The Randomness

Attended an open house today for a prestigious school that we are trying to get Tali 1 into for 5th grade. This is going to be a challenge as they get over 1,000 applicants for basically 160 spots. *fingers crossed*

Guess what my hubby bought me?

After doing that tri on a mountain bike, I knew I needed two things if I was going to do another race (and I am!) one was intense swimming lessons from a tri coach (shoutout to total immersion, I am on my way) and a real road bike. This baby is on the way to me in the mail and I can’t wait until it gets here. Pictures to follow.

I have been slacking on a few tasks for the entire summer. They stayed in the back of my mind and gnawed at me for months. I knew deadlines were looming and I was still procrastinating. I went to church last Sunday and the sermon’s topic was “Let’s Get Serious”. Basically, getting serious with yourself, being honest about your shortcomings. Getting serious with God. Knowing that when you are not doing the right thing, you admit it to yourself and then to God. Lastly, after you get serious with God, you truly commit to not doing it again and you move your life forward.  I can’t tell you how I really needed to hear that message that day. It has awoken something in me and I have been uber productive and taken steps to curtail my laziness and handle my responsibilities. I am not one to preach to anyone but sometimes a message is delivered RIGHT WHEN YOU NEED ONE. Amen?

My sons are the best kids ever. They are so intelligent and talented. I am in awe of my boys and so proud of them….but you knew that already.

Tomorrow is Mr. 1969′s birthday. We need to find him a red velvet cake. Stat.

Trade shows are the worst and I will be at one all day tomorrow. At least I will be wearing jeans

I was wrong, client events/receptions are worse and I have one coming up that is “Wild West Themed”. *gouging my eyes out*

Miss me?

Great Book Alert

If you are looking for a good book to read, stop what you’re doing and go get a copy of “We Need to Talk About Kevin”.

I read this book until the wee hours of the morning. Engrossed!

The book is about a woman with a wonderful, jet setting career. She meets a wonderful man. They get married. They start to have the “child conversation”. She kind of caves in to having this child. She loves the idea of having a child with this man she loves…. not so much with the actual child itself or with actually being a mother. The child grows up to commit a horrible crime. 

How much of the mother’s emotions and actions led to this child turning out to be a monster? Are criminals born or do they develop? Could she have saved him?

If you’ve ever wondered about the parents of someone like Jeffrey Dahmer or Casey Anthony and what they go through before, during and after the infamous acts of their children….GET THIS BOOK.

P.S. The movie is about to come out to rave reviews starring Tilda Swinton. Read the book before it gets here!

About our Business

The President of my sorority chapter here in Philly approached the Good Doctor and I about starting a team for sorors in our chapter to train for a triathlon. So many people have approached her (and us) about being inspired by our “couch to triathlon” status and want to do the same. While I love the idea of women getting fit and helping people with their goals, the Good Doctor and I kept it all the way real with her.

We can train together because we are like minded individuals when it comes to having a fitness goal. When we say we are working out at 5am, we SHOW UP. When the only open water swim where we can practice is in a nasty azz muddy pond at the crack of dawn in the Boonies, we say “LET’S DO THIS!”

We don’t make excuses. We don’t say, “5am? Girl, that’s too early for me!” We don’t care about our hair getting sweated out. We show up and get it done. We trained for the last tri for six months and we went hard core. A triathlon is a serious goal and there is a set date to get it accomplished. We need to complete every single workout to be prepared. There is no room for excuses or slacking. I know these ladies and they look at us like it was a fun thing to do. It really wasn’t. It was hard work getting ready and even harder come the actual day.

We would love to help the whole chapter work towards a tri goal but we know the reality. We know our audience. LOL If we decide to do this, we can throw dates out there and whoever shows, shows.  We are not the handholding types. What say you internets?

Are we being selfish or realistic? Do you think you could workout at 5 or 6am? Swim all winter long? Run and bike outside for an intense 16 week training program? Take swimming lessons in addition to biking and running if need be? If you can and you’re serious……I would love to help you reach your goal.

Ask a crazy question….

Last night, we were laying in bed and I asked Mr. 1969 what was the worst spanking he ever got.

Mr 1969: One time when I was six, I had just learned how to light matches. I was playing on my mom’s bed while she was downstairs cooking dinner.  She had a book of matches on the dresser and I started lighting them. One started burning really fast and I panicked and dropped it on her bed. The bed was on fire.

Me: WHAT? What did you do?

Mr 1969: She had this big bottle of Jean Nate so I grabbed the cover (it was kind of round) and I turned it upside down and filled it with water and threw it on the bed. I must have made about three or four trips but I put the fire out.

Me: Wow. Did you go tell her what happened?

Mr 1969: Hell no.

Me: What did you do then?

Mr 1969: I made the bed.

Me: *blank stare* You made the bed? I bet you folded down the comforter and everything.

Mr 1969:  Sure did. It was tight.

Me: I see where Tali 2 gets it. Hmph.

Mr 1969: WHAT?

Me: Yup, I would have whooped your azz.

 

Past and Present

Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. We had a great one. My Dad decided to fly to NYC from Trinidad for the weekend so we hightailed it to Brooklyn at the last minute to see family and enjoy the holiday.

I had the best time. I spent time with my very best friend and her family. You know how you have a friend that has left the friend zone and merges into your real life sister? That’s what she is to me. No matter how far apart we are or how infrequent we speak, as soon as we see each other we fall into our old groove. Like a comfy pair of sneakers…we fit. Watching our kids grow up together makes me feel good. The kids had a ball and the mommies did too. We got up early and took a long walk through the neighborhood. We talked. We unleashed. We bonded. We ate ice cream. We discussed books and movies. We caught up. I love you C Money. From 13 to now. BFF’s for life!

I also got to spend time with my Dad. Those of you that follow my blog know that I didn’t grow up with my father in my life. It has been a struggle for me to put the years of my childhood pain and hurt aside to start fresh and get to love my dad as an adult. Driving to go visit him, my stomach had the colliwobbles. It’s always awkward when I first see him. I don’t know what to do or how to react. I overthink it. This time, he just grabbed me and hugged me. We laughed and had a wonderful time. He was so happy to see his grandsons and it made my heart swell to see the three of them together. When we got in the car to go home, my BFF said “Your dad was so happy to see you.” For some reason, that stuck with me. It still makes me smile typing this.

I also spent some time with my mom. She had fun showing my boys off to all of our neighbors and I bumped into so many people I grew up with. It was surreal watching my boys play in the playground I grew up playing in. I had this feeling like my life was coming full circle.

I also took the boys to visit my old high school and my elementary school. I wanted to show them where I grew up.  We woke up on Sunday morning and I took them on a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and we shared a slice of Junior’s cheesecake.  I have been in Philly for 11 years now but I love Brooklyn. New York will always be my city. I was raised here. It’s in my heart. Exposing the boys to something I love was a wonderful experience.

We returned today to start the first day of 1st and 4th grades. My boys are making their own history here in their hometown of Philadelphia. This is the city they will grow to love. It’s a new beginning as we start another school year full of promise and hope.

Like I said, I’m coming full circle and I feel like the past hurts of my childhood are being sealed up and fortified with love. I am so proud of myself for taking a chance with my Dad. For my sake and my boys sake, it’s been a good thing. I want to be a whole parent for them. I want to teach them to forgive is to grow.  Speaking of growing….*sniff*

Happy First Day of School Tali boys. Mommy loves you so much.

 

Love, Mommy

With work, the boys being out of camp and Mama 1969 visiting, I took a mini blog vacation to stop and enjoy my family. We went mini-golfing, bowling, swimming and wrapped it all up with a trip to Dorney Park. It was nice to not do anything but play and laugh.  The return of the crisp mornings and the hundreds of dollars spent on back to school shopping lets me know that Fall is back and right around the corner.

Spending so much time with the boys led me to thinking. As the main example of womanhood in their lives, what thoughts about women am I imparting on them? I know both my good and bad qualities are leaving indelible marks on their poor little brains.

I think all of the work and running around I do may cause them to one day want wives that don’t do so much. They may want wives that stay home longer when their babies are born. Someone that gives them lots more personal attention and has time to spare for fun stuff.

With my job, training for the triathlon, running a household, etc…they probably feel like I am always doing something. While I am conscious of this and do make every effort to make sure my boys get lots of individual and joint quality time, I am sure they want more.

In my heart, I hope I am setting a different example. I hope they will seek out women who are capable of having their own interests and loving them at the same time. I hope they will want a woman who cares about her health and fitness. I hope they find someone that can work if she chooses to and love what she does, while contributing to their joint success. I hope she can cook but if not, my sons will be able to throw down in the kitchen. Most important, I hope they find a woman that no matter how crazy her life gets, she laughs with them everyday.

I can’t predict the future, I can only live my life the best I know how. I wonder what they will take away from it? I hope they know that no matter what I did, I did it all for them, with love.