Because it’s Friday AGAIN. And because traditions are important. In which I cover the good stuff and the hard stuff in my week, trying for the non-preachy, non-annoying side of self-reflection.
And you get to join in if you feel like it.
Okay, this week was kind of intense. I’m still processing. I don’t even know if I’m ready to check in on it, to be honest. But what I can totally check in on is the long weekend at the kinda-inlaws.
They’re not officially my inlaws. It’s just too much of a mouthful to say “the parents and sisters and nephews of my gentleman friend”.
Though I like saying that because it sounds like I’m German. Anyway, it was an interesting weekend.
The good stuff made the hard stuff a lot easier to take, but it still took a lot out of me.
The hard stuff
Noise level: the thing that most directly impacts my stress level.
Dogs! Cats! Five rambunctious nephews! A piano! Kids playing it! Christmas music! Geese! The volume was steady, constant and intense.
So yes, my gentleman friend and I both emerged from the weekend relatively unscathed but with splitting headaches.
And I, highly sensitive person* that I am, spent the rest of the week in hiding/recovery mode, refusing to engage in contact with pretty much anyone other than my gentleman friend and Selma.
*Sorry for the kind of sucky link. I couldn’t find a page that had a great explanation of the characteristics of Highly Sensitive People.
Hell.
The family of my gentleman friend are of the opinion that he and I are headed there, and as such they harbor all sorts of fears for our everlasting souls.
This results in all sorts of uncomfortableness.
For one thing, it is hard for me to reconcile these sweet lovely people, each one of whom I genuinely care for, with the notion that they really, truly want my gentleman friend to turn into someone else.
In fact, they want him to become someone I wouldn’t get along with at all.
Add to that the pain and sadness I feel each time I think about what it’s like for a child to grow up with that level of fear and dread. The trauma.
And then there is my sincere wish they would just let it go already. But they love him, and are genuinely worried — so this is not a likely scenario.
And the truth is, that even if they did let it go, being a huge Jew in a room full of evangelical Christians? It’s just awkward in so many ways.
Stuff I absolutely can’t say.
The sister of my gentleman friend homeschools her kids. Which is not a big deal. I am very pro-homeschooling and always have been.
It’s just that I also have a degree in History from Tel Aviv University.
So the “historical timeline” on their wall tracing “history” from Creation to The Fall to The Flood to Babel to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Ancient China …
Drives. Me. Batty.
Sure, I’m willing to accept that there are many possible interpretations of available textual data. Or to allow that there aren’t really any firm “facts” in history because of the twisted nature of historiography and our relationship to it.
In fact, I can come up with various post-modernist arguments that excuse all sorts of things. But not this.
Since it would be the height of rudeness for me to publicly react to this, I end up having this muttering dialogue taking place inside my head.
And that’s before I get around to contemplating the awful, awful set-in-stone gender roles.
Seriously, I could write a week of blog posts on my feelings about the Focus on the Family “Raising a Modern Day Knight: A Father’s Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood” audiotapes, complete with cover image of a father brandishing a sparkly, manly sword, presumably handing it over to his precious and impressionable son.
Luckily for you, I won’t.
Loss of identity. Or perceived identity. Or perceived loss of identity.
This one is messy, I know.
It’s just that — well, you spend your days having certain perceptions or ideas about yourself. Like, I’m a successful businesswoman. I’m a blogger. I live my life in the most conscious, intentional way I can with yoga and meditation and self-reflection.
Blah blah blippity blah.
And then you remember what ridiculous and irrelevant constructs these are when you’re spending three days with people who think of you as “the ladyfriend of our son/brother/uncle”.
Or, if you’re Jesse (who’s three), you think of me as “that smiley lady whose nose I like to touch and then yell BOP! and then collapse in giggles because clearly this is the best game in the entire world.” (which it is.)
But it’s weird. It’s disconcerting. It’s like, all of a sudden your entire life as you know it doesn’t exist.
No one to tell stuff to.
For example, over the weekend Selma and I got fanmail from a super famous person I’ve been admiring from afar for years.
Ooh, and I got interviewed by a journalist for a piece that’s going to be in the New York freaking Times.
But neither of these pieces of information are interesting or impressive to any of the twelve people I was sharing space with. And my phone was dead so I couldn’t even call someone who would care to say OMG OMG OMG.
Torture. Yes, I missed you guys. I know you’re all excited for me. Thank you. Which leads me … finally … to the good stuff.
The good stuff
Tea with Jane.
The mother of my gentleman friend really is the sweetest ever and I love her.
Seeing her is my favorite part of the visit. By a lot.
In fact, if I could just spend the whole weekend having tea with her, petting the (non-goose) animals and playing the nose-BOP game with Jesse, that would be pretty great.
Rolling around around the floor.
The good parts of any visit always involve much schnuggling and playing with the various dogs (Phoebe, Penny & Samson) and cats (Olive & Hobbes).
I adore them all.
And three year old Jesse who also made a shocking Declaration of Love to me and then turned bright pink. So so cute.
Citrus!
Mmmm, yes. I had not realized how much I missed that particular aspect of living in California until we arrived in Sacramento and my friend Michelle came to meet me with oranges from the tree in her yard.
Amazing.
Also the other sister of my gentleman friend has a baby orchard* and let us pick lemons and grapefruit. Pure happiness.
*I don’t mean to imply that she grows babies there, only that the orchard is very small, yes?
Sackermenno
We flew into Sacramento before driving way out into the wilderness to where the kinda-inlaws live.
In my mind, Sacramento is just that place we stayed for a while when we left San Francisco and were still on our way to Portland. But going back there made me remember that there were actually all sorts of things I loved about it.
We had lunch downtown at our absolute favorite sandwich place in the world. Dad’s Deli. I’d link to them but they’re doing that “we don’t get how the world works” thing that small businesses do. They have a website, but I can’t find it. Argh.
But anyway, we visited old stomping grounds and it was great. Everything was familiar and comfortable. It was oddly nostalgia-inducing.
Plus I got to spend a couple of hours with Michelle who is my love.
Most important thing?
We won’t be doing any of this again until next December.
Excuse me now, while I dive back under the covers return to my recovery-mode rituals for the weekend.
Oh, and an announcement:
Jennifer Hofmann! That woman! Oh, how I obsess over her.
There’s still a spot or two left in her Make Sweet Love To Your Office So That You Can Actually Feel Supported and Motivated When You’re Working thing.
Okay, that’s not what she calls it at all. That’s what I call it. Because I happen to know that the two-hour version of this class is heaven on earth.
This one is five hours of awesome. And I’m going to be there teaching some destuckification tricks with my duck. And Jen’s throwing in her Wish Kit package too.
Basically, even if you can’t make it at all, you should still try and snag the “get an hour of her time” option because you still get an hour of her time (I’ve hired Jen before and wow) and the Kit for just under a hundred dollars. Which is ridiculous.
It’s TOMORROW. I hope I’ll see you there.
That’s it for me ….
And yes yes yes, of course you can join in my Friday ritual right here in the comments bit if you feel like it.
Yeah? Anything hard and/or good happen in your week?
And, as always, have a glorrrrrrrrrrrrious weekend. And a happy week to come.
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I’m all excited! The New York frickin’ Times! Excited! ZOMG! And other words. Wow! I know somebody in the NYT! Kind of.
Families are strange things. You meet somebody wonderful and then discover that they come with a zoo of people with all kinds of different ideas. I recommend mint tea. Mint tea is how I deal with my family and all its constant supply of Strange.
*hugs* also.
Joely Blacks last blog post..In which I realise I just went splat on the internet (or) I explain, a bit
Wow! Congratulations! The New York Times – woohoo! 🙂 When will the article be printed?
The only site I could find for Dad’s Deli doesn’t want to connect for me, but it’s http://www.eatatdads.com It may be my connection; for whatever reason (speaking of the New York Times), the Times website doesn’t want to connect for me right now either, nor does Google. (I’m having an Annoying Computer Day. Grr.)
Wow, and wow, in so many ways. Sounds so great and so tough all rolled up in a ball.
My ups and downs this week pale in comparison. Which is an odd thing to think… but I’ll share anyway.
For me it’s boring stuff like feeling kind of sick for several days (down! ugh!) but also coming through the other side feeling like I can probably achieve most of the goals I have set before Christmas, so I can take my first break in a long time. (up! yay!)
Tzaddis last blog post..Artists stay for free in Gothenburg, Sweden
Ah yes, Inlaws. I was wisely told many moons ago that you do not marry a person – you marry their family. I didn’t quite grok the fullness of that statement at the time, but now I know it to be entirely true.
It’s like you spend your whole life getting used to your OWN family’s dysfunctions, them BAM! You get a do-over to learn a whole new set.
Personally, I use the term out-laws. Got it from someone else so reasonably common among us unmarried-but-in-a-committed-enough-relationship-to-need-a-term-for-our-partner’s-relatives.
And yes, the young earth creationist evangelical Christian homeschoolers make many people cringe. Even those without history degrees.
For me, the good this week includes doing my first coaching by telephone thing. The recording worked. I managed to clean it up and burn it to disk and print a cover using the cool graphics I have for my business cards and stuff, and whatnot. Oh and the client seemed to take some big steps and it was generally good.
The hard was mostly shoveling 29 cm of snow off the driveway. Not all at once but that’s a lot of exercise.
JoVEs last blog post..The buyout…
Congrats on the NY Times!!! That is so cool!!
And I totally relate with the “no one to tell stuff to” part. It’s how I feel whenever it comes up that I don’t plan on working a “normal” job for the rest of my life.
I spend (way too much) time reading stuff from you and so many other successful internet entrepreneurs and I fully believe that it’s possible for me too to one day gain an audience and reach my goals. Sadly, though, most people I say anything about it to just tell me that “you can’t believe people on the internet, they pretend to be successful blah blah blah” and then they basically tell me how they hate their job but they suck it up and deal with it. I just think that’s a load of crap.
If you hate what you do you need to make a change. Will it be easy? No. Is it possible? Certainly, but you have to stop the cynicism, believe you can do it and look to the future and take appropriate action to reach your goals.
I fully believe that everyone who hopes to be successful in the future needs to start creating their own presence on the internet now and start reaching out to people, both to help and for help (Remarkablogger’s recent accident shows how even internet friends are willing to help those in need). The “normal” career path of the past is slowly disappearing and too many people just “don’t understand how the world works” yet like that sandwich shop, so it makes it tougher for people who are breaking from the “norm”.
I guess my original point in all that Havi, was just that I relate to your situation because sometimes IRL friends just don’t get it. 🙂
I’m with JoVE: those people who are relations of my drsweetie are the “outlaws.” It’s a very weird relationship.
The exciting thing that happened this week is the launch of my teleclass for overwhelmed I.T. project managers! And plenty of nourishing conversations with friends who understand the special weirdness that makes me me. And renewing some other friendships. And the end of the semester for drsweetie. And and and.
Okay, it’s been a good week. I’m glad you made it back!
Re: sharing about our weeks.
1. Restarted the blog. I like it this time.(Again, my thanks Havi.)
2. Icky day job still icky. But a plan is afoot to find a new one.
3. One good thing about the icky day job … as the Comms Dir, I got to officially unveil the new branding. It was well-received. Someone even thanked me for all of my work. That was nice.
Re: In-laws (sort-of or real).
Hang in there. We used to receive tracts and biblical quotations (almost always taken out of context, which totally steams me) from my SBH’s aunt. Item! Evangelical Xians don’t like the gays so much. Who knew? 😛
christys last blog post..Fragile Things
Weird how I forget that I’m not the only person in the world with awkward inlaw-relations. Or outlaws!
(Thanks @JoVe for something that I will now be saying forever)
@Mark aka Crispy Mark – what bridge, funny man?
@Jeff S – YEAH! What you said. Anyone who tells you that you should keep on being miserable in order to validate their own decisions is not someone who gets to be on the list of people you’d actually take advice from.
It’s true that there are plenty of liars and scammers out and about on the internets, but there are also plenty of us who are on a mission, doing what we believe in completely in integrity, and making money at it too.
Good for you for drawing on the internal resources you need to do what you need to do.
Thanks you guys for cheering me on and cheering me up and being happy for me about the New York Frickin’ Times thing and everything, really. I love the Friday Chicken. It always amazes me that anyone reads it, but I love writing it.
Ooooh! Big jumping-up-and-down glee for your fanmail and the interview for the NYT!!! OMG. That’s awesome.
And I completely relate to your weekend. You have all my biggest sympathy and I’ll send you a virtual glass of my Balvenie Portwood. Make that a double. For me, I don’t think my out-laws (Tx, JoVE!) have ever really forgiven their son for marrying a liberal, hippie-heathen. Or me, for turning him into one. 🙂
But, glad there were good things, too. And thanks for the reminder that even tho dealing with the family isn’t the easiest thing, there are always things about it that don’t completely suck. Not completely.
Welcome home, Havi!
Yikes, it’s scary how similar some of our family-visiting experiences have been. With the hell and the awkwardness and the liking people but not liking all of the aspects of the people.
That was two weeks ago, not this week, but I’m still going to count it as my hard stuff. The good stuff is that now I’m on vacation! Whee! I still get to do fun things like work, but no icky work. And I’ll get to do lots of fun things like geocaching and relaxing and playing games with Kyeli and Dru. Yay!
Yours in inlaw/outlaw solidarity,
Pace
Paces last blog post..Get in my monkeysphere!
@Diane – Appreciated!
Your situation reminds me of my ex-husband’s family, who adored me but they also thought I was a liberal hippie heathen.
Luckily, my gentleman friend’s family had already known their son was a total heathen long before he met me so that makes things slightly easier.
@Grace – sorry about your computer problems. I also found the Dad’s link but didn’t want to link to a dead site. But my rant about small businesses and their lack of understanding about why the internet is important (hello, you need to be the first thing that shows up when I google you, it’s YOUR place) is way too long and cantankerous.
Anyway, it’s not you. It’s the system. You’ll just catch the next wave!
@Christy – yay for the blog! Yay! Yay!
@Pace – solidarity appreciated! The hell thing is so completely foreign to me. Having been raised in a bubble populated only by very eccentric Jews, I’d always thought it was kind of like Santa Claus, only bad. You know, like a story that people tell in order to get their kids to behave.
Was astounded to realize that people believe in it and then even more shocked to realize the levels of fear and trauma that children grow up with.
Apologies to everyone for my lack of knowledge/empathy. I’m slowly learning how these things work. It’s all new to me, I’m sorry!
Havi,
Congrats on your famous person calling you (oh, oh, WHO??, and on your interview for the NY Times!! Though I have to say I’m not surprised. 🙂
As for the in-laws…sigh. Really, what can I say that will make it different? I think, they’re family, but they’re not MY family, who also drive me batty, but they are allowed to. In-laws are kind of like other people’s kids as opposed to your siblings’ kids. I just try to focus on the good, or I would go on and on and on about the bad (like the ostracizing we get for being vegetarians – his brother doesn’t think we can survive and be healthy, never mind that there are millions out there doing it, including us – and his mother thinks that cooking for us with meat grease is okay; after all there are no visible chunks of meat…)
As for religious beliefs, I grew up in a very strict Catholic home. I’m still trying to undo the massive amounts of fear and guilt of all kinds (which I hate admitting because it sounds so tiresomely cliché but my parents really did transfer to me so much of both). I think the difference btw me and my parents is that I question, whereas they are afraid even to question.
stephs last blog post..I Miss You — And Me
Huge big hugs.
And a big woop woop for the successes!
James | Dancing Geeks last blog post..Identification, Self expression, Conformity and a rant
It’s funny, we use “outlaws” in my house too, only it’s to refer to my partner’s ex-wife’s family. They’re all still kinda family to him, but no longer inlaws so they’re outlaws.
Tzaddis last blog post..Artists stay for free in Gothenburg, Sweden
LOVE that you share your week — major congrats on the shout-out from the famed wise-one, and the very cool NYT interview — deserved, we’d say.
About “Hell”? It’s definded as: “More than one day and night with ones’ in-laws!” (Or, as I call mine, the un-laws, as in unlawful, un-wed, etc. Yes, I got a pair of uber-Republican 80-year-olds who are passively-aggressively sweet now, but put their boys through hell…) Just wish you could arrange NOT to make that trip next time; or make it shorter, passing through, next stop, Tel Aviv, etc. At least do what we do: get a hotel room to get away. (And ear plugs might help.)
Glad the good came — it lasts; glad the bad went, it’s gone. Thanks for sharing, always.
Um wow, I didn’t know there was a term for “highly sensitive people”. I just read through and fit every one of those criteria. I’m scared now!!
Congratulations on the New York Times bit. That’s awesome. I love reading your posts.
Naomi Niless last blog post..Koldo Barroso’s New Site
@Naomi – You should totally read Elaine Aron’s book, Highly Sensitive People. There’s this part in it where she gives this test where you answer questions to rate yourself and I was a YES on every single one.
I phoned my brother in Boston and said, “Someone wrote our autobiography for us!” CRAZY.
So yeah, it is scary. On the other hand, knowing that it’s a “thing” gives you permission to take more time for yourself instead of forcing yourself to be social and stuff.
Also, I think I’ve wanted to tell you before that I LOVE your site. Anyway, I LOVE your site.
@Mz GirlPie – you crack me up, my dear. Unlaws. That’s hysterical. Sigh. Yes.
Well, it’s been an intense introduction to America and American culture and all the things I missed out on both in the years I wasn’t here and in the years that I was physically in the States but not connected in any way to mainstream culture.
@James, Tzaddi – *blows kiss*
@Steph – YUCK! If I found out someone was cooking things in meat grease with the “no chunks” excuse, I don’t know if I’d ever be able to be civil again.
I’ve finally gotten everyone (my family and my unlaws) to understand that “no sugar” also includes “no honey” and “no maple syrup” and “no molasses” and “no agave nectar crap” and “no, whatever you’re thinking, no!”
Also that the phrase “just a little bit” is unacceptable. If they ever see what I’m like on sugar, they’d understand. But since they’d never invite me back, it’s not worth it.
Anyway, I commiserate. That sucks.
Oh, thanks much for the book recommendation, will check that out! So glad you like our website. I told hubby to make me skinny & pretty for the illustrations. He cleverly followed those instructions.
Sugar is not allowed around here either. It makes me a weepy emotional lethargic mess.
Naomi Niless last blog post..Koldo Barroso’s New Site
Havi:
Mazel Tov on the NYT – OMG!!!! That’s soooo cool. . . and think of all those lucky people that get to meet you for the first time.
Glad you took the time for yourself afterwards. Jesse sounds adorable. . . . nothing like those bops on the nose.
My kids are both home and we are doing really well together. The hard part is it’s really noisy around here as they are major sports fans. The good part is they love being together at this moment.
When you spoke about noise, I realized that I’ve been living in a sea of noise here and it was draining me. I didn’t think of it though til you mentioned the effect it has on you.
Love reading your blog and all the comments. . . . and glad you’re back in your own life!
xoxox
Char
Yes! The New York Frickin’ Times!
When I grow up I wanna be just like Havi. Yeah huh.
It’s Bridge with a capital B–the Bridge Avenue that runs from the West Side Market out to 65th. When are you coming to Cleveland next?
Wow, the NYT.
I’ve been listening to Pema Chodron talk about Buddhist ideas, and reading yours reminded me of her talking about how who we think we are is a fluid illusion.
Thankfully, who our in-laws think we are is an illusion too.
And underneath it all are our shaky, queasy, tender hearts.
I’m happy reading your blog.
Havi, here it is…..OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!! HUGE congrats on the NYT – you rock! 🙂
In regard to the inlaws (or outlaws), I can totally relate. I grew up with a mother and grandmother who were DEVOUT evangelicals (my grandmother still is – my mother would be, but she passes away a few years ago). I went to summer bible camp as a kid (which I loved, BTW, only because I learned to water ski, I climed Mt. Washington, we camped overnight on an island, etc…). However, with all those teachings came a HUGE amount of guilt and self doubt. I never passed that on to my kids because I don’t believe that anything with that much negativity and hypocrisy can be associated with good.
Anyway, I’m thrilled for you. Go continue your calming rituals 🙂
Lisa
Lisas last blog post..Is Microsoft’s FrontPage Dead?
Havi, thank you for your openness here.
I have always struggled with my identity when visiting my in-laws and feel like a nobody whilst I’m there. This, of course, makes it a struggle for my wife too.
A number of factors make it difficult, I can’t blame it on any particular one of them. There’s the closed-in-ness of the house so crowded full of stuff that it could burst, the fact that wife’s dad never makes eye contact with me(at least I don’t think he does, I hardly ever check), the tiny room we have to sleep in on a plastic air mattress, and if I have work to do that’s where I have to sit to do it, and if I need space that’s where I have to hide, and it’s stuffy and warm and urgh.
And then there are the wonderful things about visiting. That they go to a gorgeous 15th century church. Mother-in-law’s brownies and chocolate chip cookies. That they live on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the most beautiful city (I have yet discovered) in the UK. That wife’s little sister always beats me at supermario on the DS.
Change of subject: Don’t get me started on the focus-on-the-family story tapes of my childhood car journeys. Since then I have dragged and cajoled my family (sometimes kicking and screaming, sometimes through their curiosity, mostly because we love and respect each other) into a more progressive approach to the Christian faith.
*Warning of Incoming Unsolicited Advice*
Rob Bell has a cool book called ‘Velvet Elvis’ which might help you find some connection with your in-laws.
All best wishes to you.
David
David Masterss last blog post..7 Acts of Randomness to Disturb and Enrage Buried Creativity
Havi, Happiest Dance Ever to celebrate your interview with the New York Times. Yaay and hooray for them for being smart enough to connect their readers with you! I expect we’ll see you there quite regularly once your book gets published. 🙂
And more Happy Dance for fan letter from un-named celebrity. Not surprised, but happy! 🙂
As for in-laws: oy and oy! Lovely that you found heart-connections in the midst of fire-and-brimstone land. And so great for them to have you in their family, loving their son, bringing your beautiful heart to visit.
The good in my week: that wonderful, mind-enriching, heart-expanding, business-nourishing session with you yesterday. Woke up this morning feeling very happy. And with Ideas buzzing around like bees in my belly.
And my beautiful friend Anne, who is a divinely gifted chef, sent me a whole freezer full of home-made meals so I don’t have to cook for a while. Thai Tofu Green Curry anyone?
The hard in my week: Still having trouble standing or walking for more than a few minutes.
But doing Dance of Shiva arm movements! Yaay!
Love and hugs to you,
Hiro
Hiro Bogas last blog post..Happy Thanksgiving, Baby
I know how you feel, believe me. One of the biggest loves in my life is weightlifting, and my wife has
NO
FREAKING
INTEREST
WHATSOEVER
in any of it. So I’ll do something really awesome and I’ll be all excited about it and I’ll tell her and she gets this blank look and says, “Huh, uh… good job.” And she’s the only person I talk to offline (pretty literally the only person) and I get nothing. I want someone to tell me how fantastic I am for my great achievement.
Which is why I absolutely NEED my online friends at the training forum I spend all day on. I need folks who understand.
Which is why it’s good that you have all of us. Offline friends are not NOT friends, you know. So you did have someone to tell. And you told. And Johnny says
GREAT FUCKING JOB!!!
and it’s all good.
By the way, luckily, we also share that SpongeBob interest.
(Come on, let that nerd out. I know there’s something you want to admit in my nerd-off.)
Johnny Truants last blog post..Unfortunately, pants
NYT???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So cool! So now you’re more than just internet-famous. Remember us when you’re hanging out with Bill Gates and Tom Cruise and… no, hang on, that doesn’t sound right. I’m sure you’d find much more interesting famous people to hang out with than that.
Noone to tell stuff to – I empathise. I’m 5,000 miles and 8 time zones away from my tell-anything people. It does kinda make parts of your life feel unicorn-y. In the not-existing sense, in case that wasn’t clear. It probably was. Sh, Kate.
Actually, I remember that being one of the oddest things after breaking up with my ex. I’m naturally a singleton, really, but after eight years together coupledom becomes normal. Anyway, after he moved out, I had the weirdest feeling; it felt almost as if I was slightly invisible, simply because there was noone there to witness the tiny events of my daily life – as if those things were just happening ‘into the void’, and so not really happening. Very odd. I got better.
Kates last blog post..Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome
@Kate – I’m totally identifying with you. Having friends in the States (and in the same city as me) is totally new for me. And still it feels like most of the people I’m close to are either in Tel Aviv or Berlin.
And yes, having someone there to witness it all … it’s a big deal. I have a duck for that. She was very useful in that sense when we first became friends.
@OH-EVERYBODY-ELSE, I’m overjoyed that you’re celebrating with me, just wanted to say though that the NYT piece (or the NYFT piece as I’ll now think of it) isn’t *really* about me or anything. I’m just a source! And if this interview goes anything like most press experiences I’ve had, it will be a tiny mention.
Still, Selma and I are flattered, of course.
@Johnny – my whole damn blog is a nerd-off, honey. The internet: the place where I can admit that I talk to a duck and for some reason people think that makes me cool.
And for that, I love them and shake my head.
@Hiro – Thai Tofu Green Curry! Thai Tofu Green Curry! Hooray for that. Good that people are taking care of you. You deserve it.
@David + @Lisa – that’s so beautiful that you’ve found your own way, after what you’ve been through, and then to create/find the thing you need now. Very reassuring!
@Ruth – Mmmmm, what a lovely description. So beautiful.
@Mark aka Crispy Mark – You, my friend, are a nut. And that’s why I like you.
Congrats on the NYT! How cool is that! WOW!
In laws….ya, that’s been a tough one around here the past few weeks.
Amidst, the normal holiday issues that come up with family (both sides) we got some bad news about Hubby’s Mom. It’s an odd and sad situation, but I have just been trying to be there for my Hubby, if he needs me.
In the meantime, I have been trying to re-create my freelance businesses (into the blog side of the world) the past few weeks (from static web sites..which I’m used to), so this has been alot of learning for me on the in’s and out’s. But, it has helped me take my mind off of the other things that are happening…even for a little bit at a time.
Amy Mommaertss last blog post..Taking Yourself Seriously in Business
Good – I’m a new auntie! Well, I’ve been one for a long time but now I’m finally one from MY side of the family. My kid brother (ok, he is 28) had his first…a boy. There was a happy dance in the waiting room after 18 hours of waiting. All are doing well.
Weird – falls somewhere between Good and Bad but I thought of it because of all the in/un/outlaw stuff – My sister-in-laws family and my family in the waiting room together for that long! It was, well, I just didn’t have access to my yoga. The two groups together was simply weird. Some of the hospital staff treating us ALL like outlaws was weird, “For patient confidentiality reasons we can’t…blah, blah, blah.” It reminded me of all the old movies where the dad stood outside the door and waited for a scream and a baby’s cry – that is how you learned of the arrival.
Bad – aside from the reason for the season and that I’m in a really great mood w/o bah-humbug this year – Christmas is a financially hard time of year. Not that my kids are over privileged but you just don’t want them to be disappointed, right? We haven’t bought a single gift. *sigh*
Oh, did I mention I have a new nephew! 🙂
So, Havi, young children can make A LOT of stuff worth while. Sometimes making the situation much lighter and providing a distraction. Other times they can be a source of unwanted info during family gatherings…”She looks ok mommy, I like her! Why do you say she is nasty?” At which point you snicker and move on. Yeah for surviving and Yeah for NYT!