Top of the World

I went to the tippy top of the CN Tower – 1400 feet above the city of Toronto. It was amazing. I’m not afraid of heights but whoah. Unfortunately, it was a rather overcast day, but it was still worthwhile. On clear days, you can see all the way to Niagara Falls I’m told. It takes less than one minute to get to the top. For more on the CN Tower, click here.

Here I am looking down through the glass floor:
Looking down from the tippy top:
The sprawling city:
CN Tower at night:
*more pics on Flickr*

***
New Yorkers need to take a hint from Torontonians (? Totally just made that up but it sounds right). Toronto is one of the cleanest cities I’ve ever been to and also one of the friendliest. Get this: The subway does not smell like urine. Go figure! There is no trash on the street, very few bums, no cigarette butts, etc. And boy their friendliness blows “Midwest hospitality” out of the water. For example, after visiting the Tower, I did not know where to go next. But I was looking for some sort of non-sports-related pub in which to grab a pint and a bite to eat, and to perhaps talk to a friendly bartender who could tell me where to go next. I walked into a random hotel, where I was not staying, and the concierge gave me a map, outlined a route, and handed me coupons for dinner. I must have lost five pounds walking the city on Wednesday. I walked all around Toronto’s entertainment district, up and down Queen Street, King Street, John Street. Queen Street is just like SoHo, NY and I think they may also call it “SoHo.” You know: cute little trendy boutiques that carry items I could never afford, but it’s always nice to browse.

After that, I stopped in Jack Astor’s and ate at the bar and was served by a super friendly bartender who told me where to go next.

I then made my way to the Eaton Centre, an enormous shopping mall. I grabbed a gift for Sophie from the Disney store, then made my way to Fox & Fiddle on John Street, which was recommended by my friendly bartender.

I don’t think the bartender was quite sure what to do with me – a young single lady by herself at a bar – which is frankly something I would not do here in my hometown, but will do if I’m traveling. I had a Kilkenny’s red and because the bartender was serving tables and was not talking to me, and the two men sitting next to me were fully engaged in their own conversation, I thought about making my way back to the airport hotel, just the way I came which was two subways and a bus (about an hour’s trip). It was after all nearing 9pm and my meeting started bright and early the next day at 8am and would last approximately 12 hours (including dinner). But I lingered a while and that’s how I ended up partying with 30 hot firefighters.

to be continued…

Well I'm Off

I'm off to Toronto tomorrow for a work meeting that will last approx. 12 hours on Thursday. But tomorrow I get to explore! Hopefully Miss Temper Tantrums For No Apparent Reason What So Ever will not delay me getting out of the house and therefore to the airport on time. I'm planning on going up in the CN Tower. Tried to convince boss to increase my per diem so I could eat at the restaurant that provides a 360-degree view of the city (plates are *only* $35-55 each) but no such luck.
Catcha' later. Hope everybody has a good rest of the week!

You’re Stuck with Me, Kiddo

Sophie: I think it’s about time I get a new Mommy.
Me: What? That hurts my feelings. What are you talking about?
Sophie: I don’t want to talk about it.
Me: Well what did you mean? You hurt my feelings.
Sophie: Are you going to be my Mommy forever?
Me: Yes.
Sophie: Alright then. I guess I’m pretty happy with the one I have.
I have no idea where this came from but I do know she was watching “Annie” at her dad’s.

In other news...
Happy Birthday Auntie Summar and Baby Jayden!

Four Is NOT Better Than Three…

…or at least it hasn’t been so far. I’m wondering how early is too early to have a drink because after Miss Cranky Pants HOUR LONG FIT this morning, I could sure use one.

And you know what I love? I love when I drag my screaming kid into daycare, sans socks and shoes and jacket and the teachers just stare at us. They don’t offer to help. They just look at me not with empathy or sympathy but “Why can’t you control your kid?” Of course, I might be being sensitive.

Nobody is around this weekend or if they are they are going to Mardi Gras which I’m not because I have been before when it’s 24 degrees like they are calling for this weekend and I was wet and cold and had to pee and nothing about it was fun for me.

Also, boys aren’t calling.

So, I think I’m going to go see Taken with the ‘rents tonight and go over to Bobbie & Shane’s tomorrow evening, see baby Owen and drink some wine and chat with friends. Not too bad actually.

What are YOU up to this weekend?

Here’s a “Note” I did on Facebook because it looked fun and there’s never anything on TV. Feel free to play along if you’d like; no pressure.

Firsts

1. Who was your FIRST prom date? Didn’t go to prom.
2. What was your 1st alcoholic drink? Whatever was in my parents’ liquor cabinet. But I’ll tell you that Summar and I will always remember that “Creme de Cacao turns your tongue green!”
3. What was your FIRST job? (Other than baby-sitting) Hostess at Tony Roma’s.
4. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? Yeah I kind of have to
5. What was your FIRST car? 1987 Buick LeSabre - it was big and blue and we called it the “Big Blue Whale.”
6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? So far, nobody.
7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning? Sophie, duh.
8. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? Florida when I was just months old.
9. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk? Kate Lovelace from preschool and yes occasionally.
10. Where was your FIRST sleep over? Probably Grandma’s or Kate’s or cousin Kim’s.
11. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
Miss Cranky Pants
12. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
My mom’s. I was the flower girl when she married Tom. I was 9.
13. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? Drank coffee and had a smoke.
14. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to? Reggae something at Irvine Meadows (CA)
15. FIRST tattoo? NA
16. FIRST piercing? Ears, age 9. It took a LOT of begging and bargaining to convince my mother. Ears are the only thing I have pierced.
17. FIRST foreign country you’ve been to? Mexico
18. FIRST movie you remember seeing? Don’t remember but accidentally saw Poltergeist when I was 5. Still can’t sleep with the closet door open and still hate clowns.
19. When was your FIRST detention? NA. Did get sent to the principal’s office in 6th grade though for kissing my boyfriend on the playground.
20. What was the FIRST state you lived in? Pennsylvania
21. Who was your FIRST roommate? Jackie Doyle in college.
22. If you had one wish, what would it be? Keep Sophie safe and healthy.
23. What is something you would learn if you had the chance? To play guitar.

I’d Like My Brain Back Please

If ever there was a moment where I could prove how distracted I am at times, like every other mother or multi-tasking woman (and I know I don’t have to prove it to you all), well here was my moment:

Sophie had the hiccups and asked for peanut butter (her dad told her that gets rid of them) and it reminded me that I had to give the dog Chloë her heartworm medicine for the month, Sentinel, and so I had the peanut butter out and Sophie was jabbering and the dog was at my feet because she knew she was getting a treat and I got out the pill and at the same time I decided I was thirsty so I filled up some water from the sink; I had the pill in the palm of my other hand and I just popped it in my mouth. Because I take pills anyway (Effexor) and that’s what I do – pill in one hand, water in the other and it took me a moment to realize what I had done and then I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time and Sophie was still jabbering and I was like OMIG what if I die and I called the number on the back of the package but they weren’t there so I paged the vet and I felt like an idiot and I can’t believe I’m admitting to any of this really and NO I HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING TO DRINK and then while I waited for the vet to call back I looked up the poison control number and called them and then I put them on hold to click over to the vet who kind of laughed and I was laughing at my stupidity and the child is still “Mommy mommy will you play with me will you be Cinderella Mommy mommy” and the vet didn’t know and he was all, “Well I’ve never had that come up before” and then he told me to call poison control and I said “They’re on the other line” and then they hung up on me and Sophie said, “That wasn’t nice” [that they hung up on me] so I had to go back to the computer and look up the number again and the same lady answered and before I had given her the drugs on the label and she said I should be fine and I could have an upset stomach but other than that I should be fine and then I was just laughing at myself and OMIG what is Sophie going to tell her Daddy tomorrow night?

So yeah I’ll let you know if I’m still alive tomorrow…

But if I’m not, you’ll know why…

Life Lessons from Sophie or Irony At Its Best

OR: Philosophy 101 as taught by Professor Sophie
Sophie: Life is truth.
Me: …?...Um, you mean, you should tell the truth? In life? [Professor rolls eyes at slow student]
Sophie: Yes. You should always tell the truth in life. Only bad guys lie.
And do you know who taught her this gem? Her father.
***
Sophie: Mommy, Zachary doesn’t believe he can lift a building. But you just have to believe in yourself. I believe in myself!
***
Conversation after school on Friday:
Sophie: Zachary got mad at me today and he didn’t apologize and it’s not nice to not apologize.
Me: What were you guys fighting about?
Sophie: He said he was my boyfriend but I’m not his girlfriend; I’m a rock star.

THAT Was Random

So I’m doing laundry tonight and Sophie is upstairs watching Lady & the Tramp (for the gazillionth time) and I get a phone call from a number I don’t recognize; an area code I don’t recognize – on my cell phone – and normally I wouldn’t pick up but I did and it’s this Australian – no New Zealand – guy I met back at the end of September when my BFF Jackie was visiting and I don’t remember if I ever told you about him and I’m too lazy to look it up but he calls and re-introduces himself and calls himself a jerk for not calling in the past almost six months and I’m wondering how (and why) he even still has my number and I say yes I do remember you and his name is Jake and I’m telling you his real name because I’m not sure he’s worthy of a nickname and I remember he is young – under 30 but OMIG that accent—I could listen to it forever and ever – and he is going to be meeting some friends in St. Charles tomorrow night am I free? and later I’ll wonder why he chose this night to call but I say instead unfortunately I am not; I have my daughter this weekend and he says oh that’s right! well it’s so nice that you get to spend Valentine’s Day with your daughter and I say yes it is thank you and he says you sound distracted and I say I’m sorry I’m just trying to get dinner on the table (because I was also) and then he apologizes for being a double jerk and “not only do I not call you for six months but I interrupt your dinner” and I say “that’s okay; don’t worry about it” I mean how does he know when I eat dinner? (besides it was late – almost 6:30) and I say, “do you want me to call you back? I can call you back later?” and oh yeah that’s when he asks me what I’m doing tomorrow night and then I texted Jackie the whole thing and she says yeah call him back but make him work for it (ie going out plans) and I do but don’t really want to in a way because I’m sure he’s out and about this Friday night and that’s basically what I said in my voice mail message to him and how weird is that?
*Shrug*
PS – I remembered I kissed him and I think that’s the last time I’ve kissed anybody. Sheesh. LOSER!

And if that whole story wasn’t weird enough, Jamie and I were actually joking with each other via text messaging just now…it IS Friday the 13th! (and we have another one next month!)

6-Word Memoirs, Valentine's Day Edition

As heard on
NPR's Talk of the Nation: Write about your love life - then, now or in the future, in 6 words: no more, no less. Some of the better ones (though admitedly I only scrolled through the first four pages):

--I bought flowers, she took house.

--I love her but she's straight.

--I'm not alone.
But so lonely.

--Dad got Mistress. Mom got dog.

--He can't be taught to kiss.

--Well, the children still love me.

--I throw, you fetch, tail wags.

--Dumped for Jesus. Praise the Lord.

--Better determine crazy sooner than later.

And just so you don't go away thinking I'm TOTALLY cynical:
--I made a wish and you came true

Write your own in the comments!
(PS - No, mine is not above. Most of you who know me can already figure it out and the memoir of the past is very different from the one I hope to write in the future).

I Can’t Keep Up…

I haven’t been blogging as of late because I am feeling “blah.” Which is partly due to “that time of the month” and partly due to a raging sinus infection, from which both Sophie and I are suffering. Though we both have drugs which are helping. Drugs are good. Anyway, last night, I went to bed at 9-ish just after she got in her bed and I drifted in and out of sleep until about 10:30 when I felt a presence at the edge of my bed and out of pure exhaustion, I said, “Do you want to come in my bed?” And she said, “Well, if you insist.” But then she got back in her bed and I think it was almost 11pm by the time she was actually out. Then I dreamt about bugs. Lots and lots of bugs – what does that mean?

Then this morning she was a BEAST from HELL as to be expected and by the time I got to work I felt I had already worked a 12-hour day. Tonight she threw a fit for literally 60 minutes. And I LOST it. I totally and completely lost my temper and I yelled and I screamed and I acted no better than she and I’m quite embarrassed and ashamed about it but let me just tell you this people I haven’t been this tired since I was seven months pregnant and the chances of me being pregnant at all right now are nil or Immaculate Conception so we can thank lovely sinus infection for that. Anyway, exhaustion and weakened immune system are poor excuses for acting as badly as the child but it’s over now PRAISE THE LORD so moving on…

I just feel like I can’t keep up. My teammates work their freakin’ asses off and I waltz in late and leave early because there is essentially only one person to make the 45-minute drive from work to school to home; only one person to feed two animals, two humans, clean up the kitchen, get two humans clean and tummies full and off to bed and OMIG WHAT am I complaining about because OMIG some mothers get no financial help at all; their jobs aren’t nearly as flexible as mine; I’m glad to HAVE a job at all (seriously, I am); others don’t even get a mid-week break and every other weekend off; some have TWO or THREE or (you know I can’t resist) FOURTEEN children and I’m complaining because I can’t handle ONE?!? And what about two-parent working families? You (and by you I mean, “Talking Sternly to Self”) think they really have it “so” much easier? The women don’t I guarantee that. And what about the three kids and one is in swimming and one in baseball and the other in gymnastics and the parents are carting them off here and there? And what about single people? You (again: Me) think just because you’re a parent your life is so much harder than everybody else’s? What about single career-focused people who may also be going to school who may also be involved in this organization and that and are here and there and everywhere, meeting after meeting and are never home? And what about…

Do you SEE what I’m going through here? Just a whirl-wind mess of thoughts and basically what it all comes down to is: I am just WORN OUT. Maybe I am a wimp – I may very well be – but I hope I gain my strength back soon (physically and mentally).

Let’s Play a Little Game

I have PMS and am super duper busy at work and CHILD is once again boycotting sleep and the weather is flippin’ colder than ever and all of this means I am more irritated than usual and am having high anxiety (feelings of overwhelmingness and OMIG I will never get it done/how do people get it all done??!). So why am I “wasting time” by posting? Because I have 15min. till I leave for my first refi appointment and also it’s almost my birthday which makes me think about time and age and ALSO, I woke up the other morning with this thought:
Holy Shit. I’m almost 32. That means I’ve been out of college for almost TEN years! Whoa.
And I totally tripped myself out.
Anyway, we’re going to play a modified version of Swistle’s game: A Year Ago Today, A Year From Now.

Basically, you state where you were a year ago today, and where you think you’ll be a year from now. And what I mean by “where” is well, whatever you want it to be. It can be physically (if you’ve moved houses, cities, states, countries) and/or mentally (are you more or less sane than last year? [if you have children, I’m guessing “less.”] and/or health-wise (are you training for a marathon? Starting a new “healthy eating” plan?) and/or Major Event-wise (got engaged, married, divorced, pregnant, birthed child, etc.)…basically whatever you want to share and reflect on!
Got it? Will you play with me? Oh come on, you have five minutes; take a “hump-day” break. Okay, so I’ll go first.
Please wait patiently while I look back in my archives…Oh yes, here we go; ready.

A Year Ago Today…[And I don’t literally mean “today” but rather “around this time last year”]
--I was doing many home projects, including re-decorating Sophie’s room and my own. My mom hired someone to redo my bathroom and office. I STILL have not hung back up the pictures in my bedroom or office.
--I was dating a boy! Kind of. Well, I mean like three dates. And I had totally forgot about him. Oh well.
--I was still celibate
--My dog had leg surgery
--My daughter was 3

A Year From Now...
--My daughter will be 5 (!), but not yet in Kindergarten (due to her birthday being in late October – past the cut off).
--Hopefully I will still be working at the same place, only making more money.
--Hopefully I will have graduated with my M.A. (Ha!)
--I will probably still be celibate (hopefully not)
--I do not plan on having a new husband, much to Soph’s dismay.
--Maybe I will be dating.
--Hopefully I will be thinner.
--I will probably still be smoking.
--I will have been to Hawaii!
--I will celebrate my friends’ marriages, childrens’ births, and their growing pains.
--Hopefully nobody will get divorced.
--Perhaps my faith in love will be renewed (if you believe in Miracles, that is).

Yeah, so that’s all for my hopes and dreams – what are yours?

Gripe

You know what goes a long way, CO-WORKERS??
When you send an email requesting my services or assistance on a document or whatever, it would be nice to add, "When you have time," or "When you get a chance," or "no rush" or "I'm sure you're busy but I would really appreciate this by Friday" rather than, "Farrell, reformat this doc. -Co-Worker."
Also: "Please" and "Thank You" go a long way.
Sincerely,
Your Hard-Working But Irritated Co-Worker

Things My Daughter Says

Sophie’s friend Katie was going to come over and play on Sunday, but Sophie was complaining about a sore throat and a tummy ache.
Sophie: Mommy, I don’t think Katie should come over today because I don’t want to get my feelings on her.
And by “feelings,” she meant germs.
***
Me: Sophie, it’s my birthday next month!
Sophie: Can I come to your party?
Me: Of course you can!* And you know who else has a birthday coming up? Auntie Summar and baby Jayden’s birthdays are this month!
Sophie [smiling]: Oh I really like baby Jayden. He’s funny and cute.

*I turn 32 (!) on March 21st and Sophie will be with her dad that weekend. I’m meeting cousin Jessica and Becky in Chicago!

Like Talking to a Teenager

Conversation in the car, today:
Sophie: Mommy, tell me again why I can’t have a baby sister right now?
Me [deep breath, cover chuckle]: Well…because Mommy would have to find a husband first. You have to be married before you can have kids—
Sophie: Yeah, I get it Mom. I get that you have to be married before you have kids, okay? But, well…maybe you should just find one then.
Me: Find one what?
Sophie: A husband.
Me: Maybe…maybe one day; I don’t know…
Do they sell those at the grocery store?
And then I started to say something else but I forget what...
Sophie: Can we stop talking about this now?
Me: You brought it up.

Frosty

Fun in the snow:Making a "snowing angel" as Sophie calls it:
Even better when it's 45 out...
Here's Sophie and Papa posing by their "work of art:"The girls:Best parents ever and cutest couple...still in love after all these (23!) years:)

And You Thought Your Kid Was Weird

My daughter is currently obsessed with cutting. Cutting blank paper into strips or tiny pieces she calls “tickets.” Tickets to Disney World (hey we all have dreams, right?). Well, OCD does run in the family…(as if you didn’t already know…). Anyway, it keeps her occupied and it’s a helluva lot cheaper than therapy, so…But, it does make a BIG mess; observe:

*Shrug* Don’t ask me what it’s all about; I’ve no idea.

Go Steelers!