Get out and make your voice be heard. For all levels of government. Not just for a Presidential election.
VOTE!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
VOTE!!!!
I don't care who you vote for (OK, maybe I do, but don't let that stop you) but VOTE.
Get out and make your voice be heard. For all levels of government. Not just for a Presidential election.
Get out and make your voice be heard. For all levels of government. Not just for a Presidential election.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Superstorm Sandy
Honestly, there hasn't been much going on the last two weeks. I spend countless hours on Indeed or Monster futilely applying for jobs (though I did have a phone interview and a follow-up request for in-person next week). And I play with Little Man. Help my mom. Survive my sibling. Spend evenings with my husband. Routine.
Then came Monday, October 29, 2012.
SUPERSTORM SANDY.
She started out as Hurricane Sandy. Headed right to New Jersey.
That never happens. Really. We don't get direct hits from hurricanes this far North too often. I haven't Googled to see when it last happened before now, but I know that this storm was unique and caused the most damage New Jersey (and New York, particularly New York City) has ever seen.
I'm not going to "borrow" pics that countless people have shared, but I'll pass along a link to a site that have lots of photos of the destruction in the area: NJ.com
WE WERE LUCKY!!!
When Sandy hit near Atlantic City, and the Jersey Shore was decimated, we just had 70 MPH winds and some downed trees. Lights flickered a lot and I was certain that we'd lose power. But remarkably our house is on a strong power grid and we are one of the lucky ones. We never lost power (or cable or phones or internet). But my sister-in-law and her family are in the dark. Four nights and counting. They've been told it could be 2-3 weeks.
Yesterday when we stopped at the supermarket to get a few more things (last week we only sparsely purchased food, in fear power would fail and it would spoil), we noticed a LONG line at the Costco gas station. And when my SIL's family came up, we had lunch at the Mall and waited in line at the food court. Hundreds of "refugees" from the area were camped out, happy for a warm meal (even if fast) and plugging power strips into every available electrical outlet. Kids dressed in costume and trick-or-treated in the Mall shops. Trying to have just a bit of normalcy.
Halloween was cancelled yesterday. Postponed by Governor Chris Christie until Monday 11/5. Though my down also issued a curfew for trick-or-treating, so the kids must be done by 6 pm. I will take Little Man out and about. And now I am very grateful that I took him to the town's "Trunk or Treat" on the 21st. He got to dress up and say "Trick or Treat!" for the first time. I mean, last year we had a freak snowstorm with nearly 2 feet of snow and Halloween was postponed then for similar reasons (no power, downed lines, trees, etc.).
Here is my Junior Space Ranger from the 21st. He'll wear the same costume tomorrow, at his preschool's postponed Halloween parade.
It will be weeks before my area of NJ is back to normal. It will be months for others. And years before the Shore is anywhere near where it once was. Be grateful for your health, for your family, for your homes. Whether you rent or own, it's the basics that matter.
Peace.
Then came Monday, October 29, 2012.
SUPERSTORM SANDY.
She started out as Hurricane Sandy. Headed right to New Jersey.
That never happens. Really. We don't get direct hits from hurricanes this far North too often. I haven't Googled to see when it last happened before now, but I know that this storm was unique and caused the most damage New Jersey (and New York, particularly New York City) has ever seen.
I'm not going to "borrow" pics that countless people have shared, but I'll pass along a link to a site that have lots of photos of the destruction in the area: NJ.com
WE WERE LUCKY!!!
When Sandy hit near Atlantic City, and the Jersey Shore was decimated, we just had 70 MPH winds and some downed trees. Lights flickered a lot and I was certain that we'd lose power. But remarkably our house is on a strong power grid and we are one of the lucky ones. We never lost power (or cable or phones or internet). But my sister-in-law and her family are in the dark. Four nights and counting. They've been told it could be 2-3 weeks.
Yesterday when we stopped at the supermarket to get a few more things (last week we only sparsely purchased food, in fear power would fail and it would spoil), we noticed a LONG line at the Costco gas station. And when my SIL's family came up, we had lunch at the Mall and waited in line at the food court. Hundreds of "refugees" from the area were camped out, happy for a warm meal (even if fast) and plugging power strips into every available electrical outlet. Kids dressed in costume and trick-or-treated in the Mall shops. Trying to have just a bit of normalcy.
Halloween was cancelled yesterday. Postponed by Governor Chris Christie until Monday 11/5. Though my down also issued a curfew for trick-or-treating, so the kids must be done by 6 pm. I will take Little Man out and about. And now I am very grateful that I took him to the town's "Trunk or Treat" on the 21st. He got to dress up and say "Trick or Treat!" for the first time. I mean, last year we had a freak snowstorm with nearly 2 feet of snow and Halloween was postponed then for similar reasons (no power, downed lines, trees, etc.).
Here is my Junior Space Ranger from the 21st. He'll wear the same costume tomorrow, at his preschool's postponed Halloween parade.
It will be weeks before my area of NJ is back to normal. It will be months for others. And years before the Shore is anywhere near where it once was. Be grateful for your health, for your family, for your homes. Whether you rent or own, it's the basics that matter.
Peace.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
"I'm Going to Halloween!!!"
Ah, October. The magical month for children of all ages. It's time for Halloween and my Little Man is VERY excited about the holiday. Only one issue: he thinks Halloween is something we are going to. He keeps saying "I'm going to Halloween!"
He definitely understands that you dress up in costume. And he gets the concept of saying "trick or treat" to get candy. In fact, he tried to do that earlier today. It didn't work. But the fact that Halloween is October 31st and is a day and not a place is not something he understands.
We went pumpkin picking this past weekend and he cannot wait to "decorate" them. I was planning a traditional carving for two of the three we picked up, and the smaller one can be painted by Little Man (if I am feeling brave). Maybe sparkles? Do boys do sparkles? And we decorated the outside of our house. I'm pretty excited about that, since this is the first time I've had lights out. It was really fun decorating. I think my husband would have liked to have gone all out, but it was a good first try.
Here are some pics from this weekend's activities.
In other October news, my father turned 70 on the 2nd. Due to my mom's health, it was very low key. My husband cooked filet mignon and asparagus. I made twice baked potatoes. And we got an ice cream cake for dessert. Sadly the disconnect in my family makes this milestone birthday quite bittersweet. A few years ago, things would have been different. A party perhaps? At least something more, that my mom could have been a part of. But my parents and sibling are not in touch with extended family due to a variety of reasons. It's quite sad. I try my best to keep in touch, but it isn't always easy when I live with my nuclear family and have to always go to them, as they cannot come to me. But it is what it is and hopefully things will change for the better soon.
I'm going to do my best to enjoy October. It's always a favorite month of mine. If weather cooperates, we'll see a friend of mine and her husband at the Bronx Zoo next weekend. Always a favorite for Little Man—he LOVES the animals.
He definitely understands that you dress up in costume. And he gets the concept of saying "trick or treat" to get candy. In fact, he tried to do that earlier today. It didn't work. But the fact that Halloween is October 31st and is a day and not a place is not something he understands.
We went pumpkin picking this past weekend and he cannot wait to "decorate" them. I was planning a traditional carving for two of the three we picked up, and the smaller one can be painted by Little Man (if I am feeling brave). Maybe sparkles? Do boys do sparkles? And we decorated the outside of our house. I'm pretty excited about that, since this is the first time I've had lights out. It was really fun decorating. I think my husband would have liked to have gone all out, but it was a good first try.
Here are some pics from this weekend's activities.
 |
| The chair by our front door |
 |
| Blurry iPhone Pic of the front porch |
 | ||
| Little Man |
I'm going to do my best to enjoy October. It's always a favorite month of mine. If weather cooperates, we'll see a friend of mine and her husband at the Bronx Zoo next weekend. Always a favorite for Little Man—he LOVES the animals.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Feed Me, Seymour...
I have a big confession.
I feed my son.
I am weak and haven't just said to him "if you don't feed yourself you just won't eat."
Why??????
Part of it is that I don't want to deal with the crying and whining and whatever tantrum he may throw. And part of it is that I don't want him to be hungry—which is ridiculous because he is in the 84th percentile for weight and is fine. I know I have to bite the bullet here. He is potentially the only three-year-old I know of who does not regularly feed himself. And he CAN! He just WON'T.
Sigh.
And there has been a poop backtrack with potty training. He flat out refuses to poop in the potty and prefers a diaper or pull-up. Pee backtrack too, but he is more amenable to peeing than pooping. I guess it's more scary to poop in the potty. I'm not rushing things... even though he is 37 months... not rushing them yet. But I guess eventually I'll have to press the issue.
I just want him to be more able to do for himself. I am hoping I'll find a new job before unemployment runs out (I'd better) and he'll be in daycare full-time and they won't do for him like I do and he just SHOULD be able to now.
No more, Audrey 2. No more.
I feed my son.
I am weak and haven't just said to him "if you don't feed yourself you just won't eat."
Why??????
Part of it is that I don't want to deal with the crying and whining and whatever tantrum he may throw. And part of it is that I don't want him to be hungry—which is ridiculous because he is in the 84th percentile for weight and is fine. I know I have to bite the bullet here. He is potentially the only three-year-old I know of who does not regularly feed himself. And he CAN! He just WON'T.
Sigh.
And there has been a poop backtrack with potty training. He flat out refuses to poop in the potty and prefers a diaper or pull-up. Pee backtrack too, but he is more amenable to peeing than pooping. I guess it's more scary to poop in the potty. I'm not rushing things... even though he is 37 months... not rushing them yet. But I guess eventually I'll have to press the issue.
I just want him to be more able to do for himself. I am hoping I'll find a new job before unemployment runs out (I'd better) and he'll be in daycare full-time and they won't do for him like I do and he just SHOULD be able to now.
No more, Audrey 2. No more.
Friday, September 7, 2012
The POTTY
My son will be 37 months next week, and I usually do not think in terms of months now, but it's relevant to this topic, and he is NOT potty trained. There, I said it. My 3-year-old son wears size 6 Huggies Little Movers and Overnites. He will pee on the potty if I put him there, but he has only told me and my husband twice that he has to go BEFORE he actually goes. As for poop... well he definitely knows he has to go, but he refuses to go in the toilet and insists for his diaper.
I know you cannot force this, but I am getting a bit anxious. I am currently unemployed and, therefore, have the time to potty train him. But if he isn't really "into" it, how do you do that? And when I DO get a job (had a promising interview yesterday for a temp to perm position), will those changes—going to daycare full time for the first time ever, me being gone before he wakes in the morning—ruin the small potty progress we've had so far?
At least he gets excited to have a new sticker on the potty chart I created for him, right?
Slow and steady... he'll pee pee (and poop) when he's ready.
I know you cannot force this, but I am getting a bit anxious. I am currently unemployed and, therefore, have the time to potty train him. But if he isn't really "into" it, how do you do that? And when I DO get a job (had a promising interview yesterday for a temp to perm position), will those changes—going to daycare full time for the first time ever, me being gone before he wakes in the morning—ruin the small potty progress we've had so far?
At least he gets excited to have a new sticker on the potty chart I created for him, right?
Slow and steady... he'll pee pee (and poop) when he's ready.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The Balance
Lately I've been trying to find the balance. How to be me. How to be a wife. How to be a mother. How to be a daughter with disabled, Senior parents (who aren't even 70 yet). It's not easy and I haven't really found it.
Here is my nighttime routine in short:
*Note: I am currently unemployed and seeking full time employment. It has been a rough month or so and hopefully I will find something before unemployment insurance runs out this Winter.
So finding the balance between caring for everyone and digging myself out of a financial hole that I dug myself for the most part, is not easy. And when I do get that new job, I'll have to balance full-time daycare drop offs and being a working mother as well as a part-time caregiver (my dad actually does most of it). Add to the mix my sibling living here and not contributing and adding to emotional turmoil... well, I don't know how long we'll last and then my mother will suffer.
It's hard being in the generation I am in and being an "older" mother. My situation is a big part of why we chose to be "one and done" because if I had two, I think I'd be having a breakdown. I just cannot split my attention any further. It is not an easy road ahead of me... I just hope I have the energy to get myself where I should be and our family in a better place.
Here is my nighttime routine in short:
- Get Little Man upstairs
- Sit him on the potty and cheer if he pees!
- Get him in his overnight diaper and pajamas
- Brush his teeth
- Give kisses and pass him off to daddy
- Go downstairs to my parents' suite
- Help my mom go to the bathroom
- Help my mom into her adult diaper
- Help my mom out of her clothes/into her nightgown
- Kiss her goodnight
- Go upstairs to sit with my husband and job hunt*
*Note: I am currently unemployed and seeking full time employment. It has been a rough month or so and hopefully I will find something before unemployment insurance runs out this Winter.
So finding the balance between caring for everyone and digging myself out of a financial hole that I dug myself for the most part, is not easy. And when I do get that new job, I'll have to balance full-time daycare drop offs and being a working mother as well as a part-time caregiver (my dad actually does most of it). Add to the mix my sibling living here and not contributing and adding to emotional turmoil... well, I don't know how long we'll last and then my mother will suffer.
It's hard being in the generation I am in and being an "older" mother. My situation is a big part of why we chose to be "one and done" because if I had two, I think I'd be having a breakdown. I just cannot split my attention any further. It is not an easy road ahead of me... I just hope I have the energy to get myself where I should be and our family in a better place.
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