ADD day

All day today I felt like I had ADD. I would start one thing, get distracted by something else, and on and on not really getting any one thing completed until I couldn't take any more and just shut down my computer and left at 4:56pm. It just wasn't even worth waiting the extra 4 minutes. Nothing good would have come of it.

My guess is it was the fault of the Godiva chocolate that arrived at my office today. 3 huge golden boxes full. I had 2 or 3 pieces. I'm not a big fan of truffles -- they are too much for me, but I do flip for the cherry cordials. The Godiva ones are good, of course, but in truth I would rather have the Cello Chocolate Cherries that appear in CVS this time of year. I think I prefer the fake chocolate and the fake liquor to the real stuff. That's probably a little pathetic, but what can you do. I'm just a little white trash at heart. The Godiva caramels, however, cannot be beat.

Perhaps I better skip the grande latte tomorrow?

Belle of the Ball

Last night was my father's uncle's 80th birthday party. It was a big shindig at a catering hall in Queens. There were lots of relatives I haven't seen in a long time and an open bar. Zoë was the belle of the ball in my estimation and she seemed to have a fantastic time. I'm not sure what was the best part for her -- the 15 balloons she got to take home that had tied to her wrist all night, the shirley temples I let her drink, or the attention she was lavished with.

I survived another Thanksgiving

Too bad for the turkeys, but I managed to survive another Thanksgiving. This year wasn't too bad -- no major disasters, but I am still dreaming of the day I spend Thanksgiving on a warm sandy beach sipping colorful cocktails. A girl can dream.

"Walk the Line"

We saw Walk the Line last night. Frankly, it was a compromise choice, but in fact, it was really good. I've never really been a fan of Joaquin Phoenix, but he really did a great job as Johnny Cash. Overall the movie was a bit like "Ray," the white version, but it was a lot less trite. I definitely recommend it.

Thanksgiving blues increased

Now that the very week of the dreaded day is actually here, I am feeling a sense of impending doom even more so. I have taken the week off from work in an attempt to take some of the sting off. Actually, that has been my tradition for the last few years now and it seems to help. On Wednesday my husband and I are going for retail fest at the Palisades Mall. That should really help to bolster me through the day. Especially since Zoë will be sleeping over my Dad's house Wednesday night and that means Thursday morning will start out quiet and slow. I'm still not sure that will really help.

Night time evil-doings

It seems that strange demons are possessing my daughter in the night these days. Instead of going to sleep as she is supposed to she has been getting up and trashing her room. At first it was just taking the extra blankets out of her dresser and putting them all into the bed with her and then it was taking out all the blankets plus half the books on the bookshelf and tons of the little annoying stuffed animals tossed randomly around the room. Last night was the topper, however, when she decided to rifle through all her dresser drawers and re-arrange them and then do the same in her closet. Upon discovery it would be an understatement to say that I was not amused. After the previous episode to last night I told her that if she did it again I was going to take all of the toys out of her room and so that is exactly what I did at 10:30 last night. I removed every single toy with the exception of stuffed animals and piled them all up in the hallway. I was so furious with her that I was still angry this morning when I woke up. I am the one who spends the time to clean and organize her room. I spent one whole day of my one week's vacation this summer simply re-arranging and re-organizing her bedroom. To see all that effort so easily trashed is infuriating. Especially because she was supposed to be sleeping. I want to trust my daughter, but sometimes she makes it very difficult.

Nothing makes you feel like a good mom like yelling at your child until she is shaking and crying. I guess I won't be getting that mother of the year award after all.

No more nap time?

It's hard to believe, but I think Zoë is going to give up napping soon. She has been skipping her naps at school a lot lately and when she does nap she has a hard time falling asleep at night. As much as I have often enjoyed those couple of hours to myself on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, I will be very happy to be done with nap time. It will make planning the day so much easier if I don't have to incorporate a 2 to 3 hour break right in the middle. So far the best benefit has been that she is sleeping later in the mornings. Some mornings I actually have to wake her up. This is the same kid who would regularly be up at 5:45AM less than a year ago. The later mornings are a big relief.

At the same time it is hard to believe my little baby is growing into such a big girl already. I know I am hardly the first parent to say this, but it all really does go by so quickly. When you first bring home a baby everyone tells you that, but it is hard to understand -- especially when the day-to-day is so rough going. Then all of a sudden you wake up one day and your baby is turning 2 then 3 and then she isn't even a baby anymore.

The Paper Clip Project

Last night, just by chance, I watched an excellent documentary called "Paper Clips." It is showing on HBO. I'm not sure if the actual documentary itself is good or if it is just the subject matter that is so compelling. It is about "The Paper Clip Project" that was done at Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, TN. As part of a study on the Holocaust the eigth grade students decided to collect paper clips for each of the 6 million people murdered. They chose paper clips for their symbol because paper clips were invented by Norwegians and Norwegians wore them on their lapels as a silent protest against Nazi occupation in WWII. To date approximately 30 million paperclips have been sent to Whitwell Middle School.

From their website:

The paper clip collection has become a part of the "Children's Holocaust Memorial" created by the students, staff, and community of Whitwell Middle School. The Memorial contains 11 million paper clips housed in an authentic German transport car honoring the lives of all people murdered by the Nazis. And eleven million other paper clips are contained in a monument honoring the children of Terezin. Eighteen (for chai-Hebrew for life) butterflies (the Christain symbol of renewal) enhance the grounds around the rail car. The students, staff, and community of Whitwell Middle School have transformed the car from a death car into a symbol of renewed life honoring the lives of those murdered by the Nazis. For generations of Whitwell students, a paper clip will never again be just a paper clip. Instead, the paper clip is a reminder of the importance of perseverance, empathy, tolerance, and understanding.

In addition to collecting paper clips they also received thousand of letters and at one point several Holocaust survivors came to the town to tell their stories. The whole thing is very, very moving and I highly recommend it.

Thanksgiving blues

I know it is probably un-American of me, but I really hate Thanksgiving. The fact that it is rapidly approaching is depressing me. I have had so many awful Thanksgivings that I couldn't even begin to explain, but it truly is a day that I dread. I don't like turkey, I don't like cranberry sauce, I don't like sweet potatoes and I especially don't like that green bean casserole made with the Chinese noodles that everyone else seems to love, but that isn't even the half of it. My fantasy is to someday spend Thanksgiving day drinking many colorful drinks on a beach somewhere they have never heard of Thanksgiving. A girl can dream...

Food in NYC

How come all the food is so much better in New York City? It just isn't fair that we can't get anything remotely as good out here in the 'burbs. We took a spontaneous trip into the city yesterday to get out and enjoy what was probably the last of the nice weather. Did a little furniture shopping and then after a stop at the playground at Union Square park we stopped at City Bakery for a snack before heading home and we had delicious cookies and muffins. Maybe it was the day and maybe it was the best chocolate chip cookie I ever had. I can't be sure. We then took Chinese food home from my favorite place, Sammy's Noodle Shop and went home and pigged out some more. A good time was had by all.

The tables have been turned

The tables have been turned on me this week. Tuesday afternoon as I was changing back into my work clothes in the gym locker room I realized that my shoes had completely come apart at one of the seams. My toes were hanging out and it looked ridiculous. My first thought was to go up the road and buy a new pair of shoes, but since I am trying hard to curtail my spending I decided to just put my gym sneakers back on and anyone who didn't like it could go...

I really liked this particular pair of wedge heel suede loafers and they weren't very old and I hadn't worn them that many times so I was feeling a bit disappointed about them falling apart. When I got home from work I promptly threw them both in the trash. In the kitchen trash can.

Later on that night I told my husband what happened because he had been with me when I bought those shoes. And then he floored me when he said "Want me to drop them off at a shoemaker for you?"

Honestly, this never occurred to me. "No, they're ruined," I said.

"I'm sure they can be repaired." Husband said.

"I already threw them in the garbage." And he didn't even laugh at me when he offered to get them out of the trash for me. I told him not to bother. He let it go at that, but I am still amazed that for a change he was the voice of reason where as my behavior was utterly ridiculous. Wonders never cease.

Why do the women have to grind the corn?

Today I spent the day with one of my oldest friends. We figured out that we have known each other for about 23 years now -- since 6th grade where we first bonded in feminism in Mr. Corica's Social Studies class. We both got in trouble for demanding to know why only the Mexican women grind the corn and never the men. Apparently Mr. Corica did not have a sufficient answer for us and we were likely relentless about it. I can't remember what that note home said, but I think it was something about us being disruptive in class. Talk about inhibiting young minds! Poor Mr. Corica. He was probably very glad to get us out of his class.

It's funny to think that this friend has known me through so much from a mutual love of Garfield to losing our virginity to college to marriage and now parenthood. She is about to become a mommy for the first time very soon so we will share that too. We both have changed so much over the years and yet in my minds eye she is the same in looks and everything else.

Good Night, and Good Luck

There was a time when I thought of George Clooney as just a pretty face who desperately wanted to be perceived as more than that. Turns out he is more than that. A lot more. He's one smart (and talented) cookie.

Yes, in case you haven't guessed by now, I saw George Clooney's film, Good Night, and Good Luck this weekend. It was gripping from start to finish. And even though I already knew the story going in and how it all worked out in the end I found myself tensing up in parts. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a perfect movie. Some of the side stories and the supporting cast were a little thin and underdeveloped. And I have to admit I couldn't look at Robert Downey Jr. and not think "drug addict." But overall, it was really excellent. For sure there will Oscar nominations.

Honestly, I never would have guessed that George Clooney could direct and write let alone act as well as he did. I look forward to more from him.

Fancy meeting you here...

at the gym.

For the last few weeks I have been going to the gym a few mornings a week instead of just at lunch time. Up until today I haven't seen anyone I know. This morning at 6:30am (while looking my best I am sure) I ran into a colleague, Zoë's pediatrician, and a neighbor. Needless to say, I felt slightly more conspicuous than I usually do at the gym.

Let's hope that was a rare occurrence.

Men going to the movies

Husband and male co-worker friends wanted to see that Keira Knightly vehicle, Domino. Yes, I know Keira Knightly was the main reason they wanted to see it. She is undeniably hot. So, hot chick plus guns equals movie my man must see. Starship Troopers anyone???

Anyway, tonight was the night they planned to see the movie. They showed up at the movie theater at what they thought was the appropriate time only to realize the movie was not playing at that theater. Not only wasn't it playing at that theater, it wasn't playing at any theater.

My theory is that one of the guys checked the movie listings about 3 weeks ago and never checked again. Oops.

Husband and friends had to settle for burgers and beer. That would have been my preference anyway.

Candy overload

How many pieces of Halloween candy can you eat in one day? I think I am going for a record today. Seems like everyone at work brought in their extra candy today and I just cannot resist. Especially when I am at my desk all day making schedules in MS Project and filling out my own performance appraisal. Ugh. I can feel the break out coming on from all the chocolate! I for sure will be hitting the gym tomorrow and the next day and the next and the...

Truth be told: it is totally worth it. I love candy. I only go to the gym to support my candy habit anyway.

Halloween

All-in-all I would say we had a very happy Halloween. Zoë dressed up as a witch. It wasn't the costume I would have chosen, but it was what she wanted and she was quite happy about it. Plus she looked quite cute.




Of course we went out trick-or-treating and Zoë made sure to tell everyone that she was just wearing a costume. She would lift off her witch hat and say, "It's just me, Zoë I'm wearing a costume."