tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24370324285096462342011-07-07T19:29:59.830-04:00A woman loses her identity, sanity, and serenity to single parenting, and decides to pull her shit together and go on a salvage mission.maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.comBlogger941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-32397804309009922202009-05-10T19:01:00.008-04:002009-05-10T21:15:13.982-04:00

My day started with my aunt leaving me a voicemail to wish me a Happy Mother's Day, and to play me a song that reminded her of my dead mother.I poured myself a cold bowl of cereal.I slept about three hours last night, due to my own child waking me up frequently, for unknown reasons. She began chattering away steadily at 6:30am, and continued non-stop for the next 14 hours."Look what I can do!"I

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-69834698831467252552009-05-06T20:35:00.008-04:002009-05-06T21:16:43.575-04:00

I am officially on vacation. For the entire week. Except for a small meeting today with a client, but it was in the middle of the week, so I was officially well-rested. I had time to do laundry, apply large amounts of heat and product to my hair, put on makeup BEFORE I left the house and NOT while driving, and leave the house in a relaxed and timely fashion. It was crazy!The meeting went very

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-2544626794983052332009-04-21T13:17:00.008-04:002009-04-21T15:00:40.029-04:00

If you woke up this morning feeling great, poured yourself a cup of coffee, made it to work with relatively little hassle, and settled easily into your day with all the optimism and fresh-faced idealism of a bored, civic-minded rich kid, you're missing out on a mind-blowing experience that I feel compelled to share with you.Go buy your 107 year old mother her first computer.Purchasing a computer

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-12097606442071914792009-04-13T23:39:00.005-04:002009-04-14T00:04:52.894-04:00

I actually saw this haircut THIS WEEK. Man bangs, straight across the forehead. Of course, the guy also had a gigantic bluetooth headset wedged into his earwax and a pick up truck that read "AMERICA - speak to her in English" emblazoned across the back window, so he was bottom barrel scrapings, but he's still sharing my oxygen. And his hair offends me.I thought this was some kind of farmer thing.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-8213613827771938332009-04-02T20:37:00.015-04:002009-04-02T21:34:29.371-04:00

Hello friends. I'm your Vitameatavegamin girl. Are you tired, run-down, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular? The answer to all your problems is in this little bottle.I just spent a few days in Jamaica, and I fell asleep last night dreaming about green mountains, sandy white beaches, and turquoise water. Yeah, I work in the Caribbean... but there's just something about the

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-80818437768288469402009-03-14T20:30:00.007-04:002009-03-14T21:09:47.384-04:00

Today I was getting a pedicure, and they sat me next to two blonde mid 30-somethings with gigantic purses in yoga pants who sipped their fat free lattes and contstantly said "Yah!" to each other.I silently cursed myself for not having my iPod with me."So, basically, I go to meetings ALL day. I have meetings with Marketing, and... everybody else. I'm just CONSTANTLY on the computer. He says, '

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-9715044326485115142009-03-12T19:26:00.004-04:002009-03-12T19:49:31.438-04:00

"Tell me what crucifixion means RIGHT NOW!" "What's a comedian?" It's someone who's job it is to tell jokes. "Knock knock." Who's there? "Comedian.""You're the best mom in the whole world. You know how I know?" No, how? "Because I just said so. You wanna try again?"

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-42851339495464112432009-03-10T14:31:00.001-04:002009-03-10T14:32:56.563-04:00

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-79532286534611287612009-03-07T16:51:00.006-05:002009-03-07T18:02:56.801-05:00

Woo fuckin' hoo, the economy's in the crapper! You know what that means, don'tcha, kids?BETTER MUSIC. And I for one, am thrilled to bits.The blues, ska, early rap (back when it meant more than gold teef and a spot on MTV Cribs), Vietnam-era rock, punk... hard times makes for great creativity. I, for one, have had enough of Miley Cyrus and her foot-stankin' Uggs, and am ready to revel in the

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-23301701469536408272009-02-22T13:11:00.017-05:002009-03-07T17:48:23.823-05:00

It's a normal Sunday morning - I'm vacuuming, putting the laundry away, and watching some ducks float across the lake.My friend Robert, on the other hand, is getting ready for this evening's opening of Alice Tully Hall, a 4-year architectural project that he just completed, hailed by the New York Times as "a revelation". My childhood friend Gary (who I've decided is the nicest person on earth),

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-74051345482207969422009-02-20T10:22:00.007-05:002009-03-07T18:11:12.830-05:00

I just signed up for Twitter. I'm not sure why - I think it was mostly because I was aware of the fact that I was avoiding it.Twitter's pitch is "Real life happens between blog posts and emails."Thank you for reminding me. I wasn't sure what all that superfluous stuff was, without anyone there to instantly validate me. Real life. Gotcha.Little does Twitter know that between blog posts and emails,

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-8595067071584859142009-02-05T15:01:00.005-05:002009-02-20T21:36:04.924-05:00

Sir, I asked you not to play the song again, didn't I.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-51727771707032145662009-02-01T22:55:00.002-05:002009-03-07T17:46:40.066-05:00

It was Greek week for me this week - we went to a fantastic Greek festival with some friends, and the same friend took me to see Mamma Mia when she scored some unused season tickets from an uncle. Mamma Mia was fantastic. I should really brush my hair and go out on a Saturday night more often! We had orchestra seats, and sat behind two women in their late 50's who were dripping in diamonds.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-26828146037602211852009-01-27T21:41:00.002-05:002009-03-07T17:43:40.674-05:00

This week, at my kid's school, a few of the parents have been in to talk about their jobs to the kids.No one invited me. Apparently, "sits around in pajamas and watches YouTube" isn't a viable profession. Talk to the hand, sir, the paycheck speaks for itself.But I digress.The kids were visited by a dental hygienist, and a policeman, and when I dropped my daughter off today, there was a fireman

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-8141811601306084022009-01-20T21:01:00.008-05:002009-03-07T17:46:40.067-05:00

10. I wasn’t freezing my ass off in DC today9. George and Laura got into a helicopter and went to go live in a FEMA trailer for a year, even if only in my mind.8. Charlie Brotman almost started off the inaugural introductions with “LAADIES AND GENTLEMEN… CHILDREN OF AAALL AGES…” was it just me, or did you feel like you were at a tractor pull for a minute, there?7. Aretha’s hat. You work it, Miss

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-65054496425352465032009-01-16T19:59:00.005-05:002009-03-07T17:52:23.712-05:00

A container of Fleur de Sel caramel ice cream in your shopping cart at the check out line is as subtle as a box of tampons, or a tee shirt with "I HAVE PMS" in blinking LED lights emblazoned across the front.It's chocolate and sugar covered in salt, and folded into ice cream.Don't even try and tell me a woman didn't invent that.DON'T EVEN TRY! I'LL SMASH YOUR SKULL!(bursts into tears).Sorry. I'm

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-87931747699961015802009-01-09T07:14:00.003-05:002009-03-07T18:03:15.762-05:00

Every once in a while, a noise emanates from my neighbor's apartment that I, through my finely-tuned detective skills, have identified as an Australian aboriginal bullroarer. See video below. It's like that, but about 20 times louder.Either that, or they're trying to start a propeller plane in their living room.I wish I had a digeridoo. We could jam.Now I just feel compelled to find some weird

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-77152035509250736862009-01-05T11:22:00.004-05:002009-03-07T17:49:28.939-05:00

Today, after three weeks of my child being home with me due to travel and the holidays, I dropped the kid off at daycare.I hugged her teacher like she was land after 90 days at sea, and ran out of the building screaming.I am so not made for this stay-at-home-mom shit.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-85120867125883087322008-12-20T22:01:00.001-05:002009-03-07T17:49:52.830-05:00

When we’re placed on this earth, we can stay where we are and lead a life that fits into the natural landscape, or we can push ourselves away from our landing point and turn ourselves into a completely different animal. If we wind up far enough away from where we started, we can always look back over our shoulder and see the winding path we took to get to where we are.If you’re adopted, though,

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-83167004151483156332008-12-17T22:22:00.000-05:002009-03-07T17:50:34.243-05:00

The boyfriend flew in 10 days before Christmas so we could attend my cousin's wedding in El Paso, Texas.For his Christmas gift, I made a small booklet tied with a red ribbon, detailling a trip I had arranged for the two of us. I rented a convertible so that we could drive up to Cape Canaveral and visit the Kennedy Space Center, which he's wanted to do since he was 10 years old. He had even

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-67848974742391610692008-12-10T22:02:00.004-05:002009-03-07T17:51:32.325-05:00

In my pre-kindergarten years, I attended what was then called "nursery school". I was a precocious kid, and clearly remember avoiding a certain group of girls due to reasons of overt girliness.One of my earliest childhood memories is of a girl coming up to me one day and stating, in a whiny, sing-song voice, "Kimberly says she doesn't like you". Kimberly always had a dress on, and her hair was

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-77635337377422777032008-12-07T23:04:00.004-05:002008-12-08T00:17:04.454-05:00

Today I met my parents over at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art while the kid was with her dad. Since I've produced a grandchild for my parents, I'm no longer interesting on my own, so it was a rare opportunity to just walk around a museum with two grownups, and without a hungry-tired-bored 4-year old.The only downside was when I parked my car in the municipal garage, and my driver's side window

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-19876652157606169472008-11-27T22:23:00.008-05:002009-03-07T17:51:32.326-05:00

I hate shopping. Well, I don't really hate shopping, I just hate crowds, and lines, and surly cashiers, and having to pee with a cart full of stuff, and people who walk in front of me and start flipping through a rack while hello, I'm standing right here, and credit card bills. Other than that, I LOVE shopping.Love it, love it, love it.I have never been shopping on the day after Thanksgiving, or

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-15665697582900077652008-11-17T00:34:00.000-05:002009-03-07T17:45:40.559-05:00

Went to a birthday party over the weekend.The entire family is incredibly nice and they all have a great sense of humor. Well, not like, a collective sense of humor. Their own individual.. whatever.Both parents are attorneys and many of the kids in attendance were from the birthday girl's new Montessori day care. It was really nice - everyone was friendly, the kids were funny and cute, but the

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-88272402118805812008-11-02T22:48:00.001-05:002009-03-07T17:46:23.125-05:00

Kara, Bobby and I decided to take Malena up to the zoo today, and meet Eric and Christine up there with their two kids. Since Florida weather varies drastically from county to county, we left sun-filled skies and spent the day up north, getting rained on. Heavily. We were all soaked and dripping, but we made it through most of the park. It would have been fantastic, if some moron didn't spend

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-70944593732534013792008-10-31T23:17:00.001-04:002009-03-07T17:46:52.840-05:00

Aunt Kara's in town! After throwing my laptop out the window and running away from my desk at 4:30pm, we picked up the kid, slapped some makeup on her, and headed over to Jeanne and Kevin's to go trick-or-treating with Brenden, Sean Patrick, and Nolan. (Excuse me. I believe a shillelagh and a bucket of shamrocks just fell out of my mouth.) Apart from the creepy guy who answered the door in his

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-33945305655964569652008-10-24T16:16:00.005-04:002009-03-07T17:47:02.068-05:00

Thank you to the guy who works to ensure that everyone in the house always has pink flowers. :) You're amazing.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-54647978849708472732008-10-12T22:32:00.009-04:002009-03-07T17:51:32.326-05:00

I'm finally getting a chance to post about the Kid's Birthday Week. We had a small party at home on her birthday, and then a party on the weekend with all her dorky little friends. It was exactly what I had hoped for -- relaxed, non-theme-y, fun, in a really serene and pretty setting, with good food and balloons. As predicted, the weather was completely uncooperative; humid and rainy, and I was

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-62823632487136639062008-10-02T01:17:00.006-04:002009-03-07T17:51:47.508-05:00

I'm tired.Right now it's Good Tired, where every nonsensical thing I mutter out loud still cracks me up uncontrollably, but in a little while we're going to flip over to Bad Tired, and I'm going to fall asleep with my face in my soup.Most of the time, this single parenting shit is easy-breezy, only because I have no real concept of what it's like to not be the only responsible adult in the house,

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-88159874309745282522008-09-24T07:57:00.001-04:002009-03-07T17:51:55.208-05:00

A recent TV commercial sends my eye into an eye-twitching frenzy every time it comes on the TV and I had to say something about it, because holy cow, I'm getting tired of the media talking to me in pretty little words like I'm sitting here in a helmet with a credit card in my hand.The Corn Refiners Association is trying to tell us that high-fructose corn syrup is a natural, and non-harmful food

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-37710999618040274432008-09-23T22:57:00.007-04:002009-03-07T17:47:46.333-05:00

I received a magical compliment the other day from the Kid's teacher. She told me that she (the teacher) had accidentally dropped a container of paint on the classroom floor, and the paint spilled everywhere. Thirteen pairs of eyes stared at her, transfixed.My child walked over to the sink and got some paper towels and started cleaning up.Oh, how I love a child who likes to clean. Last weekend,

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-71645603662705187862008-09-17T14:28:00.004-04:002008-09-17T14:52:59.098-04:00

In an earlier post, I expressed my misery over planning my kid's fourth birthday party. Our favorite park had party rental opportunities, but the cost was $700 for a 12-hour party, which is not at all appropriate for a child's birthday party.I sent an email to the county-run park, requesting an adjusted fee.The park ignored me.The park wrote back a week and a half later, and said they'd get back

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-62881155542231262672008-09-11T09:34:00.009-04:002008-09-11T12:21:55.972-04:00

From 2002 - 2006, I hated today. Around 2007, I stopped noticing. This year, I may even turn on the TV.I hated photographs of the towers, because an image of two straight straight structures reaching into the skyline couldn't capture what it was like on the ground just after 9am. The image of the towers in their former state didn't help me remember the innocent days of looking up and using them

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-91805988597201209402008-09-08T20:06:00.005-04:002009-03-07T17:54:03.787-05:00

Oh, the men I've dated. It reads like a Who's Who of the wall at the post office. Now that I'm old, I decided it may be a good time to grow up and date someone with "a job", and "a place to live", and "no outstanding warrants". New Guy's favorite shirts have long sleeves and buttons. A recap of his workday is like a giant sedative. He always identifies himself by name when he calls. Because in

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-20495152968360595652008-09-07T23:07:00.017-04:002009-03-07T17:54:03.788-05:00

It isn't often that someone can out-crazy me. Even less likely that anyone can make me stutter. Total solar eclipses probably happen with greater frequency.But the other day, I was running errands, and stopped off at the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. There was one person in front of me, and the five-minute wait was enough to send my kid into a bored fit of silliness. She climbed into a

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-65941373017788766582008-09-04T19:40:00.007-04:002009-03-07T17:54:03.789-05:00

I went into fully panicked hurricane shopping at the supermarket today. I hadn't planned on it. I was casually speaking to a coworker this afternoon -- a coworker, I might add, who normally has the demeanor of one of those forest fire firefighters (fire fire?) who jump into flames from a helicopter with an oxygen tank strapped to their back. Said coworker said, "I'm a little nervous about this

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-50268238961415222072008-09-03T21:35:00.008-04:002008-09-04T17:20:37.621-04:00

I had it all planned out.I was going to have the Kid's 4th birthday party at our favorite park. It has a butterfly garden, and a huge deck and awesome party room, and really great trails. Free parking. And we haven't already been to 27 birthdays there. We actually haven't been to any birthdays there. It's virgin birthday party territory. (That sentence sounded better in my head.) It's the

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-68052611658765916672008-08-31T10:17:00.011-04:002009-03-07T17:54:27.294-05:00

I never get political on my blog. Mostly, because I don't care.Since 2001, I've just resigned myself to the fact that I live in an evil parallel universe. I was watching something on TV the other day where Ben Cohen (of Ben & Jerry's) was visiting Congress with a bill proposal to take 15% of the military budget and rechannel it to education. Right here in our own country! Because wouldn't it be

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-33275979924032098102008-08-26T19:25:00.006-04:002009-03-07T17:54:27.295-05:00

Arms loaded with folded towels to put away, I headed for the bedroom. The door was blocked by one of the cats, trying to score a good spot on the pillow. I nudged her with my foot."Out of the way, cat".(from downstairs) Malena: "WHAT?"Me (struggling to get the door open): "Nothing!"Malena: "WHAAT?"Me: "NOTHING!!"I put the towels away in my bathroom, and my kid is coming up the stairs.Malena: "Mom

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-86494847042332437192008-08-22T22:03:00.000-04:002009-03-07T17:54:27.295-05:00

New Guy and I were having a chit-chat the other day. You know, just about this, that, and the other thing, and somehow, don't ask me because I don't remember, my undergarments wandered into the conversation.New Guy is an angel, albeit a little more reserved than I. And when I say "a little more reserved", he's Tom Hanks and I'm Amy Winehouse. So when he gets brave enough to mention my

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-76852836115025992242008-08-19T18:10:00.011-04:002009-03-07T17:54:39.764-05:00

Yesterday, my child who was home due to school closings for an official Tropical Drizzle Watch, ran out of her bedroom wearing a giant pointy hat and brandishing a plastic sword, yelling "I'm a Pirate Witch!".Nothing gives me a greater sense of peace than wandering around and listening to her giggle and talk crazy talk to herself while I admire my green, thriving houseplants, or my content cats

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-27581530859981028842008-08-18T16:23:00.000-04:002009-03-07T18:03:57.075-05:00

Ready and reporting for duty.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-43932194050692301642008-08-11T07:48:00.004-04:002008-08-19T21:12:44.440-04:00

I spend a lot of my life proofreading. When I'm not getting paid for it, I'm scrunching up my eyebrows at menus and road signs, wondering why the universe doesn't give me the job of Global Proofreader. I could angrily stomp around the earth with a spray can and hand out tickets for Punctuation Misuse.I'm undecided on the possessive apostrophe for proper names ending in -s. I asked the two

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-75689140112391726512008-08-03T10:14:00.008-04:002008-12-09T02:11:19.807-05:00

He's quiet and unassuming. He spends most of his days in a hole, dusting off pottery shards. And yet, he manages to put smiles on female faces across the globe. London, Paris, Tokyo, Fort Lauderdale... his raw power knows no boundaries.Thanks, Thomas. We love you.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-24130873482742237702008-08-01T22:20:00.012-04:002009-02-24T14:48:40.132-05:00

The highlight of my evening tonight, after putting together my daughter's bed, hanging up curtains, and installing shelves in her room with the help of a pocket laser level that has goopy stuff on the back that lets you stick it to the wall, was crawling into the deep recesses of my freezer with a hair dryer and defrosting the water line next to the mold & heater assembly of the ice machine and

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-75080991819902265572008-07-21T07:34:00.002-04:002009-03-07T17:54:56.641-05:00

Just before 7am this morning, my disheveled-haired child wandered over to my desk, where, unfortunately, I was already working."Good morning", she mumbled, with an entire fist already digging into her tiny, delicate eye. She gave me a giant kiss and a hug and wandered off to the balcony, as is her morning routine. Usually, she brings a book and "reads" to herself until breakfast. This morning,

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-20195654529099001352008-07-17T23:21:00.005-04:002009-03-07T17:54:56.641-05:00

Nice, quiet night. Made a kick-ass arroz con pollo, put the kid to bed, sat back on the sofa, and watched the moon and its reflection over the lake.So looking forward to Friday....Good night, moon. :)

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-68219362032256207942008-07-14T21:31:00.007-04:002009-03-07T17:55:09.541-05:00

I'll admit it, this was a tough move. When I finally lay down long enough to get a night's sleep, I woke up with a flu that lasted a week. There are still boxes to unpack and remotes to find, but we wake up every morning with an unobstructed view of a calm and serene lake. I spent the weekend watching Season 3 of Weeds. It doesn't get any better than that. Seriously. It really doesn't.Some

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-37610135845722986852008-07-05T22:11:00.014-04:002009-03-07T17:55:09.542-05:00

Debo's third birthday... spent at Parrot Jungle in Miami, trying to keep the goats from eating Malena's clothing...birthday girl a nice salad the llama that stared in a way that made everyone uncomfortablebrown baby

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-448010070277964422008-07-02T07:47:00.000-04:002009-03-07T17:55:09.542-05:00

When I first came to this country, .... (sorry, channelling my ancestors for a second, there)... when I first moved back to the US from a brief sojourn overseas, I moved to Queens, New York. I had 2-bedroom apartment in Woodside, with hardwood floors and a great cross breeze. There was a clothesline out the back window, and a fantastic Chinese takeout on the corner, in addition to yet another

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-39634798553735452872008-06-30T21:04:00.003-04:002009-03-07T17:55:09.543-05:00

I watched the sun fall tonight behind a row of terracotta-colored houses. From a chair on the screened-in balcony, I sat and listened to the frogs and the birds and other little things that go chirp in the night. I watched the trees' reflections on the lake as a duck made a slow V towards his little duck family waiting on the opposite bank.There are 230 homes in my development, and I can't hear a

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-26563329479661011482008-06-19T20:16:00.003-04:002008-12-09T02:11:24.545-05:00

It's the height of summer, and super-sticky outside. I fell in love with my friend Amy's daughter Emily's hair, which is cut up to the nape of her neck and angles down against her jawline. (No, Jackie, I am not turning into that crazy woman that spends hours every morning braiding and curling and taking pictures of her daughters' hair, and I couldn't find that website again if you had a gun to my

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-50317147537696741692008-06-18T00:21:00.004-04:002009-03-07T17:56:13.726-05:00

Recently we met up with my friend Amy from Missouri, who is visiting Fort Lauderdale while her husband attends a conference here. Amy and I were pregnant together, but Malena decided to make a grand entrance three months early, so she and Amy's Adam are actually three months apart.We went over to my favorite park. It was raining lightly, and we set out on a nature hike. By the time we had looked

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-15175459746531748082008-06-12T02:10:00.009-04:002008-06-12T02:51:09.773-04:00

Somedays, I'm just a guinea pig trying to get a food pellet.It was about 12:30, and I was frantically searching the Starbucks website to find one near me that was open past midnight. My mind was mentally mapping a route to one about 15 miles away with a drive-thru that I was almost sure was open until 2am. I knew I had some work to do tonight, and an appointment in the morning so early that

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-62888748857655839422008-06-02T23:24:00.007-04:002009-03-07T18:03:57.076-05:00

I woke up in a crappy mood today. It wasn't intentional. I'm trying to figure out the cause of my insomnia, so I'm in a "test phase" while I try and determine why I can't sleep and how I can start sleeping again. The crap mood was just a result of getting three hours' sleep.I realized the best thing for me was to get on the bike and ride, so I headed over to the park for a little while. It was so

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-83389118987180784472008-06-02T03:03:00.015-04:002008-11-27T23:24:31.619-05:00

Today I was at Whole Foods. The cashier made eye contact, and said "Hello". I said "Hello”. He said "How are you?". I said "Fine, thank you, how are you", and he said nothing and started ringing up my groceries.Why do we ask each other how we are?And why, when someone we don't really know or have any particular connection to asks us how we are, do we say "fine, thank you, how are you"?Seriously.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-7288579429695320492008-05-31T20:39:00.003-04:002009-03-07T18:03:57.076-05:00

Hey, there, other drivers in my city.You don't think I see you, but I do. I see you.I see your frightened little faces in my rearview mirror as you stare at me, open-mouthed, while I drive over railroad tracks or a strangely enormous speed bump. I'm watching you, looking in horror at the bike bouncing around on the bike rack that appears to be attached to my trunk, although, it doesn't really

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-7117096652878778652008-05-29T21:15:00.004-04:002009-03-07T17:55:28.695-05:00

Tonight, the kid and I had dinner at Zona Fresca, and I spontaneously decided to head over to the park for a quick walk before they closed. The park closes their main road an hour before closing for exercising, which is great. I think the loop is 1.7 miles. It's really pretty, and there were a bunch of people rollerblading, running, and bike riding. I pushed Malena in her stroller as she chatted

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-35510771109344512852008-05-28T22:57:00.009-04:002009-03-07T17:56:41.662-05:00

Today was beautiful. I was driving around town on errands, it was 84F/29C, and the sky was a bright, clean blue. On the radio, the song above began playing -- I suddenly opened the sunroof and all the windows, and cranked up the music of my wayward teenaged years.First of all, you have to check out the video. It's so horrible, it's wonderful. This song was released in the UK in 1981, and you

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-61252018733754222512008-05-26T23:51:00.004-04:002009-03-07T17:56:59.623-05:00

I haven't been cooking lately. It's hot out, I've been working a lot, I'm going to die alone.... somewhere along there, I kind of lost my mojo. I've been meaning to. The fridge is stuffed with slowly wilting good intentions. I just haven't felt the inspiration.Tonight, however, I realized that when I'm not completely mindful of the choices I'm making for myself, big or small, I'm probably not

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-6821544913639161522008-05-25T00:07:00.006-04:002008-12-09T02:11:29.221-05:00

A couple of years ago, my friend Claudine drove out to see me at my then-boyfriend's house in a somewhat rural part of the universe. She called me from her car and said, "My GPS is saying 'YOU ARE HERE', but I'm in the middle of a field. Where the hell are you?"I laughed. "You're here".The boyfriend turned out to be a total douchebag, but I loved the idea of his house being surrounded by nothing

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-65058217770592911152008-05-23T23:27:00.005-04:002008-05-23T23:38:40.567-04:00

Oh, dear lord, it's Friday. I didn't think this day would ever come, and I feel like I crawled to the finish line on my hands and knees.Three-day weekend. (weak squeak of jubilation).If smoking didn't cause a long, drawn-out death and my neighbors weren't crackheads who stole everything that wasn't nailed down, I would totally be lighting a cigarette right now and falling back into my pretty

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-8382535952241076592008-05-19T01:31:00.003-04:002009-03-07T17:56:59.623-05:00

It's a beautiful night.The moon is so full and so bright, I almost have to squint to look at it.The Kid had a happy weekend, rolling around town, and spending the afternoon with me at the beach today, while I tried to get some shots of her for an upcoming blog post for work.This week is going to be a hectic grind, because there is NO WAY I am leaving any work for the weekend. Three days. Hot

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-50118886876608383262008-05-15T07:56:00.013-04:002008-05-15T20:17:05.540-04:00

I finally figured out what this apartment is missing.A stripper pole!It's not that I'm not happy dancing around the house in my afro and my heels and my lingerie with the fringe on top, but something has just been missing.As much as I love this song, I really don't feel I can fully appreciate it without hanging upside down by my ankles with one bent knee. Somebody please add "stripper pole" to my

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-81216527013491061372008-05-14T00:14:00.025-04:002009-03-07T17:59:50.843-05:00

I am not the outdoorsy type.In fact, I am very much the indoorsy type.I like my electricity and jacuzzi spigots as much as the next fella. I don't camp. The closest I've ever come to camping was accidentally falling asleep drunk on a beach in the Caribbean, and I haven't done it since. My cousin is getting married at the end of this year, and is having a bridal shower in July in Mexico. I've been

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-53726501569302144932008-05-13T15:47:00.001-04:002009-03-07T18:00:11.437-05:00

Took a sick day today. Spent it in bed, eating chocolate.(cough).

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-14216116589035400742008-05-11T21:43:00.007-04:002009-03-07T18:00:11.438-05:00

I love being able to travel for work, but it can be so nice to come home.Today I hit the supermarket after a week of sterile hotel food, and the kid and I dove into a table full of fresh whole pineapple, oranges, mangoes, payapa, strawberries, kiwis, cherries, grapes... It's about 85F/29C degrees outside (at 10pm), and when the temp starts to go up here in May, I don't want to eat anything other

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-87215492600389671782008-05-10T22:18:00.011-04:002009-03-07T18:00:54.347-05:00

Mother's Day. Man, it's right up there with "Administrative Professionals Day". I just looked up the history of "Mother's Day" - it was created by a woman in West Virginia, Anna Jarvis, in 1908 after her mother died, and she wanted to honor her.I'm officially re-titling tomorrow "Anna Jarvis's Mother's Day". Because if my kid doesn't think about how fantastic I am until after I'm dead, I've

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-6653441135873713112008-05-10T14:07:00.014-04:002008-12-09T02:11:30.572-05:00

Ever since I saw Anthony Bourdain in Shanghai (via the Food Network, not like, in person or anything), I've wanted to find some Xiaolóngbāo, or Shanghai soup dumplings.They're like a regular steamed bao, but filled with a soup paste that heats and thins out as it steams. To avoid cutting into them and getting an eyeful or lapful of piping hot soup, a straw is inserted in the top of the dumpling

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-7511232932946038642008-05-01T13:58:00.005-04:002009-03-07T18:02:51.064-05:00

Ahh,... Bulk Garbage Day. It's my favorite time of the month, when you get to see the crazy crap your neighbors have been hiding in their homes, and you also get to stick the weirder stuff in the parking spaces of the neighbors you don't like before they get home. How someone once walked into a store muttering, "God, I hope they have an earless wicker creature for the living room" is anyone's

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-70343411113413495762008-04-30T01:17:00.004-04:002009-03-07T18:00:54.347-05:00

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-32527313069337151442008-04-28T07:46:00.000-04:002008-12-09T02:11:31.664-05:00

Quick shout out to my bud, my Supernanny, and Everyone's Favorite Archeologist, Thomas. He left this morning on a three-week trip, and I'm already hyperventilating, not being able to Skype him every five minutes to discuss my three-year old's tantrums and my menstrual cramps. (Wow, no wonder you packed up your shit and ran off to Asia.)Oh, TØ, you're a trooper.I don't know what I'm going to do

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-1538690798097046502008-04-27T00:02:00.017-04:002009-03-07T18:01:44.947-05:00

I've been wanting to visit Miami Childrens' Museum for a while. We drove down this morning with my friend "Schmaria"* and her daughter, Deborah. Debo and Malena are best friends, and like to walk around holding hands and screaming with joy.The day was absolutely gorgeous. There was a blue, blue sky over us as we drove through Miami over to Watson Island. We parked, and were excited to discover

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-78786737300296976502008-04-22T07:42:00.002-04:002008-12-09T02:11:33.483-05:00

My kid attends a Jewish daycare. It's the best in the neighborhood. Although she's been there for almost two years, I still smack myself in the forehead every Passover when we need to pack lunches that do not contain anything made from leavened bread. I forgot last week, and had to make an emergency run to the supermarket last night. $87 later, I'm fully stocked for the remaining four days of

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-52013562813764550342008-04-20T23:43:00.012-04:002009-03-07T18:00:54.348-05:00

I'm coming to the realization that it's no easy task to find a man willing to date a woman with a three-year old. I don't really get why, though. She's the easiest thing on the planet. She's kind. She loves to have people around.So the decision for now is, I'm not dating. I sat at a friend's dining room table the other night, and my friend's mom was giving me the Mom Advice that now that I'm not

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-91227958059011959592008-04-16T12:21:00.005-04:002009-03-07T18:02:51.065-05:00

This week has been running at a crazy pace.Work is super busy. I love my job, I love working from home, and I love the people I work with. I work with a team of bright, driven professionals, and it makes such a HUGE difference when you’re not surrounded by idiots.Trust me, I know.I also took on some extra freelance work recently, which totally ate up my weekend, but brought in some extra cash.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-55948219380322241672008-04-14T01:27:00.009-04:002009-03-07T18:01:44.947-05:00

Tonight, I'm working through a pile of freelance work. My daughter is spending the night at my parents’ so I won’t have to get up early to take her to school in the morning. It's a beautiful night. I've had the window open all evening.At midnight, I decided to take a little break, and pulled on a jacket and started to walk around the block.The warm, quiet night reminded me of a time a hundred

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-69048910205489686332008-04-13T22:29:00.005-04:002008-04-13T23:16:12.878-04:00

Ambre. I don't believe it.Wait. Let me backtrack. First, I don't believe I've been watching Rock of Love II with Bret Michaels for... however long it's been on. Every single stinking show. What I couldn't catch live, I TiVo'ed, because there's nothing I enjoy more than ripping through commercials with a fast-forward button. NOTHING!Part of the draw of watching the show week after week was that

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-49268418198040805412008-04-03T16:38:00.029-04:002008-12-09T02:11:35.425-05:00

Although I love the flexibility of working from home, my day can be a lot more high pressure than it seems. Sure, I get laundry done. I get to walk around the block when my eyes glaze over from staring at the monitor. But I also run a lot of reports at 11pm and send out a lot of catch up emails at 2 in the morning, because the computer is RIGHT THERE. And who doesn't want to get a jump start on

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-30019982871344046902008-03-23T21:21:00.006-04:002009-03-07T18:00:54.348-05:00

PURIM + EASTER = PEASTERI love a good three-costume weekend. Luckily, the third one really just involved a pair of ears and a lot of chocolate.Malena's school had a Purim parade on Friday, and all the kids dressed up. We borrowed a ladybug costume, because I just knew there would be 3,000 princesses or Queen Esthers.Saturday she had a princess party to go to. All the girls dressed like princesses

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-65166327363184861912008-03-20T01:47:00.011-04:002009-03-07T18:00:54.349-05:00

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in."-- Rachel Louise CarsonWednesdays is open play at the local kiddie gym, and we like to go with Malena's friend Maya. Maya's mom is super cool, and Maya and Malena share a deep love of each other

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-5385832208184404802008-03-13T19:46:00.011-04:002009-03-07T18:00:54.349-05:00

The other day, I dropped my beloved child off at daycare, and took a moment to check out some new artwork that was posted on the wall outside her classroom.The children all drew their version of a happy face. The teacher asked, "What makes you happy?" and wrote each child's answer under their drawing.HAPPY FACEHere we have Maya's picture. Very happy-looking face with a nice button nose. Maya's

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-7467275764423666662008-03-08T00:39:00.008-05:002009-03-07T18:00:24.708-05:00

Is it TOO MUCH TO ASK.You send your kid to school on Picture Day. She's not wearing her Brownie uniform or a faded "Disco Fever" tee shirt like Jackie's mom always managed to send her to school in on Picture Day. Her hair is brushed neatly. Her tiny little face is scrubbed. Grandma went to Nordstrom's for that shirt, which really does look cute with a pair of jeans.Could you not CHANGE THE

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-46965497301644568432008-02-29T22:50:00.005-05:002009-03-07T17:59:34.782-05:00

It's Friday night. I had a little surgery this week, and haven't been feeling too well. I grabbed my sleeping kid from her bed in lieu of a 36-lb. teddy bear, and we lay in my bed and watched movies and ate Wheat Thins and drank cranberry juice.I thought about how simple and sweet it was to hang out in your pajamas with your kid, with nothing but a pile of pillows and a box of Wheat Thins.

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-28919193261980316622008-02-26T19:11:00.042-05:002009-03-07T18:04:42.233-05:00

Today I took an extended lunch hour from work. (Only fair - I worked late yesterday, for pete's sake!) I sometimes forget that I work from home and can be a little flexible with my work hours. The constant presence of my laptop sometimes makes it difficult for me to unplug from my inbox, and I regularly work more hours than I give myself credit for.I missed the first five minutes of the Bonnet

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-49435581352050739082008-02-24T17:39:00.018-05:002009-03-07T17:59:34.783-05:00

Dead quiet Sunday.It's been hot all day, but suddenly started to rain.I told Malena to put on her shoes, grabbed an umbrella, and we went for a walk. The air had the rich smell of earth and ozone. I put in my iPod and listened to some Del Amitri while she stomped in puddles. After a while, I tucked my flip flops under my arm. It was easier to walk in the rain with bare feet. Malena danced.Home

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-58634346382509002652008-02-14T20:35:00.004-05:002008-12-09T02:11:41.336-05:00

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-2164446905128741382008-02-10T22:16:00.000-05:002009-03-07T17:58:42.561-05:00

A weekend exactly like weekends should be. Friends, a good nap or two, a nice breeze, greek donuts, and a stack of library books that I'm about to go and get acquainted with.Dammit.:)

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-53903783871991773992008-02-02T21:56:00.000-05:002009-03-07T18:04:27.887-05:00

Made a lemon birthday cake for my mom's birthday today, with a raspberry sorbet filling.It took approximately all day.They sell these in stores, don't they? Cake?

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-28772576225213253832008-01-27T19:10:00.000-05:002009-03-07T17:58:32.458-05:00

We spent Saturday morning at Butterfly World with a gaggle of toddlers, admiring the butterflies, feeding the overfed koi, and getting attacked by the lorikeets.Here's some photos:

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-29703151999666883032008-01-17T20:00:00.000-05:002009-03-07T17:57:41.393-05:00

In some ways, I embrace the term "single mom". It's incredibly difficult to be a single mom, and simultaneously so incredibly rewarding, based on the level of difficulty alone. I love the bond between my child and myself, and the fact that our time alone together has given us a rock-solid foundation of trust and closeness.While being a single mom has its drawbacks, it also has its freedoms, like

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-21021956435882747482008-01-16T23:48:00.000-05:002009-03-07T18:04:16.478-05:00

"At leve er ikke nok. Solskin, frihed og en lille blomst må man ha'." (Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.) -- HC AndersenIt's 11pm, and I was just outside, hanging up laundry. It's 73F delightful degrees (23C), and it's not until I talk to other people elsewhere in the world that I suddenly remember that January is cold in other places.I'm not stupid,

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-56097281896159783912008-01-15T20:40:00.000-05:002009-03-07T17:58:18.391-05:00

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. -- Robert BraultSome days, when my eyeballs begin to glaze over after hours at the computer, I tear myself away and head over to our local park for a walk.It's a small, quiet park, and at most, I run into one or two other people there. I love the frenetic interaction of other people, but I also cherish

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437032428509646234.post-27287373942751052952008-01-13T21:33:00.005-05:002009-03-07T17:58:06.295-05:00

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. ~Chinese ProverbAs a single mom, things can get tight financially from time to time. Last week, I was working from Copenhagen, and couldn't enter my time into the corporate system for whatever reason, and didn't get a paycheck.So I bought flowers.Flowers remind me that I am somebody. They

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072744285514485118noreply@blogger.com1