tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40817939191695644262024-02-20T04:22:02.216-05:00The Maybe Baby (Babies)Childhood cancer survivor. That's the good news. Bad news? Chemo and radiation zapped my eggs leaving me infertile. Egg donors were found, several attempts were made and finally we were blessed with beautiful twin girls - born too early (21 wks, 5 days on Dec. 5, 2008). Hang out with me while we savor life with Big Baby Boy, who arrived via gestational surrogate on March 25, 2013.mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.comBlogger507125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-36233339187095509722017-03-05T10:49:00.000-05:002017-03-05T10:49:05.389-05:00Her Only Solace Was Action
[h/t to Delenn for inspiring the title]
After the March, we made a vow to ourselves to engage in at
least one act of resistance each week. One march, one campaign, one outreach….Well,
life happens. Late nights at work happen. Cranky pre-schoolers happen.
Exhaustion happens.
Nice excuses, m. How great that you have the option NOT to
take to the streets.
I know. I know.
What it comes mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-2852616511897012512017-02-12T21:54:00.000-05:002017-02-12T21:54:45.016-05:00The Other ShoeI’m on a plane by myself this morning. Last night I didn’t
sleep. Nor did M. Thankfully, D was sawing logs. I hate the idea of not being
near them. Of purposefully moving in the opposite direction of them. Even if
only for a few days. I used to love solo work trips – the promise of a big bed,
an unhurried morning run, a hotel breakfast, even several hours on a plane to
work uninterrupted? Why mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-16336188729415545622015-07-18T15:58:00.001-05:002015-07-18T15:58:58.658-05:00The RingEver since the early days of our honeymoon, whenever he entered water, M would clutch his wedding ring. Ball his left hand up in a fist. Contort his fingers in a way that made swimming difficult, snorkeling nearly impossible. He was terrified of losing his ring in the sea, the pool, the ocean, the lake. And I would laugh, and say he was being overly cautious. And that rings don't just slip off mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-88329361204378194282015-02-28T21:12:00.001-05:002015-02-28T21:12:12.747-05:00BetterWeek two = better than week one.I'm getting into the hang of the new office. New people. New personalities. New responsibilities. A lot more responsibility. It's kind of exciting. And I'm feeling like this is doable, and perhaps even long term, if I can put some things into play. By some things I mean more flexibility, a greater ability to work remotely - for everyone, not just me. It feels mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-90750157464198163322015-02-14T15:19:00.001-05:002015-02-14T15:19:29.535-05:00That Moment When You Start to Second Guess EverythingAnd start to lose sleep,
And feel like you want to throw up at every moment
And just want to cry and crawl back in bed (even though you can't sleep)
That's happening. Right about now.
First day on the new job is Tuesday (Monday's a holiday). The plan today was to rent a van, load some of our extra stuff from the apartment here, stop at the Ik*a on the way down to get anything else we might needmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-70271477366296331902015-02-05T08:54:00.001-05:002015-02-05T08:54:12.642-05:00TransitioningEvery week should be Last Week.
I've had lunches with old colleagues, had a chance to have completely personal and not work-related conversations with people I really like and respect. Emails and notes keep coming from unexpected places. And my boss is throwing me a happy hour tomorrow. I think people might even show up.
Gosh dudes, sniff, I didn't know you cared.
But amid the love fest, theremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-88028275223956925322015-01-19T14:27:00.000-05:002015-01-19T14:27:04.963-05:00#Microblog Mondays - What's Home? What's Comfortable?
Have you read this yet? The NY Times Magazine doesn't always get the ALI stuff right, but I thought this was a very thoughtful piece, particularly since its written by an adoptive parent who herself a mom via open domestic adoption and has also adopted internationally.
One quote from an adoptee who's returned to South Korea is really resonating with me: “Korea is home....But it’s not one I’mmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-87138237541794938602015-01-13T09:58:00.001-05:002015-01-13T09:58:22.695-05:00The Back StoryA few months ago my co-worker and I decided we'd had enough of where we are. Done. Finished. Over it. I've been there 16 years (give or take some sabbaticals); she's been there nearly as long. We've each had opportunities to grow and expand out skills sets and knowledge base, but lately, all of that feels like its come to a screeching halt. It started to feel like we'd be stuck in this rut mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-16822118723881738212015-01-12T22:11:00.002-05:002015-01-12T22:11:41.320-05:00#Microblog Mondays - That. Just. HappenedI quit my job today.
And it feels
f*cking
great.
mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-33970776008146589892014-12-19T11:17:00.000-05:002014-12-19T11:17:22.699-05:00You Only Need OneLast week, one of my brother's old friends stopped by to visit us and to give us our holiday candle - he's been giving us a Yankee candle each year for Xmas for as long as I can remember. It's tradition. He stayed and talked until way past our bedtimes. He clearly needed to talk.
This is someone who I've known for so long, he is family. It's not uncommon for him to go visit my mom and stay a fewmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-92133683688536784852014-11-17T09:35:00.000-05:002014-11-17T09:35:16.998-05:00#Microblog Mondays - 3 is a Magic NumberOne. Two. Three. A family of three we shall be.
Official beta isn't until tomorrow, but our surrogate is an obsessive pee-on-a-sticker. When I hadn't heard anything last week, a quick email on Friday confirmed my suspicions, and ruined a good chunk of our weekend. Sigh. Last chance. No dice.
During the transfer, M and I were feeling a sense of relief. Whatever happens, we saw this through to mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-59045790447176712842014-10-27T07:37:00.000-05:002014-10-27T07:37:13.320-05:00#MicroblogMondays - Eating My Words
This morning, I am feeling like the cruddiest crud of all crud. And conflicted. So conflicted.
Last Thursday, on work trip, my boss and I were "discussing" a person who is very hard to deal with: A big bully of a man who puzzlingly also has a little man complex. A career bureaucrat who seemingly finds pleasure in creating obstacles to good policy and sharing half truths when the truth isn't mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-2167663758469041342014-10-20T20:54:00.000-05:002014-10-20T20:56:44.196-05:00#MicroblogMondays - Lessons Learned
...during a long (and awesome) weekend with sweet D at the beach with "beach meemaw" (aka my mom).
Meemaw's phone fits in a variety of nooks and crannies never intended for such use.
Meemaw has way too many ceramics, sharp edges and breakables at knee-level. She just might have the least kid-friendly dwelling ever. This is not a new phenomenon. ("Sometimes, I honestly don't know mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-18412338881786121492014-10-13T07:00:00.000-05:002014-10-13T07:00:03.331-05:00#MicroblogMondays - Hey...waitaminute....
I keep trying to stock up on Microblog Monday posts. And then realize I have a little more to say. Then a little more. Then before you know it my mini-post is a full-on post. No longer suitable for a micro Monday. Sigh. I guess I just have to hit publish.
Now there are several posts where there were none, and even some drafts that are getting dusted off and revisited. Huh, seems as if there mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-47062666363775522552014-10-12T08:00:00.000-05:002014-10-12T08:00:04.890-05:00Four Words for OctoberThe other evening I came home late from work. I sent a text to M to find that him and D were already chilling at the Moo. D was chatting to himself and feeding the moo grass. M was bothered. Distracted. And it didn't seem work-related. Because that's a totally specific look. Dude, what's up? After a bit he finally pointed his eyes towards the corner. Where someone was pan handling. She's 20. mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-32812017171486228712014-10-10T21:03:00.000-05:002014-10-10T21:03:32.326-05:00Potato Po-tah-to
Hash browns for breakfast, french fries for lunch and mashed potatoes for dinner is probably not a meal plan I should replicate often.
But damn. It was good.
And if weren't so lazy I would fry those pierogi in the freezer.
There you have it. Welcome to my world.
**
Since I moved my office to its new location (which, for the most part, I love, because well, I chose it, and I actually have mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-50460743743259681382014-10-08T08:49:00.004-05:002014-10-08T08:52:13.582-05:00CTIDNo matter how negligent I am about writing, no matter how long I'm away from the site, I can rely on at least 2-3 comments a week on what is probably now one of my most popular posts. Not because of any riveting content or reveal (although D is adorable there, no?) but because Malaysian spammers hit this post at the end of every Manchester City soccer game.
Somehow, this is comforting to mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-87011075287746368292014-08-04T08:15:00.000-05:002014-08-04T08:15:08.010-05:00Mornings with Moo
What? Could it be? My moo?
Much as I love our morning cuddles, there are some days that D just doesn't feel the same. Up at 5:30 ish, bottle, and come on, mommy, quit with the hugs I am ready to GO.
A few weeks ago I had the realization that there's nothing that keeps us inside and mandates a wrecked apartment on those endless mornings. Hang on a minute. Two hours to spare before work. mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-44997897771364028022014-04-18T13:19:00.001-05:002014-04-18T13:21:07.439-05:00In Bloommhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-82333539456079034702014-03-30T21:00:00.000-05:002014-03-31T06:00:14.080-05:00Calling All Philly Peepssubtitle: Where I put myself out there way more than I usually do
So, I was really, really, really hoping this post would be the one where I announce my new job and our move to the City of Brotherly Love, which also contains a sisterhood of bloggers and former bloggers, whom I love. Still close to M's parents; closer to mom; way closer to my birth family who are itching to meet D....
Sigh.
I mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-41442242345211659962014-03-03T15:13:00.001-05:002014-03-03T15:13:13.757-05:00Dates and DeadlinesThere are some words I need to just stop saying. Actually, more like phrases. Phrases like,
"I will get that to you...
...ASAP."
...by the end of the today."
...tomorrow at the latest."
...by the end of the week."
Because you know what? It probably won't happen. Today. Tomorrow. Maybe not this week. Most of the time there are things (or people, or one person - insert icy glare here) involved mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-41442863172318335342014-01-28T08:50:00.001-05:002014-01-28T08:50:57.586-05:00GlimmersSo, one month later, where do things stand?
Good question, my friends. Good question.
Let's start with the good news. Brother started a new job this week. Brought in 2 roommates to help with the bills. Got "grounded" by a number of "friends" after a wayward night out, giving him ample nights at home to rethink and reassess. He claims he's shed a lot of baggage - possessions, people and the likemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-79934542911935051812014-01-05T11:48:00.003-05:002014-01-05T11:48:40.758-05:00Baby D on the Move
Don't worry, friends. No amount of stress can dim the joy that this guy brings (along with his trusty remote)
mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-16093209008581892882013-12-28T23:21:00.003-05:002014-01-04T12:29:36.560-05:00MyopicRight now, I can't see the forest for the trees.  End of year reflections,  new goals and objectives for the new year, resolutions to blog more and more often. ...I can't.  I can't seem to see beyond the situations circling me.
Let me start by saying I'm fine. D. is amazing. Me and D, we're solid. He is truly the Best Baby Ever. (Don't believe me? Ask his grandparents. No bias heremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4081793919169564426.post-5224049285832902262013-11-22T09:50:00.001-05:002013-11-22T09:50:48.465-05:00Guest PostHi dudes,  this is D!
Mom would love to be blogging and talking with you right now,  but I've been keeping her a little busy.  See, I just figured out this standing thing.  And I'm pretty sure I can get from one place to another even faster once I sort out this thing grandma calls "balance. "  In the meantime, I'm perfecting speed crawling.
Mom and dad are really bad atmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830332489753742950noreply@blogger.com21