Moving

I'm here ( http://mycircuslife.com/ ) if you're looking for me.

C'mon over!

Lazy Blogging

Holy Blog Of Doom, Batman! I just got a bajillion whiny emails saying I have not updated this since people stopped clapping and Tinkerbell died... You would not believe how hard it is being waited on hand and foot and generally lounging around. Apologies to my regular readers! Even the little blue ones!

I am hopped up on caffeine with feeding the little people, being distracted by the shiny, and just generally being an embarrassment to society in general. My day seems to involve the authorities from the second I am woken by murderous Teletubbies to 11pm at which point I fall asleep on the couch. I am avoiding recapture. Can't they see I am blogging?!

I totally promise I will make more of an effort to blog more often until the nice men in the white coats come back. What? Unless of course the pool with the cocktail bar is heated!

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If you're wondering WTF?! Go here: http://www.aussiebloggers.com.au/blogpost.html and give it a whirl! It's fun!

Moving

At some point in the (possibly near) future, I will be moving my blog over to www.mycircuslife.com in the hopes that I actually make use of the domain I've owned for nearly 9 years now. (And hey! "Using features my site host has me paying for anyway!" What a concept!)

So... yeah... there ya go. That's what's happening.

Time for me to get off my proverbial behind and make some changes - hopefully, they'll be for the better.

Update:
First, I want to figure out how to change that template. THEN, I'll consider moving.
It's easier to redecorate before you move in, yes?

Circus Life Moments # 3

After tying Buddy's shoes for him this morning, I cinched him in closer for a hug. He gave a sincere and fabulous squeeze. Feeling the love, I squeezed him back and told him that was the best hug I had gotten all day.

He walked away, then turned back and said "God sent me that hug, Mom."

I smiled and thought, "No, He sent ME that hug."

A Personal Political Epiphany

I am a coward.

I am not a very political person, and I hardly ever talk about my personal political preferences.

I am always afraid that I do not know enough about the situation, and that I will come off looking like an idiot if I become engaged in discussion about the "issues" -- mostly because I do not know very much about them. I also do not want to offend anyone, or get into a heated debate.

Politics were never a topic of conversation while I was growing up. I couldn't tell you if my Mom even voted. There are prejudices instilled in me while I was growing up that I struggle with/against daily. I think all or at least most of us do. I've long felt that voting for a President was really choosing "the lesser of two evils."

Although today is the inaguration, I've pretty much stayed away from all the coverage. I've never been one to get caught up in all that hoopla. The idea of being amongst all those people in Washington, DC right now gives me the heebie jeebies. That is WAY too many people in one place.

Back in November, I reluctantly voted for McCain because I figured the "old white guy" would win in the end, rather than vote for Obama - the one I considered the underdog. "He'll never win, there are too many people who would be all bent out of shape with an African-American in the White House." -- What the hell kind of thinking was that, anyway?

Truthfully, I think its pretty cool that Obama won. Not only for the history factor and how far African-Americans have come, but because I have a sense of "Ok, now we'll get some positive change going here." I think Obama has some serious potential to do that. Maybe he won't be perfect, but hell, who is? Too many people only see the color of his skin. He got into the office just like every other former President did -- on promises. Some will be broken, some may not measure up, but can we not just suspend our judgement and believe in him for a while and see how it all shakes out?

You may think I have been taken in by those pretty promises of "Change" and "Hope" -- is it wrong to feel hopeful? Honestly, I think this country needs some change -- even if I can't yet articulate exactly what that change should be.

And that is something I will be working on.

Good Luck, President Obama.

Happy (delayed) New Year

In an effort to skip the fact that 2009 has not been great so far, I decided my new year would start last night. Get that last week and a half OUTTA HERE. Hubby's Dad passing, my not feeling well, the house in chaos because of the painting... then Friday night, Sweet Pea was sick. Whatever it was, it left her system pretty quickly -- by lunch time on Saturday she was her usual self, so that was good. Then, of course, last night, I started with a headache and some nausea... bleh. The headache remains now, but I'm hoping it succumbs to the medication ANY MINUTE NOW.

Still, if I start the new year today, I'm no different than anyone else who woke up to the new year with a headache/hangover, right?

There is some good stuff, though:
1) The house is slowly becoming somewhat orderly again. Christmas is all back in boxes, and I've reclaimed my livingroom and most of my diningroom and most of my kitchen. There are only a couple of things waiting on the diningroom table to be put in the family room when all the furniture gets back in place. Hubby is done painting in the kitchen/family room. Now he's handling the finishing touches like outlet covers, redoing the mantle, and eventually hanging some pictures.

The kitchen is pretty much back in order -- I'm just waiting for a valance that I've asked Bio-Mom to make (I've never really learned my way around a sewing machine), and for Hubby's tools/supplies, etc. on my desk to be replaced with my computer once again.

I love that my house is getting back to "normal" -- I feel more relaxed when things are in order.

2) We went to Bio-Mom's for "Christmas" last Saturday. I had called them earlier in the day to tell them about Sweet Pea and they insisted we come anyway (as long as Sweet Pea was improving -- and she was). We had a great time -- I always do when I'm there. It is always just so relaxed and fun. The kids love it there -- Grandpa Choo-Choo has a huge train set on the floor in the family room, and he lets the kids pretty much climb all over it and run the trains, etc. It is fun watching them all together.

We came home from Bio-Mom's with tons of butter cookies -- I LOVE butter cookies from the bakery. Oh, and I have a FABULOUS new pair of sunglasses. Classic. (Photo coming soon)

3) My headache did fade down to tolerable levels. Yay!

4) I was able to make the twice weekly speech class for Buddy run a "two-fer" today. I dropped him off at speech class, and then picked up the forms he needs to register for kindergarten. Making that little stop saved me from having to go tonight and do it.

5) This is THE last week of Buddy's speech therapy! YAY!

6) The sun was peeking out a bit today.

7) The Circus went out to dinner tonight, allowing me to take the evening off. Oh sure, there are things I probably should be doing, but I really don't want to.

At the moment, I'm torn between sitting here at the computer and sorting through photos, or just retiring to my favorite chair next to Hubby and vegging out with him.

All in all, this first day of *my* new year has turned out pretty well, in spite of the impending "doom" of a Blizzard Watch and a Winter Weather Advisory. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? For now, though, everything is fine.

More later...

Grandpa Rich

"Rich was a good man."

I've heard that over and over the past few days. The thing is, he really was. Oh sure, he wasn't perfect (who is?), but he was a good man.

Born in May of 1941, Rich died Friday, January 2, 2009. He was 67 years old.

Honestly, I don't know that I knew Rich that well. To me, he did not seem to be very demonstrative with his feelings. He was quiet -- kind of a "still waters run deep" kind of guy from what I knew of him. He never really said much to me, but I do remember him surprising me with a sentimental and sincere phrase or two while we danced at our wedding reception back in 1991.

Rich did what he could to balance the responsibilities of his "first" family -- MIL and three children, with that of the family he gained when he remarried. It wasn't always easy for him, but I believe he was proud of the things his children accomplished. He (and MIL) raised some fine people.

Rich loved his grandchildren -- Punkin, Sweet Pea, Buddy and Emme. He would get a little silly with them, and teased every one of them at one time or another with "I'm going to get yer gizzard!" There were photos of him playing in a sandbox with them, blowing out birthday candles, wearing a fuzzy-feathered tiara, holding a magic wand, and surrounded by his grandchildren.

In 2006, Rich was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. At one point early in 2007, the doctors were unsure that he would live another two months. He rallied and surprised all of us by making it back from that. The diagnosis had an impact on us all, and his children tried harder to be there for him -- to connect more with him.

A year or so ago, Rich, Hubby and Buddy all went to Rochelle, IL to watch the trains. It was a rare event, and Hubby will always remember that as one of the best days he spent with his Dad. Rich liked trains and would frequently share his Train magazines with Buddy (who refuses to part with any of those issues).

Rich was "fighting the good fight", doing what he needed to do to get through the ups and downs of his treatment. Over the last few months however, his peaks and valleys began to become more pronounced. The valleys became more difficult to climb out of.

He was once again admitted to the hospital on Christmas Eve with an infection. Rich was able to come home from the hospital on New Years Eve with Hospice care for the evenings. However, early in the morning of January 2, 2009, Rich's breathing became shallow. He passed away shortly after 2am, joining his mother, father, and four brothers who had already gone before him. He leaves behind a sister, three brothers, three children, four grandchildren, a host of other family members and many friends.

Rich, you were a good man. We take comfort knowing that you are finally at peace, and not plagued by the burdens you had when you were here. We will always remember you.

Love ya, Rich.

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Rich surprised me once by commenting on something I wrote on my blog. While my family and friends know about my blog, I don't believe a lot of them read it. (Perhaps they get enough of me in real life...) After I conquered the ability to make an edible grilled cheese sandwich, I vividly remember him asking me "So... what are you going to do now that you've done that?" I laughed and told him I wasn't sure, and to 'stay tuned'.


Thank you for the prayers you may have said on our family's behalf and good thoughts you have expressed. We appreciate every one of them.

Tell me its true...

I've had a shower.
My hair is "done".
I'm wearing makeup, high heels, dress pants and a nice shirt.
This appears to be a full day of work for me.
The clowns are all at school for the whole day.
Hubby is at work for the whole day.
There is a run in my knee highs.

OH "NORMAL"!!! HOW I'VE MISSED YOU!!!