What do I do with this?--read more >>

Highs:
1. Went and saw Amma, the 'hugging saint'. I felt tapped, and inspired to let more of my actions and words come from love.

2. Hide and go seek with a 2 1/2 year old is maybe the funniest thing Ever!

3. Good neighbors, good friends, impromptu dinner parties.

4. Got a new r**mba; this seriously improves my quality of life.

5. Just as I'm getting sick of working s/o is picking up new projects. I like how this works out.

Lows:
1. My toddler has suddenly entered the needing to change clothes 5x a day stage. I don't remember my son doing this; where did she get it from? --read more >>

My grandmother lives across the country and is rapidly deteriorating with Alztheimers, however it's spelled. We've been talking about going out for a visit, but really just can't afford it. We have to buy a new car, and that kills me to prioritize a car over visiting my dying grandmother, but this is the reality. --read more >>

S/O and I have been seriously butting heads. We're getting counseling. We're both committed to working through our issues and coming out stronger, blah blah blah. But I have no interest in sex, at least with him. I want to jump just about anyone else. This cute nerdy guy I had a conversation about transformers with (?), the super buff enlightened guy in my yoga class with the linen pants and the bald spot (?), this 60 year old guy who seems to really like me (?), and I had a pretty graphic dream last night about p*ssy.--read more >>

Ds, 10, dd2 and I are in this boutiquey little toy shop. I've picked out something to buy for us and am looking around, dd is playing with little toys on the floor, and ds is playing with this game out on the front counter. There was another puzzle/game on the counter that apparently had 6 magnetic pieces to it; there were other people in the store, up at the front, etc. The clerk, about 19yo, asks ds if he knows where 2 of the puzzle pieces are. He says no.--read more >>

A good friend of mine has a one year old son with cystic fibrosis. I'm participating in a fundraising walk later this month--if you're in a position to do any charitable giving please consider this:
http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/JaimeGardner5327--read more >>

Our mini van has hit the dust! We're going to try being a single car family, at least for the summer, but we have 4 kids sometimes and s/o transports big pieces of art...we need a rig. I definately need to go used. I'm attracted to hybrid or biodiesel, but cheap is good too. Suggestions? Thanks!

She's 10. She started at her mom's house, so they've gone over everything. I talked with her about it--but what shall I do? Seems significant enough for some sort of ceremony? gift? ??? She won't want to be embarrassed about it in front of her dad and brothers--any ideas?

The Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive. --read more >>

This baby was born with 2 faces:
http://www.theolympian.com/nationworld/story/412653.html

We're contemplating a trip out this summer and trying to plan timewise, etc. We have places to stay in NH and Boston, and are thinking about making a 2-3? day trip to NYC to check out COSM, the Smithsonian, statue of liberty...What else? My partner's never been to the east coast and my boy is old enough to appreciate/remember things. What would you suggest?

My partner has 2 kids, 10 and 12, from a previous relationship. The mom never wanted formal child support/visitation agreements and s/o paid her cash, paid for camps, etc. It has always bugged me that they didn't have a formal arrangement. She has had some changes with her business and partnership, etc. and over a year ago initiated child support proceedings. S/o signed the paperwork and that's the last we'd heard of it until this Feb. He got a notice saying that he owes so much per month, no problem, and all of last year in back child support.--read more >>

My birthday was in early March. My mom asked me what I wanted and I suggested she take me to get my hair done, imagining she would spring for a nicer doo than I would get myself, and we could have a mother daughter afternoon of it. She's continually blown me off about it since then, though I've said I need to do it soon or I'll just do it on my own. Because I need a haircut; that's why I suggested it. In early March. Her birthday is this week and she made a big point of wanting my family to take her out to dinner since her husband will be working late.--read more >>

I've found really wonderful new office space for my private practice, with what seems like a fabulous group of colleagues--it's beautiful, professional, well set up...it seems like a supportive atmosphere with big referral potential and I think my business could really grow there. It's pretty much exactly what I've been looking for, and I feel like I belong there. And that if I don't take the space that's been offered me I will forever stagnate in the shithole I'm in now.--read more >>

1. First off, new music! It's so great to have new, eclectic mixes. I've been listening on the road--thank you ladies.

2. I went and saw a movie alone tonight--Juno (loved it!) at "burger, beer and a movie for $10" at this theatre with couches. I thought it'd be full of hipsters but I'm positive I was the youngest one there, and the audience was almost funnier than the movie: "did they say 'Junk?' hee hee!". I felt several curious glances my way and wanted to disclaim that I was *so* happy and relaxed to just be alone, for once. --read more >>

Dd, 2, has been burping a lot when she lies down for sleep, for the last few days. Any ideas what's going on?

Does anyone have a great recipe for s/o bday tomorrow?

When ds was 3 we became friends with another single mom with son the same age. We have spent a lot of time together and been very close. The boys are best friends, now 10 and 11, but the mom and I have drifted. She's moved up and works a lot, I've added a man and a baby to my mix--things are different. A few months ago she was having difficulty with her after school care and asked if her ds could come to our house after school some days instead.--read more >>

I'm primarily self employed, and while I love my work I'm not sure I'm such a great boss for myself. I've been comparing myself lately with some of my (childless) peers; seeing their sharp websites, the research and extra projects they're doing, their fancier, more expensive and time consuming set-ups. A main reason I chose my profession is that it lets me set my own schedule. This was the plan, that I wouldn't work all the time, that I would prioritze my kids, working and earning less, for now. I guess I'm wanting more. --read more >>

Ds told me tonight that he's too old for me to read to him anymore. He's 10. He's an avid reader and would rather spend more time reading to himself at night. Boo! Do I have to accept this?
Also, he's tranisitioning to using his middle name instead of his first. This is okay, we've talked about it for awhile and it's his decision.
He's so self sufficient now. I miss him.

Carlin on abortion.

I am having one of those times that I just want to walk away from it all. I've been depressed, I know this. It's the interminable grey winter, not enough sleep, not enough iron, not enough fun. We are at a serious financial stress out point; I just want to bury my head in the sand. I know it will pass. I'm taking steps to self-care, getting more yoga, getting more sleep, making more time to just read novels and play board games with ds. --read more >>

We just spent several days on the Oregon coast to enter s/o into a juried art competition, which he got into AND at least one, (we think there are 2 more possiblities) real, hoity-toity art gallery wants to carry him! This could be the foot into the gallery art scene that he's been needing. It could justify the last almost year of my waitressing on the side to support his venture into fine art. It could mean some nice vacations coming up. I am so proud of him (and so relieved). --read more >>

I sideswiped a parked car today and took off the headlight and scraped the bumper up. I was turning into a parking lot, there was no one in the other car. I took pictures--I feel like it's clearly my fault but fwiw the other car was parked over the line, into the yellow. I left a note for her and she says she doesn't want to call her insurance because it will affect her rates.--read more >>

Mine:
Ds, 10:
1. He's helpful. He does chores, helps with shopping, and has learned the "mom, would you like me to get you some ice cream?" (and may I have some, too?)

2. I love how dirty he gets! I find it charming that his pants are filthy and ripped after one wear.

3. He has a sense of humor, sometimes obnoxious and juvenille, of course, but oftentimes sophisticated and spot on.

4. He's starting to care about how he looks. His favorite new combination is a tank top (so cool) with a blazer type jacket and li'l mark twain cap.

Dd, 2:--read more >>