Mothers Day

Had I been told that I would be desperately happy to receive the above pictured for my first mothers day even a year ago, I most likely would have snorted and sneered at he who dared to attempt to domesticate me, as if I were some kind of animal. Now? Now I am ecstatic. Being a mom means not really having anything visible to work and finish... Sure there is laundry, but it multiplies. There is cooking, but it just gets eaten and leaves a mess. There are diapers, sippy cups, baby food clean ups, grocery store visits, baths and every once in a while, I get to shave my legs. While all very time consuming and necessary, I used to have a job. I used to get praise, a raise, travel benefits, emergency phone calls with problems I could actually solve.
These things made me feel important in some way, acknowledged for something I could measure. Motherhood, well, there isn't really a measure now is there? It's not like the sims where I could feed, diaper, burp, cuddle and build up points that will net me a napping child when I need a moment. This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I am loving every minute of it.
Back to my machine. I made a dress for Elle the other day on my moms machine. Simple, cute, easy. I loved having a project that was finishable. So, my husband, for mothers day, got me my own. I can now start and finish things for myself. I do not have to go to moms or borrow her machine. The question now is what to sew first? Thank you Paul, for the machine, for the baby, for love and happiness. You are the best. I lovey you.

The Missing Tree

My best friend from LA has started a blog. Well, one post does not a blog make, but she is moving in that direction. Let me tell you about my Tree. When I met her, she was a part-time stand up comic is an awkward relationship with an asshole actor/comic. He was married, she lived with her mother, ya know Hollywood. I was recently single, working at a Malibu rehab and running away from my dysfunctional apartment. We met for coffee in Venice after following each others myspace accounts. I thought she was dressed a bit slutty(I was right), she thought I could stand to lose a few pounds(she was right), we smoked and drank coffee and were soon inseparable.
This did not amuse my roomate at the time who was fairly jealous of her. Anywhoo, over the next year or 2, tree-pea got a job, moved out of the rents house, got another job, dated a couple of winners, a couple of losers, I lost weight, got my own place, dated a couple of winners, a couple of losers. Tree loved me, hated my dog. I loved tree, also hated my dog, but felt guilt for it and pretended that she was being rude.
Tree is now in a stable relationship, in college, drives a vespa and is still the funniest girl I have ever met. I have more stories of good times with her than I can recount, so I think I will start writing them every so often just for shits and giggles.
5 Facts about Tree:
She is a South American by birth.
She can charm anyone, anytime, anyplace.
When she is drunk, she always tries to get me to kiss her.
She is going to be a teacher (those boys are going to crap, a teacher who was once in FHM magazine?)
I miss her desperately, she is irreplacable.

i hate to cry

(Here is your daily Eloise.)
no really, like spent 4 years refusing to see a romantic comedy, any episodes of ER, or anything on TLC, kind of hate. The kind of hate that would drive a girl to disallow any and all music except Ani DiFranco (the angry years) and Fiona Apple. This string of overtly hostile years was finally crushed out of existence upon becoming pregnant. No longer could I avoid cry triggers, because the front porch could bring it on. I share this so that anyone who was not present during those years will understand how ridiculous it is that I keep watching the trailer for "My Sisters Keeper". I watch, I cry, I try to stay away, but it is almost as addictive as the trailer for "Funny People".
also of note, I hereby declare fresh ground honey roasted peanut butter from market street a trigger food. It is like the vodka* of peanut butters. I can no longer have it in my house.

*vodka was my beverage of choice back in the days of poor choices.

Lore

This is my stunning niece.  She was the inspiration for our kiddo.  Actually, I think she was the inspiration for my marriage.  When Paul and I were fairly early on in our relationship she was born.  We went on a road trip to Arkansas, where her father was finishing Law School.  Paul was nervous about it on the way up.  He was so concerned that people would think he was weird to want to kiss on a kid that wasn't his.  After several assurances that our family thinks nothing is weirder than a person who can keep their hands OFF a baby, he decided that it would be best if he took pictures of her and left the holding to us.  

That didn't work out so well.  He could not help himself.  She was head over heels in love.  I mean he LIKED me, but he LOVED her.  and I loved him lovin her! (at this moment I am spouting foul language at said husband for moving picture files all over the f(*&ing internet and leaving NO TRAIL as to how to find them.  He falls in love with a new site and poof, leaves all old pics on the old one and starts using the new one. )  I digress.  Anyway, as I encourage him to find those pictures for me to share with my vast readership of like 2 people (I love you guys, really) I will leave you with another picture of Eloise.

Easter Sunday, how f%#@ing cute is she!!!??!?!?!

Best Movie I've seen all year

The winner of the academy award for best foreign film.  Japanese movie, Departures.  Some may say I am biased towards Japanese movies, well, you are right, but authentically, this is the best movie I have seen in a LONG time.  It is moving and gorgeous and well acted with a beautiful soundtrack.  I will probably be raving about this one for awhile.

In other news, Eloise's future husband invited us to his birthday party.  No seriously, I could really dig having his parents as in-laws.  I am thrilled.  

Eloise has taken to sucking on my arm and hand, it is cute and a relief for my nipples, but the hickeys are unsightly to say the least. 

That is all.

Skinny kate, blog Stalking, friend finding and fertility

1. This is why I am back on the workout wagon.  An old co-worker emailed me a link to this pic from a conference I was attending in San Antonio right after I met my husband.  Not quite the svelte chick I was then.  My boobs actually look like a normal persons!  I have 20lbs and several cups sizes on that girl.   

2. I actually got an email back for the cool aussie mormon artist chick.  I wish I had the balls to wear dreads, I mean how cool is that?   I went to the blog from which I found her and saw that there were links to other blogs and may I just say, I think the OC must put something in the water to make it rain chicks I wish I could hang out with.  

3. I was complaining about my lack of buds the other day and ran into Kary who is somewhat of a hero to me.  She is cool, nice, funny and laid back, but never boring.  I then stroller Elle past one of the cooler houses in our neighborhood and some women were sitting on the porch drinking beer and chatting while about 8 kids played in the yard.  One of the women asked how old Eloise was and we started talking.  They invited me to a historic district play group.  This sounds like a blast.  The question to ponder then is, when they offer me a beer for the 4th time do I tell them I am a mormon or a recovering alcoholic?  Both seems like overkill right?  Which one is less likely to alienate me?  And do I give a hoot?

4. Weird things are happening in my families private regions.  The littlest sister has remnants of maleness, fibroids, and poly cystic ovarian syndrome on one of her fallopian tubes.  She has a 3 year old and has been trying to get pregnant again for awhile now.  The middle sister is on her latest round of hormone injections and sonograms in hopes of conceiving soon as well.  IVF is the next option.  My mother joked for a year that we would all get pregnant at the same time and have 3 boys.  If LS needs a laproscopy and MS needs IVF, mom could be right about the 3 pregnant drake girls, God help the men during the holidays if that is the case.