What I Learned From Irene

• no storm will ever be big enough, or cause enough damage for all people to call it note worthy. People up here seem to forget that the people that lived through Katrina didn't think that storm would be as bad as it was. Just because you didn't suffer doesn't mean others aren't. All you have to do is look at the state of Connecticut with most of our electricity out, and tons of live wires/trees/utility poles across streets.
• Have a back up plan. We were supposed to have a party Saturday night but had to cancel. We went to the movies instead. On the way home I had a mini heart attack when we heard the emergency broadcast system come on the radio declaring tornado watches in the area. We needed an emergency plan in place. Where's the safest spot in the house to sleep? Who gets which kid when something goes down? Where do we go if our house gets damaged in the storm? and so on and so forth
• The worst part of no electricity isn't no tv, or having to go to bed early--it is NOTHING cold to drink! I would have sold anything for ice the other day--ANYTHING.
• When over 50% of your town is without electricity don't even try to get drive-thru coffee the next day, or think you can feed your kids breakfast by sitting in one of these places. Wall to wall people on computers, and a line out the door.
• It's good to meet your neighbors and know names prior to a large storm. Maybe being forced to talk to them at the bus stop won't be such a bad thing
• Be thankful there are utility workers that are willing to work long hours, and risk their lives in order to bring us light. They have families at home in this state too.
• Smartphones/I Pads are a life saver when there is no electricity--who would have thought! They totally needed these bad boys in the 1800's
• Have a plan for after the storm. Prepare to have no power. Where to go with kids? How to navigate around town with closed streets? Best bet is always highway since they are cleared first. The mall play area saved us sanity the other day
• Cereal isn't really helpful as a non perishable meal if you only eat it with cold milk. I found this out the hard way
• Doing makeup in the dark and then leaving your house willingly clearly means desperate times for desperate measures
• WHY oh why must we lose days already at the end of the school year and the nasty Winter hasn't even hit! Nor do when know when school will actually start.
• The world goes on no matter what is going on in your neck of the woods! Beyonce and Jay-Z having a baby WHAAAAAATTT????
• It is hard for even those of us on Weight Watchers to ride out the storm without chocolate. Since we have no electricity to use our treadmill, will exercise our right to chew. Thus setting ourselves up for hours of work out time when Mr Edison appears again.
• Irene is a terrible name. Rylan announced he renamed it "Pooh Bear" and has since refereed to it as that. He gets all sorts of pissed off if you call it Irene.
• Last but not least--I feel so bad for those newsman on the beaches falling over just to get a "shot" of the ocean. I mean really--is a paycheck worth looking like that on national tv? Talk about low man on the totem pole in the newsroom.

Irene "the no big deal storm" WAS a BIG DEAL

So this is what our street and backyard looked like post Irene:



I'd like to dedicate them to all the jackasses who keep referring to this storm as no big deal. It WAS a big deal for a lot of people, and if you can say it was a "joke" well then count your blessings-you were lucky.

We were quite lucky actually. It doesn't look like it, but we were. First of all we were all safe, we had no damage to our property, and this flooding only lasted a day. Secondly we only lost power for two days, and thanked God for the electrical workers who worked day and night to get it done (another thing that is driving me NUTS --people complaining that they aren't working fast enough--the ENTIRE state is in need!--and it is not some easy job). Lastly--we lost NO groceries. NONE. My in laws had electricity threw out and we got to transfer most of it. PLUS our big freezer that was locked up in our garage that we couldn't get to, stayed cold thanks to party ice we had in there in hopes or hosting a party last weekend. At the end of the day we lost Popsicles and some Bacardi mixers. God is good.

I can tell you this--I, along with many other New Englanders, will not take electricity for granted!

Where we are at

Still out of power. Thank GOD for Ipads/smartphones to keep connected even when the lights are off. We took pictures of our neighborhood witch was flooded and damaged but I am unable to upload the photos right now. So I will share with you a video circulating local Facebookers of what our area looks like:

Many people complained the storm was such a joke, but when you see some of the damage done that I have seen you realize it was not. It is easy to complain about not having electricity (believe I am -- trying to do my makeup in the dark just doesn't work), but the truth of the matter is, I am thankful we are safe.

Almost In The Eye Of Irene

It is official. Irene's eye is about to come over us in about two hours. We are already feeling its nasty affects. Our road is closed due from flooding, and the worst hasn't even hit! Thankfully, and luckily (since most of my town doesn't), we still have our electricity. It is still so unnerving as an adult to sit and wait for the "happen" to happen.

As a kid I remember riding out hurricane Gloria in my hometown in Rhode Island. It seemed so fun! Prepping by helping my Mom duct tape the windows, and gather items. Lights out, games by the candles, and all of us huddled around a radio listening for the news. I remember the next day going out and picking up all the branches all over our yard and thinking it was so "cool" to have witnessed it.

My how different it is as a parent and a responsible adult. The running of the never ending list in my head:

are we safe here, if all else fails where do we go for the most safety in our home, did we get everything outside, are the people on our street safe, do we have enough water, candles, flashlights, batteries, how long does stuff last in the fridge if the power goes out, will I have to toss hundreds of dollars worth of groceries, what will I feed the family if we can't cook, is the bath tub filled for bathing and flushing, and the list goes on and on and on and on....

The most important is the first thought: stay safe. I pray for those of you that are about to get this thing along with us that we are all in the arms of safety!

State Of Emergency

State. Of. Frenzy.

This town, this state, this entire east coast, is all up'n arms about the Irene.

I get it. Heck I was at the store buying bread, milk, and water too. However, there is a fine line between prepping and going "end of the world" BERSERK!

I am more pissed that mother nature f'd up my only adult party of the Summer that was supposed to take place this weekend. I saved weight watcher points to enjoy myself, and stocked up on sale items that my pretty new fridge is brimming with. All of which should go down the shit hole if we lose power for more then a day. Instead of setting up the fire pit for s'mores, I am putting everything in the yard into our garage. What the heck do you do with a gazillion of chocolate bars, marshmallows, and graham crackers during a hurricane?

A better question is what do you do with a 2 and 5 yr old when the electricity goes out AND you can't go outside? Pete and I might just have a round of indoor, candle lit drinking games if times get rough.

With all honesty, I am gathering anything will be better then the last state of emergency I lived through. The Black Out of 2003 in NYC. HORRIBLE. I was working in Brooklyn at the time and living in Manhattan on the Upper East Side. There was no way I could get home unless I walked the Brooklyn bridge and hours up Manhattan. Since I was wearing heels that day it was impossible. Luckily a co-worker took me into his girlfriends home which was in the heart of the worst streets in Brooklyn. We sat outside listening to gun shots and looting. Finally at 2:30 am they opened up one of the tunnels into the city and my co-workers friend drove me into the city but dropped me off three avenues away because I only had 5 dollars to give him. I had to walk in PITCH black, no street lights, middle of the night, in a skirt and heels all the way home with just a cell phone light. I literally ran the entire way when I started getting harassed on the streets. It was not safe. When I finally got to my building (with thanks to no electricity was no longer locked, and had NO emergency lights inside), I had to get on my hands and knees and feel my entire way up 9 flights of stairs. My cell phone died in the midst of this, and I was worried people could be in the stair wells since the building was not locked. Thankfully I made it home safely. When I think of this story I think if there was ever a time to go BERSERK it was that one. Not now, just prepared. A few prayers don't hurt either in either case. It just goes to show you sometimes you can prepare for things and sometimes you can't.

Stay Safe East Coasters. May you win at drunken' UNO by candlelight.

Buying Personal Items In Small Town America

Sometimes pharmacy shopping can get a little hairy.

Example:

I enter CVS with spy eyes looking for people I know. It looks like I am in the clear. I grab a very distinctive box and try to cover it up with my hand. Nobody enjoys actually buying these things, as it screams out what you are about to go home and do. You are almost in the clear as there is just one person in front of you in the check out line. And then... crap... you notice someone walking towards you smiling that you haven't seen in a while. It then starts to be a second by second through down. Will the person be checked out in time for you to toss "more then the public needs to know" box at cashier, or will you have to explain the box with "we've been really busy this summer..ha ha ha"?

Friend says : "Aimee haven't seen you in awhile what have you been up too?"

Me (forcing box under my armpit in hopes the label isn't screaming out 2 lines verses 1): "Oh nothing but I gotta run"(as cashier frees up her station I toss box in the air).

Cashier smiles. Same cashier I have bought a million embarrassing things from before.

I pray the "please don't say anything. or ask me questions" prayer.

I pay and turn to friend feeling safe that the box is now in a see through CVS bag (seriously they should have a brown bag option). I try to make a stellar exit but run into a large container of candy while telling friend it was so good to see her.

I come home to get confirmation that Momma's June Bugs will not have to be renamed Momma's June Bugs Plus A May Flower. One line feels like victory since the other two two-liners are running down the hallway screaming as I pee on a stick.

I was concerned that my kidney stone long winded episodes this past week might have been something else. My doctor seemed so convinced that it could be that something else by taking a blood test. However, I am luckily, willing and able, to still hand over all baby equipment to my sister without needing it any time soon...or quite possibly ever.

It is moments like these that you realize a). I might REALLY be done. The "what have I done here" worry sure makes you look at it in a different perspective then holding a cute cuddly newborn with aching ovaries. And b.) when buying such items you don't want to be caught with, maybe you should opt for buying in another town you do not know a soul in.

That Time Of The Year

Pete called me up today with a fact he learned on the radio on his way to work. "Do you know what the #1 most stressful job for a women is?". UM YEAHHHHHHH. "A stay at home Mom" (he says with surprising amazement). Us stay at home Moms aren't so surprised are we?

So here we are. The weather seems to be easing us into Fall. When I drive by our local orchard, the apples are hanging off the trees, and signs of pumpkins are peeking out. I am counting the days for Starbucks to release the Pumpkin Spice Latte (and yes I voted for it to come to my hometown first--although I am sure we can't compete with the latte lovers of NYC!). I bought a pumpkin candle, and a cider donut one too (if you haven't smelt this awesome Yankee Candle you MUST!). And ... well... school is about to start.

Every year I get sad at the start of school because I wish I was setting up my classroom, and about to meet my new class for the year. First day of school buses make me cry, and I so badly long to get back in the game. Sadly, in this economy, many of us do. There just isn't enough jobs for the many, many teachers/school social workers out of work. Alas... I sub for another year. Another year to attend all of my kids things at school that are scheduled during the day, and another year to enjoy my time with my 2 year old, not so entirely bad. However, I am sure the buses will make me cry again for more reasons then just this one.

People. My child, my sweet sweet baby boy, is going to be a Kindergartner. GULP. (just writing this makes me want to yack). He doesn't seem to know the enormity of this, as he is currently spider hunting in our backyard unaware his Summer vacation days are numbered. I, on the other hand, am counting down wish anxious, hold your breath, "I think I am going to puke" feeling.

I am in overdrive this week. What have I missed doing with Rylan over vacation that we have to fit in? Who haven't we've seen? What do I have to get for him in preparation for next week? Holy God he is going to eat lunch somewhere other then home (I am sure he will be living off of Cheetos and ice cream for weeks to come). We must go over and over washing our hands after bathroom, pulling up our underwear so parts don't hang out, and making sure we don't disrespect the teacher by doing the "repeat" game (all of you with 5 year old boys must know what this means. Parent says "it's time to go to bed" child says in mocking voice "it's time to go to bed" and the game goes on). Teaching him about bullying, and standing up for what is right. Be a good friend. Play fair. Don't cry unless you are hurt--tantrums are no longer cool in Kindergarten. What will he wear for the first day? Crap does going to the bus stop mean I have to actually TALK to all of my neighbors BEFORE I have caffeine in me? How will he do with full day K? Will he want to go to bed at 6pm? How will he wake up by 7 am if he gets up at 8am now? And the list goes on and on and on..... A mother's mind never sleeps.

Never mind the start of school schedule of people, places, and things to do. One evening in September doesn't only have ONE parent open house for us, but TWO. Addison is going to a 2's program for half of a day this year to practice being away from me, and her social skills. Already we are dealing with a situation that Pete and I have to split up in order to be two places at once. The question is who goes to which?

This is why I have kidney stones people.

This weekend I was whacked down with my evil kidney stones that only appear in times of craze. It is only when I am stressed out, and not drinking enough water. I haven't had a bought with them since the night before the first day of school 6 years. Yep. I missed the first day of school. My third graders has a sub on the very first day. I have been lucky in the past years not to have a recurrence, and thankful that his weekends episode didn't put me in the hospital, but man.... they are so NOT cool.

So amidst my "to do" list a mile and a half long with preparation of back to school next week, I am also writing "drink water" in between each of them. Which means this week I will be spending it mostly in the bathroom peeing.

In the meantime, you can find me on the corner of my street next week crying while putting my Kindergartner on the bus, that I am not teaching full time this year, and that I am having to socialize at an ungodly hour with my neighbors minus caffeine.

The worst part of it all is this is the first step to Winter coming. Which means we should probably invest in a good roof rake while we can. Oh and some strong anti-depressants for me.

On the up swing.... then there will be Gingerbread Lattes!

Christmas shopping anyone?

Instant

I was caught off guard when Addison looked up at me and pointed saying "Blue". I shook my head yes, as she then pointed to something else and said "green". Wow I thought, how did she learn her colors when I have been so neglectful on teaching her this?

Here's the thing about having two kids, you sorta slip by the way side with the 2nd go round. It's considered a miracle if you keep both kids happy and healthy by the end of the day, never mind one on one learning time.

This Summer has been saturated with one on one time with Rylan. While Addison sleeps we have been sitting down practicing writing, cutting, numbers, and all that good stuff to get Kindergarten off to the right foot. Today we were doing a maze that contained shapes. I kiddingly said "That is a funny shape". He looked at me like I had five heads and said, "Mom that's a hexagon". Hold up. Wait a minute. When did five year olds learn about hexagons? My how times have changed. I was lucky I knew what a triangle was when I was his age.

So naturally when Addison is blurting out colors I never taught her I took note. Except about a half hour later, she is sitting on the floors counting. I know what you are thinking. Oh "1, 2, 3... how cute". Um. No. She did "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11". WHERE did she learn that?Astonished yet again. I took note.

I was dressing her for bed and she looked at me and requested the potty. She has done this before, and has done nothing more then run around naked and pee on the floor. Suddenly she was sitting AND peeing. WHAT!

And if that was enough of my children startling me today, we snuggled in bed. We went through the list of people that love her. I told her God loved her. She smiled, looked up to the sky and said "Love you God. Goodnight God". (I swear to you I never discussed this with her before)

I go to sleep amazed tonight.

In an instant my kids are growing up. In a matter of days I will have a son that is a Kindergartner and probably crying my eyes out. I then will be sending my daughter to a 2's preschool program and wondering what the heck happened to my babies.

Friends Of 40

Sometimes I forget I am old, and I truly believe I can still do the things I did when I was twenty. What a mistake this always is, as clearly that ship has been sailed Aimee (like 10+ years ago).

This weekend we enjoyed a dinner with friends that included a cocktail. 1 cocktail. I wasn't stumbling, or about to jump up on tables doing pelvic thrusts. I just had 1 (very strong) cocktail. Surely I could handle such a drink called "Splash Colda" martini. I went home feeling just fine, and thanks to Weight Watcher points and the ungodly amount of points alcohol equals, I only had 1 drink.

The next day I am reminded just how much my life has changed. I felt sluggish, hung-over, and wanting to sleep the day away. Over 1 drink? Yep. It is official. I just can't do it anymore. Lucky for me my kids were at my inlaws and I had time to recover, except for one minor detail (enter me not thinking I am old), I had a party to attend to that night. I rallied and got there after my husband lured me in with "We can stop at Ikea on the way", and me thinking "crap I used to do this all the time in my 20's. Go out all weekend was the only way to do it--you got this Aimee". So off I went to someones 40th birthday party.

I didn't know anyone and fully expected everyone to be .... brace yourself... OLD. Clearly a 40th birthday party means old people right? Grey hair & canes. What a surprise it was to see that the wives of the husbands were my age! GASP--AIMEE YOU ARE OLD. Clearly I can't handle the truth. I must readjust my brain thinking and realize 40 is actually in my "age group". (just typing this makes me want to weep and buy hair dye).

What I have learned:

I can not drink like I used to because:

a. my age

b. my metabolism

c. I rarely do it since I am no longer a pelvic thrusting table hopping twenty something single gal.

I can not go out like I used to because:

d. all of the above.

My brain thinks a 40 yr old party is "old people", which is CAR--RAZYYYY because:

a. I have 6 yrs until I am 40

b. my own husband is 40!

c. 20 yr olds now make my eyes roll (seriously was I that stupid and annoying? YES and YES)

There is a lesson to be learned in all this besides a wake up call that my clock is ticking and I am older then my brain allows me to think I am. I think the lesson is life is way to fast, so much so not even our brains can catch up with our age in years. Rylan asked Pete's Grandma this weekend if she was old. Mind you, sweet Caroline is turning 89 this September! She says "I am NOT old Rylan. I am young". She means it! She truly believes she is young, still drives, still travels, and has no surrender to age. You never hear her say "I am to old and can't do...xyz". Homegirl does it all.

I think if my brain is stuck at age 20 then maybe I will end up like Grandma Caroline. Living life until the day I die thinking/feeling I am young. When you do this, you seem to live it fully, and accept nothing less for yourself.

So my friends of 40, go out and have 1 drink, be hung over, just make sure you drink lemonade the next night. Make sure to take time out for fun even if your old bones feel like sleeping instead. It does help to take a trip to Ikea before hand. It also helps to watch your husband hula dance at said party (I kid you not).

Age is just a number. A number some of us need to be reminded of every now and then.

An Internet Tell Off

I'll admit it--I cringe when I see a school aged child swinging in a baby swing. Especially when there is a park filled with wee ones waiting for that seat. Today, however, there was no one waiting in the lurches, and my five year old wanted to be pushed. Seeing as the baby swing was not situated next to the "big kid" swings and Addie wanted to be pushed, something had to give. I let my five year old go in the baby swing while the hairs on my neck stood up, and thought--ahh such is life. No big deal.

A smiley mother approached with a few kids, and I asked Ry to get out of the baby swing to allow the younger girl to climb into her appropriately aged swing. We make small chatter, and she looks over at her elder daughter and gives her a stern talking to about how to "pump" on a swing. I continue to push Ry, and run over to push Addie two swings down. In between Rylan practices his pumping skills, and declares he is going into Kindergarten and his teacher will not push him. I have been telling him this all summer so that he continues to work at the art of pumping, meanwhile knowing he has a list of more vital things to be practicing for his preparation into K.

Smiley Mom says "Oh wow he is 5. Why am I bothering with my kid if yours is 5 and can't do it".

ummmm. First of all you don't know me. Second of all you don't know my child. Third of all SHUT UP.

I try to brush it off by saying "why do it when you have a Mom to push you". She goes on, "Well can he write his name? Does he tie his shoes?"....

Seriously I was about (thisclose) to getting in her face and saying WHO ARE YOU?

I am sensitive to this. My kid has worked his ass to be where he is. He hasn't had a Summer vacation of two months because he continues to be working his tail off in order to be where he needs to be. What may seem socially acceptable to parents that have had children without any developmental concerns, is grossly unacceptable for those of us who have went to bed at night sobbing wondering if our kids will ever get there.

I know this would have bothered me much more when Rylan was two and in the thick of it. I shouldn't let this bother me so much because I know he is on grade level, and last time I checked pushing my kid on the swings doesn't have age limits (although baby swings do! And I own it--I purely did that today for my own convenience). Do I coddle him a bit? Yes. Why? because he has needed me every step of the way, and I will do it all of his life if he needs me to.

I didn't say anything to smiley Mom. She went on to picking on Addison. She asked how old she is. I told her. She says "God she is huge. Or maybe it is all that hair. Makes her look older then she is. At least my two year old looks two". I was about (thisclose) of telling her that's great but it is a shame "her two year old" will never be as cute as mine especially with a face like her mothers. (that would have been such a good comeback right?)

Sometimes it is hard to keep composure. It's hard to be the adult. It is hard to realize not everyone (even if they are fellow Moms) know how to act the part. Why must life always be a check list of competition with other women? High school never seizes, and sometimes I wish I could return to my sixteen year old self and say what I really feel. Then I look at pony tails in the breeze on my "huge two year old", and a smile across my "five year old that can't pump" boys face asking me to push "higher", and I remember, they are watching, listening, and learning.

Instead, smiley Mom, you get this post. May you find it, and learn your f'n manners jerk face.

It's Official....

...She is old enough to have a big girl room:

Summer Low Down: Update on things I should have updated

This is the post that probably contains about a Summer's worth of posts. Just bare with me. I have been in blog neglect. I need to re-love my blog, and make time for it. (I almost wrote make out with it by accident but I am guessing that would be hard to do-or maybe not--hmmmm).

Where to start?

Oh you are wondering where our Sesame Place photos are from our vacation there back at the end of June? ... um...yeah so am I. I have yet to upload them, share them, or print them. I do have a good reason though--my hard drive is full and I need to unload before I reload. However, that really isn't a good excuse since I just found out I had said computer problem last week. So give me a frowny face for being a lazy photo Mommy. Rylan's first year will forever excuse me of this since I uploaded, shared, and printed about 153 photos on a daily basis. No really I did. My friends do no let me live it down. And while we are on the subject I am now wondering what was the last photo-documents event I put up on this bad boy blog. I am guessing I am photo blog fail at this point. (shrug shoulders) ahh well we all gotta start somewhere.

And July? Tell me again what happened in July? I am sitting here fuzzy. Play dates. Camps. Bible school. OH and my awesome trip with fam to Rhode Island which I ...of course... still have no photos to share with you other then this shot:

Which I love, but is also the only one I have made the time to upload and share. I am sure I will get there.

The week before going to Rhode Island we packed our entire first floor up in order to have a floor redone. We had water damage early in the Spring due from a dishwasher kicking the can. Thankfully insurance came to the rescue, and although we have pretty floors now--WOW it was a ton of work. It was like we moved out and back in!

Fast forward to a week after we got our floors done and we returned from vacation. We had to pack up our kitchen for our new appliances. Again, awesome & wonderful (I seriously would hug them if they'd hug me back), but a lot of work to prepare, and then rearrange.

Then enters this past week. Addison got her big girl mattress and box spring. Breaking down her room continued our feel for moving and removing, However, the silver lining is Addie was a gem. She goes to bed easier then her five year old brother. Tomorrow her new furniture gets delivered and hopefully she won't mind being so far off the ground. Before that happens, I have to get up early and remove everything else from her room. This is happening after an entire day of revamping their playroom in order to make it more usable and age appropriate.

And... here we are in August. We have been school shopping, and been practicing writing/cutting/and counting. Rylan has made amazing progress. And I decided we should celebrate with a party.... well ok for ME (I got through teaching my OWN son which is harder then any teacher test I ever took before). Don't worry Rylan will celebrate too when he is sleeping over my in laws and getting spoiled that night. Plus it may be the last weekend I get to eat hard foods!

Why?.... because nothing ends a Summer like an expert telling you that you need surgery. Yep.... my tonsil the size of Texas that sort of looks like bulls balls, are getting evicted. I just found this out today and I keep imagining me wearing a Sponge Bob gown and being sent to the pediatric unit to watch the cartoon network while I recoup. I mean what 34 year old gets there tonsils out? (thumbs to self) This one. The doc didn't hold back that it is 1000 times worse as an adult, that I will be "high" and unable to take care of my children for a few days (much like some people I have known and helped in my life), and in pain for two weeks probably only eating ice cream. I can't decide if this sounds like torture or a forced vacation.

I'm back. Will try my best to be a more dedicated blogger for your enjoyment to mock me, or laugh at or with me. Also because I need to freshen up this hobby of mine in time for next years BlogHer'12 in my favorite city on earth---NYC!!! (2 of my favorite things at once!)

I am off to fondle my new fridge that contains low fat ice cream I can consume thanks to activity points.

WW Know It Alls

It has been a month since I rejoined Weight Watchers and dove into their new Points Plus program. My last and only stint with WW was a few years back on the old plan, and without online tools. After now using the online tools, I wonder how I thought it would ever be possible to do it without! Since I am an online junky, I have only missed one or two days of food journaling online and keeping track of points. It literally has made all the difference and helped make me 6 pounds lighter!

One the of reasons I left WW last time was my experience in the meetings. I felt out of place, unsupported, and as if it was more of popularity contest and less of a support group. I tried to go back this week with an open mind. In the past month I focused on refining my use of e-tools and doing it alone, but I thought "hey maybe the meetings have changed" and I gave it a whirl.

First off, where the heck is the young Momma's in the area trying to lose weight? I felt as if I need to either dye my hair white, grab a cane, or start wearing Chicos clothes and talk of my kids as if they are going to college. However, I could see past age, since with age often comes knowledge, and in this area I need a strong lesson.

Then suddenly I realized over (way over) 50% of the group was grossly obese. This wasn't an issue since this is a place for losing weight support, but.... and this is my BIG but (or BUTT in this case), these ladies acted as if they had a Masters in losing weight. This drove me nuts! They continued to try to one up each other and when I finally opened my mouth I was cut at the knees!

Topic: Snacking

Leader: What types of snacks do you like while on WW?

Me: "Dark Chocolate Almonds. I have a sweet tooth and it not only helps that it is also almonds that will help hold me over til' the next meal!"

Huge know it all lady in the audience: "Well how many points is it?" (in cranky voice and know it all tone--mind you 10-15 people prior to me that gave out snack ideas Nobody asked about points)

Me: "7 for 24 nuts"

Huge Know it all lady in the audience: (before me finishing my sentence cuts me off) "That is a lot of points. I'd rather eat a WW cake for 3 points"

Me: "That's for 24 nuts--WHO eats 24 nuts a sitting? I might eat 24 nuts in a day--which means two snacks worth 3 1/2 points" (meanwhile I am thinking A HELL of a lot healthier then WW chemical crap cakes--but you can't exactly say that at WW)

I go on in the meeting in silence thinking--Way to welcome the newcomer. As this is one example of many that goes down again and again in this tiny half-hour meeting. I'm sorry--how do you have an ass the size of China and have a right to judge others on their snacking? Just saying.

I really believe in the program. I have seen it work, and now that I have been in it for over a month it has become more of a way of life. However, I didn't sign up for cackling hen ladies who treat meetings like newcomers are coming for confessionals and they the judgmental experts (leave it to a bunch of women one uping each other instead of treating it as we all are learners).

I will try another meeting or two in hopes of finding some support and helpful hints to take away. In the meantime I will bask in the online e-tools and the ability to go on the message boards when needing personal interaction.

The Post With No TItle

After my last post my mail box has been over loaded with Halloween costume catalogs, and decor. Although the idea of pumpkin pie, and cider make me smile, I am so not ready for this!

Why is it only the first week of August and everyone around me keeps talking about how Summer if over? Isn't it bad enough we are going school shopping this weekend for school clothes while it feels like 104 degrees outside.

Summer is too short up in this joint. Just wayyyy too short. I am not ready for my binge eating "f--- it is another snow storm lets bake" Winter, I am just losing the weight I gained!

You know what else totally bums a girl like me out besides Summer coming to an end? Not going to BlogHer. My BlogHer buds and I were all gung-ho last Summer when they announced the conference in San Diego. Then suddenly one moved South and the other had a baby, and I was just too broke to go cross country. Now the days are coming to a close and the conference is happening this weekend and I am so bummed not to be there. I am praying to the blogging gods that the conference returns to the east coast next year!

You want to know why I need that conference? No not because I am a blogger or I need the loot of free crap that rocks ones socks! Why? because I am in handwriting HELL over here. We are working hard to get Rylan up to where he needs to be for Kinder, and let me tell you....handwriting without tears program (awesome program by the way), needs to be re-named in my house as handwriting with a LOT of tears, or handwriting Mom's in tears or handwriting Mom need wine! It blows. I would rather teach a classroom of 50 unruly grade schoolers then my 1 and only son. I so wish my sister lived closer so I could pawn him off to her. I am pretty positive he would not try the crap he is pulling on me with anyone else but me. Lucky Me!

Someone SEND ME TO BLOGHER! Or at least tell me Summer isn't over and I have plenty of time to try and make handwriting without tears come true! In the meantime please send wine donations!

ps. Addison goes in her big girl bed next week and is asking to go on the potty! YIKES.

New England-and I: a love hate relationship

It wasn't so long ago I was desperate to move. School ratings concerns started to diminish when considering moving options, and weather moved into first place. Winter in New England this past year was exhausting, depressing, and still can make me weep when I think about it long enough.

Summer hits here and it is lovely. There really is nothing like Summer in New England. The smell of the ocean, steamers, northern lobsters, clam cakes, cute grey shingled beach homes, American flags, and the list goes on. After spending the week in my old stomping grounds in the Ocean State, I couldn't help but wonder would I want to be anywhere else in the Summer time?

ps. (I tell myself) Aimee you hate heat. You think you hate snow and being stuck in, and well humidity and heat pisses you off and gets you sick!

pps. (I remind myself) but the sun.... it's so happy and inviting. That f'n snow makes me want to go to sleep in November and wake up in April. I should have been a bear!

Which leads me to this... I love the seasons. I reminded myself of this while driving down our cute road here in town that includes an apple orchard. This is a famed road to drive down when New England Fall hits. Seriously, there isn't a place on the earth you would rather be then in Connecticut in the Fall time. The colors of the leaves takes your breath away, the crisp air is awesome, and anything pumpkin or apple makes me want to do a jig. While driving down this street on a sweaty, hot 100 degree July day, I suddenly found myself yearning for Fall. SERIOUSLY. I mean Fall leads to Winter and Winter leads to Aimee losing her mind.

Weather here is crazy. It can go from 0-100 in a matter of days. This afternoon alone we had two hail storms (the size of quarters) in the midst of a high 90's sunny day. You never know what you are in for here.

I am not sure if I am sturdy enough to handle such hefty Winters here. However, this place holds so much history, vivid seasons, and the all American feel. Time will tell if we find ourselves down South (part of me still digs the South Carolina idea), but for now, I am enjoying New England life, while trying to mentally prepare for months of snow!