Still I Rise

Regardless of what life throws at me, it doesn't matter.

Regardless of what time of day or night the messy life stuff comes, I know that Still I Rise.

Am I a Creeper?

So.....We needed binoculars for a theme luncheon at work. I asked several staffers of they would please bring in their binoculars. Does everyone only have itty bitty binoculars? Am I the only one with huge ones?

J bought me binoculars so I can look in the windows of neighbors across the way and to see into the offices in the Sears Tower. But now, I'm actually feeling like a creeper 'cause now I see how little everyone else's binoculars are. Not gonna stop me from creeping though...

Pinterest

I avoided Pinterest for at least the past year. I ran from it. I bad mouthed it. I foo-fooed it. And now I LOVE it!!!

What did we DO before Pinterest? Seriously? How did we live? Where did we get great ideas? How did we keep them all in one place?

I am oh. so. smitten. with. Pinterest.

Please don't ask me what my Board or name or whatever you call it is on Pinterest. I don't know. I go in through Facebook and hit a button. Or I just hit a button on my iPhone. I'm WidneyWoman on Twitter. I think I'm hooked up that way so maybe try to follow me there. And please don't send me instructions. I've decided I'm over 40 and I can be one of those old people that doesn't understand the new technology thingyies.

Gotta go! Pinterest is calling me....

Knowing Me, Knowing You - August 2012

This is formerly the monthly getting to know you meme that my dear friend, The Fairy Blogmother used to post, well, monthly. Technically, she posted this May. I'm just getting around to seeing and posting it here. Ooopsy! Fairy Blogmother devises and posts the questions and I post my answers. 

1. For you married folk out there.... Where is your wedding dress?
Repurposed as a dedication/christening gown for Mini Me. J designed it, his aunt sewed it. Mini Me wore it. Now it languishes in her closet. Next to her birth mother's communion dress.

2. Do you or have you played any organized sports?
I used to play volleyball, basketball, ran track, did long jump, and high jump. I actually have some awards for doing well in that stuff. As an adult I did 5K, 10K, and half-marathons plus one biathlon (running and bike 'cause I can't swim) for which I have some lovely t-shirts and a few finisher medals.

3. What is your favourite kind of muffin?
I prefer my muffin top. It's with me all the time.

4. Started Christmas shopping yet?
Heck no!

5. The funniest show on TV right now is.......
Absolutely nothing. It's summer and the getting is not good. Pretty much don't watch TV in the summer.

So, head on over to the Fairy Blog Mother to see her answers!

13 Years

Yesterday was our 13th wedding anniversary.

Our thoughts on marriage have changed so very much since then. I could write a book about.

The Godfather 2012

A few months ago, the kids' godfather came to town on business. Our kids LOVE their Papa Martian. 

Motor Mouth and Mini Me have really grown in to delightful creatures that can carry on engaging conversations with adults.

Did I tell you how much my kids love their godfather?

It's mutual.

Japanese Jewel

A couple of months back, we visited a city treasure. Modeled after a Japanese garden, the Osaka Gardens are peaceful and tranquil. They are hidden behind the Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park. 

Absolutely beautiful. And free.

Cool Kids

I love my kids. They are WAY cooler than I could have ever hoped to be at any time during my youth or childhood.

Ready for school.

Playing dress up around the loft.

Freedom Now

My kids are amazing. They are great kid. 

Polite. Friendly. Engaging. Humorous. Smart.

Delightful.

These pics mean so much more to me now.

My children are safe at home with us. 

They are truly free.

Thankful Thursday: Welcome Home!

I was so happy to have my husband and kiddos come home that I made it special for them.

To make sure it all went well, I set it all up (except for the food) two whole days before!

I love my husband and our children. They are the most important and precious people I have the honor of being loved by. Knowing my children are back home, where they belong, and safe is everything to me. 

Daniel Burnham

I've been meaning to blog this for months. 

Motor Mouth did an AMAZING job presenting on Daniel Burnham.

Motor Mouth built the display and memorized the details he researched. 

Wacky Wednesday: Mini Me & Mommy

Having fun with my baby girl!!!

And my boy!

Glasses - Pt. 1

Mini Me had some minor difficulty in school this year. Fortunately for her teachers, for us, and for Mini Me, the girl is eloquent. 

Basically, the teachers would write words and letters on the whiteboard and the students were required to write them down. Her teachers found that Mini Me was taking longer than most students. They were concerned as Mini Me was doing well in all other areas. 

One day, Mini Me said, "The letters on the board look like they are having a play date." I have three dear friends who are optometrists. After talking to my friend, Dr. C., she suggested I talk to Dr. V, an acquaintance of mine. 

Dr. V. saw Mini Me and did a number of tests. She specializes in little kids.  Mini Me needs glasses to look at the whiteboard. And she needs to do eye therapy to strengthen her eyes. Basically, most people have the ability to adjust from seeing far and seeing up close but Mini Me needs a little bit of help to work on this. 

Mini Me needs glasses but...not these glasses!

Tower Shadow

I love that my kids are learning to ride their bikes in the shadow of the Sears Tower!

Official Artist

Motor Mouth is officially an artist!

He drew the picture below while standing on our balcony

railing and looking at the Chicago skyline.

One of our neighbors, an artist, purchased this drawing for $20.

Our little artist.

And his first $20 as an artist.

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!

Bikes Held Hostage

There was a bit of drama surrounding our kids' bikes...

The kids' bikes were held hostage in our locker room because I lost the combination to the bike locks. For a year and a half...

Anyway, we needed bolt cutters. No one in had a pair - well, I'm sure Home Depot does. 

A couple of Fridays ago, I asked a new co-worker is married to a fireman if her husband might have bolt cutters in his trunk. No such luck but he hooked me up with our local fire station. A fireman came over and rescued the bikes from their locks!

We had a great family time.

Pritzker in June

One of our favorite things to do in Chicago is to grab a blanket and enjoy the free concerts at Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. 

Desi Book Club - #1

I wanted to join the new Oak Park chapter of the Desi Book Club but just didn't have the time to read the book. But then I hung out with MAM at her place and it was book club time so I got to join in - even though I had not read "The Palace of Illusions" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.

At the start of the meeting, everyone went around and introduced themselves. Of the nine women, there were 2 medical doctors, 2 psychologists, 2 PhDs, a receptionist, and me (admissions and marketing director). Clearly, I was in good company should I collapse or go crazy.


In addition to being incredibly smart and accomplished, these ladies had beautiful, melodic names: 
Dipika, Shakuntala, Gauri, Surinder, and Bashanti.

I could have stayed and listened to the stories about their lives and careers and volunteer work all evening but we were there to discuss "The Palace of Illusions." It sounds like a fascinating book told from a unique perspective - that of Panchaali, married to 5 royal husbands who were cheated out of their father's kingdom. The story takes us back to a time that is half history, half myth, and wholly magical, giving new voice to the epic Mahabharata. Epics are often told from the voice or viewpoint of men. Divakaruni's book is interesting because it is from the female viewpoint.

Now I have the book and the time so I plan to read this fascinating story and see for myself what these women were raving about.

Lofty Goals

This summer, I have very lofty goals. The children are gone for 8 weeks again. I would like to spend that time writing, reading, being more intentional about creative inspiration and enjoying my husband - not necessarily in that order.

Reading

I’ve joined a Desi Book Club. I’m part Indian on my father’s side so I qualify. We meet monthly. The books selections are by Desi authors. I’ll be blogging about my first Desi meeting soon.

I want to learn more about the Hindu faith. My dear friend, MAM, is South Asian and has frequent socials that have enabled me to meet many people who are Hindu. And, interestingly enough, I meet many Hindu families who want to send their children to the private Christian school where I am the admissions and marketing director. It makes sense for me to know more about this faith.

And I am just simply interested in Kaballah and Buddhism. My plan is to read a Kaballah book I was given and to attend some of their meetings. I would like to read about Buddhism. If time permits, I'd like to visit a Hindu temple and a mosque this summer.

Writing

It is time to add the next installment to the short story I began last summer. I have been mulling over the ending and how I think it should play out. It’s called, “ – wait. I can’t tell you the title. I hope to get it published one day but I will have to do so under a different name because it is scandalous! Hahaha!!!

It is also time to do some editing on an adoption short story that needs to be extended to book format. I’ve been mulling over what changes need to be made and I think I have the writing chops now to do it greater justice.

I also want to blog more.  Blogging brings out my creative juices.

Creativity

I want to take more photos of the things that inspirte me. I could spend days taking photos of all kinds of stuff at MAM’s home.  She inspires me. I also want to take photos of things in the city that inspire me. I got the idea from a webinar for creatives. I need to keep my creative juices flowing to do marketing effectively in my job.

Love J

I also plan to spend lots of time hanging out with my husband. This solo time is such a gift for us. No plans on turning on the TV this summer!

What are your summer plans/goals?