Sunday Night Dinner

May 11, 2016May 11, 2016

Sunday Night Dinner

One summer night I looked around at our group of friends and realized they had become my “family”. Some I have known for several years, some just recently. We have a common bond that very few can understand. All that matters is that we understand it, we are dysfunction-ally functional.

Starting with three families of four, one boy and one girl each. Ages 18 – 6 at the time. We have the “Big Kids” and the “Little Kids”. They are all “our kids”. Age doesn’t matter. Size doesn’t matter. It’s the laughter and love for one another that’s what’s apparent. I casually mentioned that we should do a dinner every Sunday Night, rotating families to “host”. This way we all got a chance to check in with one another, not dread our Sundays, but actually look forward to them.

Of course the “little kids” were thrilled, the dads, eh, not so much, the “big kids” didn’t really care, and the moms, well, getting out of cooking every Sunday was a win in its own regard. What we didn’t realize was that our simple idea became something much greater than a Sunday Night Dinner.

We started to include other “family members” who share in our dysfunction. More big kids. Some nights its a competition of which Mom makes the dinner everyone likes the most. Can you please the 8 year old? Will he eat your dinner? And some nights we moms have epic fails that we are reminded about week in and week out. The two 12 year olds make the desserts. A big kid goes off to college. College kids come home for Sunday Night Dinner. Dads work late, moms drink wine.

We’ve been eating dinner on Sunday Nights now for almost two years. Very few times have we skipped. When we do, we genuinely feel like we’ve lost something. Like we can’t start our week. When only a handful of people understand you for you, and accepts you for the way you are, hold on to those people closely. Cherish them.

May 6, 2016

The Fan

When you live in New England it’s a known fact that you are either a Yankees fan or a Red Sox fan. Clearly, I am not a Yankees fan. Never have been even when we didn’t live here.

I have watched the suffering closely since 1986. I admit, I was a Mets fan at age 16, until that fateful game and the sox took my heart. Yes, I no longer rooted for the Mets to win the World Series that year. That year, that fateful year, I turned a corner and committed myself a Red Sox fan. And the true suffering began.

Ten years later I found myself living the dream. I was surrounded by sufferers like me. Die-hard fans who truly believed in their home team. When the 20yo was born, he too was dragged down the path, I bought him those cute Red Sox baby t-shirts, complete with wood bat and baby glove. (Ok, he was born into a baseball family, the husband a head baseball coach.)

When he was only 8 months old he attended his first game. All we could afford was one ticket in the bleachers, so of course, a baby doesn’t count! Dressed in a cute little baby boy blue overalls, they “sat” in the bleachers. Dead center. Under the hot sun. (This is when I let you know that both the husband and the 20yo are extremely, well, pale).

They lasted four innings. Not sure if the Sox won or not, but it was, nevertheless, his first game. We had the opportunity to enjoy many more games. But I never attended the games. You know what I’m talking about. The Red Sox vs. the Yankees. It’s epic to watch on TV. “Yankees Suck” t-shirts and shouts from the grandstands. Oh of course, NESN ensures the viewer gets the whole picture.

Winning the World Series was a dream come true. The 20yo and I were home, he was only 8 at the time, along with the girl who was just a baby at the time. Watching under a full moon, they won, they finally won the World Series. Was the suffering over? No, not so fast. There were more wins to come. And more baseball to watch. More t-shirts, now baby Red Sox dresses (not my purchase), and more love for the Sox. We joined the parades. We relished in the victories.

My favorite part about being a Red Sox fan is Sunday Night Baseball. Nothing for me was better than listening to Joe Morgan and Jon Miller. Sure they weren’t well liked. Joe Morgan wasn’t everyone’s favorite “grumpy” analyst. But I learned more about baseball from him. Out they went after 21 years of baseball on Sunday night. They brought in Bobby Valentine. The guy who couldn’t hold down a job had replaced my baseball professor, Joe Morgan.

One year later the baseball Gods turned on me again. Bobby Valentine became the Manager of the Red Sox. I panicked. What was I to tell the children? How could I explain this debacle to my mother? More suffering. Painful, painful suffering. 2012 was a tough year. The Sox only won 5 out of 17 games against the Yankees that year. I couldn’t watch the suffering. Last place.

How quickly another firing came for the ousted Valentine to my pleasure! Enter the hero, from the bullpen. Literally. The rivalry flared again. The love of the game came back. Not because they won the World Series again, but because the game became more important. The rivalry found its place back in my heart. By the way the Red Sox won 13 against the Yankees in 2013.

A fan through and through, I still watch Sunday Night Baseball. I still watch as many games as I can on NESN. I have the MLB app on my phone now. Game time 7:05pm. Against the Yankees.

May 3, 2016

Music To My Ears

Music is important to me. Different genres define my day, my mood, my overall self 99% of the time. Listening to Zac Brown Band today has definitely put me in that mellow mood, but then lifts me up as each song plays. Sitting in a cubicle all day is mind-numbing, until I put those headphones on and they take me to a far away place that only I can go.

I’m an avid Rhapsody fan. Not Pandora, but Rhapsody. I have no idea why, other than my brother got me hooked on it years ago, before Pandora existed. Last Friday was my Harry Connick Jr. day. Just Harry, all day. Whether it was him on the piano, big band sound, or old N’Orlans jazz, it was just me and Harry. Because his music spans so many different styles it fit my Friday mood. Working from home on Friday I was able to plug in my speakers and get stuff done all around the house. Work, laundry, cleaning, and eventually, taking a shower, I felt on top of the world listening to just Harry.

Nothing against Harry, but that was Friday music. It’s Tuesday. Back to Zac Brown Band. I look out the window of my cubicle, knowing I’m supposed to be working, and periodically taking time to write this post. A good rocking tune, “Make this day”, comes on and puts the biggest grin on my face. So appropriate. It’s only Tuesday and this one song makes up for it. Do you have songs that get you through your day? Whether its Tuesday or Friday, there’s a playlist. What’s your playlist look like today?

Go “Live inside this day!”

April 28, 2016April 28, 2016

Friday Eve

We don’t mess around on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday is “leg day” and, well, Thursday, is “Friday Eve”. Mind you, we get after it pretty good on Thursdays. I’m definitely sore for at least two days, and we all commiserate at Sunday Night Dinner about the time when we finally felt better over the weekend. We work in two groups – the younger girls go right before us, and then we “older” girls are the hour after.

The younger girls started about two months ago. And they love it. What’s great is that my 12yo is learning about proper workout techniques from the best trainer in the area. My trainer. Joe. Not to be too corny, but he’s no average Joe. It took me two years of watching the other “older” girls working out before I finally stopped making excuses why I couldn’t work out with them. Time. Work. Kids. Money. Where there’s a will there’s a way. I found the way. In 2015 my New Year’s Resolution was to “not put myself last”. And on January 2nd, 2015 I started working out two days a week with the “older girls”.

My first day was a disaster. I nearly passed out during the warm up. REALLY? That’s just pathetic. I blamed it on my sugar level being too low. (Husband corrected me to advise it was the blood flowing, and heart pumping, at a speed greater than stagnant to cause my light-headedness.) So, if you come across this when you first start to work out, it’s not the exercise, it’s you. Don’t give up. Drink some water, eat better next time, maybe take it a little easier on yourself. But don’t give up. I think they all took bets on how long I would last. Believe me, I think of that every time I do a squat, or a sit-up throw, or a bench press.

The beauty in working out with other women, in what I call, a “man’s gym”, is that everyone in there is equal. Sure, it was intimidating at first to work out in Joe’s gym. After all, the 20yo had been working with him for nearly 4 years with all his buddies, now it was my turn. We push each other. We support one another. We make fun, tease, entice, bad-mouth, fart (yes, fart), laugh, and most of all, love each other for working out together. We have become one with the gym.

Tuesday – Leg Day. This is truly my favorite day of the week. Don’t tell anyone. I love to push myself on squats. If my legs aren’t shaking by the end of the workout, it wasn’t that it wasn’t a good workout, it’s that I didn’t work hard enough. The only person you cheat on by not doing that full set is you. For a while I wasn’t able to run. I didn’t quit, I adjusted, with Joe’s help. He monitors everything we do. He knows how each of us lift, squat, etc. When we look out of sorts, he’ll mention it. He won’t tell us to stop. He’ll modify your workout or correct you. Until you get it right.

Thursday is, well, yes, Friday-Eve. Not just in the gym, but all day. I can’t wait to get in the gym and workout. I feel like a caged animal in my cubicle. Leaving work by 4 has become a habit so I can get to the gym that much sooner. As like all preworkouts, we roll. It feels so incredible, and at the same time, so painful. Self-infliction. A good kind of pain. I look forward to the Thursday roll. My legs get much-needed extra time to loosen up from Tuesday. On the floor, we all catch up on Tuesday’s workout and what hurts more, who hurts the most, and of course, what we think Joe will throw at us. 60 minutes later, we’re done.

We all thank Joe for our workout. Pay him. And then, we talk about where we’re going to go for dinner.

That’s right. After workout we all go out to eat, and (drink) to celebrate our week. We celebrate our win of working out. We relish in the pain, again. Our families join us when they can. It becomes a bit of Sunday Night Dinner, without anyone having to host. It’s Friday Eve. And we’ll do it all over again the next week.

April 24, 2016April 24, 2016

Keep Your Chin Up!

“Strike three, your out!” That phrase has so many connotations. Clearly, in baseball, your out, but that’s just one at bat. In life, it could land you prison for life in some states. And in friendships, like life, it can mean the time has come to end a long friendship. But does it really?

Is it that we only have the patience for three? “Good things come in threes.” My mother always told me. She always took the positive approach. So why is it that we look at three strikes as a negative? Baseball players adjust for the next time they’re at bat. Why can’t we do that in life? Adjust? Look at the positive?

Baseball players who are able to put their last strike out behind them can move on, adjust, and prepare to get that next hit. Focus. Determination. Concentration. Apply these things to life and those “strikes” become lessons learned. A strike in life is not a bad thing, it’s just another point in time in which things didn’t go your way.

Just get ready for your next at bat. Your next opportunity to adjust. But always remember, you can always strike out again.

April 14, 2016April 14, 2016

#ThisIsFifty

1966 was a very good year.

Miranda rights came into being from the Supreme Court.

The US Department of Transportation was created.

Batman debuted on ABC Television.

All cigarette packets in the United States must carry the health warning “Caution! Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health.”

The Celtics defeated the Lakers for the NBA Championship.

Star Trek debuts on Television.

The Sound of Music won the Oscar for Best Picture.

Twister was introduced,

….and I was born.

I had a wonderful celebration back in February with my family and close friends. We had a throwback 1980’s prom. Everyone did their best to capture that time. Just look at my husband and his friends. From the dancing to the music to those crazy outfits we all had a great time. Even the boy showed up in plaid pants!

Birthdays are always fun when you can go back in time and relish in all the good. Sure, life wasn’t all mini skirts and moon walks in the 60’s. Vietnam, China, and a few disasters controlled the headlines most of that year.

However, what I want to remember is that my parents brought me into this world to celebrate life and all it brings. From sports to entertainment, I can say I enjoy all of it. And still do to this day. While the catastrophic events continue to haunt the world, we need to focus on the good. In reality, there is likely more good in the world than bad, it’s just that the bad gets all the press.

Think we can change that? Maybe, one post at a time. Join me in using the #ThisIsFifty to celebrate all the positive things in our world.

April 8, 2016April 11, 2016

Barbie’s Resume

Watching TV with my 6 year old can be a real trip. First, she’s obsessed with infomercials. She actually pauses them on the DVR so she can show me the product. Then she will look me in the eye and say, “See mom, see what it can do? We should get it!” I’m not quite convinced we need the closet keeper, or the sham-wow, or the carpet cleaner for three easy payments of just $49.95…we don’t even have carpeting in the house!

Read the rest on My So Called Laid Off Life.

April 8, 2016April 8, 2016

Polyvore

Finding new apps that no one else knows about has become a bit of a hobby for me. Especially when I get the jump on the girl. Her twelve year old little self is so hyper focused on social apps, that when I find one I KNOW she’s going to like, I’m all over it.

That’s where Polyvore comes in. I don’t mean to sound like a teenager, but this is the bomb! I get to mix and match clothes, accessories, and make those cute little images you see on Pinterest.

Way too much fun! And the beauty of it, you can actually buy the items you pull together. It’s the ultimate shopping trip. The girls think I’m nuts when I pull out my phone and show them new apps, but this one caught their attention.

Lulu, my sister-in-law was extremely skeptical. “How do you know if its going to fit?” (in all honesty she’s not much of an online shopper, she’s a fabulous jewelry designer, so most jewelry fits when you order online.) After a couple hours of playing around she got hooked, although she did find it to be time consuming. As you can see I haven’t gotten very far in the 16 days since I joined. Oh, to be a “Style Setter”. Not really on my list of things to accomplish this month.

I really just joined it for the girl, I knew she would like it. she has far more screen time than I do. Probably not good parenting, however, she does love fashion, and she doesn’t have a credit card, so onward to just create collections!

Have you visited Polyvore yet? It’s fun, and connects you to so many designers and stores you never knew existed! Have fun!

April 7, 2016April 7, 2016

Not “living well”

Once a year I go completely off the grid. Not by choice. It’s as though my body says “hey, let’s take a break, and not function.” that’s me today. I felt a cold coming on and thought I could knock it out with sudafed and advil. However that did not work. One day later and my body is aching, my chest feels like an elephant is sitting on it and my nose, well, we just won’t discuss what is coming out of it.

While most of my posts I hope are honest, this one is the most honest. I’m sick. I mean really sick. And I look the part. I don’t think I’ve showered in two days, but can’t event tell you what day it is. I do know I’m supposed to work out today so its either Tuesday or Thursday. Let’s go with Thursday.

Going off the grid was not my choice. I detest staying home and not working, or not doing anything. Hence, why I picked up the old laptop and decided to post. I did manage to pick up the girl at school, but that took effort. I also switched on the old magic box and decided on endless episodes of “Flip or Flop”. HGTV is my go to. I call it “Have to Go to Television”. Especially on days like today when I’m not living well, it makes me disappear in all the madness of “demo day”, “what else could go wrong”, and of course the old “it still hasn’t sold and now we’re $315,000 in debt. Why does that make me feel so much better?

Do you ever have one of those days when you can’t even function? What do you do to whittle away your time?

April 6, 2016April 7, 2016

Baseball weather

It’s as though Mother Nature is bi-polar. Literally. The polar winds have come down from Canada and frozen us once more. New England weather can be sunny and 70 one day and snowing, windy and cold the next. Typical baseball weather.

While the days are getting longer, so is the winter. Last winter’s record snowfall had a good excuse for ongoing cold and snow. This winter not so much. We had maybe 23″ of snow. In spurts. No real shoveling for me this winter. I let the sun do the work. It seemed as though Spring was going to arrive early. Not so fast. Last weekend it snowed. This week, it’s been 24 degrees at night. I finally got the aching, sneezing, coughing, stuffy nose I had avoided all winter. Sudafed take me away.

Desperately trying to keep warm I wrap myself in my World Series Red Sox blanket, which, opening day in Cleveland was postponed due to snow. Oh, baseball season. It can’t come any sooner, and yet, I recall opening day at Fenway in years past. 35 and rainy, flats, no socks. Big mistake. That was the last time I did that!

Now, I will watch from my computer at work. I’ll wait until July when it finally warms up!