Bad NaBloPoMo-er Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving

Okay, I failed spectacularly at NaBloPoMo. I did not factor for getting sick this month, and I'm sure no one wanted to read what I would have deemed important enough to write about when I don't feel good. It would have been a lot of whining and declarations of love for chicken soup and tea. But hey! I got better just in time for my big three-oh birthday, which pretty much turned out to be a non-issue. I woke up, went, oh so that's what thirty feels like. Self, what were you so worked up about again? Thirty is almost the same as twenty-nine and so far pretty much rocks. That may have something to do with the fact that I felt terrible my last few days of twenty-nine, but I'm rolling with it. Thirty rocks!

To commemorate the kick-assery of my thirties, I am running the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot 10K tomorrow morning. I might have mentioned it once or twice. Going by my current times I will be one of the hundred slowest people in the race, but who cares? (She says to convince herself.)

It WILL be full of awesome. Knowing this, I am so, so completely nervous. I don't care about being slow, I just don't want to be the last person across that finish line. I REALLY don't want to not finish. And finally, I really hope to recover in time to partake of the yumminess that is Thanksgiving dinner.

So, um. Happy Thanksgiving!

Lazy

Why oh why do I leave the NaBloPoMo post until the very end of the day?

Today, I have nothing much to report, other than food and wine with a very good friend makes for a happy Connie. And, really, is there much else that needs to be said?

On Friends

I want to meet the people that manage to have an active, meaningful social life while still having an active, meaningful life with children. I have questions. There must be parents out there that spend quality one on one time with both their progeny and their friends. I understand life gets in the way, children get sick, deadlines loom, there's always something to demand your attention, but still, still, is it not just as important to keep the ties to our friends, those of our chosen family, stay strong and connected? I know staying intimate and involved requires time and effort and sheer will, but I firmly believe the reward worth the effort. And I also firmly believe it is damaging to the soul, the spirit, to not maintain a strong connection with this family of the heart.

Having close personal connections with the world around you makes you a better parent, a better person in general. It provides you with different outlooks, reminds you that your small corner of the world is not the only one out there. I am as guilty of putting last the time needed to maintain my loved ones last in my priorities as anyone else, but the time it actually takes to stay connected truly is insignificant. I counted. Thirty seconds to leave a voicemail. Ten minutes to have a restorative, laughter filled conversation. Three minutes to dash off an email. These people I have surrounded myself with over the years are worth the effort. And too often I find myself not making that effort, and that is my loss.

I think the answer is to do the same thing as a date night with friends. Once a month, every other month, once a week, whatever works for that particular friend, make a commitment to stay connected. Reach out. And reach out with the knowledge that there is no payback required, that the actions of friendship are not score keeping actions; because if you keep score, it diminishes these acts. I too often find myself thinking I want to get together with so and so, but I've initiated getting together the last x times. And that is ridiculous. Ridiculous. I would hope that any friend I'm choosing to stay in contact with is not just friends with me because I go out of my way to keep in touch. And I refuse to think this way any longer.

So my goal as I enter my fourth decade is to nourish my friends. To let them know I appreciate them, love them, find them an integral part of my life. A vital, important of my life.

With that knowledge I booked my plane ticket to Cancun to celebrate one of these cherished friends thirtieth in complete excitement and with very little reservations. I. Can. Not. Wait.

Wordless Wednesday (for real ya'll)

Okay, I was never very good at following directions.



Oneyear ago today, we saw the Christmas season start together for the first time as a family of four.



It was still magical.



Izzy was such a little trooper, but still was the first to give in to the late hour. Some things never change.

And to all a good night.

Tonight we saw Christmas start.




The tree lit up and their faces lit up and all of a sudden? All of a sudden that two hour ridiculous, oh my god we're leaving NOW dinner was worth it. The stress of getting there ceased to matter.

We waited oh so patiently.



And all of a sudden there was magic.



There was dancing.



There was joy.



And when the youngest of us faltered against the late hour, we headed home.

Counting Down to Bob

Can someone tell me what to buy for Christmas this year? I'm serious. I have no clue what to get anyone on my list this year. I am positive I've started shopping too early, and have fallen prey to the game of finding that one magical, perfect present for everyone on my list.

This is exactly why I procrastinate every year! Waiting until the last second leaves very limited choices. The first item that looks remotely suitable is the one I grab, and I am relieved that there is something out there that I don't feel ashamed of gifting.

That's it, I'm putting Christmas and Hannukah on the backburner for another three weeks. Early holiday shopping, you are officially on notice.

THERE. I feel much better now.

I cannot believe that it is seasonably appropriate to buy a Christmas tree in another week and a half. This is absolutely ridiculous. 2009 needs a part deux, so I can use my newfound skill of remembering to write 2009 instead of 2008. Writing 2010 may just cause my brain to stop functioning.

Hmm. After some reflection, writing January 1, 2009, part deux may be infinitely more complicated. Okay 2010, I changed my mind. You are no longer 2009, part deux. But tell me this. Are you two thousand and ten or twenty ten?

Until I decide, I think I'll call you Bob.

Bob and I are going to be the best of friends once this 2009 business is all done with. Just wait and see.

Home Again

Oh, it is good to be home again. I was gone a little over 24 hours, just enough time to visit and feel refreshed without feeling too rushed. That two hour car drive is also excellent for singing at the top of my lungs with all my favorite songs. I wonder what other people think of me when they glance into my car and see my rocking my heart out. I sing with my whole body in the car, safely of course, but I'm sure I look pretty interesting to the casual observer. Singing is good for getting all kinds of emotions out and road trips are a type of therapy for me. It's interesting what your mind wanders to when you are in a car with yourself and the chance of distraction is practically nonexistent. Some of my best epiphanies happen while on the road.

I bought the Glee soundtrack to listen to on the road and have it stuck in my head constantly since yesterday. Whoever does the arrangements of the songs is pure genius, the songs are fun and fresh while still being recognizable. So much fun to listen to while driving! I wonder if karaoke bars have seen an increase in people wanting to sing the songs from the show. I would guess yes because they're just so damn catchy.

Now that I'm back home, I need to stop procrastinating about Logan's Thanksgiving feast on Thursday. I need to come up with a nut free, egg free, dairy free dish to bring, and I'm having a little trouble thinking of what to make. I have several dishes I usually whip up for this type of event, but they don't fit in with the dietary restrictions and I'm worried I won't have any luck adapting them while still keeping the flavor and textures. Any suggestions out there? It can be either savory or sweet, my only requirement is that it be yummy. I can't imagine trying to come up with these kinds of recipes a few years ago. Without the internet I would have needed to buy an honest to god cookbook or find a recipe from someone else. Or go to the library. Thank god for technology that allows me to research answers from the comfort of my couch.