Time Away

Hi.

I know. It's been a while, huh.

Here, allow me to distract you with this adorable side-eye from my kid:


Esscuse me? Where you been, guuurl?

So the job transition is consuming a lot of my time, obviously. I was away for a week and now I'm settling into the new role, new office, and new (much longer and more soul-sucking) commute. It's a lot. I haven't had a chance to browse any of my regular blogs, nevermind actually update my own.

Being away earlier this month was :gasp: not as bad as I expected. The build up was much worse than the trip itself. I nearly gave myself a panic attack the night before. The kind of anxiety when you can't feel your hands and one of them contorts into a claw? Maybe my sister's the only one who would understand the claw thing. Anyway, it was rough.

But then I got there. And I was like, "Okay, I'm here. For 5 days. Let's do this and then go home." I dove head first into the trainings (yawn) and networking events (ugh) and team dinners (meh) like my life depended on it. I was so distracted I didn't have time to dwell on how much I missed home.

I'd talk to Des on speaker phone every morning and get frequent updates from Tony. Apparently Des was a superstar all week, not a tear or tantrum in sight. Ahem. God bless my husband for knowing exactly what to keep secret.


This is me on the window sill of my hotel room, all, "Ok. So. What do I do now?" Solo traveler extraordinaire, I am not.

I should have taken a picture of the hotel bed. Holy ess, it was like a cloud in heaven and the comforter was like a hug from angels. That bed made the whole thing worth it.

There were even moments of the trip when I actually had... :looks around:... fun. SHH! Don't tell.

Like when we had a lovely low key dinner here:

Prior to which I attempted a field goal, threw footballs through tires, and generally one-upped the alpha males as I tend do in these type situations. It happens sometimes. Ask Tony.

Then there was that one night when I hung out with this guy:


You don't need details. But it was basically a flashback to my early 20's. A fabulous, hilarious horror show. Unfortunately I'm actually in my early 30's and I don't bounce back as easily from mechanical bulls. Ow.

So that trip is over. I have another coming up in November. And potentially more work travel in the future for both me and Tony. So please pardon me as we all get settled into this new life. I will not abandon this blog entirely, but udpates may come in spurts. Time is of the essence these days. And the precious free moments I get are usually spent like this:


He's a great lap cuddler. And god did I miss him.

The Prodigal Blogger

Obviously I haven't been very inspired to write lately. Blogging is a little like working out. Once you start slacking, it's easy to fall into a rut of excuses.

Have you seen this commercial?

"My mom called."
"Oh, that's a day right there."

Something pretty much exactly like that. Except I like when my mom calls. You get the idea.

But if you get into the habit of doing it a few times a week, it's a rewarding and fulfilling part of life. And then you stand up straighter, you sleep better, you feel a little more confident and assured in yourself.

I haven't been working out lately either. So the blog and my belly are a bit of a flabby, neglected mess.

For what it's worth, many other aspects of life lately are simply splendid. Perhaps I should share them! On this here BLOG, the sole purpose of which is to share the splendid (and sometimes not-so-splendid) aspects of life!

Here are just a couple...

Splendid:
Bra fittings. I got my first one in 5+ years the other day. I spent a pretty penny on 4 new bras in a completely different size than I was wearing (thank you pregnancy and nursing and drastic fluctuations in weight), but it was very well worth it. In the few days after I started wearing the new bras I was told by multiple people that I looked thinner. My sister said it looked like my boobs got smaller. This is a good thing. Smaller = perkier. Ladies, if you haven't had a fitting in a while, go get one. Especially if you've recently had a baby. It will change your life.

Sorry, no pics. Keep dreaming.

Not-so-splendid:
Tony's play-off beard. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the reasons behind it. Truly. But once the 'stache started growing over his top lip I got a little skeeved. And since then every once in a while I'll look at my husband and have to do a double take. Who is this man?


We're getting dangerously close to SF Giant's relief pitcher Brian Wilson territory:

Yeesh. Not much longer. Game 4 of the NHL finals is tonight. And on that note... Off to not work out.

More updates to come on showers, weddings, and the insane way my baby is growing like a weed and walking his way through my heart.

Check check, one, two, ssssyphilis

This thing on?

Hoooo doggy it's been cray-cray around these parts. I apologize for the lack of updates. I have a few entries in the queue, but actually sitting down and typing words and uploading photos is a comparible to writing a dissertation or running a marathon right now.

So here's a brief rundown of what's going on in life:

- Day job. Short staffed this week so I am literally buried. I can't see the surface of my desk or the light at the end of the tunnel. Send help and a reliable temp.

- Side job. Real writing takes a lot longer than this blogging shiz.

- Sleep issues. Still going strong with those. But guys, one day last week Des actually slept through the night until 6:45am! And there was a string of restful nights with no peeps and a reasonable waking hour! I would wake up each morning in another realm of reality. Colors were brighter, I could think and speak in full sentences, the world was at my fingertips! Unfortunately that is all a distant memory. With a single cough in his crib, I knew The Cold That Never Ends was back for another round. And now we are back in the zombie zone. Des is usually up around 11pm until 1 or 2am, and then bright and early at 5-5:30am (or earlier if he's feeling especially cruel).

This zombie is lucky he's cute.


Stick with me. I'll be back in full effect soon, hopefully well-rested and incredibly amusing.

Post-holiday Slam Fest

There was a nice little lull there for a while. Sure the holidays are busy, but at least it doesn't feel like I'm being pulled in every direction. Now the post-holiday SLAM is in full effect. Between being crazy busy at work, caring for an almost 1-year-old, planning a big bday bash for an almost 1-year-old, swim classes, doctor appointments, not sleeping at night (me, not Des)... It's gonna be a busy month it seems. I'm apologizing right now if the blog is lacking, both in frequency and content. I'm going to try to keep it up. I have much to say.

Just when I think the day can't get any crazier, I get a visitor at the office:



And all is right with the world.

Thank you dear husband and beautiful son for being the bright spot in my crazy days.

Whoring Out the Blog

I am not a good sales person. In junior high when we had to sell candy bars to help pay for our trip to Washington DC, I would give them to friends and then pay for them with my own lunch money and allowance.

In high school when we'd solicit donations for our volleyball team outside of a donut shop, I barely made eye contact with people. I didn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable or obligated to give. No really we're fine! :smile, look at feet:

So here I go. Reaching out with a candy bar and a tin cup.

Inspired by the enthusiasm and creativity of those I met at Blogtoberfest, I'm asking for your help to make some connections and increase our readership here at POP. And instead of monetary donations, it comes in the form of two little mouse clicks!



Click the image above (or the icon on the right side menu) and then click vote. Super simple. They don't ask for emails and won't send you spam or monitor your checking account (I promise, Mom). I would appreciate your support ever so much!

I've found some really great sites that have become daily reads for me through TopMommyBlogs.com. I'm hoping I can get a few more readers of my own.

Okay. So thanks. I'm gonna go fidget and itch my neck for a while.

Blogtoberfest 2010

Last Thursday Tony took over the bedtime routine for one night so that I could attend the 4th annual Boston Blogtoberfest. Hosted by the beautiful and talented (as most of us BTrees are) Jenny, of All Eyes on Jenny fame, it was a chance for local bloggers to get out from behind the screen and meet up face to face. There were cocktails, appetizers, impractical shoes, and adult conversation. Like a whole other planet. A fabulous, urban, lovely scented world free of primary-colored plastic toys and spit-up... although there may have been some caked on the collar of my dress.

I got to catch up with old friends, as well as meet many new ones. I also won booze! If the universe is sending me a message to get out more, it hath been received. Event sponsor Brew England (run by my good friends Sarah and Adam) raffled off gift baskets of their favorite beers. I've already imbibed in two and they were deeeelicious.

My night out with my fellow blog nerds made me realize two things:

1. I am hopelessly technologically challenged. This blog is as savvy as I get. I still use a non-smaht phone... phone calls and texting are the extent of its capabilities. Gagdets aren't my thing. I don't tweet and don't understand the purpose of Twitter. I'm sure there is one, it's just beyond my comprehension. I save my most visited links and blogs to my favorites in Internet Explorer... I know not of this Google Reader. Marcel tried to show me, but I was all:


It's okay. I like that disconnecting is easy because I don't carry the internet in my pocket at all times. I have no immediate aspirations of becoming more tech savvy. But I'm not stubborn about it. One day I may jump on board and get a phone from this decade or start up with the tweeting. Stranger things have happened.

2. I need to get out more. Regularly scheduled Momma's Nights Out are in the future. I'm not at a place right now where I need to get out of the house. I actually enjoy being home with my family. But I don't want to get into a rut where all I can talk about is BABY BABY BABY, and I never want to get to a point where I feel trapped or resentful that I'm home on another Saturday night. Like I said, I don't see that happening. But going out every once in a while will make me a more well-rounded person, and therefore a better mom and wife. Duh, right?

All in all, it was a great night out. Although there was not a whole lot of networking on my part... I think I passed out 3 of my DIY business cards (made with mailing labels and a cereal box, hello ghettooo). I still had fun chatting with peeps in a new bar with make-up on my face and a drink in hand. Very refreshing. It was like my version of a spa treatment.