It's not that I haven't been woken up at 3 a.m. in the morning before, I mean it happens all the time. Maybe I can blame the fog on the fact that the Olympics had me up late and 3 a.m. was really only a few hours into my slumber. Whatever the reason, I now have a contusion on my forehead. Between trying to get Braeden to stop crying and also trying to get him a tissue (which ended up being toilet paper since we didn't have tissues in the bathroom) I somehow pivoted in such a way that I ran straight into the corner of the wall. The goose egg knot formed almost immediately, but it has gone down since. I just have a pounding headache and the start of an odd line-shaped bruise near my hairline on my forehead. Oh the joys of motherhood and clumsiness.

I started playing the John Deere computer game last night. I enjoy the time management/strategic games you can get from sites like Playfirst.com and BigFish.com and this is one of their newer games. It is frustrating me. Much like Sim City, I am finding I do not know how to start something from scratch and profit without having all the helpers quit on me. I also am not good with keeping an eye on the calendar and many times my entire field of corn dies because I try to plant it in February.

Yesterday, I left work early because Braeden is sick again. He has an ear infection, only the 308th infection of his little life. I feel bad for him. If only he could stay healthy for longer periods of time. I think it may have begun as allergy symptoms, he did after all claim he is now allergic to carpet, but then those symptoms became more severe and the runny nose turned into a stopped up mess of gunk which in turn became an infection. Poor kid.

My boss stopped working for the College of Ag and moved to another area on campus. Right now I'm not 100% sure who my boss is, but it's okay because I work with good people. It's just really hard not to have Chris here, she was undoubtedly the best boss I have ever had.

Carrie went out on maternity leave last week as well. She'll be back in January. The baby is due this weekend and already weighs approximately 8 lbs. 11 oz. I have been sewing and getting things together for Baby Finnie and can't wait to meet her!

Brian starts class again soon. I believe this course is in Life Span Development, after which he will need to take Biology before he starts towards his P.A. degree.

My brother is concerned about aliens talking on his cell phone and the fact that Mom doesn't know anything about Darfur. These are the things he discusses with me when he calls. It might have something to do with Jada having been in Israel for the last two weeks. Fortunately she returns home tonight and hopefully he'll unwind a bit. Lol.

And so that's the update from the personal realm of this lovely blog. I'll be getting back to work now, forehead throbbing and all. Tata.

Labels: brae, brian, carrie, Gregory, life, work

Yesterday was Jada's birthday. As you may or may not know, Jada is my brother's lovely girlfriend. Later this month is their two year anniversary. =o)

Yesterday also happened to be a terrible day for driving due to an inch of ice out on the roads. Even 495 ended up getting shut down going into Pennsylvania. Knowing how my Jeep is a magnet for crazy drivers you should also know another wipeout occurred directly in front of me on my ride to pick up Braeden yesterday afternoon. This time a silver Mustang spun out 10 feet in front of me and ended up facing the wrong way in the shoulder. How I didn't hit him is beyond me, but I'm glad my guardian angels were working overtime, as were the drivers.

Back to Jada. My brother is a hopelessly hopeful romantic. He is such the Casanova or Don Juan of our time. He made reservations a month in advance for some fancy place in Philly to take Jada for her birthday. With the weather he ended up needing to cancel those reservations. Thanks to good sense and fair warning they stayed in for the night.

At first Gregory was irritated. This is his girlfriend and it was her birthday and he wanted her to have a fabulous time. So naturally he did what all guys do and he got busy in the kitchen. (Note: Very few guys actually do this, I was being sarcastic).

He made all of Jada's favorite foods. He had three pots going on the stove, the oven filled with food and had several courses to bring down to her in the basement apartment. He even called and told her that her driver would be on his way ten minutes of 7 p.m. to take her to a lavish dinner. He lit candles, used linen napkins, placed roses around the room and everything.

(Note: I don't live there, this is all what my Mom told me she witnessed).

He made decadent desserts with her favorite fruits and chocolate, including homemade applesauce sprinkled with cinnamon. Some kind of champagne glass with chocolate, pudding, whipped cream and other deliciousness, too.

Now if that isn't love, I don't know what is...to make the best of a bad weather day and sweep his lady off her feet in spite of it all. I hope they had a wonderful night. Happy Birthday, Jada!

As for the weather, of course this morning I was sliding around outside in an attempt to start my car early and defrost it a bit. I put ice out but I don't know if it made a difference or not. Bah. The temperature is rising and I surmise the ice will be gone by the time I leave. However, there is a flood warning until tomorrow morning. =o)

The photo is from my wedding, that is Jada and my brother Greg after she caught the bouquet.

Labels: driving, Gregory, Jada, romantic

Braeden woke up before 6:30 a.m. on this fine Saturday morning in January. He is a complete contrary mess this morning. Crying at the drop of a hat! Argh! Right now he is playing Dig Dug and so is at least quiet but who knows when the next tantrum will arise. It's not even his fault, it is my own. He just wants to paint, that's all, but right now I'm too lazy to get up and get things ready for him. So he is mad at me. Bah.

We were so busy for the holidays, constantly out and about, driving from here to there. All I want to do today is sit, write, play games, read, watch a movie and perhaps Wii with Brae and Bri.

I know I need to get this blog back on track. I need to write more and less and sporadically. I have been doing well so far over the past week or so. Since things are less hectic now it should be easier.

Life has just been so crazy. My Mom had to put her dog down last night. I wrote about it briefly on the music section as a tribute post, but really there isn't a way for me to express the sadness she is feeling. She is a mess and there is nothing anyone can do; time is the only healer in this situation. Lucky was her unconditional, loyal pup for 12 years.

My brother is looking for a job and so he is all nuts right now. I'm sending him ideas left and right so we'll see what pans out.

And my Dad is out of commission with a bad knee which I wrote about in detail on the wellness section of this blog.

But, as Brae says when he is up to bat, "today is a new day." (Thank God for movies like Chicken Little that inspire such positive outlooks.) ;o)

Labels: brae, family, Gregory, life