songbird's crazy world

I hate using my precious vacation days like this....

she's heard from two of the colleges....and was accepted at both.  got the first acceptance letter and realized that yes, she IS going to college next year. still waiting to hear from a few more schools....hoping to get into a few more places....but the rejections won't hurt as much now.

(cross posted at Midcentury Modern Moms ) Exciting, frustrating, exasperating, frenetic, aggravating and thrilling, perhaps....but never dull. My ex-husband Drew has a friend...a single father who was awarded primary custody of his one child, a duaghter who is now 18 and away at college.  The young lady came home for Christmas.  when she returned to school in early January, her father told Drew "I'm glad she went back to school, now my life can return to its peaceful routine."  Drew was appalled. But I understood. Drew hasn't lived full-time with our daughters since they were toddlers.  He has no idea how living with a teen -- especially an older teen -- can turn your world upside down. Heck, mine can turn my world upside down with just one long-distance phone call. Jen has decided to take one more step towards maturity and independence.  She has decided to move off campus for her junior year. I knew this was coming.  Two years ago, at freshman orientat

the show was preempted by teh Olympics...and my diet was preempted by a Caribbean cruise. 

(cross posted at Midcentury Modern Moms ) When you read this, I will be on vacation in the Caribbean. WITHOUT MY CHILDREN! I am celebrating a ...ahem...milestone birthday.  My significant other and I have planned a romantic week aboard a cruise ship...I am sure a few margaritas and a bottle of wine or two will be involved....not to mention, some "boring" trips to Mayan ruins and rum factories... The doors of the cage have opened, and the songbird is flying free. Funny how your life changes, isn't it? Ten years ago, for the last milestone birthday, I took a trip to Walt Disney World with my daughters.  Jen was 9 and Becca was 7 and I was...at a very different place in my life.  As a single mother who "lost" her children on alternate weekends, I couldn't imagine taking a vacation or celebrating a birthday without my kids. Every moment with them seemed all the more precious.  So songbird and her chickadees spent 5 glorious days spending money I co

Sorry, missed the show this week....and now the show is pre empted for the Olympics. And I'm on a cruise, so don't ask me about my diet!!!!

in just a few days I will be on my way to my Caribbean cruise. Months of planning are about to pay off. And it couldn't come at a better time.  We're still digging out from the blizzard and the forecast calls for more snow next week.

is no fun at all.....says the woman who had to shovel out her car at 6:30 this morning.

(cross posted at Midcentury Modern Moms ) So I've spent the better part of 17 years as Becca's live-in chauffeur.  There is no such thing as public transportation in our community, so children are completely dependent on their parnets for transportation.  And gradually I slipped into the role of "car pool mom", the mom who is always available to drive not only her own children, but all of their friends, to the mall, the movies, whereever they hope to congregate.   That is, until I became her driving instructor -- and spent many months looking for that invisible brake.  When you're teaching your child to drive, even though it's an adult activity, you're still in the role of parent.   And when she got her driver's license...well, she's been driving all over creation, but not with me in the car. She does not, however, have a vehicle of her own....unless you consider the purple two-wheeler I bought her when she was 8 a "vehicle".  On w

Not a bad week, I ate dinner at Olive Garden and still managed to lose a pound.  Didn't get a chance to exercise this week -- too busy with other stuff -- but I did get a neat little gadget for the itouch -- a sensor to put in my sneaker when i work out so I can track my workouts by time, by distance or by calories burned. As for the show.... the first hour...is a repeat of last week. then the real deal begins.  blue and yellow are back.  only one team will stay on the ranch, and they will have immunity this week.  blue had incredible weight loss, but yellow was even better and they get to stay.  and they have the only vote at elimination. glad to see Michael win immunity.   even happier that red did NOT win immunity.  sad for pink and the 2-pound disadvantage. Miggy is a strong lady, even after major surgery she's still competing...but I still don't like her.  still, her health issue explains her failure to lose weight last week.  24 hours after surgery she walke

This is one of the best "lawyer" commercials I have ever seen. 

(cross posted at Midcentury Modern Moms ) The house has become quiet...too quiet.  Jen is back at school.   she left on January 24, after having spent more than a month at home for winter break.  I must admit, there were times during the break that I wished she'd pack up and go back to school already.  but when the day came....   You start saying goodbye to your children almost from the minute they're born.  You're in the delivery room and a nurse takes your baby to wash and dress her...You send her to relatives, to babysitters, to school, to friends' houses, to camp....   But college is different.  for the first time, you're not sending her off to be supervised by another responsible  adult.  Your child is now the "responsible adult," on her own and taking care of herself.  And you have to trust her judgment.  there are the inevitable phone calls home:  "Mom, how do I....?" and "Mom, I need money for...."  and occasionally &qu

Interesting week -- did well during the week, overlate like crazy on the weekend.  never made it to the gym, either. still, when I got on the scale, my weight was lower than at the previous meeting -- a good thing. As for the show....didn't see it Tuesday night, had to watch it on tape over the weekend.   I must say....the red team is incredibly lucky, and incredibly stupid if they really think they're fooling anyone.  and as for the green team...if I had the power I would have sent both of them home, they're both so negative and angry and antagonistic.

Did NaBloPoMo for January and succeeded. I won't be doing in this month, too much else is happening. I will be on vacation for a week. Can't wait!!!