A Year Ago Today

Today is the one year anniversary of my dad's death. It as taken a year, but I am finally (I think) at the place I thought I would be right after he died. I am relieved he is not in pain anymore. I know he is in a better place. I believe one day I will see him again. Grief has come in waves, and I feel it is out to sea right now. It hasn't come crashing in on me since Christmas. Some little tides have rushed in unexpectedly, but no huge waves. That is a good thing, right? It doesn't mean I've forgotten him. I'm healing. Thus leaving the question: how to spend today?

I feel the need to celebrate his life, to honor the impact he had on my life, and I'm not sure what the best way is to do that. I thought about going bowling, the only sport he played that I actually kind-of enjoy, which we did on Father's Day last year. But I am not feeling up to physical activity. Must be the gray, dreary day outside today. We will certainly have pizza for dinner in his honor. Dad was a self-proclaimed "pizza shark," a trait that has been passed genetically to my son. That is appropriate since I named Will after my dad (and grandfather.)

I think I will call my mom and see what she is up to doing. Her birthday is tomorrow, and we are planning to go to see the butterflies at the Conservatory. Perhaps the best way to honor him is to spend the day with the people I love. Telling and showing them how much they mean to me. That's a tribute he would appreciate, I think.

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

I have a blissful 11 days off starting in about 45 minutes. Actually, I have learned the real term for what I am doing is a "staycation" since I am not actually going anywhere. My kids have Spring break next week, and I am joining them. I am also adding an extra couple of days off for my birthday. I do not believe in working on my birthday and take it off every year.

We might go to the art museum to see the new Egypt exhibit or to Franklin Park Conservatory for the butterflies. I am planning a day trip up to Ashland, Ohio. Why? Because that is the home of Grandpa's Cheesebarn, a lovely store right along I-71 selling homemade cheeses, tons of cute gifts, and chocolates (next door at Sweeties). We found this place on one of our trips up to Niagara Falls, and now it is one of our favorite places. So, we are certainly driving up there.

Other than that, it will be a wonderful week of sleeping in. There will be a ceremony tonight, turning off the alarm clock. I can't wait. I will be keeping in touch with Facebook and Twitter, of course. If I were going somewhere, maybe I'd be completely unplugged. But since I'm home, I have to keep up with news somehow. I will, of course, have to fight my kids for computer time.

My break is over now, so back to work for the last half hour. I can make it!!

Insomnia Sing Along

Okay, here is a little ditty I am writing because I cannot sleep. Sing along with me:
Oh, the tune is "Oh Christmas Tree" I know it's March, but that's the tune.

Insomnia, Insomnia.
Oh how I hate insomnia!
Insomnia, insomnia.
Oh how I hate insomnia!
You keep me up too late at night.
I should be tucked in tight.
Insomnia, Insomnia.
Oh how I hate insomnia.


Hmmm...not thrilled with that 6th line. What else rhymes with night? bite, kite, light, might, fight, height, sight, white. I am so good at phonological awareness! (That is a fancy ready to read term that means rhyming.) Let's see if I can get a better line:

You keep me up too late at night.
Nothing for bite..
I won't be able to fly a kite
Hope I'm asleep by morning light.
Nothing for might...
Nothing for fight...
Nothing for height...
My eyes are bloodshot; such a sight!
The sleeping pill I took was white.

Those are pretty sucky. I kind of like the bloodshot eyes one the best. No, the morning light one is better. I wish I could come up with rhymes for all of them. Ideas, fellow insomniacs? (Or fellow rhymers?)

I am sleepy and tired. Why will my brain not turn off? I should have taken the sleeping pill earlier. Except I was at work until 9, and I probably would have gotten in trouble for sleeping at the Info desk. I've read enough about insomnia to know that I should not be out of bed blogging right now. Nor watching tv ("Big" is on VH1--haven't seen that one in a long time.) I should be laying (lying?? I never get that one right), resting my eyes waiting for sleep to come. But it doesn't. And then I start thinking. Hence the certain Grammy-award winning song I wrote, above.

Since I am online, I will probably check Facebook and Twitter too, just to see if anyone else is up. No offense folks, but I'd really rather be sleeping.

EDIT: Don't you hate it when you check your post for errors, find none, hit post, and then see a huge TYPO????!!!! I hate that.

Interview with My Kids

This has been making the rounds in the blogosphere and on Facebook. It looked like fun, so here are my kids' answers. Will is 14 and Lainey is 12.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
W: Is your homework done?
L: Get into (or out of) the shower!


2. What makes mom happy?
Both: CHOCOLATE

3. What makes mom sad?
W: Not having chocolate
L: Being awakened from a nap


4. How does your mom make you laugh?
W: You're just funny
L: Sarcasm


5. What was your mom like as a child?
W: Evil--she locked her brother in a closet (I did not! We were playing hide and seek, and I shut him in a kitchen cabinet. He could have gotten out any time he wanted to.)
L: ?????

6. How old is your mom?
L: 40..no! 29!! You are always 29.
W: What did Lainey say? Then I will say 27. (both kids earn a gold star)


7. How tall is mom?
L: 5'3" (she's right)
W: Shorter than I am (he's also right)


8. What is her favorite thing to do?
L: Eat chocolate and then take a nap
W: Twitter


9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
L: Watch reality tv she says she doesn't watch
W: Talk to the dog


10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
L:?????
W: World's Greatest Microwave cook

11. What is your mom really good at?
L: Cooking (she is soooo wrong, but it sweet that she said that)
W: Being awesome


12. What is your mom not very good at?
L: Sports
W: Not cussing (oops--blush)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Both: Children's librarian

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Both: Chocolate

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
L: When she doesn't embarrass me
W: She's a wonderful and awesome person


16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
L: Pepe le Pew (I can't imagine why she would say that)
W:????


17. What do you and your mom do together
L: Talk
W: Have fun at the supermarket


18. How are you and your mom the same?
L: Eye color
W:We both like to read


19. How are you and your mom different?
L: Our favorite colors are different
W: I have more balls (yes, this is really what he said)


20. How do you know your mom loves you?
L: She tells me every day.
W: Everything she does for me

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Both: Walt Disney World



That was fun! I have great kids.