An emotional crazy day

I had the privilege of sharing time with some wonderful women for brunch. These ladies are all connected to me through the wonderful Rosie. She passed away just over a year ago and we continue to try to make time for eachother while we celebrate her life. Her sister is one of the ring leaders making sure we get together at least every six months. She too is a cancer survivor and as of today, has a CLEAN bill of health. Thank you Lord!

This wonderful brunch was followed by the craziest phone call from an old family friend, the father to one of my oldest friends who really is no longer my friend. This woman is not in my life because of one too many burnt bridges and just plain insanity. Turns out, she needs help. She is on her way to a very long journey of discovering sobriety. I hope beyond hope that she finally finds some peace. I want this for her, but remain extremely skeptical if she wants it for herself or if she is just searching for a way out of whatever she did to her life this time.

I arrived home from the spectacular brunch with the ladies, and the mind-blowing phone call from the Old Family Friend, to find Family Football Sunday in full force.

I remain so happy that this is my life, my family and my journey. This is my home and my heart!

I'm sick....

I have had a fever and a horrible cough for three days now. I realize this is nothing to those of you out there whom are suffering from horrible diseases, or just the regular flu and are going on day ten. However, for me, I am suffering. I am a BABY. I demand 100% attention at all times, but still like to pretend I can do it all. I screamed at Jeff for like thirty minutes yesterday because he wasn't being nice enough to me. Poor poor man.

I think I am on the mend. After a trip to Urgent Care to have the doctor tell me I might have pneumonia, but oh no, it's not pneumonia but an upper respiratory infection and here are some very lame drugs to maybe help. Why don't they just start out giving you cough medicine with codeine so you don't have to go back to the doctor because you are still coughing and can't sleep. Oh, maybe that is the rub... More money.

Actually, I am getting better and am cooking dinner. I am ready to go to bed and wake up and feel just fine tomorrow. Wish me luck!

What I read everyday since I have nothing of interest to write

These days, I am working, parenting, being a wife and attempting to figure out it all. I did get a chance to get my hair and eyebrows done today, which I must say was the highlight of my summer/fall. Lilly has created a bedtime monster in the form of herself. She does everything within her power to get a timeout so she can stay up just four more minutes. Tonight, despite her punching me and kicking me, she didn't get a timeout. Hmmm, that doesn't seem right, but at least she is asleep. At 7:12 mind you. James went down at 6:15 dead to the world, thanks to my mom and dad keeping him busy all day while I got the aforementioned hair and brows done. Jeff is dead asleep on the couch watching the World Series, which is a nail biter apparently.

Here are some of my blog favorites:

My most faithful reader's website provides political commentary prudent to these times, book reviews, movie reviews and daily commiserations on life as well as information on his very important new book about his life with his brothers.

I have been reading this blog for a couple of months now, and I just love it. Ree Drummond is from outside Tulsa, Oklahoma, but I don't hold that against her. She is a great, funny writer who just came out with a cookbook and whose picture and cookbook was mentioned in the New York Times today. She loves her kids, her man and all her family in between.

Also, CityMama, who lives in Palo Alto has a great blog about her family, her cooking and her politics. She provides a weekly menu that is fun and inspirational. Also, she has the BEST yukimandoo recipe that I use occasionally.

Finally, a blog written by a woman who is hysterical and has the city of San Francisco by the tail. She is funny, self deprecating and has an in at all the cool parties. Not to mention, she is from my hometown.

Enjoy!

HappyMommy

He's Back...

For the past five days and four nights I have lived without my husband. It was manageable but it really made me realize what a great man I have. He helps, boy does he help! When I try to get out of the house three days a week with a four year old who is in no hurry to beat morning traffic and a one year old who just wants to do anything but get going, my husband helps. When I have groceries that need to be carried up our thirty-one stairs, he helps. When I am coming home with the kids after a day of meetings and driving and figuring life out, he helps. I missed him, and I love him and I am happy he is home.

Happy Halloween

I am not the biggest fan of Halloween. I mean, it requires creativity and patience. I normally have neither. Tonight, I understand. It required no creativity and some patience but worth it all!

The Bay Bridge and Halloween...

This is two separate posts in one.

First, the Bay Bridge has been closed for three days and counting. I live in the north bay, over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. The past three days, I have lived in traffic hell. It is no wonder to me that there is always so much traffic on the Bay Bridge because I believe no one who drives into the city over the Bay Bridge knows how to drive correctly. (If anyone actually read this blog, I would be scared of the reprecussions, but since no does, I feel okay with my truthful statements.)

No one knows how to merge, how drive the speed of traffic so there isn't sudden stopping and starting and no one owns a fastrak. I mean why would you drive across the bridges of this area every day and fill up the cash lanes, not to mention face the lines of cars. It makes no sense. I am ready for the Bay Bridge to open again so I can get back and forth to the city like normal.

Now, Halloween.... I am not a big fan of this holiday. I am not creative nor do I love my kids eating days worth of candy, even months worth actually, in one day. Lilly gets scared and James, being James, will make it harder than necessary. However, I am looking forward to a party at my friend's house, and also sad that I am missing another party in the city with my other friends. It is nice to be wanted, and hopefully, the traffic will be fine and not make my head explode. Wait, this would make a nice costume.

Ode to my peeps...

In life, you have have friends, and then you have FRIENDS. People who love you and care for you and take you as you are. No matter what, these people put up with your crap and remember that even during your craziest moments, you are who you are and that is why they loved you in the first place.

During my time on earth, I have had friends whom I supported and got little back. I have had friends who required so much of me that I became tired of being nice. These days I have few friends, but the ones I do have, I love and cherish and want nothing but to continue to be friends with them through it all.

I value those people who continue to love me and cherish me and understand me. It takes a strong person to be in my life. Just ask my husband.

Tonight I had the priviledge of spending the evening with one of these people. I hope to have her as a friend for my remaining years. We will have our moments and I promise to be a pain in the butt many times. However, my friends are my family. Always.

Now, here is where we spent our evening. NOPA is fun and the food is great. Even if you get stuck in the corner upstairs, the food is wonderful, service is way above par and even when you think they threw away your to go box, they just save it until the check.