma to go see Harold and the Purple Crayon at the Adventure Theater yesterday morning. We checked the book out at the library 2 weeks ago and have been reading it since then in anticipation of the show, so you were really excited when you realized that Harold was right in front of us on stage! It was a great show. You made me SO proud and so happy because you really seemed to like it and behaved so well during the performance. You insisted on sitting on the riser yourself, right between Grandma and I. You'll never understand what I'm about to say, but at one point during the show, you quietly and discreetly scooted over to me and climbed in my lap. Not a word was said and not a glance was taken in my direction, but knowing that you still need me and love me enough to want to cuddle with me like that, especially at this point in your life when you are increasingly yearning to be more independent, melted my heart and made me feel like the luckiest mom in the world.
Grandma treated us to lunch at the Lost Dog Cafe after the show. You had a blast drinking water with a straw from a big boy cup and, despite Grandma's prediction that you'd be too full (from all the water!) to eat your grilled cheese, you tackled that thing like a champ! Just like you always do. You LOVE to eat. That is one thing that has never changed since the day you were born. After lunch, we came home for a much-needed nap!
After a long nap and some more playing with your kitchen, we headed out to pick Daddy up from the Metro. We were picking him up so that we could meet up with Uncle Dan at Generous George's for your birthday dinner. The relationship you have with Uncle Dan is so neat. He's one of Daddy's best friends and loves you so much. And you know what? Since you were old enough to smile, pictures confirm that you love him just the same. You think he's awesome and you have so much fun with him. He makes you laugh all the time and genuinely enjoys playing with you. You got to sit next to him at dinner and loved every second of it. Dinner was fun and you loved the mozzarella sticks and "peesa" (pizza)! And just because it was your birthday, the waiter brought you a special birthday balloon and an ice cream sundae for dessert...which of course, you thought was fantastic.
You stayed up late last night. You usually go to bed around 7:30pm these days, but because it was your birthday, we let you stay up a little later so that you could show Uncle Dan your kitchen and grill when we got home for dinner. You were so excited to show him and he totally indulged you. Like I said, Uncle Dan is special.
So yes, I think you had a great birthday yesterday. I have to tell you that while you were napping, I popped in the DVD video of the day you were born. Although I didn't cry as much as I thought I would, I got very teary. That day 2 years ago seems like a lifetime ago. It's getting to the point where I can't remember life without you. Watching as the nurse cleaned you off right after you were born, I was struck by how little and how helpless you looked.
And now, in the blink of an eye, it seems you've grown into this little boy that is so strong-willed and wants to do everything on your own. You are so curious and so full of enthusiasm for everything. You want so badly to do everything yourself. You want to be a risk-taker, but you don't like taking risks. You like to test limits and boundaries, but you are also so affectionate and never hesitate to give kisses or tell me that you love me. You love smiling and laughing. You love to eat. You run everywhere because you just can't get there fast enough. You love doing things for other people. You love trains, cars, your blankie, sucking your thumb, being outside and getting dirty, coloring, helping out whenever and where ever you can, playing with your friends, singing, talking, taking baths, reading books - the list goes on and on. You are just busting at the seams with excitement for everything you do.
I can't put into words how special you are to Daddy and I. We love you SO SO SO much and we are beyond proud of who you are and the person you're growing up to be. Happy 2nd birthday, sweet Budly.
Love always,
Mama
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
31 reasons...
...why my 31st birthday on Saturday was so fantastic:
1) Being able to sleep in(?!) until 8am (it still makes me roll my eyes to think that sleeping until 8am is considered "sleeping in").
2) Waking up to the smell of healthy, homemade "birthday" blueberry muffins...and then having to eat around the wax from the candles that melted in the muffins because Mark stuck them in before the muffins had cooled. Ha! :)
3) No words needed:
4) The Starbucks gift card Anthony gave me.
5) And then realizing that Mark actually had to spend some of his hard-earned money to purchase said gift card, and in the process, supporting the Evil Empire.
6) The 2001 Syrah from Zaca Mesa and the 2005 Pinot Noir from Sanford - both of which are from wineries that were featured in Sideways and were visited by yours truly on our trip out to CA in '05 - from Mark.
7) Being able to get a shower and follow-up with all the other "getting ready" stuff alone(!)...while listening to my iTunes...and singing as loud as I wanted.
8) Voting absentee (so I won't have to stand in ridiculously long lines with Anthony on Election Day) for President Barack Obama. WOO WOO!
9) The brown rice sushi and Sam Adams Oktoberfest I had for lunch.
10) The full-body, deep tissue massage I got - so relaxing and felt sooooooooo good!
11) The (first one of the season!) skinny, no whip PSL (pumpkin spice latte, for those of you that aren't down with the lingo) that my mom bought for me.
12) Sipping said PSL while getting a pedicure and chatting with my mom.
13) Following-up the pedicure with a manicure....
14) ...flanked on either side by Mom and Laura doing the same...
15) ...and engaging in some pretty amusing conversations while drinking mimosas on the house!
16) Coming home after our girls' day at the spa to find the house vacuumed, the bathrooms cleaned, and the homemade (from scratch, including the sauce!) lasagna all prepared and ready to pop in the oven. Marcus, YOU ROCK!
17) The 3 bunches of lilies Laura surprised me with for my "32nd" birthday...
18) ...and the fact that she drove up from Richmond for the afternoon/night just to be here to help me celebrate.
19) Having Heather and Looney over for dinner because they wanted to celebrate with me, but didn't feel comfortable hitting the smoky bars because she's pregnant.
20) The birthday cupcakes that Courtney made and the "fruit cup cake" that Heather brought over for dessert...and eating way too much of both.
21) Getting dressed up to go out.
22) Going to the Skydome, a bar that spins to give you a 360 degree view of D.C.
23) Martinis, rum & Diets, Absolut Mandarin shots. Need I say more?
24) Tech's 35-30 win over Nebraska, in Nebraska. GO HOKIES!
25) Spending "adult time," having "adult conversations," and doing "adult things" with some of my favorite people.
26) The fact that Brian was finally home, after a tour of duty in Lithuania...and knowing how happy Tina was to have him back.
27) Heading to the hookah bar with Courtney, Caity, Laura, & Mark to cap off the evening with a few more drinks and a double-apple hookah.
28) Coming home after a night out and having Toni tell us that Anthony is a pleasure to babysit and that he is the happiest child she has ever known. AND she said she wasn't lying. :)
29) Realizing that I had left my Amex at the hookah bar, tab open, and texting Caity who still (fortunately!) happened to be there with another friend and was able to grab it for me. The vino is calling, PIC, the vino is calling!
30) Laura and I taking forks to the pan of leftover lasagna...
31) ...while Mark was out getting us value meals from McDonald's. That's right. Lasagna and then McDonald's. No wonder I didn't have a hangover on Sunday.
Good times, my friends, good times! A wonderful day, all around. I couldn't have asked for better.
21) Getting dressed up to go out.
22) Going to the Skydome, a bar that spins to give you a 360 degree view of D.C.
23) Martinis, rum & Diets, Absolut Mandarin shots. Need I say more?
24) Tech's 35-30 win over Nebraska, in Nebraska. GO HOKIES!
25) Spending "adult time," having "adult conversations," and doing "adult things" with some of my favorite people.
26) The fact that Brian was finally home, after a tour of duty in Lithuania...and knowing how happy Tina was to have him back.
27) Heading to the hookah bar with Courtney, Caity, Laura, & Mark to cap off the evening with a few more drinks and a double-apple hookah.
28) Coming home after a night out and having Toni tell us that Anthony is a pleasure to babysit and that he is the happiest child she has ever known. AND she said she wasn't lying. :)
29) Realizing that I had left my Amex at the hookah bar, tab open, and texting Caity who still (fortunately!) happened to be there with another friend and was able to grab it for me. The vino is calling, PIC, the vino is calling!
30) Laura and I taking forks to the pan of leftover lasagna...
31) ...while Mark was out getting us value meals from McDonald's. That's right. Lasagna and then McDonald's. No wonder I didn't have a hangover on Sunday.
Good times, my friends, good times! A wonderful day, all around. I couldn't have asked for better.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
"Helpy, Mama?! Helpy?!"
Anthony LOVES "helping" (yes, that's in quotations and if you have a toddler or anything resembling one, you'll get it) and so, as I put together the pot roast for tonight, I let him lend a hand.
You can tell by these pictures that he was just so excited that Mommy wanted his help.
I'm positive that tonight's dinner will be that much better thanks to the added touch of sweetness that wasn't in the recipe. Thanks, Bud!
You can tell by these pictures that he was just so excited that Mommy wanted his help.
I'm positive that tonight's dinner will be that much better thanks to the added touch of sweetness that wasn't in the recipe. Thanks, Bud!
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