siblings

See what I posted in response to the questions:

How many brothers and sisters do you have? Do you have a good realationship with then? why and why not?

HERE

Embarassed much?

Yoni is becoming very independent.

On the day he wanted to wear a tired yellow and navy shirt with faded blue and green pants and brand new bright red socks (nothing matched anything else!) he decided to do 2 more embarassing things...

#1 crap all over the place when his change of clothes went home with another little boy a week earier (when Mr. B decided to do the same thing)

He sat in diapers while the teacher had no choice but to wash and dry all his mismatched stuff - including his shoes:
(How she gets him to take them off is beyond me, My little hobo will usually only go to sleep if he is either wearing or clutching his shoes for dear life)

and

#2 bite another classmate...
on the back... hard!
hard enough to break the skin and draw blood (The other boys' parents had to send Neosporin to put on it)


And taking Yoni to restaurants is another challenge...
He ends up mostly playing with the food and not eating much. Most food stays on the table, but a lot ends up on the floor. Also, if he dislikes a food he lets you know by removing every little bit from his plate to the table. And if he happened to accidentally take a bite, he makes sure to inform you of his opinion of it by noisily spitting it out and making faces.

But on the plus side...
He does like to give random kisses, a lot of them, and for no reason other than he wants to (or if he thinks he did something bad and he wants to get back in your good graces.)
And he doles out hugs for just being there to pick him up from school in the afternoons.

Oh, the myriad joys of having a 2-yr old.

The real deal - another quickie recap

Where do I start?

We had Eran's birthday last week and I was at the grocery store every night for different things each time. He turned 28 uneventfully, but I forgot to get him orchids

(See this "anniversary" gift list for what I mean)


Next comes the big
for the little man.

I'm still having issues with my co-worker only now, we are frostily silent to each other. Right now I think I'll just keep pluggin and chugging and letting her take responsibility for EVERYTHING that could possibly go wrong, since I am not going anywhere at the moment and don't feel like having a confrontation just now. Basically, I feel like I am stretched too thinly to try to take on a new position right now.

So there you have it!

Just for Death Girl in NYC

I hope you made it to the store to get your apple juice and kleenex. Sounds like what Yoni and the other tykes need in school everyday. Now you can't say I didn't update you.

Waiting to Exhale

This weekend was jam-packed; Mondays are Mondays - always rough to play catch up on daily reports from the weekend. And Tuesday is Staff Meeting Day. I usually skip out, but I have ben feeling so lost lately that I thought I should make an appearance and figure out what is coming down the pipeline. For some reason it was extra long today and took a big chunk out of my day.

Add to all that the fact that Eran in only feeling about 80% physically healthy since his return and depressed about not working yet, and that now Jonathan is sick (cough, runny nose, general malaise) too, I am super stressed out - AGAIN!

Recap:

last Sunday - Super Sunday at the JCC - fundraising event making calls for several hours; I figure, I may not be financially able to contribute at present, but I can certainly volunteer a few hours to make some phone calls

Monday - I wanted to go to a class given by our Rabbi, but I did laundry instead

Tuesday - follow up phone calls for Sunday

Wednesday - New Year, New You: Image consultant - actually quite interesting as a new networking opportunity with other female Jewish professionals (some are moms too) in Houston

Thursday - Paid a shiva call that went longer than expected. Was also supposed to go to a meeting at the JCC for the Early Childhood Development Committee, but I ran out of energy.

Friday - Rockets v Seattle at the Toyota Center - lots of energy, but draining.

Saturday - Went to services for the 1st time at our new shul's location. Then we had an oneg in honor of an engagement. We didn't get home till after 2PM. Then later that night we had a dress-up affair honoring people for their commitment to the shul on its 5th birthday.

The super-woman who organized this event must have been even more stressed than me:
1. Super Sunday at the JCC: she was co-chair
2. It was her son's engagement party at Shul on Saturday
3. She was the person responsible for putting together the shul's 5th b-day honoree evening event (also on Saturday)including publishing a program and putting togethera dinner and coffee and dessert for 300 people.

this Sunday - Superbowl, was there even a football game going on?
We went to a party for most of the game action [a friend of mine from work invited us - it was mostly people from her church - good thing I brought cokes and diet drinks instead of beer] and we left sometime around 8:30 only to stop at another house in our neighborhood toward the end of the game. I got lost (of course) going to the original party and drove around for over an hour.

When do I get a chance to

My face and neck are so broken out it is ridiculous! And if I see another gray hair on my head I am going to scream!

Plus Eran is upset about the state of the house and the lack of cooperation on the part of his fly-by-night Israeli friend who he thought was going to be his business partner, or at least give him the opportunity to work for him.

Rockets v Seattle - again!

So on Friday afternoon my boss comes to me with 2 tickets in hand for the game that evening and offers them to me if I promise to use them. Eran is sick mind you, but I accepted them without a 2nd thought. It was only when I looked at them that I started to get excited. They were $85 apiece! So I went to the Toyota Center website to spot our seats...we were in section 114, right behind the basket.

When we got to the game, I led Eran to the seat and as we approched the seats in row G, 7 rows off the court, his incredulous comment was, "Where are you taking me"

So despite his being sick, he was very excited. We were able to watch the game and he didn't need binoculars at all to see it - we were that close - thanks to oil company "kickbacks". And I got to play with the thundersticks that they put on the seats in those sections throughout the whole game! It wasn't even a very interesting game, but who cares - Luckily we won - something like 100 to 70, or it wouldn't have been so much fun. It turns out that the last NBA game I took us to see, according to Eran, was also against the Seattle Sonics - go figure.

Now he has a request for tickets to see Indiana. Apparently, one of the players is a former Macabbi Tel Aviv player and he wants to make a big embarssing sign that says thank you.

When we got back to pick up the Yoni, we happened to catch a sports highlight reel of the game on a local TV news broadcast. And I caught a glimpse of my VERY bright salmon colored sweater, which leads me to believe we were probably glimpsed on TV throughout the game. Another exciting element to the story of the free tickets to the game.

Next up...Aeros tickets for Sam-O's B-day. And I've invited "Non-Sequiter Man" and "Super Survivor" to go with us (me, Eran and Yoni). So help me if they embarass me...I don't know what I'll do

Normalcy at last?

Eran is FINALLY home. It may have been less than a month but it sure felt like forever to me. I picked him up from the airport all by myself. And I parked in the right place, just by the elevator and it only cost $1. Give me a little credit next time please!!!

I went in to work thinking I'd spend a leisurely morning doing the last of my report because I worked hard on it yesterday afternoon. It kicked my butt today!!! Then I left the office around lunchtime for the "big" airport. No biggie, but I still have no sense of direction. Give me directions to follow and I am fine, but if there is a change in plans, I don't do contigency plans very well.

My friends went to lunch and I forgot that I asked them to get some ballons or something. As I was walking out the door they showed up with these bright mylar balloons (a yellow smiley face one and one that says "Welcom Back! We missed you!") which I took to the airport and waited with for Eran to arrive.

Then there was some confusion about which terminal they were coming into, but I was right all along. Gotta trust those instincts! Then I was afraid his Green Card wouldn't work through immigration and Customs - I was sweating it - then I finally saw him wheeling out his cart full of luggage - What a relief!

We went to drop off some things at the house before picking up Mr. J from the J. Eran was blocking the door when he walked into the classroom, so I didn't get to see the undoutably priceless expression on my son's face, but the joy and rapture was evident by the pitch and velocity of the squeal. And then the teacher (who shares my birthday) threw her arms around him (Eran, not the little one - he gets enough love from her all day, every day) and proclaimed her happiness at his return too.

Then we walked down the hallway to the All School Shabbat, which is not at all what I expected. The kids are all sitting around in a big circle singing songs with motions. And then of course there is challah and grape juice for everyone (we skedattled before that came about) So we stopped at my mom's house to drop off their gifts and then we came home.

Eran finally crashed around 5:30 and I took Yoni to Shabbat dinner at the house of some friends who live in the same complex as we do and who have two boys who are only slightly older than Yoni.

And that is exactly how I wanted to spend my half day off. With family and friends.

Finally - a breakdown, I mean, breakthrough

This is a post about a goal I set for myself to stop letting my control-freak co-worker get to me...


I arrived to find a message from her at 6:15 when she knows damn well that I don’t arrive until 8:00. She was almost civil and “sweetly” told me that in regards to the question I had asked, not to worry about it as it was part of her responsibilites.

After suffering a breakdown, (a crying jag at my desk which was almost unrelated – my husband returns from a 2-1/2 week overseas trip on Friday, which has given me a renewed respect for single motherhood) I pulled myself together and went on about my day. In the afternoon as I was headed to the kitchen to see if there were any goodies, I was stopped along the way by an especially detail-oriented engineer. He questioned me on something particular which I honestly didn’t have anything to do with so I told him to ask her about it. I even supplied him with her extension # off the top of my head.

So he called and left a message and his closing sentence was just asking for trouble – He said “and B here is claiming its all your fault”

My face fell!

With all the problems we were already having (which he of course knew nothing about) he had potentially made the situation SO much worse. So I marched myself over to my boss and requested a meeting for the 3 of us (he is her supervisor also)

I know he knew it was coming (I have a source in HR who told me to be honest when he came to me about it – which leads me to believe that maybe she had already complained) but he dead-panned and looked at me as if to ask what for?

We had the meeting this afternoon and I am SO proud of myself. I was mostly professional and calm, cool and collected, and not get emotional. I weathered personal attacks and barbs citing my myriad mistakes and pitfalls. I wasn’t prepared for her barrage, but I tried to remain calm and acknowledge the problems while not wasting the opportunity I had to get things out in the open. I brought up several concerns and from some of the supervisor’s comments I could tell that I had the upper hand, so to speak. And we did clarify some issues.

Once the issues were covered, he summarily dismissed me, saying “You go, you stay”. I have never been dismissed before but he “kept her after class” to talk to her more. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall!

Later in the afternoon he approached me at my “office” in cube-land to ask if I thought it was productive. He also said that she wasn’t going to change, that “that’s just how she is” and asked if he should start looking for another position for me, whereas my face fell and I said poutingly (is that even a word) that I liked this dept and that I would give it some time as long as I could learn and grow.

I think I’ll approach him tomorrow and see about getting a different position within the dept. In any case I feel a bit compartmentalized in this position and that my skills are not being used to the utmost. I also have inside information that another dept will be losing its exec asst as she is unhappy in her position and wants to move to our dept. So we’ll see what happens next.

Stay tuned for the next episode in this ever-unfolding drama!

Pay it forward

It was a cold night here in Houston - one of the coldest in a long time, and as we all know, our neighborhood can sometimes be a little dicey after dark.

I was driving home from yet another exciting evening with Bubby and Grandpa trying to help me tire out the Yonster. He had fallen asleep in the backseat (finally!) and, as I turned the corner at the last stoplight before my apartment complex, I saw a young man standing on the corner, right on the bayou, waiting for the bus. He was in a short sleeve red T-shirt, his work uniform. And he had some groceries and a black backpack (which I didn't see from the street). As I drove by he waved at me nonchalantly. That simple gesture made me take pause and before I had even made it through the stoplight I had made a decision.

I turned in the parking lot and came back around on the other side to get him.Then I made a slightly illegal left U-turn so I wouldn't miss the green traffic light. He was waiting for a bus to take him 10 minutes up the road. I was bundled up in my winter coat and I was still cold and here was this young man just waiting for a bus in his short-sleeved T- shirt. And I didn't notice the tell-tale school backpack until he got in the car.

It turns out that this young man was a high school junior who had just finished his shift at a local grocery store. He was a bright kid who was saving up for college at a school in Minnesota - guess the cold doesn't bother him. He yawned as he explained that he still had a five page paper to write for AP history and that the guidelines were very strict - 12 point font, 1" margins, single-spaced - no cutting corners here. In conversation on the way to his destination, it came up that he simply waved because he had nothing better to do and there were very few, if any, cars on the road that night. Upon arrival he offered me gas money (for a short trip up the road - and a high school kid at that!)

I explained to him that I wouldn't hear of it and that I stopped (and truthfully went out of my way) because I would want someone to do the same for my son if the occasion ever arose. My parting words to him were a loose translation of a saying my husband says often, Im matchilim b'mitzvah, osim otah ad ha-sof - "If you're going to do a good deed, make sure it's a great deed" It reminded me of the idea of "Pay it Forward" where one good deed breeds more good deeds. And his comment was that he should remember that one!

I hope he does.

opportunity knocks - twice

I may have a second opportunity to write about something really meaningful, my only concern is that I will be spreading myself too thin if I do.


I had a vague phone message this afternoon that I really need to follow up on.


I already have 2 full-time jobs (the one that pays the bills and also being mother and wife) and this job can be potentially time consuming.


But I got really excited about it the last time and had to turn it down because I was just too overcommitted at the time.


Wish me luck!

Its a good start

I want to travel the world and visit every country there is. Not bad so far. Here they are – where I’ve been – in no particular order (except how I remember them) These are the places I spent my money in…

1. I currently live in the USA - I want to visit all 50 states, but then that’s a separate issue


2. Mexico (it’s just across the border)


3. Canada (I spent the 4th of July there one year)


4. Israel (8 years – got married and had my 1st child there)


5. England


6. Scotland


7. Wales


8. Ireland


9. Spain


10. Turkey


11. Jordan


12. Germany


13. Austria


14. Amsterdam, Netherlands


15. France (a Paris layover doesn’t really count does it?)

BEVO

Go UT in the ROSE BOWL! -Nuff said.

Not usually a football fan, but I heard about it on the drive to work.

Sam and Carlye - This one's for y'all in NYC

Yoni's 1st Day

We took him to the JCC for his first day of school. We went at 7:30 and he was still one of the first to arrive. One of the other teachers was with us for awhile. We stayed there with some other parents until his teacher got there at 8:15 along with the secretary and her daughter who is in his class. She is also the only one who is close to him in age - the others are younger, I sincerely hope that won't be an impediment to him as HE develops. Just by observing them he will be an example to the younger kids as he is more mobile (steadier on his feet as he zooms around) and even with his speech delay he is more vocal than they are.

This place is really posh. Even Sharon and Dov would be impressed because you bring your own Everything. Food must be Kosher but that is not an adjustment for us - supplying food for breakfast, lunch and snacks IS new to us. He used to suffice on what the State supplied for the school. We had to buy him a mat for nap time - how ridiculous. We have been searching for a better lunch box, all we find are pink and purple ones with hearts and stars. And the blue one I have I borrowed from Bubby, but it has some sort of message on it. I want him to be a kid - with Spiderman or Thomas the Train or something fun. Wish I could remember what I did with that cow one I had.

Yoni LOVES trains. Every time we would get stopped by one on the way home from his old school he would light up in the backseat. And if we could see one coming as we entered the school, we would stay outside for an extra minute or two to watch it. He also made the most vocalizations when trains were concerned. Without fail he would ball up his fists and chant "chugga-chugga choo-choo" Even before he was making other sounds this was always a favorite of his and sometimes he would just pretend and do it as we crossed the tracks (with a little encouagement from Mom)

Anyway I have some of his belongings to pick up from his other school including the correct car seat. When he came home on Dec 29, he came home in someone else's car seat. And he still has clothes and art projects and even a toothbrush at the other place.

Surgery Sucks!

But at least it's over.

I had my adenoidectomy

this morning and was home before lunch. Eran and Karen were there with me the whole time. Not going back to work till 2006 though!!! That's a fun thought. I did check my email, just to see what was there. And my "boss" who is not really my boss but who thinks she is (and everybody else's too) sent me emails - how annoying!

I was such a "chatty Kathy" when I came out of anesthesia. I don't even know what I was blathering on about. But I just felt I had a lot to say despite the sore throat. So I wouldn't shut up. Karen says that my voice is different and she noticed it immediately - like after 2 sentences. So, I'm thinking either she is supremely observant (and that may be the case because of her nursing profession) or the difference is VERY obvious. Eran didn't mention it, he just said something about me talking quieter now. And that may have something to do with the fact that we didn't speak Hebrew to each other all morning and him hearing me talk in English is a little strange to his ear anyway.

At least I get to take the happy pills over New Years, but no alcohol - shucky-darn :) [yes, I went there-laugh at it and move on]. The last time I had any alcohol was at my Office Party 2 weeks ago. And before that I can't remember the last time I had anything stronger than coffee to drink. So I over-indulged at the office party just a wee bit (ok-alot, we had an open bar - wouldn't you? I was still full from my lunch at the Hyatt so all I had to eat was a slice of decadent chocolate mousse cake. But I was one of MANY who over-imbibed, seems like part of the territory). Mom was still in the hospital (the initial visit) fresh after her surgery and I convinced someone to drive me from downtown to the medical center - mostly because I didn't want to wait for a bus downtown after dark. I was hung-over on Friday or maybe even still drunk (who has office parties on a Thursday anyway?) but I dragged myself into work, one of the many who were dragging that day. Then I was really sick, dehydrated mostly, on Saturday.

More about my current recovery to come in the next installments...

You know you're a parent when ...

Here's the first installment of clues to when you know you're a parent - in no particular order
1. You wave bye-bye to the water when you flush the toilet
2. You can clean a runny nose without getting disgusted
3. You understand gestures and grunts as real requests
4. A kiss and hug from you makes any injury "All better"
5. You wake up in the middle of the night or watch your child sleep just to make sure they're still breathing

Things are going to get worse before they get better

So my Mom spent the day in the hospital by herself mostly - Dad went there in the early evening, but maybe she'll get some rest this way without people calling (literally calling on the phone and at the door) all day long. It sucks that Eran and Jonathan and myself are all nursing some stages of a cold. Yoni has a runny nose and cough and there was no way I was going to the hospital with me around all those germs.

Eran is planning a trip to Israel. He waited till after my recovery time after my surgery (where they are undoubtably going to pull part of my brain out through my nose) As I told Sam, Mom's resident alien lives in the bump on the top of her head, Sam's has the monkey on his back, and mine is the huge adenoid mass at the back of my pharonasal passages. To each his own...I go for surgery on Dec 29th. Couldn't they use a less threatening word?

On a somewhat positive note, Jonathan will be starting a new school come Jan 2 (if I can get the paperwork for all the electronic transfers and such in on time) He will be at the JCC - right across the bridge and 2 major thouroghfares from us. It's good that he will be closer, but the cost is crazy. We are only paying half and it costing us more than the place he has been up until now. And we will be responsible for sending Kosher meals and snacks, whereas he has been being fed by State funded programs. Guess he's too old to get back on WIC and I probably make too much money as it is.

So there you go...

43 Things

What would you do with your life if money were no object.

This is the question that I was asked, that fueled a co-worker to direct me to this website. It's pretty intense if you look at it with the right frame of mind. I am "tigerlady" on yet another .com I am trying to keep up with ... check it out at
www.43things.com

Let me know if you decide to sign up too, we can cheer each other on and make suggestions.

Early, early, early and it gets wormy

Today was a good day. Yesterday, I went to sleep EARLY and got to work early and left early (12 Noon). At work one of the VPs came by my space asking about the progress of some of the current wells. Another VP called me directly from his home to ask about specific things in thre reports. I was proud of the fact that I could answer them both with some measure of clarity even though I didn't really thin I knew what I was talking about. But I did, and it was kinda scary there for a minute. Then I was very proud of myself for actually being able to help them when there were very few others there because of the holiday.

A Trip To Israel

So, we booked a flight for Mr. Eran yesterday to go to Israel to surprise his family. More about this after I go pick up Mr J. and drop off some paltry presents for his "teachers"

New Blogspot - Trial and Error

This is a new adventure for keeping up with what's going on in the lives of Brenda, Eran and Jonathan (Yoni) Namer