BFF in Da House!

I love it when my BFF comes to town!!! So much fun is had.

All is well with my BFF

My BFF came to town to visit us briefly! The kids were really bummed that they were not going to see him because he was getting way past bedtime. Motor Mouth asked when Usher would be able to stay a whole day. I wonder that too.

We showed Usher our new place then J, Usher, and I had a drink together, shared a few laughs then he had to leave!!! It was a short but really sweet visit.

I did get to see a few more pics of his girlfriend. She is SO beautiful. I'm so hapeeee for them. I can hardly wait to meet her and give her a hug!!!

It was good to hug Usher. We talk on the phone and text and FB and I know he's happy. But I need to have him in our living room and hug him to make sure he really is okay. ;-)

An Ode to My BFF

Ode to My BFF

Best Friend, Best Friend,
Hast thou forsaken me
O Best Friend...?

Best Friend, Best Friend,
Is it for the love of a woman
That thou has cast me aside
O Best Friend...?


It's bad enough my BFF moved to a far, far away state. But now he has a girlfriend. That's great and all but she's cutting into my time! My BFF and I used to talk and text every day/night. Now I must wait my turn when I used to get to cut to the front of the line. Sigh.

I really, really like THIS woman. She treats him well. She is practical, real, direct. No games. There is no drama with this one. Knowing he is happy makes me happier than I can describe. If they ever break up, I'm going to need therapy.

I love her but she's eating up MY TIME! I miss my BFF. Sigh deeply.

Wine Fairies

We returned home yesterday evening, after a particularly trying weekend and found SEVEN bottles of wine on our doorstep. No note. Just a wine fairy!!! How incredibly amazing is that!!!

We later learned it was from one of our neighbors. Don't you wish you had our neighbors?!

Neighbors/Aunts

We are so very blessed to have the neighbors we do. We know all the neighbors on our floor by name and many of the neighbors on the other floors. Most of our neighbors could easily be called aunt or uncle. They love our kids and treat them so well.

And so it is with Law Lady and Photog. They are more than neighbors. They are familia!

Tonight, they brought over birthday presents for both kids. It's Mini Me's bday today. They gave her a Barbie doll that has purple hair, one has a red strip in her hair and another is wearing a shirt with Mini Me's name on it. So not only so they our kid, but they get her, too!!!

We LOVE. LOVE. LOVE our home community.

Book Reading

I had the honor of attending my dear friend, Mary Anne Mohanraj's book reading on Friday evening.

First, I have to say what a treat it was to even be able to attend. Many of MAM's readings are in Oak Park or on the other side of town. This one at Powell's Books in UIC was walking distance from our home. I REALLY wanted to go but didn't even mention it to J because he has been working so much and had to go back in to work Friday evening. I didn't want to stress him out by asking him to parent while I went and had fun.

On Friday morning J texted to ask if I was planning on going to MAM's book reading. I told him no and why. He is so wonderful to me!!! J said he wanted me to go and he made it possible for me to do so.

I met MAM and Dipika for dinner first. Finding a great Indian restaurant (located in Powell's) in the process.

MAM is in the process of writing a memoir on love and love for country. Beautiful stuff. Listening to her read Chapter Two, set in her birthplace of Sri Lanka, made me think of my birthplace of Trinidad.

I wonder how will it be to return to Trinidad with J? What would J's impressions of this island nation be? Would he be judgmental of the people or embracing? It's been over 25 years since I was there as a teenager. MUCH has changed. I am a foreigner to my birth country that I left at age two. I really want to visit Trinidad now!

A King in Our Midst

Last month, one of the other swim moms told me that one of our kids' swim coaches, who is studying to be a paramedic, was writing his papers and doing his school work on his iPhone because he did not have a computer. I talked to J about it. We decided to let him come over to use the kids' computer. 

Within a week, King had become a part of our family. He ate dinner at our home, slept over when he studied into the wee hours of the morning, was a regular fixture. King tried to teach the kids and me how to dance. That didn't go so well. But the three of us had fun dancing with King. 

One time, J and I scared King SO bad! J and I hid outside the bathroom and jumped out at King. We got him GOOD. There is a video on my YouTube if you want to see. It shows his reaction afterwards. And a second scare...Bahahahaha!

King is hysterically funny. J and I have gone to bed with sore stomach muscles from laughing so hard. J doesn't like playing games with me b/c I'm so strategic and competitive - J plays for fun. King is competitive as well. I enjoy beating the pants off my formative opponent. 

It's been fun helping King with his paramedic work. J and I were both used as testers for his IV skills. 

We all have friends but very rarely does someone come into your home and really becomes family.

Office Pic A Day

Each day, I take a pic of myself at work and send it to my best friend, Usher. I also send the same pic to J.

I'm not sure why I started doing it. But now it's just this fun thing I do at the office now. And one can never have too many self pics of oneself.

Hip Play Time

It's what besties do.

Road Trip!!!

We needed to visit my family in Canada. 

We were all set to go for the Canadian Thanksgiving, but J got a job and didn't think it would be prudent to take time off ten days after starting...

It looked like the road trip was on hold. 

Until my BFF, Usher, told me his brother bailed 

on a road trip to the Buffalo, NY area. 

The next thing you know, 

Usher, Mini Me, Motor Mouth and I were on a road trip!

We visited with my parents, siblings, nieces, nephews. 

Took our annual sibling photo!

I hung out with my nieces and nephews!

We met back up with Usher for the drive back home.

There was some limbo dancing involved.

All in all, it was a really great trip.

But it's ALWAYS nice to be HOME!

Look Ma! No Wheels!

We have the most amazing village!

To teach the kids how to ride without training wheels, I took Motor Mouth and Mini Me out to the school parking lot next to our building. Bike Boy and Glass Girl saw us out there and brought their bikes down to ride with the kids. They are such awesome neighbors!!!

Our friend, Pride Girl, sent me a link to NYC's park district's learn to ride program that teaches kids to ride without training wheels. They take off the wheels and take off the pedals. Kids learn to balance faster. So I decided to try it.

 Within minutes, Motor Mouth was riding without training wheels!!! 

If it weren't for Glass Girl and Bike Boy, this would not be a success story. They were awesome with the kids.

 Bike Boy and Glass Girl are FRIENDS in the truest sense. They love our kids and include them in their lives. Seriously, we have the BEST neighbors. 

It takes a village!

It's Your Birthday!

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago.

I took liberty this year as my birthday was on a Monday- it was a 4 day celebration starting Friday. Basically, the kids had to be nice to each other and not fight or argue from Friday to Monday. 

PRESENTS

When asked what I wanted for my birthday this year, it was simple - sleep!!! I requested to be able to sleep all day Sunday and Monday (took the day off work). It was divine! J did get me a leather Book Book case for my iPhone to match my laptop case. J took the kids to get me a birthday card and they made cards and a Happy Birthday banner.

FOOD

On Sunday, J made me breakfast in bed. Yum! While the kids were at school on Monday, J took me to Cafe Trinidad for lunch. I was born in Trinidad so it is always nice to "return to my birth place" on my birthday. After dinner that evening, we had a glorious cake from Whole Foods. Yum!!!

SURPRISE

That evening, J surprised me with a visit from one of my favorite friends, Usher! I hadn't seen Usher since he was one of my nursemaids that fateful day in August when I almost died. It was good to hang out with him and J. I wish I had known he was coming - I would have put make up on and done my hair. After all, the last time Usher saw me, I was snoring on his lap and looked like a character out of Star Trek!

In his defense, J was going to have me get showered and made up but Usher came an hour early. I'm glad he came when he did. Otherwise, Usher could have possibly heard me singing and carrying on in the shower. And there is no telling what I would have gone running into the living room wearing - or not wearing - while being obnoxious as one can be with only your spouse awake. It would have made for a funny story after I recovered from the shame of embarrassment. Maybe.

All in all, it was a wonderful birthday!

Dreams Come True

I am extremely happy for my dear friend MAM. On Wednesday, her dream came true. My very first introduction to MAM was on an article/post she wrote for Chicago Moms Blog. In the post, she talked about her dream to buy a home in Oak Park and live there for the rest of her life. It took almost 2 years from the time they moved out of their Chicago condo and the house renovation was complete enough to move in, but they did it! Mission accomplished. My friend's dream has come true and I could not be happier for her!!! Take a peek here.

Thankful Thursday - 3 Musketeers

Two of my best friends came to me as a result of hurt and pain suffered in my life and in theirs. Michy Mee, Boobalicious, and I are adoptive moms who met through the adoption agency. If we had not suffered the loss of infertility and the joy of adoption, we never would have met.

My first memory of Boobalicious was at the restaurant the day we met Motor Mouth's Birth Mom. She helped to facilitate the meeting and immediately set us all at ease with her laughter and funny banter. Boobalicious became my go-to person for all sorts of adoption-related and mommy questions. The best gift she gave me was sharing her daughter's breast milk with Mini Me. Now THAT is a friend!!

My most vivid memory of Michy Mee was when she came to our home to deliver meals after Mini Me was born. Michy Mee walked in with multiple dishes of amazing food, set them down, put out her hands and said, "Hand that baby over to me." She then proceeded to love on my daughter as if she were her very own.  Michy Mee started that adoptive family meal program. Later, we were co-chairs on an incredible fundraising banquet that raised boatloads of cash for the adoption agency!!

Of course, I'll never forget my going away dinner and our little shopping trip afterwards. All 3 of us scored big time that night!! It's time for another shopping excursion...

I really love these ladies. We all get 'it'. We understand each other's emotional journey. We were there along the way. The 3 of us are smart, strong, funny, capable women who tell it like it is. No, there is never a dull moment when we are all together and no, you won't get a word in edgewise. But I guarantee you lots of laughs.

We've been there for each other in good times and bad times. There have been times when we weren't talking to each other but we have always picked right up and continued on. We have each other's backs. Recently, we came through our latest fire together and we are as strong as ever.

This fall, the 3 Musketeers are embarking on Chicago.
We are gonna tear this town up!!!

Great Party

A few weeks ago, I went to a birthday party for MAM's little girl. I felt so comfortable there. Why? Because I had met everyone before. Of the 5 or so couples present, I had met them all, except for the boyfriend of MAM's babysitter - and I might I have him before or just seems that way from conversations with her babysitter.

There are very few places I go these days where I know all of the players and they know me. And not that pseudo knowing that comes from following each other's blogs. The knowing that comes from breaking bread with people.

I've said this before and I'm going to say it again. I'm really grateful to MAM for opening her life and her heart to me and for making my transition to ChiTown much smoother.

Mommy's Girlfriends

The other day, Mini Me made a comment about 'Mommy's girlfriends'. I was curious who she would say were my friends so I asked her. I thought for sure, she would say MAM, or Maddie's mommy or JuJu's mommy. After much deliberation, Mini Me could not come up with one name. How sad is that?!!

It dawned on me that most of my girlfriend time comes when the kids are in bed, with their dad, or at school. My knitting/crochet group is on evenings when they are getting ready for bed. When I go visit MAM, it's usually just me. And she probably thinks play dates with Maddie's mommy or JuJu's mommy is for them - she doesn't realize she gets to play with the kids because I'm friends with their mommies.

I'm not the greatest at calling friends or going shopping with them (I hate shopping), or just hanging out. I think having friends when we all have kids is different. You both have school events, kids' bedtimes, husbands, work, volunteer commitments. I'm not great at hanging out or talking every week, but I do keep in touch via social media and texting. Every now and then we'll get on the phone and talk for about an hour.

Shows like SATC2 and Desperate Housewives, make me long for a core group of women I see all the time. But then I watch Housewives of Orange County, or New York or Atlanta and I am thrilled to not have to deal with that drama!! LOL!!

I have a great core group of ladies that I love to be with and share our lives with. Fortunately, they are as busy as I am and don't seem to mind that we have to fit each other in. But as a female, I need to model good, strong female relationships for my daughter. This is something I need to work on for my friends, for my daughter and for me.

Reunited and it feels so good!!

This is me in grade 9 or 10 with my friend Churcher. I had good times with Churcher. We used to volunteer at the hospital every Friday after school to deliver flowers to patients. I got involved and suckered her in some how. Not sure how I managed it. We were supposed to be Candy Stripers. You know, pink and white striped dress, ankle socks. Well, Churcher was not exactly the dress wearing type. We very soon began wearing blue jackets instead.

I met Churcher in grade 8 when her family lived in our school area. I remember how excited she was when she won a battle to attend our high school. Churcher took a couple city buses every day to get to school. We lost touch after grade 12. I have missed this girl for all these years and wondered where she was and what happened to her.

Months ago, I commented on this photo of Churcher posted by a mutual high school friend, basically asking if anyone knew what happened to her. This week, the mutual friend's sister works with Churcher and passed on my email address and I exchanged emails with Churcher tonight. How awesome is that?!!

Truthful Tuesday - MAM

I have this friend that I really like and finally got to spend about an hour or so with yesterday at a coffee shop in Oak Park. You see, MAM has deserted me in the city and has moved to Oak Park. I can't say I didn't see this coming. Afterall, I met her through her blog post on Chicago Mom's Blog when she talked about their plans to move to the suburbs. I just thought it would have taken a few more years to happen.

MAM and her partner, Math Wiz sold their amazing penthouse in the city that I really, really wish we were in a financial position to have purchased as it is in the most perfect part of town for us and I do love rooftop decks and wide open living spaces with Brazilian Cherry floors and, to be honest, the designation of 'penthouse' doesn't hurt one's ego either. Abandoning the city, they moved to Oak Park for it's wide treelined streets, family and stroller friendly sidewalks, homes set back from the road, proximity to the university at which they profess, and the great big homes that you can renovate and make perfect for you to live in for the next 30 years. Chicago has all of this but for some odd reason, they didn't want to spend $1.5 million to attain it.

MAM loves Oak Park and for this I am so happy. A book could be written about the drama they endured when selling said condo/penthouse and trying to purchase - with CASH - another home. You would think a seller hearing the words 'cash sale' in a down economy would skip hop to the closing table. These Oak Park people own the term 'pride of ownership' let me tell you. If MAM wrote a book about it - and she is a published author with a wikipedia page devoted to her, so she could easily do so - no one would believe it to be true. If I hadn't been privy to the torment and tears, I might wonder myself.

At any rate, MAM is loving Oak Park and hanging in there as a new mom for the 2nd time. It was great to sit and chat and get crochet ideas and advice from her. I practically had to arm wrestle the woman to let me pay for a cup of tea for her. Why was it so important to me? Reciprocity. You can't leave MAM's home with just what you walked in with. I have plants, yarn, crochet needles, books, Vermouth ("I like to have a home that has Vermouth in the pantry"), you name it. Yesterday, I bought MAM chai, but left with a little Valentines' pail and coloring pages and cookie cutter for Mini Me and a space heater for my office. She's not quite like a mom figure, maybe more like my mom's best friend, only she can't be because she is younger than me and has never met my mom.

I think I might be rambling. However, I do want to be sure you realize how special MAM is and if you ever get the chance to meet her, you will figure this out sometime between the delicious and exotic food she feeds you and upon arriving at your vehicle with your arms fuller than when you knocked upon her door.

Letter to Our Roomie

Our friend moved in for 4 days while between homes.

Here is a letter I wrote him the night he arrived.

Hi Roomie!!!

Welcome to Widney Loft!

If you promise to make yourself at home, we will promise to keep our clothes on when walking in common areas.

Sorry about the pink sheets, Dude. Washer is broken. Please enjoy the mints on your pillows in lieu of ironed pillowcases/sheets. There are 4 pillows on the bed. 2 are flat and firmer. 2 are soft and fluffy.  Like mine and J’s tummies - before and after.

If you need an iron, the ironing board is in between the big and small hall closets. The iron is in the big closet with the coats, at the top in a bin, marked – get this: Iron. Feel free to take it all and leave it setup in your room. You can also throw clothes in dryer on ‘dewrinkle setting’ with a Bounce dryer sheet. I should go make sure none of my undergarments are in there. Wouldn’t want to traumatize a boy.

Motor Mouth’s closet door fell off yesterday and J has not been home long enough for me to tell him about it and get it fixed. But that just gives you a better view of the shirt and pant hangers you are welcome to use.

There is a welcome ‘basket’ in your bathroom. Feel free to help yourself to what you need. The glass shelves are there for you to put your toiletries on. The kids know not to touch that stuff. There is a shower caddy just for you as well. If you need extra toilet paper or a make up mirror or something else, check under the sink. Might be there. If not, I have extras of stuff. Just ask.

Help yourself to whatever food you find. Waffles in the freezer. Syrup in the pantry on the lowest shelf. Don’t eat the salad in the crisper. That stuff went bad. And you wonder why we are fat? No eat-y the salad-y.

There is a key on this letter. Try it in the entry door downstairs. I hope it works. The guy screwed up 2 of the other keys he made for us.

Sometimes brick dust falls on Motor Mouth’s head at night. Think of it as fairies sprinkling fairy dust on your dreams. Instead of sugar plums dancing, think tuck pointing.

The TV in your room does not have cable. Use the black DVD player on top of the TV. Mini Me broke the TV/DVD part. You want? I sell her for cheap. Motor Mouth has 2 DVD cases on his shelf. They might be of interest.  Feel free to use the cleared off space on the shelving unit. I wouldn’t use the alarm clock… It’s set to turn on/off with the light switch. Do you see the problem that would cause in the morning?

Enjoy the U2 concert if I don’t see you!

A Great Week!

I've been a bit busy this week. Haven't really had time to blog. One of my best friends from Oklahoma came to visit with her son. For Kai's birthday, Aubdog took him on his very first airplane ride - to Chicago!! I can't tell you how much it means to me that she chose to visit us for Kai's birthday week. Kai and Motor Mouth were best buds in Oklahoma. It was a great week!

Here are just a few of the places we managed to visit:

Aubdog at Oprah's Studios

Pritzker Auditorium

The Bean

Artwork at Millenium Park

Playing in Crown Fountain

Wrigley Field

Lego Store

Carousel at Navy Pier

Apple Store

I made Chicago Style Pancakes

Ferris Wheel, Sears Tower, 

Hancock Building, Cubs, J, Dinosaur

LegoLand

4D Theatre at LegoLand

The boys slept HARD after LegoLand

Family Matters House

Chicago Style Pizza at Lou Malnati's

2 Handsome young men

Navy Pier

Playing in Fountains outside Navy Pier

Kai's first bus ride - stood like a pro!

At the Big, Glass McDonald's